3rd Best News Website in the Middle East BUSINESS | 21 SPORT | 28 QP plans to boost My swing is coming capacity of LNG back slowly, trains says Amir

Thursday 1 June 2017 | 6 Ramadan 1438 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7179 | 2 Riyals

Emir holds talks with Kuwait Emir Qatar ranks 8th Banks to see in IMD World Competitiveness loan surge in Yearbook 2017 QATAR has occupied top rank in the IMD World Com- petitiveness Yearbook 2017. Qatar ranked 8th in the eco- Ramadan nomic performance, 11 in the government efficiency, 12 in terms of efficiency of the Sachin Kumar business sector, while ranked The Peninsula When it comes to 38 in the infrastructure sector. onsumer loans will get car sales, Ramadan Qatar ranked 17th out of a big boost during the outstrips all other 63 countries, mostly devel- holy month of Ram- months because oped countries. Minister of adan. Car loans will many customers wait Development Planning and ride on the wave of for offers which are Statistics H E Dr Saleh bin Coffers announced by dealers, Mohammed Al Nabit has wel- announced during the while personal loans and credit month. comed the results of this card issuance will jump on the report. increased consumer spending “These results have during the month. already announced tempting enhanced Qatar's position in “The demand for personal offers on loans to lure custom- different fields, and it will loans increases sharply during ers. Dealers are offering free help us to see the categories Ramadan and Eid mainly insurance and registration, free where we need to put more driven by two factors. First is service (for limited time), zero efforts,” the Minister said. expatriates go to their home or low down payment option Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with the Emir of Kuwait, H H Sheikh Sabah Al country during the holy month and other freebies. Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, at Dasman Palace in Kuwait, yesterday. → See also page 2 and take personal loans to ful- “When it comes to car sales, Qatar strongly fill their financial commitments Ramadan outstrips all other such as buying a plot of land, a months because many custom- Kuwait deep brotherly relations and On the Kuwaiti side, the condemns house or any other asset,” a ers wait for offers which are QNA close ties between the two peo- meeting was attended by Crown senior official of a private bank announced during the month. ples and brotherly countries and Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Kabul blast told The Peninsula. “Secondly, Car sales usually increase by 20 mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin means to boost and develop Al Jaber Al Sabah, Speaker of the people tend to spend more dur- to 30 percent during Ramadan Hamad Al Thani met here them. They also exchanged National Assembly, Marzooq Ali QNA ing Ramadan and Eid as they and Eid,” said a senior official Ewith the Emir of Kuwait H H views on the latest develop- Al Ghanim, Deputy Head of the host guests for iftar, decorate of car dealer. In a bid to push Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber ments on the regional and National Guard, Sheikh Mishal Al THE STATE of Qatar home, change furniture and up auto loans, banks are going Al Sabah, at Dasman Palace. international arenas. Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, Prime expressed its strong condem- give gifts to their family mem- extra mile. They have tied up At the beginning of the The meeting was attended Minister Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak nation of the blast that took bers and friends. To meet these with car dealers and are offer- meeting, Emir and the Emir of by H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Hamad Al Sabah as well as a place yesterday in the diplo- additional expenses, consum- ing waiver of processing fees Kuwait exchanged greetings on Al Thani, the Personal Repre- number of their Excellencies matic area of the Afghan ers apply for personal loans,” and giving free insurance cover the occasion of the holy month sentative of the Emir, and Sheikhs and senior officials. Emir capital, Kabul, killing 90 peo- he added. to customers. of Ramadan, and friendly talks members of the official delega- also attended the iftar banquet ple and wounding a number Most of the car dealers have → Continued on page 3 on various topics that reflect the tion accompanying the Emir. hosted by the Emir of Kuwait. of people. The Foreign Ministry in a statement reiterated Qatar's firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism regardless of the motives and reasons. The Tourism boom as more travellers visit Qatar statement stressed Qatar's denouncement of all crimi- Irfan Bukhari Statistics Bulletin of the Ministry further indicate a whopping 47. last year reached 69 percent in running since October 2016,” the nal attacks that destabilise The Peninsula of Development Planning and 2 percent increase in number of April this year. ValuStrat report says. security as well as intimidates Statistics indicates a 27.4 percent visitors from GCC countries. As Another recently issued It adds: “GCC is the largest and kills the innocent, saying hree different recently- year-on-year increase in many as 144, 814 people from report of ValuStrat on Qatar's source of inbound travel fol- such attacks contradict with released reports by number of visitors in April 2017 GCC countries visited Qatar in real estate on first quarter of lowed by Asian and European humanitarian principles and TMinistry of Development compared with same month of April 2017 while 98, 401 visitors 2017 narrates a similar story countries. In January 2017, Qatar all divine religions. The state- Planning and Statistics, Ernst and 2016. had come to Qatar in April 2016 based on figures. “During Q1 Tourism Authority launched ment extended condolences Young, and ValuStrat indicate In April this year, as many as hence there is witnessed a 47.2 2017, the total number of tour- Qatar’s first shopping festival, of Qatar to the Afghan gov- that Qatar’s tourism industry is 295,134 visitors arrived in Qatar percent increase on YoY basis. ist arrivals in Qatar reached during which there was an ernment and the families of booming bringing more business while the number of visitors in The report also shows that above 864,000, a 5% YoY rise. increase of 16.8% in tourist arriv- the victims, wishing the for country’s hotel industry as April 2016 was 231, 629. hotel (all categories) occupancy This included an increase of als led by Saudi nationals.” injured a speedy recovery. well. The 40th Edition of Monthly The official stats which was 64 percent in April tourists from the cruise season, → Continued on page 2 → See also page 12

13 Turkish soldiers Dust winds lash Doha Monthly expenses rise during martyred in crash

ISTANBUL: Thirteen soldiers Ramadan and summer vacation were killed yesterday when a helicopter crashed in south- The Peninsula through newspapers and ads, east Turkey after hitting a and also to check list of items high-voltage power line, the he monthly expenditure whose prices are reduced under army said. of residents in Qatar the recently launched initiative The Cougar helicopter Trises from 25 to 35 per- of the Ministry. crashed shortly after taking cent during the holy month of The Ministry said that con- off from a base in Sirnak Ramadan, Eid and summer sumer behaviour changes province bordering Iraq, kill- vacation, said the Ministry of during Ramadan, and the mar- ing all 13 onboard, it said in a Economy and Commerce, kets witness more demand. It statement. "Our hero com- yesterday. has stressed that families must rades in the helicopter fell as Qatari families pay 10 per- not waste their money by buy- martrys," the army said. cent of their income for ing unnecessary items. purchasing food items while The Ministry advised shop- expats pay more than 15 per- pers to stock necessary food RAMADAN cent on buying food items. The items such as rice, sugar and TIMING Ministry has asked people to cooking oil in advance to avoid make list of items before they crowd in the hypermarkets. Today’s Iftar 6:23pm Palm trees swayed by dust winds lash along the Corniche yesterday. Residents are go for shopping. People should spend more time Tomorrow’s Imsak 3:05am braving wind along with dust for the last two days. Pic: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula It has urged people to fol- on worship rather than going low daily the promotion out for shopping. 02 HOME THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017

Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met with the Emir of Kuwait, H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, at Dasman Palace in Kuwait, yesterday. Advisory 17 more hotels this year on travel Continued from page 1 Suites (396 hotel apartments). to Austria “In the total stock, Qatar The report further points out approximately 50% of hotel prop- QNA that Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) erties are 5-star followed by 4-star granted licences to hold 75 exhi- (37%) and 3-star (11%). As many as ustria has banned the bitions this year (2017), which will 17 new hotel properties are use of full-face veils or likely result in a boost to expected to debut during the Aburqa in public from tourism. remaining quarters of 2017, which October 2017, an official “Qatar Tourism Authority has will make the total stock at the end source at the Department of projected tourism receipt will reach of the year to be approximately Consular Affairs of the For- QR30bn by 2022 and tourism sec- 27,500 keys, assuming no delays,” eign Ministry said. tor’s total economic contribution it adds. The decision stipulates a will reach QR81.2bn by 2026 (based The ValuStrat report says that fine of ¤150. In addition, the vio- on the projected growth),” says Rotana announced two new hotels, lator will be interrogated at a ValuStrat report on Qatar’s real Downtown Arjaan and Plaza Ray- police station and asked not to estate market. haan to open by 2019, adding wear the burqa again in order It says that the total number of approximately 764 rooms to exist- to avoid further punishment. hotel rooms as of Q1 2017 in Qatar ing supply. The source added that Qatari reached approximately 24,100 keys Another report of Ernst and citizens and accompanying per- within 133 entities including two Young (EY) says that hotel occu- sonnel who wish to travel to 5-star properties which were added pancy in Doha reached 74 percent Austria after the decision comes this quarter; Centara Grand West in April this year from 65.6 percent into force must abide by it. Bay (357 hotel rooms) and Fraser in April 2016. THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 HOME 03 Health Minister lauds 70th World Health Assembly

Geneva the Committee's reports on Pro- QNA Geneva meeting gram Budget 2018-2019, as well The Assembly also as special arrangements for set- he 70th World Health adopted the tling arrears. Assembly (WHA70) resolutions issued by The Assembly also adopted concluded yesterday Committee B on among other issues the Commit- in Geneva by adopt- several topics, tee's resolution on human ing the reports of resources for health and the notably a procedural Tmajor committees A and B on implementation of the UN High- decision on the several health issues. Level Panel on Employment in Addressing the closing ses- health situation in Health and Economic Growth, sion, Qatar's Minister of Public the Occupied as well as the two polio guide- Health H E Dr Hanan Mohamed Palestinian Territory, lines on poliomyelitis planning Al Kuwari, who is also Chairper- including East and the review of the pandemic son of Committee A of the World Jerusalem, and in the influenza preparedness Health Assembly, underlined the occupied Syrian framework. importance of the Assembly's Golan, where it It also adopted the resolu- resolutions that will seek to decided to request tions issued by Committee B on address health challenges the Director-General several topics, notably a pro- Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Abdurrahman Mohammad Fachir paid a around the world. of the World Health cedural decision on the health courtesy call on Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The Minister thanked Organization to situation in the Occupied Pal- members of the Regional Com- submit reports to the estinian Territory, including mittee for the Eastern 71st World Health East Jerusalem, and in the occu- Mediterranean for her candi- Assembly. pied Syrian Golan, where it Indonesia Deputy Foreign Minister dacy for the chair of Committee decided to request the Direc- A and the Member States on tor-General of the World Health her election, for the President Tedros Adhanomon for his elec- Organization to submit reports of the 70th World Health tion as the new Director-General to the 71st World Health Assem- meets country's envoys in GCC Assembly, the Vice-Chairper- of the World Health bly on the progress made in the sons and the Rapporteurs, and Organization. implementation of the recom- The Peninsula Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also also optimise the existing the Director General of the For its part, the World mendations contained therein represented by expert staff to regional groupings in the region. World Health Organization for Health Assembly commended based on field monitoring and he Ministry of Foreign the Minister of Foreign Affairs "All Indonesian embassies her efforts and wise manage- the efforts of the Minister of to continue to provide techni- Affairs of Indonesia on Economic Diplomacy, Direc- should focus on the feasible and ment of the Organization Public Health and her good cal assistance to meet the Trecently held a Coordina- tor of Protection of Indonesian concrete outcome. Do not hes- during the previous period . management of the Committee health needs of the Palestinian tion Meeting of the Ministry of Citizens and Indonesian Legal itate to make breakthroughs for She also congratulated Dr A , where the Assembly adopted and Syrian people. Foreign Affairs with the envoys Agency, and Acting Director of the sake of the people of Indo- and representatives of Indone- Middle East. nesia," said Dr Fachir sia in the Gulf Cooperation The Deputy Minister of For- According to Indonesian Council (GCC) and stakeholder eign Affairs affirmed that the Embassy's Minister Counselor, of the country in Doha. Indonesia government has pri- Boy Dharmawan, Dr Fachir Hospital seeks 'Mutawa' office The meeting led by the oritised to strengthen its also paid a courtesy call on Deputy Minister of Foreign cooperation with GCC member Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Affairs, Dr Abdurrahman countries in the field of econ- Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul- Sanaullah Ataullah Ramadan campaign “Shifa wa Mutawa office is available Mohammad Fachir, was omy, energy security, rahman Al Thani to discuss The Peninsula Rahma" (cure and mercy). The at all major public hospitals attended by Indonesian envoys protection of Indonesian citi- ways to enhance strategic rela- press conference was attended including Hamad General Hos- in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Kuwait zens, and cooperation tions between the two mid growing need for by the representatives of HMC, pital, Al Khor Hospital, Al Wakra City, Manama, Muscat, Riyadh particularly in the field of stra- countries particularly with the spiritual healing, a newly Abdullah Khalid Al Hajri — Hospital and Cuban Hospital, and the Consul General of tegic industry. planned visit of Emir H H Aopened hospital has Director of Public Relations said Khaled Walid Al Hammadi Dubai and Jeddah. In order to strengthen coop- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al requested the Ministry of Awqaf Department and Saad Al Dosari — Head of the Department of In addition to the Deputy eration, each Indonesian Thani to Indonesia by the end and Islamic Affairs to set up its — Assistant Executive Director, Religious Calls and Guidance Minister of Foreign Affairs, the embassy in the region should of 2017. 'Mutawa' office at the centre, Public Relations Department. Department at the Ministry. said Mohamd bin Hamad Al The campaign has been The office aims at covering Kuwari, Head of the Religious launched in collaboration with the maximum number of peo- Call and Guidance Department Hamad Medical Center (HMC) ple — patients, visitors and at the Ministry. and aims at educating patients hospital staffers. The purpose of Mutawa office comprises a and visitors about the merits of the office is to educate patients group of clerics and religious the Holy Quran and fasting that on Islamic teachings. scholars offering spiritual treat- can cure various illnesses. “Shifa wa Rahma” is about ment by reciting some verses “The request indicates the 50 day annual campaign held from the Holy Quran and Pro- importance of the treatment between Shaban 20 to Shawal phetic traditions to patients for with Holy Quran and Prophetic 10. In other words, the campaign their mental and physical cure. traditions and now it has starts 10 days before the holy The office also undertakes become very necessary espe- month of Ramadan and ends ten a lot of religious activities like cially for hospitals,” said Al days after it," said Al Kuwari. visiting patients to educate them Kuwari. The Ministry will undertake about Islamic teachings and Replying to a question about a number of activities under the practice, among others. the existence of Mutawa office campaign. Al Kuwari was speaking at in private hospitals, Al Kuwari Representatives from Call a press conference held at the told The Peninsula that cur- and Guidance Department at the headquarters of the Ministry rently the offices were operating Ministry will visit patients in the yesterday to announce a only in public hospitals. wards. Banks lure customers

Continued from page 1 “Qatar’s retail banking sector is different from other countries. For exam- ple, a bank can offer car loan to a person who has salary account with it and this narrows its target group. In order to cover a large set of customers banks tie up with multiple car dealers to get a large pool of customers,” said the bank official. Banks are attracting customer to take credit cards by announcing offers such as cash back and discounts on air tick- ets if a customer books ticket with a credit card. Banks are encouraging customers to take personal loans by announcing attractive offers. “ibq is running an offer under which if a customer applies for a personal loan during Ramadan, he could be one of the lucky persons to win QR10,000,” a senior offi- cial of ibq told The Peninsula. 04 HOME THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 Qatar joins IAEA meet on technical cooperation

QNA Vienna conference atar participated in the The conference will ongoing International show how the Conference on the peaceful application International Atomic of nuclear science QEnergy Agency (IAEA) and technology can Technical Cooperation Program help countries meet in Vienna to further develop part- nerships in order to enhance the their development delivery of the TC programme, the priorities. main mechanism through which the IAEA delivers assistance to technology and helps countries member states. develop the relevant infrastruc- Qatar is represented at the ture. The programme also conference by Eng Ahmed facilitates networking and knowl- Children enjoy at the Eid Charity 'Smile of Ramadan' Iftar and activities at Eid Charity headquarters yesterday. Mohamed Al Sada, Assistant edge sharing and, very Pic: Kammutty VP/ The Peninsula Undersecretary of the Ministry of importantly, the fostering of suit- Municipality and Environment for able development partnerships at environmental affairs and Qatar's all levels. national focal point with IAEA, and The conference will show Eid Charity Foundation hosts 70 orphans Aisha Ahmed Al Baker, Director of how the peaceful application of Radiation and Chemical Protec- nuclear science and technology tion Department and assistant can help countries meet their Sanaullah Ataullah Department at Eid Charity told Afterwards, if they want to forward to save their future. national focal point. development priorities. Benefi- The Peninsula The Peninsula. pursue higher studies, they will They are paying for all The programme's strategic aim ciaries from all regions of the “The orphans sponsored by receive scholarship from social expenses on a monthly basis," is to create tangible socioeconomic world will share the impact the id Charity Foundation has Eid Charity in Qatar are living support fund so they could get he added. impact by contributing to the technical cooperation program hosted around 70 in families with their mothers a suitable job or start a busi- The event began with an achievement of the major sustain- is making in health, nutrition, Eorphans the charity is if they are alive. If both par- ness to merge with society," opening statement by Ali Al able development priorities of a food security, clean water, the raising with their families at an ents are dead, priority was said Al Zaini. Sewady, General Manager of country. environment, industry, energy Iftar gathering at its headquar- accorded to relatives. Sponsor- "Our old orphans are liv- Eid Charity, who welcomed The programme is guided by planning, nuclear power infra- ters to "bring smile on their ing orphans is the most ing a happy life. In a case, four visitors at the Iftar requests for assistance from structure, radiation and nuclear faces" in the holy month of in-demand charity project by brothers, the old beneficiaries gathering. member states, in accordance safety. Ramadan. philanthropists in Qatar. of the sponsorship of Eid Char- A motivational speech by with national priorities, and pro- The conference will also show- The event — "Smile of Thanks God, there are so many ity, have now set up their own Dr Abdul Raheehm was vides guidance to member states case how the IAEA's technical Ramadan" — was organised in people in the country who are company and they are very aimed at boosting the on the best way to address their cooperation programme can con- collaboration with AlWehda always ready to extend a help- active members for social orphans' self-esteem, and to needs using nuclear tribute to the achievement of the Medical Group, Marsa Malaz ing hand to support the hapless works in the community," said help them become more opti- technology. United Nations Sustainable Devel- Kempinski & Yoga In Doha. children.” Al Zaini. mistic and prepare for The technical cooperation opment Goals (SDGs). "Achieving “Eid Charity is sponsoring “The beneficiary children “My brother and his wife difficult hurdles. programme is the primary mech- the SDGs is not a task that any 150 expatriate orphan children have been provided all neces- died in a road accident leav- "Yoga In Doha" raised the anism for delivering IAEA organisation can undertake in iso- in Qatar out of a total of sary money for their ing four children behind awareness of the orphans development assistance to mem- lation," Yang said. 85,000 orphans they are spon- expenditure including food, them,” Abu Abdullah, a Yem- regarding self-improvement ber states. It builds national "Collaboration is needed at all soring all over the world," accommodation, education eni national, the uncle of the techniques which includes capacity in the peaceful applica- levels to increase access to science, Abdurrahman Al Zaini, Head and health among others till four orphans told The Penin- managing breathing and tion of nuclear science and technology and innovation." of Resources Mobilization they reached the age of 15. sula. “Eid Charity came concentration. Ooredoo tv app adds new live TV channels and features

The Peninsula customers can enjoy more new Also, customers who sign-up The new live channels have Thanks to the PlayOn TV fea- need to do is connect their live TV channels via the app, for Starz Play will also be able to been added to the app as part of ture, customers can also enjoy device to the same Wi-Fi con- oredoo yesterday bringing the total live channels access the service’s full library Ooredoo’s vision to offer their the Ooredoo tv app on the go, nection as their Ooredoo tv announced that its popu- count to 44. of content via the Ooredoo tv customer’s unlimited 24x7 access and continue watching on tv Set-top-Box to start enjoying Olar Ooredoo tv app has Customers can now watch app, wherever they are, 24/7 via to a vast choice of TV shows, screen when they reach home. this feature. introduced a host of new live On Demand content with the a smartphone or tablet. movies, kid’s entertainment and Users can also now ‘Bookmark’ Ooredoo tv customers can channels and features, as the Boomerang Club as part of their New live channels include, more. their most watched channels and start their Ooredoo tv every- company continues to invest in basic subscription. When sub- MBC + Ooredoo, MBC+ Drama, Al To ensure that Ooredoo tv content. where experience by simply offering the best entertainment scribed to any of Ooredoo tv’s Safwa, Baby TV, Cartoon Net- app users can watch this latest Best of all, customers can logging-in to the app, using their services for Qatar. four Extra packages, customers work Arabia and Hindi, Dubai content, whenever they want, use the Ooredoo tv app as a Ooredoo tv account and PIN Thanks to the new Ooredoo will have free access to the Oore- Sports 1 and 2, Zee Cinema and Ooredoo has also invested in remote control for their Oore- number, mobile number or ‘My tv app update, Ooredoo tv doo tv club. more. new features for the app. doo tv set-top-box. All they Ooredoo’ credentials. Workshop on exercise during Ramadan

The Peninsula

he Bedaya Center for Entrepreneur- ship and Career Development T(Bedaya Center), a joint initiative by Qatar Development Bank and Silatech, recently hosted a workshop on planning and creating exercise sessions for the holy month of Ramadan. This was organised in collaboration with sports instructor Khaled Al Ameri. During the workshop, Khaled Al Ameri tackled two important aspects of physi- cal training: the initial focus was on creating a training schedule based on fit- ness factors, body readiness, weight loss and muscle gain. The second aspect was on the methods to train during Ramadan based on proper timing and duration, and the reasons behind muscle relaxation. Al Ameri also highlighted fitness fac- tors such as endurance, strength, speed, The workshop by Bedaya Center explained the nuances of workouts during flexibility and agility in addition to gen- the holy month. eral and physical preparation before exercising, as well other training such as sudden weight loss, and the best ways of and pale, while others see it as the best aerobics and anaerobic exercises. exercising during the holy month of Ram- time to maintain physical health and com- During the workshop, participants adan. He emphasised that by choosing position by adapting exercises that help were given examples on training sched- the right time and duration for aerobic sustain their activity and strength.” ules for beginners starting with warming and anaerobic exercise, and by consum- “Due to the nature of holy month of up, stretching, exercising and cooling ing healthy food such as dairy products, Ramadan, we preferred to highlight the down. He also demonstrated the order of grains, vegetables, proteins and fruits, best ways of exercising without feeling training for medium and advanced indi- we can provide the body with what it weak and frail. With the support of the viduals including warming up, stretching, needs. talented physical instructor, Khaled Al advanced warming up, main exercise, On the occasion, Reem Al Suwaidi, Ameri, we were able to bring forth to our cooling down. General Manager of Bedaya Center, said: audience the mechanism of creating a Al Ameri further elaborated the need "Some feel that fasting during the holy training schedule that fits each individ- for muscle relaxation and its relation with month of Ramadan will make them weak ual,” she added. THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 HOME 05 QA ties up with copter operator in France

The Peninsula Nice experience Airways. The agreement with Monacair reflects our commit- atar Airways and Qatar Airways' ment to provide our passengers Monacair yesterday passengers arriving the very best premium travel announced a new in Nice on board the opportunities, and I am confi- partnership between airline’s newly- dent that this new partnership Qone of the world’s launched direct will delight our passengers." leading airlines and the French service to Nice will “We are tremendously Riviera’s premium helicopter now have the excited about this new collabo- operator, commencing July 4. opportunity to ration between Monacair and Qatar Airways' passengers seamlessly connect Qatar Airways,” said Gilbert arriving in Nice on board the Schweitzer, Managing Director at Nice International airline’s newly-launched direct of Monacair. “As in all other Airport onto a service to Nice will now have the services proposed by Monacair, opportunity to seamlessly con- Monacair helicopter we want to offer our passengers nect at Nice International flight to Monte Carlo. the very best. The H130 provides Airport onto a Monacair heli- a unique travelling experience Children taking part in one of the competitions at Katara Ramadan Festival. copter flight to Monte Carlo. point of contact. that we want to share with Qatar Likewise, passengers travelling Qatar Airways Group Chief Airways’ clients.” from Monaco to Nice by helicop- Executive, Akbar Al Baker, said: Launching on July 4, Qatar ter will be able to connect at “This strategic partnership with Airways' new direct five times- Nice International Airport to a Monacair combines perfectly weekly service to and from Nice 'Find Your Treasure' contest choice of more than 150 desti- with the launch of our new will operate with a Boeing 787 nations on Qatar Airways' global direct service to Nice, allowing Dreamliner, providing passen- network. passengers to travel to and from gers from around the world This partnership will ensure Monaco in just six minutes from access to the ever-popular tour- begins at Katara tomorrow passengers travelling to and Nice International Airport. Stra- ist destination of the French from Monte Carlo enjoy smooth, tegic partnerships, whether to Riviera. The Peninsula be published through Katara’s various countries have been set continuous service from their enhance our network, connec- Monacair and Qatar Airways website and social media plat- up. homes to their final destination, tions or products, continue to share similar values, combining ind Your Treasure Com- forms. Following the treasure Visitors to the exhibition can with one single booking and play an important role for Qatar the high quality of a modern and petition’ kicks off hunt, contestants will be asked identify major mosques and efficient fleet with exceptional ‘Ftomorrow at Katara as to head towards the competi- tourist attractions in each 'coun- customer service. one of the contests organised for tion kiosk, located in Meerat try', as well as food items and Business Class aboard Qatar this year’s Ramadan Festival Ramadan at Katara’s southern beverages popular during the Airways’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner under the theme ‘Hospitality in area, with the treasure box, to Holy month of Ramadan. Addi- offers an all-aisle cabin config- Various Muslim Nations.’ find out whether they’re one of tionally, the display offers uration, with seats arranged in Taking place every Friday the lucky winners. Three win- historical and geographical a unique diamond shape to offer evening after Tarawih prayer, ners will be announced every information about the featured more personal space. Fully- treasure hunt has been one of week, each of whom will receive countries, lending meaning to reclining seats and easily the famous competitions in QR2,000, among other prizes. the universality of Ramadan. accessible, ergonomic work sur- Katara held in recent years. Besides the competitions, Also, visitors are able to read faces create an environment According to the details pro- Katara’s Ramadan Festival will more information on the history that is conducive to both relax- vided by competition organisers, continue its diverse array of of Islamic conquests and the ation and productivity. Adding participants are asked to look activities at various locations impact of Islamic civilisation in to the experience is a diverse for 10 hidden treasure boxes by across Katara’s premises. For many of these countries, through Business Class menu with referring to the clues provided instance, in Katara’s southern a beautiful display of paintings extraordinary cuisine and an on a treasure hunt map. area, which houses buildings on the topic. The designs of these on-demand service offering the A new map will be distrib- and mosques, eight pavilions pavilions have been kept sim- showcasing the rituals of the A copter belonging to helicopter operator Monacair. highest quality and freshest uted every Thursday along with ple on purpose to evoke the ingredients. the newspapers, and it will also holy month of Ramadan in spirit of Ramadan. 06 HOME THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 Ministry issues important tips for a safe Ramadan

The Peninsula on the road, especially during the burning materials or electrical safety measures in order to avoid Safety from fire The Public Relations night prayer timings like power sources. Don’t put on traffic accidents. When fire breaks out in the he Public Relations Taraweeh or Qiyamullail prayers flowing dresses or nylon mixed oil pan, avoid pouring water into Department of the Department of the or Iftar gatherings. wears in the kitchen in order to Begging an oil pan as it ignites the fire and Ministry of Interior Ministry of Interior The Ministry has also asked avoid catching fire. As begging is criminalised by cover the burning pan by plac- issued safety and secu- issued safety and motorists to care before cross- As in Rmandan enjoys many the Qatari law people are needed ing the nearest thick lid on the rity awareness tips security awareness ing the road, please ensure that families shopping what made the to report if they came across such pan or cover it with fire Tentitled "Important Tips for a the road is completely free from Ministry ask them to avoid last incidents to Anti -Begging Sec- blanket. Safe Ramadan". tips during Ramadan. vehicles on both sides, especially day shopping for Ramadan and tion at Criminal Investigation When fire breaks out in the The home is the most impor- during peak hours and cross the Eid and finish it early enough to Department of the Ministry of trash bin, cover the burning trash tant place where the family road only through designated avoid traffic jam and parking at Interior on 2347444 / 33618627. bin immediately with a damp members feel more safety and during this holy month. areas for crossing. no parking areas because of huge The approved charity organisa- cloth in order to prevent oxygen stability. But there are several rush on the roads. tions are the official agencies in from igniting the fire . possible hazards that may lead Traffic safety Safety of children the country to help the needy and When you smell gas, imme- to the occurrence of accidents Regarding traffic safety, the For safety of children advised Karangao Night poor people. diately open all doors and for many reasons such as igno- Ministry has urged the public not the public not to let the children The Qatari society celebrates windows to reduce concentra- rance and not taking care of to rush to reach the Iftar place. It play in the internal roads of the the local fiesta of “Karangao Food poisoning tion of leaked gas. Avoid prevention and safety measures is preferred to start early before residential areas especially dur- Night” on 15th night of Ramadan. For protection from food switching on the exhaust fan for in the houses in general, and dur- the Iftar time as the period before ing the night time in order to Hence, please be extra cautious poisoning people are asked to ventilation and don’t switch on ing the holy month of Ramadan Iftar is considered as the most ensure their safety from traffic while driving on roads as the check the validity of canned, fro- lights as they may serve as points in particular. vulnerable time for traffic acci- accidents. Allow them to play children will be walking around zen or preserved foodstuff and of ignition to the highly inflam- The department provides dents during the holy month of only at designated areas for play- residential areas to collect the also make sure that there aren’t mable gas. Never use a burning some pieces of advice and guide- Ramadan. Avoid parking of vehi- ing. Don’t leave the children in sweets and gifts offered by any change in the smell, colour matchstick near a gas cylinder lines on home and road safety cles obstructing traffic movement the kitchen or nearby hot and neighbours and take enough or texture of the stuff. to locate the place of leakage. HEC Paris gifts over 50 management books to QBIC & QNL The Peninsula be able to share knowledge with two organisations that are EC Paris, a world leader as passionate and dedicated to in executive education, education and learning as we Hhas gifted over 50 Busi- are,” Dr Nils Plambeck – Dean ness Management books to the and CEO, HEC Paris in Qatar, Qatar Business Incubation said. “In addition to the HEC Center (QBIC) and the Qatar Paris core activity of consist- National Library (QNL). ently delivering high-quality The books are a careful executive education, we are selection from the media cen- committed to help shape the Students from HBKU’s various colleges and programs at an appreciation ceremony held at the HBKU Headquarters. tre collection of HEC Paris in future of Qatar and society and Qatar, covering a range of dis- this is one of the many ways we ciplines from finance to human hope to contribute.” resources, leadership, strategy, Aysha Al Mudakha, CEO of HBKU celebrates achievements of outstanding students marketing and economics. The QBIC, added: “As an alumna of initiative reflects on the com- HEC Paris in Qatar, I have per- The Peninsula HBKU’s College of Science and and innovative scientists from Ansari, Asma Al Khulaifi, Moham- mitment to actively support and sonal experience of the Engineering. Ahmad Fard, a PhD around the world, enabling them med Al Ahmadani, and Aisha Al participate in activities that exceptional level of teaching amad Bin Khalifa Univer- student specializing in Sustaina- to successfully conduct their Naama, who are students at promote education and and executive education pro- sity (HBKU) recently ble Environment, and Ahmer research through funding and HBKU’s College of Law and Pub- enhance the general wellbeing grammes this reputable Hcelebrated the achieve- Baloch, a PhD student specializ- collaboration. lic Policy, were congratulated on of Qatar’s communities. institute provides, so I accept ments of the University’s ing in Sustainable Energy, Almasri will continue to pur- their impressionable participation The books fall within the these books with gratitude in exceptional students in local and celebrated winning two of four sue her research in Sustainable in the 4th Europa Moot Court recommended framework of the hope it can provide more international competitions. 2017 ORYX GTL Student Awards. Environment with a focus on the Competition. Aisha Al Naama the Executive MBA program knowledge and education to From being awarded with The prestigious awards short- modification of natural nanoma- received one of the Best Oralist and the Specialized Master’s our clients and other business prestigious research fellowships, list outstanding post-graduate terials for water purification at Awards for her performance at the Degree in Strategic Business professionals based in Qatar.” to winning top national and students across Qatar’s higher HBKU’s CSE, in collaboration with proceedings. The competition Unit Management curriculum, Abeer Al Kuwari, Director regional competitions, students education institutes who are pur- the Qatar Environment & Energy took place in Kavala, Greece, and two of the high-profile and cov- of Research and Learning at from HBKU’s colleges have been suing cutting-edge research Research Institute (QEERI). CLPP’s team made it to the semi- eted executive education QNL, said: “As a national excelling in the classroom, through their studies in energy- Eiman Tabat, Omnia Tarek, final round with guidance from programs offered by the insti- library, we always aim to make research labs, and beyond. related fields. The students were Hafis Bello, and Faris Kader, who their faculty mentor, Georgios tute. Some of the publications available and give the people Congratulating the achievers, recognised for their contributions are students at HBKU’s College of Dimitropoulos. Taking part in the were written by renowned HEC of Qatar access to the best col- Dr Khaled B Letaief, HBKU Prov- to Qatar’s knowledge-based Islamic Studies (CIS), worked with international event with teams Paris professors including Dr lections that tackles a variety ost, said: “We are proud of the future, and were awarded for their faculty mentor Bahnaz Al- from across Europe and others Wolfgang Amann, Dr Pierre of topics and interests and this students who have invested val- commitment to the research and Quradaghi and were praised for around the world helped build Dussauge and Dr Herve donation will only enrich our uable time, energy, and effort development of the country’s winning second place at this year’s CLPP students’ skillsets in being Stolowy. “We are honoured to collection further. towards elevating the status of energy sector. highly competitive Al Ruwad able to effectively collaborate and HBKU on a global and local level. Meanwhile, from HBKU’s Col- Business Case Competition. deliver results in a multicultural Their exemplary performance lege of Science and Engineering Hosted by the College of North and global setting. showcases the high quality of edu- (CSE), PhD candidate Dema Atlantic – Qatar, the inter-colle- “As a premier research uni- cation and programs imparted by Almasri was acknowledged and gial competition saw ten teams versity in the region, we are HBKU, and their achievements awarded the esteemed Women joining in from universities around constantly encouraging students have made the University proud.” in Science Fellowship. The fellow- Qatar. It was held over three days, to participate in competitive Eleven students from HBKU’s ship award was overseen by the and CIS’ team earned the prize events and programs that help various colleges and programs Civilian Research and Develop- based on their ability to effectively them grow as scholars,” Dr Kha- were recognised at an apprecia- ment Foundation (CRDF Global) analyze a business problem using led B Letaief said. “It is through tion ceremony held on Monday at for advancing civilian-oriented an innovative approach, derived these recognitions that we con- the HBKU Headquarters. Two of science and entrepreneurship. from a comprehensive consulta- tinue to build on knowledge and the 11 students being recognised CRDF Global, based in the United tive mindset. create lasting value in academic A selection from the donated books. at the event study at States, selects the most talented Finally, Khalid Ahmed Al research.” QU-CED recognises achievers

The Peninsula who represented the College accreditation (2016-2023) for in QU Student Representative its BA in Primary Education, atar University College Board and who won the Best Diploma in Primary Education, of Education (QU-CED) Poster Award in the Open Day Diploma in Special Education, Qcelebrated its achieve- for Student Research. Diploma in Early Childhood ments for the academic year In his remarks, Dr Ahmed Education, Master in Educa- 2016-2017 in a ceremony Al Emadi said: “During the tional Leadership, and Master attended by CED Dean Dr 2016-2017 academic year, CED in Special Education by the Ahmed Al Emadi (pictured), continued its efforts towards Council for the Accreditation CED Associate Dean for success, as part of its commit- of Educator Preparation Research and Graduate Stud- ment to positioning QU as a (CAEP). The College also ies Dr Yahya Al Nakeeb and model national university in improved its strategic plan in CED Acting Associate Dean for Qatar. The College achieved line with QU’s new policies and Academic Affairs Dr Aisha many accomplishments on the strategic plan.” Fakhro, as well as CED faculty, academic and research levels Dr Al Emadi also noted that students and staff. on top of which was the visit CED relaunched the admission The event included the of Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin to its BA in Physical Education acknowledgment of departing Hamad Al Thani to CED Program. He highlighted that and promoted faculty mem- Women Building and the Early the College has also signed bers, and those who won Childhood Center.” around four MoUs with local local and regional partners and awards in research competi- He added: “CED was also and international institutions to enhance its educational tions, as well as the students awarded in 2016 a 7-year to promote its relationship with plan. THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 HOME 07 HMC to organise cancer awareness campaign

The Peninsula National Cancer amad Medical Cor- poration (HMC) Survivors Day is will next week join observed on June 4 the international and honours those cancer community who have overcome Hin recognising National Cancer Survivors Day, raising aware- the disease. The day ness of the disease and also provides an demonstrating that life after a opportunity to dispel cancer diagnosis can be inspiring. the misconception National Cancer Survivors that cancer is a death Day will be held on June 4 and sentence. honours those who have over- come the disease. The day also Speaking about National The new Honda Pilot on display. provides an opportunity to dis- Cancer Survivors Day, Prof pel the misconception that Knuth said: “This is a great cancer is a death sentence. opportunity for us to celebrate According to the Qatar must be able to discuss cancer life after cancer, to pay tribute National Cancer Registry at the issues as honestly as possible, to local cancer survivors, and to Domasco announces Ministry of Public Health, can- and without embarrassment, if bring attention to the ongoing cer accounts for about 11.6 we want to remove the stigma. challenges they still face. It is percent of all deaths in the This is the best way to beat also an opportunity for us to join Ramadan offers for Honda country — a figure which is breast cancer. This is how we forces in dispelling myths and expected to grow as the popu- can survive it and how we misconceptions that hinder lation ages. should live,” said Thompson, efforts to prevent and reduce the The Peninsula payments with in-house financ- Director of Domasco, said: ”With However, experts contend who has now lived in Qatar for still increasing number of can- ing options and an IKEA voucher low down payments and that earlier diagnosis and inter- five years. cer cases worldwide.” oha Marketing Services worth QR1,000 on select Honda monthly instalments and attrac- vention, due in part to Professor Alexander Knuth He concluded: “It is now Company W.L.L models. tive financing options there has awareness campaigns and the (pictured), Medical Director and time for people to know that D(Domasco), an Al-Futtaim Honda bike customers will never been a better time for cus- introduction of national screen- CEO of HMC’s National Center cancer is often curable; many company and the distributor for receive their first two services tomers to purchase a Honda ing services for breast and bowel for Cancer Care and Research cancers can go away and never Honda in Qatar, has announced free and an accessories voucher vehicle. We encourage all our cancers, is positively impacting (NCCCR), said ensuring patients come back if detected early. At some exciting promotions for worth QR2,000 on every customers to visit our show- cancer survival rates in the receive the best possible care HMC, we are making progress Ramadan this year. purchase. rooms and take advantage of country. remains his priority. every day to enable a more pos- Customers can benefit from Honda Marine is offering an these offers which are valid all The most common cancers “In line with HMC’s vision of itive cancer outcome and low down payments and low attractive price of QR120,000 through Ramadan.” diagnosed in Qatar are breast, providing compassionate care ultimately to increase the can- monthly instalments across the on a set of two BF250 engines Domasco’s Honda Ramadan bone marrow, colon, skin, and to each and every one of its cer survival rate in Qatar and full Honda range for new cars and the choice of one of the fol- offers are available at the main prostate. Sandee Thompson, a patients, we always ensure our elsewhere.” this Ramadan. In addition, cus- lowing gifts with every showroom on Khalifa Street 55-year-old two-time breast patients receive the best treat- Earlier this week, HMC rec- tomers purchasing a new car purchase: near the National Mosque and cancer survivor from Canada ment throughout their cancer ognised World Blood Cancer will also receive a free voucher * Simrad navigation TV Roundabout. During Ram- calls her cancer journey a learn- journey. In addition to ensuring Day. Held each year May 28, the for a one night stay for two peo- system. adan, the showroom will be ing experience. that they receive high-quality world health day is dedicated to ple at the Banana Island Resort * 500 hours of free service. open from 8am to 2pm and from “Cancer does not have to be physical care, we aim to ensure raising awareness of the signs by Anantara. * 1-year interest-free. 7.30pm to midnight – Saturday the elephant in the room that we they receive emotional support and symptoms of blood For pre-owned cars, cus- * EU20 i Genset. to Thursday, and from 8pm to do not talk about openly. We throughout,” said Prof Knuth. cancer. tomers will receive low down Faisal Sharif, Managing 11pm on Friday.

Research study on impact of mental disorders

The Peninsula

he impact of men- tal disorders on the Thealth of Qatari cit- izens and residents is set to be the subject of a sig- nificant research study Children of North Indians' Association members participating led by University of Cal- gary in Qatar researcher, in the Baisakhi Family Fiesta. assistant professor Dr Vahe Kehyayan, PhD. The study will examine atti- tudes toward mental North Indians celebrate illness and its treatment among patients, their families, and doctors and Baisakhi Family Fiesta nurses in the health sys- tem. “Everyone knows someone who is living The Peninsula NIA Chairman Mukesh with a mental illness,” Singh welcomed the gathering says Dr Kehyayan. “A he North Indians’ Associ- while Vice-President Sanjay recent study has sug- atio (NIA) recently Arora introduced the pro- gested that 25% of people Tcelebrated a family event gramme. Sanjay Arora on in Qatar have a mental ill- “Baisakhi Family Fiesta 2017”. behalf of the managing com- ness; so these are our The event was attended by mittee congratulated newly families and friends — more than 125 members along elected President Sudhir Gupta everyone is touched in with their families creating on his appointment and con- some way by this.” homely and family veyed the message on his behalf Dr Kehyayan points atmosphere. assuring the members to carry out that studies in other The highlight of the event on the legacy set by his prede- parts of the world indi- was the cultural presentation cessors and to set new cate that the stigma by the members and their chil- benchmark for North Indians’ associated with mental dren. Excellent performance by Association. The new members illness can prevent peo- kids and adult members were were welcomed and introduced ple from seeking effective well appreciated by the gath- by the MC. All the participants medical treatment. ering. A special presentation by were presented with certificates Mental illness can professional performer Bhavna and gifts to children. also have an impact on Naik enthralled the audience. The programme ended with other areas of health, Kids who put up excellent all the members dancing to the including increased risks performance in these events tunes of DJ Shamim on his non- around smoking, reduced were Samarjit Sarkar, Vatsal stop Panjabi mix and other activity, poor diet, obes- Babbar, Akshin, Ahaan, Sonak- dance tapping numbers. ity, and blood pressure. shi, Suhani Jain, Sneha Ranjan, The event was made possi- However, very little Aashna Bahl, Sakshi Lalwani, ble with the support of main research on the stigma of Sakshi Sukhnani and Varun sponsor PWC along with Azizi mental illness has been Gupta. Adult members who Developers from Dubai and done in the Middle East, weaved their magic by superb support sponsor Qatar Cana- and this study aims to dancing and melodious dian Trading contracting & improve understanding singinng were Moksha Gupta, Services. Entire event managed of the issue in Qatar and Anshu Jain, Mamta Babbar and by Trans Media International in the region. Abhijeet Sarkar. WLL. 08 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017

IS militants seal Israel key cause off Mosul mosque preparing for of Palestinian last stand Baghdad Reuters suffering: UN ISLAMIC STATE militants have closed the streets around Mosul’s Grand al-Nuri Jerusalem Mosque, residents said, AFP "Occupation policies apparently in preparation for and practices remain a final showdown in the bat- ifty years after Israel the key cause of tle over their last major occupied the Pales- stronghold in Iraq. humanitarian needs tinian territories, its Dozens of fighters were policies in the West in the occupied seen by residents taking up Bank and Gaza are at Palestinian territories," positions in the past 48 hours Fthe root of Palestinian hardship, the UN Office for around the medieval mosque, the United Nations said the Coordination of the site where Islamic State yesterday. Humanitarian Affairs leader Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi "Occupation policies and declared an Islamist caliphate (OCHA) said in a report. practices remain the key cause in July 2014. of humanitarian needs in the Islamic State’s black flag occupied Palestinian territo- car-ramming attacks. has been flying from the ries," the UN Office for the Others were shot dead dur- mosque since the militants Coordination of Humanitarian ing protests or clashes, while captured Mosul and seized Affairs (OCHA) said in a report. some were killed in Israeli air swathes of Iraq and Syria in West Bank and Gaza resi- strikes on the Gaza Strip. the summer of 2014. dents suffer from a lack of basic OCHA's 15-page Humani- US-backed Iraqi govern- security, it said, adding that the tarian Overview for 2016 notes A police car entering through the main entrance of the Kingdom school in Riyadh. ment forces retook eastern split between president Mah- a sharp fall in bloodshed over Mosul in January and began mud Abbas's West Bank-based the year compared to 2015. a new push on Saturday to administration and the rival "Palestinian fatalities from Two dead in Saudi school shooting capture the group’s remain- Islamist movement Hamas in conflict-related violence in the ing enclave in western Mosul, Gaza also restricts humanitar- occupied Palestinian territories comprising of the Old City ian work. and Israel declined by 37 per- Riyadh later from Riyadh police. or unanswered. center where the mosque is "At its heart, the crisis is one cent compared with 2015," it AFP Investigators are treating the Kingdom School is part of a located, and three adjacent of a lack of protection for Pal- said. "The decline in Israeli case as a criminal matter and group owned by Prince districts alongside the west- estinian civilians — from fatalities was 48 percent." teacher killed two staff at "not a terrorist incident," the Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of ern bank of the River Tigris. violence, from displacement, However, Israeli demoli- a private school owned source said. Saudi media spoke Kingdom Holding Co whose The fall of the city from restrictions on access to tions of Palestinian homes in A by a prominent Saudi bil- of "disagreements" between the diversified investments include would, in effect, mark the services and livelihoods, and the West Bank, including lionaire in Riyadh yesterday, a suspect and victims. Citigroup and Time Warner. end of the Iraqi half of the from other rights violations." annexed east Jerusalem, had security source said. The school "There has been a shooting The school, which has sev- self-styled caliphate. Mean- Israel occupied the West peaked, it said. was closed and no children were at Kingdom School in Riyadh," eral campuses, opened in 2000 while in Syria, Kurdish Bank and the Gaza Strip dur- "In the West Bank, more there at the time, the US the US embassy said on its Twit- and offers boys' and girls' edu- forces backed by US-air ing the 1967 Six-Day War. Palestinians were displaced in embassy in Riyadh said. ter account. cation from kindergarten to high strikes are beseiging Islamic Repeated efforts to negotiate 2016 (1,601, including 759 chil- Police were hunting a sus- "School is closed, no chil- school, according to its State forces in the city of a solution to the conflict and dren) due to demolitions of pect of Iraqi origin who worked dren present. Please avoid area," website. Raqqa, the militants’ de facto establish an independent Pal- their homes by the Israeli at the school, the security source the Twitter post said, without The school has both a Saudi capital in that country. estinian state alongside Israel authorities than in any year said, after the rare shooting. elaborating on casualties or curriculum and an international Up to 200,000 people have stalled. since OCHA began recording "A teacher took a gun and motives behind the shooting. programme leading to an Amer- still live in harrowing condi- A wave of unrest that broke the phenomenon in 2009," it then he went to the school room Most schools in Saudi Ara- ican diploma. tions behind Islamic State out in October 2015 has said. In the Gaza Strip, where and he killed the assistant school bia are on holiday. Kingdom Holding says on its lines in Mosul, running low on claimed the lives of 266 Pales- unemployment is among the principal and one of the employ- Nobody answered the website that the schools group food, water and medicine, tinians. Israeli authorities say highest in the world, a strict ees," said the source who asked school's main phone line, and has more than 4,000 students and with difficult access to most of the Palestinians killed Israeli blockade has been in not to be identified because a mobile numbers listed in the and 300 teachers at various hospitals, the United Nations were carrying out knife, gun or force for over a decade. formal statement would come school handbook were either off locations in Riyadh. said on Sunday. Kenya opens Chinese-built railway Kuwait court condemns 7 to death KUWAIT CITY: A Kuwaiti appeals court yesterday sentenced seven young men to death for the abduction and rape of a disa- Mombasa bled 13-year-old boy, the victim's lawyer said. Ibrahim Al Bathani AFP said that the court overturned a 10-year jail term handed in April by a lower court against the seven accused. He said the seven enya's President Uhuru defendants, aged 18-23, abducted the victim in September last Kenyatta yesterday inau- year to a chalet where they sexually assaulted him. The victim is Kgurated a Chinese-built a Kuwaiti citizen suffering from partial mental disability, the law- railway, the country's biggest yer said. "This is a historic verdict," Bathani said. The convicts, infrastructure project since inde- four Kuwaitis, a Yemeni, an Iraqi and a stateless person, filmed pendence that is aimed at part of the rape and threatened to post it on social media if the cementing its role as the gate- boy spoke of his ordeal, Bathani said. Prosecutors found the vid- way to East Africa. eos on the phones of some of the defendants. The ruling is not final The boxy red-and-white as the case must go to the Kuwaiti supreme court whose verdicts diesel train left from a gleaming are final. The death penalty in Kuwait is carried out by hanging. new terminal in the port city of Mombasa, carrying Kenyatta, Chinese dignitaries and citizens 532 dead in Yemen Cholera outbreak from around the country on its Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta flags off a cargo train, as it leaves the container terminal maiden journey to Nairobi. GENEVA: At least 532 people have died since a cholera epidemic The five-hour journey will for its inaugural journey to Nairobi, at the port of the coastal town of Mombasa, yesterday. broke out in Yemen one month ago, according to the World Health take less than half the time to Organization (WHO). In a Twitter post yesterday, the WHO said drive between the two cities, a an industrialised, prosperous, — a railway built more than a 135 workers, is credited with more than 65,300 suspected cases of cholera have been recorded hair-raising trip on a one-lane middle-income country," Ken- century ago by colonial Britain shaping Kenya into its current in 253 districts in the country. International organizations — includ- highway clogged with lumber- yatta said at the inauguration which was known for lengthy form. ing the WHO, Unicef and the International Committee of the Red ing trucks and where accidents ceremony. delays and breakdowns. The capital Nairobi was a Cross — have recently stepped up the delivery of medical supplies claim dozens of lives each year. Dubbed the Madaraka (Free- The old railway, whose con- swampy outpost with no partic- to Yemen, where local health authorities are struggling to cope "Today we celebrate one of dom) Express, the train can carry struction became the stuff of ular attraction until it became with the outbreak. the key cornerstones to Kenya's 1,260 passengers and replaces legend as a pair of man-eating the headquarters of Kenya transformation to the so-called "Lunatic Express" lions devoured some Railways. Bomb claims lives of 4 Kenyan police officers

NAIROBI: Four police officers were killed when their vehicle hit Rival factions clash a roadside bomb in southeastern Kenya, a week after 14 others Bahrain court dissolves oppn group died in similar attacks claimed by Shabaab Islamists, a police source at Aden airport said yesterday. "We have lost four officers in this attack that also killed another person. The vehicle drove on an IED (improvised ADEN: Fighters loyal to rival Dubai requested the dissolution of the over the 2011 protests before explosive device)," a senior police officer in the coastal Lamu dis- factions in Aden, seat of Yem- AFP National Democratic Action being released under a royal trict near the Somali border, said on condition of anonymity. It en’s internationally-recognised Society (Waed) in March. amnesty in June 2015. was not immediately clear if the fifth person, a civilian, was in or government, traded gun and Bahraini court dissolved It accused the party of seri- Last year, a court ordered near the vehicle at the time. rocket-fire for nearly three a secular opposition ous violations of the principle the dissolution of the country's hours at the city’s airport over Aparty yesterday, a judi- of respect for the rule of law, main opposition party, Al Tuesday night, witnesses said. cial official said, as authorities "support of terrorism and pro- Wefaq, for "harbouring Three Turkish soldiers dead in clashes One combatant was kept up a crackdown on motion of political change by terrorism". killed, they said. The clash dissent. force. Its leader, Sheikh Ali Sal- DIYARBAKIR: Three Turkish soldiers were killed in clashes with ended when other forces The decision by the admin- The Sunni left-leaning man, has been behind bars since Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) militants in the southeastern prov- backed by a Saudi-led mili- istrative court, just months after former head of Waed, Ibrahim 2014. ince of Diyarbakir, security sources said. Earlier in the day, the tary coalition intervened, a the main party representing the Sharif, was released from prison Shia Al Wefaq was the larg- army said arplanes had killed two PKK militants in the Lice dis- security official said. The air- kingdom's Shia majority was last July after serving a one-year est bloc in Bahrain's elected trict of Diyarbakir. Turkey’s largely Kurdish southeast has been port hosts infrequent flights also banned, was swiftly con- sentence for incitement against lower house of parliament. Its rocked by violence following the collapse of a 2-1/2-year cease- from the national carrier demned by human rights the government. members resigned en masse in fire between the state and the PKK in 2015. The PKK took up arms Yemenia since it was refur- groups. He had already served four protest against the state crack- in 1984 to fight for an autonomous state, and more than 40,000 bished and reopened in July. The justice ministry had years of a five-year sentence down on the 2011 protests. people have since been killed in the conflict since then. THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 ASIA 09 Maharashtra farmers to go on strike from today

Mumbai first to announce the strike from IANS Loan talks collapse June 1, and many others fol- "With the farmers lowed suit. ver half a million going on strike, major The farmers' demands farmers across cities like Mumbai, include complete waiver of farm Maharashtra yes- Thane, Navi Mumbai, loans, free electricity, appropri- terday said that ate remunerative prices for their Pune, Nashik, Nagpur they plan to launch produce, grant for irrigation and could face shortages Oan indefinite strike starting mid- higher price for milk and imple- night after talks with Chief of essentials like mentation of the M S Minister Devendra Fadnavis on fruits, vegetables, milk Swaminathan Committee various issues, including the and food grains in the recommendations. long-pending demand of a loan coming days," said The Fadnavis government waiver, collapsed. Swabhimani Shetkari had been under severe fire from "With the farmers going on Sanghatana leader not only the opposition parties Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with his Spanish counterpart Mariano strike, major cities like Mumbai, and MP Raju Shetti. - Congress and the Nationalist Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune, Congress Party - but also its own Rajoy at La Moncloa Palace in Madrid, yesterday. Nashik, Nagpur could face allies - the Shiv Sena and the shortages of essentials like "a loss of face for Prime Minis- Shetti-led SSS. fruits, vegetables, milk and food ter Narendra Modi" who had In a massive show of India & Spain to cooperate against terrorism grains in the coming days," said assured to resolve farmers strength on Tuesday, Shetti Swabhimani Shetkari Sangha- issues during the 2014 election, completed his long march from Madrid talks with his Spanish coun- peace and stability and tana leader and MP Raju Shetti. and "a failure of the state BJP". Pune to Mumbai and met IANS terpart Mariano Rajoy at La expressed their strong commit- "Farmers are committing The government however Maharashtra Governor C.V. Rao Moncloa, the official residence ment to combat terrorism in all suicides all over the state... The said it is still hopeful of working to apprise him of the crises grip- ndia and Spain yesterday of the Spanish Prime its forms and manifestations". government is insensitive to out a last-minute solution. ping farmlands. committed to cooperate in Minister. "They stressed that there their plight. We have no options "We are discussing all the "We have already held Ithe fight against terrorism "Terrorism and extremism should be zero tolerance to ter- but to launch the strike.. After a issues with farmers' leaders. We meetings with Governor Rao calling it the gravest threat to pose the biggest challenge to the rorism and that there can be no fortnight we will intensify it," are sympathetic to their and Chief Minister Fadnavis on international peace and stabil- world today," Modi said. justification whatsoever for any Shetti said. demands. I am certain we will our long-pending issues and ity even as the two sides "Strengthening cooperation act of terror," it stated. Late on Tuesday, represent- hammer out an amicable solu- urged an immediate solution," expressed the need to restart between us in the fight against According to the statement, atives of the Kisan Kranti tion and resolve the issues," Shetti added. negotiations for an EU-India terrorism is a key element of our Modi and Rajoy "expressed their Morcha (KMM) a state-level Minister of State for Agriculture He warned that with mon- Broad-based Trade and Invest- bilateral agenda." strong commitment to reinforce coordination committee of var- Sadabhau Khot told media soon setting in, the sowing ment Agreement (BITA). A joint statement issued fol- their cooperation in the fight ious farmers organisations, met persons. season would begin within the "Both India and Spain have lowing the meeting between the against terrorism, through reg- Fadnavis, but failed to get any A group of around 200 next fortnight, which would be faced terrorism," Prime Min- two leaders said both "recog- ular bilateral consultations and concrete commitments, he farmers of Puntamba village in affected if the government failed ister Narendra Modi said while nised that terrorism poses the cooperation and in the interna- added. Shetti said the strike is Ahmednagar district were the to fulfil the farmers' demands. addressing the media ahead of gravest threat to international tional fora". Woman techie Karnataka's Nandini K R tops civil services exam Petrol & diesel prices shot dead New Delhi Other Backward Class (OBC). IANS The share of Scheduled Caste to go up from today in Noida (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) andini K R (pictured) of candidates comprises 163 and New Delhi largest fuel retailer, said the Noida Karnataka bagged the 80 candidates, respectively. IANS rates have been hiked exclud- IANS Ntop rank in the Union The selected candidates will ing local state levies or VAT, and Public Service Commission be placed across vacant posi- etrol price was yesterday actual increase will be higher 23-year-old woman (UPSC) 2016 examination, fol- tions in the Indian hiked by Rs1.23 per litre depending on tax rate. was gunned down by lowed by Anmol Sher Singh Bedi Administrative Service (IAS), Pand diesel by 89 paise a “The current level of inter- Aan unidentified man in and Gopalakrishna Ronanki, at Indian Foreign Service (IFS), litre in sync with rising inter- national product prices of a residential highrise build- second and third place, a state- Indian Police Service (IPS) and national crude oil prices. The petrol and diesel and INR-USD ing's parking area in Noida ment from the Commission said Central Services Group 'A' and petrol price hike, effective mid- exchange rate warrant decrease yesterday morning. yesterday. about 100km from Bengaluru. Group 'B'. night, comes on the back of a in selling price of petrol and Police said the deceased, The written test for the civil She graduated in engineering The vacancies, as reported Rs2.16 per litre cut in petrol and diesel, the impact of which is Anjali Rathour, worked as a services examination was held from M S Ramaiah Institute of by the central government Rs2.10 a litre reduction in die- being passed on to the consum- Trainee Engineer in the Sales in December 2016, followed by Technology in Bengaluru. across services are: IAS - 180, sel prices effected from 16 May. ers with this price revision,” Department of a mobile man- interviews for personality test A total of 1,099 candidates IFS - 45, IPS - 150, Central Serv- Petrol in Delhi will cost Indian Oil said in a statement. ufacturing company in Sector between March and May this have been recommended for ices Group 'A' - 603 and Central Rs66.91 per litre from today as The movement of prices in 62 of Noida. She was a native year. appointment, besides a consol- Services Group 'B' - 231. against Rs65.32 a litre currently. the international oil market and of Yumuna Nagar in Haryana Nandini K R is currently a idated Reserve List of 172 Results can be accessed on Similarly, a litre of diesel will be the rupee-dollar exchange rate and stayed in a sharing 2016 batch Indian Revenue candidates. the UPSC website. The marks priced at Rs55.94, as compared will continue to be monitored accommodation on third floor Service (IRS) officer posted in From among the recom- will be available on the website to Rs54.90 at present. closely and developing trends with her five friends in Shat- Faridabad, Haryana. mended candidates, 500 belong within 15 days from the date of Announcing the price hike, of the market will be reflected abdi Rail Vihar Apartment She hails from Kolar district, to General Category and 347 to declaration of result. Indian Oil Corp. Ltd, the nation’s in future price changes, it said. Society. The incident occurred at around 6.30 a.m when some residents informed police about her DU student held killing in the parking area. Siddaramaiah to lead Congress in Karnataka polls "Initial investigations sug- for lynching gest that she got a call from a New Delhi The new appointments in the released by party General Secre- S.R. Patil (Lingayat) will be the man believed to be her boy- IANS party's Karnataka unit have also tary Janardan Dwivedi. The Karnataka Pradesh Congress e-rickshaw driver friend Ashwani at around been made keeping in mind the statement said that K.H. Muniya- Committee (KPCC) working Pres- 6.05 a.m. She later went to he Congress yesterday caste calculations in the state ppa, MP and former union ident, along with present working New Delhi meet him in the parking area announced it will contest and striking a balance by includ- minister, had been included in the President Dinesh Gundurao. IANS of the building. Tthe upcoming assembly ing leaders from all castes and Congress Working Committee as "Gundurao will look after the "The CCTV footage of elections in Karnataka under the communities, a source said. a special invitee. party affairs of southern Karna- elhi Police has arrested around 6.30 a.m shows a man leadership of Chief Minister K "He (Parameshwara) will con- Satish Jarkiholi has been taka and S R Patil of Karnataka," a Delhi University stu- chasing her and she running Siddaramaiah. tinue to be the PCC President...to appointed a Secretary of the All it added. D K Shivakumar, a min- Ddent and detained his to avoid him. Finally, he The Congress party has devote his full time and energy in India Congress Committee ister in the present state cabinet, juvenile accomplice for lynch- shoots her in the back of her retained G. Parameshwara as the discharging responsibilities of the (AICC). Muniyappa is a Dalit will be the Chairman of the cam- ing an e-rickshaw driver after head," Superintendent of Karnataka unit President and party president, he will resign leader, while Jarkiholi is a tribal paign committee for the coming he objected to them urinating Police (City) Arun Kumar asked him to resign from the from the state cabinet immedi- leader from the state. assembly election. He is from the at GTB Metro Station in north Singh said. state cabinet immediately. ately," said an AICC statement According to the statement, Vokkaliga community. Delhi, a senior police officer said yesterday. Police said the accused student Shekhar Kapasia, 19, and his juvenile friend were captured in a Kerala to hold cabinet session to counter cattle law CCTV footage which helped them to identify them. They Thiruvananthapuram in the new central law on cattle today include the possibility of were arrested from their hide- IANS trade and slaughter that takes holding a special session of the outs in Muzaffarnagar of Uttar away the rights of people with Kerala Assembly and also call- Pradesh on Tuesday night. erala Chief Minister regard to eating beef. ing a meeting of all the chief Kapasia, a B.Com Second Pinarayi Vijayan yester- Addressing reporters after the minister's in the country. year of Sri Aurobindo College Kday termed the new weekly cabinet meeting here, Incidentally Vijayan on Mon- in Malviya Nagar, is a resident central law on cattle trade and Vijayan said that the move by the day wrote a strong letter to his of Sant Nagar. His juvenile slaughter as an infringement on Centre is nothing but infringing counterparts across the country accomplice, 17, is studying at the rights of the state govern- on the rights of the state on the new Central law, which a south Delhi school, and is a ment and has called for a special government. he said was a covert attempt to resident of Malviya Nagar. cabinet meeting today to discuss "The Centre through new usurp the powers of the state leg- Both of them are natives of various measures, including the laws is trying to wriggle into the islature under the guise of a Muzaffarnagar, police said. possibility of convening a meet- rights of the state government. Central Act. Police removing members of the Revolutionary Students and "We have identified five ing of all chief ministers to This is a clear violation of dem- He urged on the need to Youth Front during a protest against ban on the sale of cows other youths. We are interro- discuss the issue. ocratic principles and will not be stand together and oppose this for slaughter in Chennai, yesterday. gating Kapasia and the The move comes as the Ker- allowed," said Vijayan. anti-federal, anti democratic and juvenile to ascertain the hide- ala High Court yesterday Among the other aspects that anti-secular move as it may of similar measures aimed at democratic fabric and secular outs of their associates observed that there was nothing will come up before the cabinet mark the beginning of a series destroying the federal culture of our country. involved in killing driver. 10 VIEWS THURSDAY 1 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 Kabul attack he barbaric attack in Kabul yesterday which killed at least 80 people, wounded hundreds and damaged embassy buildings, is a sign of the desperation of terrorists rather than their strength. Even Tthe Taliban, which is known for some of the deadliest and barbaric suicide attacks in the history of Trump meets European allies: Afghanistan, has denied responsibility and condemned it on the ground that the attack has no legitimate target and killed civilians. According to some reports, the Islamic State has claimed Nato’s future at stake responsibility, and it’s not surprising. Only the IS is capable of such heart-stopping cruelty which even diplomacy puts him at odds with the allies, particularly those bordering Rus- the Taliban can’t, and that too in the holy month of Tarık Oguzlu multilateral and collective security sia. Many European members of Nato Ramadan, targeting ordinary Afghan Muslims who Anatolia underpinnings of the transatlantic continue to view Russia as a growing were out in the morning to make ends meet. alliance. threat to be reckoned with and support A powerful bomb, hidden in a sewage tanker, With Trump now in power, doubts the continuation of the sanctions until exploded in the morning rush hour at a busy about the survival of the liberal world hopefully producing a positive change in intersection in the centre of Kabul, damaging order and Nato acting as Russia’s behaviors. embassy buildings in the capital’s unofficial Green fter becoming president of the United its main pillar will likely The fact that Russia occupied Cri- Zone. But the victims were mostly civilians going to States, Donald Trump met the Euro- increase. The major per- mea, supported pro-Russian separatists work or school, as well as office workers in nearby pean leaders of Nato for the first time missive factor behind in Eastern Ukraine, bolstered the Assad buildings. The explosion happened close to the in a series of meetings held in Brus- the persistence of Nato regime in Syria, put the postwar era’s German embassy and injured some staff. The sels on May 25, 2017. Whether has so far been the con- liberal security order in Europe in jeop- Trump’sA conversations with European allies will tinuation of the US-led ardy, and tried to affect the outcomes of French, Turkish and Chinese embassies were among those damaged, and the BBC said one of its drivers, contribute to the emergence of a more solid Nato many elections across the transatlantic an Afghan, was killed driving journalists to work. and overcome the problem of growing diver- The continuation of Nato community in cyberspace do not seem So powerful was the impact of the blast that it gence and distrust among transatlantic capitals to bother Trump much, while European has yet to be seen. as the linchpin of Europe’s members of the alliance have demon- tore a huge crater in the Nato’s enlargement toward the former security structure has strated a greater willingness than ever to ground. A bigger tragedy communist states in Central and Eastern face up to the Russian challenge and bol- was averted as Afghan not only produced an Europe, its undertaking of out-of-area mili- ster Nato’s defense and deterrence security forces prevented environment conducive to tary operations beyond Europe, its capabilities in the face of emerging secu- It’s unfortunate the vehicle carrying the identification of new security threats and the deepening of the EU rity threats in the peripheries of their that Afghanistan bomb from entering the adoption of new strategies in line with glo- integration process but also continent. Green Zone. balization, and its transformation into an The continuation of Nato as the is sliding into The latest attack is allayed the concern that more chaos after expeditionary alliance in the post-9/11 era linchpin of Europe’s security structure proof of the huge have not concealed serious ruptures among the rise of Germany might has not only produced an environment years of fighting challenges the its members. produce a new hegemonic conducive to the deepening of the EU the insurgents. government of President The US has long perceived the alliance order in the middle of integration process but also allayed the Ashraf Ghani is facing. In mainly as a force multiplier, whereas its Euro- Europe. concern that the rise of Germany might addition to a resurgent pean allies tried to make sure that Nato would produce a new hegemonic order in the Taliban, it has now a new provide them with institutional capabilities to middle of Europe. enemy, the Islamic State, help shape American priorities and policies. liberal world order in which Western With Trump now questioning the which is trying to outdo and outsmart Taliban with While the US argued for Nato’s globalisation powers could brilliantly succeed in legitimacy of the liberal order and shak- high-profile attacks, including one on a military in the post-Cold War era, European allies shaping the tone of global politics. This ing up the foundations of Nato, the EU hospital in March that killed more than 50 people. attached importance to Nato remaining a can no longer be taken for granted with integration process might not survive the The IS is expanding its presence in Afghanistan. In a Europe-oriented collective defense organisa- Trump now adopting illiberal practices challenges of a potential German country which is brimming with fighters of various tion. The European members of the alliance in the domestic and foreign policy hegemony as well as a resurgent Russia. hues, it’s not difficult for this terrorist organization to did not want to see Nato act as a legitimising realms. Trump seems to ignore the structural recruit members. platform for unilateral American military Trump does not believe that there is benefits of Nato’s persistence for the US It’s unfortunate that Afghanistan is sliding into involvements across the globe or put them in a Western international community built The re-emergence of balance of power more chaos after years of fighting the insurgents. The unwanted contingencies driven by American- on common identity, morality and politics in Europe in the absence of Taliban has been on the ascendancy after the only security priorities. values. American commitment to European withdrawal of international forces in 2014, and they That said, it is worth underlying that fol- Second, Trump voiced extremely security through Nato might incur far now control or have claims to around 40 percent of lowing their first institutional meeting with critical views about the European allies greater costs in the future than the the country. Afghan troops, despite the training they President Trump, European allies acquiesced during his election campaign. His vitri- amount of money that the US currently received from the Nato forces, have been unable to to American demands that Nato institution- olic statements about the meager spends in Nato. weaken the Taliban. There is a demand for sending ally take part in the US-led coalition against defense spending of European allies did Fourth, Trump supported Brexit and more US forces to bolster the government side. US Daesh and that Europeans intensify their not strike a sympathetic chord with showed his sympathy for populist, anti- President Donald Trump is due to decide soon on a cooperation with the United States in the Europeans. Despite the counter-argu- globalist, and anti-integrationist proposal to send 3,000 to 5,000 more troops to fields of intelligence and counter-terrorism. ments that Europeans have been candidates during the presidential and support the NATO training force and US counter- Despite the lack of a clear-cut consensus on substantially contributing to the transat- parliamentary elections recently held in the policies to be adopted toward Russia, this lantic security by other means — e.g. some European countries, most notably terrorism mission now totalling just over 10,000. move on the part of Europeans will likely doling out development aid, setting the France. While German Prime Minister The situation in Afghanistan is dire and alleviate the American concern that Europe- global standards on international trade, Merkel warned Trump against the nega- dangerous. The international community must act ans contribute more to the fight against human rights, and environment policy — tive consequences of endangering the before it gets out of control. terrorism and help ease the burden on the US’ Trump seems to have fixated on the idea liberal democratic values of the transat- shoulders. that each Nato member spend at least 2 lantic community, the head of the However, Trump’s visit to Brussels, com- percent of its GDP on the military in line European Council, Donald Tusk, openly ing on the heels of his visits to Saudi Arabia, with the decisions adopted at Nato’s July referred to Trump’s America as a poten- QUOTE OF THE DAY Israel, and the Vatican, should be considered 2016 Warsaw summit. From Trump’s tial threat leveled against the existing in the context of the US’ evolving attitude perspective, the United States is a truly European security and political order. toward transatlantic relations. Some observa- global power and it needs to allocate its It is no secret that Trump is not on the tions are offered below. scarce resources to different quarters of same page as new French President Europe must make clear First, despite the American pivot to East the globe, while Europeans take charge Macron and Merkel on such issues as glo- to the United States that Asia and previous US President Barack of security responsibilities in Europe and balisation, multiculturalism, openness, Obama’s taking pride in becoming the first its peripheries. Trump seems to be migration, and climate change. The ten- quitting the Paris climate American president of the “post-American extremely preoccupied with the issue of dency on the part of Merkel and Macron agreement is not a world,” the US commitment to European burden-sharing within Nato in numeri- to boost the EU integration process and straightforward process, security, Nato’s multilateral mechanisms, and cal terms. endow the EU with its own defense capa- the liberal world order had long been con- Third, since he came to the fore as bilities might further deepen the and that fully leaving the stants in American foreign policy by the time the frontrunner of the Republican Party transatlantic rift in the face of Brexit and deal will take years. Trump occupied the White House. in the US presidential elections, Trump Trump’s “America first” mentality. Despite his volte-face on the usefulness of has demonstrated a proclivity to mend The writer has a Ph.D. from Bilkent Univer- Jean-Claude Juncker Nato, Trump has been saying for some time fences with Vladimir Putin’s Russia. sity and is a professor of political science European Commission that Nato is obsolete. His predisposition to However, Trump’s pro-Putin stance and international relations at Antalya Inter- President engage in great-powers diplomacy, transac- seems to have caused strong consterna- tional bilateral deals, and hard-power tion on the part of Nato’s European national University. THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 OPINION 11 BA must now repair damaged reputation

Southwest Airlines also down- Alistair Smout graded revenue targets last year & Victoria Bryan after a computer outage forced Reuters it to cancel more than 2,000 flights. Airlines’ reservations and IT systems are often a combina- ritish Airways must turn its attention to tion of modern systems built on repairing its brand after a weekend of top of technology from the chaos and criticism caused by a major IT 1960s. The need to keep sys- outage that grounded flights from Lon- tems running 24/7 means it is don’s two main airports. hard to shut them down for a BThousands were left stranded when an IT sys- full overhaul. tems failure on Saturday left the airline unable to Hecht of Continuity Software allow passengers to check in or board flights. said the Delta outage had spurred The meltdown at the start of a school holiday interest from firms looking to week in Britain unleashed a wave of criticism for improve their resilience, and that BA, which like other full-service airlines has been in the last two years, there has cutting costs to compete with budget carriers Rya- been a 500 percent increase in nair and easyJet. demand for business continuity BA had already come under fire in recent technologies. months for charging passengers for sandwiches on “It is possible for British Air- shorter flights and cutting leg room on short-haul ways and other airlines to do a business to help fit in more seats per plane. better job, but some of it is a Ryanair was quick to try to capitalise, using ref- financial decision,” he said. erences to comedies “Airplane” and “Little Britain” Speaking after the Delta on social media to suggest passengers book with it incident last summer, a senior instead. Lufthansa manager said the Critics in the British media questioned BA’s carrier’s main operations centre strategy and the way it was positioning itself in a in Frankfurt had continuity competitive market. measures built in but that the “How long will passengers continue to pay airline also had a back-up cen- through the nose if they are receiving a service the tre at a separate, undisclosed cheapest budget airline would be ashamed of,” location. mid-market newspaper the Daily Mail wrote on Michael Gierse, a fund man- Monday. ager at Lufthansa shareholder On customer review site Skytrax, BA had a Passengers arrive with their luggage in Terminal 5 of London’s Heathrow Airport. Union Investment, said all compa- score of 5/10, with many reviewers saying they feel nies, not just airlines, should have the airline’s economy class on short-haul is now no development for BA customers - and hence IAG decision to shift work to India last year. a board member responsible for better than a budget carrier. shareholders,” he wrote in a note, adding that sister Some wondered why IAG Chief Executive Willie IT. By comparison, low cost carriers Ryanair and carrier Vueling also experienced operational prob- Walsh, a former head of BA and better known in “It would be even better if the easyJet score 6/10, while Lufthansa and KLM score lems during the peak summer period last year. Britain than Cruz, had not appeared in public. CEO were in charge of IT. It’s so 7/10. Spanish-listed shares of IAG, which also owns Kunal Kothari, UK All Cap equity analyst at Old important,” he told Reuters. RBC analyst Damian Brewer said that the latest carriers Iberia and Aer Lingus, dropped 2.5 percent Mutual Global Investors, a top-10 shareholder in BA problems could hit future revenues for parent on Monday after an outage which is likely to cost IAG stock, said he did not expect lasting financial company IAG. tens of millions of pounds in compensation and repercussions for the group. “This is, in our view, a very unhelpful other refunds. “As long as an airline deals with outages in a Analysts said BA needed a charm offensive after sensible and customer friendly way, lasting brand being criticised for its response over the weekend. damage is unlikely,” he said. “There needs to be an important communica- “Without a full investigation I just don’t think The meltdown at the start tions exercise after this, to give assurances that the cost cutting can be blamed,” he added. D-RING ROAD of a school holiday week systems, back up systems and risk plan is as good Gil Hecht, the CEO of Israel-based IT outage POST BOX: 3488 in Britain unleashed a as it can be,” said Davy transport analyst Stephen prevention firm Continuity Software, told Reuters Furlong. that providing such incidents happened no more DOHA - QATAR wave of criticism for BA, “But this has happened before with other global than once a year, people would probably carry on [email protected] which like other full-service airlines, and the stock market effect for these other booking. airlines has been cutting airlines really wasn’t big,” he added. Other airlines have swiftly recovered after a costs to compete with BA CEO Alex Cruz said on Monday that he was one-off financial hit from IT glitches. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE budget carriers Ryanair and “profusely sorry”, and that the problems were due Delta had to cancel 2,300 flights over a TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 to a power surge that also knocked out its back-up three-day period in August after a power outage FAX: +974 4455 7758 easyJet. systems and had nothing to do with outsourcing. grounded its flights. The incident knocked $150 The GMB union had blamed IT shortcomings on a million off its pretax profit for the quarter, while MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4462 7505

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR What history tells us about Trump’s budget fantasy TEL: 4455 7769 LOCAL NEWS SECTION the adult population of a country rises more rap- A decline of 2 plus percent from 4.8 percent seems TEL: 4455 7743 idly one should expect its GDP to rise more rapidly highly implausible. There have been no periods with Lawrence H Summers without any improvement in productivity. Here is growth remotely comparable to Trump’s forecasts BUSINESS NEWS SECTION The Washington Post a chart showing the evolution of GDP per adult for that did not involve substantial cyclical tail winds. TEL: 4462 7535 the United States and its seven-year moving aver- The Trump economic team has not engaged in age along with the Trump administration forecast. serious analysis or been in dialogue with those who SPORT NEWS SECTION are capable of it so they have had nothing to say in TEL: 4455 7745 Three features of the data stand out. defence of their forecast except extravagant claims t the risk of beating a dead First, it is not reasonable to use the history of for their policies. Taking their supply-side perspec- ONLINE SECTION horse, here are some thoughts GDP growth unadjusted for demographics in tive, do they really believe that through tax cuts and TEL: 4462 7501 on the Trump administration’s judging what is a reasonable forecast going for- deregulation they are going to accomplish more than [email protected] 3 percent growth forecast. Zero ward. Over the 1961-2000 period the adult Ronald Reagan, who after all reduced the top tax rate interest rates seemed incon- population grew at an average rate of 1.4 percent, from 70 to 28 percent? PUBLIC RELATIONS ceivableA 15 years ago, and yet they compared to a forecast growth rate of 0.2 percent Between 1981 and 1988, GDP per adult grew by an happened. Almost no one forecast the pro- over 2021-2027. So the future will lack the sub- average of 2.5 percent, distinctly slower than what TEL: 4455 7613 ductivity boom that took place in the stantial population growth tail wind that the they are forecasting. Even this figure reflects a sub- [email protected] United States between 1995 and 2005 or American economy has enjoyed historically. stantial cyclical tail wind from the decline in the magnitude of the 2008 financial crisis. Moreover, GDP growth in the earlier period unemployment from 7.6 percent to 5.5 percent (which ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT So any statement that a given forecast is was supported by a tail wind from changing soci- from Okun’s law implies adding about half a percent TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 inconceivable is unwarranted. etal attitudes toward’s women’s work to GDP growth) - something unavailable in the FAX: 4455 7870 It is, though, reasonable to use history — particularly married women. The labor force present context. [email protected] to try to gauge the likelihood of possible participation rate for married women rose from OMB Director Mulvaney, in a flailing defense outcomes. I do not see how any examina- 33 percent in 1960 to 62 percent in 2000 and has against my criticism of his budget arithmetic, notes CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT tion of US history could possibly support been roughly constant since then. So the arithme- correctly that the Obama administration’s early fore- TEL: 4455 7857 the Trump forecast as a reasonable tic of demography implies that growth should be casts overestimated the pace of recovery. True. [email protected] expectation. substantially slower than has been observed We made the same error that the consensus of In thinking about growth, historically. professional forecasters, the Fed and the IMF all SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION it is only logical to focus on Second, the Trump administration forecast of made. We did not offer our own original view of our TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 the record of growth domes- growth of 3 percent for seven years between 2021 programs’ impact. There is a reason why businesses FAX: 44557819 tic product per adult, since if and 2027 is the equivalent of 2.8 percent growth are audited and a reason why heretofore government per US adult. In the past 56 years, US growth has economic forecasts have followed the consensus. No [email protected] never exceeded this figure for more than three one is credible evaluating their own work. consecutive years. Even if the economy’s underly- A business trying to sell stock on the basis of a The Trump economic team ing growth rate increased to 3 percent, is it really document half as hype-filled as the Trump budget All thoughts and views has not engaged in serious plausible that there will be no recession between would be a joke. No reputable investment bank would expressed in these columns analysis or been in dialogue now and 2027? underwrite their offering. A great mystery here is why Third, there are occasions during the 1960s, the experienced investment bankers in senior posi- are those of the writers, not with those who are capable 1980s and 1990s when growth averaged 2.8 per- tions in the Trump administration hold the budget of of the newspaper. of it so they have had cent or a little bit more over a seven-year period. the United States to so much lower standards of nothing to say in defence But each of these eras involved substantial cyclical integrity than they applied in their earlier lives. All correspondence of their forecast except recovery with the unemployment rate falling by regarding Views and 2.0, 4.1 and 2.9 percent over the respective peri- Opinion pages should be extravagant claims for their ods. In contrast, the Trump administration The writer is a professor at Harvard, is a former treasury mailed to the policies. predicts that unemployment in 2021 will be 4.8 secretary and director of the National Economic Council in percent. the White House. [email protected] 12 ASIA THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 90 dead in massive Kabul explosion

explosives packed inside a water the country is outside govern- No claims yet tanker. ment control. Rescue workers were digging "Unfortunately the toll has No group has so far bodies from the rubble hours reached 90 martyred (killed) and claimed the powerful after the explosion as anguished over 300 wounded, including blast, which a Western residents struggled to get through many women and children," said diplomatic source said security cordons to search for health ministry spokesman was caused by 1,500kg missing relatives. Waheed Majroh, adding the fig- of explosives packed Dozens of damaged cars ures would continue to climb as inside a water tanker. choked the roads as wounded more bodies are pulled from the survivors and panicked school- debris. The Taliban — girls sought safety. President Ashraf Ghani currently in the midst It was not immediately clear slammed the attack as a "war of their annual "spring what the target was. But the crime". offensive" — tweeted attack suggests a major security The Taliban — currently in that they were not failure and underscores spiral- the midst of their annual "spring involved and "strongly ling insecurity in Afghanistan, offensive" — tweeted that they Afghan security forces arriving at the site of a car bomb attack in Kabul, yesterday. condemn" the blast. where the Nato-backed military, were not involved and "strongly beset by soaring casualties and condemn" the blast. The insur- large numbers of civilians. Tolo TV also tweeted that a staff condemnation. desertions, is struggling to beat gent group rarely claims The Islamic State group has member Aziz Navin was killed. US ambassador to Afghani- Kabul back insurgents. Over a third of responsibility for attacks that kill claimed responsibility for sev- The explosion damaged sev- stan Hugo Llorens issued a AFP eral recent bombings in the eral embassies in the area, scathing statement condemn- Afghan capital, including a pow- which houses diplomatic and ing the "complete disregard for t least 90 people were erful blast targeting a Nato government buildings and is a human life", saying those behind killed and hundreds Germany pauses Afghan convoy that killed eight people maze of concrete blast walls, the attack deserved our "utter wounded yesterday earlier this month. vehicle barriers and armed scorn". when a massive deportations after blast The sound of the bomb, security guards. Amnesty International said truck bomb ripped which went off near Kabul's busy German Foreign Minister the attack underscores the fact throughA Kabul's diplomatic quar- Berlin deal with organisational Zanbaq Square, reverberated Sigmar Gabriel said the "despi- that the conflict in Afghanistan ter, bringing carnage to the AFP matters". across the Afghan capital, with cable" attack killed an Afghan is "dangerously widening in a streets of the Afghan capital and The bombing in Kabul's residents comparing it to an guard from the German way that should alarm the inter- blowing out windows several ermany said yesterday diplomatic quarter killed an earthquake. Most victims appear embassy, and added that some national community". miles away. it had postponed a Afghan guard at the German to be civilians. employees had been injured, yesterday's blast was the lat- Bodies littered the scene and Gscheduled deportation embassy and wounded two "The vigilance and courage though he did not give further est in a string of attacks in Kabul. a huge cloud of smoke rose from flight of rejected Afghan asy- embassy staff, one of them of Afghan security forces pre- details. The province surrounding the the highly-fortified area which lum seekers after a Kabul German, the other one vented the VBIED (vehicle-borne He said the bomb had gone capital had the highest number houses foreign embassies, after truck bomb attack killed 80 Afghan. improvised explosive device) off "in the immediate vicinity" of casualties in the country in the rush-hour attack tore a mas- and wounded hundreds. "In the next few days, from gaining entry to the Green of the German embassy. the first three months of 2017 sive crater in the ground just A government source said there will be no return trips Zone, but the explosion caused France, India, Turkey, due to multiple attacks in the days into the Muslim holy fast- the charter flight was to Afghanistan," said an inte- civilian casualties," Nato said in Japan, the United Arab Emir- city, with civilians bearing the ing month of Ramadan. scrapped because diplomatic rior ministry spokesman, a statement. ates and Bulgaria similarly brunt of the violence. No group has so far claimed and consular staff, "so shortly insisting however that depor- The BBC said its Afghan reported damage to their Pentagon chief Jim Mattis the powerful blast, which a after the attack, have more tations would continue after driver Mohammed Nazir was embassies, including shattered has warned of "another tough Western diplomatic source said important things to do than to that. killed and four of their journal- windows, as the blast drew an year" for both foreign troops and was caused by 1,500kg of ists wounded. Local TV channel avalanche of international local forces in Afghanistan.

Nepal delays Duterte rejects talks with Marawi city rebels local polls Manila 89 Islamist militants during Reuters more than a week of urban bat- again over tles but a final showdown is hilippine President Rodrigo expected to be fierce as the gun- Duterte said yesterday he men protect their leaders and Ramadan Pwould not talk to Islamist hold hostages, authorities said rebels who are fighting the mil- yesterday. Kathmandu itary and occupying parts of a Attack helicopters fired IANS southern city, and that he was rockets yesterday morning into determined to keep the Islamic parts of Marawi, a Muslim city in epal yesterday post- State group out of the country. the south of the mainly Catholic poned the final phase Duterte's latest remarks on Philippines, that were still con- Nof local elections for a the crisis in Marawi City is a trolled by the militants fighting second time in less than a change in stance from last week, under the black flag of the week to avoid a clash with the when he urged Maute militants Islamic State (IS) group. Muslim holy month of Ram- to talk with him. "I will not talk President Rodrigo Duterte adan. The elections will now to the terrorists," he said in a declared martial law across the be held on June 28, a day after speech to the military in Davao entire southern region of Mind- Eid, that marks the end of City yesterday. anao in response to the crisis, Ramadan, Nepal's Minister of Outraged by what he which he described as the start Home Affairs Bimalendra believes is insincerity towards a of a major campaign by IS to Nidhi was quoted by Efe news peace process he has started establish a foothold in the as saying. with communist rebels fighting Philippines. Leaders of Nepal's minor- a separate, long-running conflict, Eighty-nine militants had ity Muslim community, who Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attending the 119th Anniversary of the Philippine Navy Duterte said its exiled leadership been killed in the fighting and form 3.7 per cent of the Hima- would be arrested if they came the amount of territory in the in Davao, yesterday. layan nation's population, had back to the Philippines. city that the remaining gunmen requested acting Prime Min- He has previously invited controlled had been cut to just However Padilla warned of leaders were likely still in the guarded and defended by any ister Pushpa Kamal Dahal them to return home and even 10 percent, military spokesman more intense battles ahead, city. armed men if they are protect- 'Prachanda' on Tuesday to offered them government posts. Brigadier-General Restituto with the military believing "That 10 percent is most ing any individual of high postpone the poll date. Philippine troops have killed Padilla said yesterday. three of the militants' main likely the area that is heavily value," Padilla said. Earlier, the Nepali gov- ernment had pushed back the polls from June 14 to 23 to pacify Madhesi parties who Duterte slams had threatened to boycott the Growing protests against power outages in Pakistan first local polls in 20 years Chelsea Clinton over dissatisfaction with cer- over criticism Islamabad issues related to the power sec- that added to pubic woes dur- load-shedding. Things can head tain provisions of the new Internews tor,” a statement from the PM ing the holy month of Ramazan to a disaster, if not responded to Constitution promulgated less House on the CCE meeting said. amidst an ever-rising tempera- in time,” said a PML-N MNA, than two years ago. Manila midst growing protests Official sources said that the ture. The PML-N leadership is requesting anonymity. The Madhesis are the res- AFP over prolonged and unan- premier shared his concerns reportedly of the view that Apparently, the decision to idents of the southern Terai Anounced power outages over protests against extensive growing protests alongside a include provincial representa- region, bordering India, who hilippine leader Rodrigo across Pakistan, Khyber- power outages, especially in crucial probe being carried out tive in the decision-making have been demanding, among Duterte angrily hit back Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh Sindh and K-P, with the officials by the Joint Investigation Team process was taken to redress the others, amendment to the Pyesterday at Chelsea provinces in particular, Prime concerned. “Before the situation (JIT) to determine, if any, the grievances of the provinces over 2015 Constitution to redraw Clinton for criticising remarks Minister Nawaz Sharif yester- takes an ugly turn, we need to involvement of the Sharif fam- the issue of power outages. the provincial boundaries and he made about rape, using day directed inclusion of do something. The sooner the ily in the Panamagate can brew In an implied indication that for greater representation in vulgar language while refer- provincial representatives in better,” sources quoted Sharif as problems for the ruling party. Sharif was not happy over the legislature. The postpone- ring to her father's infidelities matters related to the power sec- having said. “At a time when the Supreme alleged figure fudging regarding ment of the elections comes as American president. tor. He issued the directives He was reportedly referring Court has shared strong obser- power shortfalls by water and a week after Prachanda Duterte on Friday told while chairing a meeting of the to the killings of two people on vations, asking the members of power officials, the statement resigned as part of an agree- soldiers they could rape up to Cabinet Committee on Energy Monday during protests against the Sharif family to act in com- said the prime minister “directed ment between his party, the three women, in a speech (CCE) — the second in as many load-shedding in the Malakand pliance with the JIT’s for the calculation of accurate UCPN-Maoist, and the ruling aimed at reassuring them of days. Division of K-P. Apart from dif- functioning, the opposition can figures for estimated power coalition ally Nepali Congress his full support as they “The prime minister empha- ferent parts of the province, get a chance to further weaken demand and expected supply led by Sher Bahadur Deuba, enforced his newly imposed sises on the inclusion of protests also erupted in parts of the government by exploiting from the existing as well as who is expected take office martial law on the south of provincial representatives in Sindh, including Karachi and public sentiment that has under implementation plants before the second phase of the Philippines. decision making on important Hyderabad, over load-shedding already been fuming due to over the next 12 to 36 months”. polls. THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 ASIA 13 Refugees face acute crisis in cyclone-hit Bangladesh

Cox's Bazar 16,010 homes in the makeshift AFP Devastated camps camps and also seriously dam- "There is an acute aged clinics run by aid agencies id workers warned crisis of food, shelter, for the Rohingya and the local yesterday of an health services, water community. "acute crisis" in and sanitation Aid workers scrambled to get Bangladesh after a facilities in the food to the camps, which house cyclone destroyed makeshift settlements around 300,000 Rohingya, thousandsA of homes and devas- many of whom were observing following the storm," tated camps housing Rohingya the Ramadan fast when the said Sanjukta Sahan, refugees, leaving many without cyclone struck. food or shelter. local head of the "We are also repairing com- Hundreds of thousands of International munity structures and schools so Rohingyas live in the over- Organisation for that families that are sleeping in crowded camps in Cox's Bazar Migration. the open can move inside until on the southeast coast after flee- their sheds can be repaired," said ing violence in neighbouring Cyclone Mora John McKissick, who heads the Myanmar. battered the area on Cox's Bazar office of the UN ref- Cyclone Mora battered the Tuesday, killing seven ugee agency, UNHCR. area on Tuesday, killing seven people, destroying Refugees have said they were people, destroying 20,000 20,000 homes and given no official warning of the homes and forcing the evacua- forcing the evacuation storm and were unable to sal- tion of 600,000 residents. of 600,000 residents. vage stockpiles of food for the India's Navy said it had breaking of the fast when it hit. pulled 33 Bangladeshi survivors "No charities came to offer and a body from the Bay of Ben- water and sanitation facilities in food. Some people shared a small gal yesterday during search and the makeshift settlements fol- piece of bread between a group Rohingya refugees gathering to collect relief at the Balukhali Makeshift Refugee Camp as they rescue operations following the lowing the storm," said Sanjukta of four," community leader are affected by Cyclone Mora in Cox’s Bazar, yesterday. cyclone. Some of the worst dam- Sahany, local head of the Inter- Mohammad Rafique Habib said. age was at the camps housing the national Organisation for "Pregnant women, children 300,000 Rohingya, whose num- Migration which coordinates and the elderly are suffering to sleep in the open. Haji Abdus 20,000 homes were destroyed "Making matters worse, there bers swelled last year following relief in some of the camps. most." Salam, who lives in Nayapara and another 39,000 damaged by is also an increased risk of dis- a military crackdown on the "The drainage and toilet sys- Abdul Matin, who lives in a camp with his 13 children, two the cyclone, which brought winds ease, especially for those living stateless Muslim minority in tem have been fully broken," she camp for unregistered Rohingya wives and 10 grand-children, said of up to 135km per hour. The in temporary or basic housing Myanmar. said. refugees, said many had crowded the family had not eaten since charity Save the Children said it and with poor water and sanita- "There is an acute crisis of Sahany said the storm had into schools and mosques for the Tuesday. Outside the camps, was particularly concerned about tion facilities," said country food, shelter, health services, destroyed or damaged at least night, while others were forced Bangladeshi authorities say the impact on minors. director Mark Pierce. Sri Lanka Daughter of ousted South Korean president's confidante returns saves pod Seoul was with her infant son when The three women have Reuters she was arrested by Danish denied all wrongdoing. South authorities in January, unex- Korean authorities have also of whales he disgraced daughter of pectedly dropped her appeal been investigating whether Sam- a key figure in a corrup- against extradition last week. sung Electronics channelled Colombo Ttion scandal that led to the “As my baby son has not money to a German firm control- AFP downfall of former South been able to spend time with the led by Choi to sponsor Chung’s Korean President Park Geun- family, I thought it would be bet- equestrian career in return for ri Lanka's navy and local hye returned home from ter for me to return to South favours from Choi and Park. residents rescued a pod Denmark yesterday, saying she Korea to sort out misunder- Chung said she did not know of Sof about 20 stranded wanted to clear up standing over the scandal,” her mother’s relationship with pilot whales off the island's misunderstandings. Chung told reporters. Choi is Park and how that played in her northeastern coast yesterday, Chung Yoo-ra, 20, who fled being held in detention and is career. “I was not aware of the an official said. to Europe last year to avoid on trial for extortion, abuse of details of the Samsung Group’s Navy spokesman Cha- prosecution on charges linked power and attempted fraud to financial assistance for my minda Walakuluge said to her mother, Choi Soon-sil, her extort millions of dollars from equestrian training, although my sailors with the help of resi- academic record and her eques- big companies, including Sam- mother had vaguely told me Chung Yoo-ra, the 21-year-old daughter of Choi Soon-sil, dents pushed the whales back trian career, was taken by sung Electronics in hand with about it,” said Chung. Chung in to deeper waters after they answers questions from the press after arriving at the Incheon prosecutors for questioning as impeached ex-leader Park, her won a gold medal in group dres- washed up on the Sampur International Airport in Incheon, yesterday. soon as she landed. Chung, who long-time friend. sage at the 2014 Asian Games. coast near the port of Trincomalee. "It was a delicate task to push them back without hurt- ing them," Walakuluge said. 'Rainbow village' attracts tourists South Korea parliament "But there was a happy end- ing when all of them could be Semarang government and several com- Domestic and foreign visi- sent back to deeper waters." AFP panies to carry out the project. tors have been flocking to the endorses new premier He said it was not clear The houses were re-painted village to snap pictures, which why the mammals got n Indonesian hamlet in a dizzying array of colours have been rapidly spreading on Seoul nominee was put to a vote. stranded in the area, but noted dubbed "the rainbow vil- during a month-long overhaul Instagram and Facebook. AFP Lee has been dogged by that the sea was rough due to Alage" after being given a which cost about $200,000, and "This is very special, allegations, among other the effects of Cyclone Mora in makeover in a kaleidoscope of the polluted river nearby was extremely creative," Maya outh Korea's parliament charges, that his wife used a the Bay of Bengal and which colours is attracting hordes of also cleaned up. Susanti, an Indonesian visitor yesterday approved Lee false adress in 1989 to get hit Bangladesh on Tuesday. In visitors and has become an The local mayor opened the who came to the village with her SNak-Yon as the country's assigned to a school in Seoul as April 2011, a sperm whale was Internet sensation. newly decorated hamlet on Java friends said. "The village used new prime minister, paving the a teacher. stranded inside the Trincoma- The collection of about 200 island to the public in mid-April to look plain but now there are way for President Moon Jae-In Under South Korea's strong lee harbour and two navy modest homes on a hillside and the community quickly so many good spots for taking to replace ministers appointed presidential system, the prime boats were deployed to guide above a river used to be a typi- became a local landmark known pictures." by his ousted predecessor Park ministerial job is largely sym- the mammal out into deeper cal, low-income Indonesian as "the rainbow village". Community leader Yosep Tri Geun-Hye. bolic and ceremonial. waters where it was reunited neighbourhood that was filthy The buildings — many of Prawoko added: "Every single The National Assembly With the new prime minis- with waiting whales. and gloomy. which are decorated with art alleyway has become a favour- voted 164 to 20 in favour of Lee, ter taking office, the left-leaning Trincomalee, 260km But residents of the Won- such as pictures of angels' wings ite spot for a photoshoot, it's a journalist-turned-politician, president can go ahead with northeast of Colombo, is a osari community in Semarang and whales — can be seen for great." as new prime minister, amid a installing his own cabinet to natural harbour and is also a decided an extreme makeover miles around, climbing up the Villagers are enjoying the boycott by the conservative replace the conservative line- popular tourist spot for whale was needed, and received hillside like a gigantic tourism boom sparked by the opposition Liberty Korea Party up appointed by Park. watching. money from the local staircase. makeover. (LKP). Park has been impeached All 107 lawmakers of the and arrested over a corruption LKP stayed away as the motion scandal that saw millions of Malaysia Airlines flight turns back after bomb threat to endorse the prime minister- protesters taking to the streets.

Sydney disruptive passenger tried to state police said in a statement, need some help, I need some AFP enter the plane's cockpit," he but added that he "did not gain help'. So I jumped up, undid my told AFP. entry to the cockpit" and was buckle, and approached him." Malaysia Airlines flight "The passenger... claimed to subdued. Andy said the man ran to was forced to return to have a bomb. But it was not a "Passengers are currently the back of the plane, where A Melbourne airport yes- bomb but a powerbank," Aziz exiting the plane and speaking two other men grabbed and terday after a passenger tried said. "Everyone on board is to investigators," police said. disarmed him of a "giant black to force his way into the cock- safe... He was taken out of the A passenger sitting in busi- thing" and "put hog ties on pit claiming he had a bomb, plane handcuffed by Australian ness class, who identified him". offcials said. security officers." himself as Andy, told Melbourne Malaysia Airlines said the Malaysian Deputy Transport Kuala Lumpur-bound Flight commercial radio station 3AW passengers would be put up at Minister Abdul Aziz Kaprawi MH128 departed Melbourne at the man threatened to "blow the hotels and offered another said the passenger, who he 11:11pm (1311 GMT) yesterday but plane up". flight. identified as a Sri Lankan turned back shortly afterwards "The staff were saying 'Sit The incident came just national, appeared to have been when a man allegedly threat- back down sir, sit back down months after Canberra called drunk and was overpowered by ened those on board, Australian sir'. He goes 'No, I'm not going off the search for missing flight the plane's crew and later police said. "It is alleged that a to sit back down, I'm going to MH370 carrying 239 passengers South Korea's President Moon Jae-In (right) giving a arrested by airport security in man tried to enter the cockpit blow the plane up'," Andy told and crew, after a vast underwa- Melbourne. and threatened the safety of 3AW. ter hunt off Australia's west document to new Prime Minister Lee Nak-Yon during the "It is not a hijack. One passengers and staff," Victoria "The staff screamed out 'I coast failed to find the plane. ceremony of appointment in Seoul, yesterday. 14 EUROPE THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 May 'no show' in election debate Reading Squabbling sign of Theresa May's weakness, AFP not strength." That "debates where Questioned at a rally in Bath, ritish Prime Minister the politicians are western England, May said that Theresa May con- squabbling among "debates where the politicians firmed she would not themselves doesn't do are squabbling among them- join a live television selves doesn't do anything for the anything for the election debate after process of electioneering". process of Bopposition leader Jeremy Cor- She said her campaign was byn announced a last-minute electioneering: May "about getting out and about, decision to attend. meeting voters and hearing May had ruled out any head- directly from voters". Refusing to join me in Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May during a general election campaign rally at Cross to-head debate with other party Labour is gaining ground on Cambridge tonight Manufacturing in Bath, south-west England, yesterday. leaders ahead of the June 8 vote, would be another sign the Conservatives in opinion and aides confirmed her interior of May's weakness, polls, and Corbyn's team has minister would attend for the not strength: Corbyn been buoyed by a better-than- Independence Party, the Greens ruling Conservatives as planned. expected performance in a TV and Welsh nationalist Plaid Labour leader Corbyn had grilling on Monday night. Cymru, and the deputy leader of previously said that he would not "Refusing to join me in Cam- The leaders of the Liberal the Scottish National Party, are attend the seven-way clash yes- bridge tonight would be another Democrats, the UK also taking part in the debate. terday if May was absent -- only to announce hours before the event that he would take part British PM could lose in Parliament: Survey after all. He challenged May to join London a big win in the snap election Party could win 257 seats, up him in Cambridge, eastern Eng- Reuters she called, the YouGov model from 232 seats in 2015, YouGov land, accusing her of running suggested May would lose 20 said. Smaller parties, including scared. rime Minister Theresa seats and her 17-seat working the Scottish National Party and "I will be taking part in May could lose control of majority in the 650-seat Brit- Northern Irish parties, could tonight's debate because I believe Pparliament in Britain's ish parliament. win 83 seats, the Times news- we must give people the chance June 8 election, according to a The YouGov constituency paper quoted YouGov as to hear and engage with the projection by polling company projection, based on 50,000 predicting. leaders of the main parties YouGov, raising the prospect of interviews over the course of a If the YouGov model turns before they vote," he announced. political deadlock just as for- week, showed May would win out to be accurate, May would "The Tories have been con- mal Brexit talks begin. 310 seats, down from the 331 be well short of the 326 seats ducting a stage-managed In stark contrast to opinion seats won by her predecessor needed to form a government arms-length campaign and have polls that have until the past David Cameron in 2015. in June, when formal Brexit Britain's main opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn treated the public with week shown May on course for The opposition Labour negotiations are due to begin. attends a general election campaign rally in Reading, west contempt. of London.

Poland probes EU proposes new road charging system rule former minister Brussels and the European Parliament, fifth of EU emissions. bridge a gap that Commission would have to adjust their Reuters said it would not force any coun- Charges should be based on estimates is around $67bn. schemes. in 2010 crash try to introduce a road toll, but the CO2 emissions of vehicles. EU member states would Transition periods would he European Commission said that those in operation Cars with zero emissions would also have the option to include apply until 2023 for heavy-duty Warsaw proposed new rules yester- would have to follow certain get a mandatory 75 percent charges designed to limit noise, vehicles and 2027 for other vehi- AP Tday for road charging principles. reduction. congestion or pollution in spe- cles. The proposals are part of systems across Europe, saying Countries would have to "We are introducing rules so cific places. an overhaul of mobility and AFTER autopsies revealed they must be based on distance have a system based on the dis- as to implement the user-pay Countries such as Denmark, transport in Europe that will also coffins with the remains of to reflect the carbon footprint of tance travelled, measured and polluter-pay principles," Luxembourg, the Netherlands include new rules on foreign multiple victims, Polish pros- cars and trucks. digitally on what the Commis- Transport Commissioner Violeta and Sweden, which use the time- truck drivers and a push for dig- ecutors yesterday questioned The EU executive, whose sion hopes will be standardised Bulc said. based "vignettes" for trucks, or italisation. A future batch of former health minister Ewa proposal would still need back- on-board boxes. Road transport Revenues should be put Germany, which plans annual or proposals will focus on emission Kopacz over alleged gov- ing by the 28 EU member states alone is responsible for almost a towards infrastructure, helping shorter duration passes for cars, standards. ernment negligence in the aftermath of the 2010 plane crash in Russia that killed Pres- ident Lech Kaczynski and 95 others. Prosecutors want to know Azerbaijan scribe abducted in Georgia why Poland's government failed to make sure that Rus- Baku two years. His lawyer, Elchin in 2015, around the time when sia carried out proper AP Sadigov, said the journalist was several Azerbaijani journalists identification of the remains, abducted outside his home on working for foreign or local and failed to perform autop- n independent Azerba- Monday, beaten up and taken independent media faced sies after the bodies arrived ijani journalist has been to the land border between charges of tax evasion. in Poland in sealed coffins in Aabducted from near his Azerbaijan and Georgia. Mukhtarli's wife, Leila April 2010. Government offi- home in Georgia and forcibly Sadigov claimed that the Mustafayeva, said she was cials at the time insisted the taken to Azerbaijan, his law- journalist's captors planted waiting for her husband at coffins should not be opened. yer said yesterday. $11,180 on him, which led to home Monday evening but he Autopsies done now on A court in this former the charges. never showed up. She said her the order of the ruling party, Soviet republic was due to hold Eldar Sultanov, spokesman husband had been investigat- led by the late president's a hearing later in the day on for the Azerbaijani Prosecutor ing Georgian business ties of twin brother, Jaroslaw Kac- whether to sanction the arrest General's Office, said the jour- Azerbaijani President Ilham zynski, have revealed that Afgan Mukhtarli, who is facing nalist was detained late on Aliyev's family. many coffins hold remains of Residents are allowed to return to a property, on Banff Road charges of smuggling and Monday "after illegally cross- "Naturally, this created multiple victims. Prosecutors in Rusholme, Manchester, yesterday, as police investigations crossing the border illegally. ing the Azerbaijani border" resentment in the pre sidential confirmed this week that the continue into the May 22 terror attack. Mukhtarli, who is also a with a large sum of money and family," she said, insisting that coffin of Lt. Gen. Bronislaw civil rights activist, had been liv- resisting arrest. her husband's disappearance is Kwiatkowski contains the ing in neighboring Georgia for Mukhtarli left Azerbaijan connected to his investigation. remains of seven other Ariana Grande to play victims. Manchester benefit gig Manchester together, to help each other, to EU anti-graft watchdog 'flooded' with cases AFP love more, to sing louder and to live more kindly and gener- Brussels "Last year the unit dealing Kessler said his body is pur- more than 300,000 euros. S pop star Ariana Grande ously than we did before," AFP with internal cases has been suing another 47 investigations It also recommended disci- announced she would Grande said. flooded," OLAF director general this year, most of them linked to plinary proceedings against the Ureturn to Manchester to The 23-year-old said she he EU's anti-graft watch- Giovanni Kessler said in a press the European Parliament. assistant. headline a star-studded bene- was "broken" and suspended dog said yesterday it has conference in Brussels. Kessler referred to the high- The FN meanwhile has fit concert for the victims of the her world tour after the bomb Tbeen "flooded" with In 2016, he said out of a total profile case of a parliamentary accused 19 French MEPs, includ- deadly attack on her show last went off near an exit of the alleged fraud cases in the Euro- 272 investigations concluded, 34 assistant working for the ing France's new European week. Manchester Arena venue at the pean Parliament and other focused on EU employees or National Front (FN), headed by affairs minister Marielle de Justin Bieber, Coldplay, finale of her show on May 22. bodies that have dragged in members and staff of the Euro- Marine Le Pen who lost to Sarnez, of having employed fake Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, Phar- Fans who attended that France's far-right National Front. pean Commission, the European Emmanuel Macron in this year's assistants. rell Williams, Usher and Take show will be offered free tick- OLAF said cases in the Euro- Parliament, the European race for the French presidency. In its annual report, OLAF That will join her for Sunday's ets to the benefit concert at the pean Parliament last year Investment Bank and the EU OLAF concluded that Le Pen, said it detected an estimated concert in memory of the 22 Old Trafford cricket ground, involved fictitious employment, Court of Justice, the bloc's top also a member of the European $705m in EU funds that were lost people who died, seven of them which has a 50,000 capacity the fraudulent declaration of court. The watchdog, which has Parliament, had improperly used to an array of fraudulent claims children. for concerts, with the rest sold allowances and misuse of fund- no power of its own to take parliament funds to pay an in 2016, which is lower than the "Our response to this vio- to raise money for the affected ing to support the activities of punitive actions, made recom- assistant for a fake job and rec- 888 million euros it said were lence must be to come closer families. national parties. mendations in 25 of those cases. ommended the body recover bilked in 2015. THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 EUROPE 15 Vucic sworn in as Serbia's President

Belgrade New administration military — heightening tensions AP in the Balkans. Aleksandar Vucic Vucic only briefly mentioned leksandar Vucic was pledges to work for Serbia's integration into the EU, sworn in as Serbia's peace and stability in noting that "no one should doubt president yesterday, the war-weary Serbia's EU path." pledging to work for He said the country will Balkans while peace and stability in cherish good ties with Russia and strengthening the theA war-weary Balkans while China, but that it should also strengthening the country's country's armed improve ties with the United armed forces. forces. States Vucic, a former ultranation- Addressing thousands of his alist turned self-declared The opposition, which cheering supporters in front of pro-European Union reformer, has alleged parliament, Vucic promised to formally stepped down yester- irregularities during "keep peace and stability, guard day from his prime minister's the election and protect the future of our post after winning the presiden- campaign, plans children." tial election by a landslide in protests against There were sporadic clashes April. Vucic's autocratic between Vucic's supporters and The opposition, which has his opponents in downtown Bel- rule. alleged irregularities during the grade as police prevented election campaign including demonstrators from reaching the muzzling the media, plans pro- to give birth," he added, refer- parliament building. tests against Vucic's autocratic ring to the wars in the southern The presidency is largely a rule. European region in the 1990s in ceremonial post, but as his "We must create a region which he took an active role as Newly-elected Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic waves to crowds after a swearing-in speech yesterday indicated, where differences are an advan- a supporter of expanding Serbia's ceremony at the Parliament building in Belgrade, yesterday. Vucic intends to continue play- tage and not the basis for borders at the expense of its ing leading role in the Serbian clashes," Vucic said in his inau- neighbors. politics. gural speech in parliament "While we have to talk to He said that Serbia won't join minister, Vucic repeatedly said been strengthening ties with Ser- He succeeded his former yesterday. everyone, we also have to Nato nor become "member of that EU membership is Serbia's bia's traditional ally, Russia, patron Tomislav Nikolic, a "There have been enough strengthen our defense capac- any other military alliance." "strategic goal." which has agreed to supply staunch pro-Russian, as Serbia's burials in the Balkans, it is time ity," Vucic said. During three years as prime t the same time, Vucic has fighter jets and battle tanks to its president.

Macron backs scandal-hit minister Mourners pay respects

Paris that Ferrand headed in his native to the late Greek premier AFP Brittany -- where he is an MP -- agreed in 2011 to rent a building Athens political opponents to have rench President Emmanuel from his wife and carry out ren- AP been a divisive figure, the Macron yesterday backed ovations that boosted its value. government declared four Fa minister accused of con- Ferrand has dismissed the undreds of mourners days of official mourning. flict of interest in a property deal, report as a "welcome present" gathered in central Supporters credit him urging the media "not to act as from the media for the new gov- HAthens yesterday to with advocating fiscal judge" in an embarrassing affair ernment, saying his wife made pay their respects to Constan- restraint years before Greece that has embroiled a close ally. the fund the best offer and that tine Mitsotakis, the former was hit by severe financial For days, France's new gov- he had no say in the matter. conservative prime minister crisis, but critics said he con- ernment has been swatting away The revelations are nonethe- who died this week aged 98. tributed to a highly charged allegations that Richard Ferrand, less an embarrassment for Greek Prime Minister political atmosphere in the one of Macron's first prominent 39-year-old Macron who cam- Alexis Tsipras, Cypriot Pres- late 1980s. backers, favoured his wife in a paigned on a promise to clean ident Nicos Anastasiades, and Mitsotakis' son, conserv- lucrative deal with a public up and rejuvenate France's cor- Greece's 76-year-old former ative opposition leader health insurance fund when he Territorial Cohesion Minister Richard Ferrand (right) and ruption-plagued political class. king, Constantine, were Kyriakos Mitsotakis, was at headed the company. French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Yves Le His first piece of legislation among mourners filing past the cathedral to receive The affair is the lone snag in Drian leave the Elysee Palace, yesterday. -- to be unveiled next month -- his coffin at Athens Cathedral condolences. an otherwise trouble-free start will set new standards for ethics on the eve of his funeral on A memorial service to Macron's tenure, during which Ferrand, a former Socialist resignation. "I am an honest in public office. the island of Crete. Wednesday, led by Greek he has been praised for stand- lawmaker who joined Macron's man," the 54-year-old minister Addressing a cabinet meet- Mitsotakis served as Church leader Archbishop ing up to US President Donald camp last year and helped run for territorial cohesion said. ing yesterday, Macron stressed prime minister between 1990 Ieronymos, was broadcast Trump and taking a firm line his campaign, has persistently The investigative Canard the need for ministerial "exem- and 1993. Although he was live on state television and with Russian leader Vladimir denied any wrongdoing and Enchaine newspaper reported plarity" but also urged the media considered by some of his private stations. Putin. rebuffed calls by rivals for his last week that an insurance fund to reserve judgement. Govt seeks to Czech Republic imposes smoking ban

stop compulsory Prague heated debate and signed by have partial bans on indoor AP President Milos Zeman, a chain smoking in restaurants and voting in Cyprus smoker. bars. smoking ban in Czech Unlike most of Europe, Others, like Greece — which Nicosia bars, restaurants and Czechs had remained tolerant has official bans but the rules are AFP A cafes came into effect of smoking up till now — and it widely flouted, even by govern- yesterday, putting to an end to was up to restaurant owners to ment ministers — have problems CYPRUS is to submit a bill to the Czech Republic's status as decide whether to allow it in with enforcement. parliament that would make one of the last havens for their establishments. From yesterday, which is voting optional, ending a legal tobacco smokers in Europe. According to data from the World No Tobacco Day, violat- obligation in force since inde- The ban, which applies to European Union, 17 member ing the ban would incur a fine pendence from Britain in 1960, inside areas of bars and restau- states have comprehensive of up to $190. officials said yesterday. rants as well as public places smoke-free laws in place. Most Czechs approve the Mourners pay respects to the late premier Constantine Interior Minister Constan- like cinemas, theaters and sports But some, including Aus- ban, but a group of lawmakers Mitsotakis during the funeral ceremony, at Athens tinos Petrides said the draft venues, was approved by Par- tria, Portugal, Romania and have challenged it at the Con- Cathedral, yesterday. law approved by the cabinet liament following years of non-EU member Serbia, only stitutional Court. was intended to bring the island into line with other EU member states. "The vote is the expres- sion of a citizen's will to participate in the electoral UN envoy remains optimistic on Cyprus talks process," Petrides said. "Once it is mandatory then it stops Ankara Island row several times in Geneva last year, in a sense and to get out of that of “the normal people, Turkish being democratic." Anatolia but their last meeting in Febru- we need to do some more dip- Cypriot, Greek Cypriot” who Under the current law, It will take some time ary was wracked by controversy lomatic work". want the peace talks to Cypriots who fail to vote can he UN chief's special to get out of this over a Greek Cypriot decision to He also said that at the succeed. be fined but in practice the adviser on Cyprus has said deadlock. It is a introduce a commemoration of moment there were no new “If that is the case, we must authorities have not enforced Ttalks over the disputed deadlock. It is not the 1950 Enosis referendum on meetings expected between the make it work. But that requires it in recent years. island have not collapsed, but unification with Greece. Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cyp- some will, some flexibility and over. Talks are not In parliamentary elec- admitted there is now a “dead Both sides had agreed on riot sides of the island, and the some leadership from all sides. collapsed. We are in a tions last year, a full 180,644 end” in the process that could most of the issues in the reuni- three guarantor countries: Tur- First and foremost, from the registered voters, failed to resolve through diplomacy. dead end in a sense fication deal but the sticking key, the UK and Greece. leaders in Cyprus, but then also cast a ballot but not one was The Eastern Mediterranean and to get out of that points, including a security and “The meeting between all... from the guarantor partners,” the prosecuted. island has been divided since we need to do some guarantees system, remain partners, the three guarantors, UN envoy said. The government hopes to 1974, when a Greek coup was more diplomatic work: unresolved. the sides in Cyprus, that could “The problem is that want- have the new law on the stat- followed by violence against the Envoy In an interview, Espen Barth only happen if you reconvene in ing a solution does not mean you ute books in time for a 2018 island’s Turks, and Ankara's Eide highlighted the need to the conference and whether the want the same solution,” he said, presidential election. intervention as a guarantor break the deadlock in the proc- leaders in Cyprus all meet again, adding: “I always try to find A number of countries power. have been involved in reunifi- ess. “It will take some time to get is something they have to decide agreement between the sides.” around the world have com- Turkish Cypriot President cation talks to create a federal out of this deadlock. It is a dead- in Cyprus,” he said. Eide also said he agrees with pulsory voting but only a few Mustafa Akinci and Greek Cyp- state since May 2015. lock. It is not over. Talks are not The adviser to the UN chief the Turkish Cypriot view to han- of them prosecute offenders. riot leader Nicos Anastasiades Akinci and Anastasiades met collapsed. We are in a dead end also underlined the aspirations dle issues interdependently. “ 16 EUROPE THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017

Serbia summons Macedonia envoy China and EU back climate deal over wiretapping Brussels Paris pact stress that China and the EU... cooperation on climate change climate deal. AFP will implement the agreement," and clean energy to help the It was signed by 196 coun- Belgrade The draft joint a senior EU official said yester- world shift to an economy based tries that set themselves goals to AP he European Union statement said that, day, on condition of on low greenhouse gas minimize carbon emissions and and China will throw "The EU and China anonymity. emissions. mitigate the effects of climate SERBIA'S foreign minis- their full weight consider the Paris "The Paris Agreement will Hoping to make the climate change. try summoned Macedonia's behind the Paris cli- continue with full force of imple- fight a "main pillar" of their bilat- If the United States, by most ambassador to explain why Agreement as an mate accord at a mentation even if the US pulls eral partnership, including measures the world's second- a Serbian intelligence officer historic achievement Tsummit tomorrow, EU officials out," he added. economic relations, the two biggest polluter after China, were and a ruling party official were said, in a bid to fill the void if the further accelerating Chinese Premier Li Keqiang underlined that their coopera- to pull out or reduce its goals, wiretapped during violent pro- US quits the pact. the irreversible global will arrive in Brussels tomorrow tion will fuel job creation, efforts to reduce the global tem- tests last month in Macedonia's The summit in Brussels could low greenhouse gas for talks with EU president Don- investments and economic perature increase might fail. capital. mark a dramatic shift in global emission and climate ald Tusk and European growth, the statement said. But European officials The Belgrade-based KRIK politics, with the EU taking over resilient development". Commission head Jean-Claude Europe and China will also insisted that the deal would investigative group has from the United States in work- Juncker, with climate change at expand their cooperation on remain on track. released transcripts of what ing with China to fight climate US media reported the top of the agenda. developing carbon markets, so- "I understand that if they is said were conversations change. yesterday that Trump "The EU and China consider called emissions trading decide to pull out it will be dis- between the Serb intelligence "Signalling a new level of had decided to pull the Paris Agreement as an his- systems. appointing but I really don't officer, the party official and cooperation, the two sides will his country out of the toric achievement further "If US-China climate coop- think this will change the course a leader of the Serb minority stress the "highest political com- accelerating the irreversible glo- eration gave birth to the Paris of mankind," European Commis- in Macedonia. accord but the US mitment" to implement all bal low greenhouse gas emission Agreement, now it is up to EU sion vice president for energy, The transcripts allegedly tycoon indicated he aspects of the historic 2015 and climate resilient develop- and China to defend and Maros Sefcovic, said. show that the three conspired agreement," according to a copy would keep the world ment," the draft joint statement enhance it," said Li Shuo, climate "Despite this possible roll- for pro-Russian interests. of a draft joint statement. guessing for another said. policy advisor of Greenpeace back of the US administration, Last week, Macedonia's The EU-China summit fol- few days. "The EU and China under- East Asia. Europe is ready for the leader- foreign ministry summoned lows a tense international tour line their highest political "The pair has the potential ship (on climate change) and we the Serbian ambassador to by US President Donald Trump commitment to the effective to become the new driver for will definitely provide it," he Skopje over the presence of in which he spurned pleas by his but the unpredictable US tycoon implementation of the Paris international climate diplo- added. a Serbian intelligence officer European counterparts to adhere indicated he would keep the Agreement in all its aspects," macy," Li said in a statement. EU Commissioner for Energy during a violent invasion of to the deal. world guessing for another few according to the nine-page draft. Former US president Barack and Climate Action Miguel Arias parliament that left more than US media reported yester- days. They will "significantly Obama and the Chinese leader- Canete said the world could 100 people injured. day that Trump had decided to "We will issue a joint state- intensify" their political, techni- ship were instrumental in count on European climate The Macedonian ambas- pull his country out of the accord ment on climate change that will cal, economic and scientific building momentum toward the leadership. sador was asked why only Serbia's ambassador was questioned and not Western envoys whose officials were allegedly also present in par- White Banner Day liament during the Cuts in EU funds would incident. Serbia's Foreign Ministry contradict rules: Szydlo said in a statement that Mac- edonian Ambassador Vera Warsaw to meet EU rule of law stand- Jovanovska said she did not Reuters ards, according to a know foreign intelligence document. officers were in the parlia- oland yesterday dis- The seven-page docu- ment building during the missed warnings that ment aims to guide Berlin's clashes. Paccusations of its viola- approach to upcoming Brus- Jovanovska also said she tion of EU standards on the sels negotiations on did not know how the wire- rule of law could cost it Euro- post-2020 changes to the tapped transcripts reached pean Union money, and also system by which the EU sup- Serbian media outlets, the called the idea of accelerat- ports development in its statement said. ing euro zone integration poorer members. The ministry did not deny unrealistic. This would hit countries that the wiretaps were "Proposals to withhold such as Poland and Hungary, genuine. structural funds for selected net recipients of EU cohesion KRIK, citing the Macedo- member states are simply funding, which have clashed nian secret service, said ruling contradictory to EU treaties," with Brussels on legal issues. Serbian Progressive Party Polish Prime Minister Beata Konrad Szymanski, official Miroslav Lazanski, Szydlo said. Poland's deputy foreign min- who is also a well-known With the EU debating ister in charge of European People gather in the historical centre of Sarajevo during a re-enactment of an journalist, was in Macedonia reform of the bloc after Brit- affairs, said the proposals imprisonment at the "Manjaca" concentration camp to commemorate "The White Banner to carry out propaganda pro- ain leaves it, Germany's would be difficult to execute Day", yesterday. moting Russia's policies in the government has set out pro- as they would give the Euro- Balkans. posals to freeze access to EU pean Commission powers it funds for countries that fail does not possess. France using anti-terror rules to curb protests: Amnesty

Paris Emergency rules giving Manchester attacks claimed by Macron, who reviewed Reuters French police wider search and IS group, the emergency meas- national security with defence arrest powers were introduced ures should run beyond mid-July chiefs yesterady, said security ights group Amnesty Inter- after gunmen and suicide bomb- to November 1. measures for the summer period national accused France ers killed 130 people in and "Emergency laws intended would be reinforced taking into Ryesterday of using emer- around Paris in November 2015. to protect the French people consideration the state of emer- gency powers to fight terrorism Amnesty said between 2015 from threat of terrorism are gency's planned extension. as a pretext for clamping down and 2017, authorities had used instead being used to restrict "Obviously there is no ques- on peaceful protests, including their powers to issue 155 decrees their rights to protest peace- tion of diverting what is a state over sensitive environmental prohibiting public gatherings. fully," Amnesty International of emergency to fight terrorism and labour issues. It also said 639 measures researcher Marco Perolini said. ... in any way whatsoever," gov- The report comes just days preventing specific individuals "Under the cover of the state ernment spokesman Christophe after President Emmanuel Macron participating in public assem- of emergency, rights to protest Castaner said. said his government would ask blies had been imposed, have been stripped away with Amnesty said the current Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo (right) and Slovak parliament to extend by several including 574 that targeted hundreds of activists, environ- measures included powers to Prime Minister Robert Fico during a meeting at the months the emergency powers labour law reforms protesters. mentalists, and labour rights ban demonstrations on vague Palace on the Isle in Warsaw's Lazienki Park, yesterday. introduced in 2015 to counter the The new government has campaigners unjustifiably banned grounds and prevent individu- threat of militant attacks. said that following last week's from participating in protests." als attending protests. Vote deal: Snap elections in Italy more likely Kosovo political parties

Rome Rome's Luiss University, put the $22bn from January 1, a meas- begin election campaign Reuters chances of that at no more than ure put in place to guarantee the 50:50 as there are many uncer- country meets deficit reduction Pristina n agreement between Ita- tainties yet to play out. goals promised to the European AP ly's four main political A parliamentary committee Union. Aparties on a new electoral is due to begin debating the Matteo Renzi (pictured), osovo's political parties have started campaigning for the system has raised the likelihood electoral law on Monday and it former prime minister and June 11 parliamentary election. of an early election, but does not is sure to be opposed by small leader of the ruling Democratic K Some 19 parties, five coalitions and backers of two cit- necessarily mean one will parties that would lose out under Party (PD), played down the izens' initiatives will be seeking support from 1.8 million voters. happen. the new system. The big parties likelihood of an early vote. There are 120 seats in parliament at stake, 20 of them reserved Monday's deal to implement may also voice demands the oth- "For me the (timing of the) for ethnic Serbs and other minorities. a German-style version of pro- ers will not accept. election is not tied to the debate" The election is being held about a year earlier than scheduled portional representation with a And then there is the 2018 on the electoral law, Renzi said because Prime Minister Isa Mustafa's government lost a no-con- 5 percent threshold for a party budget, which must be passed in an internet broadcast fidence vote. to get seats has raised expecta- by the end of the year and could yesterday. The most contested issues will be two agreements signed in tion of a vote in the autumn, well be held up by an early vote. "We will work together with 2015: a border demarcation deal with Montenegro and one with ahead of the scheduled end of Passing this year's budget on (Prime Minister) Paolo Gentiloni Serbia that gives more powers to ethnic Serbs in Kosovo. parliament's term in late March. time is arguably more important and the government and decide The United States and the EU will deploy election observation But Roberto D'Alimonte, a than usual as, without drastic together what budget to pass," teams. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. That specialist in electoral systems at cuts, sales tax will increase by he added. has been recognised by 114 countries but not by Belgrade. THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 AMERICAS 17 Trump planning to pull US out of Paris climate deal

Washington droughts and more frequent vio- Reuters Unpopular move lent storms. It was the first legally A withdrawal would binding global climate deal. resident Donald Trump put US in league with A withdrawal would put the plans to make good on United States in league with Syria Syria and Nicaragua his campaign vow to and Nicaragua as the world's as the world's only withdraw the United only non-participants in the States from a global pact non-participants in Paris agreement. Pto fight climate change, a source the Paris agreement. Trump has said the accord briefed on the decision said yes- would cost the US economy tril- terday, a move that promises to A decision to lions of dollars without tangible deepen a rift with US allies. withdraw from the benefit. For the Republican pres- White House officials cau- accord could further ident, a withdrawal would reflect tioned that details were still alienate American his "America First" approach to being hammered out and that, allies in Europe. policy, unencumbered by inter- although close, the decision on national obligations. withdrawing from the 195-nation "The president will make an Boston Mayor Marty Walsh urges President Donald Trump not to withdraw from the Paris accord - agreed to in Paris in Environmental Protection announcement when he’s made Climate Accord during a news conference at City Hall in Boston, Massachusetts, yesterday. 2015 - was not finalized. Agency Administrator Scott a final decision," one senior offi- Trump, who has previously Pruitt, an oil industry ally and cli- cial said. Trump has changed his A US decision to withdraw who helped broker the accord coal to cleaner-burning and called global warming a hoax, mate change doubter. mind on large decisions before, from the accord could further and praised it during a trip to cheaper natural gas in recent did not confirm the decision in a Under the pact, virtually even after previously signaling alienate American allies in Europe this month. years has cut US carbon emis- post on Twitter, saying only, "I every nation voluntarily commit- a move in the opposite Europe already wary of Trump It could have sweeping impli- sions to near 30-year lows, will be announcing my decision ted to combat climate change direction. and call into question US lead- cations for the deal, which relies according to the US Energy on the Paris Accord over the next with steps aimed at curbing glo- Trump refused to endorse ership and trustworthiness on heavily on the commitment of big Information Administration. few days." bal emissions of "greenhouse" the landmark climate change one of the world's leading issues. polluter nations to reduce emis- The accord aims to limit The source, speaking on con- gases such as carbon dioxide accord at a summit of the G7 A pullout also would be one more sions of greenhouse gases. planetary warming in part by dition of anonymity, said Trump generated from burning of fos- group of wealthy nations on Sat- step by the Republican president The US is the world's second- slashing carbon dioxide and was working out the terms of the sil fuels that scientists blame for urday, saying he needed more to erase the legacy of his prede- biggest carbon dioxide emitter other emissions from burning of planned withdrawal with US a warming planet, sea level rise, time to decide. cessor, Democrat Barack Obama, behind China. A shift away from fossil fuels.

CNN dismisses Covfefe: Trump's tweets entertain and confound comedian over Washington It also shows that four a collective sigh from both crit- "We can confirm that 'covfefe' is phenomenon illustrated how his decapitated AFP months into his administration, ics and backers, who wonder, not an English word. Yet." Twitter habit can divert atten- the US president's unfiltered use "What next?" Newsweek declared it the tion from his policy agenda. Trump photo resident Donald Trump's of the medium remains That's what happened after "word of the year -- or His off-the-cuff tweets can cryptic tweet of a non- unchecked. his nonsensical tweet in the early century." have real impact, influencing New York Pexistent word -- "covfefe" The consequence is deep tur- hours of Wednesday: "Despite Trump -- who declared dur- relations with key allies like Ger- AFP -- sparked a flood of humor and moil in his communications staff: the constant negative press ing the election campaign last many, sending a major ridicule on the internet, but it the White House is rife with covfefe." year that "I'm very highly edu- company's stock plummeting, or S television network also highlighted the inability of rumors that the boss is prepar- The word doesn't exist in cated. I know words; I have the riling Washington on issues like CNN yesterday fired a his communications team to ing mass firings, and this week, English, or apparently any best words" -- even jumped into the FBI probe into Russian med- Ucomedian from its control White House messaging. communications director Mike human language. the fun. dling in US politics. annual New Year's Eve cov- It may have been a simple key- Dubke resigned just four months Mock interpretations said it After deleting the original The White House team has erage after she provoked board slip, or a "senior moment"; into the job. was Russian for "I resign", tweet, he put out a new one: also fallen prey to embarrassing outrage for being photo- the soon to be 71-year-old Trump's tweets -- complete ancient Egyptian for "media "Who can figure out the true spelling errors -- a list of global graphed holding up a prop Trump's huge catalog of Twitter with spelling errors, rants about witch hunt", or more unprinta- meaning of 'covfefe' ??? Enjoy!" attacks released in February depicting Donald Trump's bloopers regularly offer evidence "fake news" and even a mistweet ble things. But coming amid reports included "Denmakr" (Denmark) bloodied severed head. that a spelling-challenged speed- at a British woman instead of his The Regent's English Lan- Trump will pull out of a global and "San Bernadino" (San The US president casti- tweeter occupies the Oval Office. own daughter -- often result in guage Center in London wrote: climate deal, the "covfefe" Bernardino). gated Kathy Griffin saying she "should be ashamed of herself" for the grisly-looking photo- graph. "My children, especially my 11 year old son, Barron, are Spelling bee starts with having a hard time with this. Sick!" he tweeted. Griffin, 56, who had co- new tie-breaker rules hosted CNN's annual New Year's Eve coverage for the last decade, apologized on Tues- Oxon Hill for the national spelling bee. Her day and said she had asked the Reuters smiling face and blonde curls celebrity photographer Tyler appear in a photograph on spell- Shields to remove the picture he 90th Scripps National ingbee.com, where she is from the internet. But it was not Spelling Bee got under identified as Speller No. 290. enough to save her job with Tway yesterday with 291 Fuller is one of more than 11 CNN. word whizzes vying for the top million youths who competed in "CNN has terminated our prize, including the contest's earlier spelling bees in all 50 US agreement with Kathy Grif- youngest-ever competitor. states, US territories from Puerto fin to appear on our New Competing for a $40,000 Rico to Guam, and several Year's Eve program," its com- first-place cash prize, spelling nations from Jamaica to Japan, munications division virtuosos ranging in age from 6 contest officials said in a news announced on Twitter. to 15 began facing off at Gaylord release. The network had said National Resort and Convention New rules this year are aimed earlier it was "evaluating" its Center. The contest concludes at preventing tie endings like last New Year's Eve coverage and with finals on Thursday at the year's, when joint winners both called the picture "disgusting Edith Fuller of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who is the youngest speller this year, spells her word during Washington-area resort. got $40,000 cash prizes. and offensive." By late morning, more than Bee officials will administer round two of 2017 Scripps National Spelling Bee at Gaylord National Resort & Convention First Lady Melania Trump 100 contestants had taken the a Tiebreaker Test to all spellers Center in National Harbor, Maryland, yesterday. also criticized the outspoken stage, successfully spelling words in the competition at 6pm (2200 Trump critic, who has twice such as gneiss, brachiopods and GMT) today. The test will consist emerge through 25 rounds, offi- into the increasingly challeng- to become the first national won Emmys for her reality dactylology, and striking out on of 12 spelling words, which con- cials will declare the speller with ing Bee, which is broadcast live champion. show "My Life on the D List." the words quokka and toile. testants will handwrite, and 12 the highest tiebreaker score the on ESPN. This year is the 90th national "As a mother, a wife, and The contestants include multiple-choice vocabulary winner. If there is a tie on the The competition started in Bee, after finals were suspended a human being, that photo is Edith Fuller of Tulsa, Oklahoma, questions. test, judges will declare 1925, when 11-year-old Frank due to World War Two from very disturbing," the presi- who recently turned 6 and is the If it is mathematically impos- co-champions. Neuhauser correctly spelled the 1943-1945, according to contest dent's wife said in a rare youngest participant to qualify sible for one champion to A worldwide audience tunes name of the flower "gladiolus" officials. statement. Infighting over oil pipeline threatens to divide Canada's left

Ottawa alliance set to take power in Can- to power in the country's third pragmatists in the party," said poll- carry crude from Alberta's oil governments has rarely been a Reuters ada's Pacific province of British most populous province. ster Nik Nanos of Nanos Research. sands to the west coast, also risk in Canada, where the Liber- Columbia vowed on Tuesday to Instead, it has exposed the While both Trudeau and the poses potential risks to Trudeau, als or center-right Conservatives essy political infighting block Kinder Morgan Inc's plans party's gulf over energy and the Alberta NDP government support who had scored a rare political traditionally hold federal power over a pipeline threatens to expand an oil pipeline, setting environment, setting the stage the project, the NDP divide runs victory with a pipeline policy that and the NDP has been able to be Mto divide Canada's left up a fight with energy-rich for a potential pitched battle up the party line to Ottawa, where balanced demands of energy- principled and uncompromising just as it gears up to name a new Alberta and the federal between two sides of a party that six candidates vying for leader- dependent Alberta and the in opposition. "It's complicated," leader to face Prime Minister Jus- government. must unite if it hopes to unseat ship of the third-place federal NDP environmentalists in his party. acknowledged Karl Belanger, a tin Trudeau, jeopardizing the The brewing battle between Trudeau's Liberals or become, at have varied views on pipelines "If you are a Liberal, you have to longtime senior adviser to NDP New Democrats' chances of the only two provincial NDP gov- least, kingmakers. and the economy. The party will be worried that the fight within leaders, saying the tension will soon gaining power-broker status in ernments in Canada is bad news "This could be the key divid- elect its new leader in October. the NDP could spill over to a fight force the federal leadership can- the 2019 election. for the party, which should have ing line between passionate The western battle over the within the Liberals," Nanos said. didates to pick a side in the A New Democratic Party-led been basking in a surprise ascent environmentalists and economic pipeline expansion, designed to A political battle between NDP pipeline debate. 18 HOME THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017 AMERICAS 19

5 drugmakers Leftists in tight sued over opiate crisis race for key Columbus AP

he Ohio attorney gen- Mexican vote eral sued five Tdrugmakers yesterday, accusing the companies of Mexico City Tension with US perpetrating the state's addic- Reuters tions epidemic by A victory in Sunday's intentionally misleading he leftist party of election in the State patients about the dangers of presidential hopeful of Mexico would painkillers and promoting Andres Manuel Lopez hand Obrador's benefits of the drugs not Obrador was in a 3-year-old party its backed by science. photo-finish race to first state govt. Attorney General Mike Tstrip control of Mexico's most DeWine said the companies populous state from the coun- If Obrador wins in created a deadly mess in Ohio try's ruling party, polls showed that they now need to pay to 2018, it could stoke yesterday. clean up. "This lawsuit is about tensions with US Opposition supporters rally against Venezuela's President Maduro in Caracas, yesterday. A victory in Sunday's elec- justice, it's about fairness, it's tion in the State of Mexico after Trump's tirade about what is right," DeWine would hand Lopez Obrador's against Mexico. said in announcing the com- three-year-old party its first Venezuela pushes constitution plaint filed in Ross County, a state government, showing its southern Ohio community anti-corruption message has million people where one in slammed by fatal drug over- mass appeal and adding eight of the nation's voters live. doses from painkillers and momentum to his run for the The PRI candidate, Alfredo bid amid deadly protests heroin. A record 3,050 Ohio- presidency in 2018. del Mazo, was behind with 30.7 ans died from drug overdoses President Enrique Pena percent. But the gap between in 2015, a figure expected to Nieto's Institutional Revolution- the two was within the survey's Caracas sign up online on Wednesday the authorities' crackdown on jump sharply once 2016 figures ary Party (PRI) has governed 3.2 percent margin of error. AFP and Thursday to seek election protesters. are tallied. the State of Mexico, which rings A second poll in newspaper to the 545-member assembly, "If that hole gets bigger, it DeWine wants an injunc- Mexico City, for nearly nine El Universal showed del Mazo enezuelan authorities which will be tasked with writ- will open a breach that could tion stopping the companies decades. ahead with 33.8 percent of sup- yesterday began signing ing a new constitution. divide the government side into from their misconduct and Financial markets are port and Gomez with 29.3 Vup candidates for a The center right-led oppo- two blocs: one that defends the damages for money the state closely watching the progress percent. planned constitutional reform sition coalition, the Democratic constitution and another that spent on opiates sold and mar- of Lopez Obrador, a divisive fig- However, both surveys body, a move that has inflamed Unity Roundtable, has vowed defends the stability of Madu- keted in Ohio. The attorney ure with nationalist leanings. showed a strong antipathy deadly unrest stemming from not to take part. ro's leadership," said electoral general also wants customers If Lopez Obrador does win towards the PRI. The Reforma anti-government protests. "I hope no one will commit analyst Hector Briceno. repaid for unnecessary opiate in 2018, it could stoke tensions poll showed 75 percent of voters Opponents of socialist Presi- treason by taking part in such Maduro however retains the prescriptions for chronic pain. with the United States after wanted another party to govern dent Nicolas Maduro say he aims an absolutely fraudulent proc- public backing of the military. "These drug companies knew President Donald Trump's elec- the state, with 66.2 percent of to keep himself in power by ess," opposition leader Henrique Opposition and government that what they were doing was toral campaign broadsides those surveyed by El Universal stacking the planned "constitu- Capriles said. supporters on Wednesday wrong and they did it anyway," against Mexico, such as calling expressing the same view. ent assembly" with his allies. The opposition complains planned the latest in two months DeWine said. on that country to pay for a wall Less than one-fifth of vot- He says it is a democratic that Maduro plans to have a of street protests, which prose- The drugmakers sued by on the US border. ers in either poll expressed a way to respond to an economic chunk of the assembly's mem- cutors say have left 60 people DeWine are Purdue Pharma; A poll in the national news- desire for the PRI to remain in and political crisis that has bership elected from groups that dead. The opposition vowed to Endo Health Solutions; Teva paper Reforma showed Delfina government. sparked food shortages and are traditionally loyal to him. march towards the foreign min- Pharmaceutical Industries, Gomez of his National Regen- Del Mazo is battling against deadly violence in the oil-rich Attorney General Luisa istry in Caracas. Maduro's and its subsidiary, Cephalon; eration Movement (MORENA) a widely held view that his country. Ortega and a handful of other supporters planned a counter- Johnson & Johnson and its party had 31.9 percent support party is corrupt and has failed The electoral authorities public officials have broken rally in their stronghold in the subsidiary Janssen Pharma- to be governor of the state of 16 to rein in crime. have called on candidates to ranks with Maduro, criticizing center of the city. ceuticals; and Allergan. 20 HOME THURSDAY 1 JUNE 2017

PRAYER TIMINGS

FAJR 03.16 am Ooredoo volunteers share Iftar at EHSAN SHOROOK 04.44 am

ZUHR 11.32 am MAGHRIB 06.23 pm ASR 02.56 pm ISHA 07.53 pm This gesture of kindness was not only part of WEATHER TODAY Ooredoo’s ‘Hand-In-Hand’ CSR Ramadan campaign, o o but a way for the younger 34 C 43 C generation to spend time Minimum Maximum and learn from the elderly residents.

The Peninsula

ast night, a host of Ooredoo volunteers shared Iftar with patients at the Qatar Foun- dation for Elderly Care (EHSAN). This act of kindness Lwas not only part of Ooredoo’s ‘Hand- In-Hand’ CSR Ramadan campaign, but a way for the younger generation to spend time and learn from the elderly residents. Ooredoo’s delegation was received by a group of employees and patients from the Foundation and after break- ing their fast together; Ooredoo presented gifts to the elderly and con- Strong wind at most areas with poor visibility. Hot daytime with gratulated the organisation for their blowing dust to dusty over most work in Qatar. Ooredoo team at EHSAN Iftar. areas daytime and slight dust by Manar Khalifa Al Muraikhi, Direc- night. tor Community & Public Relations, HIGH TIDE 10:45 - 22:30 LOW TIDE 05:45 - 14:45 Ooredoo, said: “I’m delighted to say them this year,” Al Muraikhi said. continuing our cooperation with the a host of important community initi- that a large group of Ooredoo volun- Jaber Mohammed Al Marri, Direc- company, as it will enhance the qual- atives this holy month and the Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department teers had the opportunity to spend time tor Media and Communications Office, ity of the services we provide and, company hope their messaging with the brilliant patients at EHSAN EHSAN, said: “We would like to thank consequently, the elders’ quality of life. inspires customers to join in with the LATEST NEWS last night. " "The Qatar Foundation for the Ooredoo team for the great efforts We encourage all the companies to fol- good deeds. UPDATE Elderly Care always does such an and contributions they’re making to low in the footsteps of Ooredoo this Customers can follow Ooredoo’s amazing job of caring for the people help those in need." Ramadan and spread happiness in the Ramadan Hand-in-Hand campaign who helped shape our country and we "As every year, seeing them break- hearts of our loved ones,” added Al via its Facebook, Instagram or Twit- www.thepeninsulaqatar.com thank the team and patients for hav- ing fast with the elders at EHSAN was Marri. Ooredoo’s 2017 Ramadan CSR ter page and the hashtag ing us back, to break our fasts with heart-warming. We look forward to campaign ‘Hand-In-Hand’ will include #ShareAMoment. RAF collects over QR4.9m to rescue six loan defaulters

The Peninsula Head of the Supervising Committee for Campaign, heikh Thani bin Abdul- said that there were a lah Foundation for number of conditions that SHumanitarian Services must be met to avail the (RAF) has collected over benefits. QR4.9m to rescue six loan "Regarding awareness defaulting citizens. about the drive, RAF has RAF in collaboration been campaigning for years with the Ministry of Interior to raise awareness about bad is waging a massive cam- debts and there is no doubt paign to collect donations that what has been decided of QR128m to repay loans is that these campaigns will of 124 defaulting citizens bear fruit in the short and including 13 women. long term. We touched many The campaign “Naffis cases and raised the aware- Kurbathum w Lam Sham- ness of the seriousness of lahum” (solve their problems and help them bad debt," Al Baridi said. reunite) aims to set free citizens serving jail sen- The campaign was launched ahead of the holy tence, and to rescue those who have received court month of Ramadan because most Muslims pre- verdict to repay the loans or go to prison, said a fer to give Zakat (alms) in this moth. The idea release. behind the campaign is to approach the donors As for the conditions for benefiting from the asking them to allocate a portion of their campaign, Lieutenant Colonel Jabir Ali Al Baridi Zakat for loan defaulters to save them and their (pictured), representative from the Ministry and social life. Sanad wins CSR award & Astad's Ali Al Khalifa is CEO of the Year

The Peninsula outstanding achievements of all while simultaneously utilised as ASTAD professionals and espe- an educational reference, fur- anad, a product by ASTAD, cially the collective efforts of the ther supporting Qatar’s vision received the award for Sanad team that has helped to promote a knowledge based SInnovations in CSR Prac- Sanad gain recognition for its economy. tices and ASTAD Chief Executive corporate social As part of ASTAD’s corpo- Officer Engineer Ali Al Khalifa responsibility.” rate social responsibility, the won CEO of the Year at The The award for Innovations innovative solution is free for Golden Globe Awards recently in CSR Practices is the first the construction industry to held in Kuala Lumpur, award for Sanad since being utilise. Malaysia. launched just last month. Sanad Sanad is an integrated suite Following the ceremony Al is a product by ASTAD that aims of contracts that includes four Khalifa said: “I am truly hon- to be a supportive tool that contract templates and forms oured to be named CEO of the refines contractual procedures covering Construction, Design year; however, above all, this in the construction industry and Build, Design Services and recognition is a tribute to the within Qatar and the region, Professional Services.