BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 12 QDB records Pogba says it ‘continued growth’ in was destiny funding with to rejoin INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 3, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 QR1.3bn REGION 4 BUSINESS 1-7, 12-16 Manchester loans 18,530.42 10,918.53 42.65 ARAB WORLD 5 CLASSIFIED 8-11 +1.13 -1.76 -0.37 INTERNATIONAL 6 – 17 SPORTS 1 – 12 Utd +0.01% -0.02% -0.86% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10176 August 10, 2016 Dhul-Qa’da 7, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals A scoring moment

In brief Qatar’s cargo handling SYRIA | Suff ering Millions in Aleppo without water About 2mn people in the Syrian city capacity of Aleppo have no access to running water after escalating fighting damaged the city’s water delivery system, the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef) said yesterday. Fighting has set to surge severed electricity lines necessary to operate water pumps, leaving the whole city without water for Hamad Port is strategically sets and terminal areas so that contain- four days, Unicef warned. “These located to handle the expanding ers and general cargo can be accepted in cuts are coming amid a heat wave, trade in the Gulf and beyond, a phased, controlled manner. putting children at a grave risk of into the hinterland of Qatar and Business disruption will be avoided waterborne diseases,” said Hanaa neighbouring GCC countries and throughput improvements can be Singer, Unicef’s representative in seen at the earliest stage. Syria. Page 5 By Pratap John “Once the fi rst phase is operational Chief Business Reporter we will evaluate the timelines for the EUROPE | Diplomacy other two phases, which would bring the total handling capacity to 6mn Putin, Erdogan move atar’s annual handling capacity TEUs once completed,” al-Sulaiti told towards repairing ties will scale up to 2mn twenty- the Oxford Business Group. Russia and Turkey took a big step Qfoot equivalent units (TEUs) Mwani is handling the early opera- towards normalising relations Qatar’s left-wing Abdulrazzaq Murad jumping to score during the men’s preliminary round Group A handball match between once the fi rst phase of state-of-the-art tions facility, and is involved in discus- yesterday, with their leaders Qatar and France during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Future Arena in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. World champions Hamad Port becomes fully operational sions over creating a joint venture that announcing an acceleration in trade France beat Qatar, 35-20. Qatar will take on Tunisia tomorrow in the third game of the group stage, having beaten Croatia in 2016, according to HE the Minister will be responsible for running future and energy ties at a time when both 30-23 in the opening game. Qatar were drawn in Group A alongside France, Tunisia, Denmark, Croatia and Argentine as four of Transport and Communications, port operations. This will be a joint countries have troubled economies teams make it to the quarter-finals. Page 1 Sport. Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti. venture between Mwani and the se- and strains with the West. President The capacity at the existing Doha lected operating company. Vladimir Putin received his Turkish Port is 750,000- twenty-foot equiva- Early operations have been very suc- counterpart Tayyip Erdogan in lent units. cessful as all ro-ro and livestock ves- a Tsarist-era palace outside his The transfer of operations from the sels are now calling at Hamad Port for home city of St Petersburg. It was existing Doha Port to Hamad Port has unloading and delivering goods to the Erdogan’s first foreign trip since last involved the transfer of staff employed Qatari market. month’s failed military coup. Page 11 1.4mn tourists visit Qatar by Qatar Ports Management Com- The results are encouraging in terms pany (Mwani), government agencies, of the relationships already built be- BRITAIN | Project stakeholders and service providers, tween Mwani, the shipping lines and al-Sulaiti said in an interview with the the port community at large, which China warns relations Oxford Business Group. While these will have a positive impact on the full at ‘crucial juncture’ in the fi rst half of 2016 organisations have worked effi ciently opening and operations, the minister China’s ambassador to Britain and eff ectively at Doha Port, the early said. yesterday urged London to operational phase has allowed the in- Hamad Port is strategically located approve a Beijing-funded nuclear atar welcomed 1.4mn visitors tegration of their activities in the im- to handle the expanding trade in the power plant as soon as possible, in the fi rst six months of 2016, proved working environment off ered Gulf and beyond, into the hinterland warning that relations between Qincluding 665,355 Gulf Co-op- by Hamad Port. of Qatar and neighbouring GCC coun- the two countries were at a critical eration Council (GCC) nationals, ac- Thus incremental transfer of opera- tries, al-Sulaiti said. point. “Right now, the China-UK cording to Qatar Tourism Authority’s tions has been possible, with roll-on/ The facilities will feature cutting- relationship is at a crucial historical (QTA) Tourism Performance Sum- roll-off (ro-ro) and livestock cargoes edge technology and associated sys- juncture. Mutual trust should be mary for the fi rst half of 2016. being relocated seamlessly, the minis- tems that will cater to all types of ves- treasured even more,” Liu Xiaoming Saudi Arabia remains the largest ter said. The operational team has been sels, cargo handling and clearance, wrote in an article in the Financial source market and responsible for able to improve the effi ciency rates at and throughput rates that will set the Times newspaper. Page 10 the bulk of the growth recorded in the Doha Port since the early operations facility apart from the region’s existing number of GCC visitor arrivals. facility has been designed specifi cally ports. INDIA | Protest Saudi brought 39,650 visitors to as a ro-ro and livestock handling ter- Environmental protection strate- Qatar, which represents 10% of the minal. gies – such as sustainable resource Activist ends world’s growth. Some additional substantial The successful transfer of operations use, waste management and sustain- longest hunger strike growth was evident also from the UAE will serve as a template for the timely ability certification for buildings – A rights activist who has waged what (13%) while arrivals from Bahrain also transfer of all remaining cargoes from will ensure the port achieves a sus- is thought to be the world’s longest increased by at least 1%. Doha Port to Hamad Port as planned in tainable balance between economic hunger strike ended her 16-year fast According to the report, the overall the second quarter of 2016, al-Sulaiti growth, social development and en- yesterday after vowing to continue number of visitors is 6% lower this said. Lessons learned will be applied to vironmental protection, the minister her struggle by standing for election year than the number recorded in the year,” a QTA spokesperson said. room (RevPAR) was QR319. the subsequent commissioning of as- added. in her home state. Page12 fi rst half of 2015. The timing of Ram- “This growth will continue as QTA Similar to usual trends, the highest adan, which this year began early in and its partners set in motion plans ARR and RevPAR levels continue to be June compared to mid-June last year, to redevelop Doha Port, creating an achieved by the 5-Star and Deluxe Ho- has had a clear impact on arrivals for attractive stop for cruise ships in the tel Apartment classes. the second quarter. Gulf,” he added. “The overall declines in visitor ar- However, August performance is Meanwhile, hotel occupancy and rivals and occupancy are consistent expected to be supported by the Qatar average room rates were lower during with trends seen across the region. As Summer Festival which will run for a the fi rst six months of this year com- economic conditions improve and the month. pared to the same period in 2015. number of travellers rises again, we are The festival has been designed to Occupancy rates in the tourist ac- determined to be ready with tourism attract visits at a traditionally off -peak commodation sector have seen a 15% products that can retain leisure visi- period in Qatar’s hospitality and retail fall from the fi rst half of 2015, with an tors, and increase the average length of sectors, with hotel and shopping pro- average of 64% occupancy recorded stay of business visitors,” the spokes- motions, cultural performances and across all hotels and hotel apartments person said. sports events that will drive footfall to in the fi rst half of 2016. “We are actively engaged on many establishments and venues. The drop was generated in part by fronts in line with the Qatar Na- “Visitor arrival fi gures should see a a 10% net increase in the number of tional Tourism Sector Strategy 2030 further increase in Q4 as the 2016/17 available rooms, as four new proper- to develop a sustainable tourism cruise season begins in October. Thir- ties have opened their doors since the sector, including efforts to encour- ty-two ships have already registered end of June 2015. age investment in tourism, boost- to dock in Doha’s ports, and they are Average room rates (ARR) across ing cruise tourism, and expanding HE al-Sulaiti: says the successful transfer of operations will serve as a template expected to carry over 50,000 visitors all hotels and apartments was international promotional activity,” for the timely transfer of all remaining cargoes from Doha Port to Hamad Port as on board, a ten-fold increase from last QR500, and revenue per available he added. planned in the second quarter of 2016.

Firms to be publicly named for repeated violation of midday work ban

ompanies in Qatar that continue tions on summer working hours, the of- the ministry, HE Dr al-Nuaimi said: “It works, including construction labour- into eff ect. Similar violations were seen to toil during the peak-temperature to violate government direc- fi cial Qatar News Agency reported. is important for companies to comply ers, for the 75-day period when the at some sites in the neighbourhood as hours. It also ensures the smooth and Ctives on summer work hours will Ministerial Decree No 16 of 2007 with standards that protect the health, summer weather is at its worst. well. effi cient delivery of construction du- be publicly named, HE the Minister of bans outdoor work in the country from safety and welfare of our workforce. A report published in Gulf Times on On the other hand, a number of com- ties as conditions are more bearable in Administrative Development, Labour 11.30am to 3pm, between June 15 and Companies that continue to violate June 16 showed how the rule was being panies have been deploying their per- the late-evening hours, thereby helping and Social Aff airs Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali August 31. Under the decree, compa- these directives should understand that fl outed in some places. sonnel for outdoor work in the evening boost productivity, according to site al-Nuaimi has said. nies that disregard the regulations can they will face stronger penalties and will For instance, some workers were or early hours of the day, it is learnt. supervisors. The Ministry of Administrative De- face site closures of up to one month, be publicly named for breaking the law.” seen in action at a site in Doha - where Their shifts begin after 7pm or around The revised timings have helped im- velopment, Labour and Social Aff airs depending upon the severity of the vio- The summer work hours rule is im- a multi-storey building was under 2-2.30am. prove work output, said one of them, has penalised 60 companies with three- lation. plemented with the aim of provid- construction - between 12.30pm and The change in schedule has provided hoping that the trend would continue day site closures for violating restric- Commenting on the site closures by ing relief to those engaged in outdoor 1.30pm on June 15, the day the ban came relief to the workers as they do not have in the coming years as well. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 QATAR

Inauguration of Chadian president Message from UK foreign secretary In brief

Emir greets Singapore president

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam on his country’s National Day. Qatar condemns HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has received a written Pakistan hospital message from UK’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson pertaining to bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them. The message was received by the Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry Dr bombing HE the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi during a meeting yesterday with Deputy British ambassador to representing Qatar at the inauguration of Idriss Deby as President of Chad in N’Djamena yesterday. Qatar Jacqueline Lawson-Smith. Qatar yesterday condemned the explosion that took place in a hospital in the Pakistani city of Quetta and left dozens injured or dead. The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Aff airs said in a statement that Brazil beef export to Qatar Motorists urged Qatar condemns such “criminal acts that contradict with all principles’’. The statement also denounced all to observe lane terrorist acts regardless of their growing after lifting of ban motives. The Ministry expressed Qatar’s support to Pakistan and its condolences to the victims By Joey Aguilar amount of beef to Qatar” before countries. In Qatar, the market discipline and the people of Pakistan, Staff Reporter the ban was imposed. share is around 70%, which form wishing the injured a speedy “There is a quality that people a signifi cant part of Brazil’s ex- recovery. recognise there,” the minister ports to Qatar. he Ministry of Inte- priate indicator to signal their razil has exported 458 added. “We have to regain some With the resumption of Bra- rior (MoI) has reminded intention to other road us- Advisory Council tonnes of beef to Qatar af- lost ground there when the mo- zilian beef in the Qatar market, Tmotorists to observe ers. This is one of the most Speaker meets Bter the ban imposed due to ment we were not present in the many residents are hoping for lane rules at intersections, important means of ensuring the mad cow disease scare was market, I think that is something a fall in prices of such meat in warning them that any viola- smooth traffi c movement and Turkish envoy lifted in March this year, Brazil- to come in the near future.” most supermarkets. tion will be captured on cam- avoiding accidents, the MoI ian embassy’s Charge d’Aff aires, Brazilian beef is known The lifting of the ban on Bra- era and registered as a traffi c post has noted. Minister Joao Belloc has said. around the world for its quality. zilian beef exports in the GCC off ence. The ministry has been carry- HE the Speaker of the Advisory Speaking to Gulf Times, the But due to one isolated case of is also expected to signifi cantly In a post on its Facebook ing out a number of initiatives to Council Mohamed bin Mubarak minister noted that the volume Bovine Spongiform Encepha- help in strengthening trade rela- page yesterday, the MoI make people aware of the need al-Khulaifi met Turkish of meat that entered the coun- Brazilian embassy’s Charge lopathy (popularly known as tions between Brazil and coun- stressed that motorists should to follow safe driving practices. ambassador to Qatar Ahmet try in four months represents d’Aff aires, Minister Joao Belloc. mad cow disease) early in late tries in the region. not change lanes at signals and These include the recent launch Demirok in Doha yesterday. $2.3mn in sales, citing fi gures 2012, some GCC countries, in- “As you know, Brazil was in a stick to their path in order to of a discussion forum on the Talks covered the developments from the Association of Brazilian cording to Belloc, adding that cluding Qatar and Saudi Arabia, weakened economic situation avoid accidents. MoI website to address the issue in the wake of the failed coup Beef exporters. residents can now easily fi nd the stopped importing beef from over the last year. However, the Following lane rules is key of using mobile phones while attempt in Turkey, in addition to “Brazilian beef was ‘reintro- Brazilian Picanha (a barbecue Brazil. economic data of the country to ensuring safe and smooth driving and fi nd ways to prevent parliamentary relations between duced’ in Qatar in March after cut designed in Brazil) at the lo- Late last year, Saudi lifted the already shows an optimistic traffi c fl ow and changing the practice. the two countries and ways of mutual diplomatic eff orts to lift cal supermarkets. ban but started importing Bra- dynamic,” the Minister said. tracks at intersections consti- People who use mobile enhancing them. HE Secretary- the embargo. The fi rst contain- He expressed optimism that zilian beef early this year fol- “Brazil is beginning to show tutes risky road behaviour and phones while at the wheel General of the Advisory Council ers of beef soon started to arrive Brazil will regain its position in lowed by Qatar in March. again positive balances in its a violation of traffi c laws, it is will be booked on the spot by Fahad bin Mubarak al-Khayareen in Doha,” he said. the Qatar market soon since the Besides beef, it is learnt that economy and hence import and observed. traffi c patrols and security attended the meeting. Exports of Brazilian beef are matter had been cleared already. Brazil remains to be a major export of more products are to The ministry has reiter- personnel, the ministry had also growing in a fast pace, ac- Brazil exports a “considerable exporter of poultry to all GCC rise.” ated that cameras installed at warned. Real estate intersections monitor such The ministry, through a se- violations, which will then be ries of tweets, reiterated the transactions recorded as traffi c off ences dangers of using mobile de- and the violator penalised in vices while driving and ad- Real estate transactions between accordance with the relevant vised motorists not to engage July 31 and August 4 for the laws. in such acts. sales contracts registered at the ‘OSN Sports Extra’ Package Besides sticking to the ap- The Traffi c Department has Ministry of Justice are worth propriate lane, motorists put in place a large number of QR222,678,000. The real estate should also abide by the speed cameras in key areas around registration department at the limit and observe traffi c rules the country to detect off ences Ministry said in its weekly report, in general to ensure the safety such as overtaking from the that the list of properties that now available on Ooredoo tv of every road user, the MoI has right and there are plans to were traded by sale includes pointed out. install more to curb risky driv- open plots of land, residential Those wanting to change ing practices, Gulf Times had buildings, a residential compound oredoo has announced to some of the most popular Sports Extra to its growing list of screen service so customers can lanes should use the appro- reported. and a multi-use building. the launch of a new sports in the region, includ- sports off erings, as the company use their Ooredoo Wi-Fi to enjoy Osports package – OSN ing Supercopa de España, continues to invest in a wide the best drama, comedy, docu- Sports Extra - for Ooredoo tv Arabian Gulf League matches, range of content for Qatar’s di- mentaries and hit shows on their and Mozaic TV subscribers. Ultimate Fighting Champi- verse population. smartphones and tablets, whilst Ooredoo already off ers a jam- onship (UFC), Major League OSN Sports Extra is available other users enjoy all the football packed OSN package full of en- Soccer, NFL, NHL, interna- now and costs QR105 per month. action. Domasco introduces live chat tertainment, and the latest OSN tional rugby competitions, So that users never miss a mo- Ooredoo tv is available now Sports Extra bundle has been cricket tournaments including ment, events which are broad- via Ooredoo Shops, Starlink, designed to allow users to watch the Pakistani league and World cast during the same time slot TechnoBlue and Jumbo out- support feature on GAC website the latest matches and sports Cup, golf tournaments, tennis on OSN Sports Extra channels lets. The service has no upfront content. events, WWE live events and can be recorded, using Ooredoo charges, no equipment costs and The new package from OSN matches, and more. tv’s set-top box. no ongoing contracts. oha Marketing Services from a company’s website. “Domasco has further en- will offer exclusive access Ooredoo has added OSN Ooredoo tv also off ers a multi- Company (Domasco) They want an interactive hanced the online communica- Drecently implemented a and engaging experience tion process by adding the live live chat support feature on its that answers all their ques- chat feature to GAC’s website,” GAC Motor website. tions in an easy-to-use said Faisal Sharif, managing Domasco is the authorised multimedia interface. This director, Domasco. “We guide distributor for GAC cars in Qa- chat software widget gives our visitors through the en- Holiday packages up for grabs in Visa summer campaign tar. them the same experience tire process on the website and GAC’s new feature “delivers as speaking with a salesper- then turn them into satisfi ed live chat support and fulfi lment son in the showroom and, customers.” lobal payments technol- ers need to make at least one inter- launched to inspire travellers to to launch another edition of that goes further to display the in effect, turns the website Speaking on the “anytime, ogy company Visa has national transaction worth $100 explore destinations as locals the highly anticipated Not A customer-centric outlook of into a virtual showroom,” anywhere” digital conversa- Gannounced the launch of or more during the promotional rather than tourists, by giving Tourist Summer Getaway 2016 the GAC team”, Domasco has Domasco said. tions platform, Domasco sales its Not A Tourist Summer Geta- period using their Visa cards. them access to local knowledge campaign that rewards interna- said in a press statement. A vis- Live chat can be used by cli- and marketing manager An- way 2016 campaign. Eligible international trans- using crowdsourced digital con- tional holiday spends. The #No- itor can initiate a chat request ents wherever they are just drew Parrott noted: “We’re The initiative will provide actions include point-of-sales tent available on Visa’s NotA- tATourist campaign is aimed by clicking on the “Chat with by reaching the GAC website, confi dent you will acquire the Visa cardholders in Qatar with a spends, ATM withdrawals and Tourist website (http://www. at rewarding Visa cardholders us” button on the right bottom www.gacmotor.qa, from their information you are looking for chance to win holiday packages eCommerce transactions on in- visa-promotions.com/nota- while driving travel inspiration of the screen and s/he will be desktop, mobile or tablet and very easily with our 30-second every week until September 12, ternational sites. Prizes for each tourist/fi nd-more.html) and the and aiding in travel planning.” instantly chatting with a rep- ask for any information they average rate response. This is a the company has said in a press week will be announced at the Visa Explore mobile app. In addition to rewarding card- resentative who can answer all need – such as showroom rare and unique feature in the statement. end of the campaign. Karim Beg, head of marketing holders, the promotion aims to queries. opening hours, a car’s features, automotive industry in this To be automatically entered to This is a continuation of last at Visa, Middle East and North reinforce the benefi ts of cashless “Today’s automotive prices, model availability, spe- market, which we are proud to win a holiday package, cardhold- year’s NotATourist campaign Africa, said: “Visa is delighted transactions. consumers expect more cial promotions, etc. unveil.”

HMC supports next generation of Qatari academic health leaders

s part of Hamad Medi- tem Offi ce, graduated from the fi cer for surgical services, HMC. broadly, and helps them to suc- velopment opportunities for clinicians from around the globe their careers,” Dr al-Hammadi cal Corporation’s (HMC) highly competitive year-long The intensive course involved cessfully lead their clinical areas existing leaders and senior col- and is an ideal opportunity to said. Acommitment to nurtur- programme in May. They are: Dr three fi ve-day trips to the cam- and their research and academic leagues, helping them to un- share best practices and experi- “This programme is unique as ing and supporting the next gen- Noora Mohamed al-Hammadi, pus in Canada as well as assign- programmes, as well as help derstand their leadership roles ences that will ultimately bring it focuses specifi cally on build- eration of clinical leaders, three chairman, Radiation Oncol- ments and webinars while they their colleagues be successful. within an academic health con- real results for our patients and ing leadership abilities within an senior Qatari clinicians recently ogy, HMC & assistant profes- were back in Doha. Professor Bill McKenna, In- text, and enabling them to be- the community.” academic health context. We are completed the prestigious New sor, Clinical Radiation Oncology The NEAL programme focus- stitutional Offi cer for Research come ambassadors for change in Dr Noora al-Hammadi, one all in a position to translate that and Emerging Academic Leaders – Weill Cornell Medical College es on building skills and exper- at HMC said an important pil- the system as well as to support of the participants said the pro- learning and experience into real (NEAL) programme at the Uni- – Qatar; Dr Jassim al-Suwaidi, tise in important domains that lar of the Corporation’s unique the development of new or nov- gramme was of great benefi t to benefi ts for our patients,” she versity of Toronto’s Centre for executive director of Cardio- underpin academic leadership: Academic Health System is to ice colleagues, who will assume her and her colleagues. “It was a added. Faculty Development. vascular Research and senior intrapersonal, interpersonal, or- develop the next generation of these leadership roles in the fu- unique opportunity to work with HMC will be sending three The fi rst group of three senior consultant interventional cardi- ganisational and system. Equip- clinical, academic and research ture,” he said. experienced academic leaders more clinical leaders for the next Qatari clinicians, supported by ologist, HMC and Dr Abdulla al- ping clinical leaders with these leaders. “This programme attracts from many diff erent institu- intake of the programme in Sep- HMC’s Academic Health Sys- Ansari, deputy chief medical of- skills allows them to think more “This means providing de- some of the best and brightest tions, and at diff erent stages of tember 2016. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 10, 2016 3 QATAR

Customs chief meets Singapore envoy

Chairman of the General Authority of Customs Ahmed bin Ali al-Mohannadi with the ambassador of Singapore to Qatar Wong Kok Bonn in Doha yesterday. They discussed matters pertaining to customs and its role in enhancing co-operation between Qatar and Singapore and facilitating exchange of trade. They also discussed the latest developments achieved by the Qatari customs in this area.

Kahramaa takes steps to improve power network

QNA were issued for mainte- grading systems controlling work stability within adopt- Doha nance, construction of sta- the stations and securing ed operating levels. tions and repairing damage. the appropriate electrical During the period, Kah- Kahramaa said its Electric- feedings for many activities ramaa extended 443km of he Qatar General ity Control Centre attended in the country. distribution cables, includ- Electricity and Water to 232 cases of damage in its Kahramaa said that dur- ing 372km of 11K/V cables. TCorporation (Kah- distribution network and ing the period, it monitored It also attended to some ramaa) has taken several restored power to custom- maintenance works and re- 13,731 frequent interruption measures to improve elec- ers during the period, issued placement of the existing cases. tricity transmission, dis- 1,557 permits for checking network in electricity dis- Also during the period tribution and maintenance missions, constructed 298 tribution stations in order 88% of protection devices of network in the second new electricity distribution to reduce damage rate. were replaced with modern quarter of 2016. stations, removing around The corporation operated digital devices. In a press release is- 9.33km overhead lines, and 490 distribution trans- Kahramaa’s future stra- sued yesterday, listing the extended 296.75km of un- formers, 301 distribution tegic plans aim at improv- achievements during the derground cables for sup- plants besides building 148 ing performance to raise the period, Kahramaa said its porting the medium voltage electricity distribution sta- level of electrical network Electricity Control Centre network. tions. It also completed ci- via periodical maintenance carried out several mainte- Moreover, 75% of the vilian maintenance works of transmission and distri- nance works in the second Cyber Security Project has for 320 stations in order to bution plants and monitor- quarter of the current year, been accomplished for Es- maintain the performance ing them through the Na- during which 1,658 permits cada Control Centre, up- level of the electrical net- tional Control Centre. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, August 10, 2015 REGION

Kuwait buys 30 Raids on Airbus copters in 1bn euro deal

Yemeni AFP lamic State militant group. Paris “With this deal, Kuwait fur- ther strengthens the strategic partnership which has bound rance will supply 30 mili- together our two countries for tary helicopters to Kuwait several decades, while we are Fin a deal worth over 1bn eu- currently engaged side-by-side capital ros ($1.1bn) that French Defence in the fi ght against Daesh in Iraq Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Syria,” Le Drian said in a signed in the Gulf state yesterday. statement, using the Arabic term The agreement to buy the ver- for Islamic State. satile Airbus Caracal helicopters Kuwait’s army will use 24 of is part of a 2.5bn euro package the helicopters mainly for search of deals that the two countries and rescue missions and for resume agreed in October 2015. transport purposes, but they are France has given Kuwait military also fi tted with machine guns AFP people were killed in coalition support since the 1990 invasion of allowing them to off er ground Sanaa strikes which residents said hit the country by Saddam Hussain’s troops cover from the air. a food factory in central Sanaa. Iraqi forces. The two countries are The Kuwait National Guard Factory director Abdullah al- also fi ghting together in the inter- will operate the remaining six audi-led coalition war- Aqel gave a higher toll of 16 dead national coalition against the Is- helicopters. planes have resumed air and 10 wounded, and said all the Sstrikes on Yemen’s capi- victims were workers. An employee walks inside a snack food factory after a Saudi-led air strike hit it in Sanaa yesterday. tal for the fi rst time in three The Al-Aqel factory, which months, killing 14 people yes- makes potato chips and is near months but had resumed op- key town in the southern prov- were injured” on Sunday in terday and shutting the airport a military equipment main- erations because of increased ince of Shabwa. Nihm, northeast of Sanaa. after UN-brokered talks were tenance centre targeted in the violations by the rebels and the Azzan lies on the highway Local sources in the area, suspended. raids, was hit during working failure of the Kuwait talks. between Shabwa’s provincial where fi ghting had been non- The coalition intervened hours, he said. In July, the rebels rejected a capital Ataq and Mukalla, capi- stop since months, confi rmed in March last year after Shia Six charred bodies were re- UN peace plan and announced tal of the vast desert province of that a coalition air strike that Houthi rebels and allied forces moved from the area, residents the creation of the governing Hadramawt and which was un- day on a market killed 13 civil- loyal to former president Ali had said earlier. council, a move that strength- der Al Qaeda control for a year ians. Abdullah Saleh overran Sanaa The raids come less than 72 ens their control of Sanaa. until April. “Unicef deplores such acts the previous September. hours after more than three Despite being backed by coa- In Sanaa, fl ights were sus- and urges all parties to exercise They later tightened their months of UN-brokered peace lition air power, government pended yesterday for at least maximum caution and avoid grip on power and forced Presi- talks in Kuwait were suspended forces have so far failed to retake three days. civilian infrastructure,” said A French Caracal helicopter flying during an air-to-air refuelling exercise. dent Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi following the appointment by Sanaa and other parts of north- “Operations are ongoing, and the UN agency which estimates France says seals 1bn euro military helicopter sale to Kuwait yesterday. to fl ee in February 2015. the rebels and their allies of a ern Yemen. this could endanger fl ights,” As- that more than 1,100 children Hadi is now based in Riyadh, council to run Yemen. Authorities are also strug- siri said. have been killed since March as are members of his inter- The talks made no head- gling to assert control on south- Sanaa airport director Kha- 2015. US okays $1.15bn sale of tanks to Saudi nationally recognised govern- way, but UN envoy Ismail Ould ern parts of the country they lid al-Shayef said the facility Meanwhile, the offi cial ment who travel between Saudi Cheikh Ahmed refused to call have recaptured since last year would be shut for 72 hours from sabanew.net website reported Arabia and Yemen’s temporary the negotiations a failure and as Al Qaeda and Islamic State yesterday morning, at the order that pro-Hadi chief-of-staff The US State Department has ap- principal contractor for the sale, add- capital Aden in the south. said he would continue to con- group militants exploited the of Saudi Arabia. General Mohamed Ali al- proved the potential sale of more ing it would contribute to US national Coalition spokesman General sult with both sides to arrange confl ict to expand in these The UN says that more than Maqdishi has spoken to the than 130 Abrams battle tanks, 20 security by improving the security of Ahmed Assiri confi rmed that further meetings. zones. 6,400 people, mostly civilians, president of “great victories” armoured recovery vehicles and a regional partner. the air strikes against the rebels A ceasefi re that started on Coalition aircraft have also have been killed in Yemen since in Nahm, adding that “Sanaa is other equipment, worth about “This sale will increase the Royal had restarted and led to the clo- April 11 failed to hold as the par- been targeting Al Qaeda and IS the coalition air campaign be- close to being liberated”. $1.15bn, to Saudi Arabia, the Penta- Saudi Land Force’s (RSLF) interoper- sure of Sanaa airport, saying ties traded accusations of viola- militants. gan last March. The army is making “sig- gon said yesterday. The US Defence ability with US forces and conveys warplanes hit military targets tions. A security offi cial said yester- Children’s agency Unicef said nifi cant advances with support Security Co-operation Agency, which US commitment to Saudi Arabia’s “around” the city. Assiri said the coalition had day that coalition strikes have yesterday that “four children from the Arab coalition forces”, oversees foreign arms sales, said security and armed forces moderni- Medics there said that 14 respected the truce for three forced Al Qaeda out of Azzan, a were reportedly killed and three Maqdishi said. that General Dynamics will be the sation,” the agency said. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 10, 2016 5 ARAB WORLD UN appeals for urgent aid access to Aleppo

AFP Unicef said children and fami- number of civilians in the city at Beirut lies were facing “a catastrophic about 1.5mn, with 250,000 in the situation” after fi ghting dam- eastern districts. aged electricity networks needed Jens Laerke, spokesman for the A Palestinian woman argues with an Israeli soldier during clashes near the West Bank village of Qusra, west of Nablus, yesterday. he United Nations has to pump water. UN humanitarian agency, said called for urgent aid access “These cuts are coming amid the situation was “critical”. Tto Syria’s Aleppo, warning a heatwave, putting children at a “Our concern today is really civilians are at grave risk includ- grave risk of waterborne diseas- for the entire city where we have ing from severe water shortages es,” said Hanaa Singer, its repre- up to 2mn people who may be cut after fi ghting intensifi ed for the sentative in Syria. off from water and electricity,” he city. “Getting clean water running said in Geneva. Israeli demolitions leave Fears are growing for trapped again cannot wait for the fi ght- The recent fl are-up in fi ghting civilians ahead of what is expect- ing to stop. Children’s lives are in began in late June as government ed to be an all-out battle for con- serious danger.” forces closed in on the Castello trol of Aleppo, Syria’s second city The UN’s top humanitarian Road, the last route into rebel- and a focal point of the country’s offi cial in Syria, Yacoub El Hillo, held parts of the city. fi ve-year civil war. and regional co-ordinator Kevin The road was severed in mid- 27 Palestinians homeless Rebel factions and President Kennedy said medical and food July, beginning a roughly three- Bashar al-Assad’s regime have stocks “are running dangerously week siege of eastern districts AFP ated residents who attempted at least eight times, Palestinian Settlement construction has sent hundreds of reinforcements low”. until opposition fi ghters broke Um Al-Kheir, Palestinian territories to prevent the demolitions, said Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah gone hand-in-hand with demo- to Aleppo in anticipation of the “At a minimum, the UN re- through on Saturday. the group, which campaigns said in a statement. litions of Palestinian homes. fi ghting, after opposition forces quires a full-fl edged ceasefi re or The push saw a coalition of against Israel’s occupation of “Israel is relentlessly destroy- Um Al-Kheir lies close to the broke a government siege at the weekly 48-hour humanitarian rebels, Islamists, and militants srael demolished fi ve homes the West Bank and regularly ing Palestinians’ homes and live- Israeli settlement of Carmel. weekend and vowed to capture pauses to reach the millions of cut off the regime’s own main in the occupied West Bank criticises abuses in the Palestin- lihoods in order to make way for Israel argues that most of the entire city. people in need throughout Alep- access road on the city’s south- Iyesterday, leaving 27 Pal- ian territories. more illegal settlements,” he said. the buildings it demolishes Hundreds of thousands of ci- po and replenish the food and ern edges. estinians homeless, more than An AFP photographer at the About 600,000 Israeli set- have been constructed without vilians remain inside the city, medicine stocks,” they said. The off ensives have left resi- half of them children, residents site saw children playing amid tlers live in the West Bank and building permits. once Syria’s main economic hub, Aleppo has been divided be- dents reeling from skyrocketing and an Israeli rights group said. twisted iron sheets and personal east Jerusalem, Palestinian ter- But the necessary permits are and UN offi cials sounded the tween a rebel-held east and prices and food shortages and Israeli bulldozers destroyed belongings, under searing heat. ritories occupied by Israel since rarely given to Palestinians. alarm. regime-controlled west since afraid of further violence. the prefabricated shelters in the B’Tselem said the demolitions 1967. COGAT, the department of UN agencies said yesterday fi ghting erupted in the city in Each side has used newly ac- village of Um Al-Kheir, some of had left 16 children homeless. The international community Israel’s defence ministry in that up to 2mn people in Aleppo mid-2012. quired territory to bring food and them built with European Union The structures had been built sees the settlements as a major charge of the occupied territo- had gone without running water The UN says 2mn people in other supplies into neighbour- funding, early yesterday, said with EU aid after houses in the obstacle to the creation of a Pal- ries, did not immediately com- for four days, raising the risks of the city are at risk, including up hoods they control, but the roads the B’Tselem NGO. village, on the southern tip of estinian state and therefore to ment on the Um Al-Kheir dem- disease in a city already devas- to 275,000 people in east Aleppo. are still not safe for civilians to Israeli police forcibly evacu- the West Bank, were demolished peace between the two sides. olitions. tated by years of fi ghting. Other estimates put the total use.

Al-Aqsa chief criticises Israeli police ban on entry to compound UN vows probe over Several employees from Waqf, the Muslim trust that administers Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque, have been banned by Israeli police from entering Hamas aid allegation the mosque’s walled compound, a Waqf official said on Monday. Sheikh Omar Kiswani, director of the mosque, said AFP to focus home rebuilding eff orts that police have given orders over the past two Jerusalem in areas where Hamas members weeks to 10 employees, including administrators lived, after pressure from the and guards, that forbid them from going inside the group. compound, some for periods of up to six months. he United Nations said The UNDP said despite the One administrator, Bassam Hallaq, director of yesterday it was “great- allegations, it was confi dent it projects, was arrested for several hours last week Tly concerned” at Israeli had “robust measures in place to for allegedly carrying out work inside the holy claims one of its staff helped Ha- ensure that the rubble, which is compound without police permission. mas fi ghters in Gaza and vowed an removed and crushed, goes to its Under a status quo agreement at the site, only internal investigation. intended purpose,” the statement Muslims may pray on the platform housing Al-Aqsa “The United Nations Devel- said. Mosque as well as the ruins of the Temple Mount. opment Programme (UNDP) is “The allegations concern- Jews may visit but not pray on the platform. In- greatly concerned by the allega- ing Mr Borsh by the Israeli au- stead, they may pray at a nearby ancient retaining tion from the Israeli authorities,” thorities refer to 300 tonnes of wall, known as the Wailing Wall. it said, promising “a thorough in- the more than 1mn tonnes re- “The police measures are an attempt to terrify the ternal review of the processes and moved, or seven truckloads out officials and guards to prevent them from carrying circumstances surrounding the of a total of nearly 26,000,” it out their duties,” said Kiswani, warning that these allegation.” added. measures also aim to change the status quo. Israel yesterday charged engi- It was the second time an aid An Israeli police spokesman said that he was not neer Waheed Borsh with divert- worker had been charged with familiar with the Palestinian complaints. ing aid to Hamas, particularly by working with Hamas in a week, Palestinian officials and Jordan – the official custo- using rubble from UNDP projects after the Gaza head of the US- dian of Al-Aqsa Mosque – have always vehemently to build a jetty used by Hamas for based charity World Vision was opposed any changes to the status quo at or near its naval force. accused on Thursday of passing the Muslim site. He is also alleged to have last millions of dollars in internation- Israel denies any attempts to change it. year persuaded UNDP managers al aid to the group.

Sudanese rebel groups sign peace roadmap

Prominent Sudanese rebel groups said yesterday they have signed a roadmap brokered by African Union mediators to end deadly conflicts in Sudan’s strife-torn Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan regions. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions displaced over the years in the three regions as ethnic minority groups rebelled against President Omar al-Bashir’s government. Workers unload a Humvee, as Lebanese Army soldiers stand near Howitzers, part of a When Khartoum representatives military donation from the US government to the Lebanese army, during a ceremony signed the roadmap at a previous at Beirut’s port, yesterday. round of talks in March in Addis Ababa, prominent rebel groups refused to do so. But on Monday three of these groups – the Justice and Equality New US aid delivery to Lebanese army Movement, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North Reuters $220mn this year, making Lebanon the (SPLM-N) and a faction of the Beirut fi fth-biggest recipient of American mili- Sudan Liberation Army (SLA- tary assistance, US ambassador Elizabeth Minnawi) – signed it in the Richard said during the delivery. Ethiopian capital. he United States delivered 50 ar- Fighting between Islamic State and Another faction of the Sudan moured vehicles, 40 artillery pieces other Islamist militant groups in Syria Liberation Army, the SLA-AW, has Tand 50 grenade launchers to the often fl ares in the mountains along Leba- yet to come on board. Lebanese army yesterday, part of its ef- non’s northern frontier and the violence “The top priority is to stop the forts to bolster Lebanon against a threat has periodically spilled across the border. wars and deliver humanitarian aid from militant groups in neighbouring, Eight Islamic State suicide bombers tar- to people aff ected,” Sudan Call, confl ict-ridden Syria. geted a Christian village in Lebanon near the a Sudanese group comprising The equipment, worth $50mn, is part Syrian frontier last month, killing fi ve and rebel movements and opposition of an aid package that has now topped raising fears of a new campaign of attacks. political parties, said. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 AFRICA

Kenya’s ruling Clashes heighten fears coalition to merge

Reuters ahead of Zambia polls Nairobi AFP have erupted regularly in recent “Both sides say that only a Lusaka months, with Hichilema’s loyal- rigged election could stop them enya’s president said yes- ists furious at alleged attempts winning,” Neo Simutanyo, di- terday that he would seek by authorities to quell opposi- rector of the Centre for Policy Kre-election next year and he two leading contenders tion campaigning. Research, told AFP. “The level transform his coalition of small in Zambia’s presidential The UPND’s vice-president of tension is higher than in the parties into one party to shore Telection condemned yes- has been arrested and released past, and the environment is up his power base, a move aimed terday fresh outbreaks of vio- twice, and the main independ- not conducive to peaceful and at seeing off another likely chal- lence between their supporters ent newspaper has been closed fair elections. We are worried lenge by the opposition leader. as concerns grow that the rela- in an apparent dispute over our democratic record is threat- President Uhuru Kenyatta tively stable country could face taxes. ened.” narrowly won election in 2013 in worsening unrest. The election commission The election is being held af- east Africa’s biggest economy. Just 18 months after Presi- halted campaigning in the capi- ter the 2015 vote gave Lungu the At the time, he and deputy dent Edgar Lungu narrowly won tal Lusaka for 10 days last month right to complete the term of the William Ruto faced international a snap election, he and his main in an eff ort to reduce the vio- late president Michael Sata, who prosecution for crimes against rival Hakainde Hichilema face lence. died in offi ce of an undisclosed humanity over deadly violence off again in tomorrow’s polls in a “The PF shamelessly ob- illness. after 2007’s disputed election fi eld of nine candidates. structs our campaigns by in- Felix Mwelwa, 53, a casual but the charges – which they de- The stakes are high, with Lun- timidating media outlets, lean- labourer in Mtendere, scene of nied – were later dropped. gu battling to retain the offi ce he ing on the police to cancel our Monday’s unrest, said that un- Kenyatta – a member of one of secured only last year, and Hich- rallies and sponsoring attacks employment must be the prior- Kenya’s richest families and the ilema pushing to fi nally secure on our supporters,” Hichilema ity for the next government. son of its fi rst president – said victory after four previous at- commented to AFP by e-mail. “We are now a country of that he would launch the Jubi- tempts. “We have seen unarmed sup- street traders, not a country of lee Party, merging his National Only 27,757 votes – less than porters shot dead by police and production,” he told AFP, de- Alliance with Ruto’s National two percentage points – sepa- our youths beaten to death for clining to reveal his choice of Republican Party and at least rated the two candidates in the no other crime than wearing a party. “Youths have nothing else 10 other coalition parties, in a 2015 ballot. People in Lusaka walk by a billboard with picture of the incumbent president Edgar Lungu, of the UPND T-shirt.” to do, so they join in with elec- month’s time. With new constitutional rules Patriotic Front (PF) ruling party, ahead of presidential and legislative elections tomorrow. Zambia, ruled by Kenneth tion fi ghting and the police don’t The move anticipates another demanding that the winner Kaunda from 1964 until 1991, stop it.” potential face-off with opposi- needs more than 50%, a sec- bus of Hichilema’s United Par- several injuries were reported What happened in Mtendere has suff ered a sharp downturn No opinion polls have been tion leader Raila Odinga, ex- ond round run-off could be held ty for National Development during other skirmishes in the yesterday is unacceptable. I have in economic growth and thou- published predicting the elec- pected to be the main opposition weeks after the election, height- (UPND) in the Mtendere district district. called on the police to ... enforce sands of job losses in its crucial tion winner. challenger as he was in the votes ening hostilities further. of Lusaka. “Zambia is a peaceful nation,” laws on any person who will be copper-mining sector. Zambia also votes tomorrow of 2013 and 2007. On Monday, supporters of UPND activists fl ed as rocks Lungu said in a statement. “I will found guilty irrespective of their GDP growth last year was to choose lawmakers and local “I am staking my legacy on Lungu’s Patriotic Front (PF) at- smashed into the vehicle, Inter- not tolerate any person attempt- political affi liation.” 3.6%, the slowest since 1998, councillors, and in a referendum political unity and stability,” tacked an open-top campaign net video footage showed, while ing to break the peace we have. Election-related clashes while infl ation is over 20%. on an amended bill of rights. Kenyatta said in a nationally tel- evised address. Odinga told a media confer- ence that he was “not scared” by the new party. His Coalition for Reforms Climate warming and Democracy is made up of a number of smaller political par- ties. blamed for vanishing “I have gone around the coun- try and met citizens who are dissatisfi ed with Jubilee. They fi sh in African lake will show that at the ballot,” said Odinga. The next presidential and par- AFP fi shery is ‘too many fi shing liamentary elections will be held Miami boats,’ but our work shows the on August 8 next year. decline in fi sh has been going on since the 19th century,” said ish are becoming more lead author Andrew Cohen at Guide stabs, kills scarce in Africa’s oldest the University of Arizona. “We tourist in Kenya’s Fand deepest lake, Lake can see this decline in the num- Tanganyika, because of climate bers of fossil fi sh going down in Maasai Mara warming, not just overfi shing, parallel with the rise in water US researchers said this week. temperature.” This file photo taken on March 22, 2015 shows fishing boats returning to dock on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Uvira. Fish are becoming A Chinese tour guide stabbed and The study on Lake Tanganyi- Overfi shing is still partly more scarce in Africa’s oldest and deepest lake, Lake Tanganyika, because of climate warming, not just overfishing, US researchers said this killed a tourist who was visiting ka, which covers parts of Tan- to blame for the reduction in week. Kenya’s famed Maasai Mara zania, Burundi and the Demo- catch, Cohen acknowledged. Game Reserve after an argument cratic Republic of the Congo, However, the warming of the over the seating arrangement relied on sediment samples lake predates that, and has re- for dinner, police and a lodge drilled from the lake bed and duced the suitable habitat for manager said yesterday. going back 1,500 years to ana- fi sh and molluscs by 38% since John Kiruti, manager of Keekorok lyse the changing biodiversity. 1946, said the study in the Au- Sierra Leone, Liberia risk another outbreak Lodge, which is within the park, Researchers found that the gust 8 edition of the Proceed- said that the woman, also a lake has been warming since ings of the National Academy of Chinese citizen, sustained serious the 1800s, leading to a decline Sciences. AFP 37% of people do not have ac- water, sanitation and hygiene of Ebola, meaning there were no chest injuries in the incident late in lake algae which fi sh feed Lake Tanganyika is known Freetown cess to clean water, the British- practices in our communities, known cases in west Africa of on Monday and died as she was on, and decreasing numbers of for diverse species, many of based group said in a statement. schools and healthcare facili- the tropical virus that left more being transferred to another fi sh. which are unique to the lake, In Liberia, the fi gure is 24.5%. ties,” WaterAid’s Joe Lambon- than 11,300 people dead in the tourist camp for treatment. Large-scale commercial with hundreds of species found ierra Leone and Liberia When it comes to basic sani- gang said in the statement. region since late 2013. Her husband sustained serious fi shing began on Lake Tangan- nowhere else, Cohen said. risk epidemics akin to the tation, WaterAid said the fi gures “These basic provisions are The World Health Organisa- stomach injuries. yika in the 1950s, and some As it warms, large parts of SEbola virus due to lack of were even higher – 86.7% of the fi rst line of defence against tion declared an end on June 1 to “The tour guide who had brought have raised concern that over- the freshwater lake’s fl oor clean water and hygienic con- people in Sierra Leone and just infectious diseases including Ebola cases in Guinea – where it three clients from his country fi shing may be threatening the are losing oxygen and killing ditions in most homes, an NGO over 83% in Liberia live without Ebola. To ask healthcare pro- fi rst broke out in December 2013 for two nights diff ered with lake’s fi sh. off bottom-dwellers such as warned yesterday. access to it. fessionals to battle an epidemic – and in Sierra Leone on March the couple ... over the sitting The lake provides 60% of the snails. WaterAid said the two pro- “The terrible suff ering of the without clean water, safe toi- 17. arrangement at dinner time,” animal protein to feed people in “We know this warming is visions were the “fi rst line of people of Sierra Leone and Li- lets and somewhere to wash According Sierra Leone’s Kiruti said. “After a brief exchange the region, and yields 200,000 going on in other lakes,” Cohen defence” against infectious dis- beria during the Ebola crisis is their hands is unrealistic and health ministry fi gures, 30% of of words, he drew a knife and tonnes of fi sh annually. said. “It has important impli- eases but needed to be put into at high risk of being repeated needlessly puts lives at risk,” he the population dies every year of stabbed the two, fatally injuring “Some people say the prob- cations for food and for ecosys- place before outbreaks began. in another disease epidemic if added. diseases passed on by contami- the woman and injuring her lem for the Lake Tanganyika tems changing rapidly.” In Sierra Leone, more than we do not see action to improve In June, Liberia said it was free nated water. husband.”

Mugabe seeks to retain army’s support

Reuters clashes between the police and taxi Harare drivers on July 4, while the biggest strike in a decade shut down business- es countrywide two days later. imbabwe is trying to improve ac- Nevertheless, ZDF Commander commodation for the military, General Constantino Chiwenga told ZPresident Robert Mugabe said reporters from the state-owned me- yesterday, in a bid to retain its support dia that the force was fully behind the despite recent pay delays as the gov- leadership of Mugabe, who last month ernment goes through its tightest cash received a stinging rebuke from his squeeze in seven years. former war-veteran allies. The military has underpinned Chiwenga described as “nonsense” 92-year-old Mugabe’s often contro- a stream of local private media reports versial rule over the southern African that he harboured political ambitions nation since it won independence from and supported Vice-President Em- Britain in 1980. merson Mnangagwa to take over from But mounting economic woes have Mugabe. seen his government fail to pay sol- Divisions have emerged within the diers, police and the other public ruling ZANU-PF party as senior offi - workers who make up the Zimbabwe cials position for a post-Mugabe era, Defence Forces (ZDF) on time in the with two factions emerging, one seen last few months. Mugabe at the Defence Force’s 36th supporting Mnangagwa and another Mugabe did not comment on the pay anniversary celebrations in Harare. rallying behind Mugabe’s wife Grace. delays in a speech to mark ZDF Day, but “The African proverb which says he said the forces had recently bought Analysts say that the pay delays ‘There is no sun which rises before a new fl eet of vehicles to carry troops, could stoke political tension in a nation another sets’ holds true, because no cars for its staff and buses to transport plagued by drought, a drop in mineral nation can ever have two leaders,” personnel to work. prices and chronic cash shortages – Chiwenga said. “The ZDF will never “Eff orts are still under way to pro- all of which has led to recent unrest accept any unconstitutional change vide decent accommodation to mem- against the ageing leader. of Government and we stand fi rm and bers of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces,” Zimbabwe has witnessed anti-gov- unequivocal by the President of the he said, without giving details. ernment protests including violent Republic of Zimbabwe.” Gulf Times Wednesday, August 10, 2016 7 AMERICA

NY reports Clinton urges 66% rise in overdose US Congress deaths AFP New York

eaths from drug over- doses soared 66% from to reconvene, D2010 to 2015 in New York with heroin overdose death rates up 158% over the same period, city authorities announced yes- terday. Heroin was involved in 59% of the 937 drug overdose deaths re- pass Zika bill ported in America’s largest city in 2015, the city health depart- Reuters would do to put the resources President Barack Obama in ment said. Miami into this fi ght,” Clinton said af- February requested $1.9bn in Rising opioid involved over- ter touring a community health emergency funding to fi ght the US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton listens as staff members of Borinquen Health dose deaths have become a pub- centre. “I would very much urge virus. Care Centre speak with her in Miami, Florida, yesterday. lic health crisis across the United S Democratic presiden- the leadership of Congress to call In May, the US Senate ap- States. tial candidate Hillary people back for a special session proved a $1.1bn package, while earn bipartisan support. nor Rick Scott said yesterday Congress and the president Drug overdoses now kill more UClinton said at a cam- and get a bill passed.” the House passed legislation “Pass the bipartisan funding that there are four new cases of fail to come to an agreement Americans than car crashes. paign stop in Miami yesterday Clinton said she fi rst learned providing $622mn. bill that the Senate passed. people likely infected with Zika hinders our national response From 2010 to 2014, the that she thinks congressional of the threat posed by the Zika Final approval was delayed The Senate passed a bill and through mosquito bites in the to Zika,” Scott said in a state- number of heroin overdose leaders should hold a special virus in December from her when the Republican-controlled unfortunately a diff erent bill Miami area. ment. deaths in the United States session to pass a funding bill to daughter, Chelsea Clinton. Congress attached provisions was passed in the House and There are now 21 total cases “The federal government more than tripled, while deaths combat the Zika virus. In April, Clinton sent two that Democrats oppose. no agreement could be reached of locally transmitted Zika must stop playing politics and from opioid drugs such as fen- “I am very disappointed that deputies to study the virus in Clinton on Monday urged the before they went out on recess,” within a 1-sq-mile (2.6-sq-km) Congress needs to immediately tanyl – which killed the singer the Congress went on recess be- Puerto Rico, the territory with passage of the original Senate Clinton said in Miami. area in Miami-Dade County. come back to session to resolve Prince – almost doubled, ac- fore actually agreeing what they the fi rst US Zika cases. bill or a similar one that can Florida Republican Gover- “Every day that passes that this.” cording to a report released by the Drug Enforcement Admin- istration in June. In 2014, 14,000 people died from an opioid overdose in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Newborn dies from Zika virus in Texas Prevention. “These new data confi rm that opioid addiction is a grow- AFP in Latin America, and gave birth related cases, and there is no A CDC spokesman told AFP it can lead to the birth defect mi- state to report that mosquitoes ing problem,” New York’s city Miami to the baby in Harris County additional associated risk in by e-mail that the agency is crocephaly, in which infants are are actively transmitting the health commissioner Mary Bas- near Houston, according to the Texas,” it said. aware of the news from Texas born with unusually small heads virus. sett said. state health department. In June, an elderly man in but off ered no further details. and deformed brains. A total of 21 Zika cases in the “It is the reason the health baby born with brain de- “The baby passed away Utah became the fi rst person The CDC says 15 infants have Texas has reported 97 cases of Miami area are believed to be department has taken a com- fects caused by the mos- shortly after birth and is the to die of Zika in the mainland been born in the United States Zika, including two infants with linked to mosquitoes carry- prehensive approach to prevent Aquito-borne Zika virus fi rst Zika-related death report- United States. with Zika-related defects, and microcephaly. ing the virus in the Wynwood overdose deaths in New York has died in Texas, marking the ed in Texas,” said a statement. The US Centers for Disease six pregnancy losses are associ- All these cases “are related to neighbourhood. City,” she added. southern state’s fi rst Zika-related “Recent test results con- Control and Prevention is only ated with Zika infection. travel abroad to areas with ac- Another 357 cases in Florida In April, the city announced a death, offi cials said yesterday. fi rmed the baby’s condition and reporting limited information Zika often causes no symp- tive Zika transmission,” said the were brought in by people who three-year $25mn investment in The mother had become in- link to Zika. The mother and about Zika cases to protect pa- toms, but is particularly danger- statement. were infected while travelling April to fund education, training fected with Zika while travelling baby are classifi ed as travel- tient privacy. ous for pregnant women because Florida is so far the only US outside the United States. and surveillance eff orts. Hillary extends lead over Trump to 7 points

Reuters support for Trump, rather than a boost signatories “deserve the blame for New York for Clinton: In last Thursday’s poll, making the world such a dangerous 42% of likely voters favoured Clinton place.” and about 39% favoured Trump. Trump faced more dissent within emocratic presidential nomi- Among registered voters over the his party on Monday. nee Hillary Clinton’s lead over same period, Clinton held a lead of A former CIA offi cer, Evan McMul- DRepublican rival Donald Trump nearly 13 percentage points, up from lin, announced he would run as an increased to more than 7 percentage about 5 percentage points on Thurs- independent alternative to Trump for points in a Reuters/Ipsos poll released day, according to the poll. conservative Republicans, and Repub- yesterday, from less than 3 points on The fi ve-day survey concluded on lican Senator Susan Collins said she Thursday. a mixed day for the Trump campaign. would not vote for Trump. The shift came as Trump strug- After squabbles last week with party In a separate Reuters/Ipsos survey gled to reset his campaign following a leaders and the parents of a Muslim that gave respondents the option to stretch of controversies. American soldier killed in Iraq, Trump choose from Clinton, Trump, Libertar- About 42% of likely voters favoured sought to turn the page with a speech ian candidate Gary Johnson and Green Clinton and about 35% preferred outlining an economic platform of tax Party candidate Jill Stein, Clinton leads Trump, according to the Aug 4-8 on- breaks and regulatory rollbacks. Trump by about 6 percentage points. line poll of 1,152 likely voters, which But in what was surely unwelcome Of the alternative party candidates, had a credibility interval of plus or mi- news for Trump’s campaign, 50 heav- Johnson came in third with nearly 8 nus 3 percentage points. yweight Republican national security percentage points, up from 6 points on The others would either pick anoth- offi cials, in a letter published on Mon- Thursday. er candidate, would not vote, or “don’t day, said that Trump would be “the Stein has about 2 percentage points. know/refused.” most reckless president in American McMullin was not an option in the The results refl ected a decline in history.” Trump hit back, saying the poll. Bride walked down aisle by father’s heart recipient

AFP heart is inside you and I wondered if and fatally shot on his way home from New York you and your wife Nancy could come his job as a chef. to my wedding. His teenage attacker is now in pris- “’I would love it if you walk me on, US media reported. he bride beamed as she walked down the aisle,’” he added. After he died, the Stepien family de- down the aisle of the Pennsyl- “I was stunned. I thought, ‘oh my cided to donate his organs through the Tvania church on the arm of a god, it’s so perfect that she would want Center of Organ Recovery and Educa- white-haired gentleman – the man her dad’s heart at the wedding.’” tion. who received her father’s heart in a When they met at the wedding re- Thomas, who was at death’s door life-saving transplant operation. hearsal, they embraced. suff ering from congestive heart fail- Ten years after her father was bru- “We just gave each other a huge hug. ure, was the recipient. He lives in Law- tally murdered, Jeni Stepien knew she I put my hand on my wrist and my renceville, New Jersey. wanted his heart to be at the wedding. pulse is pretty strong and I asked her The father of four said that two days So she asked retired college adviser if she’d like to feel my pulse. Then she after the operation he was walking, 10 Arthur Thomas, the man who received put her hand on my heart,” Thomas days later he was home and after six his heart, to give her away. said. months he went skiing. “It has been the best day of my life,” “It was a very warm and beautiful “I wrote them a letter thanking the 33-year-old elementary school moment.” them for saving my life,” he said. teacher told ABC News in her strapless After he walked her to the altar, Over the years, he was in regu- ivory gown after Saturday’s wedding Thomas put her hand on his heart, lar contact with the Stepiens by tel- just outside Pittsburgh in the same gave her a kiss and then handed her ephone. church where her parents married. over to her groom, Paul Maenner. He sends fl owers on holidays and She had met Thomas, 72, for the “Thank you so much for coming,” swaps parental advice with Stepien’s fi rst time only the day before. the bride said to him tearfully, accord- mother. “About two months ago, I got a let- ing to video aired by ABC. He now hopes to see the family again ter from Jeni,” Thomas said. “She said, It was the closest she came to her fa- and work with them to raise awareness ‘I am the daughter of the person whose ther since Michael Stepien was robbed about organ donation. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 ASEAN Suu Kyi sets date for crunch peace talks AFP ter the end of junta rule. independence hero father – Aung since her National League for operations by Myanmar’s army A boy carries the portrait of Myanmar independence hero General Yangon Some groups who fought the San – that saw major ethnic Democracy (NLD) party won a have impeded progress on talks. Aung San, the late father of Aung San Suu Kyi, during a rally in central army for decades have signed groups commit to joining Myan- parliamentary majority in elec- The areas beset by confl ict are Mahabandoola Park in Yangon on Monday to mark the 28th ceasefi res but those are fragile, mar. tions. also hot-beds of illegal logging, anniversary of the August 8, 1988 democracy uprising. More than yanmar will begin long- adding urgency to Suu Kyi’s task. But that deal collapsed under At a speech on Monday mark- jade mining and drug smuggling, 300 democracy activists took part in the ceremony marking a 1988 planned talks with For the fi rst time, peace talks the junta that took control sev- ing the anniversary of a bru- further complicating the picture. uprising against the military junta that ended in a bloody crackdown. Marmed ethnic groups at will include groups that have eral years after Aung San’s assas- tal 1988 army-led crackdown Suu Kyi wants to thrash out a The event was the first time the activists have marked the the end of the month, as the gov- ceasefi res in place as well as those sination and embarked on almost against student protesters, Tin deal on greater federal autonomy anniversary under the new government following the historic ernment’s de facto leader Aung outside of the agreements. 50 years of devastating rule. OO, an NLD veteran and former for ethnic groups in exchange for election in November 2015. San Suu Kyi targets peace as a “The fi rst meeting of the ‘21st The date of the talks emerged general who joined the democra- peace. prelude to rebooting the econo- century Panglong’ conference after discussions between Suu cy movement, said it was impor- It is so far unclear which of the to join the conference,” Sai Wan Kyi’s fl urry of peace overtures to my. will be held on 31 August,” ac- Kyi and army chief Min Aung tant to fi nd common ground with dizzying array of ethnic groups Leng Kham of the Shan Nation- rebel groups would likely draw A number of complex ethnic cording to a statement posted Hlaing on Monday in the capital the military in the push for peace. and armies will attend the talks, alities League for Democracy many to the table. confl icts simmer across Myan- late on Monday on the Facebook Naypyidaw. But disagreements over issues although recent signs have been party told AFP. “This step will bring more mar’s poor and militarised bor- page of State Counsellor Suu Kyi. Suu Kyi appears to have devel- such as federal rule, ownership of positive. The lawmaker, whose constit- hope for peace. I am sure of it,” derlands, hampering eff orts to Panglong refers to a historic oped a good relationship with the lucrative natural resources, dis- “I think many ethnic armed uency in Shan State is near one of he said. “But we won’t get peace build the country’s economy af- conference held in 1947 by her senior general in the four months armament of rebels and an end of groups will ask the government the confl ict zones, explained Suu at once.”

Singapore marks MH370 independence with ‘plunged into ocean eye on security at high

AFP leged plot to fi re rockets into Singapore Singapore. speed’ The wealthy Southeast Asian island nation, a strong military ingapore celebrated its 51st and economic partner of the AFP anniversary as a republic United States, considers itself a Sydney Syesterday with a heavily prime target for terrorist attack. guarded parade after the discov- The alleged leader of the ery of an Indonesian extremist Batam group is accused of plan- H370 plunged into the plot to attack the city-state from ning the attack with a leading ocean at high speed – a nearby island. Indonesian militant who is now Mup to 20,000’ a minute The area around the National believed to be fi ghting with the – reinforcing analysis that the Stadium, where the military- Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. missing Malaysia Airlines jet civilian celebration took place, Speaking in a pre-recorded crashed in the current search was designated a special zone National Day broadcast on Mon- zone, a report said yesterday. where police had stop and search day, Prime Minister Lee Hsien The Boeing 777 disappeared powers. Loong repeated warnings of a on March 8, 2014 en route from The navy and coastguard potential attack on Singapore Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with conducted additional checks on and called for national unity in 239 people onboard. vessels out at sea. case it happens. An extensive underwater hunt Air defences were also in “If a terrorist attack were to in the southern Indian Ocean place, local daily the Straits occur here, will we stand togeth- has not yet found the crash site, Times reported. er, or will we fall apart?” he told Fireworks burst over the Singapore National Stadium during National Day celebrations. fuelling speculation it may be Singapore has been on height- his multiracial nation. outside the current search zone. ened alert since Indonesian Yesterday’s parade at the some 5,000 marchers and per- ware, traditionally a key part of newly built stadium costing of the newly formed nation of A manned plane could have police arrested six suspected packed 55,000-seat stadium formers from all walks of life, in- the parade, was removed this nearly $1bn. Malaysia in 1963. been glided down, allowing it Islamist militants last week in kicked off with a military drill cluding 150 with special needs. year because of the logistical Following independence from It broke away in 1965 to be- to enter the water outside the nearby Batam island over an al- before a festive show featuring A display of military hard- challenges of holding it in the Britain, Singapore became part come an independent country. 120,000sq km (46,000sq mile) area being searched, some ex- perts have suggested. But extensive testing by air- craft manufacturer Boeing and new Australian defence depart- Jakarta Prayut confi rms polls in 2017 ment data analysis both suggest that – regardless of the possible actions of one or both of the pi- airport AFP Full offi cial fi gures will be re- lots – the jet dived into the ocean Bangkok leased today. at high speed, The Australian re- Thailand has been bitterly ported. has new divided ever since a 2006 coup Once MH370 ran out of fuel hailand will hold a gen- that toppled Thaksin Shina- and the engines fl amed, it slowed eral election in 2017, the watra as prime minister. before plunging down towards terminal Tcountry’s junta chief Years of competing protests the water in a series of swoops – confi rmed yesterday, his fi rst and instability followed. dropping from 35,000’ at a rate comments since voters backed Prayut: I can see you (Thais in In 2014 the army seized pow- of between 12,000’ a minute and AFP a new military-crafted consti- the country’s north and er once more, toppling Thak- 20,000’ a minute, Boeing said, Jakarta tution in a referendum. northeast) suff ering. I will take sin’s sister Yingluck. according to the report. This general view shows the check-in hall at the newly-opened Sunday’s vote in support of care of you. But I have to take The country’s populous and The sharp dive was confi rmed terminal at Soekarno-Hatta International airport in Tangerang, on the charter was the fi rst test of care of other regions too. poor north and northeast, a by a new data analysis by Aus- he main airport serving the outskirts of Jakarta. public opinion since the 2014 Shinawatra stronghold, was tralia’s defence department in- the Indonesian capital coup, although campaigning But critics say the charter one of the few regions to vote volving signals sent automati- TJakarta opened a new are currently handling about be connected to central Jakarta, was curbed and open debate will augment military power against the charter. cally between the plane and a terminal yesterday that will al- 60mn passengers a year, way about 30km (18 miles) away, by banned ahead of the polls. and straitjacket elected offi - Addressing those voters, satellite, the head of the agency low the overcrowded aviation over their capacity. a rail link. “The election will be held late cials. Prayut said: “I can see you suf- leading the MH370 hunt said. hub to handle tens of millions The fi rst fl ights, domestic There is currently no rail line 2017 as planned,” Prime Minis- Under the new charter the fering. I will take care of you. Australian Transport and more passengers a year. services by fl ag carrier Garuda, between the airport and city ter Prayut Chan-O-Cha, who upper house will be entirely But I have to take care of other Safety Bureau (ATSB) chief Greg Air passenger numbers took off early yesterday. centre, leaving many passen- as army chief seized power two appointed, including six seats regions too.” Hood said this supported the are soaring in Indonesia, the The terminal will start off gers to suff er monster traffi c years ago, told reporters. reserved for the military, while The Shinawatra clan have view MH370 “was likely to have world’s biggest archipelago na- handling only domestic Garuda jams to get into Jakarta at busy Since the vote key allies the a proportional voting system won all general elections since crashed in the 120,000sq km tion and Southeast Asia’s top fl ights before later running in- times. European Union and the United will likely reduce the infl uence 2001, harvesting votes by area now being searched”, the economy, as a growing middle ternational services. The terminal’s opening was States have called on Prayut to of major parties. promising greater wealth and paper said. class increasingly chooses to Speaking at the terminal delayed for more than a month hold elections as swiftly as pos- The senate will also have a opportunity to the nation’s ru- The area was defi ned under fl y but ageing infrastructure is opening, Garuda chief execu- after the government ordered sible and lift curbs on civil lib- voice in picking a non-elected ral poor. the ATSB’s “most likely” sce- struggling to keep up. tive Arif Wibowo hailed it as a alterations following the dis- erties imposed since his takeo- prime minister if the lower But the family is loathed by nario that no-one was at the The $380mn terminal at “great milestone” that will help covery that an important area ver. house is deadlocked, while it an arch-royalist Bangkok elite controls and the plane ran out of Soekarno-Hatta International provide a better service for cus- was not visible from the air Previous election date prom- will be easier to impeach a civil- which is backed by the military, fuel. Airport, a vast, futuristic-look- tomers. traffi c control tower. ises by Prayut have slipped. ian leader. and by southern voters who ac- Malaysian offi cials said last ing structure, will be able to Eman Suherman, an Indone- As well as ageing infrastruc- The military says the new Unoffi cial results released cuse the clan of corruption and week that one of the pilots used handle about 25mn passengers sian passenger at the terminal, ture, the Indonesian aviation constitution will purge Thai- by the Election Commission populism. a home-made fl ight simulator a year once fully operational by said he was “proud” of the ter- sector faces problems with land of corrupt civilian politi- on Sunday showed 61% of the It is not yet known whether to plot a very similar course to March next year. minal, adding: “It’s beyond our safety and has suff ered a string cians and restore stability after country backed the document. Thailand’s generals will lift MH370’s presumed fi nal route, The other three terminals at expectations.” of deadly crashes in recent nearly a decade of political tur- But turnout, currently esti- curbs on political gathering but warned this did not prove he the country’s busiest airport The terminal will eventually years. moil including two coups. mated at 55%, was subdued. ahead of the 2017 elections. deliberately crashed the plane.

Ex-deputy PM registers party to challenge Najib

Reuters Yassin, along with former premier “As a former UMNO member, I it fared poorly, losing the popular Kuala Lumpur Mahathir Mohamad, have been know there are many who are un- vote, in the last election in 2013. leading a campaign to unseat Najib satisfi ed about the current leader- Muhyiddin is expected to lead after he was linked to a multi-billion ship, but they’re not ready to say Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia sacked Malaysian deputy dollar graft scandal at state fund it out loud,” Muhyiddin said after (Bersatu, or United Malaysian Peo- prime minister and critic of 1Malaysia Development Berhad submitting registration documents ple’s Party in English) as its presi- Ascandal-tainted Prime Min- (1MDB). in Putrajaya, Malaysia’s administra- dent, while Mahathir will serve as ister Najib Abdul Razak registered Najib has denied any wrongdoing tive capital. “So now, there is a new party chairman, an aide to Muhyid- a political party yesterday, saying and consolidated power within the space for them.” din revealed. that he wanted to off er ruling party ruling United Malays National Or- UMNO has ruled Malaysia largely Muhyiddin was sacked as deputy members an alternative and to fi ght ganisation (UMNO) party. unchallenged since independence in prime minister in July 2015, after corruption. The prime minister has also 1957, with the support of the major- criticising Najib’s handling of the The former minister, Muhyiddin cracked down on dissent. ity ethnic Malay community, though 1MDB scandal. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 10, 2016 9 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Nagasaki bombing is marked AFP visit to Hiroshima – the fi rst ever sui on Saturday marked the com- Tokyo by a sitting US president. memoration of the bombing of his “Knowing the facts becomes the city, also citing Obama’s visit. starting point for thinking about He said the visit was proof that esterday the Japanese city a future free of nuclear weapons,” the US president shared his city’s of Nagasaki marked 71 years Taue said, calling on other world view of the “absolute evil” of nu- Ysince its destruction by a US leaders to visit his city. clear weapons. atomic bomb, with its mayor laud- Local offi cials and those who Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo ing a visit by US President Barack survived the bombing called for Abe, in his address in Nagasaki, Obama to Hiroshima earlier this strict adherence to Japan’s post- called on world leaders to honour year. war tradition of pacifi sm and were the global Nuclear Non-Prolifera- A bell tolled as thousands of critical of the Japanese govern- tion Treaty. people, including ageing survivors ment. “We must not allow a repeat of and relatives of victims, observed “The government of Japan, while the horrible experiences of Hiro- a minute’s silence at 11.02am (0202 advocating nuclear weapons aboli- shima and Nagasaki that happened GMT), the exact moment of the tion, still relies on nuclear deter- 71 years ago,” Abe said. blast. rence,” the mayor said, calling it a Abe has moved to extend the Some 74,000 people died in the “contradictory state of aff airs”. scope of Japan’s military and initial explosion, while thousands Toyokazu Ihara, 80, who sur- deepen the nation’s alliance with of others perished months or years vived the Nagasaki bombing, used Washington in the face of threats later from radiation sickness. his address to call for abolition of from China’s expanding military The attack came three days af- nuclear weapons and world peace. strength and unpredictable North ter the US dropped the fi rst ever “Nagasaki must be the last,” he Korea. atomic bomb on Hiroshima, which said, concluding his Japanese re- North Korea last week test fi red ultimately killed 140,000 people. marks with an English sentence in- a ballistic missile that landed in Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue tended for global citizens. waters off Japan’s coast for the fi rst A woman prays for atomic bombing victims on the anniversary of the bombing, in front of the monument at the Peace Memorial Park in lauded Obama’s landmark May Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Mat- time. Nagasaki, western Japan.

New Taiwan envoy resigns for driving Japan summons Chinese envoy again while drunk DPA markedly deteriorated,” Kishida told Yesterday’s complaint against Bei- Taiwan’s new envoy Tokyo the Chinese ambassador, the ministry jing followed another protest on Sun- to Singapore resigned reported. day after 13 Chinese coast guard ships yesterday after he was Fifteen Chinese ships were spotted were seen near the islets. caught drink-driving last apan has called on China to with- in the area on Monday and three of the On Saturday, about 230 Chinese week in the island’s capital draw its coast guard ships from boats entered what Tokyo considers its fi shing boats and six coast guard ves- Taipei, just hours after Jwaters near the disputed Senkaku territorial waters. sels were sailing in a contiguous zone he had been sworn into islets in the East China Sea, Tokyo said. The Japanese-administered Senkaku near the islets, which prompted Tokyo off ice. Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida Islands are also claimed by China and to lodge a protest. Antonio Chiang – a summoned the Chinese ambassador Taiwan, where they are known as Di- China’s recent moves come af- veteran journalist and to Japan, Cheng Yonghua, to issue a aoyu and Tiaoyutai, respectively. ter Prime Minister Shinzo Abe last political commentator strong protest as more than a dozen Cheng reiterated the islets are part Wednesday picked Tomomi Inada as – said that he had drunk Chinese coast guard ships were seen of China’s inherent territory, so Chi- new defence minister. whisky and wine over near the uninhabited islets, according nese vessels have a right to navigate in Inada has controversially denied Ja- dinner with friends before to the Japanese foreign ministry. the waters, he said, according to local pan’s Nanjing Massacre of 1937. he was caught late on “The Chinese side is attempting to broadcaster NHK. In September 2012, Tokyo purchased August 2, local media change the status quo in a one-sided The ambassador also told report- three of the islets from a private owner, reported. manner. I cannot help saying that be- ers after the meeting that both sides which set off protests in dozens of Chi- His arrest triggered calls cause of this, the situation surround- should work calmly to prevent further nese cities and a boycott of Japanese for his resignation from ing Japanese-Chinese relations has complicating the situation, NHK said. products. campaigners in Taiwan against drink-driving. The off ice of Taiwan’s new president Tsai Ing-wen said yesterday that she had accepted his resignation and “respected” his decision. Taipei prosecutors handed Chiang a suspended indictment and a T$60,000 ($1,905) fine on Monday, according to Taiwan’s Central News Agency. His blood alcohol content was 0.27mg per litre, the agency reported. Taiwan’s legal limit is 0.25mg per litre. Chiang writes a column for Taiwan’s Apple Daily newspaper, which often publishes articles critical of China.

Lawyer says Australian extremist has hallucinations

The lawyer for Australia’s first right-wing extremist to be charged under the country’s federal terrorism laws argued yesterday that the 31-year-old man from Melbourne suff ers from hallucinations. Phillip Michael Galea, who appeared before the Melbourne court via video link, complained that his ears had been ringing since his arrest due to a sound bomb. According to his lawyer, Galea is suff ering from auditory and visual hallucinations and requires stitches for a leg injury sustained during his arrest. Galea has been charged with preparing or collecting documents to be used to facilitate terrorist acts after a raid by the joint counter- terrorism unit on Saturday. He was remanded in custody to reappear on October 31. Prosecutors informed the court that electronic material and phone calls will be used as evidence against Galea. Galea has been linked to anti-Islam groups, including the United Patriots Front and Reclaim Australia, both of whom have supported Islamophobic anti- immigrant groups like Pegida in Germany. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 BRITAIN Runaway rig to be boarded by experts

Guardian News Hugh Shaw, the UK transport secre- London tary’s representative for maritime salvage and intervention, who is overseeing the operation, said: “This initial recce will be small group of salvage experts are checking a number of things including planning to attempt to board a vast fuel tanks.” Adrilling rig which ran aground on “Weather permitting, it’s then intended the coast of the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. to put a second larger group of salvors on They are due to be winched down by tomorrow to carry out a more detailed in- helicopter on to the sloping deck of the spection.” Transocean Winner, a 17,000-tonne The Transocean Winner ran aground semi-submersible rig. after a towing rope severed during a heavy The rig was blown close to cliff s during storm at about 4am on Monday. a severe gale early on Monday. The MCA sent its only emergency res- The Maritime and Coastguard Agency cue tug in northern Scotland, the Orkney- (MCA) has set up a 300m wide exclusion based ETV Herakles, to the scene on Mon- zone around the beach at Dalmore near day. Carloway, for safety reasons and to pre- Mark Rodaway, an MCA offi cial, said vent onlookers blocking access to the site the exclusion zone was necessary for pub- for salvage teams and emergency services. lic safety, as well as the salvage operation. The rig, which was being towed from “We understand that this incident is Norway to Malta, was unmanned but is of interest to people living in the area but carrying 280 tonnes of diesel, raising the we’re asking them to stay away to ensure threat of a leak into the surrounding seas easy access for emergency services and and coastline. salvage teams,” he said. Footage from the scene shows the “Also the last thing we want is for peo- rig, which is close to 100m tall, swaying ple to be injured or worse trying to get a The Transocean Winner oil rig after it ran aground at Dalmore on the Isle of Lewis in northern Britain during a storm. against rocks in the swell. closer look on remote cliff paths.” Copter Police chiefs UK committed to force lands making hay

Agencies strong ties with London on benefi ts Royal Air Force helicopter was forced to land high Guardian News the home offi ce to provide Aup a mountain in Wales London them with an update on the yesterday because of a technical exact current proportion of problem and all fi ve people on senior offi cer pay accounted China, says govt board managed to get off safely ritain’s police chiefs for by allowances and benefi ts before it caught fi re, Britain’s have their basic pay since the Winsor review was Ties with the world’s second largest sion as soon as possible so that the project ing its fi nal decision but nothing was said ministry of defence said. Bboosted by an average of carried out in 2011. economy are critical can proceed smoothly.” before last month’s vote on whether EDF Photographs showed a plume 21% by allowances and ben- That review established George Osborne, the former chancel- should back the project. of smoke rising from near the top efi ts – many of them unde- that deputy chief constables Guardian lor sacked by May in one of her fi rst acts as Jean-Bernard Lévy, the chairman and of a mountain in the Yr Aran area clared – according to White- received allowances and perks London prime minister, had hoped the high-profi le chief executive of EDF, wrote to board mem- of the Snowdonia national park. hall’s senior pay advisers. worth 14% on top of their ba- project would help usher in a “golden dec- bers last week, saying he knew about the de- “A Griffi n training helicopter The unexpected scale of the sic pay while assistant chief ade” in relations with China, and toured the lay before the board approved building and safely completed a precaution- continuing allowances and constables got a further 10%. he government has emphasised its country last year touting opportunities for co-funding the fi rst British nuclear site in a ary landing in Snowdonia this perks enjoyed by senior police The senior salaries review determination to retain positive eco- Chinese investors in the UK. generation. afternoon following a techni- offi cers will add to the pres- body said that under national Tnomic links with China after Beijing’s Such was Osborne’s enthusiasm for strik- And just hours before a signing ceremony cal issue,” the ministry said in a sure on police forces, led by the guidelines drawn up in 2003, ambassador warned that cancelling the ing deals with China that the shadow chan- was due to take place at the site in Somerset, statement.“Everyone on board home secretary, Amber Rudd, chief police offi cers can re- Hinkley Point C nuclear project could jeop- cellor, John McDonnell, quoted Mao Ze- May put off government approval until early exited safely. Subsequently the to reveal how much their chief ceive relocation and removal ardise relations. dong’s Little Red Book across the dispatch autumn. aircraft caught fi re.” offi cers receive in benefi ts and expenses when a chief police Liu Xiaoming used an article in the Fi- box at him at last year’s autumn statement. China General Nuclear Power Corpora- perks over and above their ba- offi cer moves home when join- nancial Times yesterday to warn that There- But May is thought to have concerns tion (CGN) is due to take a £6bn stake in the sic pay. ing a police force. sa May’s decision to delay a fi nal decision on about security issues raised by China play- project, which will be led by French energy The drive for transparency All police offi cers also have Hinkley had placed ties between the UK and ing a role in such a critical piece of national giant EDF. in the rewards enjoyed by most the option of a “motor ve- China at a “critical juncture”. infrastructure and whether the project rep- Analysts warned the delay could jeop- senior offi cers follows the dis- hicle allowance”. Police and However, a government spokeswoman resents value for money. ardise ties between Britain and China, the Man scales closure that one chief con- crime commissioners have said: “As we’ve already made clear, this de- The shadow business secretary, Jon world’s second biggest economy, at a time stable is living in a rent-free discretion to top up a chief cision is about a huge infrastructure project Trickett, said the new economic climate when London needs to build strong trade palace fence apartment in a castle, another constable’s basic pay by up to and it’s right that the new government care- created by Britain’s planned exit from the ties following its June vote to leave the Eu- took 64 days holiday in a year 10% and can provide private fully considers it. EU meant maintaining positive relations ropean Union. while a third claimed £30,000 healthcare schemes or medical “We cooperate with China on a broad with Beijing was more important than ever. Chinese offi cial Xinhua news agency had Agencies in “allowances”, including insurance. range of areas from the global economy to “During the referendum, one of the few reacted to the delay by saying it “adds un- London money for his food and house- international issues and we will continue to fi rm proposals coming from the Brexit camp certainties to the ‘Golden Era’ of China-UK hold bills. Many forces declined to seek a strong relationship with China.” was that Britain’s economic prosperity out- ties” – but the ambassador’s comments The details of a limited release full details of their In the article, in which he placed the side of Europe could be secured by further- went further. 22-year-old was arrested number of the locally deter- packages project at the centre of Britain’s evolving ing our relations with China and other large, There are questions in Britain over yesterday after climb- mined allowances and benefi ts trade relationship with China , Xiaoming fast-growing economies in the east. whether Hinkley Point represents value for Aing over a security fence received by chief constables on They can also provide access wrote: “If Britain’s openness is a condi- “Today we see that the prime minister has money and regarding its environmental cre- outside Buckingham Palace, top of their nationally set basic to a car pool or a dedicated car tion for bilateral cooperation, then mutual put that – and £40bn of inward investment dentials. London’s police said. The man, salaries emerged after a series at a value determined locally. trust is the very foundation on which this – in jeopardy by bungling negotiations over One of May’s top aides has also previously who police say had been drink- of Freedom of Information Act They also usually agree to is built. Hinkley Point,” he said. raised the issue of a potential threat to Brit- ing, was stopped before gaining requests by the Daily Mail. cover part of the costs of legal “Right now, the China-UK relationship Meanwhile, French unions have said the ain’s national security. access to the palace. He was seen But many forces declined protection insurance. is at a crucial historical juncture. Mutual decision by the energy fi rm EDF to invest in The project is also controversial in France, by offi cers monitoring a closed- to release full details of their The SSRB, however, pub- trust should be treasured even more. I hope Hinkley Point C should be declared invalid. dividing the top management of EDF and circuit feed. Police said the man chief constables’ reward pack- lished details from only one the UK will keep its door open to China and Three unions at the French state-owned sparking strong opposition from trade un- was not armed, and that his ages. force – the Police Service of that the British government will continue to fi rm said senior board members knew the ions, which fear it might bankrupt the util- fence-hopping did not appear to The senior salaries review Northern Ireland. support Hinkley Point – and come to a deci- British government was considering delay- ity, in which the state has a 85% stake. be related to terrorism. body, which reviews top public Its chief constable receives sector pay including for Brit- a maximum of £18,000 rent/ ain’s 200 chief police offi cers, housing allowance on top of has been pressing forces to re- an £199,413 salary, a car al- lease full details of their allow- lowance of £8,895, a health- ances and benefi ts for more care allowance of £600 and a than a year. broadband allowance of £360. “We have been told that the Rudd said she expect- provision of allowances and ed all forces to publish the benefi ts to our remit group details.“Directly elected PCCs members varies greatly across are rightly responsible for de- police forces. cisions about the pay and al- We lack full details of what lowances of their chief offi c- is received where, but … we ers, and we are clear that these Jamie Oliver provide a list of those details should be transparent and which we have been able to open to scrutiny by the com- establish,” the SSRB said in its munities they serve,” she said. report on top police pay three “I am adamant that police weeks ago. forces cannot be opaque about Chef Oliver has fi fth child “The home offi ce told us such important matters, and I that, before the Winsor review fully expect all forces to pub- [a government commissioned lish details of how they are DPA along with a photo of the new arrival. inquiry into police pay and spending taxpayer money.” London The couple have not yet chosen a name. conditions], chief police of- Police chief offi cer pay is However the chef has previously fi cers received additional pay- set by the home offi ce on the hinted that as with the baby’s siblings ments worth on average 21% of recommendation of the senior ritish celebrity chef Jamie Oliver they would choose something unusual, basic pay for chief constables salaries review body. on Monday announced the birth possibly “something fl oral or from the and less for other ranks. Any expense payments out- Bof his fi fth child, a baby boy who natural world”. The Olivers already have In the future, it will be very side the national regulations, weighs the same as “16 packs of butter”. three daughters named Poppy Honey important that we understand including relocation costs, re- His wife, Jools Oliver, was doing well Rosie, Daisy Boo Pamela and Petal the value of these benefi ts at quire approval by a force’s po- and everyone in the Oliver family was Blossom Rainbow. the time of our review.” lice and crime commissioner, “very surprised and beyond happy”, the They also have a son named Buddy The Whitehall senior pay who has the power to set such 41-year-old wrote in a Facebook post Bear Maurice. advisers have been calling on payments. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 10, 2016 11 EUROPE

German govt data shows Putin and Erdogan move open-door policy for towards repairing ties migrants Reuters Co-operation would be in- has come to show solidarity. Saint Petersburg/Istanbul creased on projects including a Turkey and Russia would re- planned $20bn gas pipeline and instate their annual bilateral is ‘closing’ a nuclear power plant to be built trade target of $100bn, Erdogan ussia and Turkey took a in Turkey by the Russians, Er- said, which had been abandoned big step yesterday towards dogan said, as well as between after Russia imposed the sanc- Reuters Rnormalising relations, their two defence sectors. tions. Berlin with their leaders announc- “God willing, with these Tourism revenue, a mainstay ing an acceleration in trade and steps the Moscow-Ankara axis of the Turkish economy, has energy ties at a time when both will again be a line of trust and been hit hard by an 87% dive in ermany appears to have countries have troubled econo- friendship,” Erdogan said. Russian visitors in the fi rst six drastically curtailed its mies and strains with the West. The leaders were to discuss months of the year. Gopen-door policy for President Vladimir Putin re- the war in Syria, over which they Putin said the question of re- migrants and refugees in 2016, ceived his Turkish counterpart remain deeply divided, in a sub- suming Russian charter fl ights turning away 13,000 people Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a Tsar- sequent closed-door session. to Turkey, halted under the without valid documentation ist-era palace outside his home Progress there is likely to be sanctions, would be solved in the in the fi rst six months, already city of Saint Petersburg. more halting, with Moscow Putin shakes hands with Erdogan during their press conference in Konstantinovsky Palace, outside Saint near future. 4,000 more than in the whole of It was Erdogan’s fi rst for- backing President Bashar al- Petersburg. The two leaders said also 2015, offi cial data showed yes- eign trip since last month’s Assad and Ankara wanting him agreed to revive the gas pipeline terday. failed military coup, which left out of power. Turkey has launched a series of the United States to stop this Frank-Walter Steinmeier told project, known as TurkStream, Around 117,500 migrants were Turkey’s relationship with the Turkey has been incensed by of mass purges of suspected Gu- anti-American feeling leading to the Bild daily that he was not meant to be supply Turkey with admitted in the same period, United States and Europe badly what it sees as Western concern len supporters in its armed forc- hatred.” worried about Russia and Tur- additional volumes of Russian compared to a record of more damaged. over its post-coup crackdown es, other state institutions, uni- In Washington, the US State key improving ties. gas and increase deliveries to than 1mn migrants entering the The visit is being closely but indiff erence to the bloody versities, schools and the media, Department criticised charges in “I do not believe that relations Europe in the future. country last year, mainly across watched in the West, where putsch itself, in which rogue prompting Western worries for the Turkish press that a Wash- between the two countries will Russia has been mulling a the border from Austria. some fear both men, powerful soldiers bombed parliament and the stability of the Nato ally. ington think tank had been be- become so close that Russia can number of projects to sup- The bulk of the rejections leaders ill-disposed to dissent, seized bridges with tanks and Denmark’s ruling party said hind the coup attempt. off er Turkey an alternative to the ply Europe with gas bypassing happened at land entry points might use their rapprochement helicopters. yesterday that the EU should “This sort of conspiracy the- Nato security partnership,” he Ukraine, but the EU has opposed and Afghans, Syrians and Iraqis to exert pressure on Washington More than 240 people were end accession negotiations with ory, infl ammatory rhetoric ... said. most of them, eager to cut its re- made up the three largest groups and the European Union and stir killed, many of them civilians. Turkey completely over Erdog- is absolutely not helpful,” State Putin told Erdogan that he liance on gas from Moscow. of the total, the interior ministry tensions within North Atlantic Putin’s rapid phone call ex- an’s “undemocratic initiatives”, Department spokeswoman Eliz- hoped Ankara could fully restore Russian Energy Minister Al- data published at the request of Treaty Organisation (Nato), the pressing his solidarity to Er- the latest European country to abeth Trudeau said. “We have order after the failed coup, say- exander Novak said the fi rst line the hard-left Die Linke party military alliance of which Tur- dogan in the wake of the failed condemn developments in Tur- certainly spoken to our Turk- ing Moscow always opposed un- of TurkStream to supply Turkey showed. key is a member. putsch had been a “psychologi- key. ish counterparts on unhelpful constitutional actions. could be built as early as 2019 Chancellor Angela Merkel last Putin said Moscow would cal boost”, the Turkish president Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag rhetoric.” “I want to express the hope but that solid European guaran- month interrupted her summer gradually phase out sanctions said. said hostility towards the United Despite the timing of the Rus- that under your leadership the tees were needed before a second break to defend her govern- against Ankara, imposed after Turkish offi cials, by contrast, States was rising among Turks sia visit, Ankara has insisted that Turkish people will cope with line from Russia to the EU across ment’s migration policy after the Turks shot down a Russian warned yesterday of rising anti- and could be calmed only by the Erdogan’s meeting with Putin this problem and that order and Turkey could be built. two Islamist attacks by asylum- fi ghter jet near the Syrian bor- American sentiment and of risks extradition of Gulen, who denies is not meant to signal a funda- constitutional legality will be re- Stalled Russian work on the seekers, insisting that those der nine months ago, and that to a crucial migrant deal with any involvement in the coup and mental shift in Turkish foreign stored,” he said. Akkuyu nuclear power plant in fl eeing confl icts and persecution bringing ties to their pre-crisis Europe, in a sign of deteriorating has condemned it. policy. Erdogan’s meeting with Putin Turkey would also be restarted, have the right to asylum in Ger- level was the priority. relations. “There is a serious anti- Turkey hosts American troops was only his second with a for- the two leaders said. many. “Do we want a full-spectrum Erdogan blames Fethullah American feeling in Turkey, and warplanes at its Incirlik Air eign head of state since the foiled In 2013, Rosatom won a $20bn More than 2,500 Afghans, restoration of relations? Yes and Gulen, a Muslim cleric who has and this is turning into hatred,” Base, an important staging area coup, following a visit to Ankara contract to build four reactors 1,300 Syrians and 1,000 Iraqis we will achieve that,” Putin told lived in self-imposed exile in the Bozdag said in an interview for the US-led fi ght against Is- by the Kazakh president on Fri- in what was to become Turkey’s were declined entry at border a joint news conference after US state of Pennsylvania since with state-run Anadolu Agency, lamic State (IS) militants in day. fi rst nuclear plant, but con- crossings in the January-June an initial round of talks. “Life 1999, and his followers for the broadcast live on Turkish televi- neighbouring Iraq and Syria. Turkish offi cials have ques- struction was halted after the period, the ministry said. changes quickly.” failed coup. sion channels. “It is in the hands German Foreign Minister tioned why no Western leader downing of the jet. Iranians, Moroccans, Nigeri- ans, Pakistanis, Gambians, So- malis and Algerians made up the rest of the top 10. The number of people seek- ing asylum in Germany dropped Art Nouveau masterpiece drastically this year as a result of border closures in the Balkans, an EU-Turkey deal to stop sea arrivals in Greece and tougher abandoned in warehouse asylum rules in Germany. In July, 4,500 migrants ar- rived in Germany, less than half By Manon Jacob, Reuters “Authorities genuinely for- Aubry, who also works at the of the daily arrivals at the peak of Brussels got that the facade was here,” Horta Museum in Brussels, said the crisis in the fall of last year, said Geoff roy Coomans De she sometimes had to disap- German police said earlier this Brachene, urban planning point tourists by telling them month, bringing the number of n Art Nouveau facade councillor for the capital. “They that well-known Horta build- arrivals in the fi rst seven months designed by the famous also forgot to secure the spot ings such as the “Maison du of the year to 122,000. ABelgian architect Victor properly.” Peuple”, built in 1899 as head- Migrants who arrive in Ger- Horta lies greening with mould Elaborately curved railings, quarters of the then Belgian many are fi rst registered at re- and covered in trash in a Brus- trademark features of the Art Labour Party, had also been de- ception centres where they have sels warehouse, forgotten only Nouveau movement that was molished. to wait for months before they fi ve years after it was last exhib- popular in the two decades be- “To foreigners, it is unthink- can offi cially fi le an asylum ap- ited to the public. fore the First World War, used able we destroy our heritage like plication, creating a huge back- The dismantled front of Ho- to highlight the facade of the this,” Aubry said. log and putting strain on civil tel Aubecq, a mansion designed stately home. Finding a new purpose for the servants. by Horta in 1899 and torn down Vandals stole some of them a massive 15m by 11m facade is The infl ux has dented the in 1950 three years after his few months ago. not easy. popularity of Merkel’s ruling death, was laid out on the fl oor “Just to reproduce one or- Several proposals have been conservatives and prompted of the warehouse in 2011 for an namental balcony, it could cost put forward over the years but the rise of an anti-immigration exhibition commemorating the around €25,000 to €30,000 were later abandoned amid party. architect’s 150th birthday. ($28,000 to $33,000),” esti- bickering among several lay- Turkey has threatened to sus- But the fi nely-cut stone mates Francoise Aubry, an Art ers of government and a lack of pend its migrants agreement blocks now lie like an uncom- Nouveau specialist. funding. with the European Union if there pleted puzzle under spotted Art experts say the fate of the “We often say that Brus- is no deal to grant visa-free trav- mattresses, a pile of empty cans mansion refl ects a deeper prob- sels is the capital of surrealism, el to Turks. and other traces of the life of lem of preserving the works of though in this case it is defi nite- The number of migrants reach about 40 squatters who made one of the best-known repre- ly in the negative sense of the Italy in boats from Libya has also A damaged Art Nouveau facade designed by Belgian architect Victor Horta is pictured in a warehouse in Horta’s work a part of their sentatives of highly ornamental word,” Coomans De Brachene been rising. the Brussels district of Schaerbeek after it was abandoned to squatters. home. Art Nouveau style. said.

Marseille ‘Burqini pool party’ Protests in Kosovo ahead of parliament’s vote

Reuters tenegro while the acrid fumes during a meeting of a parlia- and a bomb squad detonated it nixed after public outrage Pristina were still in the air. mentary committee reviewing in a controlled blast. Other protesters hurled the border proposal. Kosovo and its biggest sup- stones at a government build- There have been similar acts porters, the US and the Euro- AFP Politicians on both the right hadist attacks that rocked France lawmaker set off tear gas ing nearby in the latest outburst by other opposition MPs inside pean Union, deny that Pristina Marseille and the left slammed the plan last month, including an attack in Kosovo’s parliament of violence against several re- parliament in recent months. would lose land in the border as provocative, with left-wing with a truck that killed 84 people Aand someone threw a forms. “As long as there is a criminal deal, as the opposition claims, senator Michel Amiel, the mayor as they celebrated Bastille Day in hand grenade at an offi cial’s They say the deal would re- government in Kosovo that be- and say the proposed agreement Marseille waterpark has of Pennes-Mirabeau, saying he the Riviera resort of Nice. house yesterday before a vote quire Kosovo to hand over 8,000 trays the national interests, no with Montenegro is in line with cancelled plans to host a would seek a ban. But the waterpark noted that on a border deal that is the last hectares (20,000 acres) of terri- one should hope that opposition international and local law. Aprivate event for Muslim “Extreme ideological posi- as a private company it had a hurdle to visa-free access to the tory to Montenegro. resistance will be over,” Caushi “I can guarantee that Kosovo women wearing burqinis – full- tions are taking advantage of right to hold a private event. European Union. Local media said parliament said as he was handcuff ed and is not losing a single centimetre body swimsuits, also spelt bur- the controversy over this event Islamic dress is a hot-button Some deputies rushed out of a may vote on the border deal to- led away by police. of its land,” Prime Minister Isa kini – after they sparked outrage to address confl icts in which issue in France, where the niqab committee room when an oppo- morrow. A hand grenade was later Mustafa told a news conference. in secular France, authorities and Speedwater Park and the city of is banned in public places. sition politician opened the tear The opposition has threat- thrown at the house of the head Kosovo is behind neighbours the park said yesterday. Pennes-Mirabeau do not wish to Senator Stephane Ravier of gas canister. ened to stop it by all means. of the government commission Serbia, Albania, Montenegro, “Neither Speedwater Park nor be involved,” the statement said. Le Pen’s National Front said the The others approved a gov- Driton Caushi, a member of that drew up the border deal Macedonia and Bosnia, in get- the town of Pennes-Mirabeau (a Smile 13 said on its Facebook planned burqini day showed ernment report on the border the largest opposition party, with Montenegro, police said. ting visa-free access to the EU’s Marseille suburb) wish to be the page it was “stunned and sad- that despite assurances from demarcation deal with Mon- opened the tear gas canister The grenade did not explode border-free Schengen zone. site of public disorder,” they said dened” by the extent of the con- the Muslim community follow- in a joint statement. troversy. ing the terror attacks, “a certain The event was the brainchild of It said that it had received number of Muslims voluntarily Pokemon ‘booted out’ of World War I memorial in northeast France Smile 13, a women’s association threats – including bullets sent set themselves apart from ... our catering to Arabs in the southern to it in the mail – and had in- society”. A French World War I memorial has been who died in the Battle of Verdun, one of the Pokemon (pocket monster) “gym”, where port city, whose population of formed the Collective against Is- Last month’s attacks – the removed from Pokemon Go following bloodiest of the 1914-18 conflict. rival teams do battle. 2mn includes 220,000 Muslims, lamophobia in France. Nice truck massacre, followed by complaints about players gathering to do The underground ossuary featured in A spokeswoman for the nearby Verdun mainly of Algerian origin. The waterpark initially said it the grisly knife murder of a priest battle at a site containing the remains of the Pokemon Go app until last weekend Memorial said it too was listed as a Pokemon The association had not con- “understands” why the plan “is near the northern city of Rouen 130,000 soldiers, the site’s management said. when the game’s creator Niantic removed gym. fi rmed its reservation or paid a of particular interest to the me- less than a fortnight later – led The Douaumont ossuary in northeast France them at the site’s request, Douaumount “But we have no Internet network here so deposit for the event pencilled in dia during an emotionally diffi - to an outpouring of inter-faith contains the remains of some of the more spokeswoman Elodie Farcage said. the players cannot use it,” Emeline Villeseche for September 10. cult period” in the wake of two ji- solidarity. than 300,000 French and German soldiers The ossuary had been the location of a said. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 INDIA

Kerala hopes to raise Rs250bn from NRKs through chit fund

IANS and is also looking forward to the the box and the very fact that he the Kerala State Financial En- company fully-owned by the Every month we expect to do ala State Industrial Development Thiruvananthapuram Rs40bn that will accrue annually has placed his hopes on the close terprises (KSFE) has now got the state government with an annual business of Rs10bn. We expect to Corporation. For Issac, thinking once the GST (goods and services to three mn non-resident Keral- clearance from the Reserve Bank turnover of Rs300bn and a cus- set aside Rs50bn for infrastruc- out-of-the-box is nothing new tax) regime is in place. ites (NRKs) proves the point. of India to start the chit business tomer base of 3.3mn. ture development in the fi rst as he pointed out that the 14.5% conomics professor turned In a chat with IANS just before “Yes, things might not be rosy in which NRKs can participate, He said that through the NRK year,” Issac said. ‘fat tax’ he introduced in his Kerala Finance Minis- catching a fl ight to New York for at the moment as far as the di- which hitherto was not possible,” chit scheme he plans to bring in Issac also plans to take forward budget presented last month was Eter Thomas Issac, into his the wedding of his elder daughter aspora is concerned in the wake said Issac. Rs250bn in two years time. the concept of Islamic banking an eye-opener for the country. second spell in the job, hopes to Sara, Issac confessed that one way of the dip in oil prices. But there Proof that this is possible is “The only thing that now through the Cheraman Financial “Basically it’s a measure to see raise Rs250bn ($3.7bn) from the to take the state to greener fi nan- is a huge scope for bringing in the performance of the KSFE — needs to be done is to fi x the Services Ltd, established with the that the health of our people is state’s diaspora in two years — cial pastures is to think out-of- money from ordinary NRKs as a highly-profi table non-banking launch date of the chit scheme. majority participation of the Ker- kept intact,” Issac said.

India summons Arunachal Pakistan envoy as relations take former CM yet another dip IANS New Delhi

ndia yesterday summoned the Pakistani envoy and served a “strong demarche” against contin- commits Iued cross-border terrorism, as bilateral ties took another dip. Days after India and Pakistan clashed over the turmoil in Kashmir at a Saarc meet in Islamabad, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar summoned Paki- stani High Commissioner Abdul Basit and “issued a strong demarche on continuing cross border ter- suicide rorism from Pakistan”, a Ministry of External Aff airs statement said. IANS He also allowed his helicopter to carry The demarche made specifi c reference to LeT Itanagar critically ill patients to Itanagar and to (Lashkar-e-Toiba) terrorist and Pakistan national other places in the country for treatment. Bahadur Ali who was apprehended recently, MEA Khandu called an emergency cabinet spokesperson Vikas Swarup said. ension gripped the Arunachal meeting and has announced a three-day The demarche stated that Pakistani national Ba- Pradesh capital yesterday after mourning. Irom Sharmila ... moving forward hadur Ali alias Abu Saifullah was arrested by Indian Tformer chief minister Kalikho “The cabinet is shocked and shattered authorities in Jammu and Kashmir on July 25 along Pul, unseated on July 13 by a Supreme that our senior colleague and a seasoned with weapons, including an AK-47 rifl e, live rounds Court ruling, committed suicide, police leader took this extreme step,” an offi cial of ammunition, grenades and grenade launcher, as said. statement said. well as sophisticated communication equipment and Pul, 47, was found hanging from a ceil- In a message to Pul’s wife, Khandu other material of Pakistani and international origin. ing fan at his offi cial residence. said: “It pains my heart to write to you Manipuri icon ends It said Bahadur Ali, born on December 17, 1995, Incumbent Deputy Chief Minister at this moment of extreme grief. I hum- is son of Mohamed Haneef, a resident of Jia Bagga Chowna Mein confi rmed to IANS that Pul bly endure to share with you the saddest village in the Lahore district of Pakistan’s Punjab had committed suicide. times of your life though I know that it province. “We have also recovered a suicide note would be hard to do so.” “Bahadur Ali has confessed to our authorities from the room where the former chief Although Khandu became the chief world’s longest fast that after training in Lashkar-e-Toiba camps, he minister committed suicide. I am not in minister on July 16, Pul was yet to vacate was infi ltrated into India,” the demarche said. a position to divulge much at this mo- the chief minister’s residence as his house “He was thereafter in touch with ‘operations ment,” said a senior police offi cial. was being renovated. IANS Asked where she will stay now, Sharmila said room’ of LeT, receiving instructions to attack In- Hundreds of people, including sup- A Congress leader, Pul took offi ce on Imphal she will stay in an ashram. dian security personnel and carry out terrorist at- porters of Pul, took to the streets as news February 19, unseating then-Congress She has been living at the J N Institute of tacks in India.” of the suicide went viral and shouted slo- chief minister Nabam Tuki. Medical Sciences for the last 16 years where she The demarche said India “strongly protests gans against the present government led Later, Pul and his supporters joined the anipuri activist Irom Sharmila, who has was being fed through a nasal tube. against the continued infi ltration from Pakistan of by Chief Minister Pema Khandu. People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA), a re- been an international icon for her cru- Her mother Sakhi has refused to meet her trained terrorists with instructions to carry out at- The agitated crowd gathered in front gional outfi t. Msade against the controversial Armed while her elder brother I Shinghajit, in an open tacks”. of the chief minister’s residence and de- After the Supreme Court reinstated the Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), yesterday letter, made an impassioned appeal to her to This was contrary to assurances given by Paki- stroyed a coffi n brought for Pul. Tuki government, Pul and his supporters ended her 16-year-long fast and announced she continue the fast. stani leaders at the highest level, it added. The demonstrators defi ed the security returned to the Congress and supported wants to become chief minister one day — but Sharmila said she will see her mother only af- It also said that Bahadur Ali wrote to the Pakistan forces guarding Chowna Mein’s house Khandu to become the chief minister. ironically, couldn’t fi nd a place to stay. ter AFSPA has been repealed from her state. High Commission in New Delhi seeking legal aid and entered and vandalised it. Congress MP Ninong Ering said he was Sharmila, who has been on fast unto death Earlier in the day, Sharmila told a court that and assistance to meet his family. They also destroyed some parked ve- shocked by Pul’s suicide. since 2000 to demand lifting of AFSPA from Ma- she wants to end her fast. She was released on “We are prepared to grant the Pakistan High hicles. “Maybe loneliness crept into him. nipur, got emotional as she licked some honey to bail yesterday by L Tonsing, chief judicial mag- Commission consular access to Bahadur Ali,” the Some of them demanded a probe by When your mind is empty, it is a devil’s mark the ending of her fast, the world’s longest istrate, Imphal west, where she was produced. demarche concluded. the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) workshop,” he said. hunger strike. Earlier, doctors removed the nasal She told newspersons outside the court that The Indian action comes less than a week after a to fi nd out what forced Pul to kill him- Prime Minister Narendra Modi con- feeding tube through which she was force fed. she will contest the 2017 assembly elections Saarc ministerial meet in Islamabad saw the bilat- self and demanded the resignation of the doled Pul’s death. Speaking to reporters, including from the for- from Khurai Assembly constituency as an in- eral tensions over Kashmir come to the fore. Khandu government. “My thoughts are with the family and eign media, Sharmila, 42, said: “I will never for- dependent. Reports say that some local and na- Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Pul was widely admired for his com- supporters of Kalikho Pulji on his sad de- get this moment.” tional parties have sent feelers to her. She has Khan had slammed the “use of excessive force”, re- passionate approach towards the needy. mise. His service to Arunachal Pradesh She said she will use everything in her power to not responded yet. ferring to the unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, while He was known for high probity in pub- will be remembered,” he said. create a positive society and the “foremost will be Doctors are not allowing her to eat normal Home Minister Rajnath Singh criticised the “glori- lic life and honest politics. Congress president Sonia Gandhi ex- removal of this draconian (AFSPA) law”. The AF- solid food immediately. One doctor said: “As fi cation of terrorists as martyrs”. After becoming the Chief Minister, Pul pressed shock over his death. SPA gives sweeping powers to security forces. she has been staying away from normal solid Both sides did not hold a bilateral meeting, and began holding ‘Janata Darbar’ every Sat- Extending her condolences to the fam- “I am not a goddess, I want to be a human be- food for over 16 years, we have to take a step by Rajnath Singh also did not stay for a lunch for the urday in diff erent parts of the state to in- ily of Pul, Gandhi said: “I pray for the ing. I want to be chief minister of Manipur to step approach. It will take some days for her to Saarc interior ministers as his Pakistani counter- teract with the people. peace of the departed soul.” make a positive diff erence,” she said. resume normal food.” part, despite giving the invite, left early. GST done, Modi has many more mountains to climb

ig Bang! That’s what everyone who is someone with ices Tax (Amendment) Bill (GST) nia Gandhi and former Prime Min- Modi and his trusted lieutenants That said, there are some equal- a nodding knowledge of economics had been asking received near-unanimous back- ister Manmohan Singh on fi nding will have to be at their tactical best ly important legislative proposals BPrime Minister Narendra Modi to ignite over the past ing in the Rajya Sabha and, barring Delhi Diary ways to solve the GST impasse. to climb these mountains and put that are awaiting clearance by the two years. Modi’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had stead- something calamitous, April 1, 2017 In more mature democracies, in place a tax regime that is accept- Rayja Sabha. fastly held on to the idea that there is no such thing in fi nan- will be the day when it will become leaders of the ruling and opposition able to most, if not all. Most of the labour laws that cial management, that the ‘big bang’ leitmotif is just a crea- law after going through a rigorous parties meet very often to thrash out At one time Modi had even toyed India presently have need urgent tion of some excited headline writer. ratifi cation process in at least 50% By A K B Krishnan diff erences so that valuable debating with the idea of calling a combined amendments. But organised la- But last Wednesday changed all that. The Goods and Serv- of the states. time in parliament is not lost. session of parliament to make sure bour has been a major dampener If anything that can be described As with other countries, India that the GST Bill is passed because for developmental programmes as ‘big bang’ in a nation’s legisla- both for the indigenous entrepre- too witnesses backchannel work of the huge majority he enjoys in around which Modi is hoping to tive reformation, this is it. neur and the foreign investor. away from media glare but some- the lower house. build India’s future. Perhaps the only parallel in the The GST had been 11 years in the times keeping the media in the Commentators had condemned The mind-set continues to be Indian context is the 1991 economic making and more than economics loop by openly meeting the oppo- the idea forthwith. negative, mostly on the part of trade liberalisation initiated by then prime politics had played spoilsport at sition a little more than half way Better sense seems to have pre- unions, and this has led to cross- minister P V Narasimha Rao and his every juncture when its passage in would do wonders in governance. vailed within the ruling party as it country shutdowns and strikes. fi nance minister Manmohan Singh. the two houses of parliament had It may even seem like “ego- decided to get as many on board as Land acquisition by the govern- (This is not to forget the 1969 bank seemed a possibility. massaging”, but what harm can possible. ments, both at the centre and in nationalisation by the government The two mainstream national it do if it delivers for the greater Except for the Congress Party, the states, has been another sore of Indira Gandhi, but opinion is parties—the Bharatiya Janata Par- common good? If anything, Modi most of the Left parties (Kerala point on which Modi has had se- overwhelmingly in favour of view- ty (BJP) and the Congress—were must view these GST negotiations Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan vere problems. ing it as a retrograde step.) equally responsible for the impasse as a learning curve on governance. exempted) and Tamil Nadu’s All- If you have no land to build on It is ironical that when Europe, over the years and, for good meas- “This is not the victory of any India Anna Dravida Munnetra Ka- and if you do not have the labour thanks to ‘Brexit’, is squarely star- ure, these very same parties can party but of the highest standards zhagam, everyone expressed soli- to build them, progress and devel- ing at the possibility of an end to now take credit for its passing, a fact of Indian democracy,” Modi said in darity with the government. opment will remain on paper only, the common market idea, India that Modi underlined in his tweet by the Lok Sabha. The Congress realised plough- GST or no GST. should enter that stage. describing the GST “as the best ex- If Modi can show this sort of ing a lonely furrow would only al- While land is an emotional is- For, what the bill proposes to ef- ample of co-operative federalism”. magnanimity in victory, things ienate it further from the people sue for most Indians, political par- fect through the GST is to free up But Modi could have got this done could move much faster for the and, therefore, came on board at ties, especially those from the Left, trade between its various states even in the fi rst year of his rule. country. Of course there are many the last minute after the govern- make any negotiation on labour and make the entire country a sin- But either because he was con- more mountains to climb before ment conceded to some of its ar- diffi cult because it is the poverty gle common market. sumed by his own rhetoric of a the GST can be a reality. guments. of the labour class that keeps these All the benefi ts that accrue to “Congress-free India” or because Issues like the mechanism of All this is now water under the parties relevant. such a joint eff ort—creation of the mutual animosity between the dispute redressal, both between bridge. The GST is only one cog, albeit a thousands, if not millions, of new leaders of the two top parties did the states and the centre and The GST, together with the bills signifi cant one, in nation building jobs, free and fast movement of not allow any leeway for seeking among the states themselves, the on bankruptcy code and real estate which is always a work in progress. goods through the length and common ground, this most crucial contentious question of what regulations, is till date Modi’s big- But for the moment Modi can breadth of this vast country and legislation got kicked around like the proper standard rate of GST gest achievement on the legislative feel satisfi ed that he has crossed dismantling of fi scal barriers there- two football teams playing for time. would be and how it can be made front. It will take at least a couple the most crucial economic mile- by eliminating corruption at several As far as we know there had been tamper-proof are all going to pro- of years to show the results, but re- stone that his predecessor and levels—will eventually make India just one single offi cial meeting be- duce much heat in the weeks and sults will be there and positive ones economics wizard Manmohan a far better place to do business in, tween Modi and Congress chief So- months to come. too. Singh could not. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 10, 2016 13 INDIA

Lonely nights for ‘women left behind’, unaware of Gulf crisis

By Anuradha Nagaraj, Reuters There are more than 100 “women left based Loyola Institute of Social Science wait were facing a “food crisis” due to “Over the many years my husband are away, Kalaivani told the Thomson Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu behind”, as they are known here, living Training and Research, one of the sur- economic hardship. has travelled to Qatar and Saudi to Reuters Foundation. lonely lives in the small hamlet, among vey partners. She appealed to an estimated 3mn work, I’ve got used to the idea,” said the “Most of us have parents and in-laws an estimated 1mn such wives in Tamil Most of them married while their Indians living in Saudi Arabia for help. housewife with two daughters. living a few houses away but it’s not the nside her blue-walled house, E Nadu. husbands were on a short break from One of India’s two junior foreign “I guess we have been lucky so far.” same,” she said. Bhagyam sits with a faded wedding They are often depressed and always working abroad, and 90% of them have ministers, V K Singh, also travelled to Bhagyam and Kalaivani don’t re- Many women say they do not sleep Ialbum and talks about how much worried, found a February 2016 survey never travelled to their spouse’s coun- Saudi Arabia to assess the situation and member the names of the companies well at night. “We wait for our husbands she misses her husband, who works as commissioned by the state govern- try of work, he added. organise the return of the 7,700 aff ected their husbands work for. to call,” said Bhagyam. The phone usu- a welder in the Gulf. ment. SOS Government fi gures show there Indian workers living in 20 camps for They don’t know who interviewed ally rings way past midnight, when the Unaware of the recent problem of In- Nearly 70% of the women reported are an estimated 6mn Indian migrants migrant labourers. them or how they got to their destina- men have fi nished their overtime. dian migrant workers stranded in Saudi feeling anxiety, fear and loneliness. in the six Gulf states of Bahrain, Ku- Men have been migrating to work tion. “In the day we are busy with house- Arabia with no wages or food, she said About 60% considered the addition- wait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United from Kalpakkam for years. A copy of their husband’s passport is work. But at night, the loneliness is un- the couple have a home loan to pay off , al responsibilities they must bear in the Arab Emirates and Oman. The nuclear power industry operat- somewhere in a cupboard, they think. bearable,” she said. and she has to assume her husband is absence of their husbands — such as Over the years, the Indian govern- ing in this coastal town does not give That is the biggest challenge, said J The women are now reaching out to fi ne. caring for elderly parents or sorting out ment and non-governmental groups them jobs, neither do local builders, Jeyanthi, coordinator of the non-profi t one other, forming a collective under “They went in a group so they must fi nancial matters — a big drawback of have received a steady stream of com- who prefer the cheaper migrant work- Arunodaya Migrant Resource Centre. an initiative by the Arunodaya Migrant be safe,” the 36-year-old mother of the migration. plaints from migrant workers, ranging force from northern Indian states. “The women are clueless and that Resource Centre. two said slowly. “Even if things are bad The survey, which covered 20,000 from non-payment of wages to abuse. “We know that life is not al- often causes anxiety. The families need From educating themselves on the there, he won’t tell me. He’ll just say households across 32 districts in the In a high-profi le case last month, ways comfortable in the Gulf but we the money but the women pay a heavy perils of migration to sharing health everything is okay and give me details state, fl agged health and children’s workers sent an SOS to the Indian for- keep going back because we have no price because they are alone, restrict- concerns, they provide mutual support of the money transfer every month.” education as the other main causes of eign ministry, stating the companies choice,” said S Prabhu, a returnee mi- ed by unwritten norms which include while their men are away. Like Bhagyam, in every other house concern. they worked for had shut up shop and grant already looking for another job avoiding social gatherings like wed- “They need each other because they in the fi shing hamlet of Sadraskuppam “Ironically, the women left behind had not paid them for months. abroad. dings,” says Jeyanthi are in the same situation,” Jeyanthi said. near Kalpakkam town in Tamil Nadu, a are more qualifi ed than the men and Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj V Kalaivani, 32, doesn’t follow the Even a small issue like who will drop “They don’t open up immediately, wife waits anxiously for a call from the have higher standards of education,” tweeted on July 30 that thousands of news, and knows nothing about the cri- the children at school if they miss the but slowly they are voicing their wor- Gulf. said Bernard D’Sami of the Chennai- Indian workers in Saudi Arabia and Ku- sis hitting Indian workers in the Gulf. bus turns into a big deal when husbands ries. It’s a start.”

Priests oppose installation of Ravana’s idol The head priests of temples in Noida said yesterday they would not allow the installation Kerala seeks Interpol help to of Ravana’s idol in a temple in Bisrakh, Greater Noida. Mahant Narayan Giri, head priest of Dudheswar Nath Tem- ple at Ghaziabad, and Mahant Yati Narinmhanand, head priest of Chandi Devi temple at Dasna, catch Romanian skimmers said that Ravana is the symbol of evil and that installation of By Ashraf Padanna The police said the electronic device Ravana’s idol will not be allowed Thiruvananthapuram took a picture when the customer keyed in any part of western Uttar in his secret PIN number, while the de- Pradesh. vice placed in the card reader got the in- They jointly said they would erala police has requested the In- formation of that particular card. go to Bisrakh and ask Chakra- terpol’s help to catch three sus- “The state police chief has informed pani Maharaj, the president of Kpected Romanian skimmers who all bank offi cials to see that they con- Hindu Mahasabha, not to install withdrew nearly half a million rupees duct an immediate inspection of all Ravana’s idol in Bisrakh temple. from the bank accounts of more than 20 ATM kiosks to ensure that everything is To establish the idol of Ra- using cloned ATM cards. fi ne,” Abraham said. vana will be a “disgraceful act” They identifi ed Bogdean Florian, 25, The ATM belonged to India’s largest by Hindus, who on Dussehra Gabriel Marian, 27, and Cristian Vic- public sector bank, State Bank of India. burn eff igies of Ravana and tor, 26, from the CCTV footage from Its associate bank with the biggest his brother Kumbhkaran, they the ATM kiosk while planting skimmers network of ATMs in Kerala, State Bank maintained. and the camera to copy PINs and while of Travancore, has off ered to return Earlier, Mahatma Ravana checking into a hotel. customers the money they lost. Temple Trust and Shiv Mohan Inspector General Manoj Abraham “Our customers will not lose their Temple Trust at Bisrakh village said they installed the device on one money,” SBT’s chief general manager S in Greater Noida had an- ATM and withdrew cash in Mumbai. Adikesavan said. nounced to built a grand temple They were in the state capital between “We have also given instructions to of Ravana in the village. June 10 and July 30 and were staying in the branch heads across the the state to The temple is ready and the the seaside tourist resort of Kovalam. check the ATMs and ensure that they idol is to be installed on August “We have sought the help of Interpol were secure.” 11, announced Ashokanand to trace them,” Abraham, who heads a Skimmers usually obtain data from Maharaj, the founder trustee of special investigation team, told report- the card reader placed over the ATM’s the two trusts. ers here before leaving for Mumbai for real card slot and when one slides the The National President further investigation,” Abraham said. card into the machine the counterfeit of Hindu Mahasabha Swami “The preliminary assessment is that reader scans and stores all the informa- Chakrapani Maharaj would be they made off with anywhere between tion on the magnetic strip. chief guest on the occasion, Rs 400,000 and Rs 500,000 withdrawn They also hid a spy camera, in this Ashokanand Maharaj told using duplicate cards with stolen skim- case behind the smoke alarm, to capture media persons. mer data.” He asked all customers who the personal identifi cation number on The trust has employed four used the ATM to change their PIN im- Alleged Romanian skimmers Bogdean Florian (facing ATM) and Gabriel Marian captured on the bank’s CCTV. the card and gain full access to the bank priests to manage the rituals mediately. account. and regular worship in the Top offi cers and cyber and technical hi-tech thieves. “We are also probing duped came to know about the fraud af- “I had last used the ATM on July 27. A skimming scheme was introduced temple. experts visited the ATM at busy Althara whether more persons were involved,” ter they received a text message on Sun- On August 7, I received a message that to the state in a 2009 Malayalam movie The idols of Rama, Sita and Junction, Vellayambalam, in the city he said, ruling out chances of local as- day, informing that money was with- Rs 45,000 had been withdrawn from my starring Prithviraj, Robin Hood: The Laxman would also be installed and collected evidence. sistance. At least 22 people have so far drawn from their accounts. account from Mumbai,” said Raja Krish- Prince of Thieves, but such a fraud was in the temple. City Police Commissioner G Spar- lodged complaints saying money was The footage indicates that the three na, a complainant. “The next morning, I being reported in the state for the fi rst The idols of Ganesha and jan Kumar said police were trying to withdrawn from their account,” he said. entered and fi xed the skimmer and complained to the branch manager. The time now though many fall victim to In- Shani Maharaj have also been ascertain the whereabouts of the three Many of the customers who were camera at 6.30 am on June 30. bank has assured to return my money.” ternet scams. brought to the temple. Confirming his participation, Swami Chakrapani said that existence of Rama cannot be imagined without Ravana. Ravana, he said, was a learned Brahmin who was Prime minister appeals for peace in Kashmir Valley egoistic. It fell onto Rama to banish Ravana’s ego – as depicted in IANS ing over 55 people dead and the Ramayana. Alirajpur, Madhya Pradesh thousands injured. It is this banishment which Talking about stone pelting is celebrated during Dussehra, incidents in Kashmir, Modi he added. rime Minister Naren- said: “The children or youths dra Modi said yester- in whose hands there should Pday a handful of “mis- be laptop, book, volleyball or led people” are harming the cricket bat, who should have 57 countries to great traditions of Kashmir dreams in their hearts, such and urged its youth to help innocent (youths) are given participate in make the state a “paradise”. stones to pelt. Kerala Tourism Addressing a public meet- “This can allow some peo- ing here, Modi also appealed ple to do their politics but extravaganza for peace in the Kashmir what will happen to these Valley, saying his govern- innocent youths? Be it the s many as 57 countries ment was looking for devel- Jammu and Kashmir gov- will participate in the opmental solutions to peo- ernment under Mehboobaji Aninth edition of the Ker- ple’s problems. or the central government, ala Travel Mart (KTM) in Kochi “A handful of people, we are fi nding solutions to from September 27, including 10 who have been mislead, are all problems through devel- fi rst-time participants. harming the great traditions opment. The four-day event will begin of Kashmir. I call upon the “But some people want on World Tourism Day, a KTM youth of Kashmir to move destruction there,” he said. release said yesterday. forward with the dream of The prime minister said On display will be tourism making Kashmir a paradise,” every Indian loves Kashmir products, services and packages Modi said. and desires to go there. from around 261 stakeholders, Modi chose to speak on “Kashmir wants peace. including hotels, resorts, house- the troubles in the valley The citizens of Kashmir boats, ayurveda resorts, home publicly for the fi rst time want to earn more money stays and tour operators. during the launch the “70 through tourism. We want The event is basically meant Saal Azadi, Yaad Karo Kur- to ensure jobs for youths of for networking and interactions bani” celebrations at the Kashmir.” among travel industry profes- birthplace of freedom fi ght- Modi thanked all the po- sionals and entrepreneurs from er Chandrashekhar Azad. litical parties for speaking in Kerala and across the world. “Kashmir wants peace. one voice over the Kashmir Those who are coming for the Whatever Kashmiris want issue. fi rst time include representa- for betterment of their live- The prime minister paid tives from China, Japan, South lihood, the centre will pro- fl oral tributes at Chan- Korea, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, vide,” the prime minister drashekhar Azad’s birth- Georgia, Chile, Greece, Iran and said. place and visited an exhibi- Botswana. The Kashmir Valley has tion related to the life of the So far, 560 foreign delegates been engulfed by violent freedom fi ghter who shot have registered while domes- unrest since the July 8 killing himself dead in an Allahabad Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays floral tribute to Shaheed Chandrashekar Azad, in Bhabra village, Alirajpur district of Madhya Pradesh as Chief tic participation has crossed of a rebel commander, leav- park to avoid capture. Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan looks on. 1,300. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 LATIN AMERICA Bogota expands Senate set to indict land restitution Dilma Rousseff to war-torn south By Anastasia Moloney, Reuters in 2011, would now target six prov- Reuters ing and denounced her impeachment Bogota inces in Colombia’s south includ- Brasilia as a right-wing conspiracy to illegally ing former guerrilla strongholds and remove a government that improved jungle areas it has previously been the lot of Brazil’s poorer classes, by olombia is expanding its land unable to enter. razil’s Senate met yesterday to using an accounting technicality as a restitution programme into Nearly 7mn Colombians, many of vote on whether to indict Presi- legal pretext. Cformer no-go areas in the coun- them poor farmers, have been forced to Bdent Dilma Rousseff on charges Rousseff ’s impeachment has stirred try’s war-torn south aiming to return fl ee their homes to escape violence by of breaking budget laws, in the long- criticism outside Brazil, including land stolen from farmers by illegal warring factions, according to govern- awaited start of the trial phase of im- from former US presidential candi- armed groups, the government has said ment fi gures. peachment proceedings against her. date, Senator Bernie Sanders who said as peace talks advance. Some of the land they left behind was With Brazil’s attention focused on she was being put on a political trial Between 6.5mn and 10mn hectares abandoned and left idle for years. the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, not a legal one. of land — up to 15% of Colombian terri- Other land was seized by paramili- senators in the capital Brasilia began “To many Brazilians and observers tory — has been abandoned or illegally tary and guerrilla groups with farmers to decide the country’s political future the controversial impeachment proc- acquired through violence and fraud by often pressured by the armed groups to in a raucous session presided over by ess more closely resembles a coup leftist rebels and paramilitary groups sell out at cut-rate prices. Chief Justice Ricardo Lewandowski. d’état,” Sanders said in a statement is- during Colombia’s fi ve-decade war, Under the land restitution pro- The impeachment of Rousseff , a sued on Monday. according to the government. gramme, about 200,000 hectares of former leftist guerrilla and the fi rst Her critics say Rousseff ’s interven- Following a historic ceasefi re signed land has so far been handed back, to- woman to lead Brazil, has paralysed tionist economic policies and inability in June with rebels from the Revolu- gether with land titles awarded by Brazilian politics since the start of to govern led to the debacle in Latin tionary Armed Forces of Colombia judges, benefi ting about 20,000 Co- the year, deepening a crisis set off by President of Brazil’s Supreme Court, Ricardo Lewandowski (right) and Senate America’s largest country. (Farc), new areas once considered too lombians. a massive kickbacks and bribery scan- President Renan Calheiros attend a Senate discussion in Brasilia yesterday. They argue that, whatever the le- dangerous for offi cials to enter, have But this accounts for just a fraction dal at state-led oil company Petrobras. gal reasons for impeaching her, she now opened up, allowing the govern- of the stolen and abandoned land. The outcome of yesterday’s vote from offi ce and confi rm interim Presi- former vice president who took over should not be allowed to return to of- ment to step up its land restitution pro- Of the some 80,000 land claims was a foregone conclusion because dent Michel Temer, who would serve when the Senate suspended her on fi ce for the good of the country. gramme and enabling more displaced lodged to date with the authorities less opponents of Rousseff , who was sus- out the rest of her term through 2018. May 12, has asked senators to wrap Her supporters argued that Rousseff families to return home. than half are being processed, ham- pended in May, need only a simple A Temer spokesman said he is con- up the trial quickly so he can advance is being ousted by politicians who are “We announce we are entering those pered by red tape and diffi culties in majority in the 81-seat Senate to put fi dent the charges will be accepted. with reforms to cap public spending in many cases being investigated for municipalities hardest hit by violence,” sorting out who has legal title. her on a trial. Government offi cials expect 60 and rework an overly generous pen- corruption and do not have a moral leg Ricardo Sabogal, who heads the gov- Violence and threats made against A fi nal verdict expected at the end senators to vote for a trial, which is six sion system. to stand on. ernment entity charged with oversee- land rights campaigners has also un- of the month will require two thirds more than needed to eventually con- Investor expectations that Rous- Corruption allegations forced the ing land restitution, told reporters last dermined gains made in land restitu- of the votes, but media surveys of the vict her. seff would be ousted and replaced by resignation of three of his cabinet week. tion eff orts. Senate point to defeat for Rousseff and Uncertainty over Brazil’s political the more business-friendly Temer members and could implicate Temer “It’s a huge challenge in terms of The offi ce of the United Nations the end of 13 years of Workers Party future has hampered eff orts by Temer have strengthened Brazil’s currency himself. restitution and we will do justice in the Commissioner for Human Rights in rule. to plug a fi scal crisis inherited from and driven up shares on the Sao Paulo In plea bargain testimony published heart of areas where people were forced Colombia documented 41 rights activ- Conviction on charges of ma- Rousseff who is blamed for driving the stock market by over 30% since Janu- by local media over the weekend, to abandon their lands and were dis- ists were killed in 2015, including land nipulating government accounts and economy into what could be its worst ary, placing them among the world’s jailed construction magnate Marcelo possessed of their lands by the Farc.” rights campaigners. spending without congressional ap- recession since the 1930s. best performing assets. Odebrecht reportedly claimed Temer He said the government’s land res- Any peace deal will be put to Colom- proval would defi nitively remove her Temer, Rousseff ’s conservative Rousseff has denied any wrongdo- had received illegal campaign funding. titution programme, which started bians for approval in a vote. Mexicans protest Revolutionary hero teacher blockades

Reuters business groups say members have suf- Mexico City fered millions of dollars of losses due to months of blockades by dissident teach- ers throughout the country, especially in early 3,000 Mexican businesses in Oaxaca. the southern state of Oaxaca shut Teachers, who believe the education Ntheir doors on Monday in pro- reform will result in large-scale dismiss- test over the government’s response to a als, say the government has not developed teachers’ union that has blocked roads to curricula that consider the reality of rural reject President Enrique Pena Nieto’s ed- areas. ucation reform. “We do not accept total responsibility, Mexican industry group Coparmex said because we are not listened to,” Rogelio up to 7,000 workers, including truckers, Vargas, a leader of Oaxaca’s Section 22, a taxi drivers and waiters, were not working radical faction of the teachers’ union, said during the 24-hour stoppage in the state, about the impact of blockades on private popular with tourists for its beaches and business. culture and home to a major oil refi nery. Pro-business protesters created a hu- About a thousand people supporting man chain at a fountain in Oaxaca City the action gathered in the colonial state on Monday before proceeding to the gov- capital, Oaxaca City, to protest. ernor’s mansion abut one mile (1.6 km) Public transport ground to a halt and away. restaurants closed their doors, said Mario About 1,000 public buses stayed off the Rodriguez Casasnovas, a spokesman for roads, said Alejandro Lopez, a member of Coparmex. Por Un Oaxaca en Paz, a civil society or- Tensions have risen since eight died in ganisation. clashes with police in Oaxaca in June, with That left nearly empty the principle av- disruptive protests continuing as the gov- enue, which is usually packed with traffi c. ernment maintains that it will not repeal Coparmex, the industry group, fi led for the reform, while tourism has fallen. a constitutional injunction against federal Judi Ilescas Lopez, owner of Parador authorities last week. San Miguel Oaxaca, a boutique hotel in the It has threatened to stop paying taxes if centre of the city, said she closed her doors the government does not act. to pressure the federal government to act. “It’s not that we will not want to pay, it’s “We’re desperate,” she said, adding that there will be no money to pay,” Rod- that the summer occupancy rate has hov- riguez said. “If you have no income you Thousands of farmers gather at Zocalo square to celebrate the 137 birth anniversary of revolutionary hero Emiliano Zapata in Mexico City on Monday. ered around 20%. The protests come as cannot pay tax.” Castro mulls mortality at 90: ‘The time will come for all of us’

By Denis Duettmann, DPA He went to school with the Santiago de Cuba, but the army and was accused of widespread Soviet Union, Cuba fell into a Havana children of farm hands and from defeated the poorly planned plot. human rights violations as he deep economic crisis. an early age witnessed the bitter “Condemn me. It does not comprehensively remade Cuba, Many Cubans still remem- poverty in which most Cubans matter. History will absolve me,” confi scating not only the proper- ber with a shiver the depriva- idel Castro, once Cuba’s lived. the fl aming Castro famously told ty of foreign companies but even tions they endured during the “Maximum Leader,” has Castro went on to study law in the judges. his own family’s. so-called “special period” in the Fbeen pondering his own Havana and immediately delved He was sentenced to 15 years Land reform put the Castro early 1990s. death ahead of his 90th birthday into university politics. but was released in an amnesty regime at odds with the United Tourism revenue and co-op- on Saturday. The young Castro made no se- just two years later. States, which imposed a trade eration with oil-rich Venezuela “The time will come for all of cret of his ambitions. He left for Mexico with his embargo and supported a failed eventually helped Cuba’s social- us,” he told Cuba’s Communist He told fellow students he brother Raul and built a rebel invasion by armed Cuban exiles ist leadership stave off collapse. Party Congress in April, moving wanted “fame and glory” and was group to foment revolution in at the Bay of Pigs in 1961. Castro relinquished power on several delegates to tears. far from a Spartan revolutionary Cuba. Castro became an ally of the July 31, 2006, as he underwent Most Cubans have never lived at the time: He wore a pinstripe In exile Fidel met Argentinian Soviet Union, and in 1962, the surgery for an unspecifi ed illness. without the man they know sim- suit and drove a cabriolet. Ernesto “Che” Guevara, his later deployment of Soviet missiles His exit became permanent ply as Fidel. During his rule from After graduation Castro start- comrade-in-arms, and learned on Cuba brought the world to the two years later, when Raul was 1959-2006, Castro challenged 10 ed a law fi rm, but his real passion guerrilla tactics. brink of nuclear war. offi cially appointed as the coun- US presidents. He set up a com- was politics. Castro returned to Cuba in Yet Castro positioned himself try’s leader. munist regime on the doorstep of In 1952, he ran for a seat in 1956 aboard the yacht Granma, as a key fi gure representing non- Raul Castro lacks his older the United States and allegedly Congress, but a coup staged by along with 81 men. aligned nations. brother’s charisma but has been survived more than 600 assas- General Fulgencio Batista halted After initially suff ering severe “He showed that socialist able to pursue Fidel’s political sination attempts. the elections. losses, the revolutionary group revolutions were possible in the agenda with little opposition. According to offi cial records, The dictatorship thwarted gained ground, and by late 1958 Third World,” said Cuban expert Fidel remains a powerful sym- Fidel Castro was born out of Castro’s budding civilian career went on the off ensive. Bert Hoff mann of the Hamburg- bol. “He is necessary as a fi gure- wedlock on August 13, 1926, in and turned him into a revolu- Batista fl ed on New Year’s Eve, based GIGA Institute of Latin head, as an ideal justifi cation,” the eastern Cuban town of Biran tionary. and Castro announced the tri- American Studies. “Free educa- Castro biographer Volker Skierka to a Spanish immigrant who had The following year, Castro umph of his revolution early on tion and healthcare were globally says, “particularly now that clos- become a successful farmer and and a handful of fellow militants January 1, 1959. acclaimed achievements.” er ties are being built with the Fidel Castro ... nationalist icon his domestic servant. attacked a military barracks in Castro ruled with an iron fi st But after the collapse of the United States.” Gulf Times Wednesday, August 10, 2016 15 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

TRAGEDY Journalists mourn fallen comrades

Journalists in newsrooms across Pakistan lawyers strike as Pakistan mourned the passing away of two colleagues, who were killed in the line of duty while reporting from Quetta’s Civil Hospital on Monday. Shahzad Khan of Aaj TV and Me- hmood Khan of DawnNews were on hand when Bilal Anwer Kasi’s Quetta mourns victims body was brought to the hospital morgue. AFP Mediamen and camerapersons Quetta were at the scene when the suicide bomber blew himself up outside the hospital’s crowded akistan’s lawyers boycott- emergency wing. ed courts and staged pro- Mehmood’s story is one of self- Ptests nationwide yesterday reliance and hard work. after a horrifi c suicide bombing He joined DawnNews several at a Quetta hospital which killed years ago as a security guard and 72 people including many of due to his interest in the workings their colleagues. of the newsroom, he was given Monday’s bloodletting, with the role of a non-linear editor. medics battling to save scores of Aaj TV’s Shahzad Khan, a seven- injured amid scenes of carnage, year veteran of the news business, left the southwestern city reel- was also cut down in the prime ing. of his life. Police stood guard yester- He was no stranger to senseless day at the Civil Hospital, where violence, having reported on the bomb tore through a crowd several incidents of terrorism, in- of some 200 lawyers who had cluding the attacks on the Hazara gathered there the previous day community. to mourn the fatal shooting of a He is survived by a wife, two colleague. daughters and a son. Offi cials said yesterday the death toll had increased to 72, with more than 100 injured. ENVIRONMENT Both the Pakistani Taliban and the Islamic State group have as- Pakistan’s 21 serted responsibility for the at- Pakistani cricketer-turned-opposition leader Imran Khan arrives at the site a day after a suicide bombing tack, though neither claim has at the Civil Hospital in Quetta yesterday. national parks been verifi ed by Pakistani au- in state of neglect thorities. weeping and crying and for la- group also claimed the attack. turning point for the group, say- The IS claim, if true, would menting, this is a time for prac- The Middle Eastern jihadists ing it is under heavy pressure in National parks reflect any coun- make it the group’s deadliest at- tical steps,” said Sheikh Asmud- have struggled in Pakistan due its eastern strongholds from US try’s outstanding scenery and tack so far in Pakistan, where it din in the capital. to competition from well estab- airstrikes and an Afghan ground natural landscape, but a visit to has struggled for purchase. Pope Francis said he was lished extremist groups such as off ensive. Pakistan’s over 21 such parks will Scores of lawyers held rallies “deeply saddened” by the at- the Taliban. Senior analyst Rahimullah reveal that they have been in state in major cities including Islama- tack, joining a chorus of interna- Attacks claimed by IS in Pa- Yousafzai cast doubt on both of neglect for the past several bad, Karachi and Quetta Tues- tional condemnation. kistan are rare, the most signifi - claims to the Quetta bombing, Pakistani lawyers shout slogans against the killing of their colleagues years. day. The Pakistani Taliban faction cant being a 2015 bus assault in saying there was little previous a day after suicide bombing at the Civil Hospital in Quetta, during a Worldwide there are around 6,555 “It’s very tragic. Our seniors that claimed the attack, Jamaat- Karachi that killed 47 people. evidence of either JuA or IS be- protest in Lahore yesterday. national parks and 21 in Pakistan who were our intellectuals have ul-Ahrar (JuA), was formed in The group has made some ing active in Balochistan prov- which represent diff erent eco- been killed and may God reward 2014. inroads in Afghanistan, where ince. Iran and Afghanistan, has ma- “specially targeting” the Chi- logical regions of the country and them in heaven,” lawyer Ghulam It also claimed responsibility it has carried out attacks in But he added that suicide jor oil and gas resources but is na-Pakistan Economic Corri- cover about 29,589km about 3% Mohamed said in Quetta. for Pakistan’s deadliest blast so the east near the border with bombers can strike anywhere, so affl icted by Islamist militancy, dor. of the total area (10,060,96km) of Soldiers patrolled near-empty far this year – the Lahore Easter Pakistan in a tussle for su- “we cannot rule it out”. sectarian violence and a separa- The project has been hit by the country. streets in the city as most pub- bombing, which killed 75. premacy with the Afghan The claims may not be com- tist insurgency. numerous separatist attacks in When attention was drawn lic transport shut down, with The US State Department last Taliban. peting at all, he added, sug- It is also the site of China’s the past but China has said it is towards the pathetic condition markets and schools closed in week designated JuA a terror- Last month IS said it carried gesting the possibility of a joint ambitious $46bn infrastructure confi dent the Pakistani military of the parks Deputy Direc- mourning. ist group, calling it “a splinter out twin suicide bombings that attack.“Nothing is concrete.” project linking its western prov- is in control. tor Media Ministry of Climate In Islamabad and in Karachi, group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban left 80 people dead in Kabul, the The security situation in Ba- ince of Xinjiang to the Arabian The army has repeatedly Change Mohamed Saleem said, lawyers called for the authorities Pakistan (TTP)”. deadliest attack in the city since lochistan is already murky and Sea via Pakistan. been accused by international “We are taking more measures to protect civilians. Hours after the JuA an- 2001. confused. Pakistan’s army said Mon- rights groups of abuses in Ba- to restore original beauty of “This is not time only for nouncement the Islamic State But offi cials denied that was a The province, which borders day that the Quetta attack was lochistan. these parks’’.

Market blast kills two in Afghanistan Aid call as refugees fl eeing fi ghting pack into Afghan city A bomb in a crowded market in the north Afghanistan city of Mazar-i-Sharif yesterday AFP troops withdrew in 2014. this morning,” an offi cial with supporting Afghan forces on the killed at least two people and Kabul The provincial governor’s aid organisation Medecins Sans ground, highlighting the inten- wounded 15, police off icials said. spokesman Omar Zawak said Frontieres in the city told AFP sity of the combat in Helmand. Mazar-i-Sharif, an important Lashkar Gah is struggling to on condition of anonymity. “The situation down there re- commercial centre near the bor- ffi cials warned yesterday cope with an infl ux of people Residents voiced fears the mains tense and somewhat con- der with Uzbekistan, has gener- of a humanitarian cri- fl eeing the fi ghting elsewhere in city could fall, saying insurgents tested,” a Nato spokesman said. ally been spared the violence Osis in Helmand as fi erce the province. had heavily mined the roads and “It remains an ongoing secu- unleashed by insurgent groups fi ghting sent refugees fl eeing “Around 30,000 people have exhausted soldiers were running rity concern and there has been battling the Nato-backed gov- to the capital of the southern been displaced in Helmand in out of food. fi ghting down there for the last ernment in Kabul. Afghan province, with Tali- the past several weeks. Most “The Taliban are in control of several weeks. We remain con- The attack on Tuesday was ban insurgents tightening their of them are coming to Lashkar all the roads leading to Lashkar fi dent that the Afghan forces carried out by a suicide bomber, grip despite intensifi ed US air Gah,” he said. Gah,” resident Haji Qayum told are fi ghting eff ectively and that said police commander Baba strikes. “It diffi cult for the city to AFP. they will continue to secure Jan. Helmand, long a hub of mili- contain all of them. Families, “The police checkposts are Lashkar Gah.” “The bomber detonated his tancy and opium production, children, women, all have to falling one by one. There is a Toryalai Hemat, the provin- explosives in the main market has seen a recent increase in sleep on the streets. There is a great fear the capital may fall to cial governor’s media adviser, and all the victims are civilians,” militant attacks, with fi ghters shortage of food and clean wa- Taliban soon too.” said Nato’s air strikes have in- he said. seizing more territory in the ter, we need urgent support.” As the fi erce battles continue, fl icted heavy casualties on the An Afghan policeman looks on as a family on a truck passes a volatile province since Nato “The shelling is pretty heavy Nato has stepped up air strikes Taliban. checkpoint in Helmand province yesterday. Pakistan’s bogus bomb-detectors in business despite scandal

AFP to remain anonymous. over the country’s defence and concrete, soil, and metal barri- Islamabad Pressed on whether Taliban foreign policy. ers.” and Al Qaeda insurgents – who The wands, named “Khoji” But Andrea Sella, a professor have been waging an insurgen- (fi nder), are used by security of chemistry at the University ith radio-like anten- cy that has that claimed more personnel to protect airports College London, dismissed the nae meant to swivel than 60,000 lives in Pakistan and government installations, claims as “laughable”. Wand point at vehicles since 2004 – may by now be and have also been widely sold to “There is no physical basis carrying bombs, “magic wand” wise to the deception, he con- the private sector and deployed for the operation of those de- explosive detectors proliferated ceded: “Yes, they are savvy at malls, hotels and fast-food vices,” he told AFP. “It’s pure throughout confl ict zones in the and they probably are aware by chains. snake oil, sold to desperate 2000s until they were exposed now.” J Chacko, a London-based people who use them because as a global scam. His comments were backed security analyst, said they were something, even if useless, But in an astonishing secu- by two more senior members of endangering lives. is better than nothing. There rity threat, more than 15,000 of a government, though neither was “A false sense of complacency is no ‘magnetic’ signal that new variant of the handheld de- prepared to go formally on the based on devices that do not you might be able to pick up. vice have been made in Pakistan record. work does represent a public se- The idea that you could do so to guard high-value facilities Offi cial silence over the matter curity threat,” he said. through metal, especially steel such as airports and government may be linked to the enormous The device claims an accuracy in a car, is laughable.” installations, despite offi cials sums of money involved in the level of 90%, according to a copy His comments were backed by conceding they are eff ectively business, observers say, while of its user manual obtained by Pervez Hoodbhoy, a leading Pa- useless. many bureaucrats fear for their AFP, but uses the principles of kistani physicist who trained at Many creators of the original jobs if they speak out. radiesthesia, or dowsing, which the US’s MIT. devices are serving long prison “Powerful people make mon- experts consider junk science. “It’s a fraud. There’s no way sentences for fraud, including ey through these scams and you “Khoji is the fi rst device of its that explosives can be detected British businessman James Mc- cannot off end powerful people, kind that can detect explosives by electromagnetic means,” he Cormick. even if it means endangering from distances of up to 100 me- said. His ADE-651 became a main- lives,” said one former offi cial at tres, even when the explosive Leading scientists are cur- stay of security forces in Iraq, the interior ministry. is hidden behind walls or metal rently developing legitimate where $85mn was spent on Pakistan initially imported barriers such as buildings or ve- explosives-detectors based on them, before they were offi cially foreign detector devices such hicles,” the manual boasts. sensors that “sniff ” out explo- banned last month. as the ADE-651 and the Ger- A Pakistani private security guard uses an explosives detector to search a vehicle at a mall entrance in “It detects the interference sive compounds such as triac- “It serves a deterrence man made Sniff ex, according Islamabad. by between the magnetic fi eld etone triperoxide, but the work value only – it’s good for po- to a government source, but in of the earth, the explosive, the remains in its infancy. lice and security personnel 2009 Pakistan’s Airport Securi- have been sold within the revenue of more than $10mn. tion but is staff ed by many serv- device itself and the human A Western security consultant to have something in their ty Force (ASF) took over making country at a cost of Rs70,000 The ASF – which declined ing senior offi cers deputed from body, which allows the device to Afghanistan told AFP: “The only hands,” said a senior interior and selling the wands. ($700), according to an of- multiple requests for comment the powerful military, which penetrate and locate even small device that can currently detect ministry official, who asked More than 15,000 units ficial, amounting to a total – is technically a civilian institu- wields considerable infl uence amounts of explosive through such explosives is a dog.” Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 PHILIPPINES Record new HIV Duterte rebuff s top cases prompt call for action

Thomson Reuters Founda- Project Red Ribbon told the tion Thomson Reuters Foundation judge over drug row Jakarta yesterday. “But to look at it with the AFP selves physically accountable to signs on their victims’ bodies glass half full, it also shows Manila any police offi cer in the absence accusing them of drug traffi ck- he Philippines has post- awareness is at an all-time of any warrant of arrest,” she ing. ed a record number of high, meaning more people are added. Police have also arrested more Tnew HIV infections, aware of HIV and are getting resident Rodrigo Duterte Meanwhile, The Philippines’ than 7,000 drug suspects since prompting campaigners to call tested.” warned the Philippines’ Supreme Court yesterday or- Duterte took offi ce. on authorities to step up ef- However, he said the ac- Ptop judge yesterday to let dered an inquiry into four United Nations agencies and forts to battle the potentially tual number of new infections him pursue a deadly anti-crime judges who President Duterte international human rights deadly disease. could be higher, as stigma as- campaign that has left hun- linked to the drug trade, a day monitors have expressed con- A total of 841 new cases were sociated with HIV prevents dreds of suspects dead, suggest- after the chief justice criticised cern over the killings, and on recorded in June, the highest at-risk group from getting ing otherwise he would impose the president’s name-and- Monday the US government, the ever monthly fi gure since the tested. “martial law”. shame campaign in his war on Philippines’ main military ally, country’s fi rst reported case in “The government should Supreme Court chief justice narcotics. weighed in on the issue. 1984, according to the health double their eff orts in spread- Lourdes Sereno criticised Mon- Supreme Court spokesman “We are concerned by these department’s latest statistics ing awareness about HIV be- day Duterte’s public shaming of Theodore Te said the court asked detentions, as well as the ex- released this week. fore it is too late,” added San- seven lower court judges for al- “Let’s not kid each other ma’am, a retired judge to conduct a fact- “To safeguard the role of tra judicial killing of individu- Over 90%, or 777 cases, tos, the group’s treasurer. leged involvement in the narcot- and do not force the issue, You fi nding investigation into “the the judges as the protector als suspected to be involved in were transmitted through The Philippines saw new in- ics trade, adding that one of the do not warn me. I warn you. alleged involvement of four in- of constitutional rights, drug activity in the Philippines,” sexual contact, the majority fections double between 2001 judges was murdered eight years I can order everyone in the cumbent judges”, and to present I would caution them State Department spokeswoman of them among men who have and 2012, according to a UN ago. executive department not to a report in 30 days. very strongly against Elizabeth Trudeau said in Wash- sex with men. Aids agency (UNAIDS) report “Go ahead and try to stop me. honour you” “The court today resolved to ‘surrendering’” ington. Injecting drug users ac- in 2013 which showed the epi- Would you rather that I declared treat the speech of President Duterte’s spokesman, Ernesto counted for 60 new cases and demic was also expanding in martial law?” Duterte said in a all lose,” the president added. Rodrigo Duterte as a complaint has previously shrugged off al- Abella, told a news briefi ng the the remaining four were cases Indonesia and Pakistan. speech to soldiers during a visit Sereno had told Duterte in a against the four judges,” Te told a legations that police were com- president had “repeatedly ex- of mother-to-child transmis- Increasing infections to a military camp in the south- letter that it was her sole respon- news conference in Manila, add- mitting extrajudicial killings. pressed he does not condone sion. among injecting drug users ern Philippines. sibility to impose punishment on ing the four judges were given However, police have ac- extrajudicial killings” respond- New cases of the human sharing contaminated nee- “Let’s not kid each other judicial “misfi ts”, and that pub- seven days to respond to the knowledged in a new tally re- ing to a US State Department immunodefi ciency virus (HIV) dles combined with low con- ma’am, and do not force the is- licly naming them, even without complaint. leased yesterday killing 513 drug concern about the rise in drug- which can lead to Aids have dom use and high fertility sue,” Duterte warned Sereno. charges fi led against them, had “This is just for the adminis- suspects, allegedly for resisting related killings. been rising in the Philippines, rates have raised concern over “You do not warn me. I warn put their lives in danger. trative case since the Supreme arrest. Abella said the interior min- bucking the international “downstream” HIV infections you. I can order everyone in the “To safeguard the role of the Court does not have jurisdiction Human rights groups have ister had ordered the national trend which shows new infec- - when the virus spreads to executive department not to judges as the protector of con- on criminal cases.” criticised the killings by police police chief to investigate tions falling. people not typically at risk of honour you,” he added. stitutional rights, I would cau- Duterte, elected in a landslide as hundreds of other people have drug-related murders, particu- “This is a cause of concern HIV, like children who acquire “Please do not create a confron- tion them very strongly against in May largely on a pledge to kill been slain by shadowy anti- larly those carried out by vigi- for us,” Gerald Santos from the virus through mother-to- tation, a constitutional war. We will ‘surrendering’ or making them- tens of thousands of criminals, crime vigilantes who often leave lantes. Manila-based campaign group child transmission. Miss Universe IS Ramos ‘optimistic’ about China trip

threat is serious, Reuters Asked about others, such as Hong Kong China’s former deputy minis- ter for Foreign Aff airs Fu Ying, Ramos said he did not know yet. says Philippines ormer Philippines Presi- “They all have links with Bei- dent Fidel Ramos yester- jing, because some of them are Fday named the head of already retired but elevated to AFP nounced it won the contest to a Chinese government think- the parliament as chairman of Manila host the 2017 pageant. tank among the experts and this and that committee.” It cited the country’s suc- offi cials he hoped to meet on a Ramos said he sought to im- cessful hosting of Pope Francis trip to rekindle ties with China prove economic and tourism hilippines tourism of- last year, as well as world lead- soured by a maritime dispute in links, such as by allowing “more ficials yesterday said ers for the Asia-Pacifi c Eco- the South China Sea. fi shing in the common fi shing Pa threat by an Islamic nomic Cooperation summit, as On July 12, an arbitration ground” of the Scarborough State-related group to bomb proof that it was ready for the court in the Hague ruled that shoal in the Philippines’ exclu- the Miss Universe beauty expected infl ux of visitors for China had no historic title over sive economic zone. contest was “serious”, but Miss Universe. the busy waterway and had “The idea is to use the South insisted the country would The threat would be referred breached the Philippines’ sov- China Sea as a place to save be ready to hold the pageant to an intelligence group as- ereign rights there, infuriating lives, but not to kill people or to next year. signed to the pageant, national China, which had dismissed the destroy lives,” he added. A pro-IS social media chan- police spokesman Senior Su- case. China’s 2012 seizure of the nel tracked by the terror- perintendent Dionardo Carlos “I’ve always been a very op- Scarborough Shoal, denying monitoring SITE Intelligence said. timistic person, always looking Philippine fi shermen access, Group showed a video on how “That’s going to be looked for the best results,” Ramos told was among the factors that to “create a bomb for Miss Uni- at,” he said, without giving de- reporters in Hong Kong.”But prompted Manila to seek arbi- verse”, referring to the beauty tails. of course that also depends on tration. Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos speaks to journalists during a trip to Hong Kong, China after pageant to be held in Manila in Filipino Muslim militants the attitude of the Chinese of- But China has ignored the the Hague court’s ruling over the maritime dispute in South China Sea, yesterday. January 2017. operating in the south of the fi cials.” court’s ruling that none of its The video, posted on Mon- country have in recent years Ramos gave no details of his reefs and holdings in the Spratly Brunei, Malaysia, the Philip- Presley’s ‘Love Me Tender’ with disputes”, China’s state news day, appeared to show how to pledged allegiance to the IS, itinerary or of those he planned Islands entitled it to a 200-mile pines, Taiwan and Vietnam also former Chinese president Jiang agency, Xinhua, said in a com- make an explosive belt for sui- though security offi cials and to meet, except for Wu Shicun, exclusive economic zone. have claims in the sea, believed Zemin at a 1996 banquet. mentary. cide operations. analysts said they were more who heads the National Insti- China claims almost the en- to be rich in energy deposits. His trip represents “the Ramos was Philippines presi- “We consider this as seri- focused on raising ransom tute for South China Sea Stud- tire South China Sea, through Ramos, 88, who described his fi rst concrete step” in engage- dent from 1992 to 1998, when ous,” said the tourism depart- from kidnappings than propa- ies think-tank, based on Chi- which more than $5 trillion of role as an “icebreaker”, is known ment for both sides and “could China occupied the submerged ment, which last month an- gating an ideology. na’s southern island of Hainan. trade moves annually. for an impromptu duet of Elvis open a new chapter in settling Mischief Reef. Philippines to overhaul ‘inhumane’, overcrowded jails

AFP Manila

hilippine offi cials said yes- terday the government Pwould build new jails to address severe congestion made worse by President Rodrigo Du- terte’s drug war, describing con- ditions as “inhumane” and “un- acceptable”. AFP photographs of Quezon City Jail, where thousands of inmates take turns to sleep on an open-air basketball court and a staircase, were an “eye-opener” for authorities to hasten the con- struction of a new facility, accord- ing to vice-mayor Joy Belmonte. Quezon City offi cials on Mon- day signed an agreement to do- nate land to the national govern- ment for a new prison. The facility in the northern district of Manila would replace the jail built six decades ago for 800 inmates but now houses al- most 4,000. This picture taken on July 21, 2016 shows inmates sleeping inside the Quezon City jail in Manila. This picture taken on July 30, 2016 shows inmates cooking their food inside the Quezon City jail in Manila. “The photos are really unac- ceptable. Seeing inmates sleep the vice-mayor, who said she the 13th century Italian writer’s from Duterte’s crackdown. drugs off ences as part of the Even before Duterte’s presi- ternational Committee of the on top of each other because of had heard reports of overcrowd- description of the realm where Duterte, who took offi ce on campaign. dency, the Philippine penal sys- Red Cross to fi nalise the design the lack of space, I feel it’s a vio- ing before but visited the facility souls await judgment. June 30, ordered a bloody war Sueno said his department was tem was ranked as the third most for a new facility that can house lation of human rights, an urgent for the fi rst time in July with an Interior Secretary Ismael on crime that has left 889 peo- also planning the construction of congested in the world, accord- 6,000 inmates by 2019. matter that must be addressed,” AFP photographer. Sueno told AFP the govern- ple dead since the May elections, more rehabilitation centres. ing to the University of London’s “It’s a modern facility and we Belmonte said. Human Rights Watch criti- ment would allocate funds according to the country’s larg- “(President Duterte) is really Institute for Criminal Policy Re- want it to be on par with other “It’s good that this is exposed cised the conditions last week, to build new jails, with 80% est broadcaster ABS-CBN. concerned not just about arrests search. jails in Southeast Asia,” Xavier before the international reading saying it was “straight out of of new detainees accused of Police have reported arrest- but also the rehabilitation of In Quezon City, the govern- Solda of the Bureau of Jail Man- public as an eye-opener,” added Dante’s ‘Purgatory’”, referring to drug-related crimes resulting ing more than 5,000 people for drug addicts,” the minister said. ment is working with the In- agement and Penology told AFP. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 10, 2016 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL/MALDIVES Colombo port view ‘Ageing’ ailment baffl es doctors

AFP hospital expressed caution, Dhaka saying tests were needed. “In progeria, the ageing process accelerates with time,” four-year-old Bangla- Abul Kalam, head of the hospi- deshi boy suff ering from tal’s burns and plastic surgery Aa mysterious illness that unit, told AFP on Monday. makes him look like an old man “But Bayezid’s parents have has been admitted to hospital said the ageing of their boy has for tests, doctors and his fam- been halted recently. He has ily said. shown signs of improvement. Doctors at a top hospital in “We’re investigating his condi- Dhaka have agreed to try to di- tion. In addition to loose skin, agnose and treat Bayezid Shik- he has problems in his heart, dar, who comes from a poor ear and eyes.” farming family, for free after Doctors said his genetic con- learning of his plight on the dition may also be the result A container ship sails out from Colombo South Harbour funded by China, in Sri Lanka. weekend. Born with excess skin of inbreeding, with marriage that hangs from his limbs and among relatives including fi rst face causing it to sag, Bayezid cousins common in Bangla- also suff ers from related heart, desh’s rural areas. vision and hearing problems. Bayezid’s mother, Khatun, His father, Lablu Shikdar, stressed that her son was just said numerous doctors have like any other child. been at a loss to explain his “He is very fond of fi sh and condition. rice. He plays football and hide “We sold our land to treat and seek with his cousins,” she him at local hospitals. We took told AFP after her son’s case Maldives urged not to him to religious healers and was highlighted in Bangladesh herbal doctors, but his condi- media on the weekend. tion did not change. This hos- “When I fi rst saw him he pital is our last hope,” Shikdar looked like a bundle of skin. told AFP at Dhaka Medical We had no idea what he was af- College Hospital this week. fl icted with. “We hope they’ll make him We thought the condition carry out executions look like any other normal would go away soon.” child.” “He is an extremely tal- The Maldives has not executed anyone Maldives government offi cials were not rorism charges for having ordered the ar- corruption. The Indian Ocean archipelago, Doctors initially suspect- ented boy. There are days he since 1954 immediately available for comments. rest of a judge. whose beaches are a popular attraction for ed he suff ered from progeria grabs books and wants to go to President Abdulla Yameen, who de- Nasheed, who was president from 2008 wealthy Western tourists, adopted multi- which causes rapid and prema- school. Reuters fends capital punishment as part of the until he stepped down amid protests in party democracy in 2008 after three dec- ture ageing shortly after birth, But we thought he’s still too Geneva Islamic law he wants to implement in the 2012, was granted political asylum in the ades of autocratic rule by Yameen’s half leading to severe health com- young.” majority Muslim country, is under inter- United Kingdom when he was allowed to brother, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom. plications. Doctors at the same hos- national pressure to uphold the rule of law. go there for surgery in January of this year. But it has been gripped by turmoil since The rare genetic disorder pital have also been treating he United Nations urged the Mal- His administration has jailed several op- The Maldives’ parliament passed a new its fi rst democratically-elected leader Mo- was the subject of Hollywood a 26-year-old father dubbed dives yesterday not to carry out ponents — including Mohamed Nasheed, defamation bill yesterday despite US-led hamed Nasheed was toppled in 2012 in movie The Curious Case of Tree Man for the rare and mas- Tplanned executions for convicts on the country’s fi rst democratically elected international concern that it risked un- what he claims what was a coup. Benjamin Button. sive bark-like growths on his death row and to uphold a moratorium the president — after hasty trials criticised by dermining basic freedoms on the troubled Opposition parties, some of which had But doctors at the Dhaka hands and feet. Indian Ocean archipelago had respected rights groups. honeymoon islands. opposed Nasheed earlier, have united in for decades. Former Maldives foreign minister Dun- The parliament dominated by lawmak- their campaign against Yameen. The country has not executed anyone ya Maumoon quit in July in protest against ers from president Abdulla Yameen’s Pro- Journalists staged a protest outside par- since 1954 as previous presidents had all the government’s support for capital pun- gressive Party of Maldives voted 47 to 31 in liament as the law was passed. commuted any death sentences handed ishment, which it reiterated in May by an- favour of the controversial bill that crimi- “This is truly the end of free media in down, while leaving capital punishment nouncing it would go ahead with execu- nalises defamation. the Maldives. 12 sentenced to death legal. tions. The main opposition as well as rights The government no longer needs an ex- But the supreme court last month said Mona Rishmawi, chief of the rule of law activists say the law allows the govern- cuse to shut down media outlets or crack its decisions on death sentences are fi nal, branch at the UN human rights offi ce, said ment to impose severe penalties on those down on dissenters,” Ali Naafi z, assistant in two murder cases overruling a high court stay order on ex- there are 17 people currently on death row seeking to exercise freedom of speech, in- editor of the private Mihaaru news web- ecutions. in the Maldives. cluding shutting down news organisations site, told AFP. The UN high commissioner for Human In three cases, the UN offi ce is “very and jailing journalists for up to six months. The Maldives went ahead with the vote By Mizan Rahman convicts strangled Sanaullah to Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said there worried” because of concerns over the A coalition of opposition parties said nine days after the United States and Eu- Dhaka death on February 9, 2001. have been a number of worrying develop- fairness of the trials. the passage of the controversial law was a ropean countries urged Yameen to with- Asaduzzaman, brother of ments concerning capital punishment in “What happened is that last year, they retrograde step in a country which abol- draw the bill and “return to the path of the victim, fi led a case against the Maldives since November. entered an item in the budget to allow for ished criminal defamation in 2009, a year democracy”. total of 12 persons were 12 people with Kapasia Police “It is deeply regrettable that a series of execution chambers. after its fi rst democratic elections. Yameen has resisted the international awarded death sentence Station the following day. steps have been taken to resume execu- So we know that they are basically mak- “The Maldives United Opposition pressure, saying Western governments al- Ayesterday in two sepa- Police chargesheeted nine tions in the country,” he said in a state- ing it possible and they are ready to ex- (MUO) views the passage of the law as ready have similar laws. rate murder cases in Bangla- people.Additional district ment. ecute,” Rishmawi told reporters. clear proof of regression of democracy in UN rights offi cial Mona Rishmawi, desh. and sessions judge Fazle Elahi “A judiciary that is unable to consist- Rishmawi said the UN had serious con- Maldives and a step backwards from dem- speaking in Geneva, described the law A court in Gazipur city north Bhuiya handed down the ver- ently apply fair trial standards and is cerns over access to a fair trial in the Mal- ocratic norms,” the group said in a state- as “very, very, very wide”. It could target of the capital sentenced six dict in presence of all the con- marred by politicisation must not be al- dives, noting that former president Nash- ment. journalists and human rights defenders people to death and three oth- victs. lowed to have the fi nal say in matters of life eed was not allowed to present his defence It accused Yameen of enacting the legis- and risks “crippling freedom of expres- ers to life term imprisonment In another case, a speedy and death,” Zeid said in a statement. in court in 2015 when he was tried on ter- lation to silence critics who accuse him of sion”, Rishmawi said. for killing a schoolboy in 2001. trial tribunal in southeastern The condemned convicts port city of Chittagong yes- are Rafi qul Islam, Atiqul Islam, terday sentenced six people to WB assures aid for Atique Sheikh, Selim Sheikh, death and acquitted four others Anwar Hossain Sheikh and in the case for killing Waliullah S Asia connectivity Nayan Sheikh of Ghagtia vil- Mridha in Chandpur district in The World Bank yesterday lage in Kapasia sub-district of 2014. Hasina’s son denies any assured Bangladesh of financial Gazipur district. Chittagong speedy trial tri- and technical support to The lifers are Anwara Be- bunal judge Mohamed Mahitul implement the Bangladesh, gum, Abdul Motaleb and Sam- Haq Enam Chowdhury found Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) suddin of the same village. the six accused – Harun Mrid- initiative for smooth passenger According to the prosecu- ha, Abdul Kader Mridha, Abdul link with ‘Joy League’ and cargo vehicular movement tion, Sanaullah Sarkar, 19, a Hamid, Mehedi Hasan, Naz- among the four South Asian Grade 10 examinee and son of mul Hasan and Gourob – guilty countries. Jashim Uddin of Ghagtia vil- of murdering Waliullah. By Mizan Rahman The global lending agency will lage in the sub-district had an The six were awarded the Dhaka provide 10bn taka ($125mn) aff air with the daughter of An- capital punishment after being to implement the project wara Begum, and both families tried in absentia. (Bangladesh part) to make had been at loggerheads over The judge acquitted four he prime minister’s ICT Adviser regional trade easier and improve the issue. others as charges against them Sajeeb Wazed Joy has denied any link communication system further. As a sequel to the enmity, the could not be proved. Twith an organisation named after Commerce minister Tofail him, saying that he doesn’t like his name Ahmed made a statement after a being used unnecessarily. meeting with a delegation led by “I have noted news of someone launch- Qimiao Fan, country director for ing a ‘Sajeeb Wazed Joy League’. This league Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, at is completely unauthorised and has abso- his Secretariat off ice. CIAA books land lutely nothing to do with me or the Awami The WB will work closely with the League,” Joy wrote on his Facebook page on commerce ministry to implement Monday night. the project, a ministry handout offi cial in Nepal Joy’s reaction came a day after a news quoted Tofail as saying. portal ran a report on a new organisation The commerce minister said named ‘Bangladesh Awami Sajeeb Wazed Qimiao lauded Bangladesh Agencies the Kathmandupost online. Joy League’ that is set to be launched Sajeeb Wazed Joy with Premier Sheikh Hasina for building the capacity to Kathmandu Shiwakoti, who entered the soon. implement large development service from Bagmati Zonal The PM’s ICT adviser also wrote: “My Sardar said it was his ‘childhood dream’ to According to the party constitution, the projects. The WB country director Court, is charged of amassing family and I do not like our family name be- form this party. Awami League’s affi liated organisations are also appreciated Bangladesh’s he Commission for the Rs 14.7mn illegally. The anti- ing used unnecessarily.” But Awami League leaders have dubbed Jubo League, Krishak League, Swechch- socioeconomic development, Investigation of Abuse graft body has demanded fi ne “This only hurts our party and our family’s his initiative as just another ‘illegal enter- hasebak League, Awami Ainjibi Parishad, progress in women’s Tof Authority (CIAA) and prison sentence under the image, especially the image of my grandfa- prise’ that will be used for ‘extortion and Jubo Mahila League, Mahila Awami League empowerment and infrastructure yesterday filed a chargesheet Prevention of Corruption Act. ther, the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu fraudulent activities’. If launched offi cially, and Tanti League. Chhatra League and development. against Jivnath Shiwakoti, an The Commission has also (Sheikh Mujibur Rahman),” he said. ‘Joy League’ will join a long list of dozens Sramik League are two other acknowledged The global lender is now official of the Land Reform demanded confi scation of the Joy, also the son of Prime Minister Sheikh of organisations operating with ‘Awami affi liate organisations of the ruling party. cooperating with Bangladesh in Office, Kalanki for amassing immovable property registered Hasina, is currently in Washington. League’, ‘Bangabandhu’, ‘Jatir Pita’ and An organisation called ‘Bangladesh Awa- 40 areas and has assured further properties disproportionate in name of the accused offi cial’s Founder and president of ‘Bangladesh ‘Bangamata’ in their names. mi Sishu (children) League’ also surfaced co-operation with Bangladesh, to his known source of in- wife who too does not have a Awami Sajeeb Wazed Joy League’ Hasu All claim affi liations to the Awami League. last year. Tofail said. – Mizan Rahman come. This was as reported on known source of income. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: C P Ravindran A blueprint to jumpstart

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] Europe’s economy Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Quantitative easing and in government debt) and monetary of putting money directly into the underinvestment in terms of foregone Fax 44350474 easing (to generate ultra-low interest hands of those who will spend it. employment and growth. ultra-low interest rates rates) has never materialised. Instead, An appropriately sized helicopter- One way to break the stalemate is a should no longer be European companies slashed annual money programme might also raise change in public accounting standards. investment by more than €100bn infl ation in a measured way, heading Specifi cally, if governments were able the only arrows in the ($113bn) a year from 2008 to 2015, and off the possibility of a Japanese-style to treat infrastructure investment just macroeconomic policy have stockpiled some €700bn of cash defl ationary trap. as companies treat capital expenditure on their balance sheets. Indeed, the boost to demand might – as balance-sheet assets that are GULF TIMES quiver This is not surprising – businesses give central banks the opening they depreciated over their lifecycle, rather invest when they are confi dent about need to move interest rates back toward than as one-off expenses – such By Eric Labaye and Laura Tyson future demand and output growth. historical norms. This could take the investment could then be exempted Paris Even before the Brexit vote, European air out of incipient assets bubbles that from Europe’s defi cit rules without and other global companies were not might be forming and ease pressures opening the door to profl igate spending Guided democracy confi dent in Europe’s prospects. Now on institutional investors who are or easing the pressure for credible plans ot so long ago, the notion of they are confronting elevated risks struggling to fi nd the yield they need for long-term fi scal-consolidation. the European Central Bank of a European recession and the real to meet their insurance and pension Of course, it would be crucial to (ECB) handing out money possibility that both the UK and the EU commitments. improve the planning and oversight of future for Thailand Nto governments or directly could break up if populist contagion But a helicopter-money programme infrastructure projects simultaneously, to citizens – so-called “helicopter takes hold. Business investors hate – a fanciful idea when Milton Friedman as MGI has argued. Fresh thinking money” drops – would have seemed uncertainty and the Brexit vote has proposed it in 1969 – would also be about structural reform is needed, too. outlandish. But today a surprising created a dramatically more uncertain a radical departure for policymakers, For decades, reform discussions after referendum number of mainstream economists and world in Europe and beyond. requiring an abundance of caution in the EU have focused on reducing centrist politicians are endorsing the about citizen and investor perception, labour-market regulation, cutting red Thailand has chosen to ratify a military-drafted idea of monetary fi nancing of stimulus confi dence and solid governance tape in product markets, privatising measures in diff erent forms. The Brexit vote is a structures. And such an approach state-owned enterprises and lowering constitution that is set to guide the country for the This represents a much-needed canary in the coal would cement the notion that central tax rates. But reform should now work foreseeable future. change in the conversation – one bank policy is “the only game in town”, with the grain of eff orts to bolster Rather than rejecting the constitution and the uncertainty that, at long last, fi nally puts the mine for Europe’s relieving elected government leaders demand – for example, unleashing focus squarely on stimulating the of their responsibility for pro-growth the silver economy, fostering digital that went with a no-vote, a signifi cant majority of people demand side of the European economy. economic policy policies and the fi scal decisions they education and innovation, and chose to vote for the charter and with it a form of guided After years of stagnant growth and control. unlocking urban land markets to pave democracy for the immediate future. debilitating unemployment, all options, makers A less risky and time-tested route the way for much-needed investment no matter how unconventional, should for stimulating demand would in housing. On Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan be on the table. Fiscal austerity and ultra-low interest be a signifi cant increase in public Each of these options would require told reporters that the referendum win “was not a victory for The United Kingdom’s referendum rates have also proven ineff ective at infrastructure investment funded by robust debate and deeper investigation. the (military) but represents the will of the people”. decision to leave the European Union stimulating household demand – government debt. It is well documented But it’s clear that Europe needs a larger only strengthens the case for more and they may be backfi ring. When that Europe and the United States set of policy options. Quantitative The overall margin of victory was high, with almost 61% stimulus and unconventional measures individuals cannot fi nd decent yields, have underinvested in infrastructure. easing and ultra-low interest rates of voters choosing to approve the referendum from among a in Europe. If a large majority of EU they may actually increase their savings From a macroeconomic perspective, should no longer be the only arrows voter turnout of about 55 %. citizens is to support continued to achieve their retirement goals. And infrastructure investment is a in the macroeconomic policy quiver. political integration, strong economic in the typical European city, where land “twofer”– it strengthens productivity These tools, along with excessive fi scal Since coming to power in May 2014, both Prime Minister growth is critical. and aff ordable housing are in short and competitiveness in the long run austerity, may have higher costs in Prayuth Chan-ocha and his cabinet have made public As research by McKinsey Global supply, lower interest rates have been and, where there is unused capacity, terms of foregone employment and statements asking for “the understanding of the people” so Institute (MGI) shows, despite bold driving property prices higher rather it boosts demand, output, and growth – and rising political discontent quantitative easing and record low than stimulating construction. employment with signifi cant multiplier – than “risky” alternative options. they can fi x a divided nation. interest rates – the ECB was the It’s well past time to acknowledge the eff ects in the short run. The Brexit vote is a canary in the Internal criticisms and condemnation from one-time fi rst major central bank to introduce limits of current policy. Under today’s Yet governments across Europe coal mine for Europe’s economic policy allies in the West over military rule have left the military negative interest rates in 2014 – precarious conditions, demand could have clamped down on infrastructure makers. Unconventional times require government scrambling for legitimacy. anaemic demand continues to hobble certainly be better supported through spending for years, giving precedence consideration of bold unconventional GDP growth throughout Europe. In strategies other than quantitative to fi scal austerity and debt reduction in policy approaches. - Project Syndicate Now with a constitution that empowers it and a promised several EU countries, more than a easing and ultra-low interest rates. the misguided belief that government election - some time before September 2017 the government quarter of the population has been Moreover, alternative approaches borrowing crowds out private zEric Labaye is chairman of the says - Prayuth and his generals can say that their guided unemployed for close to a decade, and to stimulate private demand might investment and reduces growth. But McKinsey Global Institute. Laura Tyson, political discontent is boiling over have fewer undesirable distributional the crowding-out logic applies only a former chair of the US President’s form of democracy is legitimate and what Thais across the into extremism. The uncertainty and consequences, as MGI has discussed to conditions of full employment, Council of Economic Advisers, is a country desire. volatility in fi nancial markets in the Proponents of helicopter money – conditions that clearly do not exist in professor at the Haas School of Business Minutes after the Election Commission announced the aftermath of the Brexit vote will further directly crediting citizens with central most of Europe today. at the University of California, Berkeley, cripple demand. bank funds, or crediting national In addition, infrastructure a senior adviser at the Rock Creek Group, charter had passed, The wave of corporate investment treasuries to fi nance infrastructure and investment cannot be deferred forever. and a member of the World Economic The military Prayuth released a that was supposed to be unleashed by a other demand-generating activities – A new reckoning is warranted, one Forum Global Agenda Council on Gender statement to the foreign combination of fi scal restraint (to rein rightly argue that it has the advantage that accounts for the full costs of Parity. believes the new media decrying the constitution will “inappropriate intervention by foreign purge Thailand of elements”. corrupt civilian “All these interferences have politicians inevitably led us to have contempt for the sentiments of those who claim to be ‘friends’ of Thailand,” the statement said. The military believes the new constitution will purge Thailand of corrupt civilian politicians and restore stability after nearly a decade of political turmoil including two coups. Under the new charter the Upper House will be entirely appointed, including six seats reserved for the military, while a proportional voting system will likely reduce the infl uence of major parties. The Senate will also have a voice in picking a non-elected prime minister if the Lower House is deadlocked, while it will be easier to impeach a civilian leader. Thailand has been bitterly divided ever since a 2006 coup that toppled Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister. Years of competing protests and instability followed. In 2014 the army seized power once more, toppling Thaksin’s Yusra Mardini: she joined the Olympic team under the “refugee” umbrella. She and nine other Team Refugee Olympic athletes entered the Opening Ceremony as the sister Yingluck. last delegation before the host nation. The country’s populous and poor north and northeast, a Shinawatra stronghold, was one of the few regions to vote against the charter. Addressing those voters, Prayuth said: “I can see you A young Syrian woman of valour suff ering. I will take care of you. But I have to take care of other regions too.” leaving, however, the dinghy’s motor bring the boat to safety. They reached well at the Olympic Games. It made The Shinawatra clan have won all general elections since By Dr Cesar Chelala New York stopped and the fragile boat, carrying the Greek island of Lesbos and after a her experience at the games a specially 2001, harvesting votes by promising greater wealth and 20 people, threatened to capsize. week-long trek through Macedonia, rewarding one. Serbia and Hungary they made it to Yusra joined the Olympic team opportunity to the nation’s rural poor. But the family is esilience is the capacity that Austria and then reached Germany. under the “refugee” umbrella and loathed by an arch-royalist Bangkok elite which is backed by allows some people to bounce “Since arriving in Soon afterwards, Yusra began her team entered the stadium with the military, and by southern voters who accuse the clan of back after being knocked Berlin, I have been training for the Rio Olympics and was a standing ovation. She and nine corruption and populism. Rdown by life. Instead of chosen for the International Olympic other Team Refugee Olympic athletes becoming a victim of adversity, they Committee’s refugee team. She trained entered the Opening Ceremony as the And it is signifi cant that there has been no sign of unrest fi nd a way to come back from the humbled by the at the facility originally built to host last delegation before the host nation. since the referendum. ashes. Yusra Mardini, an 18-year-old the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Yusra won her preliminary heat (the Syrian woman swimmer, who won the warm welcome “Since arriving in Berlin, I have best competitive times of all entrants), opening heat of the 100m butterfl y at I’ve received from been humbled by the warm welcome made up of swimmers from Grenada, To Advertise the Rio Olympic Games, is the perfect I’ve received from the swimming Yemen, Rwanda and Qatar, in the illustration of resilience. the swimming community and everyone associated 100m butterfl y style. Although she [email protected] In the summer of 2015 Yusra and with the Olympic Games. It means didn’t swim fast enough to advance to Display her sister Sarah had fled their home community’ so much to me to have a partner the semi-fi nal, she has entered in the in Damascus until they reached that accepts me, includes me, 100m freestyle, where the preliminary Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Izmirin Turkey via Beirut and Only three people were able to enter and provides me with the same heat begins today. Classified Istanbul. After paying smugglers the water and drag the dinghy towards opportunities as other athletes This experience has made Yusra in Izmir, they were able to find the shore, among them were Yusra and competing in Rio,” said Yusra even more determined. Now she Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 room in a dinghy about to cross the Sarah. They didn’t hesitate. “I thought through a VISA press release, one of is looking beyond the Rio Olympic Subscription Mediterranean into Greece. it would be a real shame if I drowned in the team’s sponsors. Games declaring to the press, “I hope [email protected] Their fi rst attempt to leave failed, the sea, because I am a swimmer,” said Looking at the sea from the plane on for more in Tokyo,” the site of the 2020 however, when Turkish coastguards Yusra. her way to Rio probably brought Yusra Olympic Games. turned their boat around so they tried Undeterred by the waves and sad memories of her ordeal at sea. But 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved again, and boarded a small infl atable exhaustion, the Mardini sisters and it may have also brought her renewed zDr Cesar Chelala is an international dinghy at dusk. Thirty minutes after another strong swimmer were able to strength and determination to perform public health consultant. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 10, 2016 19 COMMENT The Republican bankruptcy illusion

The Democrats have an himself the “king of debt”, which is most credible central banks in the agreed and implementable not particularly encouraging. Huge history of the world. mountains of debt may help enrich If the policymakers of the moment strategy that would individual property developers or think that government or central-bank represent a defi nite fi nanciers, but they typically add up support will help prevent a global to trouble for the macroeconomy. economic meltdown, they will act improvement over the status It was precisely those mountains accordingly. That is what treasury quo that collapsed on the US and global secretary Henry Paulson, Federal economy in 2008. Many were buried Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke, By Simon Johnson in the Great Recession that followed; and President George W Bush (all Washington many more are still digging out. Republicans) did after the full impact of Unlike Trump, House Republicans the Lehman collapse became apparent. have formulated and published The viability of the Republican here is now near-unanimity detailed plans that can fairly be bankruptcy proposal boils down to that the United States’ compared to what the Democrats this: who will provide fi nancing to a Dodd-Frank fi nancial have presented. And, in the event of large complex fi nancial institution – Treform legislation, enacted a Trump presidency, fi nancial policy operating globally – while it is being in 2010, did not end the problems would likely be crafted in large part restructured in bankruptcy? associated with some banks being by the House Financial Services The private sector won’t provide it. “too big to fail”. When it comes to Committee, whose chairman’s The courts themselves cannot borrow. proposed solutions, however, no such clearly stated priorities are to reduce If there is no fi nancing, the scheme consensus exists. consumer protection and remove any collapses – and we have another On the contrary, fi nancial regulation eff ective constraints on big banks’ “Lehman moment,” or worse. has become a key issue in November’s activities. So we must be talking about a presidential and congressional At the heart of the House scenario in which some part of the elections. Republican strategy is a simple idea: federal government, with or without So who has the more plausible and all fi nancial fi rms should be able to express legislative approval, scrambles workable plan for reducing the risks go bankrupt without damaging the to provide an ad hoc loan in the range associated with very large fi nancial rest of the economy and without the of tens or hundreds of billions of fi rms? The Democrats have an government becoming involved. That dollars, via a judge. This is mind- agreed and implementable strategy is fi ne as a campaign slogan. But there boggling and deeply disturbing. that would represent a defi nite is a major problem with the logic. Think of the business mistakes improvement over the status quo. In September 2008, Lehman that will be made and the political The Republican proposal, Brothers did go bankrupt – and no backlash. Add the economic unfortunately, is a recipe for greater form of government support was distortions implicit in providing so disaster than the US (and the world) provided. There were catastrophic much free downside insurance. experienced in 2008. consequences for the rest of the The Democrats are lined up behind On the Democratic side, Hillary Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump: financial regulation has become a key issue in November’s presidential and congressional fi nancial sector, for the non-fi nancial an approach to fi nance that will make Clinton’s campaign materials and elections. economy, and for employment. the fi nancial system safer, so that it the party platform point to a detailed The House Republicans propose to never comes to this point again. The plan to defend Dodd-Frank and to go Sanders and his fellow senator, beginning, almost identical to what (on or off their balance sheet), and fi x that by amending the bankruptcy Republicans’ plan would only help further in terms of pressing the largest Elizabeth Warren – when she pushes Warren has been seeking for the past fl eecing consumers. code. This, too, sounds good, but what too-big-to-fail banks. And that help fi rms to become less complex and, if in this direction. half-dozen years. This is an entirely responsible and exactly does it mean? would make them more dangerous.- necessary, smaller. Some commentators claim that And these goals are perfectly sensible agenda. It is opposed, of Just promising not to provide a Project Syndicate Banks must also fund themselves Clinton has been “pulled to the left” aligned with what all responsible course, by people who are paid – one bailout is not credible. The US is a in a more stable fashion. If Clinton on fi nancial regulation during the offi cials want. way or another – to represent the large and powerful country and, when zSimon Johnson is a professor at MIT’s wins, she will draw strong support campaign. Everyone in their right mind wants largest banks. danger hits, investors buy up federal Sloan School of Management and the from Congressional Democrats But if you look carefully at her to prevent the largest banks from On the Republican side, Donald government debt – driving down co-author of White House Burning: – including her rival for the statements during this election getting out of control, shifting risk Trump’s precise intentions are interest rates. America has a “fortress” The Founding Fathers, Our National Democratic nomination, Bernie cycle, they have been, from the very into shadowy, unregulated activities less clear, though he proudly calls balance sheet, as well as one of the Debt, and Why It Matters to You.

Letters Weather report Three-day forecast Promote Middle East has spilled over into the highlighting the evacuation from They, it is clear, wanted to carry all TODAY heartland of Europe and the US. Emirates Flight 521 in Dubai recently as their hand baggage with them during High: 44 C tolerance Religion is the 21st century’s an example. the emergency evacuation despite Low : 32 C Hazy to misty at places at first, defi ning issue, just as race was for the But what had really happened being told of the danger of doing that. becomes hot daytime with slight Dear Sir, 20th century. Many Global politicians during the evacuation? The airline Despite that, all passengers were dust and some clouds. are completely soaked in intolerance. may have followed the procedures safely evacuated from the smoke-fi lled Over the past 10 years, many laws Around the world there are too many correctly but the feeling one gets after plane and it is a testament to the great THURSDAY passed by some Western governments places where intolerance is rife hearing countless reports and seeing work done by the Emirates airline and High: 42 C pertaining to Muslims have been a and where people are incapable of videos uploaded on social media is the Dubai airport. Low: 33 C violation of the universal declarations expressing their values. that many of the fl ight’s passengers Rajesh Nair Sunny of human rights, the international Nation states have a responsibility to could have behaved in a better way. [email protected] covenant on civil and political rights promote tolerance and co-operation. and the declaration on the elimination Religious intolerance can lead to global FRIDAY of all forms of intolerance and confl icts. Please send us your letters High: 41 C discrimination based on religion or Farouk Araie Low: 32 C belief. [email protected] By e-mail Sunny Political use of religion begets [email protected] intolerance, hatred and jealousy. Fax 44350474 Politicisation of religion and religiosity Lack of Or Post Fishermen’s forecast of politics is a dangerous new trend awareness Letters to the Editor OFFSHORE DOHA emerging in Europe and the US. It Gulf Times Wind: NW-NE 03-12/15 KT poses a great threat to democracies and P O Box 2888 Waves: 1-3 Feet domestic stability and peace. Dear Sir, INSHORE DOHA Doha, Qatar Wind: NW-NE 05-15/18 KT In the US, Donald Trump seems Waves: 1-2 Feet to have won the Republican party’s The letter, “The importance of All letters, which are subject to editing, should have the name of the nomination through crass acts of emergency procedure” (Gulf Times, writer, address and phone number. The writer’s name and address Around the region racism and religious bigotry. It is August 9), says “people in general have may be withheld by request. Weather Weather indeed tragic that the confl ict in the realised the importance of (them)”, today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Abu Dhabi Sunny 43/32 Sunny 44/34 Baghdad Sunny 47/29 Sunny 47/29 Dubai Sunny 42/32 Sunny 43/35 Kuwait City Sunny 47/34 Sunny 47/34 Manama Sunny 45/32 Sunny 42/32 Muscat P Cloudy 37/32 Sunny 37/32 Riyadh Sunny 43/29 Sunny 44/29 Live Issues Tehran Sunny 36/24 Sunny 37/25 Maybe you don’t have as much choice as you think

By Oliver Burkeman We choose our politics partly to New York mimic or rebel against our parents; and we’ll support or reject the exact same policy, research suggests, depending ne excellent way to bring on whether it’s described as right- or a dinner party to a close, if left-wing. it’s late and you’d like your Taken individually, these eff ects Oguests to leave, is to raise the aren’t surprising. What is striking is philosophical question of “free will”. the volume. Pop psychology tends to Do we have any? It certainly seems present these “hidden persuaders” as that way. anomalies, as if we usually make up Suppose I’m at the supermarket, our own minds, and only occasionally about to reach for a jar of blackcurrant get blown off course. jam: surely it’s within my power to But, reading Berger, you get the change my mind and switch to apricot? feeling it’s the other way round: Yet some philosophers say it isn’t. we’re mainly robots, acting out the After all, every molecule in the infl uences of our environments, Around the world universe – including those in my lucky if we manage a tiny sliver of Weather Weather limbs and brain – is subject to the independent thought. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min laws of physics: A causes B, B causes Even the decision to kill yourself is Athens Sunny 36/24 Sunny 38/25 C, in predictable ways (with some heavily infl uenced by the immediate Beirut Sunny 31/26 M Sunny 30/24 Bangkok S T Storms 34/26 S T Storms 34/27 randomness thrown in, courtesy of availability of the means to do so. Berlin Cloudy 19/09 P Cloudy 19/12 quantum mechanics). When you remove people’s access to Cairo P Cloudy 36/25 P Cloudy 36/26 Seen this way, my jam-choosing sits those means, they often don’t just Cape Town Sunny 26/11 Sunny 22/11 at the very end of a vast chain of causes “fi nd another way”; rather, a suicide is Colombo T Storms 30/26 T Storms 30/26 T Storms 31/26 and eff ects, reaching back through prevented. Dhaka 29/26 T Storms Hong Kong T Storms 32/28 S T Storms 33/28 millennia. From the moment of the Big Is this lack of autonomy a cause Istanbul M Sunny 31/24 Sunny 33/23 Bang, you could have predicted I’d go for alarm or relief? When it comes to Jakarta M Sunny 32/25 P Cloudy 32/24 for blackcurrant. ordinary daily decisions, probably the Karachi Cloudy 31/27 P Cloudy 32/27 This is an outrageous thought, so latter. London M Cloudy 20/14 P Cloudy 24/13 Manila T Storms 29/26 T Storms 30/26 the usual response is to reject it – or, your decisions aren’t independently like them – a phenomenon marketers If my choices are my own, I’ll be Moscow P Cloudy 27/15 P Cloudy 28/16 in the dinner party scenario, suddenly made by you. In his new book, Invisible call “snob eff ects”. constantly anxious about choosing New Delhi T Storms 32/27 T Storms 32/27 to remember you’ve an early start Infl uence, Jonah Berger puts the fi gure You probably named your child well. But if every “choice” I make is New York T Storms 28/26 S T Storms 33/26 tomorrow. at 99.9%: that’s how many of your in order to sound similar, but not inevitably shaped by countless unseen Paris P Cloudy 21/11 M Cloudy 23/13 Cloudy M Cloudy 17/11 But while philosophers debate choices are signifi cantly infl uenced by identical, to names that were in the air pressures, I can relax a bit. Sao Paulo 17/10 Seoul P Cloudy 34/24 Sunny 35/24 if everything is predetermined, forces of which you’re unaware. at the time: after Hurricane Katrina, If I ever write my autobiography, Singapore S T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 32/26 psychologists have basically We choose music and novels, clothes fewer American kids got named I have the fi rst line: “Due to Sydney M Sunny 23/08 Sunny 18/05 established something only slightly and careers, because others did. Or we Katrina, but girls’ names starting with circumstances beyond my control…”.- Tokyo Clear 33/24 Cloudy 31/25 less disturbing: a large proportion of choose the opposite, to show we’re not a hard K shot up, Berger writes. Guardian News and Media Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, August 10, 2016 QATAR

Waste disposal

The General Cleanliness Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) removed a total of 2,306 tonnes of waste in July. This includes 666 tonnes from the Industrial Area and 1,640 tonnes from diff erent places within the Al Rayyan Municipality. The waste included various types of materials dumped randomly in these areas. Pictured is one of the sites, before and after the waste was removed. 14 fi lms backed by DFI Summer fest events in spotlight at Sarajevo draw over diverse slate of 14 fi lms supported by Doha Film Institute (DFI) will be Ascreened at the 22nd Sarajevo Film Festival, to be held from August 12 to 20, 40,000 2016. This underlines the strong relations shared by the two entities and provides By Joey Aguilar were surprised to see thousands another platform for emerging fi lmmakers Staff Reporter of visitors during the weekend to highlight their talent, DFI has stressed particularly last Saturday. in a statement. QSF staff said visitors had to Fatma al-Remaihi, CEO of DFI, said: he Entertainment City at bear with long queues starting “We share strong synergies with Sara- the Doha Exhibition and at the entrance, rides, and at jevo Film Festival, a prestigious event TConvention Centre has food counters due to the con- that showcases the newest trends in fi lm- attracted more than 40,000 tinuous infl ux of people from making. We are confi dent of the positive Scenes from We Have Never Been Kids and Under The Shadow. visitors over the fi rst six days 1pm to 11pm. reception to these fi lms, which present of the Qatar Summer Festi- “All the zones are full, you diverse themes and distinctive narrative egory is the feature documentary We Have recipient of the institute’s Spring Grant who call the country home will also be val (QSF), according to Qatar will see a lot of people taking the structures that will resonate with audi- Never Been Kids (Egypt, UAE, Qatar/2015), 2015. Screening in the Kinoscope segment, screened. These include The Palm Tree by Tourism Authority (QTA). thrill rides while both children ences across the world.” directed by Mahmood Soliman, and re- the fi lm is set in Tehran 1988 and revolves Jasim al-Remaihi, Asfoora by Mayar Ham- Off ering an array of en- and adults were all too eager to Among the highlights of the DFI show- cipient of the Spring Grant 2014. The fi lm on the life of Shideh who lives amid the dan, Good as New by Jasser Alagha, Yellow tertainment activities, rides, try the Go Karts,” she added. case is the screening of two fi lms in the tracks the subjects of Soliman’s 2003 doc- chaos of a war. Nights by Abdullah al-Mulla, The Note- and games over a 29,000sq m QTA has reduced the prices of exclusive Sarajevo Film Festival Partner umentary Living Among Us over the next In the In Focus segment, another Spring book by Amna al-Binali, Light Sounds by area, the city had drawn a large tickets to give visitors an oppor- Presents category. These include Hedi 10 years, refl ecting the socio-political Grant 2014 recipient is being screened: Karem Kamel, Veganize It by Khalid Salim number of visitors since day tunity to explore all the enter- (Tunisia, Belgium, France, Qatar/2016), changes in Egypt. Frenzy (Turkey, France, Qatar/2015). It is and To My Mother by Amina Ahmed al- one of the month-long festival. tainment off erings at the City. recipient of the institute’s Fall Grant 2013, Dogs (Romania, France, Bulgaria, Qa- directed by Emin Alper and narrates the Bloshi. A QSF staff member noted Some 26 food stalls also sell directed and written by debutant Moham- tar/2016), a recipient of DFI’s 2016 Spring story of Kadir, who is released after a 15- DFI has formed a strategic alliance with that reduced prices of tickets, in- a wide range of cuisine, sweets, ed Ben Attia. Grant, is screening at Sarajevo Film Fes- year prison term and goes in search of his Sarajevo Film Festival to strengthen con- teractive games, new attractions, drinks, and international dish- A romantic comedy about Hedi, a sim- tival in the Feature Film competition for younger brother, Ahmet. nections between Arab and European cin- and rides enticed many residents es at aff ordable and reasonable ple young man who takes life as it comes, its regional premiere. Directed by Bogdan In the CineLink Co-Production Market, ema. and visitors from neighbouring prices. the fi lm charts his relationship with an Mirica, the fi lm had earlier been screened One of These Days (Lebanon, Qatar/2017), Over the past years, the institute has cu- GCC countries to spend their af- A cashier said they benefi ted a activity leader during the week of his wed- in the Un Certain Regard at Cannes Film recipient of DFI’s 2012 Spring Grant and rated fi lms for Sarajevo Film Festival, while ternoon and weekend at the City lot from the surge in the number ding celebrations. Highly acclaimed at Festival and narrates the story of a man currently in post-production, is being Danis Tanovi , the celebrated Bosnian this summer. of visitors last weekend, hoping Berlinale 2016, where it was the fi rst Arab who wants to sell the land he has just in- showcased. Directed by Nadim Tabet, the fi lmmaker, has served as a Qumra Mentor. “This is the fi rst time I am that sales will further increase in fi lm in competition in two decades, the herited near the Romanian border with fi lm is set in Beirut on an autumn day in a Delegates of the festival have taken part seeing such a huge crowd in the coming days. fi lm won the Best First Feature Award and Ukraine. city on the edge of chaos. in mentoring sessions with Qatari fi lm- this annual celebration, which “We were actually caught the Silver Bear for Best Actor. Under the Shadow (Iran, UK, Jordan, A number of fi lms that are “Made in makers and participate in both Qumra and is being held at the DECC for ‘fl at-footed’ last Saturday so Also to be screened in the same cat- Qatar/2016), directed by Babak Anvari, is Qatar” by Qatari fi lmmakers and those Ajyal Youth Film Festival. the fi rst time,” said the staff we had to work faster to serve member, who also worked in all those in the long queues,” a previous festivals. supervisor added. “We might She added that a lot of fami- be adding more staff this com- lies have availed of the QR120 ing weekend.” LuLu second mega draw VIP Entry ticket, which enti- QTA expects an increase tles a person full access to rides in the number of visitors this and games at the entertain- year from the previous festi- ment facility. val, which attracted around This was also echoed by em- 200,000, including people ployees of food stalls at the Food from Saudi Arabia and other Court zone saying that they GCC countries.

Made in Qatar exhibition to be held in Riyadh

atar Chamber has signed a sponsorship Qagreement with Qa- tar Chemical & Petrochemi- cal Marketing & Distribution Company (Muntajat) for the ‘Made in Qatar’ exhibition, due to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Ara- bia, from November 6 to 9. The exhibition aims to pro- mote local products and is be- facturers in various fi elds, in- ing held outside Qatar for the cluding major companies as fi rst time. All four previous edi- well small and medium enter- tions of the event were hosted prises. in the country. Muntajat is considered the The second mega draw for the LuLu Mercedes-Benz Car Promotion for two E-200 cars was held at LuLu Hypermarket – Al Gharafa branch, under the supervision of The ‘Made in Qatar’ exhibi- gateway for Qatari products Mohamed Kuwari, an official from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. Faaez Ahmad Alai from India and Drona Prasad Pokrel from Nepal were announced as the tion will be spread over an area such as chemicals and petro- winners of the draw. of 10,000sq m. It will host a chemicals to the world, in addi- large number of Qatari manu- tion to fertilisers and polymers.