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MONDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10566 September 4, 2017 Dhul-Hijja 13, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar, French FMs In brief discuss Gulf crisis

QNA gion, especially in Libya and Syria. Doha Sheikh Mohamed reiterated Qatar’s support for Kuwaiti mediation, stress- ing the need for dialogue among all E the Foreign Minister Sheikh parties to resolve the Gulf crisis. ASIA | Crisis Mohamed bin Abdulrahman He also expressed his satisfaction Over 73,000 Rohingya Hal-Thani yesterday met with with the security co-ordination with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le the French authorities in the fi eld of ex- cross into Bangladesh Drian, who is currently visiting Doha. changing security information and mu- The influx of Rohingya Muslims The meeting discussed bilateral re- tual visits of offi cials from both coun- has continued with at least 73,000 lations between the two countries and tries. people crossing into Bangladesh after means of boosting them as well as the The foreign minister affi rmed Qa- violence killed nearly 400 people developments of the Gulf crisis and the tar’s keenness to increase its economic in Myanmar’s restive Rakhine State Kuwaiti mediation eff orts. They also co-operation with France in the com- late last month, UN refugee agency discussed the developments in the re- ing period. said yesterday. “Hundreds of people displaced by the violence are still crossing into Bangladesh. An estimated 73,000 people have entered into Bangladesh as of Sunday morning,” said Joseph Tripura, spokesman for Merkel ahead the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in Dhaka. The estimate is based on witnesses’ accounts and of rival in TV reports by the local and international Over 150,000 expats non-governmental organisations working for the Rohingya refugees in debate: polls south-eastern Bangladeshi district of Cox’s Bazar bordering Rakhine State, Agencies he said. The Myanmar army attacked Berlin villages of the Rohingya minority in Rakhine, claiming that 30 police attend mega Eid events stations were attacked. Since then, tens erman Chancellor Angela Mer- of thousands of minority Muslims have zMinistries say cultural events reflect government’s care for the welfare of expat workers kel made a better impression taken the exile route to neighbouring Gon voters in a television debate Bangladesh, hundreds of villagers t least 150,000 Asian expatriates Sports Club on the fi rst and second of Public Relations Department visited of the communities in the aspects of yesterday than her centre-left chal- have fled the region and gone to cities enjoyed several mega cultural days of Eid. the venues along with many offi cers security and safety, as well as introduc- lenger Martin Schulz, a fl ash survey by outside the restive zone. Aand infotainment events organ- Famous Pakistani artistes Shahid Ali from diff erent departments of MoI. ing the customs and traditions of the broadcaster ZDF showed. ised by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) Khan, Khalid Malek, Khwaja Masoud, Khalid Abdullah Sultan al-Ghanem, Qatari community. The poll, conducted by Forschungs- and the Ministry of Administrative Nadiya Gul, Deepa Kiran and Mariya director of International Workers’ Rela- Diff erent Asian community repre- gruppe Wahlen during the fi rst half of AMERICA | Disaster Development, Labour and Social Af- Khan performed various events for two tions Department at MADLSA said that sentatives expressed their happiness the debate and published shortly after Harvey damage could fairs (MADLSA) on the fi rst and second days at Al Wakrah stadium. the co-operation with the MoI to organ- for the support of the ministries for it had fi nished, showed that Merkel days of Eid at Asian Town, Labour City, Thousands of gifts were distributed ise the cultural events was a success- such great events. Janan Bangish (Pa- was viewed as more credible by 33% reach $180bn: governor Barwa Baraha, Al Wakrah Sports Club, to the attendees at all venues. The com- ful move that refl ected the care of both kistan), Tennison (Srilanka) and Vishal compared to 17% for Schulz. Texas Governor Greg Abbott yesterday Al Ahli Sports Club and Barwa Workers munity members were much delighted ministries for the wellness of workers. Mehta, head of Cultural Activities According to a separate poll by In- estimated damage from Hurricane Recreation Complex in Al Khor. to join the happy moments of Eid and Colonel Ghanem Saad al-Khiyarain, at ICC emphasised that such events fratest Dimap for ARD television, Mer- Harvey at $150bn to $180bn, calling Indian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan they thanked the MoI and MADLSA for head of External Branches at Com- would enhance the bonds of friend- kel came across as more competent, it more costly than epic hurricanes artistes and popular Asian orches- their care and concern. munity Policing Department said such ship between Asian peoples and Qatari credible and likeable than Schulz. Katrina or Sandy and fuelling a debate tra teams performed various cultural Dignitaries from MoI and MADLSA activities, in addition to the entertain- community and thanked the ministries The only category where Schulz over how to pay for the disaster. events at Asian Town, Labour City and participated in the events. Brigadier ment programmes, provided an impor- for their great support in promoting the scored higher was for being more com- Harvey, which first came ashore Barwa Baraha (playground). Abdullah Khalifa al-Muftah, director tant awareness mission to the members communities in Qatar. bative. During the debate, Merkel said on August 25 as the most powerful Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi commu- that she would ask the European Union hurricane to hit Texas in 50 years, nity teams and artistes from many In- to call off membership talks with Tur- has killed an estimated 47 people, dian associations and Indian Cultural key, amid escalating tensions between displaced more than 1mn and damaged Centre (ICC) along with popular Asian Berlin and Ankara. some 200,000 homes in a path of orchestra troupes presented a number “I don’t see them ever joining and I destruction stretching for more than of spectacular shows. had never believed that it would hap- 480km. Abbott, who is advocating Diff erent departments under the MoI pen,” she said during the debate. for US government aid for his state’s including Al Fazaa, General Directorate She added that she would speak with recovery, said the damage would of Civil Defence, Community Police her EU counterparts to see if “we can exceed that of Katrina, the storm Department, Criminal Evidence and end these membership talks”. that devastated New Orleans and Investigation Department, General Di- Merkel’s tough stance came after surrounding areas in 2005, and Sandy, rectorate of Traffi c, Human Rights De- Turkey arrested two more German which overwhelmed New York city and partment along with International Work citizens this past week “for political the US Northeast in 2012. Page 5 Relations Department at the MADLSA reasons”, infuriating Berlin. took part with a number of awareness The arrests brought the number of programmes that helped to educate the German political prisoners in Turkish REGION | Judiciary workers about their rights and various custody to 12, at a time when ties be- Iran upholds 10-year jail safety and security measures. tween the two Nato allies were already terms for 3 US nationals The thematic drama on traffi c safety, at an all-time low. drugs and illegal work in Qatar present- The arrest of several German na- The Iranian judiciary yesterday upheld ed by Sanskriti artistes captivated the tionals, including the Turkish-German 10-year jail terms for an American, audience with valuable information. journalist Deniz Yucel, the Istanbul two US-Iranian dual nationals and Popular performers from Nepal such correspondent for the Die Welt news- a Lebanese permanent resident of as Rajesh Payel Rai, comedian Sandip paper, further frayed ties. the United States for “collaborating” Chhetri, Chanda Aryal, Pramila Shree Yucel has now spent 200 days in cus- with Washington. In a ruling that Khanal and Amrita Limbu and Nepa- tody ahead of a trial on terror charges. comes at a time of rising tensions lese community teams and artistes German journalist Mesale Tolu has following President Donald Trump’s showcased various musical and cultur- been held on similar charges since arrival in the White House in January, al shows including songs, solo dance, May, while human rights activist Peter the Tehran prosecutor’s off ice said duet dance and group dances at Al Ahli A capacity crowd enjoys an entertainment programme for the Nepalese community at Al Ahli Stadium. Steudtner was arrested in a July raid. the four men’s appeals had been rejected. Xiyue Wang, a Chinese-born American, was sentenced to 10 years in jail for “collaborating with foreign governments”, said Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, quoted by the mizanonline website close to the World warns of ‘new level’ of threat as N Korea tests H-bomb judiciary. He said the same sentence was upheld against two dual nationals DPA Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Korea as he prepared to meet with his said, adding that Pyongyang will “only clear bomb used over the Japanese city for “collaborating with a foreign Seoul/Washington Abe said North Korea’s “nuclear and national security team and as aides understand one thing.” of Hiroshima in August 1945. government”, and Lebanese national missile development programmes fl oated further sanctions. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin The blast’s explosive yield was esti- Nizar Zakka, a US permanent resident, pose a new level of a grave and imme- Trump — who had in August warned said the US was preparing new sanc- mated at 120 kilotons of TNT based on for working with the American orld leaders expressed grave diate threat” and “seriously under- North Korea of unleashing “fi re and tions to further isolate North Korea. the seismic magnitude, NORSAR said. government. The dual nationals, concerns yesterday over a mines the peace and security of the fury” if it did not stop provoking the US South Korea vowed to push for the NORSAR — which monitors earth- businessman Siamak Namazi and his W“new level” of threat from region.” — told reporters “we’ll see” when asked most powerful sanctions yet at the UN quakes and nuclear explosions — said father Mohamed Bagher Namazi, were North Korea after Pyongyang conducted Just fi ve days ago, North Korea directly whether the US would attack Security Council, with President Moon it recorded the signals at its site in the convicted in October 2016 along with its sixth and most powerful nuclear test. launched a ballistic missile that fl ew North Korea. Jae-in saying his country would not al- southern county of Hedmark, and that Zakka and three others on charges of Pyongyang claimed it had tested a over the northern Japanese island of He also criticised the Pyongyang re- low its neighbour to continue to advance the shock originated from an under- “spying” for Washington. Page 3 hydrogen bomb that can be loaded onto Hokkaido and plunged into the Pacifi c gime, Washington’s ally South Korea as its nuclear and missile technologies. ground nuclear test at North Korea’s an intercontinental ballistic missile Ocean. well as China in a series of tweets. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Punggye-ri test site. (ICBM), saying it was a “perfect suc- British Foreign Secretary Boris John- North Korea’s “words and actions his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, Earlier, the US Geological Survey QATAR | Holiday cess,” according to its offi cial mouth- son joined Abe in declaring the test continue to be very hostile and danger- agreed to “appropriately deal with” said it had detected an “explosion” of Indian embassy to piece, the Korean Central News Agency. “another provocation” and stress- ous to the United States,” Trump said, North Korea’s nuclear test, China’s state 6.3 magnitude near Sungjibaegam in remain closed today Several world powers warned of an ing that the moves towards a hydro- calling it “a rogue nation which has be- news agency Xinhua reported. the country’s north-east. escalating threat, even as others were gen bomb that could fi t atop a missile come a great threat and embarrassment Norway-based geological monitor- Seoul’s weather agency said the artifi - The Indian embassy in Doha will more cautious in the absence of outside “would unquestionably present a new to China, which is trying to help but ing agency NORSAR said the magni- cial quake generated by the blast was 9.8 remain closed today on account of the confi rmation that the test at 12.30pm order of threat.” with little success.” tude of the test was estimated at 5.8 and times more powerful than North Korea’s harvest festival of Onam, the mission (0330 GMT) was actually of a hydrogen US President Donald Trump left South Korea’s “talk of appeasement” the explosive yield was approximately fi fth nuclear test in September 2016. announced in a statement yesterday. bomb. open the possibility of attacking North with North Korea will not work, Trump eight times more powerful than the nu- Page 6 Gulf Times 2 Monday, September 4, 2017 QATAR Eid holidays, a home makeover time for many urniture, kitchen ap- He stressed that the economic replace and upgrade old cabi- pliances and home ac- blockade against Qatar is not af- nets, bed frames and pillows, ta- Fcessories shops in Doha fecting their sales targets due bles and chairs, and several other are expecting good business to “the residents’ appetite to home accessories. throughout and beyond the Eid buy and use new items for their He also expects more custom- al-Adha holidays, it is learnt. homes” particularly during the ers, especially families, to throng Speaking to Gulf Times, an festival season. diff erent stores and shops in employee of a leading furni- While a large number of Qatar Doha throughout Eid to avail of Furniture and household shops in Doha get increasing footfall during Eid al-Adha. ture and household store in residents travelled abroad for the the promotions and discounts the country cited a signifi cant Eid break, it is learnt that many on off er. looking for kitchen and dining sheets, pillows, curtains, and However, she said that the booming construction sector in increase in footfall on August of those who preferred to stay in “In many cases, families come accessories, bedroom and liv- doormats, among others. increasing interest of families the country as big factors in at- 31 compared to the past seven the country are using this period here just to look for new designs ing room decorations, and other She noted that “a slight de- in Qatar to own new household tracting more customers,” she weeks this year. to clean, fi x and beautify their and models but end up buying home furniture. crease” in the demand for such items helps in keeping a steady explained, citing the need for “We received more people last residences. the things they feel are useful in An employee said many of items in the past two months, fl ow of shoppers, particularly newly built villas, fl ats and com- Thursday and we noticed that The employee pointed out that the future,” he added. their regular customers are look- usually an off peak period during the Eid al-Adha break. mercial buildings to be furnished majority of them purchased var- the Eid al-Adha holidays provide Another store at a mall also ing for new plates and glasses, for most businesses in the “Many similar businesses also with new furniture sets and ious items,” he said. an opportunity for families to started receiving more shoppers table mats, drawers, sofas, bed- country. see the rising population and appliances. Mobile phones top list of best-sellers in August

lectronic gadgets such as to the previous month,” the mer- some expatriates buy up to three women, which is why we con- stocks. Merchandisers of some mobile phones and tab- chandiser explained. mobile phones or other elec- centrate mainly on feminine de- brands were only able to sell a Elets have topped the list Eid-related promotions and tronic gadgets to bring as gifts signs. While some apparel shops maximum of 120 units last July,” of best-selling items during Eid expatriates leaving for vaca- for relatives or family members off er ‘couples shirts’, we cater to he said. al-Adha shopping, according to tion were among the nota- back home. matching ‘mother and daugh- As many parents gear up for retailers. ble factors that helped push Similarly, one store supervi- ter’s dresses’, which is a notable the opening of classes, a wide A merchandiser of a major hy- sales of handheld gadgets, she sor said that toys, clothes, and trend during the holidays,” she variety of ‘Back to School’ pro- permarket said pre-festival sales pointed out. assorted foodstuff such as can- said. mos off ered by diff erent shops in August more than doubled “Sales growth is a regular dies and chocolates were also top In contrast, sales of laptops and hypermarkets helped push compared to July. Citing a major trend during the holiday season sellers. across all brands have failed to sales of assorted school supplies. mobile phone brand, the mer- because of many promotions An attendant of a local cloth- hit the mark compared to last “But even after schools have chandiser said she was able to and off ers, and many expatriates ing shop at the Summer Enter- year’s Eid al-Adha, retailers opened, we are still expecting sell more than 500 units in Au- take advantage of these promo- tainment City said that clothes noted. increased sales from ‘last minute gust compared to the 240 units tions off ered by outlets and hy- are popular among ladies and In May and June of this year, shoppers’ because there are still sold in July. permarkets across the country,” children during the holiday sea- merchandisers were able to sell parents that buy school supplies “Across major brands, the the merchandiser said. son. Sales have started to pick up around 500 laptops per month. even after their children had at- trend is the almost same with Another retailer said that be- from August, she pointed out. “But demand began to slip tended classes,” a shop attendant Sales of mobile phones across major brands have doubled in August sales exceeding 50% compared cause of “attractive promos” “Most of our customers are gradually because of the lack of said. compared to the previous month, according to retailers in Doha. Gulf Times Monday, September 4, 2017 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Iran tests More than 150 dead in IS ‘home grown’ air defence clashes with Syrian regime system AFP Beirut AFP Tehran ierce clashes between the Islamic State group Fand pro-regime forces ran has tested its home- in central Syria have left over grown air defence system, 150 fi ghters dead in 24 hours, Idesigned to match the Rus- mostly militants, a monitor said sian S-300, the head of the Rev- yesterday. olutionary Guards’ air defence The Britain-based Syrian has said. Observatory for Human Rights “In parallel with the deploy- said 120 IS fi ghters “were killed ment of the S-300, work on Ba- in clashes in and around the var-373 system is underway,” town of Uqayribat in the eastern Farzad Esmaili told state broad- Hama countryside... caster IRIB late Saturday. along with at least 35 regime “The system is made com- troops and loyalist militiamen.” pletely in Iran and some of its The town is the militant parts are diff erent from the group’s last bastion in the cen- S-300. All of its sub-systems tral province apart from a hand- have been completed and its ful of small villages. missile tests have been conduct- Pro-government forces ed.” seized Uqayribat on Friday Bavar (which means “belief”) night, but IS responded with a is Tehran’s fi rst long-range mis- counter-off ensive on Saturday sile defence system, and is set to that left it in control of most be operational by March 2018, he of the town, Observatory chief added. Rami Abdel Rahman said. In 2010, Iran began manufac- An intense barrage of artil- turing Bavar-373 after the pur- lery fi re and Syrian and Russian chase of the S-300 from Russia air strikes on militant positions was suspended due to interna- allowed pro-regime forces yes- tional sanctions. terady morning to push the mil- Russia resumed the sale fol- itants back out of the town and lowing the 2015 nuclear deal advance on villages to the west with world powers which lifted that remain under IS control. sanctions, and Iran’s S-300 IS has controlled Uqayribat defence system became opera- since 2014, using it to launch at- A picture taken yesterday shows Syrian army artillery vehicles and rocket launchers stationed near the village of Huraybishah, within the administrative borders of the eastern tional in March. tacks on regime-held areas and Deir Ezzor province. Yesterday, state television a strategically vital road Abdel aired the first footage from Rahman described as “the only tegically vital to the Assad re- Meanwhile, pro-regime forc- and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group Palmyra,” the coalition said in it had offered suggestions on a “secret” drone base in an lifeline for the regime between gime, separating opposition es have advanced against IS in off ered the convoy of about 300 an e-mailed statement. how to save the civilians in it undisclosed desert location, Aleppo and central and south- forces in Idlib from Damascus the eastern part of Homs prov- lightly armed fi ghters and about On Saturday Hezbollah said from suffering. where dozens of different types ern Syria”. to the south and the regime’s ince and western Deir Ezzor, 300 family members safe pas- all but six of the buses had safe- “Food and water have been of unmanned aircraft were Regime forces, backed by coastal heartlands to the west. where they have come to within sage a week ago in return for ly crossed out of Syrian gov- provided to the convoy,” it lined up. “If necessary, a great heavy Russian air strikes, IS has suff ered multiple de- 19 kilometres of the provin- Islamic State surrendering an ernment territory and were no said, without giving further number of Iran’s high-speed launched a major assault on IS- feats across Syria and neigh- cial capital. Syria’s confl ict has enclave on the Syria-Lebanon longer the responsibility of it or details.The coalition has said eagles (drones) will land on held parts of Hama in June. bouring Iraq in recent months, killed more than 320,000 peo- border. the Syrian government. it will not target the convoy the enemy,” Esmaili said in the “By consolidating their con- notably in its main Syrian base ple and displaced millions since However, the coalition has It warned the United States directly while it contains civil- footage. trol of (Uqayribat) and ousting of Raqqa. it started with anti-government blocked the convoy from en- that the buses in the desert ians, but said in its statement IS from the surrounding vil- On Friday a US-backed demonstrations in 2011. tering Islamic State territory in included elderly people, preg- it had struck about 85 IS fight- lages, regime forces could oust Kurdish-Arab coalition seized Meanwhile, An Islamic State east Syria, near the border with nant women and casualties, ers near the convoy. the organisation from the whole Raqqa’s Old City and was ad- evacuation convoy trying to Iraq, by cratering roads and de- and accused it of stopping It had also struck about 40 10-year jail terms for of Hama province,” Abdel Rah- vancing on the militants in the reach IS territory in east Syria stroying bridges, saying it op- humanitarian aid reaching the IS vehicles near the convoy Americans upheld man said. heavily defended city centre. has split in two, with some bus- poses the evacuation deal as be- convoy. including a tank, an artillery Other rebel groups still con- The Syrian Democratic Forc- es remaining in the open desert ing “not a lasting solution”. The coalition said it had system, armed vehicles and The Iranian judiciary yesterday trol parts of the province’s rural es (SDF) began their off ensive in after others turned back into “One group remains in the contacted Russia to deliver a transport vehicles seeking to upheld a 10-year jail term for an north. May, capturing the city of Tabqa government-held areas, a US- open desert to the north west message to the Syrian govern- help move the fighters in the American citizen, two US-Iranian Hama, which borders on six and a key dam nearby before en- led coalition fi ghting the group of Al-Bukamal and the other ment that it would still not convoy into its territory, it dual nationals and a Lebanese other Syrian provinces, is stra- tering Raqqa city in early June. said. The Syrian government group has headed west towards let the convoy pass, and that said. citizen for “collaborating” with the US government. The Tehran prosecutor’s off ice said their ap- CONFLICT peals had been rejected, in a rul- Palestinian wounded in raid dies ing that came at a time of rising tensions with Washington since A Palestinian died from his wounds yesterday after being shot last month Israeli PM’s wife takes polygraph test President Donald Trump came to during an Israeli raid on a refugee camp near Bethlehem in the occupied power. Xiyue Wang, a Chinese- West Bank, a Palestinian off icial said. Raed al-Salhi, 21, was shot in the raid born American, was sentenced as Israeli soldiers sought to arrest him at the Dheisheh refugee camp in AFP dences. Private broadcaster “following the horrible mud- billionaire James Packer and to 10 years in jail for “collaborat- early August, said Issa Qaraqe, head of prisoners’ aff airs for the Palestinian Jerusalem Channel Two reported at the slinging against her and after Hollywood producer Arnon ing with foreign governments”, Authority. Qaraqe alleged he was shot by five bullets at close range. Salhi weekend that the attorney we heard that she is going to be Milchan. said Tehran prosecutor Abbas died at the Israeli hospital where he was being treated. Israel’s army said it general was expected to an- put on trial”. Also under investigation is Jafari Dolatabadi, quoted by the was looking into the incident and was not immediately able to comment. A sraeli Prime Minister Ben- nounce charges against her by Results of polygraph testing a suspicion that Netanyahu mizanonline website close to wave of unrest that broke out in October 2015 has killed at least 294 Palestin- jamin Netanyahu’s wife September 10. are not admissible as evidence sought a secret deal with the the judiciary. He said the same ians or Arab Israelis, 47 Israelis, two Americans, two Jordanians, an Eritrean, a Ihas taken a voluntary lie “She took the test,” Netan- in Israeli criminal trials. publisher of top-selling daily sentence was upheld against two Sudanese and a Briton, according to an AFP toll. detector test to try and dispel yahu family lawyer Yossi Co- Netanyahu himself is also Yediot Aharonot. dual nationals for “collaborating allegations she misused public hen told Israeli public radio. under investigation on suspi- The proposed deal, which is with a foreign government”, while funds, her lawyer said yester- ”It’s a very tough test. It’s hu- cions of corruption, and last not believed to have been fi nal- Lebanese national Nizar Zakka, DISTRESS day. miliating and she did it won- month his former chief of staff ised, would have seen Netan- a US permanent resident, was 20 rescued after cargo boat sinks National fraud squad detec- derfully.” signed a deal to turn state’s yahu receive positive coverage handed a 10-year term for work- tives questioned Sara Netan- He did not give details of the witness in probes involving in return for him helping to ing with the American govern- All 20 sailors on board were rescued as a Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship yahu last month on suspicions questions she was asked or the the premier. scale down the operations of ment. The US State Department sank off the coast of Oman yesterday, the transport ministry said. The ship, she routinely claimed state test results. He said the deci- One is based on suspicions Israel Hayom, Yediot’s main off icial in July called on Iran to im- carrying sand and iron rods from the Emirates to Eritrea, sank off Lakabi, 770 payments for personal house- sion to undergo the examina- Netanyahu unlawfully re- competitor. mediately release US citizens and kilometres south of Muscat, it said in a statement carried by Oman News keeping expenses at the cou- tion, at a privately operated ceived gifts from wealthy sup- Netanyahu has been ques- other foreigners detained. Agency. It said a fishing boat rescued the crew from the sinking ship. ple’s offi cial and private resi- polygraph facility, was taken porters, including Australian tioned about both cases. Refugees in Turkey make rare trip home for festival

AFP tests. But the border crossings month that more than 600,000 But he too dreams of return- Binnish, Syria between the countries are most- displaced Syrians had returned ing. “The fl ood of Syrian fami- ly closed except to aid convoys, to their homes this year. lies from Turkey to Syria is proof meaning the chance to return for Most of those were inter- that everyone’s dream is to re- yrian refugee Mohamed Eid is a rare opportunity. nally displaced, but 16% were turn home,” he said. Haj Steifi hasn’t been home Those taking advantage of the refugees returning from exile in “But the lack of security, along Sfor a year, but this week he window had to register on a ded- neighbouring Turkey, Lebanon, with the lack of basic necessities made the trip across the Turkish icated website, and must return Jordan and Iraq. like water and electricity, make it border to celebrate the festival of to Turkey by October 15. While some returnees said impossible.” Eid al-Adha. Some headed to towns like they were motivated by im- Rahaf, 19, was overjoyed to He is one of over 40,000 Syr- Al-Bab and Jarabulus in Aleppo proved security and economic be visiting family in Binnish to ian refugees living in Turkey who province, targets of a Turkish- conditions, the IOM warned that mark Eid. But she too planned to have taken advantage of a rare led operation launched in mid- many were struggling to access return to Reyhanli at the end of chance to return to their war- 2016 against the Islamic State clean water and health services the festival. torn homeland for the holiday. group. in a country ravaged by over six Wearing a black tunic and new “I haven’t seen my family for Others crossed into Idlib years of fi ghting. jeans bought to mark Eid, she more than a year,” Steifi said, sit- province, now largely controlled Yaman al-Khatib, a 27-year- said she fl ed to Turkey fi ve years ting in the garden of his home in by a militant group formerly af- old journalist, moved with his ago along with her mother and Binnish, a town in Syria’s north- fi liated with Al Qaeda. wife and child to the Turkish sister, and plans to start univer- western Idlib province. While Steifi was delighted to province of Antakya last year sity there. Seated around him, his par- be home, he said he would soon after leaving a rebel-held part She said the family fears re- ents and brother chatted with return to the Turkish town of of Aleppo city before it was cap- turning to Syria before the con- relatives visiting to celebrate Eid Reyhanli, where he works for an tured by regime forces. fl ict ends. al-Adha. Internet company. He travels into Syria clan- “I would defi nitely think From time to time, they were “I’m defi nitely going to stay Syrian refugees arrive to register at the Bab al-Hawa border crossing after entering Syria from Turkey destinely for his job, but has no about going back to Syria if se- interrupted by phonecalls from where I have a livelihood, which ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday. plans to move his family back curity returned and the situation the family’s daughters, who live is in Turkey,” Steifi said. there for now. “There’s nowhere went back to how it was before in the Gulf. “If the work situation im- Syria’s civil war, which has But Steifi says the relative order are not restored, and life safe for us to live after we left the war,” she said. Almost 3mn Syrians have proves and the state comes back, killed over 330,000 people, has calm hasn’t tempted him to doesn’t goes back to normal, Aleppo,” he said. “There’s nothing better than taken refuge in Turkey since the I would certainly prefer to return dropped off in recent months af- move back home just yet. we’ll be living in chaos.” “Syria in general is a war zone, a person’s country, it will always confl ict in their country began in to my country.” ter the tentative and partial im- “Calm is not enough,” he said. The International Organi- so Turkey is the safest place I’ve be better than any other 2011 with anti-government pro- The grinding violence of plementation of local ceasefi res. ”If institutions, universities and sation for Migration said last found for my family.” country.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, September 4, 2017 AFRICA

DISEASE JUSTICE AMBUSH POLITICS ‘TEMPORARY’ 14 die of cholera at camp Nearly 100 inmates escape Two Kenya cops gunned DR Congo opposition leader Gabon imposes travel ban for Nigeria displaced in Ivory Coast prison break down at coastal church returns to tensions at home on opposition leaders

Fourteen people have died of cholera in Almost 100 inmates escaped yesterday Gunmen yesterday killed two police off icers The leader of the opposition in the Democratic Gabon yesterday announced a ban on opposition northeast Nigeria, with most of the victims from a prison in the Ivory Coast, the latest guarding a church on Kenya’s southern coast in an Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi, returned leaders, including former top African Union off icial living in a camp for people displaced by Boko in a string of jail breaks in the west African attack that police said bore the hallmarks of Somalia’s yesterday to Kinshasa just as police arrested Jean Ping, from leaving the country in what it Haram violence, the health ministry said over country, officials said. According to a local Islamist militant group Shebaab. Four gunmen some of his supporters during a demonstration. said was a “temporary, administrative measure”. the weekend. “Up to September 1, 14 deaths judicial source, the men who escaped in the confronted the police stationed at the entrance of Tshisekedi landed at the Ndjili airport around “This measure follows inflammatory comments have been reported,” the health ministry said central town of Katiola were followers of an Anglican church in the town of Ukunda, south midday after a trip to Europe, a member of his by Jean Ping on August 18 when he called for in a statement late on Saturday, adding that the late leader of a prison mutiny last year, of Mombasa, regional police chief Larry Kiyeng team said. He was to travel on to his residence public disorder, rebellion and insurrection,” “the total number of suspected cholera cases Coulibaly Yacouba. A security source told AFP said. They sprayed the off icers with bullets before in Kinshasa’s Limete neighbourhood, where interior ministry spokesman Jean-Eric Nziengui stands at 186.” Most of the suspected cases and that the 96 inmates escaped between 0500 escaping by motorbike, taking two AK-47 police rifles, earlier yesterday four opposition activists were Mangala said. Ping, a 74-year-old career diplomat, deaths are in Muna Garage, a camp for displaced and 0600 GMT. “The inmates went through he said. “One off icer was shot in the head and died arrested by police using teargas to break up an was narrowly defeated by incumbent Ali Bongo in people on the outskirts of Maiduguri, the capital the roof of their cells to get to other cells and on the spot while the other...died in hospital,” Kiyeng unauthorised demonstration. “We picked up Gabon’s August presidential election and accused of Borno — which is the epicentre of the Boko took advantage of workers leaving to break told Reuters. “It is too early to say who may have three or four people who did not obey police the administration of electoral fraud. A number of Haram insurgency. The other victims come from the main gate and flee,” the judicial source been involved but you can almost pinpoint Shebaab orders. They will be set free,” national police demonstrations have been held in support of Ping neighbouring districts. said. elements from the nature of the attack.” spokesman Pierrot Mwanamputu told AFP. in cities around the country.

Opposition calls Gloves off in Kenya ahead for Angola vote recount

AFP of fresh presidential vote Luanda

By Nicolas Delaunay, AFP our opposition parties in Angola yes- Nairobi terday called for a recount in last week’s Fgeneral election, alleging “irregulari- ties” during the vote that kept the ruling par- parks were fl ying in Kenya yes- ty in power. terday as the main rival of Pres- The MPLA party of former president Jose Sident Uhuru Kenyatta called Eduardo Dos Santos won just over 61% of for the ousting of members of the the votes cast on Wednesday and an absolute country’s election commission, lik- majority with 150 of the 220 seats in parlia- ening them to “hyenas”, while judg- ment, according to a provisional vote count. es slammed “veiled threats” by the The commission is due to release the offi - president after the shock annulment cial results this Wednesday. of his re-election victory. Isaias Samakuva, head of the National Raila Odinga, who will now get Union for the Total Independence of Angola another shot against Kenyatta in (UNITA), read a statement to reporters saying an election to be held within two the process to determine defi nitive election months, said he had no faith in the results “was not conducted, in a large number Independent Electoral and Bounda- of cases, in accordance with the law”. ries Commission (IEBC), and called The statement was signed by three other for its members to be expelled from leaders of Angola’s main opposition parties. Kenya. Besides “irregularities,” the coalition cited “Those IEBC thieves must go. We “the disappearance of ballot boxes, the ap- will not allow them to conduct the pearance of new ballot boxes, the disap- fresh elections,” Odinga told sup- pearance of voting forms” and “the illegal porters after attending mass in Nai- presence of foreign individuals” during the robi. counting process as reasons for contesting “We can’t take our goats where the vote. they will be taken care of by hyenas,” But they also charged that the electoral he said. “Hyenas cannot take care of process was “unconstitutional and illegal” goats.” and called for a recount of votes in the prov- Later yesterday, in the Nairobi inces by a commission comprised of fi gures slum of Mathare, an opposition bas- from civil society and churches. tion where at least 21 people were The opposition coalition warned it would killed in violence which followed the contest the election through other means if August 11 announcement of Kenyat- their demands were not met. ta’s re-election, Odinga told a crowd The day after the vote, UNITA deputy par- of thousands: “Everything has been ty leader Rafael Massanga Savimbi had said it exposed now”. found “substantial diff erences” between its “That was not an election,” he own tallies at voting stations and those of the said, while dismissing claims that he electoral commission. would seek to avoid a new election by Opposition leaders across Africa, long agreeing to a power-sharing deal. Supporters of Kenya’s opposition National Super Alliance presidential flag-bearer Raila Odinga cheer at a political rally in Nairobi yesterday. frustrated in their campaigns to topple fi rmly “We will get the full loaf after elec- entrenched leaders, have been hailing the tions, because we will win,” he said. in Africa, and follows three failed bids not be overturned by a few people.” “He went on to make veiled threats chairman, Wafula Chebukati, ruled shock overturn of last month’s presidential On Friday, Supreme Court Chief by Odinga for the presidency, in 1997, On Friday he also slammed the against the same judges based on out resigning himself. vote in Kenya, calling it an example for their Justice David Maraga declared Keny- 2007 and 2013. judges as “crooks”. their decision. The current crop of IEBC commis- own countries to emulate. atta’s victory in the August 8 poll But an enraged Kenyatta, while Calling Kenyatta’s remarks “an The same threats against the ju- sioners took offi ce only seven months On Friday, Kenya’s Supreme Court can- “invalid, null and void”, citing wide- saying he would respect the deci- assault on the judiciary”, the Kenya diciary have been repeated at State before the election, after their pred- celled the results of the August 8 election spread irregularities in the electronic sion, lashed out at the judges, saying: Magistrates and Judges Association House,” he said, referring to the pres- ecessors were forced to step down there, which kept President Uhuru Kenyatta transmission of vote results. “Every time we do something a judge (KMJA) late on Saturday asked people idential palace. following widespread protests. in offi ce, over widespread irregularities. The Kenyan media have hailed the de- comes out and places an injunction. to ignore “political rhetoric”. “We condemn this assault on the The previous commission had country now has until October 31 to hold a cision as a hard-fought victory for It can’t go on like this...there is a “The president of this country re- decisional independence of the hon- been tarnished by a corruption new election. the rule of law, and a sign of a matur- problem and we must fi x it. ferred to the president of the Supreme ourable judges.” scandal and its handling of fl awed According to preliminary results of the ing democracy. “Maraga thinks he can overturn Court and the other judges as “wako- The electoral commission has 2013 elections, which saw a series Angola election, UNITA and the Casa-CE It is the fi rst time a presidential the will of the people. We shall show ra”, or crooks in Swahili, said the asso- vowed to make “internal changes” of high-tech safeguards failing on party garnered 26% and 9% of the vote, re- election result has been overturned you...that the will of the people can- ciation’s chief, Bryan Khaemba. ahead of the new vote, though its election day. spectively. Soldiers die in Ramaphosa slams aff air reports ‘smear’ Somalia attack AFP Johannesburg AFP Mogadishu outh Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is vy- ore than 10 soldiers died yesterday Sing to replace President Jacob and several others were wounded Zuma, has admitted to an extramari- Mwhen Al Qaeda-aligned Shebaab tal aff air but lambasted as “political militants stormed a base in southern Somalia, smear” its revelation in newspapers, security sources said. media reported yesterday. The militants drove a truck loaded with ex- Details of his alleged aff airs with as plosives to the main entrance of the base in many as eight women were splashed Bulogadud, about 70km from the port town of on Sunday newspapers, after the Kismayo and then attacked the soldiers. business man turned politician failed “There was an attack on the military base in to gag media from publishing the Bulogadud this morning...the initial informa- story in a late night urgent court ap- tion indicates that more than 10 soldiers were plication. killed,” Abdulahi Mohamed, a senior security He denied cheating with eight offi cial, said by phone. women but admitted to having one “There was a car bomb blast and gunfi re aff air. “I had a relationship with only followed. The forces retreated from the base one person and it ended. I dealt with initially but they later regained control,” he it with my wife. We now have a pro- added. fessional relationship,” Ramaphosa Sources in a nearby village said the militants told the Sunday Times. temporarily took control of the camp and the The 64-year-old Ramaphosa and village. Zuma’s ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini- “Some people in Bulogadud told us the Zuma have come out as front runners militants looted the camp...they burned down to replace Zuma when he steps down everything and left,” Ahmed Mohamud, a res- as ANC president in December. African National Women’s League delegates join former African Union chair and current African National Congress front runner for party president, Nkosa- ident said. The leader of the ANC becomes an zana Dlamini-Zuma (second left) to sing and dance during the Kwazulu-Natal ANC Women’s League provincial conference at the Playhouse theatre in Durban Shebaab claimed responsibility for the at- automatic candidate for president of yesterday. tack. “The Mujahedeen fi ghters took control the country. of Bulogadud, there were many enemy deaths Ramaphosa said the report which “I have not committed any crimes, since Saturday, with the public re- conference, dirty trick on steroids.” far beyond an attempt at political and three technical vehicles were looted,” a is based on leaked email correspond- I have not stolen any money, I have buking his conduct. It was still early to determine how smear,” he said. brief statement on a pro-Shebaab website ence between himself and the women not looted state resources. But I am But the leader received unlikely much impact the scandal would im- Ramaphosa is the latest high rank- said, citing the group’s Andalus radio. was a “smear campaign” ahead of the being targeted and smeared,” he said. support from Julius Malema, the pact his ANC leadership bid. ing South African politicians to be The Shebaab have sworn to overthrow So- crucial elective conference. He stated that the relationship radical leader of Economic Free- On Saturday afternoon, Ramapho- implicated in a sex scandal. Zuma was malia’s fragile government, which is kept in “I have to be prevented at all costs with the woman who was his medical dom Fighters who was expelled from sa released a lengthy statement after himself in 2005 tried and later acquit- place with international support. from ascending to the position of doctor ended eight years ago. the ANC in 2012 Malema tweeted: a list of media questions sent to him ted for rape of a 31-year-old daughter The Shebaab force was pushed out of the president of the ANC. Some have Pictures of several women pur- “Ramaphosa, his wife & support- on the story were leaked on social of a friend. Several other ministers in capital in August 2011 and lost most of its oth- even said it will over their dead bod- ported to be some of his girlfriends ers will have to be extremely strong media. Zuma’s cabinet have had sex scandals er bastions in Somalia. ies,” Ramaphosa told Sunday Times. had been circulating on social media especially as they move close to the “This latest episode extends but never resigned from their jobs. Gulf Times Monday, September 4, 2017 5 AMERICA Victims of storm dig out debris

AFP pulled drywall and hauled out Houston ruined furniture and rugs. Johnney said one saving grace for her was the tile she had in- aline Johnney knew stalled in her house, which pre- it was going to be bad vented a more disastrous fl oor- Mwhen she returned to ing and carpet loss. her Houston home after Hurri- The Kuhns, a few blocks away, cane Harvey. were less fortunate; their home A volunteer heads out to look for people in need of help in Orange, Texas. But she was unprepared for the was inundated with more than a mess — and the stench — when foot of water, ruining their furni- she opened the door. ture, beds and kitchen appliances. “It smelled like a pig pen,” she The small house was unlive- told AFP Saturday, hours after able; the back yard a fi eld of dry- she cracked open her front door, ing garments, gadgets, nicknacks like thousands of fellow Texans, and supplies. to face the very personal eff ects But Mandy Kuhns, who at 27 is of a massive disaster. pregnant with her fi rst child, said Days after she evacuated when they were simply “thankful that Harvey funds may be she saw a rescue boat fl oat down we have our lives”. her street during the most power- The goal now, she added, was ful storm she experienced during to “fi nd a home or somewhere to her 30 years of living in Houston, go and just try to recover from 55-year-old Johnney said her big- this all. gest worry was “coming home Basically, we’ll start our lives and not knowing the unknown”. all over again”. Would her bedroom fl ood? As she looked to early next year delayed, bill $180bn Would the sweeping tree in her and the birth of her baby, Kuhns front yard crash through the roof? and husband Lewis said they were A battle is brewing in Congress over Houston was still struggling to recover Would her car take on water? counting on federal or state aid to funding for flood victims yesterday, when the city forced the evacu- The tree still stands, she get them through the crisis. ation of thousands of people on the west- learned as she pulled up outside Across from the Johnneys, a Reuters ern side of town who were aff ected by the her ranch-style house in the Gulf family of Hispanic immigrants Washinghton release of fl oodwater that had built up in a Meadows neighbourhood south was trying to stitch their lives reservoir. of downtown. back together after returning to The city cut off power to homes yes- But her home and cars were in- a home where little was spared, S Treasury Secretary Steven terday morning to encourage evacuation undated with six inches of water. despite the best eff orts of owner Mnuchin said yesterday that re- of those who had been reluctant to leave Johnney, her husband Leo, Felipe Landin. Ulief funding for hurricane-ravaged their homes. About 37,000 refugees stayed and an army of volunteers and His daughter Laetitia, 38, broke areas of Texas might be delayed if the US overnight in 270 shelters in Texas plus an- friends from their church carried into tears as she considered the Congress does not quickly increase the other 2,000 in seven Louisiana shelters, out armloads of debris: ruined eff orts her father — who moved government’s debt limit. Texas Governor the highest number reported so far by the furniture, mouldy drapes and from Mexico to Houston in the Greg Abbott yesterday estimated dam- American Red Cross. rugs, insulation and wiring, wa- 1970s before she was born — age from Hurricane Harvey at $150bn to Some 84,700 homes and businesses terlogged mattresses and panel- made to bring the family into the $180bn. were without power, down from a peak of ling, and soiled drywall. middle class. “Without raising the debt limit, I am around 300,000, according to the region’s “There’s still more to go,” said “He’s worked so hard to make not comfortable that we will get money Robert Licatino helps his son clean up his auto body shop in Orange, Texas. major electric companies. Johnney, who wore a cap with this happen. He’s provided for all to Texas this month to rebuild,” Mnuchin Many areas of Texas were still battling “Katrina & Rita 2005,” the two of us,” she said, noting his end- said on Fox News yesterday. Mnuchin told lawmakers in July they I think this will cost well over $120bn, fl oodwater from swollen rivers that was hurricanes that blasted neigh- less hours operating his drapery US President Donald Trump has re- needed to raise the debt limit by Sep- probably $150 to $180bn,” Abbott told Fox expected to remain for a week or more. bouring Louisiana 12 years ago, store. “I need to do something. quested nearly $8bn for relief for areas hit tember 29, otherwise the US government News, adding, “this is far larger than Hur- In Beaumont, about 140km east of Hou- stitched on the back. I need to fi gure out, because it’s by Hurricane Harvey. The United States might not have enough money to pay all ricane Sandy”. The administration of US ston, offi cials were trying to repair ood-a fl Many victims in this sprawl- my turn to give back for every- is on track to hit its mandated debt limit its bills. President Donald Trump has asked Con- damaged pumping station that caused the ing Texas city were on a similar thing that he’s done for us.” by the end of the month unless Congress Blunt said Hurricane Harvey also has gress for an initial $7.85bn for recovery city of about 120,000 people to lose drink- mission after spending days in Landin, taking a break from moves to increase it. created “another reason as to why you’d eff orts, which Abbott called a “down pay- ing water for days. evacuation limbo. the cleanup to chat with visit- Senator Roy Blunt, a junior member of want to keep the government open” by ment”. The storm knocked offl ine about one- The scene was repeated on ing reporters and show them the Senate’s Republican leadership, said passing legislation to fund the govern- Even that amount could be delayed un- fourth of US oil refi nery capacity, much of block after block in Gulf Mead- his smartphone video of the re- it was possible lawmakers could tie leg- ment this month. Current US government less Congress quickly increases the gov- which is clustered along the Gulf Coast. ows, which abuts a bayou that altime inundation, rubbed his islation raising the US debt ceiling — an spending authority also runs out at the ernment’s debt limit, US Treasury Secre- The disruptions boosted gasoline prices to spilled its banks during Harvey. daughter’s shoulder as their eyes unpopular step among some Republican end of September. tary Steven Mnuchin said yesterday. The a two-year high. Houston Mayor Sylvester Mounds of debris outside af- met. conservatives — to measures providing fi - Texas Governor Greg Abbott yesterday United States is on track to hit its man- Turner said his city was making progress fected homes expanded as resi- Laetitia said: ‘My promise to nancial aid for recovery from Harvey. estimated damage from Hurricane Harvey dated debt limit by the end of the month on several fronts, resuming city services dents, taking advantage of a you is, we’re going to get through “That’s one way to do it,” Blunt said at $150bn to $180bn, calling it more costly unless Congress increases it. and helping get people into housing and steaming sun and disappearing this, you’re going to get back to on NBC’s Meet the Press. Congressional than epic hurricanes Katrina or Sandy and “Without raising the debt limit, I am out of emergency shelters. fl ood waters, ripped up fl ooring, where you need to be.” leaders would have to look at whether the fuelling a debate over how to pay for the not comfortable that we will get money to “This is a can-do city. We’re not going votes are there, he said. disaster. Texas this month to rebuild,” Mnuchin told to engage in a pity party,” Turner told CBS Congress returns this week from a Harvey, which fi rst came ashore on Au- Fox News. Beyond the immediate fund- News. Trump visited Houston on Saturday month-long vacation, and one of the fi rst gust 25 as the most powerful hurricane to ing, any massive aid package faces budget to meet evacuees and rescue workers, an measures it is expected to consider is an hit Texas in 50 years, has killed an estimat- pressures at a time when Trump is advo- opportunity to show an empathetic side initial $7.85bn that the administration of ed 47 people, displaced more than 1mn and cating for tax reform or tax cuts, leading after some criticised him for staying clear President Donald Trump has requested as damaged nearly 200,000 homes in a path some on Capitol Hill to suggest aid may be of the disaster zone during a previous visit an initial aid package for recovery eff orts of destruction stretching for more than released in a series of smaller appropria- on Tuesday. Trump had said he did not from Hurricane Harvey. 480kms. tions. want to hamper rescue eff orts. Trump and The US government has a statutory Abbott, who is advocating for US gov- The head of the US Federal Emergency his wife Melania marked a national day limit on how much money it can borrow to ernment aid for his state’s recovery, said Management Agency (FEMA) called fed- of prayer for hurricane victims yesterday cover the budget defi cit that results from the damage would exceed that of Katrina, eral aid a “ray of hope” but said state and by attending church services at St Johns Washington spending more than it col- the storm that devastated New Orleans local offi cials also needed to do their part. Episcopal Church near the White House. lects in taxes. and surrounding areas in 2005, and Sandy, “They can’t depend only on federal Americans on the East Coast are war- Only Congress can raise that limit, and which overwhelmed New York city and the emergency management,” FEMA Ad- ily watching the progress of another ma- fi nancial fi rms have been worried that US Northeast in 2012. ministrator Brook Long told CBS News, jor storm, Hurricane Irma. For now, those Congress may fail to reach a deal to do so. “Katrina caused if I recall more than declining to off er a fi gure for how much fears are mostly speculative, as the Cat- Some conservatives want to link spend- $120bn but when you look at the number money the White House would eventually egory 3 storm remains far out in the At- A home in Orange, Texas. ing reforms to a debt ceiling hike. of homes and business aff ected by this ask from Congress. lantic. Trump to meet advisers over ‘hostile’ N Korea

AFP aimed criticism at the government in Seoul. new United Nations sanctions to “completely Washington South Korea, Trump said, “is fi nding, as I isolate North Korea.” He said the South would have told them, that their talk of appeasement discuss deploying “the strongest strategic as- with North Korea will not work, they only un- sets of the US military” — a possible reference S President Donald Trump was conven- derstand one thing!” A series of US and United to tactical nuclear weapons, which the US with- ing his national security team yester- Nations-backed sanctions against the North drew from South Korea in 1991. Uday to weigh options including drastic have had little apparent eff ect on Pyongyang, as While US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson economic sanctions against North Korea after Kim has repeatedly seemed to brush off Trump’s spoke by phone with his Asian counterparts, US Pyongyang detonated what it claimed was a hy- strongest warnings. and South Korean military chiefs also conferred. drogen bomb able to fi t atop a missile. But US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Seoul’s defence ministry said the respective The US president said in a tweet that the time said yesterday that his department was prepar- chairmen of the joint chiefs of staff — General for “appeasement” was over, and a top adviser ing potent new measures that would completely Jeong Kyeong-Doo and General Joseph Dun- said Trump was weighing “all our options.” “cut off North Korea economically”. ford — had “agreed to prepare a South Korea-US “The national security team is monitoring “I’m going to draft a sanctions package and military counteraction and to put it into action this closely,” said White House press secretary send it to the president for his strong consid- at the earliest date.” Sarah Huckabee Sanders, in announcing the ur- eration that anybody that wants to do trade or US monitors measured a 6.3-magnitude gent meeting on a US holiday weekend. business with them will be prevented from do- tremor near the North’s main testing site, which In a Twitter message, Trump denounced the ing trade or business with us,” Mnuchin said on South Korean experts said was fi ve to six times unexpectedly powerful test — said to be the Fox News Sunday. But he also said Trump had stronger than that from a 10-kiloton test a year North’s fi rst blast to exceed in magnitude the made it clear that he will “look at all our op- ago. The quake was felt in northeastern China, atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan — as “very tions”. with people in the border city of Yanji saying hostile and dangerous to the United States”. While the United States has virtually no trade they fl ed their homes in their underwear, and in North Korea said its test of what it described with the North, the burden of sanctions such as the Russian Pacifi c city of Vladivostok. as a hydrogen bomb designed for a long-range Mnuchin described would fall heavily on China, Chinese monitors said a second tremor of 4.6 missile was “a perfect success”. which buys about 90% of North Korean exports. magnitude could be due to rock over the under- The blast was so powerful that US monitors Hours before the test, the North released im- ground blast site giving way. measured a 6.3-magnitude earthquake near ages of Kim at his country’s Nuclear Weapons Jeff rey Lewis of website armscontrolwonk the North’s main testing site, and it was felt in President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump walk out of St John’s Episcopal Church in Institute, inspecting what it said was a minia- said yesterday’s blast clearly was “a staged ther- China and Russia. Washington, DC, yesterday after attending a service on the National Day of Prayer for victims of turised H-bomb that could be fi tted onto an in- monuclear weapon”, representing a signifi cant Pyongyang residents threw their arms aloft Hurricane Harvey which he proclaimed earlier this week. tercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). China, advance. in triumph as a jubilant television newsreader the North’s sole major ally, issued a “strong Trump has warned Pyongyang that it faces hailed the “unprecedentedly large” blast; she “strongest punishment”. threat and embarrassment to China, which is condemnation” of the test. “fi re and fury” and that Washington’s weapons said it had moved the country closer to “the fi nal Trump, who has waged an on-again-off - trying to help but with little success”. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe de- are “locked and loaded.” But even some Trump goal of completing the state nuclear force”. again war of words with the North’s leader Kim Trump has repeatedly insisted that Beijing scribed the test as “absolutely unaccept- advisers say US military options are limited Condemnation from world capitals was swift, Jong-un, refrained from direct threats. lean heavily on its isolated neighbour to halt its able” while Russia’s foreign ministry expressed when Pyongyang has the capacity to quickly including from China and Russia while South But in a Twitter message he branded the nuclear and missile development. “strongest condemnation” but urged calm. wipe out much of the South Korean capital Korean President Moon Jae-in called for the North “a rogue nation which has become a great Yesterday, however, the US president also In Seoul, President Moon Jae-in called for Seoul. Gulf Times 6 Monday, September 4, 2017 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Indonesian envoy on Myanmar mission to halt Rohingya violence

Reuters police said caused a small ta time and alerted police offi cers Argo Yuwono. A group of activ- to end human rights violations violence, to provide protection The treatment of Buddhist- Jakarta fire, came in the early hours guarding the front gate, a Jakarta ists had held a protest at the em- against Rohingya Muslims in to all citizens, including Mus- majority Myanmar’s roughly of yesterday morning against police statement said. bassy on Saturday, calling for the Myanmar. Indonesian Presi- lims in Myanmar, and to give 1.1mn Muslim Rohingya is the the backdrop of mounting After the fire was extin- Nobel Prize Committee to with- dent Widodo said he has sent access to humanitarian aid,” biggest challenge facing leader ndonesian President Joko anger in Indonesia, home to guished, police found a shat- draw the Nobel Peace Prize from Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi Widodo said. Aung San Suu Kyi, accused by Widodo has sent his foreign the world’s biggest Muslim tered bottle with a wick at- Myanmar leader Aung San Suu to Myanmar to hold “intensive Widodo added that concrete Western critics of not speak- Iminister to Myanmar to urge population, over violence tached to it, the statement said, Kyi, state news agency Antara communications” with invloved actions are needed and the Indo- ing out for the minority that has its government to halt violence against Rohingya Muslims in adding that the unknown per- wrote. parties including the United Na- nesian government is committed long complained of persecution. against Rohingya Muslims, he Myanmar. petrator is suspected to have Protests continued yester- tions. to helping to solve the humani- Aid agencies estimate that about said yesterday after a petrol A police offi cer patrolling a driven away from the scene in day in Jakarta’s city centre, with “Earlier this afternoon the tarian crisis and that Marsudi 73,000 Rohingya have fl ed into bomb was thrown at the Myan- street behind the embassy spot- an MPV car. dozens of people calling for the Foreign Minister has departed will also travel to Bangladesh to neighbouring Bangladesh since mar embassy in Jakarta. ted a fi re on the second fl oor of Jakarta police are investigat- Indonesian government to take to Myanmar to ask the Myanmar prepare additional aid for refu- violence in Myanmar erupted The embassy attack, which the building at about 0235 Jakar- ing the incident, said spokesman an active involvement in eff orts government to stop and prevent gees there. last week. H-bomb test ‘a perfect success’, says N Korea

AFP Seoul US-North Korea: 70 years of high tension A news report on nuclear test is shown on an electronic screen in Pyongyang. Since the end of the Korean War, violated its territorial waters, a part of an “axis of evil.” In October, labour for stealing a propaganda orth Korea said it deto- the United States and North Korea charge the United States denies. Washington accuses Pyongyang poster. He died in June 2017, one The H-bomb – most destructive on earth nated a hydrogen bomb have relations marked by high In 1969, North Korea shoots down of conducting a secret uranium week after being repatriated in a Ndesigned for a long-range tension and periodic, but short- a US reconnaissance aircraft. enrichment programme in viola- coma. Numerous Americans have The thermonuclear, or hydrogen rather than fusing the nuclei missile yesterday and called its lived, thaws. Here is a recap of tion of the 1994 nuclear agree- been held for years before being bomb – of the kind that North of atoms – to create a less sixth and most powerful nuclear their troubled history: Contacts ment. In August 2004, North repatriated. Three are currently Korea said it had tested powerful explosion. A hydrogen test a “perfect success”, sparking In June 1994, former US president Korea declares it is impossible to detained there. yesterday – was developed bomb uses an initial fission world condemnation and prom- A divided Korean peninsula Jimmy Carter makes an unprec- participate in a new nuclear pro- after the nuclear weapons used reaction to produce the high ises of tougher US sanctions. In 1945, the Japanese occupation edented visit to North Korea. gramme with the United States, Trump vs Kim on Japan in World War II and temperatures required for the Pyongyang residents threw of Korea comes to an end with In October, three months after attacking Bush as a “tyrant” On January 2 2017, US President- is far more destructive. The more powerful fusion reaction. their arms aloft in triumph as a the Japanese defeat at the end the death of Kim Il-sung and his worse than Hitler and a “political elect Donald Trump will never first hydrogen bomb, tested in Less than a year after the US jubilant television newsreader of World War II. Korea is divided succession by his son Kim Jong-il, imbecile.” be allowed to develop a nuclear November 1952 by the United thermonuclear bomb test, the hailed the “unprecedentedly along the 38th parallel between Pyongyang and Washington In 2006, Pyongyang conducts its weapon capable of reaching US States, yielded energy equivalent Soviet Union exploded their large” blast. the Soviet-backed regime of Kim sign a bilateral agreement. North first nuclear test. territory. In July, North Korea to 10 megatons of TNT – roughly own H-bomb, starting a race to It “marked a very signifi cant Il-sung in the North and a South Korea commits to freeze and conducts two intercontinental bal- 1,000 times larger than the produce more “superbombs.” occasion in attaining the fi nal protected by the United States. dismantle its military nuclear Off the US blacklist listic missile tests. Kim declares: atomic bomb dropped on The most powerful H-bomb goal of completing the state nu- In June 1950 North Korea, later programme in exchange for the In October 2008, the United “The entire US territory is now Hiroshima seven years earlier. ever detonated – and therefore clear force,” she added. assisted by China, invades the construction of civilian reactors. States withdraws North Korea within our ICBM range.” In this new type of bomb, two the biggest ever man-made Hours before the test the South. A coalition led by the In 1999, a year after its first test of from its blacklist of state sponsors On August 8, Trump threatens types of hydrogen – deuterium explosion – was used by the North had released images of United States retakes Seoul. In a long-range ballistic missile, Kim of terrorism in return for controls “fire and fury” if Pyongyang and tritium – are fused into Soviets in 1961. Known as the leader Kim Jong-un at the Nucle- July 1953, an armistice – not a Jong-il declared a moratorium on all Pyongyang’s nuclear instal- continues to threaten the United helium, thereby releasing Tsar Bomba, it produced a yield ar Weapons Institute, inspecting full-fledged peace treaty – is on missile tests and Washington lations. Pyongyang had been on States. On August 29, Pyongyang energy. A conventional nuclear equivalent to 50 megatons of what it said was a miniaturised signed and Washington imposes eased sanctions. In October the blacklist since 1988 due to sent a ballistic missile over Japan. weapon uses fission – splitting TNT. H-bomb that could be fi tted onto sanctions on Pyongyang. 2000, US secretary of state its suspected involvement in the The US president says, “Talking is an intercontinental ballistic mis- Madeleine Albright meets Kim bombing of a South Korean air- not the answer,” although his de- sile (ICBM). Pueblo spy ship crisis Jong-il in Pyongyang. liner in 1987 that killed 115 people. fence secretary does not rule out the US. “North Korea will con- Analysts cautioned that the im- China, the North’s sole re- In January 1968, the USS Pueblo, diplomacy. September 3, North tinue with their nuclear weap- age had not been verifi ed. “We maining major ally, issued a a spy ship, is captured by North Axis of Evil American detainees Korea carries out its sixth nuclear ons programme unless the US don’t know if this thing is full of “strong condemnation” of the Korea. After being held 11 months, In January 2002, US president In January 2016, an American test, announcing a “perfect test” proposes talks,” Koo Kab-woo of styrofoam, but yes, it is shaped test, which overshadowed the its 83 crew members are released. George W Bush labels North student Otto Wambier is arrested of a hydrogen bomb that can be Seoul’s University of North Ko- like it has two devices,” Melissa opening of the Brics summit in According to Pyongyang, the ship Korea, along with Iran and Iraq, as and sentenced to 15 years of hard mounted on a missile. rean Studies said. Hanham of the Middlebury In- Xiamen by leader Xi Jinping. Jap- Pictures of Kim at the Nuclear stitute for International Studies anese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Weapons Institute showed the in California said on Twitter. described it as “absolutely unac- South Korea by Washington in US monitors measured a Whatever the fi nal fi gure for gered a new rise in tensions in young leader, dressed in a black Pyongyang, which insists it ceptable” while Russia’s foreign 1991. 6.3-magnitude tremor near the the test’s yield turned out to be, July, when it carried out two suc- suit, examining a metal casing needs nuclear weapons to defend ministry expressed “strongest The US and South Korean North’s main testing site, which said Jeff rey Lewis of the arm- cessful tests of an ICBM which with a shape akin to a peanut itself, carried out its fi rst atomic condemnation” but urged calm. military chiefs spoke by tele- South Korean experts said was scontrolwonk website, it was “a apparently brought much of the shell. The device was a “thermo- test in 2006. In Seoul, President Moon Jae- phone and agreed the test was “a fi ve to six times stronger than staged thermonuclear weapon” US mainland within range. Last nuclear weapon with super ex- Its fi fth detonation, in Sep- in called for new United Nations provocation that cannot be over- that from the 10-kiloton test car- which represents a signifi cant week it fi red a missile over Japan. plosive power made by our own tember last year, caused a 5.3 sanctions to “completely isolate looked”, Seoul’s defence ministry ried out a year ago. advance. Trump has warned Pyongyang eff orts and technology”, the Ko- magnitude quake and according North Korea” and said the South said in a statement. The chair- The tremor was felt in north- Chinese monitors said they that it faces “fi re and fury” and rean Central News Agency cited to Seoul had a 10-kiloton yield. would discuss deploying “the men of the joint chiefs of staff , eastern China, with people in the had detected a second tremor that Washington’s weapons are Kim as saying, and “all compo- The North has been subjected to strongest strategic assets of the General Jeong Kyeong-doo and border city of Yanji saying they shortly afterwards of 4.6 magni- “locked and loaded”. nents of the H-bomb were 100 seven rounds of United Nations US military”. General Joseph Dunford, “agreed fl ed their homes in their under- tude that could be due to a “col- Analysts believe Pyongyang percent domestically made”. Security Council sanctions over That could be taken as a ref- to prepare a South Korea-US wear, and in the Russian Pacifi c lapse (cave in)”, suggesting the has been developing its weapons Despite its power there were its nuclear and ballistic missile erence to tactical nuclear weap- military counteraction and to put city of Vladivostok. It was even rock over the underground blast capability to give it a stronger no radioactive leaks from the programmes, but always insists it ons, which were withdrawn from it into action at the earliest date.” detected as far away as Germany. had given way. Pyongyang trig- hand in any negotiations with test, KCNA said in a later report. will continue to pursue them.

Third charge Cambodian paper shuts in face of PM’s tax demand expires against fugitive Thai An independent English-language Cambodia Daily, a special and increasing expectations of a close ‘Brics must promote newspaper in Cambodia said singular part of Cambodia’s free contest in the coming general Red Bull heir yesterday it was ceasing press.” election. publication after Prime Minister The publication was founded in Opposition leader leader Kem A third criminal charge Hun Sen’s government ordered 1993 by an American journalist, Sokha was arrested in a police open world economy’ against the fugitive heir to it to pay a huge tax bill amid making it a particular target raid on his home early yesterday Thailand’s Red Bull fortune a growing campaign against for Hun Sen, who has accused after Hun Sen accused him of over a fatal hit-and-run critical voices ahead of next year’s the United States of plotting treason with the backing of the Reuters Xi said he still had “full confi - ous defence of globalisation. expired yesterday but election. with the opposition against his United States. In a speech, Hun Xiamen dence” in Brics countries’ de- In Xiamen, Xi closed his prosecutors said it would not The Cambodia Daily, known for government. Sen defended his deadline to The velopment despite claims that 45-minute speech by saying aff ect their heavily-criticised critical coverage of issues such as Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia Cambodia Daily to pay its taxes, the bloc’s relevance had faded that Beijing encouraged Chi- attempts to bring him to corruption, human rights and the for more than three decades and according to pro-government he Brics group of emerg- due to slower growth. nese companies to continue justice. Worayuth Yoovidhya, environment, was ordered to shut has shown no signs of willingness news outlet Fresh News. ing economies must pro- “The development of emerg- going abroad, and “warmly wel- better known as “Boss”, down if it could not pay $6.3mn to relinquish power, last month “When we tax them, they said we Tmote trade liberalisation ing market and developing comed” other countries’ fi rms is wanted for drunkenly to cover 10 years of back taxes by stepped up attacks on the shut down press freedom,” Hun and an open world economy, countries won’t touch anyone’s to invest in the world’s second- ploughing his Ferrari today. media and non-governmental Sen was quoted as saying. “When Chinese President Xi Jinping cheese, but instead will dili- largest economy. into a policeman riding a “It will cease publication as organisations. doing businesses, you have to said at a business meeting yes- gently grow the world economic But those remarks are cold motorbike in Bangkok in of September 4, 2017,” the His Cambodian People’s Party pay tax. But when they didn’t terday at the start of a three-day pie,” he said. Earlier, Chinese comfort to some critics of Chi- 2012, dragging the off icer to newspaper said. “After 24 years won local elections in June, but pay and we asked them to leave summit being held in south- vice trade minister, Wang Shou- na, foreign business groups and his death. After years giving and 15 days, the Cambodian the opposition Cambodia National the country, they said we are a eastern China. wen, said the Brics meeting was governments alike, who say prosecutors the run around, government has destroyed The Rescue Party (CNRP) also did well, dictatorship,” he added. The heads of state from Bra- expected to “reach consensus China has done little to remove the 32-year-old billionaire zil, Russia, India, China and for actions” to oppose trade its discriminatory policies and has become an emblem for South Africa will gather in the protectionism. He added that market barriers that favour Chi- the impunity enjoyed by city of Xiamen through Tues- China was interested in possibly nese companies. the rich and connected in day, giving China as host its establishing a free trade agree- Some have questioned the unequal Thailand. Earlier this Fiery start latest chance to position itself ment with Mexico. relevance of Brics and China’s year he fled the kingdom as a bulwark of globalisation in In July, Xi called on members commitment to its New Devel- after an arrest warrant was the face of US President Don- of the Group of 20 (G20) nations opment Bank (NDB) in light of finally issued following a ald Trump’s “America First” to champion an open world Xi’s own global Belt and Road series of no shows at police agenda. economy, and at the World Eco- development initiative and the interviews. Brics leaders will be joined nomic Forum in Davos, Switzer- China-led Asian Infrastructure Worayuth initially faced four by observer countries Thai- land, in January off ered a vigor- Investment Bank. charges: speeding, drunk land, Mexico, Egypt, Guinea driving, fleeing the scene and Tajikistan, and offi cials will of an accident and causing discuss a “Brics Plus” plan to death by dangerous driving. possibly expand the bloc to new The statute of limitation members. on fleeing the scene of an Mexico’s President Enrique accident, which carried up Pena Nieto is set to be in China to six months in jail, expired to discuss trade and invest- yesterday. Speeding and ment, as Trump has renewed drunk driving have already threats to scrap the 23-year- run out. old North American Free Trade He can now only be Agreement (Nafta) that he has prosecuted for causing death labelled a killer of US jobs. “We by dangerous driving which should push for an open world does not expire until 2027 economy, promote trade liber- and carries up to 10 years alisation and facilitation, jointly in jail. “It will not aff ect any create a new global value chain, Chinese President Xi Jinping leaves the stage after speaking request for extradition,” and realise a global economic during the opening ceremony of the Brics Business Forum at Lieutenant General Somnuk Local residents take pictures of a bushfire burning on the Kurnell Peninsula, during an unseasonably rebalancing,” Xi told Brics busi- the Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center in Siengkong told reporters on warm start to Spring, on Sydney’s southern coast, Australia, yesterday. ness leaders and senior offi cials. Xiamen, China. Saturday. Gulf Times Monday, September 4, 2017 7 BRITAIN/IRELAND

LAW AND ORDER ACCIDENT OFFBEAT CRIME PLAN Police probe Briton’s death Four injured as car Fisherman catches 225kg Grandmother and children Sturgeon ‘to scrap public after alleged car theft smashes into house tuna off Welsh coast escape injury as shots fired sector pay rise cap’

Police in Tenerife are reportedly investigating the Four people were injured, three of them A fisherman has taken two hours to reel in A grandmother and two children have escaped Nicola Sturgeon will scrap the 1% cap on public death of a British man after he allegedly stole a seriously, when a car smashed through a large tuna he hooked while hunting for injury after two shots were fired at house sector pay rises when she sets out her legislative car outside a shopping centre less than 24 hours the side of a house and started a fire. A car shark off the British coast. Using a rod he in Lurgan. The shots were fired through the plans for the coming year, it is understood. into his holiday. The man is said to have taken the crashed into the living room of the property designed himself, Andrew Alsop caught the living room window of a house in Shimna The first minister will announce the measure Mitsubishi car at the San Eugenio shopping centre in York injuring the driver and two passengers 225kg Atlantic bluefin tuna about 32km off Walk late Saturday. A woman in her 50s when she reveals her 2017-18 programme for in Costa Adeje, in the south-west of the Canary and a man on a sofa. Sergeant Paul Cording of the Welsh coast. The species is recognised as and her two young grandchildren were in government tomorrow. The SNP had committed island. A woman inside the car was injured as he North Yorkshire Police told Minster FM it was an endangered fish by the WWF (World Wide the house at the time of the incident – the to lifting the pay cap for public sector workers made off , according to the Spanish newspaper “astounding that no-one lost their life”. A man Fund for Nature) and the government says they children were upstairs asleep. Detectives said earlier this year. Scottish Labour described the Diario de Avisos. He allegedly crashed the car on in his 20s, believed to be the driver, has been should not be targeted. Alsop, 48, was fishing in a man was seen running away from the scene move as a “U-turn”. Labour’s bid to scrap the cap the TF-1 motorway and unsuccessfully tried to arrested. Cording said a man inside the house his boat White Water off the south-west coast of and appealed for any witnesses. Detective for NHS nurses was defeated at Holyrood in May. steal two more vehicles, before running along the was sitting on the sofa when the car ploughed Wales, near an area known as the Celtic Deep, inspector Stephen Harvey said; “We are A Scottish government source told the Sunday motorway and jumping over the barrier. He was through the wall. He said the car had “quite when he caught the fish which was at least 7ft carrying out a number of follow-up enquiries Herald: “The programme for government will found dead at around 7pm, wearing only a pair of literally” gone into the house in Rivelin Way, on long. Fellow fishermen photographed him with and we’re particularly keen to speak to anyone make clear that the time has come to ditch the shorts, the newspaper reported. Clifton Moor. the catch before he returned it to the sea. who was in the area at the time.” 1% pay cap for the public sector.”

One-of-a-kind fountain PM urged to force May not to pay councils to build more homes £46bn bill to

Guardian News and Media London leave EU, says heresa May is being urged to face down a potential Tbacklash from backbench Conservatives and sign off pro- posals aimed at forcing councils to unleash a building boom to tackle Britain’s housing crisis. David Davis The department for commu- nities and local government has Guardian News and Media sels after the latest round of talks extensive use of so-called “Henry confi rmed to the Guardian that it London with the EU, during which its VIII powers” – laws that allow will publish details by the end of chief negotiator Michel Barnier ministers to change primary legis- this month of how local authori- said there had been “no concrete lation using secondary legislation ties should assess the need for avid Davis has denied progress”. without parliamentary scrutiny. housing. Theresa May is preparing The Brexit secretary said Barni- Ministers insist the powers will The plans, part of a package Dto approve a Brexit “di- er “looked a bit silly because there be used only to make technical of housing measures, will be vorce bill” of €50bn, saying UK were plainly things we achieved changes to make the EU laws ap- closely watched as a test of the negotiators would not allow time ... The commission puts itself in a plicable to the UK, but Labour has prime minister’s appetite for pressures to force Britain into silly position when it says nothing said it is likely to oppose the bill enacting controversial domes- paying vast sums. has been done when really impor- because of the implications. tic reforms. The Brexit secretary insisted tant things have. We put people The government is not expected They were slated for publica- there was no legal obligation for before process. They are in danger to face serious trouble over the tion in July, and a press release the UK to pay sums for EU projects of putting process fi rst.” Brexit bill at the second reading drafted, but the launch was de- after leaving the bloc, even those Comparing the fi nancial set- next week, but Conservative MPs layed at the last minute amid approved while the UK was a tlement to a hotel bill, Davis said who favour a soft Brexit are already concerns some MPs could face member, but conceded there were UK negotiators were checking the planning to table amendments at criticism from constituents “moral or political” reasons to details, not making a counter off er. the committee stage in October, concerned about over-develop- reach a fi nancial settlement. “We are a country that meets its which could attract cross-party ment. No 10 sources also denied May international obligations but they backing. The Communities Secretary, was preparing to agree a bill of have to be that. They may not be Davis said all MPs had an inter- Sajid Javid, who has the backing around £46bn at current exchange legal ones, they may be moral or est in the bill succeeding. “Eve- of reformers in the Conservative rates, which the Sunday Times re- political ones,” he said. Post-Brex- rything in terms of signifi cant party, would like to see house- ported was set to be announced af- it, the UK would “still be paying change will be done in separate building boosted signifi cantly, ter the Conservative party confer- something, I suspect,” Davis said, primary legislation, from immi- particularly in high-cost ar- ence. Under Whitehall plans, the citing space agency research and gration bills to customs bills. Any- eas, to halt the rapid increase in UK would pay between £7bn and the EU’s Horizon 2020 scientifi c body, remainer or leaver, should property prices that is leaving £17bn a year to Brussels for three programme. support this bill,” he said. many people unable to aff ord a years after Britain leaves the EU in Ahead of parliament’s return to- “This bill is there in order to en- home. March 2019, the paper said. day, Davis also used his interview able continuity, if you want a soft In the housing white paper Davis said the story was “non- with Marr to urge backbenchers Brexit ... this is the bill you should published in February, entitled sense ... completely wrong” and from both parties to back the gov- be supporting. It takes the laws Fixing Our Broken Housing Mar- that the UK position was not yet ernment’s repeal bill, which crit- there now and puts them in place ket, the government said: “Some settled. “They have set this up ics say will grant sweeping powers the say after we leave. It’s not a local authorities can duck po- because they are trying to play to ministers to change legislation question of national politics.” tentially diffi cult decisions, be- time against money,” he told the without parliamentary scrutiny. Damian Green, the fi rst secre- cause they are free to come up BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, though No 10 has told would-be Con- tary of state, used a Sunday Tel- with their own methodology for he declined to repeat the Interna- servative rebels, most of whom egraph article to warn Tories not to calculating ‘objectively assessed tional Trade Secretary Liam Fox’s favour a soft Brexit, that they risk derail the legislation. “Starting the need’. So, we are going to consult description of the negotiations as allowing Labour and Jeremy Cor- new parliamentary session with on a new standard methodol- blackmail. byn to capitalise if they block the the withdrawal bill shows that it ogy for calculating ‘objectively “Time is not running out. We bill’s passage through the House of is now the job of all MPs, includ- assessed need’, and encourage have a two-year process,” he said. Commons. ing my former colleagues on the councils to plan on this basis.” “Every time we come to something The European Union (with- Stronger In campaign, to respect Javid hopes by adopting an serious there will be a pressure drawal) bill is intended to trans- the will of the people and get the expansive approach, which exercise of this sort. Money is in- pose EU legislation into British best possible deal for Britain,” he includes data about the local Artist Phoebe Cummings has created a fountain that will dissolve in 24 hours as water pours credibly important, it is the thing law from the day the UK leaves said. “No Conservative wants a housing market, he can kickstart through it during a V&A exhibition. She has spent five weeks creating the clay work, called that frightens them most.” the EU, and ministers say it is cru- bad Brexit deal, or to do anything redevelopment in areas where Triumph of the Immaterial, which goes on show this week. Davis’s remarks came after a cial to ensure a smooth transition that increases the threat of a Cor- prices are rising fastest. bruising press conference in Brus- process. The process will involve byn government.” Mother exhumes baby’s Cameron to speak coffi n and fi nds it empty in South Dakota Guardian News and Media Cameron will personally receive as London payment. Guardian News and Media She told the BBC: “We had lawfully retained about 6,000 The foundation’s website states: Edinburgh the funeral, and on the day organs and tissues in hospitals “Ticket sales cover only a small of the funeral I stated clearly between 1970 and 2000, many ust days after his successor ad- proportion of the cost of these there’s nothing in this coffin. of which belonged to children. dresses the party faithful at the events. The balance is paid for by mother who cam- The coffin was light. I know Reid has long suspected JConservative conference, Dav- the John T Vucurevich Foundation paigned for more than the weight of a baby. her son’s organs had been re- id Cameron will be speaking to a and is a gift to the people of this A40 years to fi nd out what “The coffin was light. My moved without permission very diff erent audience at bargain- community,” the Sunday Express happened to her dead baby’s son was not there. And again, but she has never found proof. basement prices. reported. remains has found out his cof- nobody believed me. Nobody She convinced Prof Black to The good folk of Rapid City, Along with writing his “frank” fi n was buried without a body believed me. carry out DNA tests on the South Dakota, a stone’s throw biography — for which he report- inside. “I wanted to be wrong. I remains, and was granted a from the old west frontier town of edly has received an £800,000 Lydia Reid, 68, was given a wanted to be called a stupid old court order for an exhuma- Deadwood, can join a “Conversa- advance dwarfed by Tony Blair’s court order for the exhuma- woman,” said Reid. “But the tion. tion with David Cameron” for just £4.6mn and Margaret Thatcher’s tion of the grave of her son minute Sue lifted the shawl out Black told the BBC: “Ulti- $7 (£5.40) or $3 for students. £3.5mn — Cameron has fi lled his Gary, who died at the Royal of the ground, I knew there was mately there is only one pos- In the shadow of Mount Rush- post-prime ministerial days by Hospital for Sick Children in nothing in it. My heart hit my sible logical explanation and more, beneath the granite faces of launching himself on the inter- Edinburgh in July 1975 aged feet. I didn’t know what to say. that is that the body was not George Washington, Thomas Jef- national speaking circuit. seven days old. But no human “They know what hap- put in that coffin. ferson, Theodore Roosevelt and He reportedly earned remains were found. pened to my son. They know “There is no other answer Abraham Lincoln, he will impart £120,000 per hour for giving a The exhumation was per- fine and well that they have because you never get that his lecture on October 9 as part speech about Brexit in New York formed by forensic anthro- that knowledge and they can level of preservation of coffin of a series of speakers of “national last year. pologist Prof Dame Sue Black, give me peace. They can find and not have a body be pre- and international reputation, who George Osborne, meanwhile, who found only a hat, a shawl, my son. Even if he’s been in- served. There is no hair in- have made signifi cant contribu- is estimated to have earned more a cross and a name tag that cinerated – I want to know. side the hat, there is no bone tions in their respective fi eld to than £1mn for public speaking. had spelled Gary’s name in- “Even if he’s lying in a jar in inside the coffin shroud. It come to Rapid City to share their In addition, the former chan- correctly. a hospital somewhere – I want was not there and I have never ideas”. cellor has a six-fi gure salary as Reid, who played a leading to know. If it’s possible to get seen that before.” The John T Vucurevich Founda- editor of the London Evening role in the Scottish campaign my son back, I want my son Scotmid Co-operative Fu- tion, set up by the late South Da- Standard, a job he has tak- to uncover the unlawful re- back. If it’s not, then at least nerals and NHS Lothian said kota banker and philanthropist, is en to with evident relish, and tention of dead children’s tell me and let me have peace.” Police Scotland had been in- dedicated to “making the world a £650,000 a year as an adviser to body parts for research, said The NHS in Scotland was formed. Police Scotland had brighter place”. Blackrock, the US fund manage- the news was “devastating”. forced to admit to having un- no comment when contacted. Cameron: lecture on October 9 It is not known how much ment fi rm. Gulf Times 8 Monday, September 4, 2017 EUROPE

SHIPSHAPE DIPLOMATIC ROW SUMMER WOES BALLOON PARADE Thousands throng Le Havre Angry Moscow demands New forest blaze burns in for parade of the tall ships return of shut US facilities southeastern France

Tens of thousands of people yesterday lined the Russia yesterday demanded the US rethink its A forest fire broke out in southeastern France, quays of the French port of Le Havre to see some shuttering of Moscow’s diplomatic premises, destroying more than 400 hectares near urban of the world’s oldest and most majestic sailing insisting Washington bore sole responsibility for areas, damaging two houses and forcing the ships glide past on the city’s 500th anniversary. worsening ties after the “hostile act”. “We consider evacuation of a camping site, the fire department Thirty-one tall ships, including France’s 121-year- what has happened as an openly hostile act and a and local authorities said in Marseille yesterday. old Belem and the German-built four-masted gross violation of international law by Washington,” “The fire is very violent, very virulent,” a local Kruzenshtern — the biggest traditional sailing the foreign ministry in Moscow said in a statement. off icial in Var, Emmanuel Cayron, told AFP from vessel still in operation — lifted anchor after four “We call on the American authorities to come to the crisis centre which has been activated. Some days and paraded along the beach en route to the their senses and immediately return the Russian 430 hectares had been burned and two homes open sea. The city in Normandy was the final port diplomatic properties.” Russia on Saturday was were ravaged, a spokeswoman for the local of call of participants in the RDV2017 Tall Ships forced to vacate the San Francisco consulate prefecture said. And 165 people were evacuated A giant balloon of comic strip character Lucky The Shtandart (left) and the Kruzenshtern Regatta, a transatlantic race taking in six countries. and two diplomatic buildings in New York and from a camping site. The fire broke out in Hyeres Luke floats during the Balloon Day Parade sailing boats take part in ‘Les Grandes Voiles Le Havre has organised a series of events to mark Washington after the US ordered the move in the around 10pm on Saturday. About 450 firefighters along the downtown boulevards as part of the du Havre’ event in Le Havre yesterday. its founding by King Francis 1 of France in 1517. latest twist of a lengthy feud. were battling the flames yesterday. ‘Comic Strip Festival’ in Brussels yesterday.

Leading Czech 60,000 fl ee as Frankfurt party pledges no euro now, WWII bomb is defused tighter borders By Jan Lopatka, Reuters Reuters Prague Frankfurt he Czech Republic should stay out of the erman explosives experts eurozone for the time being and push the yesterday defused a massive TEuropean Union to seal its external bor- GWorld War II bomb in the fi - der against illegal migration, the party that is nancial capital of Frankfurt after tens leading in polls ahead of an October election, of thousands of people were evacu- said in its campaign manifesto. ated from their homes. The ANO movement, led by billionaire An- The compulsory evacuation of drej Babis, is a junior partner in the current cen- 60,000 people was Germany’s big- tre-left government and tops opinion polls with gest such manoeuvre since the war, a double-digit margin ahead of nearest rivals. with more than a thousand emer- Babis is the main candidate for the central gency service workers helping to European country’s next prime minister. clear the area around the bomb, “We have to fi ght for security, promote seal- which was discovered on a building ing of the external European border, stopping site last week. illegal migration,” Babis told a party conference, The evacuation area included refl ecting widespread public concern about im- two hospitals, care homes, the Op- migration in the central European country. era House and Germany’s central “The euro is not benefi cial for us at this point bank, the Bundesbank, where $70bn and also not in the coming period,” he said. in gold reserves are stored under- The party manifesto said eventual entry to ground. the euro zone would be conditional on reforms Police maintained security at the of the euro area. building. The country has no euro entry target at the The all-day eff ort took longer than moment and public support for the euro is low. planned but offi cials expressed relief ANO’s programme said the party will support that residents would start returning reforms of the EU and the eurozone and boost home before sundown and that the relations with France and Germany as key play- operation wouldn’t disrupt business ers in deciding the EU’s direction. today. Eff orts to reform the bloc’s functions are The work by bomb technicians expected to pick up speed after Germany’s na- started later than scheduled because tional election later this month. some residents refused to leave the Babis said the Czech election on October evacuation area despite fi re chiefs 20-21 was a unique chance to break what he warning that an uncontrolled explo- described as a corrupt web around traditional sion would be big enough to fl atten a parties. city block. Voters are perceptive to the anti-graft mes- Police said they took stragglers sage although Babis himself faces the threat of into custody to secure the area. charges of fraud in a case involving a 2mn euro More than 2,000 tonnes of live ($2.4mn) subsidy for a farm and conference bombs and munitions are discovered centre outside Prague. each year in Germany, more than 70 The Czech parliament will vote on Wednes- years after the end of the war. day whether to allow police to press the charges. British and American warplanes Babis denies any wrongdoing. pummelled the country with 1.5mn The case may complicate negotiations on tonnes of bombs that killed 600,000 forming a majority coalition after the vote. people. Several parties have said they could not en- Offi cials estimate that 15% of the visage working with a prime minister charged bombs failed to explode, some bur- with a crime. rowing 6m deep. Babis’s opponents say that he grew his chem- Residents were instructed to leave icals, farming and media empire, Agrofert, un- their homes by 8am and more than a der the system he now criticises. thousand emergency service workers He transferred the fi rm to a trust fund earlier helped to clear the area. this year to meet confl ict of interest legislation. Police set up cordons at a 1.5km Babis, a fi nance minister from 2014 until radius around the device. last May, oversaw a period of strong economic Many residents left town. growth and a budget surplus last year. Others spent time in cafes on the He said the party aimed to keep public fi - edge of the evacuation zone. Bomb disposal expert Rene Bennert and Dieter Schweizler speak next to a defused World War II bomb in Frankfurt yesterday. nances in balance but this could be breached to Museums were free, and many ho- fi nance investments. tels off ered discounts. hood, home to many wealthy bank- about 500 elderly people leave resi- If that had failed, a water jet would ated after teachers discovered an ANO’s programme pledged to cut insurance The city set up a temporary shelter ers. dences and care homes. have been used to cut the fuses. unexploded World War II bomb on a charges paid by both employers and employees, at Frankfurt’s trade fair site, serving Premature babies and intensive Bomb disposal experts used a The bomb was dropped by Brit- shelf among some toys. and lower value-added tax for some sectors and bananas and beverages. care patients had to be evacuated special system to try and unscrew ain’s Royal Air Force during the Three police explosives experts in services. The device was found last week in along with everyone else from two the fuses attached to the HC 4,000 1939-45 war, city offi cials said. Goettingen were killed in 2010 while It also pledged to hike teachers’ pay — a hot the city’s leafy Westend neighbour- hospitals and rescue workers helped bomb from a safe distance. In July, a kindergarten was evacu- preparing to defuse a 450kg bomb. election topic — by 50% over the four-year term. Catalan leader says won’t accept suspension over October independence vote

By Daniel Silva, AFP this type,” he said, referring to The Spanish government has Barcelona legislation that sets out Catalo- vowed to immediately challenge nia’s powers. the law in the courts to stop the According to this law, the referendum from going ahead, he head of the Catalan head of the Catalan government but the separatists have said government said yester- can only be removed from offi ce they will ignore court rulings re- Tday he would not accept by the Catalan parliament or if garding the plebiscite. being removed from offi ce for convicted of a crime whose pen- Puigdemont said the result of pushing ahead with an inde- alty includes a ban on holding the referendum will be deemed pendence referendum in defi - public offi ce. valid even if less than 50% of eli- ance of Spain’s central govern- But a law passed in 2015 al- gible voters take part. ment. lows the constitutional court to He said turnout during Spain’s Madrid has threatened le- suspend public servants if they 2005 referendum on a treaty es- gal action against top Catalan ignore its rulings. tablishing a European Union political fi gures involved in the Puigdemont said the Catalan constitution was just over 42%. disputed referendum set for Oc- government will have the 6,000 Catalonia, a wealthy region of tober 1, which Spain’s constitu- ballot boxes needed to carry out 7.5mn people with its own lan- tional court has deemed illegal. the vote but refused to say where guage and customs, has signifi - “I can’t accept in any way a they are. cant self-governing powers. suspension of my duties,” Cata- The Catalan government has But economic doldrums, lan leader Carles Puigdemont reportedly struggled to obtain public spending cuts and per- said in an interview published ballot boxes because the Span- ceptions of unfair taxes and the in La Vanguardia, Catalonia’s ish government has threatened concentration of power in Ma- leading newspaper, when asked to take legal action against fi rms drid have fed support for inde- if he was prepared to be removed that off er logistical help to stage pendence. from his post. the referendum. The latest Catalan govern- “The circumstances under Pro-separatist parties, which ment poll found that 41.1% are which one ceases to be head of control the regional assembly in favour of independence while the Catalan regional govern- in Catalonia, are expected to 49.4% are against. ment are regulated by Catalo- approve the law that lays the A large majority, however, nia’s autonomy statute, so we groundwork for the referendum wants a referendum to take place An Estelada (Pro-independence Catalan flag) beside a banner reading “SI” (Yes) is unfurled yesterday on El Masnou beach, near Barcelona should oppose a suspension of later this week. to settle the matter. during an action called by Catalan National Assembly to support a referendum on independence in Catalonia. Gulf Times Monday, September 4, 2017 9 INDIA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (seventh left) and President Ramnath Kovind (eighth left) pose with the newly sworn-in ministers after a ceremony at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi yesterday. Modi names woman defence minister

IANS New Delhi Reshuffle reflects maximum government, no governance: Congress RSS ‘saved’ Uma Bharti from Cabinet axing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah had irmala Sitharaman was Claiming that Prime Minister Narendra “It seemed as if BJP president Amit Shah petroleum minister in the last 38 months decided to show the door to Union Minister Uma Bharti, but RSS yesterday promoted and Modi does not trust his political is the prime minister and not Modi. Never has not served the ‘common man’. It is intervention ensured it was not to be, informed sources said Nappointed as defence colleagues, the Congress yesterday said ever has the absence of the prime minister obvious that he has served some ‘VIPs’, yesterday. However, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) could minister in a surprise move by the Cabinet reshuffle earlier in the day in a Cabinet reshuff le process been more that he has been promoted,” he said, not fully help Bharti and her water resources, river development Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “reflects maximum government and no evident,” he said, adding that the real story adding that the “power minister is also the and Ganga rejuvenation portfolio was handed over to Nitin Gadkari who elevated three others to governance” and, by dropping ministers, is in the dropping and that is where the treasurer of the BJP, so obviously he must while she was left with only drinking water and sanitation ministry. the Cabinet and brought in nine the government has admitted its “gigantic admission of the gigantic failure of this have performed well”. The sources said that the Bharatiya Janata Party president, who new faces including four former failure”. government comes. The Congress also slammed the induction participated in the RSS three-day co-ordination committee meeting bureaucrats in a reshuffl e-cum- Terming induction of nine new ministers Relieving skill development minister Rajiv of Anant Kumar Hegde, Lok Sabha member in Varanasi from September 1, discussed the then impending expansion of his ministry based of state as “senior citizen’s club”, party Pratap Rudy, labour minister Bandaru from Uttara Kannada, in the council of Cabinet reshuff le and the “bad performance” of Bharti and other on performance. spokesperson Manish Tewari said the Dattatreya, and micro, small and medium ministers, saying that “he was captured on ministerial colleagues and the plans to remove them. However, the Power Minister Piyush Goyal, average age of these ministers is 60.44 enterprises (MSME) minister Kalraj Mishra camera, thrashing three doctors in a private sources added, the RSS leadership advised Shah not to go ahead also promoted from minister of years when the “median age of India’s 1.24bn of their portfolios meant “no skilling, no hospital in Karnataka”. with her removal since “it will send out a wrong message”. state with independent charge people is about 27 years and the prime employment generation and, in addition, “Modi does not have any faith in his political to the Cabinet, got the railways minister has been waxing eloquent about the the MSME sector has been wiped out”, colleagues is the message he is sending out portfolio, from which Suresh youth of this country”. He also claimed that said Tewari. He also alleged that those to his own party, by inducting people into the Performance rewarded: Jaitley Prabhu was shifted to commerce Modi seemed “strangely disconnected from promoted to Cabinet rank were being union council of ministers, who are not even and industry that was with Sith- the exercise”. rewarded for working for ‘VIPs.’ “The members of parliament,” Tewari said. The allocation of responsibilities in the latest Cabinet reshuff le has araman. been done on the basis of performance and Prime Minister Narendra Prabhu had off ered to quit af- Modi has set a new benchmark of accountability, Union Finance ter a major rail accident in Ut- also got the water resources, phons has been made minister of Virendra Kumar is a six-time micro, small and medium enter- Minister Arun Jaitley said yesterday. “The appointments that have tar Pradesh claimed 23 lives last river development and Ganga state with independent charge in Lok Sabha member from Mad- prises ministry, got full charge of been made in the Cabinet proves the prime minister has set a new month. rejuvenation ministry that was tourism and electronics and IT hya Pradesh. Hegde, a Lok Sabha the ministry after the resigna- benchmark of accountability. All the ministers and departments are The promoted ministers and taken away from Uma Bharti, ministries. MP from Uttara Kannada, is seen tion of Cabinet minister Kalraj constantly monitored, and he (Modi) knows who can give a good the new faces were administered who moved to drinking water Puri and Alphons are not MPs as a rabble-rouser, having won Mishra. performance,” Jaitley told reporters after the Cabinet reshuff le in the the oath of offi ce and secrecy and sanitation. Earlier there was and will have to get elected to fi ve elections. Assembly elec- Another MoS who got elevated morning. “New people with good administrative experience have by President Ram Nath Kovind speculation that Uma Bharti Parliament in six months. Al- tions are due in Karnataka early as independent charge was San- been brought in. These are people who joined BJP after retiring, I am at a 35-minute ceremony at the could be dropped. phons is the second BJP man next year and in Madhya Pradesh tosh Gangwar, who was shift- sure their tenure will be successful,” he said. Rashtrapati Bhavan, attended In all, six ministers resigned from Kerala to get a place in the and Rajasthan in the later part. ed from fi nance to labour and among others by new Vice Presi- ahead of the reshuffl e: Kalraj union ministry after party veter- Shekhawat, a fi rst time MP employment after incumbent dent M Venkaiah Naidu, Modi, Mishra (Cabinet), Rajiv Pratap an O Rajagopal who served under from Jodhpur in Rajasthan, is a Bandaru Dattatreya resigned. JD-U not invited to ceremony: Tyagi BJP president Amit Shah, leader Rudy and Bandaru Dattatreya Atal Bihari Vajpayee. techno savvy progressive farmer The other MoS in fi nance, Arjun of the Opposition in the Rajya (MoS independent charge), Fag- Former Mumabi Police chief seen as a role model for the rural Ram Meghwal, is now minister Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader K C Tyagi yesterday denied receiving Sabha, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and gan Singh Kalaste, Sanjeev Baly- Satya Pal Singh got human re- community. for parliamentary aff airs and any invite for the swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan family members of the some new an and Mahendra Nath Pandey. source development, water re- Modi also utilised the oppor- water resources. where nine new members were inducted in the council of ministers ministers. Of the other two ministers sources, river development and tunity to change some portfoli- Culture Minister Mahesh while four others were elevated to Cabinet rank. “Where was the Sitharaman became the sec- promoted were Petroleum and Ganga Rejuvenation as minister os. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Sharma shed tourism and got invitation? You ask the BJP or the Rashtrapati Bhavan whether they ond woman to head the defence Natural Gas Minister Dharmen- of state – held by Balyan. Both got a promotion when he was environment, forest and climate sent any invitation to JD-U. We did not receive any invite for the ministry after Indira Gandhi dra Pradhan, who also got skill are from western Uttar Pradesh. given the portfolio of youth af- change but as MoS under Harsh ceremony,” Tyagi said. JD-U leaders were expected to be present at when she was prime minister. development and entrepreneur- The other fi ve new ministers fairs and sports with independ- Vardhan. the ceremony since the party had recently entered into an alliance The defence ministry was with ship from Rudy. Mukhtar Abbas of state are Shiv Pratap Shukla ence charge which was taken P Radhakrishnan, minister with BJP after Bihar chief minister and party chief Nitish Kumar broke Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Naqvi also joins the Cabinet, re- (fi nance), Ashwini Choubey away from Vijay Goel. of state in shipping, lost road his partnership with the Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress. Reacting to her appointment, taining the minority aff airs min- (health and family welfare), Goel became minister of state transport and highways and got Sithraman said she felt very istry. Virendra Kumar (women and without independent charge and fi nance. humbled and she cannot de- Among the four bureaucrats child development and minor- has been given portfolios of par- Yesterday’s exercise did not Kerala hails Alphons’ induction scribe her recognition in words. inducted into the government, ity aff airs), Anantkumar Hegde liamentary aff airs and statistics involve BJP allies Shiv Sena and “The party and the prime three have been made minis- (skill development and entre- and programme implementa- Janata Dal-United or new friend The induction of former bureaucrat and legislator K J Alphons, 64, minister have been very sup- ters of state with independent preneurship) and Gajendra Singh tion. In addition to sports, he AIADMK (All India Anna Dravi- as Union Minister of State for Tourism, Information Technology and portive. As an ordinary worker charge: former home secretary Shekhawat (agriculture and also held water resources, river da Munnetra Kazhagam). Electronics yesterday was welcomed in his home state of Kerala. In a from the south (India), it’s a R K Singh, a Lok Sabha member farmers welfare). development and Ganga rejuve- The strength of the Modi min- Facebook post, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan congratulated Alphons recognition by the party which from Bihar, got power and new Shukla, a Rajya Sabha member nation. istry has now risen to 76 includ- and said he hoped he will use the opportunity of the new assignment overwhelms me,” she said. and renewable energy portfo- from Uttar Pradesh, has served S S Ahluwalia has been shifted ing the prime minister. Twenty- for the betterment of Kerala. “Let him become the voice of Kerala in In the third reshuffl e of the lios held by Goyal while former as Cabinet minister in the state from parliamentary aff airs to eight are in the Cabinet, 11 are the Union Cabinet. He can do a lot by co-ordinating the eff orts of the ministry in three years, Nitin diplomat Hardeep Puri secured for eight years and is known for drinking water and sanitation of the rank of ministers of state Centre and Kerala for the state’s overall development. I wish my long- Gadkari, who held road trans- housing and urban aff airs. his work in rural development, under Uma Bharti. with independent charge and 37 time friend and all others sworn in all the best,” Vijayan said. port and highways and shipping, “Demolition Man” K J Al- education and prison reforms. Giriraj Singh, who was MoS in are ministers of state. Church slams Goa govt’s Flood-hit Two GJM leaders response to desecrations arrested by police IANS Meanwhile, Sarita Chettri, Darjeeling a leader of GJM’s women wing IANS ential Roman Catholic Church ment was a conspiracy which was arrested from Darjeeling Panaji and the ruling Bharatiya Janata was orchestrated ahead of the district’s Kurseong. Party-led coalition govern- by-polls. wo Gorkha Janamuti According to district police ment. Cabral at a press conference Morcha (GJM) leaders sources, the leader of the GJM he BJP-led Goa govern- The church is the religious last week even “advised” Arch- Twere yesterday arrested Nari Morcha was arrested yes- ment’s response to reli- and spiritual guide to over a bishop Fr. Filipe Neri Ferrao to on the charges of spread- terday afternoon from a secret Tgious desecrations and at- quarter of the state’s popula- “tone down” the contents of the ing violence and unrest in the location where she has been tempts by right-wing elements tion, which is Catholic in ori- church periodical. northern West Bengal hills and hiding. to provoke and divide society has entation. The recent article ‘Preserve Dooars region, police said. The situation in the hills been “timid and tepid”, the Goa The previous edition of the Communal Harmony’ by Rangel Amid intensifi ed search op- of Darjeeling and adjoining Church said in an article. Renovacao had alleged similari- now calls for a need to be vigi- eration by police in the Dar- area remained tense as the “While the heat over some ties between contemporary Goa lant against attempts to drive a jeeling hills since a lookout no- GJM sponsored indefinite provocative statements was still and India to Nazi Germany and wedge between religious com- tice was issued on September shutdown saw its 81st day on and the response of the lo- had urged voters not to cast bal- munities in Goa. 1 for three top GJM leaders in- yesterday. The impasse con- cal government timid and tepid, lot in favour of Chief Minister “Despite the facts of various cluding party chief Bimal Gu- tinued as GJM leadership re- came a series of desecrations of Manohar Parrikar in the August parties, groups and individual rung, police yesterday arrested voked party convener Binay religious symbols at sites located 23 assembly by-poll. elements having tried to drive Rohit Thapa, GJM’s organising Tamang’s announcement to in the southern part of Goa,” the A fact-fi nding report, co- a wedge between various reli- secretary in the Dooars region, withdraw the shutdown for 12 article in the latest edition of authored by the church and gious communities co-existing from the Alipurduar district. days and expelled him from Renovacao, a Church-run peri- backed by NGO Council for So- in Goa, the general populace “Thapa, a senior GJM leader the party. odical, said. cial Justice and Peace, had also has shown amazing resilience has been arrested from Alipur- The pro-shutdown activists “These desecrations came in accused the state government of not to let anyone break the duar district’s Jaigaon, near took out rallies at various parts quick succession, leaving lit- being slack in its investigation long-existing bonds of com- the West Bengal-Bhutan bor- of the hills including Darjeel- tle time to cool down any raised of a series of acts of desecration, munal harmony that has seen der, yesterday afternoon. He ing, Mirik and Kalimpong dur- tempers and with an obvious in which nearly 100 Catholic this state stand as a shining ex- will be produced before court ing the day. The picketing by intention to provoke a violent crosses, graves and Hindu icons ample to the rest of the nation,” today,” said superintendent of the morcha supporters has also reaction,” said Jaime Rangel, a of worship were vandalised. the article says. police Avaru Rabindranath. been increased. medical professional, who au- However, both the chief min- The article also urged Goans Police was on the lookout for Police said they have reg- thored the article. ister as well as BJP spokesper- to speak up against “sinister at- Thapa since his alleged involve- istered a case under Unlawful The article comes on the son Nilesh Cabral responded tempts at putting neighbour Civil defence personnel rescue villagers from flood aff ected ment in an incident of arson and Activities (Prevention) Act in heels of an ongoing confronta- with allegations that the cam- against neighbour and brother Baldakhal village in Agartala, Tripura, yesterday. attack on police during a GJM Friday night’s blast in Six Mile tion between the state’s influ- paign against the state govern- against brother”. rally in the area on July 30. police outpost in Darjeeling. Gulf Times 10 Monday, September 4, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

Venezuela blocking Protest in Chile opposition trip to visit Europe leaders

AFP dictatorship, that there are 590 Caracas political prisoners; and that 53% of our children are mal- nourished.” she stressed. he wife of one of Ven- Julio Borges, head of oppo- ezuela’s top jailed op- sition-led National Assembly, Tposition fi gures said earlier tweeted that he would airport agents on Saturday be travelling to meet the same stopped her from travelling foreign leaders. It was unclear to meet the leaders of France, if Borges had already left the Germany, Spain and Britain. country. Opposition leader Leopoldo Tintori and Borges, however, Lopez’s wife said on Twitter are scheduled on Rajoy’s agen- that immigration offi cials con- da for a meeting tomorrow. fi scated her passport on orders “We condemn the timing of from the chief prosecutor’s of- this decision,” a British Foreign fi ce. Offi ce spokeswoman said, add- Lilian Tintori was set to ing that it hopes Tintori would hold meetings with French be permitted to travel soon. President Emmanuel Macron, “It is the responsibility of German Chancellor Angela the Venezuelan government Merkel, Spanish Prime Minis- to avoid further steps that in- ter Mariano Rajoy and British crease tension and take Ven- Prime Minister Theresa May ezuela away from democracy,” to discuss the political crisis in she added. Venezuela. French President Emmanuel International powers ac- Macron tweeted that he was cuse President Nicolas Maduro waiting to meet Tintori in Eu- of dismantling democracy by rope. “The Venezuelan op- taking over state institutions position must remain free,” he in order to resist opposition added. pressure for him to quit, amid Tintori’s husband was sen- an economic crisis that has tenced in 2015 to nearly 14 caused shortages of food and years in prison on charges of medicine. inciting deadly violence in Tintori posted a picture on street protests. In July, Lopez Twitter showing her at the was moved to his home and airport with the ambassadors placed under house arrest after Demonstrators shout slogans during a march against the national pension system in Santiago, Chile, yesterday. of Spain, Germany and Italy, spending nearly 3.5 years in a who she said were “witnesses military prison. to this outrage by the dictator- Venezuela is suff ering an ship”. economic crisis that has caused “They just stopped me from food and medicine shortages. leaving the country. The dic- Prosecutors say some 130 tatorship wants to prevent us people were killed this year in from making a very important four months of anti-govern- international tour,” Tintori ment protests. said. Maduro says the crisis is a “I was ready to report that US-backed conspiracy. He has Nieto defends nation’s there are human rights viola- vowed to request an Interpol tions in Venezuela; that it is a notice for Ortega’s arrest. Anniversary march dignity and illegals President Nieto referred has repeatedly called the “worst” proposed wall, he continued, “I creasingly confrontational. storm doused various states in to the US as our Northern trade deal ever signed. have said it before and I reiterate. Mexican offi cials have said Mexico with heavy rain on Satur- neighbour and rejected Pena Nieto also rejected “any We will not accept anything that they will walk away from negoti- day and left a severe trail of dam- anything that went against expression of discrimination” goes against our dignity as a na- ations if Trump moves to trigger age in the Baja California penin- Mexico’s dignity towards so-called “Dream- tion”. a six-month withdrawal clause sula, authorities said. ers”, illegal immigrants, mostly The goal of the Nafta renego- from Nafta, which would put the The victims were either elec- DPA Mexicans, who went to the US tiations, he added, was that all renegotiations under time pres- trocuted or drowned while try- Mexico City as minors and who are currently three countries involved win. sure. ing to cross streams, according protected from deportation by Mexico was taking part in the The talks in Mexico City, which to a report from the prosecutor’s Obama-era legislation. renegotiations with “serious- began on Friday, are focused on offi ce in the state of Baja Califor- exico’s President En- Trump, who famously called ness, good faith and constructive 25 topics. A fi rst round was held nia Sur, home to the tourist area rique Pena Nieto on Mexican immigrants “rapists” spirit”, he said. in Washington August 16-20. Los Cabos, that was cited by local MSaturday said he would during his presidential cam- Earlier this week, Trump once US Trade Representative Rob- media. “not accept anything that goes paign, has said he will announce again insisted that Mexico would ert Lighthizer, Canada’s Foreign The storm, which continued against our dignity as a nation”, his decision on whether to al- pay for a wall between the two Minister Chrystia Freeland and to churn through various states, repudiating threats from US low the continuation of the pro- countries and accused Mexico Mexico’s Economy Minister Il- particularly in Western Mexico, President Donald Trump to rip gramme, the Deferred Action for and Canada of being “diffi cult” defonso Guajardo are expected to also cut off power and damaged up the Nafta free trade agree- Childhood Arrivals (DACA), on in the Nafta talks, threatening join the talks on Tuesday. homes and roads in Baja Califor- ment and have Mexico pay for a Tuesday. to withdraw altogether from the Experts say Nafta, which came nia Sur, where some 3,000 peo- wall between the two countries. “We will continue to work to- agreement. into eff ect in 1994 and created ple were taken to shelter. His annual state of the union wards a secure border and on is- On Saturday, Trump said he one of the world’s largest free Lidia was located 110km north address comes as negotiators sues that aff ect both countries was also discussing with his trade zones, has more than tri- of Punta Eugenia, moving at a from Mexico, the US and Canada with our northern neighbour,” advisors whether to withdraw pled US trade with Canada and speed of 19 kilometres per hour Soldiers march during a military parade to commemorate hold a second round of talks in Pena Nieto said in his 90-minute a free trade agreement with Mexico. to the northeast with maximum the 38th anniversary of the founding of the Nicaraguan Mexico City on proposals for an speech at the Palacio Nacional South Korea, despite the risk Tropical Storm Lidia’s death sustained winds of 65kph, the army, in Managua. updated North American Free in Mexico City. Without mak- of causing tensions with an ally toll rose to at least seven people, National Hurricane Center in the Trade Agreement, which Trump ing direct mention of Trump’s just as North Korea grows in- including two children, as the US said. Pope Francis fl ies to Colombia to cement peace

DPA Bogota

ope Francis is fl ying Wednesday to Colombia for a highly symbolic Pvisit aimed at bolstering the frag- ile peace process that is bringing to an end an armed confl ict that consumed the country since the 1960s. The Colombian government signed a peace deal with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) in November, but it is still negotiating with a smaller left-wing rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). Francis “will help us to discover that it is possible to re-unite as a nation, look- ing back with eyes of hope and mercy”, Monsignor Fabio Suescun, the chief or- ganiser of the visit, said on the offi cial A street of Cartagena’s old city, in Colombia ahead of Pope Francis’ upcoming website of the pilgrimage. visit. Right: Artworks are displayed for sale in a street of Cartagena’s old city. According to Vatican Radio, some Francis will tour four cities and meet crowds of faithful from September 6 to 10. 260,000 people died, 60,000 are miss- Based at the Vatican mission in Bogota, he will make excursions by airplane to ing and 7mn have been displaced in the the cities of Villavicencio, Medellin and Cartagena. confl ict that started in 1964 and pitted left-wing militias against the military, onciliation in Villavicencio; lead Mass It is his fi fth pilgrimage to Latin police and right-wing paramilitaries. for a crowd of more than 1mn in Medel- America, after trips to: Brazil; Ecua- The Vatican and the Pope have been lin; and lay the fi rst stone of a homeless dor, Bolivia and Paraguay; Cuba; and vocal supporters of the peace process, shelter and visit a shrine in Cartagena. Mexico. and in October Francis said he would Some 4mn people in total are expect- Francis has not yet been to his native go to Colombia only when a stop to vio- ed to attend the various papal events, Argentina. lence was “airtight”, with guarantees retains the Farc acronym in Spanish. us momentum, he encouraged all Co- Bogota; a town to its south-east, Vil- and more than 36,000 policemen and Colombia ranks as the world’s sev- that “there will be no going back”. “We will welcome [Francis] with lombians to persevere in the search for lavicencio; Colombia’s second-largest soldiers are set to be deployed for se- enth-largest Catholic nation, with al- His visit follows the complete dis- open arms, with open hearts, as a mes- peace, and now he comes to Colombia city Medellin, once infamous for drug curity. most 94 per cent of its 48mn inhabit- mantling of the Farc’s military arsenal senger of peace and reconciliation,” at a unique time of our history to push traffi cking but now largely pacifi ed; and Upon arrival, Francis plans to greet ants marked as baptised. and their transformation into a legal President Juan Manuel Santos, who us [...] towards unity, reconciliation, the northern port of Cartagena. the crowds via an open-topped pope- But practising Catholics are far few- political party, with the new name of won a Nobel Peace Prize in 2016 for his forgiveness,” he added. He is slated to meet Colombian and mobile car. He is the third Pope to visit er, and, like elsewhere in Latin America, Alternative Communal Revolution- reconciliation eff orts, said in March. In a four-day visit ending yesterday, Latin American bishops in Bogota; be- Colombia after Paul VI in 1964 and there has been an exodus towards evan- ary Forces, which controversially “His Holiness gave us courage, gave the pontiff is due to visit: the capital atify two slain priests and preach rec- John Paul II in 1986. gelical churches. Gulf Times Monday, September 4, 2017 11 PAKISTAN

Mrs Universe finalist Musharraf ‘will return to face Bhutto murder trial’

AFP Islamabad

ormer military ruler Pervez Musharraf said he would re- Fturn to Pakistan to face trial in the murder case of ex-prime minis- ter Benazir Bhutto. A Pakistani court on Thursday pronounced Musharraf a fugitive in the murder trial but acquitted fi ve men accused of involvement in the 2007 assassination of Bhutto, the fi rst female prime minister of a Mus- lim country. In a statement issued to the media yesterday, Musharraf said the ver- Musharraf ... claims he is being framed dict of the Rawalpindi Anti Terror- ism Court was not against him. Musharraf as an absconder and or- unprecedented move against an ex- “I will certainly come back to Pa- dered the confi scation of his property. army chief, challenging beliefs the kistan and face the trial, as and when The verdicts are the fi rst to be is- military is immune from prosecu- I am medically fi t,” he said. sued since Bhutto was killed in a gun tion. “I have been framed in the Bena- and suicide bomb attack nearly a But he has been in self-imposed zir Bhutto murder case by way of decade ago, sparking street violence exile in Dubai ever since a travel ban political victimisation, while I had and plunging Pakistan into months was lifted three years later. nothing to do with her untimely and of political turmoil. Musharraf’s government blamed tragic death,” he said. Former president and military the assassination on Pakistani Tali- “I have not been the benefi ciary ruler Musharraf is alleged to have ban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who of prime minister Benazir Bhut- been part of a broad conspiracy to denied any involvement. He was to’s murder and the entire case as have his political rival killed before killed in a US drone attack in 2009. pitched against me is materially elections. In 2010, the UN report accused Mrs Pakistan Taiba Sheheryar reacts after being named as one of the five finalists during Mrs Universe beauty pageant false, fi ctitious, fabricated and is He has denied the allegation. Musharraf’s government of failing on Saturday night at the International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa. The Mrs Universe contestants must a result of political intrigue,” the He was charged with murder, to give Bhutto adequate protection age 25 to 45, have a family, her own career, and be involved with a significant cause in favour of other people. former army chief said. criminal conspiracy for murder, and and said her death could have been The anti-terrorism court branded facilitation for murder in 2013, in an prevented. 13 ‘terrorists’ Eid brings exceptional festivities to Multan nabbed in by Jamil Bhatti, Xinhua Ali was getting ready to leave for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan as Muslim who can aff ord has to sacrifi ce who succeeded in getting a butcher Multan mosque to off er prayer for the Mus- well as the welfare and affl uence of the a goat, sheep, lamb, cow or camel to soon after the prayer as he had booked two Punjab lims’ sacrifi cial festival of Eid al-Adha, nation. show his or her love and loyalty for the his services in advance by off ering ex- which was celebrated across the coun- After the prayer was fi nished, Ali Allah. The meat is divided into three tra money. t was early morning just before try on Saturday. greeted his friends, relatives, and equal portions, with the fi rst donated Usually, hiring a butcher becomes operations the sunrise in Pakistan’s central The young man was among hun- neighbors present in the mosque by to the poor, the second given to rela- the most diffi cult task on the first-day Icity of Multan, where 24-year-old dreds of thousands of believers saying Eid Mubarak before rushing tives and friends, and the third cooked of the Eid as the demand is high. Gulfam Ali was in a hurry to take bath, who thronged to mosques and open back to home to greet his mother and at home of the person who sacrifi ced Catching the big market in the Eid, Xinhua get on his new clothes and shoes in his grounds across Multan district and sisters. the animal. some untrained and non-professional Islamabad home. off ered Eid prayer, to pray for peace, To celebrate the Eid al-Adha, every Ali was one of the lucky persons “butchers” appear like mushrooms on the day, but they generally will damage meat, ruin plans of sacrifi ce akistani Rangers and police con- and therefore delay the delicious fes- ducted intelligence based opera- tival food. Ptions in two cities in the country’s Soon after distributing the meat, eastern province of Punjab and arrested like many others, Ali went to the 13 terrorism suspects in the operations, graveyard and sprinkled water and said the Pakistani military media wing threw rose petals at his father’s grave said over the weekend. and prayed for the deceased soul. According to a statement issued by Now, it was time for fun and cel- the Inter-Services Public Relations ebrations he has already planned. (ISPR), the fi rst operation was carried Ali and his friends put their cooking out in Lahore, the capital city of the material in their jeep and drove to the province, and apprehended six suspects. bank of the River Chenab for a bonfi re The suspects were residing in the BarBQ party. city without legal documents, said the Mutton and beef BarBQ is a popu- ISPR, adding that a huge cache of arms lar choice for everybody during the and explosives were also recovered Eid. from the the arrested suspects’ posses- A big number of people rushed to sions. the canal side or river side areas for a In another operation, seven key fa- picnic and arranged mutton and beef cilitators of terrorists were arrested by BarBQ parties, while some families Rangers and police in Punjab’s Dera and friends arranged such parties at Ghazi Khan, the statement further rooftops or in house courtyards. added. Most Pakistanis love to eat fried- The suspects were also involved in liver of the sacrificed animal as an extortion and other criminal activities. appetizer, followed by different The operations are parts of the major dishes of meat, such as mutton ka- off ensive codenamed Radd-ul-Fasaad rahi, mutton biryani, mutton pulao, (‘reject discord’ in English) currently mutton and beef tikka, served with underway across the country. hot wheat bread, yogurt and fresh salad. Soon after fi nishing their lunch, ‘Full army support’ for people rushed to visit their relatives and friends with a variety of sweets Balochistan growth and dishes made of meat to express their delight and to celebrate the rmy Chief General Qamar Javed day together. Elder and senior fam- Bajwa, during a visit to Gwadar ily members also gave fresh currency Aand Turbat on Sunday, pledged notes to children and juniors to show the military’s “full support” for the their love to them and to facilitate their development of Balochistan, the mili- celebrations. tary’s media wing said. According to a Inhabitants of Multan district, one statement issued by the Inter-Services of the hottest areas of Pakistan, were Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief very happy on this Eid as some timely visited Gwadar and Turbat on the sec- rain spells and continuous presence ond day of Eidul Azha and met with of clouds have lowered the tempera- soldiers and offi cers. tures. Talking to the troops, Gen Bajwa re- Families, young people and chil- portedly said the development of Balo- dren rushed to the City Canal Park chistan was “extremely important” for and Multan Fort Park to enjoy the good the progress of Pakistan. weather. On the second day of the Eid, All ongoing development projects in Ali and his friends had a plan to travel the province shall be completed, Bajwa to the northern areas of the country to was quoted as saying. Courtesy: Dawn. enjoy the scenic valleys and pleasant com Pakistani Muslim watch the sacrifice of a camel on the second day of the Eid al-Adha festival in Islamabad yesterday. weather. Gulf Times 12 Monday, September 4, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Govt vows troops will Senate urged not to seek capture alleged Duterte kin’s appearance IS leader

By Catherine S Valente said. Taguba maintained that said in a radio interview. He Mans Carpio should still appear DPA Manila Times the alleged involvement of Du- claimed it was Sen. Richard before the Blue Ribbon Com- Manila terte and Carpio in the ship- Gordon, chairman of the Sen- mittee,” Trillanes said. ment was “hearsay in nature.” ate Blue Ribbon Committee Trillanes also claimed he had alacanang has said “The names of Vice Mayor investigating the smuggling of evidence to link the smuggling he Philippine govern- there was no need for Duterte and or Atty. Manases the P6.4bn worth of shabu from of the P6.4bn worth of shabu ment yesterday assured Mthe Senate to sum- Carpio were merely mentioned China, who made the initial from China to the so-called Tthe public that troops will mon the president’s son, Davao by the ‘Davao Group’ whose di- move to harass Taguba. Davao Group. capture the alleged leader of Is- City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, rect contacts to me were ‘Tita “Senator Gordon recited “I already explained this to lamic State-allied militants who and son-in-law Manases Car- Nanie’ and ‘Jack.’ As I had re- (during the inquiry on Thurs- Sen. (Vicente) Sotto that this have laid siege to a southern city pio to the Senate inquiry into peatedly stated before Congress day) the diff erent business ven- Davao Group is directly in- for the past three months. the P6.4bn shipment of illegal and the Senate, the alleged tures of Taguba’s father,” the volved in the entry of drugs. Isnilon Hapilon, a command- drugs that slipped past the Bu- involvement of the aforemen- opposition senator said. And their point person is Ken- er of the notorious Abu Sayyaf reau of Customs (BoC). tioned individuals are hearsay “Then, he questioned the neth Dong.” terrorist group, has reportedly Palace spokesman Ernesto in nature,” he said. source of their businesses. He Dong is the alleged middle- been designated as the leader of Abella issued the statement af- Sen. Antonio Trillanes on even requested to perform a man who looked for a ware- the Islamic State movement in ter a Customs fi xer, Mark Ruben Saturday claimed the govern- lifestyle check (on the Tagubas). house to hide the shabu ship- the Philippines and South-East Taguba, reversed his testimony Paolo Duterte Manases Carpio ment had started to harass the The harassment is clear from ment. Trillanes had released Asia. Hapilon is still believed and apologised to Duterte and family of customs fi xer Mark his line of questioning,” Tril- pictures showing the “close- to be in Marawi City, 800 kilo- Carpio for the “fake news” cir- Taguba, in a statement on pio and to the First Family for Taguba. Trillanes said he had lanes said. ness” between Dong and Paolo metres south of Manila, where culating that the two were in- Friday, cleared Duterte and the proliferation of fake news expected Taguba’s turnaround, He insisted on the necessity Duterte. “You show up and I will troops have been battling mili- volved in the drug shipment and Carpio of any wrongdoing in arising out of my testimony at after the 26-year-old Cus- of summoning the Davao City slap in your face the evidence tants since May 23, leaving the corrupt activities at Customs. the Customs bureau. the Senate yesterday,” he added. toms fi xer testifi ed that he had vice mayor and Carpio to the that will link you to smuggling,” municipality in ruins and killing “With Mark Ruben Taguba’s Taguba is a “fl y-by-night” Taguba also belied “fake news “heard” that the Duterte and Senate probe despite the “re- the opposition senator said. more than 800 people. statement clearing Davao City broker tagged as one of those deviously spread on social me- Carpio were behind the so- cantation” of Taguba. “These drug lords will not “We will get Isnilon Hapilon,” Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and who facilitated the shipment of dia” in connection with his tes- called Davao Group, reportedly The next public hearing will have the courage to smuggle said presidential spokesman Er- Atty. Manases Carpio from in- 605 kilograms of drugs from Xi- timony during the Senate blue a very infl uential group that fa- be on September 25. Gordon contraband goods if they knew nesto Abella. “Recent military volvement in the BOC smug- amen, China in May. He denied ribbon committee hearing on cilitates shipments at Customs. intends to submit a preliminary that their shipment will not get assessments indicate that he is gling issue, there may be no rea- that he knew that the container Thursday. “I’m expecting it because report on the scandal today. through?” he said. still very much in Marawi. Our son for the Senate investigative he delivered to the Manila port “I wish to categorically make this government is already quite Trillanes said the text mes- “This Davao Group is very offi cers are hot on their heels and panel to call the two individuals had drugs inside. it clear that: I had never testi- alarmed that Paolo Duterte and sages Taguba read aloud on infl uential in facilitating to it will only be a matter of time to attend any hearing in Manila, “I am making this statement fi ed, nor will I ever testify that Mans Carpio are now directly Thursday during the continua- put to green lane these contra- before we get him.” although they have indicated to clear Vice Mayor Paolo Du- Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and/ being linked (to smuggling) who tion of the investigation on the band goods, whether regular or Abella said reports that Ha- willingness to testify,” Abella terte and Atty. Manse Carpio or Atty. Manse Carpio were in- are part, so to speak, of the First smuggled shabu from China, smuggled,” he added. pilon has sneaked out of Ma- said in a statement. from any involvement in the volved in the shipment of illegal Family of President (Rodrigo) “which named Paolo Duterte Trillanes also said he would rawi City and was not in the “The legislature is a co-equal shipment of illegal drugs into drugs into the country. Neither Duterte,” Trillanes said. and Mans Carpio, were never face head-on the ethics com- southern province of Basilan, branch of government, and the the country, and any anoma- have I testifi ed, nor will I ever “I received information that forced on him and neither were plaint that Gordon intends to one of the strongholds of the Executive branch respects the lies in the Bureau of Customs,” testify that the aforementioned the Taguba’s family is now be- they fabricated.” fi le against him for “unparlia- Abu Sayyaf, were being treated Senate’s independence. We Taguba said. individuals were involved in the ing pressured. Their businesses “Taguba’s clarifi cation mentary” conduct, after he in- by the government as “raw in- trust its wisdom on this matter,” “I also hereby apologise to ‘Tara System’ that was in place were being scrutinised that’s doesn’t change anything, Vice sinuated that Gordon was pro- formation requiring further he added. Vice Mayor Duterte, Atty. Car- at the Bureau of Customs,” he why he apologised,” Trillanes Mayor Paolo Duterte and Atty. tecting Duterte and Carpio. validation.” Palace assures Marawi residents on security

By Catherine S Valente commander-in-chief’s guid- and the police to solve the prob- Manila Times ance, has made the safety of lem, I won’t interfere,” he said civilians and the rescue of hos- during ceremonies marking the tages as primordial concerns of command’s 11th anniversary. alacanang has assured our forces,” Abella said. “I enjoin the troops to con- the public that state “Military operations continue tinue being faithful to their Mforces would comply to remain intense and focused, sworn oath to protect and de- with President Rodrigo Duterte’s with the safety of hostages in fend our sovereignty and our order not to bomb mosques in mind, in the hope of bringing peoples, especially as mar- Marawi City amid the military’s a quicker end to the rebellion tial law remains in effect in intensifi ed operations against and retake Marawi from the evil Mindanao, amid the persisting the Islamic State-linked Maute hands of the Maute terrorist threats of terrorism and insur- terrorists in the war-torn city. rebels,” he added. gency,” the president added. In a statement, Palace spokes- Abella’s statement came a Duterte placed the entire man Ernesto Abella said the few days after Duterte said the Mindanao under martial rule government troops were one security forces could lay down on May 23, the day the Maute with the president in preserving measures that would counter the group attacked Marawi City. Muslims’ places of worship in hostile acts perpetrated by the In July, Congress granted Du- Marawi City. Maute terror group, except to terte’s request for an extension “The Commander in Chief bomb mosques. until yearend. and our Armed Forces are taking “Mind you, when I said I leave Abella cited the latest devel- pains to preserve places of wor- it to the military and the police opment in the troops’ goal to ship as is the case with the Grand to solve the problem, that’s it. I liberate Marawi from terror- Mosque of the City of Marawi,” would no longer interfere, ex- ists—the retaking of Bayabao Abella said. cept on my advice regarding the bridge in Banggolo, “a major “Although exemptions have bombing of mosque. I said no. battle area,” on Friday. been provided by international Don’t do that because it’s hard to “Government forces have conventions that allow forces to answer,” the president said. taken control of Bayabao bridge be employed, we have deliber- On Friday, Duterte said he was in Banggolo, which became a ately chosen to preserve it and so unlikely to lift martial law in major battle area between gov- with other places of worship in Mindanao before the end of 2017 ernment troops and members the main battle area,” he added. because of a possible spillover of of the Maute Group,” Abella Abella also said the military, violence brought about by the President Rodrigo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio join the boodle fight during the 11th founding anniversary celebration said. upon the supervision of Armed fi ghting in Marawi City to the of the Eastern Mindanao Command at the Naval Station Felix Apolinario in Panaca, Davao. “The retaking of this strate- Forces of the Philippines chief- autonomous region. gic bridge is an important de- of-staff Eduardo Ano, was In remarks before the mili- rely on the military’s recom- “I was thinking that we could don,” Duterte said, referring est of the country then I will lift velopment as we continue to making sure to keep the public tary’s Eastern Mindanao Com- mendation on when to lift mar- lift it (martial law) earlier but to the Autonomous Region in it, I will lift it. But if not, we just gain the upper hand in the main safe and secure amid the three- mand in Davao City on Friday, tial rule, which he imposed on the way it looks, there’s a pos- Muslim Mindanao and Buldon, have to continue with the mar- battle area and expand our van- month long armed confl ict. the president said he wanted the May 23 after the attack on Ma- sible spillover (of the Marawi Maguindanao. tial law. And mind you, when I tage positions with more troop “Ano, in compliance with the confl ict over soon, but would rawi by the Maute group. confl ict) in ARMM and in Bul- “Let us see. If it is to the inter- said that I leave it to the military deployments,” he added. Plan for counter terrorism ‘task Top judge faces criticism force’ with Malaysia, Indonesia over illegal appointments Reuters ity, it will be a joint...task force. pines involving militants loyal Manila And I will open my borders to the to Islamic State has been fully Malaysian authorities and Indo- resolved. By Jomar Canlas or RCAO Region 7. Sereno is fac- for the allegedly illegal appoint- the SC en banc to “revoke” and nesian authorities. More than 600 militants, 45 Manila Times ing impeachment raps fi led by ment of lawyer Brenda Jay An- “recall” the appointment of hilippine President Rod- They’ll be given access.” civilians and 136 soldiers and the Volunteers Against Crime geles-Mendoza as chief of the Mendoza as PMCO chief. rigo Duterte will discuss Southeast Asian nations have policemen have been killed in and Corruption, Vanguards of Philippine Mediation Centre Mendoza’s appointment, Pwith Indonesia and Ma- agreed to use spy planes and more than 100 days of fi ghting in upreme Court (SC) As- the Constitution and lawyer Offi ce (PMCO). she said, was made by Sereno laysia the possibility of creating drones to stem the movement Marawi. sociate Justice Teresita Lorenzo Gadon. In a six-page internal mem- without the approval of the SC a task force to combat Islamic of militants across their borders, The military has expressed SLeonardo-de Castro orandum of de Castro to Ser- en banc as a collegial body. State-inspired militancy, he said as concerns rise over the grow- confi dence the end is in sight for seemed to have strengthened De Castro took to task eno, dated August 25, 2017, De Castro pointed out that yesterday. ing clout of Islamic State in the what has been its biggest secu- the impeachment complaint Sereno for the allegedly and obtained by Manila Times, Mendoza is the “fi rst and only Duterte even expressed will- region. rity crisis in years. fi led against Chief Justice Mar- illegal appointment of she asked her fellow justices to regular” PMCO chief appointed ingness to open the borders to In June, the three nations Pockets of militants remain ia Lourdes Sereno before the lawyer Brenda Jay move against the schemes and without a resolution from the Indonesian and Malaysian secu- agreed to pool intelligence and dug in in the ruins in Marawi, House of Representatives. Angeles-Mendoza as chief practices of Sereno and stop Philippine Justice Association’s rity forces hunting fi ghters. tackle militant fi nancing. possibly together with their De Castro accused Sereno of of the Philippine Mediation the weakening of the powers Board of Trustees and without He plans to meet with Indone- Last November, the Philip- leader, Isnilon Hapilon, presi- making appointments without Centre Offi ce (PMCO) of the SC en banc as a result the en banc’s approval in disre- sian President Joko Widodo and pines agreed to allow Malaysia dential spokesman Ernesto consulting the SC en banc that of interference from the chief gard of requirements of SC Ad- Malaysian Prime Minster Najib and Indonesia to carry out “hot Abella said. she said was illegal. The complainants alleged, justice. ministrative Order 33-2008. Razak on the matter. pursuits” in its territorial waters “Recent military assessments In January 2013, she called among others, that she lied in She said it is about time that She said the 1987 Constitu- “We have agreed that we will to tackle kidnappings and piracy indicate that he is still very the chief justice a “congenital her Statements of Assets, Li- the court en banc avert the tion vested the SC en banc, not talk, the three of us. We are just by Abu Sayyaf rebels. much in Marawi,” Abella said in liar” for issuing an allegedly abilities and Net Worth (SALN) continuing diminution of its the chief justice alone, powers waiting for the right time,” he Duterte indicated the meet- a statement. “Our forces are hot fake resolution, without con- and that she bought a luxury constitutionally vested pow- to appoint judicial offi cials. told reporters. ing with Widodo and Najib could on their heels and it will only be currence of the en banc, on the bullet-proof vehicle without ers by setting clear guidelines The SC en banc is composed Asked what could be dis- take place after the siege of Ma- a matter of time before we get creation of the Regional Court the SC en banc’s approval. on the appointment of rank- of the chief justice and its 14 as- cussed, he said: “In all probabil- rawi city in southern Philip- him.” Administration Offi ce in Cebu De Castro took to task Sereno ing officials. De Castro asked sociate justices. Gulf Times Monday, September 4, 2017 13 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Joint venture airline starts Dammam flight Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal- China joint venture (JV) airline, started its inaugural Sirisena defends diplomat flight from Kathmandu to the city of Dammam in Saudi Arabia on Friday night, the airline said yesterday. The maiden flight H9 559, bound for Dammam, departed from Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu at 22:30 facing war crimes charges local time on Friday, according to the airline. Retired general Jagath week fi led two cases in Colom- tigate specifi c allegations of Two days after the South The company said in a Jayasuriya faces war bia and Brazil against Jayasuri- wrongdoing, but maintains he African-based rights group the statement that it is the first crimes allegations from ya, who until recently was Sri will allow only a domestic in- International Truth and Justice and only Nepali airline to human rights group who Lanka’s ambassador to several quiry and oppose any foreign Project fi led the cases against operate direct flights between filed two cases in Colombia South American countries. investigation. Jayasuriya, he left Brazil com- both cities meeting the strong and Brazil against the Sri The group alleged that Ja- After taking offi ce, Sirisena pleting a two-year posting. demand from air travellers, Lankan ambassador to Latin yasuriya oversaw torture appointed Jayasuriya as an am- International rights groups especially Nepali migrant America camps and was responsible for bassador on his retirement from have said that at least 40,000 workers. The airline will be disappearances and extrajudi- the military. He was promoted ethnic Tamil civilians were operating a daily flight on this AFP cial killings in the fi nal stages to army chief by the previ- killed by security forces while route. Colombo of the civil war in 2009 and ous government barely three crushing the rebels in the fi - An airline off icial said, “We thereafter. months after the war ended in nal months of the 37-year civil are very happy to be the first “The charges against Jagath May 2009. war. and only airline to connect ri Lanka’s president Jayasuriya is problem beyond His predecessor in the army, The UN has estimated that Dammam with Kathmandu yesterday defended his our shores,” Sirisena said. “I Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, at least 100,000 people were directly. With this new route, Sambassador to Latin will not allow anyone in the told reporters in Colombo on killed between 1972 and 2009. Himalaya Airlines would be America who faces war crimes world to touch Jagath Jayasuriya Friday that he had received Tiger rebels have also been able to carter over 500,000 allegations over his role as a or any army commander or any complaints against Jayasuriya, accused of using human shields Nepalis staying in Saudi senior army offi cer during and war hero.” who was placed in charge of ar- and killing civilians in their Arabia, enabling many of after the island’s ethnic war. The previous Sri Lankan gov- rested rebel suspects during the guerrilla war for a separate them to rejoice with their Maithripala Sirisena told ernment faced international fi nal phase of the war. homeland for the minority eth- families during this festival a convention of his Sri Lanka censure for refusing to ac- Fonseka added that he was nic Tamil community in the season.” Freedom Party (SLFP) that he knowledge that civilians were ready to testify against Jayas- Sinhala majority nation. Nepal is celebrating the two would not allow retired gen- killed while battling Tamil sep- uriya who had told the local Many Sri Lankan military biggest festivals - Dashain eral Jagath Jayasuriya or any aratists. media on Sunday that he had personnel had been accused by and Tihar in September and war veteran to be tried by any However, Sirisena, who came no direct role in combat opera- rights groups of ordering indis- October when millions of foreign entity. to power in January 2015, has tions during the fi nal phase of criminate shelling of hospitals President Maithripala Sirisena: “I will not allow anyone in the world to Nepalis travel back to their A human rights group last said he was willing to inves- the confl ict. and bombarding civilians. touch Jagath Jayasuriya or any army commander or any war hero.” home towns for celebration. Aid agencies reaching out to Rohingya refugees

DPA of Sunday morning,” Joseph mar security forces on August The army says they respond- Dhaka Tripura, spokesman for the 25 forced the minority Muslims ed to co-ordinated attacks by United Nations High Com- to cross in their thousands to the insurgents on the police and mission for Refugees in Dhaka, neighbouring Bangladesh for military. he infl ux of Rohingya said. safety. The UNHCR offi cial said lo- Muslims has contin- The estimate is based on wit- Many others have been cal volunteers were trying to Tued with at least 73,000 nesses’ accounts and reports trapped in the border between reach the displaced people with people crossing into Bangla- by the local and international the two countries awaiting emergency support. desh after violence killed nearly non-governmental organisa- shelter, food and security. “Many of (the Rohingya 400 people in Myanmar’s res- tions working for the Rohingya Dozens have died trying to refugees) were provided with tive Rakhine state late last refugees in southeastern Bang- cross a river into Bangladesh temporary shelters at school month, UN refugee agency said ladeshi district of Cox’s Bazar in an eff ort to escape the buildings and community cen- yesterday. bordering Rakhine state, he unrest. tres,” Tripura said, adding that Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara shaking hands with India’s External Aff airs Minister “Hundreds of people dis- said. The refugees alleged the se- a full-fl edged need assessment Sushma Swaraj during a visit to New Delhi recently. placed by the violence are still The deaths of nearly 400 curity forces carried out at- for the newly landed refugees crossing into Bangladesh. An people in attacks and counter- tacks on civilians, torched their would take a great deal of time estimated 73,000 people have attacks between suspected Ro- homes and drive them out of to prepare as the migrant infl ow Nepal, India need to entered into Bangladesh as hingya insurgents and Myan- Rakhine. is continuing unabated. update ties: Dy PM

Agencies port to Nepal in various sectors Mentioning about the boom- Kathmandu including health, education, ing tourism, Mahara said that agriculture and infrastructure Nepali guides are the true am- developmental. bassadors to boost the bilat- epal and India need to In another event last week, eral ties between the two neigh- “update” their ties to Mahara said Nepal should grab bours, especially in enhancing Nrefl ect the people-to- the maximum benefi ts from people-to-people relations. people relations at the govern- China’s development and According to the Nepal Chi- ment level, deputy Prime Minis- growing economic prosperity. nese Guide Association, it has ter Krishna Bahadur Mahara said Inaugurating the newly reg- 250 qualifi ed and trained mem- yesterday. istered organisation “Nepal bers in total who have profi - Mahara, who also holds the Chinese Guide Association,” an ciency in Chinese language and foreign aff airs portfolio, said the umbrella body of all the Nepali culture. “age-old ties” at the govern- guides working for the Chinese China is the second largest ment level might be “fl uctuated” tourists under diff erent travel tourist source market for Nepal but the people-to-people ties and trekking companies, Mahara after the southern neighbour In- cannot swing. expressed that the Himalayan dia. According to government Speaking at an event here, he country has high hopes from statistics, Chinese tourist arrivals called for strengthening the China’s Belt and Road Initiative. jumped to nearly 100,000 in 2016. bilateral ties. “We are very happy with the “In recent years, Chinese He drew attention towards the development of China and we tourists have sustained Nepal’s changing perspective in the bi- believe Nepal needs to learn a tourism industry. Realising its lateral ties since the end of mon- lot from China’s economic pros- importance and to contribute to archy in Nepal in 2008. “There- perity. It’s high time we need to national economy, we all guides fore, we need to update bilateral gain benefi ts from such pros- are moving ahead in an organ- perspectives,” he said. perous neighbour under newly ised manner,” Apulal Awale, Mahara praised the Indian launched initiatives like the Belt president, Nepal Chinese Guide government for providing sup- and Road,” Mahara said. Association, said. Rohingya refugees carry an old woman from Rakhine state in Myanmar along a path near Teknaf in Bangladesh yesterday. Celebratory firing China awards scholarships to over 100 Nepal students

IANS sented the scholarships to the has been providing the high- Nepali students who have stud- Kathmandu recipients amid the presence of est number of scholarships and ied in prestigious universities their family members. exchange programs to Nepali across China on scholarships The awarded students will students. supported by the Chinese he Chinese government study bachelors, masters, and ‘’This year, the Chinese government. has granted university- doctor’s degrees in diff er- government has increased Dr Sarbottam Kumar, a Tlevel scholarships to ent Chinese universities in the the number of scholarships to former student in a Chinese over 100 Nepali students for faculties like civil engineering, Nepali students. After com- university, said, “Chinese uni- their higher education in Chi- medicine, business, telecom- pleting their studies, the Nepali versities have professional na for the 2017-2018 academic munication and international students can be experts on their teachers, many facilities and A soldier in traditional attire fires a musket on the first day of the Indra Jatra festival at Hanuman year. relations, among others. respective fi elds and can con- high quality education. Nepali Dhoka in Kathmandu yesterday. During the eight-day festival, Kumari is also taken around parts of In a special ceremony in Speaking at the awarding tribute to the development of students can learn a lot in Chi- the capital city in a procession. capital city Kathmandu, the ceremony, Chinese ambassador their nation,’’ Yu said. na and utilise the knowledge in Chinese embassy in Nepal pre- to Nepal Yu Hong said China As of 2016, there were 5,160 their own nation.” Gulf Times 14 Monday, September 4, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka India note ban may have Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar hurt more than it helped [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), The fact that the people in large since most of the dubious and the banking system have got back the dramatic step of November 8 last 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) general and the banking earnings is not kept in cash but to their feet is a tribute more to their year has been a damper for terrorism Fax 44350474 invested in gold, jewellery and real resilience than to the government’s and Maoism since Kashmir remains system have got back to estate. wisdom. But what is undeniable is that on the boil while the decline in the The claim that counterfeit currency they have been put through a wringer, incidents of Maoist outrages from 155 their feet is a tribute more will be detected by demonetisation as it were, when the ultimate gain in in 2014 to 118 in 2015 to 69 in 2016 to their resilience than to has also been disproved by the fact terms of cleansing the system has been can be ascribed to a natural process that the amount of such notes that has negligible. caused by the gearing up of the offi cial the government’s wisdom been turned in is a mere 0.0007% of It is obvious that the same ends of machinery and the realisation among GULF TIMES the total. trapping the hoarders of black money the insurgents about the futility By Amulya Ganguli If the government’s intention in and nudging the country towards the of their cause. Demonetisation, New Delhi wiping out 86% of the currency in greater use of plastic cards could have therefore, can hardly be advanced as circulation in one fell swoop was the been achieved by far more carefully a reason. result of the failure to keep Prime devised ways by experts which would The worry for the government at t will take time for the economists Minister Narendra Modi’s election- not have caused the kind of turmoil present will be about the fall in the Walking pace is eve promise of depositing Rs1.5mn set off by the sudden sweeping growth rate as it will rob the country to fi gure out whether the fall in India’s growth rate to 5.7% is the in each bank account by unearthing of the economy by the broom of of its claim of being the fastest- Iresult of the disruption caused black money, it can only be described demonetisation. growing economy and accentuate the by demonetisation and the Goods and as a “monumental misjudgement”, The utility of this reckless phenomenon of jobless growth. a good measure Services Tax (GST), but most of the as former premier Manmohan Singh intervention is all the more doubtful It is the failure to rev up the common people will see a connection called demonetisation. since the Bharatiya Janata Party’s employment scene which is making between the two steps and a slowing It is not surprising, therefore, (BJP) claim that demonetisation the government turn to the customary down of the economy. that the government has changed paid it political dividends is not fool measures of wooing vote banks by of overall fi tness For most of them, the GST its line from the initial justifi cation proof. expanding the ambit of the creamy seems right – like the uniform civil of demonetisation as a means of For instance, the party’s record layer for the backward castes and code in another field of national breaking the back of the so-called in winning elections in 2017 is 3-2 fi rming up the BJP’s electoral tactic The results of a new large-scale study from the UK, life notwithstanding the teething parallel economy to that of converting considering that it lost in Punjab and of enticing the non-Yadav backward which has revealed that healthy slow-walking middle- troubles – but the jury is out on the country into a cashless, digital came second in Goa and Manipur castes to its side through a sub- whether demonetisation was economy. while winning in Uttar Pradesh and categorisation of these groups. But in aged adults are two times more likely to die from necessary if only because 99% of the However, even if this second Uttarakhand. the ultimate analysis, only a buoyant heart disease than brisk walkers, is in fact universally banned currency has been returned objective is laudable, the unanswered It is another matter that the BJP economy can help the ruling party’s applicable. The University of Leicester research to the government. question remains whether the shock negated the outcomes in Goa and political fortunes. analysed data from the UK Biobank of 420,727 middle- Even if this means that those with and awe of demonetisation were Manipur by some adroit manoeuvres If demonetisation has put paid unearned incomes have chosen to necessary considering that more in horse-trading in order to to such hopes in the near future - aged people across the UK between 2006 and 2010. deposit their money in the bank, the than 100 people died while standing secure the allegiance of legislators although the new Niti Aayog vice- People were selected for the study if they were cancer- question will remain whether the huge in queues before banks and how an susceptible to enticements. But chairman Rajiv Kumar has called a free and heart disease-free at the time of collecting disruption caused by demonetisation unknown number of small businesses the original score line showed that link between the falling growth rate was required to ferret out these suff ered. According to one estimate, demonetisation was not a booster for and demonetisation “spurious” – the their information. After following up 6.3 years later, holders of black money, especially 5mn jobs were lost. the BJP. government will have only itself to researchers found that there were 8,598 deaths. Of when their numbers cannot be too The fact that the people in general It is also unclear to what extent blame. those, 1,654 were from heart disease and 4,850 were from cancer. From their fi ndings, researchers were able to conclude that the pace at which someone walked was linked to their likelihood of heart disease. “Slow walkers were around twice as likely to have a heart-related death compared to brisk walkers,” according to principal author of the study Tom Yates. This fi nding was seen in both men and women and was not explained by related risk factors such as smoking, body mass index (BMI), diet or how much television the participants in the sample watched. This suggests habitual walking pace is an independent predictor of heart-related death. Yates and his team also found that self-reported walking pace was “strongly linked to an individual’s objectively measured exercise tolerance,” which further suggests that walking pace is a good measure of overall physical fi tness. However, it was actually adults with the lowest BMIs who were found to have the highest risk from walking slowly. The researchers also looked into whether Heart disease walking pace could is oft en a result be linked to cancer, but no connection of high blood was found. pressure, “Therefore, self- reported walking obesity and high pace could be used to cholesterol identify individuals who have low physical fi tness and high mortality risk that would benefi t from targeted physical exercise interventions,” Yates adds. The study was published last week in the European Heart People queue up outside an ATM kiosk to withdraw cash on the last day of demonetisation in New Delhi on December 30, 2016: jury is out on whether demonetisation Journal. This isn’t the fi rst study to link heart disease and was necessary if only because 99% of the banned currency has been returned to the government. walking pace though – research from 2009 concluded that walking slowly is “strongly associated” with an increased risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is often a result of high blood pressure, obesity and high Alarm at Trump push to quit trade pact cholesterol. It’s the leading cause of death in the US, and second to dementia in the UK. As tensions swirl between would be only the latest of a series of with (South) Korean president Moon South Korea next week to add to its zig-zagging interventions by Trump (Jae-in) harder pressed to maintain existing missile defences. Trump According to a 2015 Tufts University study, US and North Korea, amid the looming nuclear missile present levels of security co-operation has threatened to make Seoul pay researchers determined that walking faster or longer president’s reported crisis that have caused bewilderment with the United States. If China is your for the Thaad system, however, and was linked to “signifi cant” cardiovascular benefi ts and alarm in the region. key economic partner, there’s a lot less a withdrawal from the fi ve-year-old eff ort to exit 2007 deal The stakes in the nuclear standoff reason to listen to Washington.” Korus trade pact would raise further in older adults. Another 2015 study by Ohio State may bring stunning rose once more this weekend, when Moon, who was elected in May, has confusion over the state of the Seoul- University found that walking at various speeds can North Korea claimed to have tested diff ered publicly with Trump over Washington partnership. burn up to 20% more calories compared to walking development in twisting a powerful hydrogen bomb that can the latter’s bellicose rhetoric. Before Trump has called Korus a “horrible” tale be loaded on to an intercontinental taking offi ce, Trump declared North deal and its critics pointed to the a steady pace. The American Academy of Neurology ballistic missile, which, if correct, Korea would not be allowed to develop widening US trade defi cit with South also concluded in 2012 study that the speed at which would mean the North had achieved a an intercontinental ballistic missile Korea under the agreement, currently one walks later in life may signal the early stages of By Julian Borger key goal in its nuclear programme. (ICBM) capable of reaching the US at $28bn. However a report by the Washington However, withdrawal would be mainland under his presidency. US Chamber of Commerce said last dementia, also known as mild cognitive impairment in line with campaign promises After Pyongyang carried out two year that the agreement had “already (MCI). In fact, people who were slow walkers were nine to tear up trade deals Trump has successful ICBM tests in July, Trump brought real benefi ts for American times more likely have non-memory related MCI than onald Trump has asked aides presented as disadvantageous to US warned it would face “fi re and fury like workers, farmers, ranchers, and fast walkers. Brisk walking, which has always been to prepare for US withdrawal workers. He has already ruled out the world has never seen” if it made companies”. from a free trade agreement joining the Trans-Pacifi c Partnership any further threats. “If Trump does in fact end the associated with better health, has once again got a Dwith South Korea, it was (TPP) trade agreement currently North Korea has since threatened Korus deal, this would be hugely research boost. reported on Saturday – a potentially under negotiation, as well as the to fi re a salvo of missiles into the seas destructive to US Asia policy at an stunning development at a time of Transatlantic Trade and Investment around the US Pacifi c territory of absolutely critical time,” said Mira tense confrontation with North Korea. Partnership with Europe, and he is Guam, and fi red a ballistic missile for Rapp-Hooper, a senior research Asked during his trip to Louisiana threatening to pull out of the North the fi rst time over Japanese territory, scholar in the Paul Tsai China Centre To Advertise on Saturday if he was talking with American Free Trade Agreement ending US hopes that Trump’s threats at Yale Law School. “US North Korea advisers about the idea, Trump said: “I (Nafta). had cowed Pyongyang into a pause in policy is in tatters. The administration [email protected] am. It’s very much on my mind.” Ian Bremmer, the president of missile tests and a possible opening has not articulated clear goals, Cabinet Display The decision is not fi nal yet, and the Eurasia Group, a political risk for talks. offi cials regularly issue statements Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 several leading members of the research and consulting fi rm, said that In contrast to Trump, the US that confl ict with the president, and Trump administration are seeking to if Trump went ahead and withdrew secretaries of defence and state, James the administration has not appointed Classified dissuade the president, according to from the agreement, “it would be a Mattis and Rex Tillerson, have both any of the necessary senior offi cials to Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 the Washington Post, but the report signifi cant loss of US infl uence in Asia emphasised that the US is relying on handle the diplomatic morass. added “the internal preparations for – nearly on par with withdrawal from diplomacy and economic pressure in “The news that Trump is Subscription terminating the deal are far along and the TPP”. its approach to Pyongyang. considering this is terrible for the US [email protected] the formal withdrawal process could “Timing is more important here, Japan and South Korea have called standing in Asia. It stands to benefi t begin as soon as this coming week.” given the economic pressure on South for a resolute response and solidarity North Korea, which seeks to drive a Withdrawal from the 2007 trade Korea from Beijing and the challenges among allies in the wake of the latest wedge between the US and (South 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved deal (known as Korus) with one of of the North Korea confl ict,” Bremmer missile test. Four US Thaad missile Korea),” Rapp-Hooper said.- Guardian Washington’s closest allies in Asia said. “China would be the big winner, launchers are expected to arrive in News and Media Gulf Times Monday, September 4, 2017 15 COMMENT Trump advisers ‘press on’ in top posts Tillerson has appeared After being on the receiving end of a Dunford, both served under him in in a signifi cantly smaller institution – Trump outburst last month, according the military. Compared to the White have remained unfi lled. listless in a job he has said to the New York Times , Kelly told House and State Department, the “What is ... surprising – shocking, he never wanted, while colleagues “he had never been spoken Pentagon is functioning smoothly. even – is that Tillerson has proven to to like that during 35 years of serving Some of Mattis’s picks for senior be such an inept manager,” Max Boot, reports suggest a sense his country”. administrative roles have been turned a conservative commentator, wrote of duty may be what’s Gary Cohn, Trump’s chief down by the White House, but he has in Foreign Policy. “You would think economic adviser, is reported to have fi lled the gaps with career offi cials and that as the former CEO of a giant keeping Mattis and Kelly drafted a resignation letter after the uniformed offi cers. oil company, he would know how at work president blamed “both sides” after “Mattis occupies an extraordinarily to run an organisation like the State a confrontation involving neo-Nazi powerful position. He has shown he Department. His track record thus far and white supremacist groups in can chart an independent course and suggests otherwise.” By Julian Borger Charlottesville, Virginia. A right- Trump with Tillerson and Mattis: lack of political unity survive,” Ricks said. “The saving grace The secretary of state did not arrive Washington wing extremist killed a counter- of Donald Trump is his incompetence. in Foggy Bottom from ExxonMobil demonstrator and wounded many of state Cyrus Vance left the Carter in Annapolis in 2004, in which He pretends to be a president on bursting with enthusiasm. others when he drove his car through administration in 1980 in protest he described the US as a great but Twitter and TV, and the rest of the “I didn’t want this job. I didn’t fter voicing views that a crowd. against the military operation to fragile experiment, that needed to be government just chugs along.” seek this job,” Tillerson told the appeared directly at odds Cohn ultimately decided to rescue US hostages in Iran. But the protected by “morally very straight” Some Wall Street analysts speculate Independent Journal Review (IJR), in with those of US President stay but gave an interview to the degree of public dissonance between armed forces. that Cohn, a former president of his fi rst interview in the post. “My ADonald Trump, Defence Financial Times declaring that the senior offi cials and the president It is a theme Mattis returned to last Goldman Sachs, only remains in the wife told me I’m supposed to do this.” Secretary James Mattis, was asked last administration “can and must do in this administration is also rare, week when he gave an impromptu pep administration after Charlottesville It was not the most auspicious week why he continued to serve. better” to condemn hate groups. arguably unprecedented. talk to US troops stationed in Jordan. He because of his aspirations to become rallying cry to begin with, and since “You know, when a president of the Secretary of State Rex Tillerson On major global issues, both Mattis told them: “You just hold the line until the chairman of the Federal Reserve. then Tillerson has often appeared US asks you to do something – I don’t issued an even more direct disavowal and Tillerson have taken a markedly our country gets back to understanding Asked on Fox News whether he was listless and ever more unhappy in care if it’s Republican or Democrat of his boss in the aftermath of diff erent line from Trump, reaffi rming and respecting each other and showing only staying on to get tax cuts passed, the role. In his deliberate choice of – we all have an obligation to serve. Charlottesville in an appearance on faith in Nato when Trump has been it,” promising them “we’ll get the power he did not deny it. words on Fox News, Tillerson seemed That’s all there is to it,” Mattis told Fox News. dismissive, being tough on Moscow of inspiration back”. “Look, tax cuts are really important to be daring Trump to fi re him. The journalists on Thursday. “I don’t believe anyone doubts the when he has consistently refused It is a theme that predates to me,” he said. “I think it’s a once-in- president is reported to be furious The former marine general recalled American people’s values,” Tillerson to be critical, and emphasising the Charlottesville. When asked by the a-lifetime opportunity.” with him but reluctant to destabilise that he had disagreed with Trump on said. importance of diplomacy over North New Yorker in the spring what he He could also plausibly argue he is his unsteady presidency further with three major issues in 40 minutes the “And the president’s values?” he Korea when the president threatened was most concerned about, Mattis “holding the line”, like Mattis, only another high-profi le departure. fi rst time the two men met, but he was was asked. “fi re and fury”. used similar vocabulary: “The lack in his case it is the line holding back Daniel Drezner, international politics hired all the same. Mattis argued that “The president speaks for himself,” There have been many cabinet of political unity in America,” he a potential fi nancial panic if he left, professor at the Fletcher School of Law was a good sign – that Trump was the secretary of state replied. secretaries in modern US political said. “The lack of a fundamental abandoning the helm of conventional and Diplomacy at Tufts University, ready to listen to other points of view. Tillerson’s aides made no attempt history who have disagreed strongly friendliness.” Republican low-tax economics to said Tillerson should spare Trump the “So anyway, press on,” Mattis to mitigate the implications of his with policies pursued by the White “If he thought he could not help the nativists who could set off a global dilemma and leave now. He argues that concluded, in stoic military style. remarks, leaving it clear that he House, albeit more privately, but they country, he’d be happy to go back to protectionist spiral. Vanity Fair the State Department would continue Pressing on is something that other intended to put signifi cant distance have stayed in offi ce nevertheless, running a food bank in Washington,” magazine referred to him as “one to function and resist radical departures members in this highly irregular between himself and the president, telling themselves they were doing so Ricks said. After retiring from the of the only halfway-sane economic from conventional foreign policy urged administration have chosen to do and raising speculation that he would in the interests of the country. military in 2013, Mattis had gone to voices in this administration” – by the White House. Trump could despite obvious unease with at least resign. But for the time being, at least, That is how Mattis described his live in a modest house in Washington though it still called on him to resign. not impose a far-right ideologue as a some of Trump’s words and actions. the former ExxonMobil executive is mindset last week and Thomas Ricks, state to be near his mother, sitting on In recent days there have been many successor as he or she would not be The White House chief of staff , staying and even signalled his fealty the author of several books on US the board and volunteering for the more calls for Tillerson to resign. confi rmed by the Senate. One rumoured another ex-marine, John Kelly, is by putting out an offi cial statement in military leadership, said he believed local food bank. Unlike the Pentagon under Mattis, replacement, the US envoy to the UN, also reported to be clinging on out of support of the president’s tax cut plan, the sentiment was genuine. Now that he has been called the State Department is demoralised Nikki Haley, has shown herself a better sense of duty, with estimates of his an unusual intervention in domestic “That is what he has always said back to public life, Mattis is almost and hobbled under Tillerson, who manager and better at articulating US departure ranging from a month to a policy for a secretary of state. and that is how he fundamentally certainly the strongest defence has not tried to defend it against deep foreign policy,” Drezner said. year, as Trump has bridled at Kelly’s Cabinet resignations are highly thinks,” said Ricks, whose latest book secretary in recent decades. The budget cuts proposed by the White “Tillerson is actually worse than if eff orts to impose discipline on a unusual in US government. There has is Churchill & Orwell: The Fight for White House Chief of Staff John House. He is seeking to reorganise its there was no one there,” Drezner said. turbulent White House and a wayward not being a resignation on a matter of Freedom. He pointed to a speech Kelly and the Chairman of the bureaucracy but senior administrative “He has been that bad.” – Guardian president. principle since the former secretary Mattis gave at the Naval Academy Joint Chiefs of Staff , Gen Joseph posts – that would be necessary even News and Media Weather report Merkel, Germany’s ‘eternal chancellor’ Three-day forecast TODAY High: 41 C contemporary of long-gone leaders in spirited political dialogue, lending a A top student, she excelled in Low : 30 C AFP Inshore: Hazy to misty at places at George W Bush, Tony Blair and slightly dreamy atmosphere to recent Russian, which would later help her first becomes hot daytime with weak Berlin chance of local rainy clouds at places Jacques Chirac. election campaigns and infuriating her keep up the dialogue with President by afternoon and humid by night. Seemingly devoid of vanity and shadow-boxing opponents. Vladimir Putin, who was a KGB offi cer ngela Merkel has been indiff erent to the trappings of power, Martin Schulz, her temperamental in Dresden when the Berlin Wall fell TUESDAY derided as Europe’s she lives in a Berlin fl at with her challenger, lashed out in June, in 1989. High: 38 C “austerity queen”, cheered media-shy scientist husband Joachim labelling Merkel’s apparent tactic During that momentous upheaval, Low: 32 C Aas a saviour by refugees and Sauer, shops in a local supermarket of keeping politics as unexciting as Merkel joined the nascent Democratic Sunny hailed as the new “leader of the free and spends holidays hiking in the Alps. possible “an attack on democracy” Awakening group, which later merged world”. When international newspapers, – a comment that earned him with the Christian Democrats of then- But as the pastor’s daughter raised after Trump’s surprise victory last stern rebukes from legions of the chancellor Helmut Kohl, who fondly if WEDNESDAY behind the Iron Curtain heads towards year, declared Merkel the new torch- chancellor’s supporters. patronisingly dubbed Merkel “my girl”. High: 38 C a likely fourth term at the helm of bearer of liberal democracy, she waved But many political commentators But Merkel’s mentor was not the Low: 32 C Europe’s biggest economy, many off the accolade as “grotesque and also charge that Merkel has plunged last politician to underestimate her Sunny Germans simply call her the “eternal absurd”. Germany into an apolitical slumber and pay the price. chancellor”. Though frequently criticised for while seeming to grow ever more When Kohl became embroiled in “Mutti” (Mummy) Merkel, with her sitting out tough challenges, Merkel remote. a campaign fi nance scandal in 1999, Fishermen’s forecast pragmatic, modest and reassuringly has punctuated her reign with bold Der Spiegel’s Alexander Osang Merkel openly urged her party to drop OFFSHORE DOHA bland style, has perfected the art of and surprising decisions – from recently labelled her the “woman in the self-declared “old warhorse”. Wind: SE-NE 03-13 KT staying in power in a wealthy, ageing scrapping nuclear power after the amber”, as impenetrable “as a sphinx, The move, which has been Waves: 1-3 Feet nation that tends to favour continuity 2011 Fukushima disaster to opening diva or queen”, whose speeches were described as “Merkelvellian”, kicked INSHORE DOHA Wind: SE-NE 05-15 KT over change. German borders to over a million akin to “mass hypnosis”. off her meteoric rise. Waves: 1-2/3 Feet In the turbulent times of Trump, asylum seekers since 2015. Merkel was born Angela Dorothea As an outsider, she remade the Brexit and multiple global crises, the The migrant infl ux cost her dearly, Kasner in 1954 in the port city of Christian Democratic Union, Around the region 63-year-old has become the bedrock both with voters and EU neighbours, Hamburg. anchoring it in the political centre Weather Weather in a country fearful of maintaining and led many to predict her demise. Weeks later her father, a leftist by pushing progressive social today Max/min tomorrow Max/min its enviable growth and employment But as the number of new arrivals Lutheran clergyman, moved the family policies, abolishing compulsory Abu Dhabi Sunny 41/31 Sunny 41/32 rates. eased off and her government pushed to a small town in the communist military service and scrapping Baghdad Sunny 45/26 Sunny 47/27 Dubai Sunny through tougher asylum policies, her East at a time when most people were nuclear power. Sunny 41/31 41/31 If there is one conviction Merkel Kuwait City Sunny 45/31 Sunny 44/29 holds dear, it is a lesson from her poll ratings have edged back up to pre- headed the other way. She emerged as Europe’s go-to Manama Sunny 42/32 Sunny 40/32 upbringing in communist East crisis levels. Biographers say life in a police leader during the sovereign debt Muscat M Sunny 34/28 P Cloudy 33/28 Germany – a fi rm belief that Germany So strong is her support that state taught Merkel to hide her true crisis, though she was derided as a Riyadh Sunny 43/27 Sunny 43/27 and Europe must stay competitive and German media reports tend to thoughts behind a poker face. puritanical “austerity queen” in crisis- Tehran Sunny 34/22 Sunny 34/22 debt-free in a rapidly changing global ridicule her centre-left challengers as Like most students, she joined the wracked southern countries. economy. luckless operators on political suicide state’s socialist youth movement, Years later, she is still there, Germans have thanked her by missions, destined to be roadkill as the but rejected an offer to inform for and may yet outlast her one-time keeping her in power ever since Merkel juggernaut powers forward. the Stasi secret police while also mentor Kohl, especially as no serious she became their youngest and Merkel herself usually refuses to staying clear of risky pro-democracy challenger from within her party has first female chancellor in 2005, a mention her rivals by name or engage activism. managed to emerge so far.

Live issues Teach your kids good hand hygiene

t’s important to teach your I’m going to wash my hands with Around the world children good hand hygiene at soap and water before I reach into the Weather Weather home as they get ready to head refrigerator to get your food. I just today Max/min tomorrow Max/min back to the classroom. came in from taking out the trash. I Athens Sunny 32/21 Sunny 31/20 I Beirut Sunny 31/27 Sunny 31/26 Dr Robert Jacobson, a Mayo Clinic can pour you a glass of milk, but I have Bangkok T Storms 33/27 S T Storms 33/27 paediatrician, says parents need to be to wash my hands fi rst. The bottle Berlin M Sunny 21/09 M Sunny 23/14 the leaders when it comes to ensuring dropped on the fl oor. Let me pick it Cairo Sunny 37/24 P Cloudy 37/23 their children know the importance of up, clean this up and go straight to the Cape Town Sunny 29/13 S Showers 16/11 clean hands. sink and wash my hands with soap and Colombo T Storms 29/26 T Storms 28/26 S T Storms S T Storms 32/27 “Hands turn out to be the dirtiest water before I go back to eating.” Dhaka 33/27 Hong Kong T Storms 29/27 S T Storms 30/27 things – the things most likely to carry The Centres for Disease Control Istanbul Sunny 27/20 Sunny 26/18 germs, and the things we’re more and Prevention (CDC) stresses Jakarta P Cloudy 34/26 S T Storms 33/25 likely to put near our mouths, near the importance of proper hand Karachi P Cloudy 31/27 P Cloudy 31/27 our food, in our nose, and in our eyes,” hygiene as a way to help families London Cloudy 22/17 Showers 22/12 Manila T Storms 32/26 T Storms 31/26 says Jacobson. “If you’re talking about and communities stay healthy. Moscow Cloudy 18/10 Showers 13/10 weapons of mass destruction at home, Despite widespread knowledge of New Delhi M Sunny 33/27 M Sunny 34/26 you’re talking about the hands. Hand the importance of hand-washing, New York Sunny 28/22 S T Storms 31/22 hygiene is diffi cult if you just depend the CDC says there is room for Paris Cloudy 24/16 Cloudy 23/14 Sao Paulo Sunny Sunny 28/14 on it happening at school and you improvement. A recent study showed 28/14 Seoul M Sunny 29/19 Cloudy 26/20 don’t do anything about it at home.” that only 31% of men and 65% of Singapore I T Storms 30/25 S T Storms 29/26 Parents have an opportunity to washing, and they’ll do it when they demonstrative when setting examples women washed their hands after using Sydney Sunny 21/09 Cloudy 17/09 lead the way. Jacobson says children have examples at home. for their children,” he says. “Say things a public restroom. – Mayo Clinic News Tokyo Cloudy 26/21 Cloudy 28/21 need to get into a habit about hand- “I ask my parents to be like, ‘It’s time to get breakfast ready. Network Gulf Times 16 Monday, September 4, 2017 QATAR

People passing through a walkway across a portion of the artificial lake at Aspire. A family enjoying a boat ride. Outdoor events attract huge turnout on third day of Eid By Joseph Varghese as well as specimen rail carriages. the sand dunes with their SUVs. were also presented in a big air- Staff Reporter Many children were taken Several children and elders also conditioned tent which included for paddle-boat rides under the could be seen riding quad bikes several games with creative ideas guidance of their parents and rel- through these areas. that stimulated the skills of the eople in large numbers atives. The boats in the shape of Meanwhile, many took to the participants. ventured into outdoor are- birds and other animals carried beaches to cool themselves in Katara was another popular Pnas on the third day of Eid the children through the artifi cial the hot weather and there were destination where a number of al-Adha yesterday as the festivi- lake in the middle of the Aspire large gatherings at the beaches, activities and cultural shows at- ties across the nation continued Park, making it memorable for especially in the evening. Small tracted a large number of people. with great enthusiasm and ex- them. and large groups of families and There were a number of theatri- citement. Many others used the radio- friends could be seen in these cal performances based on an- Major centres of outdoor ac- controlled cars and had great fun spots enjoying the last leg of their cient history as well as on Ara- tivities were Sealine Beach, Aqua spending time in the company of holidays as many are to resume bian Wonders. Katara also had a Park, Aspire Park, Souq Waqif, their friends and families. There work from today. 15-minute fi reworks which was a Katara Cultural Village as well were also large queues for the There were a number of fam- colourful feast for the eyes of the as Souq Waqif Al Wakrah where joyride on the railway carriage ily-oriented activities and chil- onlookers. a number of thrilling and fun- which took the children around dren’s games at Souq Waqif as The third edition of Doha fi lled activities were held. the waterfront at the venue. well as Souq Al Wakrah. A large Comedy Festival, a one-day At Aspire Zone, there were a For adventure lovers, there air-conditioned tent was set up event, was held at the Qatar Na- number of games and joy rides were aerial paragliding tours at at Souq Waqif with plenty of toys tional Convention Centre yester- for families and children. The Sealine Beach organised by Qa- and a variety of games and gifts day bringing together a diverse activities included rides on pad- tar Air Sports Committee, while to attract more kids and fami- lineup of stand-up comedy stars dle boats; radio-controlled cars there were many who rushed to lies. Events at Souq Al Wakrah including some local talents. Children enjoying the boat ride at Aspire Park. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil

Katara concludes Eid festivities

he Culture Village Foun- dinary time full of joy and enter- prehensive festival that blends dation-Katara has con- tainment. The visitors followed entertainment with benefi ts Tcluded its Eid al-Adha the three shows at diff erent in- through innovative ideas of the- festivities yesterday with a tervals in the evening, with each atrical performances.” great turnout of people from show going on for half an hour. He pointed out that the per- different age categories and na- During the shows, Eid gifts formers presented the most cel- tionalities. were given to children. ebrated characters, in addition The three evening shows of The shows concluded with to some acrobatic shows. Al- Arabian Tales, in particular, re- dazzling fi reworks at the Katara Ansari thanked the members of ceived considerable applause Beach at 9.30pm. Adel al-Ansa- the public for taking part in the from Katara’s visitors through- ri, the general supervisor of Eid events and stressed that Katara’s out the past three days, who said al-Adha festival at Katara said: festival was a grand success with that they have spent an extraor- “We were keen to present a com- a massive turnout of visitors.

Tom and Jerry, two of the most loved cartoon characters perform at DHFC. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar Children have an exciting time at Tom and Jerry show

By Joey Aguilar on stage to perform Doing Good Staff Reporter Together at 5pm, 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Described as a family-friendly he Tom and Jerry show live show on Baraem stage, popu- continued to attract a large lar TV personalities such as Tila, Tnumber of spectators yes- Tola and Fafa engage with spec- terday at the Doha Festival City tators through their educational A view of the fireworks at Katara. (DHFC), bringing what was de- and entertaining live perform- scribed as “a hilarious well-loved ance, which includes popular episode” of the duo on stage. Baraem songs for children. Pad- The show forms part of the manaban, an expatriate in Doha family entertainment off erings for three years, said they have throughout the Eid al-Adha cel- been regularly watching these ebrations in the country organ- kind of shows at participat- ised by Qatar Tourism Authority ing malls in the summer and Eid (QTA) and its partners. Families, holidays. especially young children, had “We are also planning to go to the opportunity to watch and Lagoona Mall to watch the Peter take pictures with their favour- Pan show, we have been to the ite cartoon characters at DHFC’s Mall of Qatar for the acrobatic Centre Court since day one of The Tom and Jerry show was a big hit with families yesterday. performances yesterday and Eid. several games were also held for “The show was really good, provide residents with a classic Charlestone, Lindy hope, and children,” he added. and the performers fascinated tale about Tom falling in love, Jazz ballet music. The Acrobatic Ballet and The- the kids with their antics, they and losing interest in chasing The daily Tom and Jerry show atrical Circus troupes are rotat- enjoyed it a lot,” Indian national Jerry, his arch enemy. Frustrated takes centre stage in three half- ing at diff erent malls to enter- Padmanaban, who was with his with this situation, Jerry decided hour instalments: 4pm, 7.45pm, tain holiday-goers for a three wife, daughter and a number of to bring Tom’s rival street cat and 9.15pm until tomorrow, also 20-minute shows. While enjoy- friends, told Gulf Times. DHFC Butch in the scene, a move that the last day of QTA’s Qatar Sum- ing the family entertainment brought Tom (a domesticated would recapture Tom’s attention. mer Festival (QSF) 2017, accord- shows, shoppers can still enter cat) and Jerry (a witty mouse) to The unique show features an ex- ing to DHFC. QSF’s mega raffl e draw tomorrow Doha, two of the world’s most traordinary musical performance It (DHFC) also features Baraem for a chance to win cash prizes loved characters, to entertain and with the renowned ’40s and ’50s TV children’s show characters and a super luxury car. The crowd comprising people from many countries and age groups attended the events at Katara.