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Wednesday 7 June 2017 | 12 Ramadan 1438 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Volume 22 | Number 7185 | 2 Riyals

Emir holds Iftar banquet for Armed Forces and Interior Ministry Officers Emir holds telephone talks with Macron and Putin

QNA

mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani held telephone a con- versation with President of French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, Eon latest developments in the region, especially the developments in the relations between the Arab Gulf States. President Macron affirmed his desire to develop the relations between France and Qatar for the benefit of the two friendly countries. In addi- tion, he voiced his intention to exert efforts through consultation with friendly countries in order to find a solution to the crisis between Qatar and its neighbours and to reduce the tension between them. The Emir expressed his appreciation for the French President's position and keen- ness to enhance the strategic relations between the two countries as well as his position to maintain relations between the Gulf states. The Emir also held a telephone conversation with President of the Rus- sian Federation Vladimir Putin. They reviewed bilateral relations and discussed the latest developments in the region, especially regarding the crisis between Qatar and some Gulf Arab countries. The Russian President reiterated Russia's supportive stance for resolving the crisis through dialogue, Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday hosted an Iftar banquet at Al Wajbah Palace in honour based on mutual respect and diplomatic and political ways. For his part, the of commanders and senior officers of Armed Forces, Police and other security bodies on the advent of the holy Emir expressed his thanks for the Russian Federation's stance and his personal month of Ramadan. interest in strengthening the solid relations between the two friendly coun- tries and his position calling for maintaining stability in the Gulf region.

Enough food stocks for 12 months: Qatar Chamber Isolating Qatar won't solve crisis: Erdogan The Peninsula Agencies resolve any problem,” Erdogan Cutting ties with Qatar helps no one: Spain QATAR has stocks of food and other consumer goods said during an iftar banquet for which is enough for next 12 months, said Chairman of urkish President Recep ambassadors of foreign countries SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER Alfonso Dastis said the decision by Qatar Chamber (QC), Shiekh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Tayyip Erdogan said that in Ankara.“We are and we will do some countries to cut ties with Qatar is concerning, noting that the Mohammed Al Thani. There will be no shortage of food isolating Qatar, including everything we can to resolve this situation doesn't help anyone. The Spanish minister said the situation items and other materials as over 95 percent of Qatari the use of sanctions, crisis,” he said. Turkish President in the Middle East was already a source of concern and deepening imports come through the air and sea, he added. would not resolve any said he intends to develop ties with divisions helps no one. QC held a meeting which was attended by more than Tproblems, adding that Ankara would the State of Qatar hit by sanction 40 major food supplies importer companies. continue to do everything in its from Saudi Arabia and its allies. Erdogan said. "Turkey will con- have supported us in the most dif- → Continued on page 5 power to help end the crisis. "We find that the sanctions tinue and develop our ties with ficult moments," he added in “Isolating Qatar will not taken against Qatar are not good," Qatar, as with all our friends who reference to last year's failed coup. Sanctions violate human rights: NHRC The Peninsula Ali bin Smaikh Al Marri said that security and stability of the decisions by some countries to citizens. ational Human Rights sever relations with Qatar have The Committee had Committee (QNHRC) has led to violations of international launched a hotline to receive Nsaid it has begun receiv- human rights conventions and and deal with complaints as well ing complaints from Qataris and charters . as to create a 24-hour crisis cell non-Qataris whose rights have The committee has called on and would continue to commu- been violated in the three neigh- international community and nicate with all international and bouring countries which on international organizations to governmental human rights Monday severed their diplo- intervene to stop violations tak- organizations to raise such vio- matic ties with Qatar. ing place it these counties, lations and assist complainants, Addressing a press confer- warning from further violations Dr Al Marri noted. ence here, QNHRC Chairman Dr. which may affect peace, → Continued on page 2

INSIDE German FM voices support for Qatar Foreign Minister: GERMAN Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has expressed his coun- Qatar willing to talk try's support for Qatar. In statements to Handelsblatt, Gabriel said, "Apparently, Qatar is to be isolated more or less completely and to resolve crisis hit existentially."He added that such a move is "particularly dan- gerous in a region already plagued by crisis." PAGE 2 Qatar condemns Qatar Airways operations normal OIC statement QATAR AIRWAYS operations are running as normal with no dis- PAGE 5 ruptions to flights with the exception of those to the four countries Qatar Airways has been restricted to fly to, said a Qatar Airways Editor-in-chief Dr. spokesperson yesterday. In response to these restrictions Qatar Air- Kalid Al-Shafi's views ways has arranged for three charter flights departing Jeddah today (Tuesday) at 16:00, 22:00, and 23:00 local time, to Muscat in order on Qatar TV to assist all Qatar Airways passengers in Saudi Arabia. Full details of these charter flights are available on Qatar Airways Travel Alert page. PAGE 3 RAMADAN Qatari Duty Forces return to Doha TIMING QATARI Armed Force's duty troops returned to Doha yesterday after participating in the military operations carried by the Saudi- Today’s Iftar 6:25pm led Arab Coalition in Yemen. The troops were greeted by the Chief Tomorrow’s Imsak 3:04am of Staff of the Armed Forces H E Lieutenant General Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem and a number of senior Army officers. 02 HOME WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017

Minister attends conference in New York Emir greets Queen Qatar open to talks of Denmark to resolve crisis: mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent yesterday a cable of congratulations to EH M Queen Margrethe II of Denmark on the occasion of her country's National Day. Deputy Foreign Minister Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani sent a similar cable. QNA Emir greets King atar is open to mediation "We are not a to resolve the crisis that superpower here, of Sweden Qhas seen a group of we are not believing nearby countries move to sever mir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani diplomatic ties with Doha, For- in solving things Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al sent yesterday a cable of congratulations to eign Minister H E Sheikh with confrontation," Rumaihi at the “Our Oceans, Our Future” conference in New York. The EH M King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden on the Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al the Foreign Minister conference, being held until June 9, aims to highlight the role played occasion of his country's National Day. Deputy Thani said. by oceans in daily life. Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani "We are willing to sit and said, stressing that sent a similar cable. talk," H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Qatar is combating Abdulrahman Al Thani said yes- terday in an interview with terror financing CNN, adding that the "progres- and "protecting sive and modern" country the world from NHRC rejects Al Arabiya TV report Many rights violated believes in diplomacy and pro- Continued from page 1 moting peace in the Middle potential terrorists". on conference held in Doha East. Dr Al Marri revealed that the Committee will "We are not a superpower "About our support to the The Peninsula attended by over 320 participants rep- meet tomorrow with Amnesty International to dis- here, we are not believing in Saudi opposition or the sectar- resenting governments, including cuss rights violations caused by the aforementioned solving things with confronta- ian movements in Al-Qatif, this atar National Human Right Com- representatives of 18 Arab States, Arab decisions . tion," the Foreign Minister said, is totally false information. mittee has expressed its deep League, UN missions, international He said the Committee has come across many stressing that Qatar is combat- Actually, the cooperation Qsorrow over the disinformation organisations, human rights institutions cases of violations to the rights to education, health, ing terror financing and between our security and intel- report carried by Al Arabiya TV chan- and experts. work, and other cases which it is going to offer to "protecting the world from ligence agencies between Qatar nel (June 5, 2017) about an international Saudi Arabia participated in the international human rights organizations. potential terrorists." and Saudi has been serving the conference that took place in Doha from conference with a delegation headed According to the complaints received by the The Foreign Minister dis- purpose of the national secu- February 20 to 22. by the Saudi Corporation for Human committee, violations included violation of the puted a Saudi statement rity of Saudi," the Foreign The channel claimed that the con- Rights, representatives of Foreign Min- rights of movement of citizens of these countries. accusing Qatar of "embracing Minister added. ference was attended by human rights istry and Ministry of Interior of KSA. A Qatari woman married to an Emirati citizen has terrorist and sectarian groups Referring to tweets from organisations belonging to Qatar and There were similar delegations from been prevented from bringing her child to Qatar aimed at destabilising the US President Donald Trump Iran and aimed to direct accusations to Bahrain and UAE, including civil soci- because the child has UAE nationality. region." yesterday about the diplo- Saudi Arabia and the coalition it is lead- ety organisations. The conference also The three GCC States have begun imposing fines "With all due respect, this matic crisis, the Minister said ing in Yemen against Houthis. brought together rights and humani- on their citizens visiting Qatar after the ties were statement is full of contradic- that during Trump's recent The conference under the theme tarian organisations and dispute cut. Another violation infringes on the right to edu- tions because it is saying that visit to the region, he and the “Approaches to Human Rights Under resolution centres, along with repre- cation as Qatari students have been asked to leave. we are supporting Iran and on Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Conflicts in the Arab Region” was sentatives of peace-keeping missions, The rights to family reunification has been the other hand supporting the Hamad Al Thani discussed the organised by the National Human Rights UN and international agencies. clearly violated by imposing travel bans on the cit- extremist groups in Syria, and issue "that the funding of ter- Committee (NHRC), UN Commission on We are providing with these details izens of these countries, said NHRC. (that) we are supporting the rorism needs to be stopped by Human Rights, General Secretariat of to show how Arabiya channel is spread- A case a daughter living with her Bahraini Muslim Brotherhood in Saudi various countries." Arab Interior Ministers Council, the Arab ing fake news and fabricating lies. mother in Bahrain since 20 years has been asked or in Yemen and we are sup- He said that there have Maghreb Union (AMU), Arab Parliament, The QNHRC said this is an annual to leave the country because her father is Qatari. porting the Iranian-backed been multiple reports issued by Arab Network for National Human conference and is organised in cooper- Thousands of GCC citizens have ownership of Houthis from the other side. In official agencies in the United Rights Institutions. The conference was ation with other partners, so how can buildings, companies, and different types of busi- all battlefields, there are adver- States "commending our role held under the patronage of General the committee commit such acts while nesses in these countries and have been asked to saries," he told the American TV in combating terror Secretariat of Gulf Cooperation Coun- the organisers are senior officials of the leave within 14 days which is violation to the rights channel. financing." cil, Arab Parliament. The event was GCC and international organisations. of private ownership, said NHRC. WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 HOME 03 'They are spreading lies against our leaders'

Minister of Foreign Affairs, H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani.

justifications are contradictory supporting Hamas and Israel. happen. “ Qatar, as Emir H H Dr. Khalid Mubarak Al-Shafi, Editor-in-Chief of The Peninsula, during a talk show on Qatar TV. like national security, terrorism, Everybody knows that both these Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al supporting Hamas and Houthi. are fighting against each other”. Thani has said, will not accept to Even all these justifications are He said that Qatar usually be marginalised and this is what r. Khalid Mubarak media channels did not host any we depend only on the aware- contradicting each other because supports brotherly countries and makes others angry”. Al-Shafi Editor-in- Qatari to share his opinion, which ness of people of Gulf because all these ideologies do not sup- had played role of mediator and "All of us are supporting the Chief of The means they have a specific people are not supporting them port each other," he questioned. succeeded. "It will continue sup- Emir's decisions and the coming Peninsula stressed agenda. on their decisions against Qatar." “Their search for justifications porting peoples". decisions also. Closure of the that "some coun- Al-Shafi also said: “Qatar is "They sat ten days repeating made them contradictory and Now they want from Qatar border will not affect life in Dtries" want from Qatar to work ready for dialogue as Minister of the same lies and finally cut the commit mistakes because one of to ‘kneel down’ and accept Qatar. I again say that Qatar under their guardianship and Foreign Affairs has also said and ties with Qatar and the the allegations is that we are "guardianship" and that will not rejects guardianship. How can "we (Qatar) are exposed to a they cut relations between broth- fierce media attack from broth- erly people and that too in erly countries. Ramadan." "They are spreading lies Commenting on the Foreign against our leaders." He said that Minister's statements, Mohamed Qatar has denied all these Hamad Al Marri, Editor-in-Chief, rumours but no one listens and Al Watan news paper said that they have continued telling the "The reasons that these countries lies to the people. based their decisions were “How can we imagine that untrue and fabricated". some media channels prepared Explaining further he added, 11 commentators in a very short "In case there were problems time as we as media profession- between these countries, they als know that it takes time and should have waited and dis- preparations”. cussed the issues and taken any Commenting on current cri- decision after consultation and sis in "The Reality talk-show on not taken the decision of cutting Qatar TV" yesterday, he said those Mohamed Hamad Al Marri, Editor-in-Chief, Al Watan. ties abruptly". 04 HOME WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 Foetal medicine cuts pregnancy risk: Expert

Fazeena Saleem The Peninsula Antenatal care Improvements in egular antenatal care technology have including ultrasound enabled experts to and foetal medicine helps reduce the risks identify foetal for baby as well as the structures, both normal Rmother, says an expert at Sidra and abnormal at an Medical and Research Center. early stage (first The services at the Division of trimester) of pregnancy. Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Sidra Outpatient Clinic offers preg- nant women ultrasound screening “Diabetes, obesity and hyper- for foetal anomalies. The clinic also tension in pregnancy are among offers information that may help some of the most common risk fac- mothers better prepare for the tors for adverse pregnancy World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) at the recent International Conference on Happiness Education in Beijing. birth of their child including the outcomes. The harm that these option of delivery in a setting that conditions may cause can be con- will permit rapid access to special- siderably reduced if women are ist surgical or medical care. seen earlier in pregnancy at regu- WISE joins happiness education conference “Foetal Medicine is the key to lar intervals. Our services aim to maternity care and contributes to detect such conditions that might improved maternal survival and impair fetal or maternal health and The Peninsula of a child’s well-being in learn- neonatal health. It is one of the best to act accordingly,” said Prof The WISE Summit, an initiative of Qatar ing is similar across cultures. investments a country can make. Kalache. he World Innovation Foundation for Education, Science and What is just as important At Sidra we aim to achieve this goal “At present, the Outpatient Summit for Education Community Development (QF), will take place though, is how we portray and so that our patients can have full Clinic at Sidra performs around 50 T(WISE) recently partici- manage happiness education access to quality antenatal care obstetric ultrasound examinations pated in the International in Doha from November 14 to 16, under the in relation to other emotions services,” Professor Karim Kalache a day on pregnant women at all Conference on Happiness Edu- theme ‘Co-exist, Co-create: Learning to Live including the negative ones. (pictured), Division Chief of the stages of pregnancy. The vast cation in Beijing. and Work Together’. Children will benefit the most Maternal-Fetal Medicine Division majority of them will eventually The gathering was hosted through this more holistic and at Sidra, told The Peninsula. give birth at the Women’s Hospi- by the National Institute of complete view of mental health tal at Hamad Medical Corporation Education Sciences of the Peo- integrated into school sys- several case studies reflecting issues. At WISE 2017 this (HMC)“ says Prof Kalache. ple’s Republic of China in tems, and how it is taught. the importance of well-being November, we will further “The obstetric screening that collaboration with the Beijing In one session, Muhammad in schools and communities. He explore some of the ways glo- we are providing is done by dedi- Haidian Education Salman bin Mohamed Khair, presented findings related to bal experts are involved in cated sonographer trained in Commission. Senior Research Associate at aspects of children’s rights, the shaping healthy minds.” obstetric ultrasound together with The three-day conference WISE, presented the current role of children in social change, The WISE Summit, an ini- highly specialised experts” he featured presentations from work of WISE related to men- and described initiatives that tiative of Qatar Foundation for added. global experts on mental health tal health education. He are reshaping learning environ- Education, Science and Com- Conducting an ultrasound dur- education, and on learning dif- outlined aspects of mental ments to better support munity Development (QF), will ing antenatal care makes it ficulties such as dyslexia and health as addressed in educa- well-being, including a take place in Doha, from possible to assess gestational age other conditions. tion systems, and reviewed project to counter Internet November 14 to 16, under the more accurately, to diagnose twins Additionally, the event previous research related to the addiction among young peo- theme ‘Co-exist, Co-create: and multiples and to rule out con- included a seminar on how topic carried out by WISE. ple. Khair said: “It is no Learning to Live and Work genital anomalies. mental health education is Khair also considered surprise that the importance Together’. Ooredoo distributes Iftar boxes at Aspire Zone

The Peninsula Manar Khalifa Al Muraikhi, customers to see the range of ages and genders. Director PR and Corporate Com- sporting activities available this Ooredoo’s Hand-In-Hand oredoo volunteers sur- munications, Ooredoo Qatar, month.” campaign still has a host of prised Aspire Zone said: “We’re proud to truly share As well as distribute gifts important community initiatives Ovisitors yesterday, with a this Ramadan with Qatar’s peo- across the Aspire facilities, planned this Holy Month and the special gift of water and dates to ple. We will be visiting a host of Ooredoo recently announced company hope their messaging break their fast for Iftar. places across our country dur- that it is the Official Sponsor of inspires customers to join in with The volunteers distributed ing the Holy Month, but Ooredoo Aspire’s Ramadan Sports Fes- the good deeds. the gifts at sunset and congrat- wanted to share special Iftar tival 2017. Customers can follow Oore- ulated the sportsmen and boxes with Aspire visitors, to The Aspire Ramadan doo’s Ramadan Hand-in-Hand women on their dedication to showcase the dedication it takes Sports Festival is taking place campaign via its Facebook, Ooredoo volunteers gift water and dates to a motorist at Aspire stay fit and healthy during to stay fit and healthy during until Jun 14 and will include a Instagram or Twitter page and Ramadan. Ramadan, and encourage all our number of competitions for all the hashtag #ShareAMoment. Zone. HMC's diabetes screening begins on Friday

The Peninsula about prevention programmes, treatment, and care,” said amad Medical Corpo- Othman. ration will kick off its Community screenings HRamadan diabetes have become an important screening and education part of Hamad’s diabetes events this Friday at Sheikh community outreach pro- Abdulrahman bin Mohamed Al gramme and have been Abdulrahman Al Thani Mosque successfully used in schools, in Al Rayyan. Following Fri- workplaces, places of worship day’s prayers, 15 screening and other locations to help stands staffed by diabetes members of the public learn nurses and educators will be about the health risks of set up in the entrance hallway diabetes. of the mosque as part of HMC is also organising a Hamad’s annual Ramadan series of other events, includ- Professor Abdul Badi Abou Samra, left, and Manal Othman. health awareness campaign. ing corporate education and “Attendance for prayers at awareness sessions. During the mosques tends to increase dur- during Ramadan,” said Profes- Director of Diabetes Educator month of Ramadan, a phone- ing the holy month so these sor Abdul Badi Abou Samra, at HMC, more than 3,150 wor- based emergency service screenings, which have Chairman of Internal Medicine shippers were screened as part which allows patients with dia- become an annual event for at HMC and Director of the of events held last year during betes, their relatives or Hamad, present an opportune Qatar Metabolic Institute. Ramadan. caregivers, to call and ask for time to screen the local com- With events planned for “Screening for diabetes medical advice related to dia- munity for diabetes and to help Othman Bin Affan Mosque in and pre-diabetes provides us betes and fasting is available. individuals understand the Al Khor on June 16 and with an opportunity to start an The hotline (5598 1331) is oper- signs and symptoms of the dis- Abdulghani Abduljalil Mosque important conversation. It ational from 8am to 11pm, all ease. The events also provide in Al Wakra on Friday, 23 June, allows us to identify individu- days of the week. an opportunity for our trained thousands are expected to visit als who do not know they are For tips and information diabetes experts to talk with the screening stands where diabetic and to help those who about living with diabetes dur- diabetic patients and to offer they will receive a personal- are pre-diabetic, or at risk of ing Ramadan, and the rest of advice on managing their con- ised analysis of their results. becoming pre-diabetic, by the year, one can visit diabe- dition and eating healthily According to Manal Othman, talking to them tes.hamad.qa. WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 HOME 05 Advisory Council discusses draft law on domestic workers

The Peninsula discussed the proposed law raised concerns on months long salary. The proposed law also contract. In this case, they will The proposed law especially the clauses related to annual leave of domestic helps asked the employers to not make deserve complete end of service The domestic helps he draft law for regulat- end of service, monthly wages and demanded the services com- any deduction from their salaries and air ticket to go back to their are entitled for three ing domestic workers and duty hours in a regular ses- mittee to make balance in they spend on their recruitment country. week paid annual including housemaids sion held on Monday, Al Sharq safeguarding the rights of both or for anything else. The proposed law allows leave and they have granted weekly off and reports. The services committee parties. The Advisory Council The domestic helps are enti- manpower agencies to recruit fixed 10 hours duty in a of the Council viewed that the end decided to complete the discus- tled for three week paid annual domestic helps on the behalf of right to choose the Tday. Domestic helpers include of service should not be more than sion on proposed law in the next leave and they have right to employers after taking permission vacation timing. drivers, nannies, cooks, garden- 10 years as per the human session. The proposed law asked choose the vacation timing. After from the authorities concerned but ers and their equivalents. resources law that put sealing of the employers to pay the monthly each two years, they will deserve banned hiring those less than 18 After each two years, The proposed law also gave 10 years as maximum for expatri- wages of domestic helps at the end for return air ticket benefit to their years or more than 60 years. they will deserve for break for rest during the duty but ates. And the end of service should of every month with maximum home country unless they were The proposed law suggests return air ticket asked not be included in the duty not be less than three weeks wage delay to third day of next month. going for good so they will get only punishment QR5,000 as maxi- benefit to their home hour. Domestic helps deserve of domestic help per year. A mem- And the payment should be not one side ticket. mum on manpower agencies for country unless they weekly off that should not be less ber of Advisory Council proposed considered valid until it was trans- The employers cannot take violating the provisions of law and were going for good than 24 hours in a row and weekly the services committee to reduce ferred in the bank account of the the domestic help outside the employers for taking domestic so they will get only off day will be specified as per the the end of service period from 10 domestic help or give him in cash country if they are against their helps out of the country without one side ticket. contract, said the draft law. years to five year to ease the after taking their signature as will. If it happens the domestic their will and taking services more The Advisory Council employers. The members also prove that they received the help has right to cancel their work than 10 hours. Qatar condemns statement No shortage of food items; enough by OIC General Secretariat stocks available in the market → Continued from page 1 this development will be nega- QNA State in order to request a clari- The meeting has come as part QC meeting discussed tive for traders of those counties The OIC did not fication regarding these of the Qatar Chamber’s efforts to the alternative which have lost the Qatari mar- atar has strongly con- allegations. By disregarding all facilitate any procedures related ket, while the Qatari importers demned and expressed comply with the this, it has engaged in action that to food consumer goods in light sources for the have many other alternatives. Qsurprise at the statement tolerant teachings does not meet the objectives and of the latest development of sev- importers, as many QC said that it is going to facil- issued by the General Secretar- of Islam as it should purposes of the Organisation and erance of ties with neighbouring of these importers itate any difficulties being faced iat of the Organization of the have contacted the does not comply with the Islamic countries and border closure. The have already signed by importers in collaboration with Islamic Cooperation (OIC) yes- principles and values under meeting resulted in formation of the competent authorities. terday, which is based on false authorities concerned which the organisation was a joint committee from the rep- agreements with Shiekh Khalifa, Chairman of allegations and charges against in the State in established. resentatives of the major food other partners to QC, expressed his regrets for the the State of Qatar, as part of the order to request a The State of Qatar reaffirms importing companies and QC. ensure flow of food steps taken by Saudi Arabia, incitement campaign against the its full commitment to the Organ- "The recent development has United Arab Emirates and Bah- State built on slanderous state- clarification regarding isation's founding principles, its required the importers of food consumer goods. rain to sever their ties with Qatar ments amounting to the level of these allegations. charter and the principles of supplies from these three coun- and close their borders and air full fabrication to affect symbols Islamic brotherhood, as well as tries to sign contracts with other space. Over 95 percent of Qatari and institutions, and indicating its commitment to the interna- suppliers," said QC yesterday in they have enough strategic stock imports come through the air and intent to damage its security and certain Member States. This is a tional community in the fight a press statement. of food stuff and they have vari- sea, and the Qatari private sector sovereignty. dangerous precedent that threat- against terrorism and extremism The meeting discussed the ety of sources, and the local has contracts with suppliers in The State of Qatar regrets ens the work and credibility of in all its forms and manifesta- alternative sources for the market will not be affected and many countries and able to pro- that the OIC's General Secretar- the Organisation. tions and whatever its source. importers, as many of these they are ready to put all their vide with the needs in competitive iat has seriously violated its work The OIC did not comply with The State of Qatar also reit- importers have already signed stocks under the State. prices, Sheikh Khalifa said, add- and overstepped its role in the the tolerant teachings of Islam erates the importance of agreements with other partners Food items are available ing that the losers were the Charter and has sided clearly as it should have contacted the maintaining a high level of to ensure flow of food consumer enough in the market and there exporters in the above mentioned with the position of authorities concerned in the accuracy. goods. Attendees assured that is no shortage, and the impact of three countries. 06 MIDDLE EAST / AFRICA WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 US-backed fighters thrust into IS bastion Raqqa Hazima August 2014, expanding its oper- AFP After months sealing ations to Syria the following month. The coalition appears S-backed fighters off access routes to keen to expel IS from its last broke into the city of the city from the east, major urban bastions before the Raqqa yesterday as north and west, the "caliphate" turns three years old they launched a later this month. final assault to drive US-backed Syrian Defeating IS in Raqqa would Uthe Islamic State group from its Democratic Forces "deliver a decisive blow to the de facto Syrian capital. yesterday entered the idea of IS as a physical caliphate", The attack on the northern city limits for the first said coalition commander Lieu- city at the heart of IS's Syrian ter- tenant General Steve Townsend. ritory has been seven months in time. Warning the fight would be the making and is backed by air "long and difficult," Townsend support, military advisers and of Raqqa from the eastern dis- framed the offensive as part of a weapons deliveries from the US- trict of Al-Meshleb," SDF greater struggle against IS, which led coalition. commander Rojda Felat said, has claimed attacks in many Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spokesman Talal Silo speaks during a news conference in Seized by the militants in adding clashes were also raging countries including last month's Hukoumiya village in Raqqa, yesterday. early 2014, Raqqa became noto- on the city's northern outskirts. deadly bombing in Manchester. rious as a hub for IS's operations "They are fighting street bat- "We all saw the heinous in Syria, Iraq and beyond. tles inside Raqqa now, and we attack in Manchester," he said. Raqqa, the so-called capital of As the SDF has drawn closer makeshift camps in territory The city has been the scene have experience in urban "IS threatens all our nations, not terrorism and terrorists," Sello to the city, reports of civilian cas- newly captured by the SDF. of some of the group's worst warfare." just Iraq and Syria, but in our told reporters in the village of ualties in coalition air strikes The International Rescue atrocities, including gruesome The Syrian Observatory for homelands as well." Hazima, north of the city. have swelled. Committee said it was "deeply executions, public displays of Human Rights said clashes in Al- The SDF launched its oper- "With the international coa- On Monday, the Observatory concerned for the safety of civil- bodies and the trafficking of Meshleb had forced IS militants ation to take Raqqa — dubbed lition's warplanes and the said a coalition bombing raid ians in Raqqa" after a drop in women. to withdraw from more than half "Wrath of the Euphrates" — in state-of-the-art weapons they killed 21 civilians as they tried to numbers fleeing the city in the It was one of the twin pivots of the district. The SDF was also November. provided to us, we will seize escape Raqqa by dinghy on the past week. of IS's so-called "caliphate," with trying to push into Raqqa's It then scored a series of vic- Raqqa from Daesh," Sello told Euphrates River. This "may indicate IS intends Mosul in neighbouring Iraq — northwestern district of Al- tories in the wider province, said, using an Arabic acronym The same route leading out to use the 200,000 people still where US-backed forces are also Andalus, the monitor said, as including capturing the strategic for IS. Sello urged civilians inside of the city's southern districts has trapped in the city as human bearing down on the militants. fighting continued to the north, town of Tabqa and its adjacent Raqqa city to keep away from IS been used by IS fighters, it said. shields," the aid group said, using After months sealing off east and west of the city. dam in May. positions and from the front An estimated 300,000 civil- another acronym for IS. access routes to the city from the The advance in Al-Meshleb Yesterday, SDF spokesman lines. The United Nations said it ians were believed to have been It also urged the "utmost east, north and west, the US- was backed by heavy air strikes Talal Sello made the long- was concerned for the safety of living under IS rule in Raqqa, care" to prevent civilian casual- backed Syrian Democratic by the US-led coalition, the awaited announcement that the more than 400,000 men, including 80,000 displaced from ties after "a worrying number of Forces yesterday entered the city Observatory said. battle for Raqqa itself had begun. women and children in Raqqa other parts of Syria. Thousands civilians killed from coalition air limits for the first time. The coalition began its air "We declare today the start of the province who may be caught up have fled in recent months to strikes across Raqqa in recent "Our forces entered the city campaign against IS in Iraq in great battle to liberate the city of in the violence. other parts of the province or to months".

Palestinians angry Palestinian dead in Israeli over Israel panel's fire in Gaza GAZA: Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestini- settlement plan ans near the border fence in the Gaza Strip yester- day, killing one man and Jerusalem Amona settlers after ruling that wounding seven others, Reuters their homes had been built ille- residents and hospital gally on privately-owned officials said. n Israeli panel approved Palestinian land. Prime Minis- An Israeli military plans yesterday for the ter Benjamin Netanyahu spokeswoman said doz- Afirst new Jewish settle- pledged to re-house them at a ens of Palestinians had ment in the occupied West new site in the West Bank. gathered at the fence and Bank in two decades, Israeli According to the media were trying to damage it. media reports said, drawing reports, the panel approved Residents in the Palestinian condemnation and plans to build 102 homes at the enclave, run by Hamas defying repeated international Amichai site for the Amona set- group, said the protest- Palestinian boys ride a bike past a construction site of a residential units funded by Qatar in appeals to avoid such tlers. Plans for another 1,800 ers were throwing measures. dwellings in several existing Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday. stones near the fence If confirmed, the plans, settlements were also ratified, when the Israeli troops which media said also envisage the reports said. shot at them. Hospital the construction of some 1,800 Palestinians, who seek to Israel 'not ready' for peace: Palestinian official officials in Gaza said a other settler homes in the West establish a state in the West 25-year-old man was Bank, are likely to deliver a fur- Bank and Gaza Strip with East alestinian President Mah- "They are a message to the Netanyahu made the com- killed. The Israeli ther serious blow to efforts to Jerusalem as its capital, reacted moud Abbas's office US administration and to the ments at a ceremony to mark 50 spokeswoman said the revive the moribund Israeli- angrily to the reports. Pyesterday slammed Israeli international community that years since the outbreak of the military was looking into Palestinian peace process. "When President (Donald) Prime Minister Benjamin Netan- Israel is not ready to reach peace 1967 Six-Day War. In that war, reports of a Palestinian The reported move follows Trump visited the region, and yahu's pledge to keep permanent based on international law and Israel occupied the West Bank fatality. an Israeli government decision didn't mention anything about security control over the West resolutions," Abbas spokesman and the Gaza Strip and annexed At least 248 Pales- in March to build the new set- the settlements, the Israeli gov- Bank, saying Israel was "not Nabil Abu Rudeina wrote in a east Jerusalem, in a move never tinians and one tlement, known as Amichai. It ernment thought that it is a ready" for peace. statement. recognised by the international Jordanian citizen have will house some 300 settlers green light to continue expand- It said Netanyahu's remarks "We reject these remarks, community. been killed since a wave evicted in February from ing settlements against all on Monday night were meant as which seek to create a climate The occupation continues, and of sporadic violence another settlement called international laws," Wassel Abu a stumbling block to US President that makes the situation more under interim agreements with the began in 2015 in Israel Amona. Yussef, an official of the Pales- Donald Trump's attempts to complicated and are absolutely Palestinians, Israel currently has and the Palestinian Israel's Supreme Court tine Liberation Organization, breathe life into long-stalled not aimed at supporting efforts full security and civil control of 60 Territories. ordered the removal of the said. peace efforts. for a solution," he added. percent of the West Bank.

Displaced children in Iraq Four dead in roadside bomb Niger leader convicted in Kenya of trying to incite coup NAIROBI: Four people, includ- ing three NGO workers, were Niamey force him from power by all killed yesterday when their Reuters legal means available. vehicle hit a roadside bomb in "This is a way of silencing eastern Kenya, a local govern- court in Niger handed an the opposition," Djibo's lawyer, ment official said, in the latest opposition leader a Douleur Oumarou, told report- such attack in the country. Athree-month suspended ers after the verdict. "We are "We have four people sentence yesterday for agitat- going to appeal." dead from the incident that ing for the overthrow of Djibo was expected to be occurred between Dadaab government, a move his law- released from prison later yes- and Doble," said the regional yer said was aimed at silencing terday. In March, a court freed commissioner Mohamud its critics. 15 civilians accused of complic- Saleh. Three of those killed El Hadj Amadou Djibo, the ity in an alleged December 2015 Iraqi children peer through a tarpaulin at the Al-Khazir camp for internally displaced were employed by an NGO head of a coalition of opposi- putsch against Issoufou. Nine people, located between Arbil and Mosul, yesterday. Hundreds of thousands of people called Adeso, which was tion parties, was arrested last military officers, including the have fled their homes as Iraqi forces press a massive operation to retake Mosul from the founded by a Somali activist month after calling on his allies alleged ringleader General Islamic State militants. and receives funding from the to remain united against Pres- Salou Souleymane, are still US and EU for its work. ident Mahamadou Issoufou and behind bars awaiting trial. WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 ASIA 07

Indian Navy's Madhya Pradesh all-woman crew vessel reaches farmers' protest Mauritius

Port Louis turns violent IANS Mandsaur Five dead he Indian Navy's sailing IANS vessel with an all- Chief Minister Shivraj Twoman crew, INSV ive farmers were killed Singh Chouhan Tarini, which is due to begin and several others ordered a judicial a circumnavigation of the injured yesterday in probe after holding a globe in August, yesterday Mandsaur district of reached Mauritius on its first Madhya Pradesh as meeting with senior sea voyage, a defence state- Fpolice opened fire on peasants civil and police ment said. who indulged in violence and officers. Mandsaur This vessel, inducted into pelted police with stones. city and Piplya Mandi the Indian Navy in February, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh area were put under is a sister vessel of Indian Chouhan ordered a judicial Navy's first sailing vessel curfew after Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba (centre) shakes hands with the probe after holding a meeting violence. INSV Mhadei. The boat, which with senior civil and police outgoing Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also known as Prachanda after being elected had so far gone along the officers. Mandsaur city and as Prime Minister in Kathmandu, yesterday. Indian coast so far, now sailed Piplya Mandi area were put After the police across the rough waters of under curfew after violence. firing, protesters Indian Ocean to reach Mau- The state government also became more violent ritius in around 40 days, Navy announced Rs10 lakh compen- and set a number of Deuba returns as Nepal PM officials said. sation to the kin of each of the vehicles afire. "Tarini has begun a new killed farmers. Rashtriya Kisan Kathmandu member Sher Bahadur Deuba... against government forces. chapter in the history of Mazdoor Sangh Chairman Shiv- IANS has been elected to the post of "The manner of his (Deuba's) ocean sailing by Indian kumar Sharma identified the police but anti-social elements Nepal's prime minister," said Par- rise for the fourth time does not women, wherein the first dead as Bablu Patidar, Sarender who mingled with the crowds epal's parliament yester- liament Speaker Onsari Gharti bode well because it has not Indian all-woman crew of Patidar, Kanhaiya, Saty- opened fire at the farmers, who day elected an Magar, addressing parliament been a democratic process," said IN would endeavour to cir- anarayan, and Akhilesh, who is are demanding loan waiver and Nunopposed three-time during a live television broadcast. Kunda Dixit, the editor of the cumnavigate the globe in said to be a college student. fair prices for their produce. former prime minister to the top Deuba's centre-right Nepali Con- Nepali Times newspaper. August 2017," the statement After the police firing, pro- However, eyewitnesses said post once again, the tenth time gress struck an uneasy alliance Seventy-year-old Deuba said. testers became more violent a clash between the police and in just over a decade the lead- with the Maoists last August on takes the helm for the fourth time "Tarini aims to promote and set a number of vehicles farmers was followed by stone- ership has changed hands in the the condition Dahal would hand as Nepal enters the final stages a spirit of adventure and afire. Even though authorities pelting from both sides and Himalayan nation. over power once local elections of a drawn-out peace process camaraderie amongst the clamped a curfew in the area, firing by the police. Sher Bahadur Deuba, a wily had been held. that birthed a new constitution young Naval personnel in the mobs of protestors were on the "Police had to open fire political veteran, stood unop- The first phase of those polls and promises for broad elections. years ahead." roads indulging in arson. around 2pm to control agitated posed in the parliamentary -- the first held in 20 years -- The new constitution, signed in INSV Tarini is 55 feet in Chouhan blamed the Con- farmers, killing two farmers and election having struck a deal were staged last month in three 2015, mandated that local elec- length and built in India in gress for the violence by farmers injuring several others," Ujjain with his predecessor that some of Nepal's seven districts. The tions must be followed by polls line with the 'Make in India' while Congress state unit Pres- Divisional Commissioner B M criticised as being undemo- second round of voting has been at provincial and national level initiative of the Indian Navy ident Arun Yadav and Leader of Ojha earlier said. cratic. Maoist leader Pushpa delayed twice, but did not no later than January 2018. at Aquarius Shipyard Pvt Ltd Opposition Ajay Singh dubbed Protestors also surrounded Kamal Dahal -- who resigned a impede Deuba's appointment. This process has been hin- at Divar, Goa. it as failure of the government. Piplya Mandi police station after fortnight ago after just ten Nepal's revolving door pol- dered by the Madhesi, a minority The hull is made of The Congress said it has formed which heavy police reinforce- months as prime minister -- had itics has seen the three largest group living along the border wooden core fiberglass sand- a panel of MLAs to probe the ments were sent to control the agreed to stand aside for Deuba parties cycle through the pre- with India who have vowed to wich construction for a better Mandsaur violence. Earlier, situation. On Monday night, once long-awaited local polls miership since 2006, when a obstruct the polls unless the performance than aluminum Home Minister Bhupendra farmers held a protest on the had been held in Nepal. peace deal was struck to end a constitution is amended to give and steel and the vessel car- Singh told reporters that not the Mandsaur railway crossing. "I announce that respected lengthy Maoist insurgency them a larger political voice. ries a suite of six sails.

Operation Blue Star anniversary Heat wave NEWS BYTES claims 10 CBI denies witch-hunt in NDTV raid NEW DELHI: The CBI yesterday said the raids on the premises lives in UP of NDTV network co-founder Prannoy Roy were done follow- ing court orders and that it "respects the freedom of press". Lucknow "It is clarified that searches have been carried out at the IANS premises of the (NDTV) promoters and their offices based on search warrants issued by the competent court," the Central t least ten persons have Bureau of Investigation said in a statement. The agency said reportedly died due to it did not conduct searches at the registered office of NDTV, Athe heat wave in vari- media studio, news room or premises connected with the ous parts of Uttar Pradesh in media group. "The CBI fully respects the freedom of press the last 24-hours, an official and is committed to the free functioning of news operations." said yesterday. The number of patients 4 held for honour death in Karnataka with heat stroke conditions, Sikhs taking part in a memorial prayer to mark the 33rd anniversary of Operation Blue diarrhoea, vomiting and high VIJAYAPURA: In a shocking incident of honour killing, a Star, at the premises of Golden Temple in Amritsar, yesterday. fever has increased in hospi- pregnant woman was burnt alive by her family members tals across the state. for marrying a Dalit man, a police official said here yester- Bundelkhand is the worst day. "The incident took place on Saturday evening. Police hit with mercury logging an arrested two persons on Saturday and two more on Sunday. average of 47 degrees Celsius Four more persons are absconding," Deputy Superintend- Sri Lankan Foreign Minister meets Modi in most districts. Banda and ent of Police, Vijayapura, Prabhu Gowda K Patil, said. The Mahoba continue to simmer police have identified the victim as Banu Begum. The victim's New Delhi occasion of the International Minister for quick Indian assist- under an unprecedented heat brother Akbar Mohammed Sab Attar, 20; mother Ramzan IANS Vesak Day last month. He con- ance in the aftermath of the wave. Bi, 65; sister Dawan Bi alias Salma, 35, and brother-in-law gratulated Karunanayake on floods and landslides. He con- Officials say four persons Gilan Daknee, 40, have been arrested ri Lankan Foreign Minister taking over his new responsi- veyed the commitment of the died in the Bundelkhand Ravi Karunanayake called bility as Foreign Minister. Government of Sri Lanka to con- region while six children died IOM plans more help for Sri Lanka Son Prime Minister Naren- Modi conveyed condolences tinue strengthening the close in the Avadh region owing to dra Modi yesterday and thanked on the loss of lives and destruc- partnership with India," the heat stroke and 'loo' (warm GENEVA: The UN migration agency IOM yesterday said it him for quick Indian assistance tion caused by the recent floods release said. winds). plans to provide 3,700 shelter repair kits, 5,000 non-food in the aftermath of the floods and landslides in Sri Lanka and Indian rescue personnel, All these deaths have relief item kits and 250 temporary shelters to assist the worst and landslides in his country. reaffirmed India's readiness to medical teams, boats and sup- been reported from Bahraich flood-affected areas in Sri Lanka. The International Organ- A PMO release said that dur- continue assisting Sri Lanka in plies were deployed in Sri Lanka district, where more than isation for Migration (IOM) said it would seek funding from ing the meeting, Modi recalled this regard. as part of relief efforts to deal three dozen children, infants the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, and the inter- his "productive and memora- "Foreign Minister Ravi Karu- with the worst floods faced by were being treated for heat vention would help an estimated 74,750 people, Xinhua news ble" visit to Sri Lanka on nanayake thanked Prime the island nation since 2003. stroke. agency reported. Heavy flooding, landslides and flash floods have affected some 684,000 people in south and central Sri Lanka. The flooding, which is believed to be the worst in over India doubles compensation for textile loom worker deaths a decade, has left at least 212 people dead and 79 missing. Car thieves try to run over cops, held Mumbai factories - most of which use old worker protection scheme, modernise infrastructure. If the Reuters technology that requires work- called PowerTex India, was sector has to grow, workers have NEW DELHI: Two car thieves who tried to run over two police ers to manually operate them. launched in April and includes to grow.” officers here in the early hours of yesterday were arrested India has doubled the com- A single person, working 12 a helpline for workers and sub- The insurance coverage - after a chase, Delhi Police said. A Maruti Swift car and tools pensation for the death of hours or more, often tends to six sidies for employers to upgrade Rs200,000 in the case of a natural used in stealing cars were seized from accused Javed and Ipower loom workers in its tex- to nine looms inside cramped their machinery. “We have to death and Rs400,000 for acci- Shahnawaz of Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, Deputy Commis- tile industry as part of a benefits spaces, exposing them to loud develop the textile value chain and dental death - was rolled out this sioner of Police Ishwar Singh said. Two police officers on scheme to weed out problems noise and injuries from the shut- upgrade the technology to be month, in addition to disability patrol noticed four persons roaming under suspicious cir- plaguing the labour-intensive tle that moves at a high speed more competitive,” India’s textile compensation of Rs200,000. cumstances in a south Delhi area. When accosted, they tried sector. India is one of the largest across the loom. commissioner Kavita Gupta said. Researchers say workers who are to run over the policemen while escaping the spot. However, fabric producers in the world, Nearly 60 percent of the fab- “All the schemes are aimed unwell avoid visiting doctors they were cornered near Pandara Road in south Delhi. While employing 4.5 million workers ric and garments they produce at addressing drudgery, to bet- because of long queues that would two of them were arrested, their two accomplices escaped. for its 2.5 million power loom is exported. The government’s ter the working conditions and mean a day’s wages lost. 08 VIEWS WEDNESDAY 7 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 Fight for freedom srael is marking the 50th anniversary of the Six- day War, fought from June 5 to 10, 1967, by expanding its confiscation and occupation of the Palestinian land. The Israeli authorities yesterday advanced plans for 1,500 settler homes I in the occupied West Bank, including the first new settlement in some 25 years. It’s unfortunate that Israel feels emboldened more than ever to grab Palestinian land and get support for its aggression, while the cries and demands of Palestinians are Why is Egypt involved ignored. The latest news about the settlement expansion was revealed by an NGO called Peace Now that tracks settlement building in the Palestinian territory. The in the latest GCC crisis? choice of the date for the announcement of this aggression - the 50th anniversary of the war – is an attempt to rub salt into the wound of Palestinians. As Arabs mark these 50 years, they remain divided more Egypt’s true citizens from the “terrorist than ever, with the crises in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Mohamad Elmasry group” that had hijacked Egypt’s revolu- other Arab countries weakening their ability to speak Al Jazeera tion. But, while the Egyptian military in one voice and protest the actions of Israelis. considers itself to be the saviour of the The settlement expansion is meant to strangulate a Egyptian people, political scientists and two-state solution. “By promoting the establishment of mainstream international news outlets the first new settlement in 25 years, as well as have consistently labelled the military n a move that is sure to have far- intervention a “coup”, much to Sisi’s What happened after the thousands of additional settlement units, Netanyahu’s coup that overthrew Egypt’s actions speak louder than his empty words on peace,” reaching consequences, three Gulf chagrin. [The Sisi government went so Peace Now said. Cooperation Council (GCC) coun- far as to propose legislation criminalis- first-ever democratically After the death of the peace process, Benjamin tries - Saudi Arabia, the United Arab ing use of the “coup” label to describe elected president, the Emirates (UAE), Bahrain - and Egypt the military’s intervention. Netanyahu is focusing on Iannounced on Monday that they would What happened after the coup that Brotherhood’s Mohamed killing the prospects of a sever diplomatic ties with Qatar. The act- overthrew Egypt’s first-ever democrati- Morsi, is also critical to two-state solution. US ing countries, who were later joined by a cally elected president, the understanding the present Palestinians need President Donald Trump few of their regional partners, didn’t Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi, is also political rift. Sisi moved a new strategy has made Middle East leave their motivations to the imagina- critical to understanding the present peace one of his priorities, to carry out an intense as the region tion. The collective decision was political rift. Sisi moved to carry out an but recent developments explicitly billed as part of these nations’ intense campaign to eliminate both the campaign to eliminate both marks the 50th show his administration broader fight against terrorism; the Saudi Brotherhood and all forms of political the Brotherhood and all anniversary of the will find it difficult to wade Arabia-led axis accuses Qatar of support- opposition from Egyptian society. forms of political opposition war with Israel, in through multitudes of ing terrorist groups. To a great extent, he has been suc- obstacles. Also, Trump is from Egyptian society. 1967. Given that it is not a GCC country, cessful. Sisi has consolidated power; not seen as an impartial Egypt’s inclusion on this short list of and human rights groups and political media, with his team nations may, at first glance, be perplex- scientists contend that Sisi is responsi- aligned completely with ing. But a statement by the Saudi Arabian ble for the worst human rights Israeli interests. Press Agency (SPA) offers important violations in modern Egyptian history, Israel is gloating over its insights into Egypt’s motivations for including large-scale massacres of in 2013. The Sisi regime is part and victory as it marks the 50th anniversary of the war in wanting to isolate Qatar. SPA said that unarmed protesters, mass death sen- parcel of Egypt’s “deep state”, a mere 1967. And it has every reason to be jubilant. It was a Qatar embraces “various terrorist and tences, draconian legislation, and mass extension of the Mubarak regime, which victory which came too fast, and fifty years on, Israel’s sectarian groups aimed at destabilising arrests - including of Al Jazeera (and was no fan of Al Jazeera. Like many of power has strengthened while the Arab position has the region, including the Muslim Brother- other) journalists - among other acts of their autocratic partners in the Arab weakened significantly. Palestinians themselves hood group, Daesh (ISIS), and Al-Qaeda, repression. region, Sisi and the rest of Egypt’s remain divided between Fatah and Hamas. The promoting the ethics and plans of these To the Egyptian government’s military brass opposed Al Jazeera’s differences between the two groups are too deep to be groups through its media”. dismay, Al Jazeera has offered up coverage of the 2010-2011 Arab Spring healed, with both adopting diametrically opposite I’ll leave aside the suggestion that the intense coverage of the rights violations, protest movements that led to the positions on Israel. This division too has been one of the Qatari government has embraced the as well as of some of the Sisi ousters of Egypt’s Mubarak, Tunisia’s victories of Israel. Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, administration’s political failures. The Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, and Libya’s Palestinians need a new strategy and a new also known as ISIS) and Al Qaeda - it Sisi government has said that Al Muammar Gaddafi. Given the fact that strategy demands unity. Palestinians must turn the fifty hasn’t - and focus instead on the state- Jazeera’s critical coverage constitutes a Al Jazeera is a Qatari government- years of the war into an opportunity to take a critical ment’s references to Qatari “media” and pro-Brotherhood position. But this is a owned network, it is not difficult to see look at their struggle and plan their future after taking the Muslim Brotherhood. Insofar as Egypt problematic conclusion to draw. Al why Egypt - and its allies in the Saudi- into account the drastic changes which the Arab world is concerned, these are the two most Jazeera’s coverage of Egypt has been led axis - take issue with Qatar. have witnessed – the new political alignments and important aspects of Monday’s diplo- similar in tone to the New York Times, It is also important to point out that, interests which are shaping the Arab politics. It’s time matic decree. the Guardian, CNN, and the BBC, all of while the Brotherhood is a deeply for them to take the future in their hands which must The Qatari “media” alluded to in the whom, incidentally, have been accused flawed socioreligious movement badly statement is an obvious reference to Al in Egypt of being pro-Brotherhood. As in need of reform (and also in disarray, involve taking the complete leadership of their struggle. Jazeera, Qatar’s most important, power- far as the Egyptian government is given that many of its members have Currently, the Palestinian issue remains entangled in a ful, and well-known media outlet, a concerned, anything short of labelling been killed or arrested), it is not a plethora of interests, all of which don’t serve the network that has long been considered a the 2013 intervention a revolution and terrorist organisation. The Brotherhood interests of Palestinians. thorn in the side of autocratic Arab gov- labelling the Muslim Brotherhood a is the most studied Islamist group in the ernments, including the current Egyptian terrorist organisation, constitutes world. I am pretty well acquainted with administration, which has taken issue treachery. the academic literature, and I am not with the network’s coverage of Egyptian It is important to aware of a single scholar who considers QUOTE OF THE DAY affairs. note that the current the Brotherhood to be similar to Al The statement’s reference to the Mus- Egyptian government’s Qaeda or ISIL (which, incidentally, has lim Brotherhood is equally important. displeasure with Al denounced the MB as apostates). The Brotherhood briefly governed Egypt Jazeera and Qatar runs The Saudi-led axis’ position that the If Venezuela cannot, (in 2012 and 2013) following the country’s deep, and did not begin Muslim Brotherhood is ISIL-like is it should voluntarily 2011 Arab Spring protests, which led to more about the Brotherhood’s political step down from its the overthrow of dictator Hosni Mubarak. prowess than it is about violent seat on the Human Context is important to understanding To the Egyptian extremism. After Ben Ali and Mubarak the Egyptian government’s displeasure government’s dismay, Al fell quickly in Tunisia and Egypt, Rights Council until it with both the Qatari government and Al respectively, autocratic Arab can get its own house Jazeera. Jazeera has offered up governments were terrified that the in order. Egypt’s current government, led by intense coverage of the Brotherhood, possibly the most President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, came to rights violations, as well popular political movement in the power on the heels of a summer 2013 as of some of the Sisi region, could sweep into power. The military intervention. The Egyptian mili- UAE and Saudi Arabia largely financed Nikki Haley tary, led at the time by Sisi, billed its administration’s political Egypt’s coup and have been strong US Ambassador to UN intervention as a glorious “revolution”, a failures. supporters of Sisi’s campaign to bury response to a popular demand to save the Brotherhood. WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 OPINION 09 Macron factor set to leap from presidency to parliament

biggest opposition party, the seeds Ingrid Melander & of division have been sown. Elizabeth Pineau The prime minister and two of Reuters Macron’s ministers, one of whom is running for parliament under the LREM label, come from its own ranks; some Republican candidates astions are crumbling and loyalties shifting say they would vote a number of ahead of France’s parliamentary elections. Macron’s reforms, while others Emmanuel Macron, fresh from becoming reject any kind of cooperation. the youngest French leader since Napo- To the far-left of the political leon, now looks set to redraw the political spectrum, Melenchon, a fiery ora- Bmap with a party he only formed a year ago. tor, is setting himself up as the The ballots take place on June 11 and 18 and opin- future of the French Left - making ion polls predict Macron’s centrist Republic On the life tougher still for the Socialists Move (LREM) party will comfortably win the majority who has also lost some members to that will be crucial to his ability to push through his the Macron cause. Melenchon is a ambitious reform agenda. candidate in the southern city of Such an outcome appeared uncertain before Marseille, where a local poll shows Macron’s presidential victory a month ago, with he has good chances of winning. “I many political pundits sceptical about whether the don’t want to weaken the Socialist former banker’s upstart party could secure over half party, I want to replace it,” Melen- the 577 seats in the National Assembly with many chon told reporters. He attracted a candidates who are virtually unknown to voters. fifth of votes nationally in the first But now even some officials in former President round of the presidentials. French President Emmanuel Macron poses for a selfie with supporters in Le Touquet, northern France. Francois Hollande’s Socialist party and the far-right If elected, even with a small National Front (FN) are publicly saying LREM is likely parliamentary group, Melenchon to win a majority and are simply urging voters to ahead of the parliamentary ballots. A weekly Opi- constituency where the 65-year-old has been law- would likely be one of Macron’s make the margin as small as possible. nonWay survey sees LREM getting 335-355 seats out maker for 20 straight years. most vocal opponents in the Meanwhile, conservative grouping the Republi- of 577, with 145-165 for The Republicans, a humiliat- Other LREM candidates include a former bull- assembly alongside Le Pen, also a cans, which polls in second place after LREM, is ing 20-35 seats for the outgoing Socialist majority, fighter, a mathematician, pensioners and business failed presidential candidate, who barely clinging to fading hopes it can hold the bal- and 21-34 for Melenchon and his communist allies. owners, many of whom have no political experience. is seen as likely to win the northern ance of power. “It’s all exploding. This was a solid Macron and his team are keenly aware of the Even if French polls are proven right and Macron France constituency of fiefdom for us, but our huge pool of voters dried up importance of a majority to his reforms plans, which wins that solid majority, he will face the challenge of Henin-Beaumont. after the presidential election,” Sebastien Vincini, a include overhauling labour laws to favour business, keeping such a diverse group united. The FN and its far-right allies top Socialist official, said of his south-western Occit- cutting corporate tax, and investing 50 billion euros Some of the people in his team are Socialist only won two seats in 2012, but has anie region, where Socialists held two thirds of the of public cash over five years in areas including job rebels, while others are from the centre-leaning been targeting as many as 40 dep- constituencies but expect to lose most of them. training and renewable energy. camp of The Republicans. The ideological gap uties this time around. But while a FN chief Marine Le Pen topped the first round of “If we don’t have a majority we’ll be stuck in an between those two is a wide one. seat in parliament would give Le the presidential election in April in Vincini’s Occit- in-between place,” 28-year-old Pierre Person, an Nothing is certain, however, despite the pollsters’ Pen a platform to challenge anie region, and Jean-Luc Melenchon’s far-left adviser to Macron and a parliamentary candidate, predictions. Sleaze allegations against a Macron min- Macron, polls show it is touch and France Unbowed, which helped kill the Socialists’ told Reuters as he handed out leaflets at a bustling ister, a likely low turnout and the complex go whether she will reach 15-seat chances in the presidentials, is getting stronger there. Paris food market. permutations of the run-off system could still throw threshold to form a parliamentary But still for Vincini, “the biggest threat ... comes from Much is also at stake for Le Pen and her deputy up surprise results. group that delivers more speaking French voters’ desire to give Macron a majority”. Florian Philippot. A disappointing score for the FN Macron’s presidential victory, his party’s mete- time and access to top roles within According to pollsters, that is true nationwide could spell trouble for their leadership, which has oric rise and a near faultless first few weeks in power the assembly. already been weakened by her lower-than-expected are nonetheless forcing parliamentary candidates to share of the votes in the presidential election run-off re-think their electoral strategy. against Macron. Many who are not running under LREM’s colours Macron and his team The prospect of local anti-FN alliances under still mention on posters and leaflets that they are which candidates agree to pull out and back its candidates for the “presidential majority” - meaning are keenly aware of the strongest rival means the far-right party may be the they will back laws that the president puts to parlia- importance of a majority worst represented of all the main groups, despite ment — or at least say they will endorse Macron if D-RING ROAD to his reform plans, which polls which show that between a quarter and a third elected. POST BOX: 3488 include overhauling labour of voters back its policies. These include some Socialist or Republican can- There are a total of 7,882 candidates running for didates, and even some who are running against DOHA - QATAR laws to favour business, 577 constituencies. If, in any one seat, no candidate LREM candidates. One Socialist candidate even [email protected] cutting corporate tax, and wins outright with 50 percent of the vote on Sunday, included a picture of himself shaking Macron’s hand investing 50 billion euros of all those with at least 12.5 percent qualify for the June on his campaign poster. public cash over five years in 18 run-off. These ambiguous positions, and the radically EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OFFICE Among LREM candidates challenging traditional new political order they engender, are making life TEL: 4455 7741 / 767 areas including job training strongholds of other parties is Mounir Mahjoubi, a difficult for Republican and Socialist loyalists who FAX: +974 4455 7758 and renewable energy. 33-year-old junior minister who is facing Socialist hope to rebuild their shattered parties. Party chief Jean-Christophe Cambadelis in a Paris While The Republicans are expected to be the MANAGING EDITOR TEL: 4462 7505

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR Can America lead in the age of Trump? TEL: 4455 7769 LOCAL NEWS SECTION conservatives. Senior writer David French argues messaging guarantees that won’t happen. Realists might argue TEL: 4455 7743 that none of Trump’s contretemps alters the funda- that such concepts are mushy, but there’s evidence that Daniel W Drezner mental realities of the US relationship with allies: Trump’s blunders will complicate the next steps in Afghani- BUSINESS NEWS SECTION The Washington Post “Decades of national choices have left Trump’s stan. The Pentagon is proposing that US allies shoulder an TEL: 4462 7535 political opponents with no real option other than increased fraction of the troops in that country. But, the New feeble protest and symbolic gestures. America is York Times reported June 3: “That proposal depends on nail- SPORT NEWS SECTION indispensable to the national security of every sin- ing down commitments from Nato and other allies — a task TEL: 4455 7745 t will not shock readers that I’m not gle one of its allies. America is arguably even that former officials said had gotten harder after Mr. Trump’s the biggest fan of the Trump adminis- indispensable to the economy of every single one of stormy visit to Europe, where he chided allies for not paying ONLINE SECTION tration’s foreign policy stylings. The its allies. So long as America remains in Nato, keeps their fair share of the alliance’s upkeep and declined to reaf- TEL: 4462 7501 secretary of state’s performance has its treaty obligations elsewhere, and maintains its firm America’s commitment to mutual defense. [email protected] been embarrassing. A Wall Street economic strength, it is and will be the leader of the “ ‘Trump has made it harder, not easier, to follow the US IJournal op-ed by H R McMaster and Gary free world, and the world’s dominant global power.” lead,’ said Douglas E Lute, a former ambassador to Nato who PUBLIC RELATIONS Cohn, desperately trying to spin Trump’s Senior writer Michael Brendan Dougherty goes advised both Mr Obama and President George W Bush on overseas trip as a success, was worse. The further, concluding that four months of Trump Afghanistan. ‘Questioning US leadership makes it more diffi- TEL: 4455 7613 president’s decision to withdraw from the haven’t fundamentally altered the distribution of cult for the allies to send troops into harm’s way.’ “ [email protected] Paris climate change accord was so bad it power in the world: Withdrawing from the Paris accord further weakens US just caused me to laugh in disbelief at this “There is a frantic, almost panicked desire to see soft power, as Meghan O’Sullivan, an official in the George W ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT administration’s grand strategy, which I dramatic declines in US power and prestige because Bush administration, pointed out in Bloomberg News last TEL: 4455 7837 / 780 have decided to label as “clown-car its people elected Donald Trump. The people have week. Dougherty suggests that America remains an attractor FAX: 4455 7870 realism.” to learn their lesson, after all. But the reality-based for others because of our university system, but that can erode [email protected] All of this was before the terrorist inci- community has lost touch with the real world. quickly under president Trump. dents in London, in which Donald Trump America remains a hegemonic force: It has the larg- Will this matter if, say, Russia decided to invade Poland, or CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT beclowned himself so badly online that est and best equipped military that secures peace North Korea decided to attack South Korea? No. Those are TEL: 4455 7857 State Department officials vented to Buzz- and prosperity from Europe to the South China Sea, areas where hard power matters a great deal. If, however, the [email protected] Feed in frustration. the most prestigious university system, the largest United States wants to create anything new, or try to tweak But if you think I’ve been pessimistic, consumer market, and it remains the source of so the status quo across a wide array of issues, then cajoling allies SUBSCRIPTION & DISTRIBUTION that’s nothing. Last week caused the much innovation.” and partners to join has become that much harder under TEL: 4455 7809 / 839 Financial Times’s Martin Wolf to write, These arguments have their merits. The United Trump. The other problem with the Trump administration is FAX: 44557819 “This still looks like the end of the US-led States remains the most powerful actor in world that it has manifestly refused to articulate a common social world order,” and CNN foreign-affairs host politics. And I don’t think the economic or military purpose to attract other countries. Say what you will about [email protected] Fareed Zakaria to say, “This will be the day foundations of American power have changed so Bush, but his second inaugural address put forward an appeal- that the United States resigned as the significantly from, say, a year ago, when the United ing vision. President Barack Obama was less bold but no less leader of the free world.” Former Treasury States seemed in a pretty good position. certain about the utility of liberal internationalism. All thoughts and views Secretary Laurence Summers concluded From a hard-power perspective, the United By definition, Trump’s strategy of “America first” is of little expressed in these columns that “last week will be remembered as a States is still in decent shape, although China is appeal to non-Americans. In his inaugural address, Trump hinge in history.” These are not folks prone catching up. The problem is twofold. First, there are stated, “We must protect our borders from the ravages of are those of the writers, not to exaggeration. This worrying, in turn, has other components of power beyond guns and but- other countries making our products, stealing our companies of the newspaper. triggered some pushback by conservatives ter. Second, leadership in world politics is about and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosper- who are decidedly not clowns. They may power and purpose. The Trump administration has ity and strength.” Other countries will not rally behind that All correspondence not love Trump but, they argue, American been derelict or worse on the latter. message. regarding Views and power and leadership have not changed On the power dimension, soft power matters as Opinion pages should be all that much. well as hard power. Trying to get other actors to The writer is a professor of international politics at the Fletcher Consider two recent essays in the want the same things you want is a useful trait, and School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and a regular con- mailed to the National Review by some pretty sharp I fear that the Trump administration’s God-awful tributor to PostEverything. [email protected] 10 ASIA WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 Duterte orders troops to crush militants

Marawi City Rebellion taken by surprise when gunmen AFP went to protect Hapilon and then Duterte described the rampaged through the largely hilippine President rampage in Marawi Muslim city of 200,000. Rodrigo Duterte yes- City by the militants, "I cannot stop my soldiers terday ordered the fighting under the now. Let's finish this war that you military to "crush" (IS) have started," Duterte said. Islamic State group militants still occupy- "The objective of ISIS Ping parts of a southern city, as flag, as a "rebellion" (another name for IS) is to kill photos emerged of bombed demanding a forceful and destroy, period. So I will buildings and mangled corpses. response. destroy also and kill, period." Duterte described the ram- The militants however have page in Marawi City by the "I am not ordering you withstood two weeks of sus- militants, fighting under the to take an ordinary tained ground assault by Islamic State group flag, as a police action. I am government forces, backed by "rebellion" demanding a force- aerial and artillery ful response. ordering you to crush bombardment. "I am not ordering you to our enemy," Duterte The first photos of Marawi's told soldiers. take an ordinary police action. I downtown area -- which is off- Confiscated cash and cheques amounting to $1.6m being presented by Philippine military am ordering you to crush our limits to the media -- have personnel during a press conference in Marawi City yesterday. The money was found stashed enemy," he told soldiers while revealed grisly scenes. close to a sniper's perch. visiting the country's south. erupted May 23 when security The devastation was photo- "When I say crush them, you forces raided a house to arrest graphed by rescuers who entered have to destroy everything Isnilon Hapilon, a veteran Fili- the area last weekend under a woman through empty streets. street with its head, one arm, ground. Marawi city is unrecog- including lives. Rebellion is no pino militant reputed to be the fleeting humanitarian truce to Husks of buildings pock- both feet and half its torso miss- nisable at first glance. I thought joking matter," said Duterte, who jihadi group's leader in South- help terrified residents trapped marked with holes -- apparently ing. Marawi native Zia Alonto I was looking at Aleppo," he said, has declared martial law in east Asia and who is on the US in the fighting. inflicted by bullets, rockets or Adiong said he was "devastated" referring to the Syrian city bat- Marawi and the Mindanao government's list of most- The photos showed rescuers bombs -- framed the scenes. by the images. tered by war. region. wanted terrorists. holding megaphones and white Another photo showed a "It's deeply disheartening to "This is not the Marawi I The clashes in Marawi Authorities said they were flags as they escorted an old human corpse in the middle of a see a familiar place razed to the grew up in," he added. South Korea Afghanistan holds peace conference amid violence begins culling Kabul Underscoring the volatile ment on regional security.” poultry over Reuters situation, at least one rocket Since the international mil- struck an Indian diplomatic itary mission declared an end to fghan leaders met officials compound in Kabul, as the del- its combat mission in 2014, the bird flu of two dozen foreign gov- egations met a few blocks away. Taliban have made steady gains. Aernments and institutions Later yesterday, a suspected As of late last year, the Tali- Seoul yesterday, launching a so-called bomb outside a mosque in the ban contested or controlled QNA Kabul Process aiming to set the city of Herat killed seven peo- about 40 percent of the country, stage for peace talks and clinch ple, police said. according to US government esti- uarantine officials an international pact to end Ghani told the diplomats mates, leading some observers began slaughtering “cross-border terrorism”. attacks in Afghanistan were part to doubt the group would be will- Qabout 120,000 poultry After a week of violence that of the violence that had struck ing to negotiate any time soon. yesterday on the country's included the deadliest ever foreign cities around the world, Afghanistan accuses ele- southern resort island of Jeju attack on the capital of Kabul, most recently in London, where ments in Pakistan, worried as South Korea raised the President Ashraf Ghani said the three militants drove a van into about old rival India gaining bird flu alert to the highest meeting would be more than a pedestrians on Saturday before influence in Afghanistan, of pro- level. ceremonial effort. attacking people with knives. viding support for militant "The culling could con- But with domestic political Afghanistan is on the front groups like the Taliban, an accu- tinue well into the night, tension high, international plans line of a global war against such sation Pakistan denies. though it remains unclear in flux, and the insurgency as violence, he said. “We’re fight- “What will it take to con- when it will end," Park Sung- powerful as ever, starting any ing 20 transnational terrorist vince Pakistan that a stable Afghan President Ashraf Ghani (centre) and other dignitaries soon, an official handling the peace process may be an uphill groups on your behalf,” Ghani Afghanistan helps them and issue at the Jeju Special during a peace conference in Kabul, yesterday. battle. said. “What we need is an agree- helps our region,” Ghani said. Self- Governing Province, told Yonhap News Agency. Quarantine officials have already killed 38,000 chick- ens and ducks across the Man charged over Australia flight scare country, including 10,400 on Jeju, since Friday when a sus- Sydney plane and immediately evacu- He was granted conditional pected bird flu was reported AFP ated the passengers." bail and is due to appear in court at a chicken farm on the Police did not say what was next month. island. assengers on an Austral- written on the note but said it Sydney retiree Wendy Wil- The Ministry of Agricul- ian domestic flight left the was not terrorism-related. A lett, who was sitting opposite the ture, Food and Rural Affairs Pplane via an emergency 30-year-old man was charged man, described the ordeal as said Monday that the out- exit yesterday after a man alleg- with threatening the lives of "terrifying" with a flight attend- break — the first in two edly left a threatening note in passengers with false ant shouting "Evacuate, months in South Korea— was the toilet in what appears to be information. evacuate! Leave all your belong- caused by a highly pathogenic a prank. The 42 passengers on "There was no terrorism ings, jump out the window." strain of H5N8. the Virgin Australia service from involved at all," a New South "It was really scary, I was Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shakes hands Highly pathogenic avian Sydney to the rural town of Wales police spokesman told worried I wouldn't be able to with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe during a press influenza refers to viruses Albury in southeastern Australia AFP. Nerves are frayed in Aus- jump, but they said the police briefing in Tokyo, yesterday. that cause severe disease in were ordered out of the window tralia after a terror-related siege would help and catch us, which birds and result in high death exit onto the tarmac. in Melbourne on Monday. they did," she told the Sydney rates, according to the World "Albury police received "I think it was just something Daily Telegraph. Japan and Vietnam to Health Organisation. information that a note was silly that he did and there was On Monday police shot dead South Korea slaughtered located on an item in the toilets no real intention there. "The a man after he killed another more than 30 million poultry of an aircraft en route to Albury," police managed to get all the man and took a women hostage to contain the worst outbreak police said in a statement. passengers out and arrest the in a Melbourne siege incident bolster security ties of bird flu that hit the coun- "About 9.30am the aircraft guy within five minutes of the being treated as try in November. landed and police boarded the plane landing." terror-related. Tokyo the status quo and escalate AFP regional tensions. China claims virtually all of apan and Vietnam agreed the South China Sea, parts of Pakistan court urges channels to telecast 10pc time for public service yesterday to bolster their which are also claimed by sev- Jsecurity ties through Japa- eral other countries in the nese-funded projects including region including Vietnam. Islamabad the parties, including Pakistan The court issued these direc- issued by Pemra. the upgrading of Vietnamese Japan and Vietnam reaf- Internews Broadcasters Association (PBA) tions while hearing into a The IHC bench directed coastal patrol capabilities, firmed the importance of the is signatory to that. petition against obscenity on tel- Pemra’s counsel Ali Gilani to defense equipment and tech- Trans-Pacific Partnership trade he Islamabad High Court IHC Justice Shaukat Siddiqui evision channels seeking watch reported advertisements nology transfer amid concerns pact and agreed to pursue it has directed the country’s further directed Pemra to ensure directions for Pemra to issue and point out to Pemra chair- about China's increasingly despite the United States' with- Telectronic media regula- that no TV channel is allowed to guidelines to the television chan- man for action and also submit assertive activity in regional drawal. The two leaders agreed tor to ensure that 10 percent of violate restrictions imposed by nels regarding morning shows, a report before the court next seas. to cooperate in discussions total time of telecast by all TV Article 19 of the Constitution dramas and advertisements dur- date of hearing. Vietnamese Prime Minister among the 11 remaining TPP channels is spared for public which includes glory of Islam, ing the month of Ramadan. Petitioner prayed to the Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Jap- members to bring the agree- service messages. decency and morality. During the hearing petition- court to direct the respondents anese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, ment into force, according to a Official sources said yester- The bench also directed that ers counsel argued before the to keep a check on TV channels held talks in Tokyo and shared joint statement. The two coun- day the court reminded Pakistan 10 percent of time to be con- court that some advertisements and bar them from airing "deep concern over the com- tries signed more than a dozen Electronic Media Regulatory sumed on public service being played are against the val- obscene clips, immoral TV ads plex developments" involving agreements, including one for Authority (Pemra) that this is messages must be as per pro- ues of society and teachings of and airing foreign content. The China in the South China Sea. 38 billion yen ($350 million) in mandatory under the code of portion of hourly transmission Islam in violation of Article 19, IHC bench after issuing the They urged China — without Japanese aid to upgrade Viet- conduct constituted under the – or 10 percent in each hour of electronic media code of con- above said directions put off the referring to it by name — to namese coast guard vessels and supervision of apex court and all telecast. duct 2015 and even guidelines matter till July 4. avoid taking actions to change their patrol capability. WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 EUROPE 11 Conservatives on course for bigger majority

London Polls tomorrow main political parties, adding to Reuters scepticism among many critics Polling firm Opinium who hammered the industry for said the lead of failing to accurately predict the ritish Prime Minister May’s Conservative outcome of the 2015 election and Theresa May looks on Party over Labour last year’s referendum vote to course to increase her had widened to exit the European Union. parliamentary major- seven points, up by a However, all the polls have ity in tomorrow’s percentage point shown a steady narrowing of the Belection, an opinion poll showed lead of May’s Conservatives over from its previous poll yesterday, shortly after another the past three weeks following published on survey suggested the race with the publication of the parties’ Saturday. the opposition Labour Party was election policy pledges. neck and neck. Respondents said Opinium had a Conservative Polling firm Opinium said the May was the most lead of 19 points over Labour lead of May’s Conservative Party trusted leader on early in the campaign. over Labour had widened to fighting terrorism May began to struggle after seven points, up by a percentage and on Brexit, while she fielded a plan to make eld- point from its previous poll pub- erly people pay for more of their Labour leader lished on Saturday. social care, even though she Jeremy Corbyn was The new poll was the first by moved quickly to say there a major firm that was conducted most trusted on would be a limit on the amount in its entirety after a deadly Britain’s health of costs that people would face. attack in London by Islamist mil- service. In the wake of Saturday’s itants on June 3. The field work attack on London by Islamist ran from June 4-6. of political polling, Adam militants who killed seven peo- It put support for the Con- Drummond. ple and injured 48, Opinium said servatives at 43 percent, “If this is the start of a trend, its poll showed a significant rise British Prime Minister Theresa May (right) is accompanied by Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris unchanged from Saturday’s poll, and it is supported by other work in national security as an issue while Labour fell one point to 36 Opinium has done, then it is for voters - 11 percent said anti- Johnson (second right) as she addresses supporters at a campaign event in Slough in south- percent. worth bearing in mind that at the terrorism policy would influence east England, yesterday “Labour’s campaign surge last election 15 percent of voters their vote, up from 2 percent last appears to have crested as our made their mind up either on week. Respondents said May was health service. The Opinium poll over Labour had narrowed to election.The poll, for ITV televi- final poll of the campaign is the polling day or the day before.” the most trusted leader on fight- made for more comfortable just 1 percentage point. sion, was conducted on Friday first to see the Tory (Conserva- British opinion polls have ing terrorism and on Brexit, reading for May than another The Conservatives had a slim and Saturday, before the attack tive) lead expand rather than shown a wide range of estimates while Labour leader Jeremy Cor- one published overnight by Sur- 17-seat majority before parlia- in London. No other poll has contract,” said Opinium’s head of support for the two byn was most trusted on Britain’s vation which showed her lead ment was dissolved for the snap shown a lead that tight. Ready to curb human rights Third London attacker named

London laws to fight extremism: May Reuters ritish police yesterday Slough ensure security services had the “If our human rights laws named the third of the Reuters powers they needed. stop us from doing it, we will Bjihadis who killed seven It comes days after Britain’s change the laws so we can do people in a knife and van attack ritish Prime Minister third major terror attack this it,” she said to cheers and in London, and an Italian inves- Theresa May said yester- year, in which seven people applause at an election rally. tigative source said he had been Bday she would be willing were killed when militants May, a former interior min- flagged to Britain as a potential to weaken human rights protec- ploughed a van into pedestrians ister, has previously been risk after moving to England last tions to make it easier to deport and then started stabbing peo- criticised for scrapping house year. or curb the movements of sus- ple and slitting throats in a busy arrest rules known as ‘control In particular, the revelation pected militants who there is not area of central London. orders’, which were coming that at least one of the attack- enough evidence to prosecute. May said authorities needed under regular legal challenge. ers, Khuram Butt, was known to May used one of her final to be able to do more, including In yesterday’s speech, she security services has raised con- speeches in an election cam- to restrict the movements of also called for longer prison sen- cerns that they lack the paign which has turned into a suspected militants when police tences for people convicted of resources to prevent attacks. Italian national Youssef Zaghba (centre) identified by Italian debate about national security had enough evidence to suspect terrorist offences, and to make Butt, a 27-year-old British and British law enforcement bodies as the third man shot to step up her rhetoric against they presented a threat, but not it easier to deport foreign sus- national born in Pakistan, had Islamist extremism, pledging to enough to prosecute them. pected militants. appeared in a British TV docu- dead by police officers during the attack on London Bridge mentary broadcast last year and also the other two men named, Khuram Shazad Butt called “The Jihadis Next Door”. (left) and Rachid Redouane. Saturday night’s rampage, in which three men drove into moved to England last year. named were Canadian Christine pedestrians on London Bridge Zaghba had lived in Morocco Archibald and Britons James before slitting throats and stab- for much of his life but had McMullan and Kirsty Boden. The bing people in the bustling made short visits to Italy to see 48 injured included people from Borough Market area, was Brit- his mother in Bologna. Britain, France, Spain, Australia ain’s third militant Islamist Police had already named and New Zealand. Boden’s fam- attack in as many months. Butt and Rachid Redouane, a ily issued a statement on British police said the third 30-year-old who claimed to Tuesday, saying she had been a assailant was Youssef Zaghba, be Moroccan and Libyan, as two nurse and had tried to help the 22, and that he had not been a of the London Bridge attackers. injured: “As she ran towards subject of interest for them or Irish state broadcaster RTE danger, in an effort to help peo- the MI5 domestic intelligence reported yesterday that Red- ple on the bridge, Kirsty sadly agency. An investigative source ouane had been refused asylum lost her life.” said in Rome that Zaghba, who in Britain but had been able to had a Moroccan father and an move legally after marrying in Significant Italian mother, had been Ireland in 2012. Britain and Ire- stopped at Bologna airport in land have reciprocal residency 2016 on suspicion of being on rights. evidence found his way to Syria, and carrying Butt, Redouane and Zaghba material about Islamist extrem- were shot dead at the scene of in car: Police ism on an electronic device. the attack by officers within A second source said Italian eight minutes of police receiv- London authorities had flagged him up ing the first emergency call. Reuters Armed police officers walk from Borough Market towards The Shard yesterday. to British authorities after he The first of the dead to be orensic examination of a car seized in connection Fwith a suicide bombing in Manchester last month has UK govt and London mayor clash over invitation to Trump uncovered significant evidence, British police said yesterday. Police, investigating the London asked by The Sun newspaper disagree with many of Donald considered top-level events typ- More than 1.8 million peo- movements of Salman Abedi AFP whether the controversial trip Trump's policies, we shouldn't ically honouring visitors with ple have signed an online before he killed 22 people at a would go ahead, answered be having a state visit," he said. banquets, speeches to lawmak- petition saying Trump should concert hall, tweeted a picture he British government yes- "Yes." But Khan, in an interview, Khan said the United States ers and business chiefs and an not make the state visit as it of the white Nissan Micra along terday stood by an reiterated his view that the invi- and Britain were "close allies" audience with Queen Elizabeth "could cause embarrassment" with a red and black holdall bag Tinvitation for US President tation was "premature". "State and they should continue to II. May made the invitation to to the monarch. with a “San Francisco 49ers” Donald Trump to make a state visits are given to world leaders work closely together. Trump just seven days after he In other comments, May and logo on the side. visit to the UK as London Mayor who have had distinguished "But one of the things about took office, a decision that Johnson both defended Khan for “Abedi made repeated trips Sadiq Khan — under attack from service, who have a track a special relationship, it's like prompted accusations that Brit- his reassurances to Londoners to and from this car between 18 the White House — said the offer record," he said. having a best friend -- you stand ain, its global influence set to be after the attacks. and 22 May 2017 and we believe should be scrapped. "In the circumstances where shoulder-to-shoulder with them weakened by Brexit, was kow- Trump, in a series of tweets, he was taking items from the car "The invitation has been Donald Trump as president had in times of adversity but you call towing to the new US leader. lashed Khan's handling of the to help assemble the device,” issued and accepted and I see a Muslim ban, had changed the them out when they're wrong, By contrast, May's predeces- Saturday night terror attack, Greater Manchester Police said no reason to change that," For- policies of the USA, the long- and you tell them when they are sor David Cameron gave the mocking the mayor for telling in a statement, appealing for eign Minister Boris Johnson told standing policies around wrong. And I think on many, invitation to the-president the public there was "no reason members of the public to come BBC radio. refugees, in the circumstances many things, Donald Trump is Barack Obama more than a year to be alarmed" over armed forward with any information Prime Minister Theresa May, where many British people wrong," he said. State visits are into his administration. police on the streets. they have about the bag or car. 12 EUROPE WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017

Kremlin denies Man shot at after attacking cops in Paris Russia hacked US voting system Paris Reuters Probe begins Moscow A man armed with a AFP rench police shot and hammer shouted wounded a man who “this is for Syria” he Kremlin yesterday attacked officers strongly denied a before attacking with a hammer out- leaked US report that police officers T side the Notre Dame Russian military intelligence Fcathedral yesterday and the outside France’s hackers tried to infiltrate into Paris prosecutor’s office Notre Dame US voting systems before last swiftly launched a counter-ter- cathedral in Paris. year's presidential election. rorism investigation. "Apart from this claim Armed police cordoned off Dozens of armed which absolutely does not the site and the cathedral in cen- police sealed off the conform to reality, we have tral Paris that is visited by area and the not seen any other informa- millions of tourists every year cathedral in central tion nor heard any arguments was locked down during the Paris that is visited for the reliability of this infor- incident. A man armed with a by millions of tourists mation," Kremlin spokesman hammer shouted “this is for every year was Dmitry Peskov said. Syria” before attacking police locked down while "We resolutely deny the officers outside France’s Notre the security forces possibility that such a thing Dame cathedral in Paris, the secured the area. could have happened," he interior minister said. said, adding that he had not The assailant wounded one read the report. officer before he was shot and cathedral in central Paris that is The report by the National French gendarmes and police stand at the scene of a shooting incident near the Notre Dame wounded by other officers. The visited by millions of tourists Security Agency was allegedly Paris prosecutor’s office swiftly every year was locked down Cathedral in Paris, France, yesterday. leaked by a private contrac- began a counter-terrorism while the security forces secured tor just over a month after it investigation. the area. security during the presidential that have killed more than 230 on Twitter: “Not the holiday was written and published Interior Minister Gerard Col- It is the first attack since campaign. people across the country. Sol- experience wanted. Trapped in Monday on The Intercept, an lomb said the attacker was President Emmanuel Macron “Situation under control, one diers patrol its streets alongside Notre Dame Cathedral after online news website which carrying the identification card won last month’s election and policeman injured, the assailant police to guard tourist sites, gov- police shoot a man. We are with focuses on national security of an Algerian student. He said comes days before a parliamen- was neutralised and taken to ernment buildings and events. our 2 terrified children.” Karine issues. preliminary information indi- tary poll in which opinion hospital,” Paris police said on Hundreds of tourists were Dalle, a spokeswoman for the It depicted a hacking cated the attacker had acted surveys show Macron on course Twitter. France is under a state inside the cathedral when the Paris diocese, told BFM TV 900 operation tied closely to Mos- alone. Dozens of armed police to win a landslide majority. His of emergency after a wave of attacker struck. One holiday- people were inside the cathedral cow's GRU intelligence sealed off the area and the rivals portrayed him as weak on militant attacks since early 2015 maker inside Notre Dame posted as police secured the area. directorate that targeted pri- vate US companies providing voter registration services and equipment to local gov- ernments. President Vladimir Russia scrambles jet France’s Macron set for biggest Putin last week said that hackers can come from any country since they are "free people like artists" and con- to intercept US B-52 majority since De Gaulle: Survey ceded it was theoretically possible that a "patriotically Paris minded" hacker could decide bomber over sea Reuters to act against those critical of Russia. mmanuel Macron’s party Moscow jets to intercept Russian is set to win the biggest Reuters nuclear-capable bombers fly- Eparliamentary majority for Italian police ing close to their air space. It is a French president since Charles ussia scrambled a fighter less common for Russia to de Gaulle’s 1968 landslide, a sur- jet yesterday to intercept report using its fighters for the vey of voter intentions for the bust trafficking Ra nuclear-capable US same reason. In a separate inci- coming legislative elections B-52 strategic bomber it said dent, Russia said on a MiG-31 showed yesterday. ring in Sicily was flying over the Baltic Sea jet fighter had intercepted a A majority of such propor- near its border, in an incident Norwegian patrol plane over tions would give Macron’s Rome that had echoes of the Cold the Barents Sea. Russia’s government a strong mandate AFP War. Defence Ministry identified the to push ahead with his economic The appearance of the B-52, plane as a P-3 Orion anti-sub- reforms, starting with a pro- he Italian police said a long-range bomber that first marine aircraft. business overhaul of the yesterday that they had went into service in the 1950s, The Russian Defence Min- France’s labour code. Tbroken a smuggling ring irked Moscow. A Russian For- istry complained that the Macron’s centrist Republic between Tunisia and Sicily eign Ministry official said the Norwegian plane had flown On The Move (LREM) - which which was preparing to bring plane’s appearance in Europe close to Russia’s state border did not exist a year ago and has migrants with suspected would not help ease tensions with its transponders switched turned the French political scene jihadist links to Europe. between the West and Russia. off. The Norwegian military upside down - was seen win- The "Scorpionfish" oper- A former Russian Air Force confirmed the encounter, but ning 29.5 percent of the vote in ation had been shadowing the French President-elect Emmanuel Macron celebrates on the commander called the move said it was “normal”.Moscow the June 11 first round, the Ipsos group since January, target- “disrespectful.” was more put out by the B-52’s Sopra-Steria poll found. stage at his victory rally near the Louvre in Paris. ing 15 Italian or Tunisian Russian air defence systems appearance. The state-backed With a solid lead ahead of citizens sought by arrest detected the US bomber at Sputnik news agency cited a other parties, LREM would go hard-left France Unbowed on will be strongly placed across warrants. around 1000 Moscow time as Foreign Ministry official, on to win 385-415 seats out of 12.5, and the Socialists at 8.5 the country to win the decisive No details were released it was flying over neutral waters Mikhail Ulyanov, as saying Mos- 577 seats in the lower house of percent. second round, pollsters say. on those taken into custody, parallel to the Russian border cow believed a number of US parliament in a June 18 second LREM’s first round lead has In the second round, the poll but police said in a statement and sent a Sukhoi Su-27 jet to B-52s had recently been trans- round of voting, the poll narrowed from 31 percent the projected that The Republicans they had seized car and intercept it, the Russian Defence ferred from their base in projected. last time the poll was conducted party would win just 105-125 speedboats in several Italian Ministry said in a statement. Louisiana to Britain to take part Not only was that the big- a week ago after Macron’s seats in parliament, the Social- regions. The investigation “The Russian SU-27 crew, in military exercises. gest majority projected by a poll former campaign chief and now ists 25-35 seats, the hard left found that the group had having approached at a safe “The fact that Nato forces for the election since Macron a cabinet minister came under France Unbowed 12-22 seats made at least five trips, and distance, identified the aircraft are converging near Russia’s won the presidency in May, it investigation for past financial and the National Front 5-15 at one point police managed as an American B-52 strategic borders and carrying out mili- would also be the strongest since dealings. seats. to follow a boat ferrying 14 bomber and escorted it” until tary exercises supported by voters rallied behind former But the investigation has so The poll, conducted on June migrants and 100kg (220 such time as it changed course strategic bombers from the USA president and wartime hero De far done little to dent Macron’s 2-4 for France Televisions and pounds) of contraband and flew away from the border capable of carrying nuclear Gaulle in 1968 after student popularity following his election radiofrance with a sample of cigarettes. area, the ministry said. weapons hardly helps de-esca- revolts and nationwide general last month against far right 2,103 people, also found that 68 With summer approach- Russia said the SU-27 took late tensions in Europe,” strikes. leader Marine Le Pen. Sixty per- percent of those surveyed had ing they were preparing to off from its Baltic Fleet air Sputnik quoted Ulyanov as say- LREM’s 29.5 percent first- cent of those surveyed said they definitely made up their minds increase the number of trips defence unit, which is based in ing. US forces are engaged in round vote was seen leading the were satisfied with Macron. about whom they would vote to two a week, using speed- the European exclave of various exercises with Estonia, conservative Republicans and And after the first round for. boats to cross from northeast Kaliningrad. Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and their allies on 23 percent. The eliminates any candidate who That number rose to 75 per- Tunisia to the Trapani region Nato members such as Brit- other partner nations as part of far right National Front was seen gathers less than 12.5 percent of cent for those backing Macron’s in western Sicily in about four ain regularly report scrambling the Saber Strike war games. winning 17 percent, the the vote, Macron’s candidates party. hours. Serb Republic bans teaching about Sarajevo siege & Srebrenica genocide

Sarajevo always denied the 1995 massa- 11,000 people died, including Bosniaks and Croats, the Balkan about the Sarajevo siege and the driven from their homes, have Reuters cre of more than 8,000 Muslim 1,100 children. country remains divided along Srebrenica genocide have been returned after the war to what is Bosniaks in Srebrenica was gen- “It’s impossible to use here ethnic lines, and students learn included in some history text- now the Serb-dominated region. osnia’s Serb Republic ocide although two international the textbooks ... which say the different versions of history. books in the Bosniak-Croat Many complain their children are leader yesterday banned war crimes courts have stated Serbs have committed genocide Under an internationally Federation, and could be used discriminated against and not Bany teaching about the the atrocity constituted and kept Sarajevo under siege,” sponsored 2002 agreement by Bosniak students in some of allowed to learn their language siege of Sarajevo and genocide genocide. the Serb Republic’s nationalist between Bosnia’s two regions, 22 schools they attend in the Serb and history. in Srebrenica, denying for the In the siege of Sarajevo, hun- President Milorad Dodik was the Serb Republic and the Bos- Republic. In Bosnia, where more than first time that Bosnian Serb dreds of thousands of people quoted as saying by local media. niak-Croat Federation, the Serb Republic Education 100,000 people were killed in forces besieged and attacked were bombed and shot at from “This is not correct and this 1992-95 war was omitted from Minister Dane Milosevic said this the conflict and two million people in the capital for years surrounding hills and kept with- will not be taught here.” history textbooks because each weekend that he would ban the internally displaced, minority during the 1990s war. out food, water and electricity More than 20 years since the party had its own interpretation use of such textbooks. Tens of ethnic groups also face wide- Bosnian Serb leaders have for nearly four years. More than war between Bosnian Serbs, of the events. But the lectures thousands of Bosniaks, who were spread discrimination. WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 AMERICAS 13 Trump seeks legislative wins to cast off Russia probes

Washington have sought to overturn Demo- Reuters Faster action cratic former President Barack Trump wants faster Obama's signature domestic law resident Donald Trump action from his since it was enacted in 2010. met with Republican Elected on pledges to over- fellow Republicans congressional leaders haul the healthcare system and who control yesterday to push for slash taxes, Trump has yet to efforts to overhaul the Congress to advance achieve a major legislative win, PUS healthcare and tax systems, his legislative agenda. and time is running out before as investigations into Russian lawmakers leave Washington for meddling in the 2016 election There has been the August break. campaign weigh on his little progress on There has been little progress administration. healthcare since on healthcare since the House In a White House meeting, the House passed passed its bill. McConnell said Trump welcomed indications by its bill. late last month he did not yet senior Republicans that the Sen- know how to amass the votes ate might vote on a healthcare needed to pass a bill on bill in July, before it breaks for his deputies, Representatives healthcare. the summer. He noted the diffi- Kevin McCarthy and Steve Plans to roll back the govern- culty in getting the House of Scalise. ment's Medicaid health plan for Representatives to approve Buffeted by criticism on the poor and disabled are still a healthcare legislation early last many fronts, Trump wants faster big sticking point among the con- month. action from his fellow Republi- gressional Republicans, said "Now the Senate I'm sure will cans who control Congress to US President Donald Trump looks at Senate Majoroity Leader Mitch McConnell (left) as House Senator John Thune. follow suit and get a bill across advance his legislative agenda, Speaker Paul Ryan (second right) and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (right) look on "I think there’s a way we can the finish line this summer that pressing lawmakers to finish the during a meeting with Republican congressional leaders at the White House in Washington, get there, none of this is going to will be great healthcare and I'm job of dismantling the DC, yesterday. be easy,” he said on Monday. looking forward to seeing it," Obamacare healthcare law and The House healthcare bill Trump said. The gathering move on quickly to another of replace Obamacare. reporters on Capitol Hill, adding this for seven years. Now’s the could result in 23 million people included Senate Majority Leader his priorities: tax cuts. The party's senators were to there could be a vote in the Sen- time to start coming up with losing insurance, the Congres- Mitch McConnell, his No. 2, Sen- Republican lawmakers discuss options for the legisla- ate on healthcare in “July some tangible alternatives and sional Budget Office estimated, ator John Cornyn along with remain divided on healthcare tion at a weekly policy luncheon sometime.” building consensus,” Cornyn said although Republicans have chal- House Speaker Paul Ryan and after the House passed a bill to yesterday, Cornyn told "We’ve been talking about on Monday night. Republicans lenged that conclusion.

School guard US holds breath for high-stakes Comey hearing on leave after Washington to the 1970s Watergate scandal Agency (NSA) head Mike Rogers, Comey's testimony will be the president to damaging allega- fight involving AFP that brought down president Rich- interim FBI director Andrew his first public remarks since he tions that he attempted to obstruct ard Nixon. McCabe, and Deputy US Attor- was summarily fired by Trump an ongoing FBI investigation. Muslim teen he US capital will grind to Comey was given the go- ney General Rod Rosenstein. May 9, and represents a moment Several Democrats have a halt tomorrow, glued to ahead to deliver potentially Adding to the drama, a top- of peril for this already embat- warned that attempts to obstruct Minneapolis TTV sets and computer explosive testimony after the secret NSA report leaked to tled president. justice would propel the crisis into AP screens as sacked FBI chief White House announced it online news outlet The Intercept Trump dismissed Comey -- territory similar to the Watergate James Comey testifies about would not use its executive priv- ramped up pressure on the Rus- a stunning move by any measure scandal which sank Nixon. Minneapolis-area high whether President Donald ilege to block his appearance, sia probe, as it shows that -- as the Federal Bureau of Senator Mark Warner, the school security guard Trump asked him to drop a less than a month after he was hackers from Russian military Investigation probes possible intelligence panel's top Demo- Ais on leave following probe into one of his key aide's controversially sacked by the intelligence repeatedly tried to collusion between his campaign crat, said Trump would have an altercation involving a links to Russia. president. break into US voting systems team and Russia, which US intel- violated longstanding guidelines Muslim student who accuses Trump, a ratings-obsessed At least two Washington bars before last year's presidential ligence agencies concluded had if he pressured Comey to drop him of putting her in hand- former reality TV star, may not were opening their doors before election. sought to tilt the election in the or slow-walk an investigation. cuffs and removing her appreciate the worldwide atten- the 10 am start of the hearing to The NSA document report- Republican's favor. "It would be unthinkable if headscarf. tion paid to Comey's public residents of the capital wanting edly depicted a hacking Comey is said to have writ- the president actually did what The Council on Ameri- testimony, being touted as the to watch the drama live. operation tied to Moscow's GRU ten detailed notes about three was reported," Warner told CBS can-Islamic Relations said Super Bowl of high political "Come on... you know you intelligence agency that targeted conversations he had with News Sunday. Monday that a male student drama. want to watch the drama unfold private US companies providing Trump while still FBI director, "We have no smoking gun at was harassing the 15-year-old Comey is the star witness in this Thursday," Shaw's Tavern voter registration services and notes which reportedly docu- this point, but there is a lot of sophomore and calling her a the Senate Intelligence Commit- wrote on its Facebook page. equipment around the country. ment the president's efforts to smoke," he said. terrorist. A fight ensued and tee's investigations of alleged A warm-up act of sorts Keen to crack down on leaks, get the FBI to ease the investiga- Committee Republican Sen- the Rosemount-Apple Valley- Russian election meddling last comes today, when the same the Trump administration quickly tion's focus on former national ator Susan Collins said she was Eagan district security guard year, with the possible collusion committee hears testimony from announced the arrest of an intel- security advisor Michael Flynn. keen to learn precise details and and school police liaison of the Trump campaign. The alle- Director of National Intelligence ligence contractor on charges of Any confirmation that Trump wording of the Trump-Comey officer intervened. gations have drawn comparison Dan Coats, National Security violating the espionage act. tried to press Comey would open exchanges. CAIR, a Muslim advocacy group, told The Star Tribune that the security guard used excessive force and focused only on the girl. Brazil president faces The student says the guard cuffed her then pulled off her hijab. She was suspended but court showdown returned to school on Monday. The officer is on leave pending an investigation. Brasília use of corrupt campaign money AFP -- fatally undermined the 2014 election in which Temer was George and razil's President Michel reelected vice president with Temer, already fighting a then president Dilma Rousseff. Amal Clooney Bhuge graft scandal, faces a When Rousseff was impeached court hearing that could see him last year, Temer took over. If the welcome forced from office and plunge TSE judges Temer to have been Latin America's biggest country responsible for abuses in 2014, birth of twins into untested political waters. the court could then annul the Temer has been hanging by a election results, throwing Brazil Los Angeles thread since the revelation of a into its second presidential cri- AFP secret audio clip in which he is sis in just over a year. allegedly heard giving his bless- The verdict will be voted on by ne of the most glam- ing to payment of hush money by the seven-judge panel. But the hear- orous power couples a meatpacking tycoon to a top pol- ing could be adjourned at any point Oin the world, yesterday itician jailed for corruption. Temer at the request of a single judge, giv- announced they had become faces the separate, more immedi- ing Temer some breathing space. parents at last, to twins. ate challenge of the Supreme Temer's lawyers said the court on "This morning Amal and A picture of Brazil's Supreme Court President Carmen Lucia is seen on a street before the Electoral Tribunal (TSE). Monday sent them a list of 84 George welcomed Ella and The TSE is deciding whether questions which the president had session where Brazil's electoral court will take up a 2014 case that could unseat President Alexander Clooney into their abuse of power -- principally the to answer in writing. Michel Temer, in Brasilia, yesterday. lives," said a publicist for the 56-year-old star of "Gravity" and "Ocean's 11." "Ella, Alexander and Amal are all healthy, happy and Leaked documents show US vote hacking risks doing fine," added publicist Stan Rosenfield, joking that Washington cyberattack that targeted more and whether it affected any bal- voting systems. We're not going Russian President Vladimir "George is sedated and should AFP than 100 local election officials lots. But it suggests hackers got to say that anymore." Putin has denied any effort to recover in a few days." and software vendors, raising the deeper into US voting systems Hall said systems could be influence the 2016 US election. But Amal's parents, who are ecurity experts have warned prospect of an attempt, possibly than previously believed. vulnerable because localities that the report suggests meddling went Lebanese, told AFP they were for years that hackers could led by Russia, to manipulate "These are our worst fears," manage elections rely on private beyond psychological warfare to elated by the news and that Spenetrate electronic voting votes. said Joseph Hall, chief technol- software sellers that may lack an attack on voting systems them- everything had gone systems, and now, leaked national The top-secret document ogist at the Center for Democracy resources against a well-funded selves. Hacking elections "has smoothly. security documents suggest a con- from the National Security and Technology, who researches cyber adversary. "A lot of those always been thought of as a the- "We are over the moon," certed effort to do just that in the Agency, published by online voting systems. vendors are quite small," Hall oretical possibility, but now we said Amal's mother Baria, 2016 US election. news outlet The Intercept, stops "For over 15 years, I and a lot said. "There's not a lot of hope know it is a real threat," said Susan speaking from London where An intelligence report short of drawing any conclusions of other people have said we had when you have are going up Greenhalgh, a researcher with the she was in hospital with her revealed this week showed a about the impact of the attacks never seen a confirmed hack of against an 800-pound bear." Verified Voting Foundatio. daughter. 14 HOME WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017 AMERICAS 15

Venezuela Canada seeks jails 14 army officers larger world role for dissent

Caracas as US retreats AFP enezuela's security forces Ottawa Ties under strain arrested at least 14 army Reuters Vofficers on suspicion of Relationships that "rebellion" and "treason" in the anada will seek to play had seemed first week of protests against a larger role on the immutable for 70 President Nicolas Maduro's gov- world stage as the ernment in early April, according years are being called United States retreats, to military documents seen by into question, says Foreign Minister Reuters. CChrystia Freeland said yesterday, foreign minister. The soldiers, who include in remarks underscoring strains colonels and captains, are being between Washington and its Canada would "strive held in Ramo Verde prison in the closest allies. for leadership" in hills outside Caracas, according Venezuelan National Guard members take position while clashing with demonstrators rallying Freeland spoke after recent multilateral forums to lists being circulated within Nato and G7 summits where US such as the G7, the the military. against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas, yesterday. President Donald Trump upset G20, Nato and UN. The documents said their leaders to such an extent that cases were being "processed", activists say scores more soldiers security forces. Hundreds more One prominent opposition German Chancellor Angela and it was not clear if they had have been rounded up. have been injured. In public, top leader, Henrique Capriles, said Merkel expressed doubts about picking up their fair share of been formally charged. The military's National military officers have backed he had been told by contacts the reliability of the United military spending and then The lists emerged after alle- Guard unit has been at the fore- Maduro's accusation that an within the armed forces that States. announced he was quitting the gations by Venezuelan front of policing the protests, "armed insurrection" is being more than 100 soldiers had been Freeland, noting "interna- Paris climate change pact. opposition leaders that a purge using tear gas, water cannons, mounted by violent conspirators held, most at Ramo Verde jail or tional relationships that had "Canadians understand that, is underway within the military and rubber bullets against seeking a coup with US backing. military intelligence headquar- seemed immutable for 70 years as a middle power living next to to quash dissent over the han- masked youths who hurl stones, But opposition leaders say ters in Caracas' Boleita district. are being called into question," the world's only super power, dling of massive demonstrations Molotov cocktails and excrement there is increasing disquiet Most were from the army, stressed the value of bilateral Canada has a huge interest in an against the socialist government against security lines. within the military over the use though some were from other ties with the United States, tra- international order based on since early April. At least 65 people have died, of force against protesters who branches including the National ditionally seen as Canada's rules," said Freeland. The documents seen by Reu- with victims including govern- are demanding general elections, Guard, he told Reuters, without closest friend. She also made Canada, she said, would ters only went up to April 8, after ment and opposition supporters, foreign humanitarian aid and giving any documentary clear those bonds might loosen. "strive for leadership" in mul- which the opposition and rights bystanders and members of the freedom for jailed activists. evidence. "The fact that our friend and tilateral forums such as the G7, ally has come to question the the G20, Nato, and the United very worth of its mantle of glo- Nations. bal leadership, puts into sharper She said Nato and Article 5, focus the need for the rest of us the alliance's mutual defense Mexico & Guatemala to boost help for deported migrants to set our own clear and sover- doctrine, lay at the heart of eign course," she said in an national security policy. Trump Guatemala City and development for returned direct comment about the hard- million undocumented immi- address to parliament outlin- upset Nato leaders by not per- AFP migrants, as well as programs of line anti-immigration policies of grants, most of them from ing her foreign policy vision. sonally affirming his labor mobility," Guatemalan US President Donald Trump and Mexico. In recent years, migrants "For Canada that course commitment to the article. For exico and Guatemala President Jimmy Morales said his administration. from Central America have must be the renewal, indeed the Canada to play a larger role glo- yesterday said they after talks with visiting Mexican "The Guatemalan and Mex- become the biggest group seek- strengthening, of the postwar bally, it would need to make "a Mwould boost the help President Enrique Pena Nieto. ican peoples are united by strong ing entry into the US. multilateral order," she said. substantial investment" in its they give to their citizens He said they shared a goal of ties of friendship and by a prox- Last year, before Trump took Trump, elected on a prom- armed forces, she added. deported back home, especially "concrete actions that will fully imity that has created close links power, US authorities deported ise to put "America first", Officials are due to unveil from the United States. tackle the structural causes of between our citizens," Pena 35,465 Guatemalans -- 13 per- accused North Atlantic Treaty additional military spending Both countries recognize the migration." Nieto said. cent more than the previous Organisation allies of not today. need for policies "of inclusion Neither president made any The US has an estimated 11 year. 16 HOME WEDNESDAY 7 JUNE 2017

PRAYER TIMINGS Ferrari Qatar unveils Blue Salon to celebrate Garangao FAJR 03.14 am SHOROOK 04.43 am The Peninsula painting and henna. Ramadan rewards Candy, as well as various ZUHR 11.33 am MAGHRIB 06.25 pm imed to delight chil- exciting and valuable toys ASR 02.56 pm ISHA 07.55 pm The Peninsula dren and entertain and gifts, will be distrib- Atheir families, Blue uted amongst the lfardan Sports Salon is set to celebrate participating children WEATHER TODAY Motors, the official Garangao with them accompanied by their Adealer of Ferrari in through a series of special families. The events will o o Qatar, is offering a one- events, that will take place be hosted by various lov- of-its-kind extended on 12, 13, 14 and 15 of Ram- able, popular cartoon 30 C 41 C warranty package to its adan. The festivities start characters that will no Minimum Maximum clients, in line with the with an exciting and enjoy- doubt create a fun atmos- 70th anniversary celebra- able trip, around Doha, for phere, and will keep the tions of the Italian the children and their families in Doha Tour- children and their families entertained. marque. The special offer ist Bus. It will allow them to bask in the Year after year, Blue Salon continues to coincides with the holy magical atmosphere of Ramadan and enjoy take on the initiative of celebrating Garangao month of Ramadan, reflecting the brand’s commitment to serv- a unique and distinctive Garangao experience by hosting and organising a set of celebratory ice excellence during this season of benevolence. where the country’s heritage takes events that aim to nurture young people’s As part of the Ramadan offer, clients seeking to own the centre-stage. affinity for reveling in the country’s rich cul- 2017 range of Ferrari models are entitled to a complimen- The enchanting Garangao experience tural heritage and to create an authentic tary warranty extension of 2 years, following the standard will offer the children the chance to partic- experience for these children and their three-year factory warranty. The brand is also the first in the ipate in various fun activities such as Face families. luxury sports car segment to provide clients a choice of fur- ther extending the warranty and maintenance package up to a remarkable 15 years in total, during the holy month. In addition to an exciting warranty package, Ferrari is offering an unrivalled period of service, marking yet another New mosques to hold more worshippers benchmark in the high-end automotive world. Clients can avail a comprehensive Genuine Maintenance programme The Peninsula hall dedicated to women can accom- that covers all the scheduled maintenance for the first seven- modate 431 worshippers. The years of the vehicle’s life. The programme covers the scheduled inistry of Awqaf and Islamic mezzanine floor can house 180 wor- maintenance labour along with the relative original spare Affairs has opened five new shippers. The new mosque in Al Wajba, parts, engine oil and brake fluid. Mmosques with a total capac- No 274, also has two separate prayer “The month of Ramadan is extremely special to us, as it ity of 2,860 worshippers in Freej bin halls with a capacity of 230 male wor- Hazy to misty at places at first be- ignites our passion to reach out to clients and cater to their Abdul Aziz, Al Wajbah, Abu Hamour, shipers and 40 female worshippers. comes hot daytime and relatively needs. As part of our world-class services, we are delighted Al Gharrafa and Onaiza. Mosque No 684, which opened in Abu humid by night. to offer our clients a unique warranty scheme that can cover Houses of Imams (prayer leaders) Hamour, can accommodate 300 men an additional period of up to 15 years. This is a powerful tes- and muazin (callers for prayers) are and 60 women for prayers. HIGH TIDE 02:30 – 16:45 LOW TIDE 09:15 – 23:00 timony of Ferrari’s trust and assurance on its quality of engines also annexed with the new mosques. The new At least 224 male worshipers can pray in and cutting-edge design. The brand is continuously enhanc- mosques are part of a plan of the Ministry to the new mosque No 801 opened in Al Ghar- Courtesy: Qatar Meteorology Department ing its production, making every new vehicle more superior increase the number of mosques to accom- rafa. As many as 297 male and 70 female and reliable than its predecessor,” said Charly Dagher, Gen- modate more worshippers and to keep pace worshippers can perform their prayers in con- LATEST NEWS eral Manager, Alfardan Sports Motors. with the growing population of the country. gregation in the newly opened mosque No UPDATE Clients can avail of the exclusive warranty package for The mosques are being built keeping in mind 278 in Onaiza. The mezzanine floor of the the latest line-up of Ferrari models including the new the population of the area. mosque building can house 358 worshippers. GTC4Lusso and the incredible Ferrari 488, available at the The newly opened mosque No 153 in Freej The Mosques Management Department at the www.thepeninsulaqatar.com state-of the-art showroom in The Pearl-Qatar. The offer is bin Abdul Aziz has a main hall for prayer with Ministry is building big mosques and small valid until the end of Ramadan. a capacity of 611 male worshippers. Another prayer facilities. Portable