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WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10617 October 25, 2017 Safar 5, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir, Sudan president hold talks Minimum wage for

In brief workers on the way

reparations are under way to in- establishment of an employment sup- troduce a minimum wage for port fund, which would allow for the QATAR | Offi cial Pworkers in Qatar, HE the Min- payment of overdue wages to workers Emir sends greetings ister of Administrative Development, in cases where their employers had de- Labour and Social Aff airs Dr Issa Saad layed payments for any reason. to Zambian president al-Jafali al-Nuaimi has said. The project is currently undergoing His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim This would be done by taking into legislative procedures. bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the account the adequacy of the wage lev- Meanwhile, it was revealed that the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad el in providing for the basic needs of total number of benefi ciaries of the al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and workers and enabling them to live at Wage Protection System (WPS) so far Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin an appropriate humanitarian level, he is 2,477,944 (2.47mn), while the total Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent explained. number of companies registered in the cables of congratulations to Zambian The statements were made during a system to date is 49,389, according to President Edgar Chagwa Lungu meeting of the minister with ambassa- QNA. on the anniversary of his country’s dors and heads of diplomatic missions HE Dr al-Nuaimi said the ministry Independence Day. in Qatar yesterday, the offi cial Qatar has signed 36 bilateral agreements and News Agency (QNA) reported. fi ve memorandums of understanding QATAR | Visit His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held a session of off icial talks with Sudanese President Omar Hassan He stressed that the State was in with countries sending labour in order al-Bashir at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. During the talks, they reviewed bilateral relations and discussed a number of issues of the process of taking further impor- to provide basic legal protection for ex- Sri Lankan president common concern, especially the developments in the region. The talks were attended by His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh tant measures in support of the rights patriate workers before bringing them arrives in Doha Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, a number of ministers and members of the Sudanese delegation. Page 2 of expatriate workers, including the to Qatar.

Qatar, Russia to bolster Qatar praises investment co-operation

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena arrived in Doha yesterday evening on Kuwaiti Emir’s an off icial visit to the country. He and his accompanying delegation were welcomed upon arrival at Hamad International Airport by HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al- Thani, Qatar’s ambassador to Sri Lanka Rashid bin Shafea al-Marri, and Sri call for calm Lanka’s ambassador to Qatar Don Prince Solomon Anura Liyanage. QNA unity in the Gulf, the achievement of the The statement added that Qatar, Doha common Gulf goal and the fulfi llment of which is committed to the rules of se- ARAB WORLD | Resolutions all commitments to preserve the GCC,” curity, solidarity and friendship among the statement said. the GCC, “does not accept the violation Qatar takes part in Arab atar highly appreciates the Ku- “Despite the systematic media cam- of these rules, while the Government of meeting on terrorism waiti emir’s appeal for not to paign and the unfair and illegal meas- Qatar and its people maintain their right Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Qatar’s Minister of Finance HE Ali Sherif The second meeting of senior off icials Qescalate the situation and has- ures it has been subjected to, Qatar, to legitimate defense of their just cause al-Emadi yesterday, during his participation in the “Russia Calling!” investment forum to implement the resolutions of the ten to heal the wounds caused by the proud of the civilised behaviour of its with all objectivity and professionalism in Moscow. The minister conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Arab Summit on Terrorism and Social Gulf crisis, the Foreign Ministry said in people, in response to the call of the Ku- in all forums and platforms”. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Putin, and his wishes of more progress of the bilateral Development kicked off in Cairo a statement yesterday. waiti Emir and in line with the approach Earlier, addressing the Kuwaiti Na- relations in all fields. The Russian president conveyed his greetings to the Emir, yesterday. Qatar’s delegation to the Addressing the opening session of laid down by His Highness the Emir tional Assembly, the emir said that eve- and his keenness to develop bilateral relations. The two sides discussed means of meeting is headed by the country’s the Kuwaiti National Assembly, Sheikh Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in ryone should realise that the only ob- strengthening economic and investment ties. permanent representative to the Arab Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah his address to the nation on July21, 2017, jective of the Kuwaiti mediation in the League Saif bin Muqaddam al-Buainain. stressed the need to preserve the rights calls upon citizens, residents and all Gulf crisis was to reform the Gulf house The participants will discuss the results of future generations by the current media in the country to avoid slipping “which is our home and protect it from of the working group, which met on generation of Gulf leaders, saying that into the abuse of Gulf symbols or drift- collapse”. October 9-10, and plan a proposal with their rights require not to escalate the ing behind what is promoted from the He said the mediation of Kuwait is steps and timelines over a year for a situation and hasten to heal the wounds siege countries of outdated tribal rifts.” not merely a traditional mediation by a UK MPs to ask Johnson to phased implementation of the summit’s caused by the crisis between countries party between two parties. “We are not declaration. that are linked by close bonds of broth- a party but one party with two brothers,” erhood and unity of faith, destiny and Dispute won’t be he said expressing hope that “everyone intervene in Gulf crisis ARAB WORLD | Politics common interests. long-term, says would be fully aware of the risks of es- Qatar to fund new “Throughout its history, Qatar has calation with resulting implications of By Anthony Harwood fected by the siege, which has impacted pursued all means of reconciliation Bahrain minister regional and international damage to London Correspondent on 13,000 Gulf citizens residing in Qa- Palestinian govt HQ and adopted civilised and peaceful ap- the Gulf and its peoples”. tar. Qatar announced yesterday it will fund proaches to resolve confl icts, as es- Bahrain’s diplomatic dispute with Qatar He pointed out that history and fu- This week eight British MPs and two a new headquarters for the Palestinian tablished by its active diplomacy for is not likely to last for long, the Bahraini ture generations would not forgive any- ritish MPs want Foreign Minister House of Lords members were told by Authority in Gaza as it seeks to support decades, thereby, the State of Qatar an- minister of industry, commerce and one “who contributes, even with one Boris Johnson to intervene in the Qatar NHRC head Dr Ali bin Smaikh a recently agreed reconciliation deal nounces its response to the appeal of HH tourism said yesterday. “I think that word, to fuel this dispute or be part in BGulf dispute over the ‘inhumane’ al-Marri of the devastating ways that between rivals Hamas and Fatah. “Qatar the Emir of Kuwait.” the issue we have with Qatar is not it, stressing that the GCC is a promising treatment of thousands of citizens. people’s lives had been torn apart by has agreed to build the headquarters of The statement said Qatar has a strong something of a long-term nature – the glimmer of hope in the darkness of Arab The lawmakers are pushing for an the Saudi-led boycott. the presidency and the headquarters of belief in the fairness of its position in dispute is going to get solved sooner or action and the candlelight that illumi- Early Day Motion so the eff ects of After his meeting Liberal Democrat the Palestinian government in Gaza after this crisis and its adherence to dialogue later,” Zayed al-Zayani told a business nates the long tunnel and a model to be the near fi ve-month-long Saudi-led MP Tom Brake, the party’s spokesman the consensus government assumes based on mutual respect, on the basis of conference in Riyadh. His comments followed in co-operation,” according to blockade of Qatar can be properly de- on international trade, said he would its duties fully,” Qatar’s envoy to Gaza its principles and values. struck a more optimistic tone than Kuwait’s News Agency (KUNA). bated in the House of Commons. press Boris Johnson to raise the human Mohamed al-Amadi announced. The “These principles are not new and are remarks by many other Gulf offi cials on Sheikh Sabah stressed the need to Since June 5, the National Human rights violations with the blockading Palestinian Authority government is to not refl ections of the current circum- the diplomatic rift . maintain calm and avoid confl ict in an Rights Committee has received more countries to demonstrate the UK dis- retake control of the Gaza Strip. stances. Qatar has always been pursuing attempt to overcome the crisis. than 4,000 complaints from people af- approval. To Page 6

UN mission to visit Doha next month ‘Strong case’ against siege countries QNA of the British Parliament, which was London devoted to provide a comprehensive report on the eff ects of the unjust hu- By Peter Alagos appointed lawyers…but this process will than 800 Qatari companies out of the Yousef al-Kuwari, who heads the Com- manitarian blockade. Business Reporter take a long time,” chairman Sheikh Kha- more than 1,000 applications were re- mittees & Business Councils Depart- mission from the United Na- “The UN mission would meet the lifa bin Jassim al-Thani told reporters at viewed and selected before being sub- ment and the Economic Committee tions High Commissioner for people aff ected by the siege. All in- the Qatar Chamber headquarters. mitted to the committee. for identifying damages caused by the AHuman Rights will visit Doha formation, documents, evidence and fter suff ering from financial and Responding to a query as to which “Qatar Chamber prepared a ques- blockade. from November 18 to 23 to investigate names of the victims would submit- opportunity losses following courts will handle the cases, Sheikh tionnaire, including the criteria for Qa- Sheikh Khalifa also said Qatar is at- the humanitarian impact and viola- ted to the mission in order to report Athe economic blockade, Qatari Khalifa said: “It all depends on the tari companies to help them determine tending a GGC-wide meeting slated “in tions caused by the blockade as well to the High Commissioner for Human companies that have fi led complaints committee. Qatari businessmen who the losses incurred, and the applicants November or December in Muscat.” as the situation of citizens and resi- Rights,” Dr al-Marri explained. with the Compensation Claims Com- are suff ering and lost a lot of money were asked to justify these losses and to “There was a GCC meeting held last dents of Qatar, the National Human Dr al-Marri, gave the parliamentar- mittee have a “very strong case” against from this blockade had already submit- attach the necessary documentation,” week in Azerbaijan and Qatar Chamber Rights Committee chairman Dr Ali bin ians copies of four reports, including the siege countries, a Qatar Chamber ted documents needed to build a case, Sheikh Khalifa told Gulf Times. and Qatar Businessmen Association Smaikh al-Marri has said. a report that documents violations of senior offi cial has said. and the committee is already dealing “The chamber is very interested to attended, and we will attend every GCC He was meeting with deputies of the human rights since the beginning of “We estimate the losses in billions of with international law fi rms to take le- collect accurate and true information or Arab League meeting. Even if they House of Commons and Lords, during the siege, a report on violations against dollars but the chamber had already sent gal action, which could be done in any on the extent of the actual damages (siege countries) don’t want to come, a hearing session hosted by the Scottish students, another on violations against all the documents to the committee and part of the world.” Qatari companies have sustained due we will still attend these meetings,” he National Party MP Tommy Schipper, Qatari pilgrims and pilgrims residing in they have already taken procedures and According to Sheikh Khalifa, more to the unfair blockade,” said Saif bin stressed. responsible for the Scottish Committee Qatar. Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 QATAR Emir holds talks with Sudanese president

His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the off icial reception ceremony at the Emir Diwan yesterday. meeting members of the Sudanese delegation.

QNA Sudanese President Omar Has- His Highness the Deputy Emir the Sudanese president and his the Sudanese president’s visit to Doha san al-Bashir at the Emir Diwan Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad accompanying delegation. Doha, affi rmed the depth of the yesterday. During the talks, they al-Thani, a number Qatari min- Later in the evening, President bilateral relations between Qatar reviewed bilateral relations and isters and the members of the Bashir left Doha after an offi cial and Sudan, praising the results is Highness the Emir discussed a number of issues of delegation accompanying the one-day visit to Qatar. of the talks held by His High- His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- common concern, especially the Sudanese president. Meanwhile, Sudan’s Foreign ness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin receiving Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir at the Emir Hmad al-Thani held a developments in the region. Following the talks the Emir Minister Ibrahim Ghandour, in Hamad al-Thani and President Diwan yesterday. session of offi cial talks with The talks were attended by hosted a luncheon in honour of a press statement at the end of Bashir. Emir honours Poland’s envoy Qatar committed to Opec’s decision to cut output: al-Sada

QNA organisations, as well as decision against a group of countries to best companies and projects Doha makers, corporate and institu- host this important conference”. around the world which have tion owners to explore the latest With regard to the impor- innovative visions and ideas district cooling and heating sys- tance of such events, its re- that contribute to rationalis- E the Minister of Energy tems. In addition, a group of ex- sults and agreements and their ing the energy used in district and Industry Dr Mo- perts and those interested in the impact on Qatar National Vi- cooling and heating. Hhamed bin Saleh al-Sada issues of energy conservation sion (QNV) 2030, HE al-Sada He said the most important affi rmed Qatar’s commitment and sustainability in this sector explained that QNV calls for criteria for evaluating the com- to reduce production as per the worldwide are participating in creating a sustainable envi- petitors is innovation, effi ciency, decision made by the Organisa- the conference. ronment for citizens and it is emissions amount and the posi- tion of the Petroleum Exporting Speaking exclusively to Qatar through such conferences, new tive impact the project would His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met the outgoing ambassador of Poland to Countries (Opec) in its meeting News Agency (QNA), HE al-Sada solutions will be put forward have on the community. Qatar Krzysztof Suprowicz at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The Emir presented the Polish in December last year. said: “We are proud to host the that take into consideration The Minister said the event is ambassador the Decoration of Al Wajbah in recognition of his eff orts and role in enhancing relations On the sidelines of the Inter- conference, organised by Ma- Qatar’s environment, which accompanied by an exhibition on between Qatar and Poland, wishing him success in his future assignments and further development national District Cooling and rafeq Qatar in co-operation with will allow companies to adopt the cooling technologies where and prosperity for the relations between the two countries. The Polish ambassador expressed his Heating Conference which be- the Qatar General Electricity and these solutions and apply it in the companies will showcase the gratitude and appreciation to the Emir and the State’s off icials for the co-operation he received gan yesterday, HE al-Sada high- Water Corporation (Kahramaa), our society. latest in the fi eld of cooling and during his tenure. lighted the importance of the the Euroheat and Power, reveal- HE al-Sada said the two-day control technology. decision, its advantages and the ing that Qatar had competed conference will honour fi ve importance of committing to it by all, saying it refl ected posi- tively on the global market and PM meets Poland’s ambassador created a balance. HE al-Sada said the commit- ment level of Opec and Non- Opec countries to the agreed re- duction of 1.8mn barrels a day is more than 100%. He said, Qatar will support any decision Opec may make regarding reducing production in its upcoming meeting to be held in November, adding if the upcoming conference sees the need to extend the reduction of oil production, Qatar will sup- port it. HE the Minister of Energy and Industry praised the host- ing of the International District Cooling and Heating Conference saying it is the fi rst time this im- HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met the portant conference is being held outgoing ambassador of Poland to Qatar, Krzysztof Suprowicz, yesterday. The Prime Minister and in the Middle East and North Af- Interior Minister wished the ambassador success in his future tasks and the relations between Qatar rican region. and Poland further progress and prosperity. The conference is held with the participation of Euroheat A participant at the exhibition briefing HE the Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh and Power, specialised European al-Sada and Kahramaa president Issa Hilal al-Kuwari at the exhibition. PICTURE: Jayaram Swedish envoy hails Qatar’s eff orts in district cooling sector

By Ramesh Mathew tion by utilising multiple chiller Staff Reporter plants in Marina, Wadi, West Lusail City District and North. This is arguably one of the Cooling wins award weden’s ambassador to largest district cooling systems Qatar Eva Polano has in the world. The project in- Lusail City District Cooling has four district cooling plants, built Shailed the strides being volves a total of four main dis- won the award for the highly in multiple phases to provide made by Qatar in the district trict cooling plants (DCP Mari- energy eff icient district at the the entire development with cooling sector with the estab- na, North, West and Wadi) with 2017 Global District Energy chilled water for its cooling lishment of world class facilities two possible additions (Lusail Climate Awards ceremony, needs. and infrastructure in some of its Sweden’s ambassador to Qatar Eva Polona (right) speaking at a panel discussion in a conference on Stadium Plant and Medical Edu- held at the International Compared to the upcoming residential and com- heating and cooling yesterday. PICTURE: Jayaram cation City Plant). District Cooling and Heating conventional cooling mercial developments. John Dulan of the Inter- Conference held yesterday in approaches, district cooling She was addressing a panel dis- some of the fi nest such initia- Stockholm was the venue for the be many developments in the national Energy Agency and Doha. will save 35% to 45% energy, cussion held as part of the Interna- tives in Doha and suburbs. fi rst major UN Conference for district cooling sector in Qatar in UN Celina Martinez were also The awards were announced and with less power being tional District Cooling and Heating While hoping that the world’s protection of the environment coming years after the success- among others spoke in the panel yesterday and the finalists consumed, fewer pollutants Conference yesterday in Doha. largest capital cooling facility way back in 1972. ful establishment of facilities in discussion. were selected from cities and will be emitted. Recalling that she has seen the would be completed in Lusail city “Since then Sweden has been Lusail as they would contribute Earlier, Qatar General Elec- communities across the globe It is part of a huge project ambitious district cooling initia- in 2021, Polona said her country is making a number of initiatives in to better energy effi ciency in the tricity and Water Corporation which demonstrate local that will supply chilled water tives launched in Qatar in the last in a close partnership with those such areas as renewable energies areas where such facilities serve. (Kahramaa) president and senior district energy leadership in to Lusail City through an three years, Polono said as the executing cooling projects in Qatar. and earlier this year World Eco- Inquiries found the cooling engineer Issa Hilal al-Kuwari de- providing clean and sustainable integrated network with representative of a country that Reminding that Sweden is nomic Forum has rated Sweden systems in Lusail district would livered the keynote address. HE the energy solutions. a connected cooling load has contributed considerably to highly recognised across the as number one in the attainment supply chilled water to end-us- Minister of Energy and Industry Dr Lusail City cooling system is on exceeding 500,000 tonnes the development of such areas as world for its initiatives in the of its acclaimed sustainable de- ers through an integrated net- Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada inau- the way to becoming one of the of refrigeration (TR) by using district heating and cooling, she production and use of renewable velopment goals. work with a connected cooling gurated the exhibition held along largest in the world and it has multiple chiller plants. was so happy that she could see energy sources, she recalled that The envoy hoped there would of 500,000 tonnes of refrigera- the sidelines of the event. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 3 QATAR University of Aberdeen’s AFG College opened he AFG College with Univer- sity of Aberdeen was offi cially Topened on Monday in the pres- ence of HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh al-Thani, Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani, HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, at a Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassem al-Thani, HE the Minister of Education and Higher special ceremony at the Museum of Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi, Ajay Sharma, Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassem al-Thani, Sheikh Mohamed Islamic Art. bin Ahmad al-Thani, and Prof Sir Ian Diamond at the event. Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh al- Thani, founder and chairperson of the Al Faleh Group, and Prof Sir Ian Dia- mond, principal and vice chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, co-hosted the opening ceremony. Other distinguished guests at the event included HE the Minister of Ed- ucation and Higher Education Dr Mo- hamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi and British ambassador Ajay Sharma. Joining them were senior representa- tives from the University of Aberdeen and a number of high profi le govern- ment offi cials and senior industry offi cials from several Qatar-based organisations. AFG College with the University of Aberdeen recently opened its doors to undergraduate students for de- Dr Sheikha Aisha bint Faleh al-Thani presents a souvenir to HE the Prime Minister grees in Business Management and and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani at the event. Accountancy and Finance. Dr Sheikha Aisha said, “We are ferings, to include subject disciplines, are excited by our future, a key part of proud to partner with the University of such as engineering, law and medi- which will be our overseas expansion Aberdeen to off er Qatari nationals and cine at both undergraduate and post- and this partnership is our fi rst over- Sheikh Nawaf bin Nasser al-Thani, HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, Prof Sir Ian Diamond, Dr Sheikha Aisha the wider community the opportu- graduate levels. We consider that the seas campus, a true milestone for the bint Faleh al-Thani, and Brian Buckley, principal AFG College with the University of Aberdeen at the ceremony. nity to study a prestigious UK degree partnership between AFG College and university. We look forward to work- in Qatar. Students of the college are the University of Aberdeen is a great ing with staff and students from Qatar, the UK and Qatar delivering a British Aberdeen maintained, “We believe an event to celebrate that in 2020.” off ered the same teaching and learn- achievement as it portrays Qatar’s the wider Gulf region and from around campus here in Doha. Equipping future we are at the start of a long and fruit- At the event, Dr Sheikha Aisha pre- ing experience as those studying at openness for the further development the world, bringing our world class generations with high quality British ful journey for both the University sented HE Sheikh Abdullah, HE Dr the university’s central campus. They of higher education provision and the education to the region” education will not only benefi t the stu- and our partners AFG. The future de- al-Hammadi and Prof Diamond with will be taught by Aberdeen faculty and educational enrichment of our youth.” Ambassador Sharma noted, “Brit- dents but also the future of UK-Qatar velopment of our new campus is the commemorative gifts in appreciation follow the same academic calendar Prof Diamond commented, “As an ish educational institutions are the relations.” next major milestone towards which of their contribution and support for throughout their studies. institution with over 500 years of his- best in the world and I am pleased to Prof Richard Wells, dean, Tran- we are already working and we look the development of higher education “We plan to extend our degree of- tory we are proud of our past, but we see the strong historic links between snational Education at University of forward to welcoming you all back to in Qatar. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 QATAR

HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari inaugurates HMC’s National Obesity Treatment Centre in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City. Obesity treatment centre to deliver holistic care

amad Medical Cor- that will facilitate and inte- ised location will allow our a unique synergy of surgi- poration’s (HMC) grate the care of patients. multidisciplinary teams of cal and medical services HNational Obesity Dr al-Kuwari highlighted bariatric physicians, sur- within HMC while enabling Treatment Centre, which is that its opening marked an geons, endocrinologists, collaboration with physi- under the auspices of the important milestone in the dietitians, physiotherapists cians from Weill Cornell Qatar Metabolic Institute journey towards fi ghting and nurses to co-ordinate Medicine-Qatar,” Prof (QMI), has been offi cially obesity in Qatar. care and develop personal- Abou-Samra added. inaugurated by HE the Min- “The new National Obes- ised plans for each patient Dr Abdulla al-Ansari, ister of Public Health Dr ity Centre reinforces our seeking a healthier weight.” chairman, surgery and act- Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari. commitment as a country Prof Abdul-Badi Abou- ing chief medical offi cer, Located in Building No. to providing eff ective and Samra, director, QMI and said, “This is an excellent 311 in Hamad Bin Khalifa compassionate care for the chairman, Internal Medi- opportunity to integrate Medical City, the National prevention of weight-re- cine at HMC, added that the the combined expertise of Obesity Treatment Cen- lated diseases as outlined in goal of the newly opened surgeons and physicians in tre will deliver holistic, the National Health Strat- centre is to ensure the pro- a patient-centred partner- multidisciplinary care for egy. This is especially im- gramme has a long-term ship where each and every patients in need of medi- portant in Qatar, where we positive eff ect on a patient’s one of our patients is man- cal management, lifestyle are faced with some of the lifestyle. Each personal- aged individually depend- modifi cations, bariatric and highest levels of metabolic ised programme includes ing on his or her unique endoscopic procedures. complications resulting a component of education health needs and personal Clinics previously located from obesity and diabetes,” about healthier eating and preferences.” at other facilities will now said Dr al-Kuwari. incorporating daily physi- The QMI will also house operate together within the Dr Monica Skarulis cal activity goals into one’s the HMC Tobacco Con- National Obesity Treatment Young, director, National lifestyle. trol Center and the Diabe- Centre to provide a unique Obesity Treatment Cen- “National Obesity Treat- tes, Obesity and Metabolic multidisciplinary service tre noted, “Our central- ment Centre will provide Research Unit. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 5 QATAR

Khalid Saif al-Khayareen (second right) and off icials of CDM Smith and Salini Impregilo at the award ceremony in New York. Ashghal’s Mesaimeer project wins top award

he Public Works Au- Drainage networks year. It was executed as part tunnel, which runs under thority - Ashghal’s project department man- of the master plan to upgrade F-Ring Road, is about 10km TMesaimeer tunnel for ager Khalid Saif al-Khay- Qatar’s drainage networks. at a depth of about 30m be- surface and ground water areen represented Ashghal The mega project is meant to low the surface, in addition drainage project has won the at the ceremony, along with collect and discharge ground to nine sub-tunnels with a ‘Global Best Project’ Award representatives of project and storm water. This will in total length of about 2km. at Engineering News Record consultant CDM Smith and turn contribute to the reduc- The main tunnel will link (ENR) Global Best Projects project contractor Salini tion of pumping costs and the existing and planned Awards in New York. Impregilo. the disposal of ground wa- drainage networks in the According to a statement Mesaimeer tunnel for ter in construction projects areas that traverse through, from Ashghal, the award cer- surface and ground water around the country and and collect and discharge emony on Monday was at- drainage project, one of the preserve the foundations of surface water from ap- tended by representatives of key projects implemented by buildings. proximately 170sq km of some of the global projects. Ashghal, was completed last The length of the main catchment area.

BMW R 1200 GS models of 2014-2017 recalled he Ministry of Econ- The MEC said the recall to follow up on the mainte- Protection and Anti-Com- omy and Commerce campaign comes within the nance and repair works and mercial Fraud Department T(MEC), in collabora- framework of its ongoing will communicate with cus- through the following chan- tion with Alfardan Motor- eff orts to protect consumers tomers to ensure that the nels: Call centre: 16001, cycles, has announced the and ensure that car dealers necessary repairs are car- e-mail: [email protected], recall of BMW R 1200 GS follow up on vehicles’ de- ried out. Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, In- models of 2014-2017 be- fects and repair them. The MEC has urged all stagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC cause of a technical problem The MEC said that it will customers to report any mobile app for Android and on the front forks. co-ordinate with the dealer violations to its Consumer IOS: MEC_Qatar Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 QATAR

iPhone X to hit Top medical experts to Vodafone Qatar stores on Nov 3 grace Sidra conference odafone Qatar has an- mode with Portrait Lighting to nounced that it will off er the front camera for beautiful idra Medicine, a member the Middle East, Europe and the Continuing Medical Education Vthe iPhone X, the “highly selfi es with a depth-of-fi eld ef- of the Qatar Foundation US. Key international speak- (CME) points since it is an Ac- awaited smartphone featuring a fect and enables Animoji, which Sfor Education, Science and ers at the event include Sol- credited Group Learning Activity revolutionary new design with a captures and analyses over 50 Community Development will dano Ferrone, faculty member (Category 1). stunning all-screen display”. diff erent facial muscle move- bring together world-leading of the Department of Surgery Dr Chiara Cugno, director, Customers will be able to pre- ments to bring emoji to life in a experts and practitioners from at Massachusetts General Hos- Clinic Research at Sidra Medi- order the iPhone X beginning fun new way. 10 countries for a symposium to pital, Harvard Medical School, cine said, “We are committed October 27 at www.vodafone.qa, A redesigned rear camera with accelerate advanced and experi- Adrian Thrasher, professor of to creating eff ective platforms and it will be available in stores dual optical image stabilisa- mental therapies. paediatric immunology at UCL for healthcare professionals to starting November 3, Vodafone tion includes a new colour fi l- The two day ‘Advanced Ther- Great Ormond Street Institute collaborate, share best practices Qatar has said in a press state- ter, deeper pixels, an improved apies Symposium’ starting from of Child Health, and Michele and methodologies and to de- ment. Apple-designed image signal this Saturday at Four Seasons Maio, director of the Centre for veloping programmes that ad- Last month, Vodafone Qatar processor and features Portrait Doha, aims to share knowledge Immuno-Oncology at Univer- vance personalised medicine in launched other products from mode with Portrait Lighting, al- and research and spur innova- sity Hospital of Siena, amongst Qatar and beyond. Apple, including the new-gener- lowing customers to “capture tion in advanced treatments many others. This conference is a critical ation iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, stunning photographs and vid- ranging from cellular, gene ther- Providing a rich mixture of part of our long-term goal to alongside data off ers and a two- eos”. The all-glass front and back apy, molecular-targeted thera- Dr Chiara Cugno workshop sessions and keynote boost the introduction of ad- year warranty with all purchases. on iPhone X feature the most du- pies and immunotherapy. lectures, the conference is open to vanced treatments, especially in Diego Camberos, commercial rable glass ever in a smartphone The conference will help on- therapies, particularly in the can register at http://events. physicians, nurses, pharmacists, cell and gene therapy in Qatar. director at Vodafone Qatar, said: in two fi nishes, silver and space going research and drive sci- fi eld of Oncology, Haematology, sidra.org/event/advanced- allied health providers, medical It goes a long way towards sup- “As home to world-class smart- grey. entifi c knowledge in the area Immunology, Infl ammatory and therapies-in-healthcare/ and students and other practition- porting our ambition to intro- phones, we are excited to add the For more details on pric- of translational research and Autoimmune disorders, to en- a limited number of spaces are ers who care for patients with duce ground-breaking technol- iPhone X to our range of Apple ing and data plans, one can visit early clinical applications. It gender better and more person- available for on-site registration oncological, haematological, im- ogies and techniques that will products. www.vodafone.qa. For more de- will shed light into the devel- alised treatment options, and on both days. munology, infl ammatory and au- signifi cantly improve the lives Customers can trust that the tails on iPhone, visit www.apple. opment phases, clinical trials, bring important health benefi ts. The conference will feature toimmune disorders. Attendees of children, young people and Vodafone brand will always be com and regulatory aspects of these Those interested in attending leading fi gures and experts from at the symposium can gain 14.75 women in the country.” their digital partner delivering great innovation and world- class technology. The future is Legal eagles to attend colloquium exciting with Vodafone, and the iPhone X embodies the future of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Law the smartphone.” and Public Policy (CLPP) will be hosting a colloquium on MPs to ask Johnson to intervene in crisis iPhone X features a “gorgeous arbitration in the Middle East on November 1. Following all-glass and stainless steel de- the introduction of Qatar’s new Arbitration Law of 2017, this sign with a beautiful 5.8-inch colloquium enables scholars, lawyers, and other professionals From Page 1 ing any steps that could be taken and Grahame Morris (Labour). Super Retina display, A11 Bi- in the legal community to discuss solutions that establish the at parliamentary level.” He also met Baroness Udin, onic chip with neural engine for country as an international centre for arbitration. Brake said: “I will be asking MP Chris Williamson, Shadow the fi rst Muslim woman to sit in powerful machine learning, aug- Prof Clinton Francis, founding dean of CLPP, said, “This is part questions of the British Foreign Minister for Fire and Emergency the British Parliament, and Lord mented reality and immersive of a regular colloquium series which reinforces the application Offi ce in Parliament about the im- Services, said: “I will raise the is- Warner. 3D gaming experiences, wireless of local, regional and international best practices, and ensures pact of the embargo on people in sue of the siege of Qatar and the Dr Al-Marri said: “This block- charging and Face ID, delivering that the Juris Doctor programme is responsive to Qatar’s needs Qatar, especially on the humani- resulting human suff ering with ade is affecting the social fabric an innovative and secure new in serving learning and thought leadership objectives for tarian side.” parliament.” of these countries, turning wife way to unlock, authenticate and students, professionals, executives and ministries. Arbitration is Lord Norman Warner, a The MPs who Dr al-Marri met against husband. People are get- pay,” the statement notes. a crucial subject, as countries within the region and globally are member of the House of Lords were Tom Brake (Lib Dem), Chris ting divorced because of pressure The TrueDepth camera that increasingly relying on this mechanism as a primary method Labour Party, said: “It is a clear Williamson (Labour), Alistair from relatives who tell them: enables Face ID brings Portrait The iPhone X. for resolving disputes when it comes to international trade.” violation of individual human Carmichael (Lib Dem), Mar- Why are you married to a Qatari. Panel members and participants at the colloquium will rights and I express my concern tyn Day (SNP), David Wayne They are terrorists’. Even chil- explore the in-depth history, present state, and future of about that. (Labour), Tommy Shephard dren are being told that Qataris arbitration in the Middle East with a special emphasis on “I commit myself to consider- (SNP), Richard Burden (Labour), are terrorists.” Qatar and its role in the region. Singer Atif Aslam Legal offi cer in top league to perform in Doha opular Pakistani singer he Qatar Finan- Atif Aslam will perform in cial Centre Au- PDoha next month, organis- Tthority’s (QFCA) ers Impression Events and QBiz chief legal offi cer Nass- Events have announced. er al-Taweel has been The show will be held at listed on the Legal 500 the Asian Town Amphithea- GC power list: Middle tre on November 17, from 6pm East, which recognises to 11pm, according to a press an array of the most in- statement. Atif Aslam fl uential and innovative Atif has recorded numerous in-house legal teams chart-topping songs and is a re- His songs have also featured in working in the region. cipient of the Pakistani civilian some Hollywood projects. Atif, He has extensive ex- honour, Tamgha-e-Imtiaz. Sev- who is also a songwriter and ac- perience of both Qatari Nasser al-Taweel eral of his big hits are from Bol- tor, has toured around the world. law and English law, lywood fi lms, and Atif has also Besides, his solo albums have and was one of the fi rst implement a working department of the year been nominated for the Filmfare also been highly successful, sell- Qataris to qualify as a method based around (government depart- Award for Best Male Playback ing a large number of copies and solicitor in the Senior being closer to the ment, agency or public Singer on a number of occasions. featuring blockbuster hits. Courts of England and business and the in- body). Wales. dustry, understanding In 2016, the team In his current role their needs and focus- received an industry HMC breast cancer conclave at the QFC, al-Taweel ing on the quality of award as Qatar legal heads a department of work produced rather department of the year to discuss precision medicine lawyers from various than quantity. (small team). countries with exten- It is this great work The QFC’s legal de- More than 300 healthcare professionals are expected to attend sive backgrounds and the team has under- partment provides a Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) sixth annual breast cancer ensures that the QFC taken that has helped comprehensive set of conference, organised by the breast cancer care team at the National adopts and adheres to elevate our department in-house legal services Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR). Held under the best internationally ac- and make us award and is at the centre of theme ‘Precision medicine in breast cancer management,’ this year’s cepted practices in gov- winning,” he said. the strategic develop- conference will take place on October 27 and 28 at the Sheraton ernance compliance. Earlier this year, the ment, enhancement Grand Doha Resort & Convention Hotel. The conference is devoted “The (QFC legal) de- legal department at the and advocacy of the exclusively to the use of precision medicine in treating breast cancer, partment has worked QFC won an award for QFC’s legal environ- which involves the process of tailoring the care plan of each patient to tirelessly to revamp and the Middle East legal ment. provide the most eff ective treatment for breast cancer.

Awards to celebrate Qatari women’s achievements

ryx Publishing & honour 10 Qatari women humanitarian of the year, “as a great way to honour, ed QBWA board members Advertising will host from diff erent categories medical pioneer of the year, recognise and celebrate Aisha al-Bedeed, Amal al- Othe fi rst ever Qatar who have left their mark in sportswoman of the year, the contribution of women Aathem, Mishael al-Ansari, Today Women of the Year various sectors in 2016-17,” creative woman of the year, who have excelled in their Qatar Business Incubation awards on October 30 at Faisal Fuad, general manager young talent of the year, fi elds, whilst inspiring fu- Centre business develop- The St. Regis Doha in part- of Oryx Publishing & Adver- hospitality pioneer of the ture generations of women ment manager Aysha al- nership with Qatari Busi- tising Company, told a press year, engineer of the year to achieve their full po- Romaihi, Bedaya Centre nesswomen Association conference yesterday. and technocrat of the year. tential and maximise their general manager Reem al- (QBWA). The categories are; inspi- In a statement, Aisha Al- contribution to the Qatari Suwaidi, and Qatar Women “Qatar Today Women rational woman of the year, fardan, vice Chairwoman of economy.” Sports Committee president of the Year awards aims to entrepreneur of the year, QBWA, described the award The judging panel includ- Lolwa al-Marri.

Amal al-Aathem (third right) and other off icials at the press conference yesterday. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 7 QATAR

Malabar Gold names raffl e draw winners Orphans treated to a alabar Gold & Diamonds has announced the three win- ners of its second raffl e draw of the ongoing campaign M“Win up to 100 kilos of gold” at an event at its LuLu D Ring Road outlet in the presence of Ali Mohamed al-Marri from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce. Malabar Gold & Diamonds regional head Santhosh T V and oth- er offi cials were present. The winners are Abinay Lakshmi, Maya Oscar, and Bhaskaran, day of fun by Nakilat who will each receive 250g of gold. akilat organised a “mem- see the children laugh and enjoy as part of the company’s robust as it enhances their communi- kind of development makes it orable and eventful” out- themselves as they enthusiasti- Corporate Social Responsibility cative abilities and social skills,” easier for the children to integrate Ning for children from the cally took part in the activities. framework, which focuses on the he said. “It enables the children into society, it was observed. Dreama orphan care centre yes- “Spending time with them community, health, education to learn about new and diff erent Ghanem stressed that Dreama terday. and showing them that society and environment.” environments that aid in devel- is a pioneer in the care of orphans Accompanied by volunteers sincerely cares is the most im- Ahmed Ghanem, head of the oping their horizons and gain as well as in terms of integrating from Nakilat, the children were portant thing for these young Setup and Design Unit at Drea- experience that enriches their them into society by providing treated to a day of fun as they orphans, not only to brighten up ma’s Community Awareness Of- personalities.” the necessary care for orphans could take part in a series of their day, but also to add mean- fi ce, praised Nakilat’s initiative Such activities come within when adapting to their foster sports and entertainment activi- ingful experiences to their child- with Dreama as it had a profound the framework of programmes families. ties. hood. impact on all participants. that promote the development The centre is committed to In a statement yesterday, the “Nakilat remains committed “These trips are considered of the children’s ability to adapt, serving the children with re- The second raff le draw was conducted at the LuLu D Ring branch Nakilat Public Relations Depart- to continue with its community one of the most crucial means of socialise and acquire new meth- sponsibility, privacy, equality of Malabar Gold & Diamonds. ment said: “It was heartening to outreach initiatives, which come entertainment for the children, ods of communications, and this and partnership. Doha Bank introduces Italian ‘Instant Card Issuance’ delegation visits Mada oha Bank has introduced high-quality, personalised, ready- customer experience, be it online or the “Instant Card Issuance” to-use permanent debit cards while in-branch support, to all our cus- Dfacility to make the account opening an account, avoiding any tomers,” the bank said. opening process more convenient, waiting time for the cards to be pro- Since the beginning of 2017, Doha centre simpler, and faster. duced and couriered, and allowing Bank has off ered several unique The new facility is the latest ad- customers to make immediate pur- products such as Doha Bank My dition to the bank’s portfolio of chases simple and convenient.” Book mobile app, which provides ada Assistive Technology Cen- products and services. Additionally, the customers can more than 900 “Buy One Get One” tre showcased its assistive tech- With the Instant Card Issuance receive immediate replacements for off ers and Doha Miles, Qatar’s best Mnology solutions and expertise facility, customers can now open their cards lost or stolen. rewards programme, and the recent to Italian embassy delegates during their accounts and instantly get person- Furthermore, with the launch re-launch of the Al Riyada proposi- recent visit. Members of the Italian delegation at Mada. alised debit cards at selected Doha of the new facility, Doha Bank has tion to name a few. At the event, Mada highlighted its suc- Bank branches. reaffi rmed its commitment to con- “We pride ourselves as one of the cess stories and individuals who have and support for the facility, equipment, ing the latest in assistive technologies for “We are proud to introduce these tinuing face to face interactions and leading fi nancial service institu- come to the centre and demonstrated and employees. families of persons with disabilities and new products and facilities to our enhancing excellence in customer tions in Qatar, with an unrelenting how Qatar is committed to creating an Mada chief executive Maha al-Man- to overcome challenges that they may customers, especially our unique service, even during the digital era. commitment to a customer-centric inclusive accessible community for per- souri said: “We are honoured that our face when it comes to integration into so- card issuance benefi t,” said Doha “Our new instant card issuance approach and dedicated to deliver- sons with disabilities. guests from Italy took the time to experi- ciety,” the offi cial said. Bank Group chief executive Dr R will give customers a faster and bet- ing best in class services to our cus- The Italian embassy delegates had a ence what we off er at Mada to the people The Italian embassy visit to Mada was Seetharaman. “By off ering instant ter customer experience. Our main tomers,” said Doha Bank chief retail chance to meet the teams and the depart- of Qatar.” part of an Italian offi cial delegation’s visit issuance, customers can receive goal at Doha Bank is to off er a great banking offi cer Gul Khan. ments at Mada, and expressed interest “At Mada, we are dedicated to provid- to Qatar. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Return home of Ooredoo Group offi cially 5,600 IS militants launches operations in Gaza poses major oredoo Group has an- threat: think-tank nounced that its op- Oerating company in Palestine, Wataniya Mobile, AFP wishes to continue the fi ght will has offi cially launched its op- Baghdad fi nd a way to do so.” erations in Gaza as part of its IS has claimed a string of at- continuous eff orts to improve tacks across the Middle East, and enhance its services in the housands of foreign mili- Europe and beyond since declar- markets where it operates. tants who have fl ed Is- ing its “caliphate”. Wataniya Mobile will now be Tlamic State group-held The Soufan report cited Radi- able to provide the residents of territories in Iraq and Syria could calisation Awareness Network Gaza with an alternative option pose major security problems as fi gures saying around 30% of for advanced communications they return home, a think-tank some 5,000 European Union services directly through its said yesterday. residents thought to have gone shops and authorised dealers in At least 5,600 citizens or to fi ght in Syria and Iraq had the Strip. residents of 33 countries had since returned home. The launch event, which took returned home as IS faced dev- Soufan estimated that Rus- place in Gaza, was attended astating assaults on territories sia was the source of the great- by senior Ooredoo executives, it held in Iraq and Syria, said the est number of militants (3,417), including Group CEO Sheikh Soufan Center, a non-profi t se- with more than 3,000 each Saud bin Nasser al-Thani; dep- curity analysis group. from Saudi Arabia and Jordan, uty Group CEO and Ooredoo “Added to the unknown num- 2,962 from Tunisia and 1,910 Qatar CEO Waleed al-Sayed; bers from other countries, this from France.The Soufan re- Group chief offi cer of Small represents a huge challenge for port said re-integrating women and Medium Companies Kha- security and law enforcement and children who had joined IS led al-Mahmoud and Mustafa entities,” it said. IS proclaimed posed particular problems. al-Qatami, senior director of Ooredoo Group CEO Sheikh Saud bin Nasser al-Thani and al-Sayed and other dignitaries attend the event. a caliphate in 2014 on territo- It said governments usually Branding and Corporate Com- ries the size of Italy which it either incarcerate returning munications at Ooredoo Qatar. Sheikh Saud said: “We are had seized in a sweeping assault militants, which “only post- Ooredoo chairman Sheikh very happy to launch our serv- across swathes of Iraq and Syria. pones the problem”, or place Abdulla bin Mohamed bin Saud ices in Gaza. This great achieve- It has since lost some 85% of them in reintegration pro- al-Thani said: “We are delight- ment will enable us to meet the territories it controlled to US grammes, which it says are ed and very excited to launch the digital needs of our people and Russian-backed off ensives. “notoriously hard to design our services in Gaza, as part of there, and provide them with But despite its collapse, Sou- and run”. our eff orts to become the lead- advanced technologies that, fan warned that IS or something “The questions of identity, ing integrated ICT provider undoubtedly, will improve their similar would likely survive as and the widespread mistrust in Palestine and provide a full digital experience and give long as the “conditions that pro- of government institutions and range of customised services to them access to a whole world of moted its growth remain”. mainstream politics that IS has our customers. creativity and innovation. Some of the survivors among managed to exploit are unlikely “Since 2006, when we an- “Our goal now is to enable 40,000 foreign IS fi ghters from to go away,” the report said. nounced our intention to grow Palestinian youth to enjoy the more than 110 countries would “Nor therefore is the phe- our business internally, we have internet and help them achieve inevitably “remain committed nomenon of foreign fighters worked tirelessly to remove their dreams and aspirations to the form of violent ‘militancy’ and returnees, whether they all obstacles that prevented through the services we pro- that Al Qaeda and IS have popu- join the remnants of IS or other Wataniya Mobile from enter- vide. We are confi dent that our larised”, it said. new groups that emerge in its ing Gaza offi cially, and we have services will make a diff erence “It is clear that anyone who image”. succeeded. in a host of areas, including “Wataniya Mobile will con- education, healthcare, women’s tinue to implement its vision empowerment, entrepreneur- Ooredoo Group deputy CEO Waleed al-Sayed speaks at the Gaza event. to enrich our customers’ digital ship, and many more.” life and allow all members of the For many years, Ooredoo market, “by all possible means.” in the Strip and contribute to connected all the time, there- Palestinian community to enjoy said it has sought to enter Gaza The recent launch of the its economic growth, enabling by realising their full poten- Iraqi paramilitaries the Internet and high-quality through Wataniya Mobile, a ma- company’s services is expected young people to acquire knowl- tial through communications, voice services.” jor investor in the Palestinian to enhance competitiveness edge, make decisions and be Ooredoo added. battle Kurds in push towards border oil hub

Russia vetoes inquiry over Syria gas attacks Reuters gion itself. A Kurdish offi cial said Baghdad Kurdish security forces known as Peshmerga had successfully Reuters A separate OPCW fact- beaten back an advance by pro- United Nations finding mission determined raqi pro-government para- government paramilitaries in the in June that the banned nerve militaries launched an off en- region of Rabi’a, 40 kilometres agent sarin had been used in Isive against Kurdish troops south of the Fish-Khabur border ussia cast a veto at the the Khan Sheikhoun attack, yesterday near the Turkish fron- area. United Nations Secu- which prompted the United tier, pushing towards a strategic Fish-Khabur is strategi- Rrity Council yesterday States to launch missiles on border crossing and oil export cally vital because oil from both preventing the renewal of the a Syrian air base.“Russia has pipeline hub that Baghdad says Kurdish and government-held mandate for a mission that in- once again demonstrated it must come under its control. parts of northern Iraq cross at a vestigates the use of chemical will do whatever it takes to en- The Iraqi government has pipeline there into Turkey, the weapons in Syria. sure the barbaric Assad regime transformed the balance of main route out of the area for The investigation by the never faces consequences for power in the north of the coun- international export, crucial for United Nations and the Or- its continued use of chemicals try since launching a campaign any Kurdish independence bid. ganisation for the Prohibition as weapons,” US Ambassador last week to seize back territory Abadi told a news conference of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the United Nations Nikki from the Kurds, who govern an in Baghdad he will discuss the — known as the Joint Inves- Haley, travelling in Africa, autonomous region of three issue of the border crossing with tigative Mechanism (JIM) — said in a statement. northern provinces and had also his Turkish counterpart Benali was unanimously created by After the vote, Nebenzia seized a swathe of other territory Yildirim today in Ankara. the 15-member UN Security said the elimination of chemi- in northern Iraq. The fi ghting so far has taken Council in 2015 and renewed cal weapons in Syria had near- The Kurds held a referendum place outside the Kurdish auton- in 2016 for another year. ly finished. on independence last month omous region, but Fish-Khabur Its mandate is due to expire In its most recent report late that Baghdad called illegal. is located within it, so any as- in mid-November. last month, the OPCW said it Baghdad responded by seizing sault on the border crossing The JIM is due to report by had verified the destruction of back the city of Kirkuk, the oil- would mark a major escalation, Oct 26 on who was responsi- 25 of the 27 chemical weapons producing areas around it, and bringing government troops into ble for an attack on April 4 on production facilities declared other territory that the Kurds undisputed Kurdish territory. the town of Khan Sheikhoun, by Syria and continued to pre- had captured from Islamic State. Crude oil fl owing through the held by the opposition to Syr- pare an inspection to confirm Prime Minister Haidar Abadi Iraqi Kurdistan pipeline to Tur- ian President Bashar al-Assad, The UN Security Council meeting on the chemical weapons attacks in Syria at the United Nations yesterday. the current condition of the has ordered his army to recap- key’s port of Ceyhan were up that killed dozens of people. last two. China abstained from ture all disputed territory, and slightly at 300,000 barrels per Russia wanted to discuss ily Nebenzia unsuccessfully a dead letter unless we adopt extending the JIM after the yesterday’s vote, while Bolivia has also demanded central con- day yesterday, about half the the report before voting on asked to postpone the vote. this resolution today,” Neben- publication of the report and joined Russia in voting no. trol of Iraq’s border crossings level before the Iraqi takeover the extension of the mandate, “Don’t try to create the im- zia said prior to the vote. after we discuss it after the 26 Eleven countries voted in fa- with Turkey, all of which are in- of Kirkuk, a shipping source in and its UN ambassador Vass- pression that the JIM will be “We are ready to return to of October.” vour of the text. side the Kurdish autonomous re- London said.

CRACKDOWN Egypt security UN relief chief makes fi rst visit to Yemen forces arrest 12 suspected militants

AFP Egyptian security forces have Aden arrested 12 suspected members of the militant Hasm Movement in the province of Fayoum 60km south he top United Nations aid of- of Cairo, the Interior Ministry said fi cial landed in the Yemeni yesterday. A ministry statement said Tport city of Aden yesterday, police also confiscated a number embarking on a fi ve-day trip aimed of weapons and explosive devices. at drawing attention to the cholera- Hasm, a group that emerged last stricken country. year and has claimed several at- “I decided to come to Yemen tacks on security forces, including because I am deeply concerned the fatal shooting of a policeman about the humanitarian crisis that and injuries to three others in the has continued to deteriorate,” said province. Egypt accuses Hasm of Emergency Relief Co-ordinator being a militant wing of the Brother- Mark Lowcock. Boys walk in their school damaged by a recent Saudi-led air strike, in the hood, which Cairo outlawed in 2013. It is his fi rst visit to Yemen since Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, yesterday. The Brotherhood denies this and assuming the post on September 1. says it strives only for peaceful Lowcock said the trip would in- to listen to their concerns and aspi- UN Offi ce for the Co-ordination of political change.An insurgency led clude meetings with offi cials in Aden, rations, and take their stories to the Humanitarian Aff airs. by Islamic State militants in Egypt’s the seat of the internationally recog- international community,” he said. Since 2014, a rebel alliance has rugged Sinai Peninsula has killed nised government, as well as regular Humanitarian responders have fought Yemen’s UN-recognised hundreds of soldiers and police- Yemenis impacted by the confl ict. this year provided direct aid to more government of President Abd-Rab- men since the Egyptian military “I plan to meet many of the most than 7mn Yemenis living on the bu Mansour Hadi for control of the overthrew President Mohamed vulnerable Yemeni people we serve brink of famine, according to the country. Mursi in mid-2013. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 9 AFRICA

CONSERVATION JUSTICE BALLOT BATTLE SANCTIONS DANGEROUS WATERS CITES: Ivory seizures up Nigeria’s former president Liberia ruling party alleges Namibia dismisses expert’s Pirates hit German-owned but poaching down summoned in graft trial election irregularities claim on North Korea ties ship off Nigeria, abduct 6

There were record numbers of ivory seizures A judge yesterday ordered Nigeria’s former president Liberia’s ruling party, which came second in a Namibia’s government yesterday rejected Six crew members from a German-owned container last year, the Convention on International Trade Goodluck Jonathan to appear at the corruption trial presidential election first round on October 10, accusations by the co-ordinator of the UN Panel ship, including the captain, have been kidnapped in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora of his party’s former spokesman. The summons is a has said the poll was marred by irregularities, of Experts on North Korea who accused the off the coast of southern Nigeria, maritime security (CITES) said in a report released yesterday, while surprise development and will be keenly watched, as following similar claims from other parties. Vice southern African nation of not complying with UN analysts have said. The Sea Guardian consultancy overall elephant poaching in Africa remained in Jonathan has been cited in several corruption cases President Joseph Boakai, a member of outgoing Security Council sanctions against Pyongyang. said the Demeter “was attacked by pirates” at about decline. The report said 40 tonnes of ivory were but is not thought to have been formally questioned. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Unity Party, Namibia said that it rejected allegations that it 7am on Saturday south of the Nigerian oil city, seized in 2016, more than any year on record, and But whether he appears depends on when or if he won 28.8% of votes, versus 38.4% for former had not submitted a report for more than a year Port Harcourt. “Pirates boarded the ship, kidnapped triple the weight seized in 2007. In southern Africa, is formally served the court papers in time. Olisa soccer star George Weah. A run-off vote between to the Security Council’s sanctions committee six crew, including (the) master, chief off icer, second populations are stable or increasing, with Botswana Metuh is on trial accused of having fraudulently the two candidates is scheduled for November on North Korea. “The government wishes to off icer, second engineer, bosun and cook,” it said on boasting the most elephants on the continent. received from 400mn naira ($1.1mn) from Jonathan’s 7. The Unity Party did not say whether it would categorically state that it has submitted reports its website www.sguardian.com. Reports suggested However, in Central Africa levels of poaching national security adviser, Sambo Dasuki. The former petition the election committee for a re-run, to the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee the attack was carried out by eight pirates in a remain very high. The CITES report also noted that Peoples Democratic Party spokesman maintains as did the Liberty Party of the third-placed as required,” Lineekela Mboti, the permanent black speedboat, it added. The Demeter had been more actual processing of ivory is now being done he received the money on Jonathan’s orders to candidate, Charles Brumskine, over what it said secretary in the Ministry of International Relations travelling from the capital of Equatorial Guinea, “in Africa by Asian nationals for export to Asia”. fund his unsuccessful re-election campaign in 2015. were “gross irregularities and fraud”. and Co-operation, said in a statement. Malabo, to the Liberian capital Monrovia at the time.

Mugabe would Odinga tempers vote boycott have rejected WHO role: call, protesters teargassed spokesman Reuters Reuters Harare Nairobi obert Mugabe would have rejected the enyan police yesterday fi red role of World Health Organisation good- teargas and shots in the air Rwill envoy had he been formally asked, Kto scatter a small number of his spokesman said yesterday, days after state demonstrators in Nairobi two days media cheered the Zimbabwean president’s ap- before elections as the main oppo- pointment. sition leader appeared to row back WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom from a call for protests during the Ghebreyesus named Mugabe as a goodwill am- vote. bassador last Wednesday at a conference in In the western city of Kisumu, Uruguay that both men were attending. around 2,000 demonstrators But the appointment was rescinded on Sun- marched on the election board day following a backlash from Western donors, offices, witnesses said, heeding rights groups and opposition parties. Raila Odinga’s appeal for protests Last Friday, the state-owned Herald cel- against tomorrow’s repeat presi- ebrated the largely ceremonial appointment as dential ballot, before dispersing a “New feather in President’s cap”, adding that peacefully. Mugabe, 93, had accepted the role. Odinga is boycotting the contest His spokesman told the same newspaper against incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta. yesterday that Zimbabwe’s sole leader since He says it will not be free and fair independence from Britain in 1980 had only as the election board had made in- heard about the appointment via the media. suffi cient progress towards reforms “Had anything been put to the president... he demanded after the original elec- (he) would have found such a request to be an tion held in August was annulled. awkward one,” Charamba was quoted as saying, Odinga had urged his supporters citing Zimbabwe’s role as a tobacco producer. to ensure the new vote did not take “The WHO cannot take back what it never place, repeatedly saying there would gave in the fi rst place, and as far as he is con- be “no elections”. cerned, all this hullabaloo over a non-appoint- But yesterday, he told the BBC he ment is in fact a non-event.” was not calling for protests on elec- Charamba did not respond to calls seeking tion day itself. further comment. “We have not told people to pro- Mugabe’s critics were outraged by Tedros’ test on polling day. We have not said announcement, saying he was rewarding a man that at all. We have told people to whose government had presided over the col- stay away,” he said in a radio inter- lapse of Zimbabwe’s health system. view. In Geneva, WHO spokesman Christian Lind- When called for clarifi cation, Od- meier told a UN briefi ng that there were “no inga’s spokesman said he was saying fi xed guidelines” for appointing a WHO good- “peaceful protests” would still take will ambassador, but that the director-general place and that the opposition would or his deputies had the power to select them. fully explain their plans today. On Tedros’ decision to rescind Mugabe’s ap- At least 49 people have died in po- pointment, he said: “I think in terms of trans- litical violence since the August bal- parency we were pretty good. A, it was tweeted lot, evoking unwelcome memories and B it appeared on the website with the state- of the aftermath of a disputed 2007 ments immediately.” vote, when more than 1,200 people Charamba said the fact that Zimbabwe was were killed. a producer and exporter of tobacco, mostly to The political stand-off has also China, would have meant Mugabe campaigning blunted growth in East Africa’s rich- against a crop that underpins the economy. est economy, a nation valued for its Supporters of opposition National Super Alliance presidential candidate Odinga demonstrate in the streets in Kisumu yesterday. Tobacco is Zimbabwe’s single largest for- stability and relative freedom in a re- eign currency earner, bringing in an average gion plagued by confl ict. and fair vote could take place due to cleavages and prolong a stalemate no elections. As to how this will be list of demands to the election board. $800mn annually in the last four years, accord- Kenya’s Supreme Court is still intimidation and political interfer- that has already claimed dozens of done, we are waiting for the big an- Some have been met — opposi- ing to offi cial data. hearing several cases challenging the ence. lives and come at a high economic nouncement by Baba (Odinga) to- tion monitors will now have access “To be seen to be playing goodwill ambas- legality of tomorrow’s election. He spoke after the resignation of cost,” an ICG briefi ng note said. morrow,” said one demonstrator, to the board’s computers as results sador in respect of an agency which has a well- One key case, brought by human an election commissioner, who then Both the election board and the market trader James Ouma. come in, a key offi cial has gone on defi ned stance on tobacco growing and tobacco rights activist Khelef Khalifa and fl ed the country and released a state- government have said the vote will Around him, marchers waved an extended holiday, and numerical selling, that would have been a contradiction,” two others, seeks to delay the vote ment saying she had been threat- go ahead, irrespective of whether branches and blew whistles. results vulnerable to typographical Charamba said. on grounds that the election board is ened, although she did not say who Odinga contests it, and only a court Last week Odinga supporters errors will not be transmitted, rather “In other words, he was not going to oblige not suffi ciently prepared. had done so. ruling could legally delay the re-run disrupted at least three offi cial pre- only scanned copies of paper forms the invitation had it come his way anyway.” The Supreme Court, the only body A day before the August 8 vote, ballot beyond the end of October. polling events. from tallying centres. A Western diplomat in Geneva told Reuters: that can now legally postpone the another member of the election Police yesterday fi red teargas and Police said some election board The board said it was impossible “It was a mistake, apparently there were no poll beyond the end of the month, board was found tortured and mur- bullets into the air to break up pro- staff were seriously injured. to meet other demands — such as preparations or consultations. will hear the case today. dered. testers in the capital Nairobi. Kenyatta offi cially won the first changing the technology provider — “It seems the idea was cooked up in a small The election board yesterday can- On Monday, the International Cri- In Kisumu, an Odinga stronghold, election on August 8, by 1.4mn votes, in the short time frame allotted for group in Uruguay. He acted quickly to rescind celled a planned briefi ng with jour- sis Group, a global think-tank, called demonstrators said that the polls but the Supreme Court annulled that new elections. it, some would have waited. nalists on preparations for the polls. for a delay in the election. should not take place, but were un- outcome on September 1 over proce- Under Kenya’s constitution, fresh “But it will be interesting to see what the Last week, the head of the elec- “Proceeding under current condi- clear on how they should be stopped. dural irregularities. elections must be held within 60 damage is,” the diplomat said, speaking on con- tion board said it was not clear a free tions would deepen Kenya’s ethnic “All we know is that there will be Odinga’s team then presented a days of nullifi ed ones. dition of anonymity. West African bloc’s 2020 single currency goal fails

AFP The summit aims at assessing harmonise monetary policies be- Niamey progress towards a single region- tween the eight currencies used al currency 30 years after the goal by ECOWAS economies, and to was fi rst sketched. set up a “monetary institute” — a he 15-nation West African ECOWAS — the Economic forerunner of a common central bloc ECOWAS yesterday Community of West African bank. Ttold regional leaders that States — was set up in 1975. To- Eight ECOWAS countries the goal of establishing a single day it comprises Benin, Burki- (Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea- currency among their economies na Faso, Cape Verde, Gambia, Bissau, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, in 2020 had failed. Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal and Togo) jointly use the “The roadmap has not been Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, CFA franc. implemented vigorously,” Mar- Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone They are moored to the single cel de Souza, president of the and Togo, which together have European currency and are gath- ECOWAS Commission, told a 300mn inhabitants. ered in an organisation called the summit in Niamey, the capital of Yesterday’s announcement West African Monetary Union, or Niger. came after a string of revisions WAMU. “We cannot move to the single and postponements to the mon- But the seven other ECOWAS currency in 2020,” he said. etary integration plan over the countries have their own cur- Four goals had been set down years. rencies, none of them freely con- for introducing a single currency In 2013, ECOWAS tasked Ni- vertible amongst themselves. but “there are not the results to ger and Ghana with “coordinat- Presidents Mahamadou Is- match,” de Souza said. “From ing” the single-currency cam- oufou of Niger, Alassane Ouat- 2012 to 2016, none of our coun- paign, and in 2014, a “task force” tara of Ivory Coast, Nana Akufo tries has been able to persistently was set up to provide them with Ado of Ghana, Muhammadu (From left) Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe, Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou, Ivory Coast uphold the prime criteria in the guidance. Buhari of Nigeria and Faure President Alassane Ouattara and Ghana’s President Nana Akufo Ado attend the opening of a summit of heads of state of the Economic programme for macro-economic But De Souza listed a number Gnassingbe of Togo took part in Community of West African States in Niamey yesterday. convergence,” he said. of setbacks, including failures to the summit. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 AMERICAS

JUSTICE BALLOT TERRORISM INVESTIGATION FALL FARE Two Bundy followers plead Liberals win Quebec seat, Honduran charged with bid General vows answers for guilty over armed standoff reflecting pre-vote strength to bomb Miami mall kin of troops killed in Niger

Two supporters of renegade Nevada rancher Canada’s ruling Liberals won a special election in A Honduras citizen with sympathies to ISIS and The United States’ top military off icer said the Cliven Bundy each pleaded guilty on Monday Quebec on Monday, picking up a parliamentary residing in Miami appeared in federal court families of those killed in a special forces operation to obstructing a US court order for their role in seat in a province where insiders say the party on Monday on a charge of attempting to use in Niger this month deserve answers on what a 2014 showdown with federal agents who had needs to do better if it is to retain power in a a weapon of mass destruction in a planned happened. The four US soldiers killed were part seized Bundy’s cattle. Eric J Parker, 34, and O 2019 federal election. Provisional results showed attack on a crowded Miami shopping mall, the of an 800-strong force in Niger that is involved Scott Drexler, 47, both from Idaho, each faces up Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberals won the US Justice Department said. Vicente Solano, 53, in training local forces to address terrorist to a year in federal prison and a $100,000 fine constituency of Lac-Saint-Jean with about 36% planned to detonate an explosive in a crowded threats, said General Joseph Dunford, chairman for taking part in the standoff , which became a of the vote, with the separatist Bloc Quebecois in area of the Dolphin Mall and if convicted, he of the joint chiefs of staff . Twelve members of the rallying cry for right-wing extremists challenging second place and the opposition Conservatives could face up to life in prison, it said. Solano special operations task force came under attack US government authority in the American close behind in third. The Conservatives had discussed his plot with a confidential source and from an Islamic State-aff iliated group north of the West. The two men, accused of threatening law held the seat before the sitting legislator retired two Federal Bureau of Investigation undercover capital. The death of Sergeant La David Johnson Two women ride their bikes past a colourful enforcement off icers with guns, were originally earlier this year. The Liberals, who now hold 41 of employees. At his court appearance, a judge has come under the most scrutiny as his body was tree in Central Park in New York. Fall foliage tried on several more serious charges for which Quebec’s 78 seats, privately say they need to win appointed an attorney, who has not spoken to recovered days after the raid. Dunford stressed the is just starting to change in the New York City they faced at least 57 years in prison if convicted. another 12 in the province. media about the case. investigation would seek to provide answers. area according to fall foliage experts. Vietnam hero honoured Trump, Corker spar ahead of tax meeting

Reuters Washington

senior Republican senator yes- terday called President Donald ATrump “utterly untruthful” in an exchange of insults on Twit- ter hours before the president was to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to build consensus for tax reform. Trump has asked his fellow Repub- licans who control Congress to pass a package of tax cuts including a deep President Donald Trump presents the Medal of Honor to retired US Army Captain Gary Rose for actions during the reduction in the corporate income tax Vietnam War during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington late on Monday. by year’s end, and his meeting with Republican senators was aimed at shoring up support in his own party. But hours before the meeting, Trump engaged in a distracting tus- sle with one of those senators, For- Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington eign Relations Committee chairman yesterday. Bob Corker. Alienating any members of his own party could be costly for Corker warned Trump in a round Trump has said he thinks he has GAO urges government his legislative initiatives in the Sen- of other television interviews against the votes to pass the plan, although ate because Republicans control the interfering in congressional eff orts detailed legislation has yet to be un- chamber by just a slim 52-48 margin. to fi nalise legislation to cut taxes and veiled. “Bob Corker, who...couldn’t get called his visit with Senate Republi- Speaking on “CBS This Morning,” elected dog catcher in Tennessee, is cans “a photo op.” Corker urged Trump and the White to manage climate risks now fi ghting Tax Cuts,” Trump, set “Hopefully, the White House will House to “let the tax-writing com- to attend Senate Republicans’ weekly step aside and let that occur in a nor- mittees do their work...and stay out Reuters ministration directives requiring feder- Preliminary government estimates of lunch, wrote on Twitter. mal process,” the Tennessee Republi- of taking things off the table and re- Washington al agencies to prepare plans to address the economic losses of hurricanes Har- “Same untruths from an utterly can and fi scal hawk told NBC’s Today ally negotiating against the process climate risks in March, and agencies like vey, Irma and Maria and the wildfi res in untruthful president. #AlertTheDay- programme. “That’s the best way for before it even begins.” the Environmental Protection Agency nine western states combined this year careStaff ,” Corker shot back to Trump us to have success.” White House spokeswoman Sarah he US federal government should have cut climate change research. alone are poised to exceed $300bn. in his own Twitter post. The senator His comments followed Trump’s Sanders shot back. adopt a strategy to manage cli- The report was written at the re- “Our government cannot aff ord to previously referred to the White House promise on Monday to protect a pop- “I think we need to let the president Tmate change risks, as their cost quest of Republican Senator Susan spend more than $300bn each year derisively as an “adult daycare centre.” ular retirement programme as Re- take the lead on this front,” Sanders to the government may rise as much as Collins and Democratic Senator Maria in response to severe weather events Corker, who has said he will not publican lawmakers seek ways to pay told Fox News. $35bn per year by mid-century, a con- Cantwell, who asked for a comprehen- that are connected to warming waters, seek re-election next year, has openly for their proposed $6tn in tax cuts. “This is a president who wants to gressional watchdog offi ce report re- sive study on the costs and risks to the which produce stronger hurricanes,” feuded with the president for weeks, The spat with Corker, as well as the be aggressive, wants to take big ac- leased on Monday said. US government from climate change said Maine Senator Collins. escalated his comments in a CNN in- president’s previous squabbles with tion. And if Senator Corker doesn’t The report from the non-partisan in November 2015. “Climate change Cantwell, lead Democratic on the terview, saying the president is con- other Republican lawmakers, further want to be part of that...we’re not Government Accountability Offi ce impacts are already costing the federal Senate energy committee, whose home sistently untruthful, has debased the complicates Republican eff orts to going to let that get in the way of us (GAO) comes as Congress weighs aid government money, and these costs will state Washington was aff ected by wild- United States and undermined its re- hammer out a fi nal version of the tax moving forward.” packages for US victims of deadly hur- likely increase over time as the climate fi res, said the report warns that the lationships around the world. proposal, which was devised without Republican Senator Roger Wick- ricanes and wildfi res that struck in continues to change,” the report said. federal government will need to pay Corker in August said Trump had the input of opposition Democrats. er also defended Trump before the 2017, with losses already estimated at Extreme weather and fi re events have “trillions more in the future unless we “not yet been able to demonstrate the Republicans comfortably control the meeting, which he said could fi ll in more than $300bn. cost the federal government over $350bn mitigate the impacts.” stability nor some of the competence US House of Representatives, but can the plan’s details. President Donald Trump, a climate over the last decade, the report said, citing The president has not appointed a that he needs to demonstrate in order aff ord to lose only two votes within their “I view it as a coming together,” change doubter, rolled back Obama ad- the Offi ce of Management and Budget. chief scientifi c policy offi cer. to be successful.” own party in the Senate to win passage. Wicker told CNN.

Chicago museum outs Trump Renoir as fake art New Senate bill would require

AFP that he saw the painting warrant for data under spy law Chicago while conducting interviews for his 2005 book Trump- Nation: The Art of Being the Reuters subject to searches without a warrant, n American museum Donald. Washington including by the Federal Bureau of In- is casting doubt on The biographer, who vestigation, a practice that the USA APresident Donald Trump unsuccessfully Rights Act authored by Wyden and Paul Trump’s reported claim to sued for asserting that his bipartisan group of at least 10 US would end. possess an original Renoir net worth was as low as senators plans to introduce leg- The measure is expected to be intro- — revealing to have owned $150mn, corrected the self- Aislation that would substantially duced with support from a wide berth the Impressionist painting proclaimed billionaire. reform aspects of the National Security of civil society groups, including the in question for the past 84 “It clearly was a knock- Agency’s warrantless Internet surveil- American Civil Liberties Union and years. off ,” O’Brien told the maga- lance program, according to congres- FreedomWorks, a Wyden spokesman According to a former zine’s Hive podcast, adding sional aides. said. Trump biographer, the US that he told Trump: “I grew The eff ort, led by Democrat Ron It would renew Section 702 for four leader claims to own the up in Chicago...That’s not Wyden and Republican Rand Paul, years with additional transparency and original ‘Two Sisters (On the an original.” would require a warrant for queries of oversight provisions, such as allow- Terrace)’, an oil-on-canvas Trump continued to in- data belonging to any American collect- ing individuals to more easily raise legal painted by the French mas- sist that his painting was ed under the program. challenges against the law and expand ter Pierre-Auguste Renoir in authentic, O’Brien said. The bill’s introduction is likely to add the oversight jurisdiction of the Privacy 1881. The White House did not uncertainty to how Congress will renew and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, a But the Art Institute of immediately respond to a a controversial portion of a spying law government privacy watchdog. Chicago begs to diff er. request for comment. due to expire on December 31. A bipartisan group of lawmakers in “I’m happy to confi rm The Chicago museum Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence the House of Representatives earlier that it’s in our collection,” lists the Renoir as having Surveillance Act is considered by US this month introduced legislation seek- museum spokeswoman been donated in 1933 by a lo- intelligence offi cials to be among their ing to add privacy protections to Section Amanda Hicks told AFP cal art collector, who bought most vital tools used to combat national 702, including a partial restriction to by e-mail Monday. “We’re it from a Paris art dealer, and cyber security threats and help pro- the FBI’s ability to access US data when proud and grateful to be able who in turn had purchased tect American allies. seeking evidence of a crime. to share this exceptional it from the artist himself in It allows US intelligence agencies to But that was criticised by privacy painting with our 1.5mn vis- 1881 for 1,500 francs. eavesdrop on and store vast amounts groups as too narrow. itors each year.” This is not the fi rst au- of digital communications from for- Separately, the Senate Intelligence An identical work, which thenticity controversy to eign suspects living outside the United Committee is expected to privately vote Trump asserted to be the dog the real estate mogul States. on a bill to reauthorise Section 702 that original, was displayed in turned president. The surveillance program, classifi ed privacy advocates say will lack their re- his private jet and seen as In June, Time maga- details of which were exposed in 2013 by form priorities. recently as last year inside zine reportedly asked the former NSA contractor Edward Snow- Wyden sent a letter on Monday urging his New York home, ac- Trump Organization to re- den, also incidentally scoops up com- committee leaders to allow a public vote, cording to biographer Tim move from display a fake munications of Americans, including if saying the bill “will have enormous im- O’Brien. magazine cover featuring they communicate with a foreign target pact on the security, liberty, and consti- O’Brien told Vanity Fair Trump’s face adorned with An Art Institute of Chicago handout photo of the Pierre-Auguste Renoir painting, Two Sisters living overseas. tutional rights of the American people” magazine earlier this month fl attering headlines. (On the Terrace), oil on canvas. Those communications can then be and should be debated in the open. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 11 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Jailed Hong Kong pro-democracy activists freed on bail

AFP the decision. “The government was imprisoned for six months pleasant times” behind bars. supporters of democracy”. The munity sentences and Chow a Law had already succeeded Hong Kong can lock up our bodies but they while Law, 24, was sentenced to “I hope the result of the case Umbrella trio were found guilty three-week suspended sentence in becoming a legislator but can’t lock up our minds,” he told eight months. showcases the protection of hu- last year on unlawful assembly at a magistrates’ court over the was among six rebel lawmak- reporters. They were granted bail yes- man rights in our law system,” charges for storming a fenced- Civic Square protest. ers disqualifi ed from parlia- ailed Hong Kong democ- “They cannot put aside our terday until November 7, the Law said of the activists’ appeal. off government forecourt But Hong Kong’s justice de- ment after inserting protests racy activists Joshua Wong determination to fi ght for de- fi rst appearance in appeal pro- “The world is watching.” known as “Civic Square” as part partment applied to increase into their oaths of offi ce. Wong Jand Nathan Law were re- mocracy.” ceedings against the jail terms. Hong Kong enjoys freedoms of a September 2014 protest those terms, with prosecutors and Law each off ered cash bail leased on bail yesterday pend- The pair were jailed in Au- A third activist, Alex Chow, unseen on the mainland under calling for fully free leadership arguing they should receive of HK$50,000 ($6,400). They ing an appeal against sentences gust after the Beijing-backed who was jailed for seven months a “one country, two systems” elections. harsher punishment. were required to surrender their handed down for their role in Hong Kong government pushed alongside Law and Wong, was deal made when Britain handed Their arrests sparked wider The judgement jailing them passports and to report to police the 2014 Umbrella Movement for tough sentences. Fears are not part of the hearing. the city back to China in 1997. rallies which exploded two days in August said the court must once a week. protests. growing that China is tighten- Emerging from the court- But Beijing stands accused of later when police fi red tear gas “send out a clear message to Wong has yet to be sentenced A defi ant Wong said the ac- ing its grip over the semi-au- house in a neat white shirt and breaching the agreement. at the crowds. This triggered society” that protesters must on a separate charge of con- tivists stood ready to face what tonomous city and that the rule with his hair growing back after Supporters outside punched demonstrations that blocked abide by the law. tempt for obstructing the clear- he called “suppression by an of law is being compromised. being shaved in prison, Wong the air at news of the pair’s re- some major roads for more than Wong’s imprisonment pre- ance of a major encampment authoritarian regime” as he Wong, 21, who became the said he planned to enjoy a meal lease. two months in an unprecedent- vented him from running for during the Umbrella Movement stood alongside Law outside the face of the mass pro-democracy with his family. Law told re- Lawmaker Eddie Chu said ed challenge to Beijing. Wong Hong Kong’s partially directly rallies. He has pleaded guilty to Court of Final Appeal following protests while still a teenager, porters there had been “un- it was “encouraging news for and Law initially received com- elected legislature. that charge. Xi joins great leaders in Communist constitution

AFP constitution – and only Mao was tion demands, analysts said. offi cials since 2012 and the Belt Xi is certain to secure a second Beijing alive when his was included. Or he could carry on as par- and Road initiative, the mas- fi ve-year term as general secre- Xi, 64, presided over the con- ty leader. Xi’s time as national sive global trade infrastructure tary and could also consolidate gress’s closing session where president must end in 2023 but project intended to increase Chi- his power by fi lling the standing Painted portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping and late communist i Jinping was elevated to some 2,300 delegates approved there is no offi cial restriction on na’s infl uence abroad. committee with allies, possibly leader Mao Zedong at a market in Beijing. the pantheon of China’s the constitutional amendment to how long a party chief can serve The congress declared the without even presenting an obvi- Xmost powerful leaders include “Xi Jinping Thought on — although Xi’s two immediate Communist Party China’s “ab- ous heir apparent. His blueprint foresees no buro Standing Committee, the yesterday as his name was en- Socialism with Chinese Charac- predecessors, Jiang Zemin and solute leader”, a clear sign that it A vast security apparatus was change in the single-party politi- body that controls power, will shrined in the Communist Party teristics for a New Era”. Hu Jintao, stepped down after intends to further tighten its grip thrown around the congress, cal system, and gives no sign that still be crucial to his eff orts, said constitution alongside Chairman The concept places a heavy two fi ve-year terms. on the country. with businesses ranging from crackdowns on human rights Willy Lam, politics professor at Mao. emphasis on the party’s role in Jiang and Hu had their con- “Those who approve, raise nightclubs to gyms closing to activists will ease. Some of his the Chinese University of Hong The inclusion of Xi’s epony- governing every aspect of the cepts included in the constitu- your hands,” Xi said during the avoid any incidents and factories goals, such as building a modern Kong. mous guiding philosophy at the country, from the economy to tion, but without their names vote as a fl urry of arms shot up shuttered in what turned out to military by 2035, go beyond the Xi and Premier Li Keqiang are end of a week-long congress what people are writing on social and only when they retired. in unison. When he asked if any- be a failed attempt to clear the end of his second term, a hint expected to remain on the com- could set him on course for an media. “China has a tradition of one was not in favour, shouts of city’s notorious smog. that he sees himself at the centre mittee while the fi ve other cur- indefi nite term as China’s para- “We must work tirelessly and combining emperor and teacher, “None!” echoed in the imposing When he opened the gathering of China’s political life for years rent members are supposed to mount leader. He will now have forge ahead on the journey of which means that the emperor Great Hall of the People. last week, Xi declared that China to come. step down under an informal re- an even stronger hand to lead the realising the rejuvenation of the is also the thought leader. Xi “Now our country is unifi ed, had entered a “new era” with the At the closing session, Xi said tirement age set at 68. nation into a “new era” in which Chinese nation,” Xi, who is due achieved it at the end of his fi rst cohesive, and moving up in the ambitious goal of becoming a the congress established “the There is no agreement among he envisions it becoming a global to be reappointed as party chief term. That’s rare in our history,” world,” northeast Jilin province “global leader” by mid-century. goal of securing a decisive vic- China-watchers about who will superpower with a world-class today, told the congress in con- Chinese political scholar Hu delegate Li Hualiang told AFP. Xi has sought to portray him- tory in building a moderately end up on the committee, or if military by mid-century. cluding remarks. Xingdou told AFP. The congress also elected a self as a responsible global lead- prosperous society in all respects anybody will emerge as a poten- Communist China’s founder The honour may allow Xi to Xi also managed to get at least new 204-member Central Com- er while US President Donald and then embarking on a journey tial successor. Mao Zedong, and the architect of stay on as China’s top leader even two of his cherished programmes mittee, which included just 10 Trump trumpets a nationalist to fully build a modern socialist If the right allies are named, its market reforms, Deng Xiaop- if he gives up the title of party written into the constitution: an women. It will elect the party’s “America First” policy and the China”. Lam said, it would show that “he ing, are the only other Chinese general secretary when his sec- anti-corruption campaign that new ruling council, the Politburo European Union grapples with Despite Xi’s rising power, has full control over the Politburo leaders to have their names in the ond term ends in 2022 as tradi- has brought down 1.5mn crooked Standing Committee, today. Britain’s exit. the composition of the Polit- Standing Committee”.

Strong 6.7 earthquake hits Indonesia, no tsunami warning

A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of eastern Indonesia yesterday, US seismologists said, but no tsunami warning was is- sued and there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The quake hit East Nusa Tenggara province about 318km northwest of the Myanmar, Bangladesh hold provincial capital Kupang at a depth of 549km, according to the US Geological Survey. “We are collecting reports about potential damages but the earthquake was very deep, and there was tsunami potential,” a spokesman for Indonesia’s geophysics and meteorological agency told AFP. Indonesia experiences frequent seismic and volcanic activity due to its position on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide. An earthquake struck the country’s western Aceh province in December 2016, killing more than 100 people, injuring many more and leaving tens talks on refugee repatriation of thousands homeless.

Reuters Cast in bronze Naypyitaw yanmar and Bangla- desh yesterday agreed Mto co-operate on the re- patriation of Rohingya refugees and took steps to boost border security as relations between the neighbours have been strained by the continuing fl ow of refugees into Bangladesh. Over 600,000 Rohingya Mus- lims have fl ed Myanmar since August 25, following a ferocious military crackdown by the My- anmar army that the United Na- A Rohingya refugee, who crossed the border from Myanmar this tions has called ethnic cleansing. week, takes shelter at Long Beach Primary School, in the Kutupalong At a meeting in Myanmar’s refugee camp, near Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. capital Naypyitaw, attended by Myanmar’s home aff airs minis- continued to arrived cross the Naf ter lieutenant general Kyaw Swe river separating Myanmar’s west- US mulls sanctions and his Bangladeshi counterpart ern Rakhine state and Bangladesh against Myanmar Asaduzzaman Khan, the coun- in recent days, even though My- military tries signed two agreements anmar says military operations covering security and border ceased on September 5. Washington announced it was co-operation. The two sides The United States said on pushing for targeted sanc- have also agreed to “to halt the Monday it was considering a tions against Burmese off icers outfl ow of Myanmar residents to range of further actions over involved in violence against Bangladesh,” and “to form a joint Myanmar’s treatment of the Ro- Rohingya Muslims, while with- working group,” Tin Myint, per- hingya Muslim minority. drawing invitations to senior manent secretary from Myan- While on Tuesday the offi cials members of the security forces mar’s home aff airs ministry told said the talks were friendly, ten- to visit the US and ending reporters after the meetings. sions are still high between the travel waivers. “After joint working group, the two countries. Bangladesh last The move came after Secretary verifi cation, (the) two countries month accused Myanmar of re- of State Rex Tillerson said the have agreed to arrange diff erent peatedly violating its air space US holds Myanmar’s military steps so that these people can re- and warned that any more “pro- leadership “accountable” for the turn to their homeland safely and vocative acts” could have “un- Rohingya refugee crisis, drawing honourably and in secure condi- warranted consequences”. a distinction with Aung San Suu tions,” said Mostafa Kamal Ud- On border and security, the Kyi’s civilian government. A bronze statue of late Vietnamese revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh is displayed for sale with other bronze decoration sculptures din, secretary from Bangladeshi two sides decided to establish More than 600,000 mem- at the Dai Phat shop in Lam town, outside Hanoi, Vietnam, yesterday. home aff airs ministry. border liaison offi ces, carry out bers of the minority Muslim The offi cials did not elaborate regular meetings between two group have fled across the on the specifi c steps the authori- security forces, jointly combat border into Bangladesh in an ties would take for the repatria- drug traffi cking across the border intensifying crisis that began tion, adding that the bulk of dis- and set up a mechanism to com- in late August. Militant attacks cussions was dedicated to border municate directly. on Myanmar security forces in and security cooperation agree- Bangladesh has for decades Rakhine sparked a major army Aussie dual-citizen politicians wait for verdict ments which have been long in faced infl uxes of Rohingya fl eeing crackdown on the group, who the making. Tin Myint said the persecution in Buddhist-majori- are labelled illegal Bengali im- two countries agreed “to restore ty Myanmar, where the Rohingya migrants by most Burmese. even Australian politi- dual citizens at the time of the The government has argued ment’s one-seat majority into normalcy in Rakhine to enable are seen as illegal migrants. It “We express our gravest cians caught up in a con- last election, including Deputy that Joyce should not be dis- jeopardy. Other politicians in- displaced Myanmar residents to was already home to hundreds concern with recent events in Stroversy over their citi- Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, qualifi ed because at the time of volved include deputy National return from Bangladesh at the of thousands of Rohingya before Rakhine state and the violent, zenship status will learn at the is in the hands of the High the election he was unaware that Party leader Fiona Nash, former earliest opportunity.” the latest crisis. Though Ro- traumatic abuses Rohingya end of the week whether or not Court, which will hand down its he was a citizen of Australia and Nationals minister Matt Cana- He also said Myanmar had sent hingya families have lived in My- and other communities have they are to be kicked out of of- decision in Canberra on Friday. New Zealand, where his father van, independent senator Nick a list of suspects who had fl ed to anmar for generations, they are endured,” State Department fi ce, the country’s constitution- Under section 44 of Australia’s was born. If he is disqualifi ed a Xenophon, One Nation Party Bangladesh and requested the denied citizenship and access to spokeswoman Heather Nauert al court confi rmed yesterday. constitution, people who are by-election will be held for his senator Malcolm Roberts and authorities there to investigate basic civil rights such as freedom said in announcing a raft of The fate of the seven fed- citizens of other countries can- seat, throwing the ruling Liber- former Greens senators Scott and return them to Myanmar. of movement, decent education measures. eral parliamentarians who were not hold political offi ce. al-National coalition govern- Ludlam and Larissa Waters. Thousands of refugees have and healthcare. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 BRITAIN/IRELAND

CRIME FAN CLUB JUSTICE POLITICS SALE Stars’ files hacked at top Demand for Hawking’s Rapist who broke leg in Tories rebuked over breach Rare cars up for auction cosmetic surgery clinic thesis shuts down website seven-storey fall jailed of marketing rules in polls after decades in garage

Police are investigating after hackers stole data A Cambrige website crashed because many A rapist who broke his leg jumping seven storeys The Conservative party has been rebuked by the Two rare classic Mercedes-Benz cars are up for from a London cosmetic surgery clinic. London people wanted to read an online doctoral thesis to escape police on a 999 call has been jailed for information commissioner over its use of a call auction next month after decades gathering Bridge Plastic Surgery said it was “horrified” that by astrophysicist Stephen Hawking, the university 12 years. Ahad Ali, 21, leapt from the window as centre to influence voters during June’s general dust in a garage. Of particular interest is a 1954 its patients had been targeted in the cyberattack, said. The site went down on the first day of off icers forced their way into the east London flat election campaign. Steve Eckersley, the head of Mercedes 300 B Adenauer Cabriolet, which reported to police on October 17. Detectives “Properties of Expanding Universes” being made where he was holding a woman at knifepoint, enforcement at the information commissioner’s was once one of the world’s most expensive from the Metropolitan Police’s Organised Crime available for free. The 134-page document was Woolwich crown court heard. Ali, of Whitechapel, off ice (ICO), issued the censure after an undercover automobiles according to sales agent H&H Classic Command are investigating. Scotland Yard retrieved 60,000 times in just a few hours. “I hope had booked the escort via an online agency. She investigation by Channel 4 News into the South Cars. The model is one of only seven produced said there have been no arrests. The clinic’s to inspire people around the world to look up at arrived at his flat at 9pm on February 13. When Neath call centre, which was used to carry out for right-hand driving in Britain. The Adenauer celebrity clients include glamour model turned stars and not down at their feet,” Hawking, 75, said she entered he pushed her into the bedroom and market research. In a blog, Eckersley said: “We’ve Cabriolet is likely to sell for £50,000-£70,000. The TV personality and businesswoman Katie Price. to mark the publication, adding that he wanted raped her. The victim, in her forties, called a taxi found that two small sections of the written scripts other vehicle – a 1956 300 C Adenauer Saloon – is LBPS said: “The group behind the attack are highly unhindered access to the work. He wrote the thesis driver from a mobile phone when Ali briefly left used by those making the calls crossed the line valued at £8,000-£12,000. The owner acquired sophisticated and well known to international law when he was 24. Since his book A Brief History the room. The cabbie called police. Ali fractured from legitimate market research to unlawful direct them in the 1970s with the hope of restoring them enforcement agencies having targeted large US of the Time was published in 1988, Hawking has his arm and leg in the fall, and was arrested after marketing. We’ve warned the Conservative party to working order but never managed to do so. As medical providers over the past year.” become famous across the world. 10 days in hospital. to get it right next time.” such, they spent more than 40 years in a garage.

Back home Workers on fi ve rail Govt disowns networks to strike Tory whip over Guardian News and Media London

orkers at fi ve railway operators are to strike Brexit letter Win November in bitter disputes over the role of guards and the driver-only operation of trains. Members of the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) on to universities Southern, South Western Rail- way and Greater Anglia will strike for 48 hours from November 8, and those on Merseyrail and Ar- Guardian News and Media the letter an “extraordinary ex- “Conservative Brexiteers know riva Rail North for 24 hours on London ample of outrageous and foolish they have lost the intellectual de- the same date. The union said it behaviour – off ensive and idiotic bate and now appear to be engag- had made “every single eff ort” to Leninism”. ing in a witch-hunt. May must resolve the disputes, and accused Conservative whip ac- “I couldn’t believe that it had condemn this letter and clarify the train operators of suspending cused of “McCarthyite” come from a Conservative MP,” he why this information was being normal industrial relations. Abehaviour after writing told BBC Radio 4’s World at One sought by a government whip. It The union has been embroiled to university vice-chancellors to programme, saying he believed is vital that the government makes in a dispute with Southern for demand a list of tutors lectur- most vice-chancellors would clear that universities are free to more than 18 months, taking more ing on Brexit was not acting on dismiss it. “I think he must be an teach whatever they see fi t.” than 30 days of strike action. The behalf of the government, No 10 agent of (Labour leader) Corbyn The Universities and Colleges dispute spread to Merseyrail, Ar- has said. intent on further increasing the Union said it would push for Jo riva Rail North and Greater Anglia, Downing Street issued a rebuke number of young people who want Johnson, the higher education which were all hit by walkouts to the MP Chris Heaton-Harris to vote Labour.” Andrea Leadsom, minister, to strongly condemn the earlier this month. South Western yesterday, telling reporters he had the leader of the Commons and a “McCarthyite” letter. Sally Hunt, Railway, which only recently took not been acting in his capacity as a fellow Leave supporter, defended the union’s general secretary, said: over the franchise from South government whip when he wrote Heaton-Harris’s intentions. “This attempt by Chris Heaton- West Trains, will be targeted for the letter to university leaders ask- She said it was a “very cour- Harris to compile a hit-list of pro- a strike for the fi rst time after the ing for details of professors lectur- teous and not at all threatening fessors has the acrid whiff of Mc- union accused the company of ing on Brexit matters. letter”, adding: “Universities are Carthyism about it and Jo Johnson refusing to give a “cast iron guar- “Chris Heaton-Harris wrote to bastions of free speech so to be must disown it in the strongest antee” that a second, member of universities in his capacity as an so horrifi ed at somebody asking a terms. staff , vital for safety, would be re- MP, not as a representative of the simple question with no caveat or “Our universities and colleges tained on trains. government,” the prime minister’s demands either implicit or explicit must lead the way in defending The RMT general secretary, spokesman said. “I think what the in it, it seems to me to be a bit odd academic freedom, where received Mick Cash, said: “every single ef- prime minister has always been that they should react in such a wisdom can be challenged and fort that RMT has made to reach very clear on is her respect for the negative way.” controversial ideas debated.” negotiated settlements in these freedom and independence of Angela Rayner, the shadow It is understood that few, if any, separate disputes with the dif- universities and the role they play education secretary, said Heaton- universities will respond positively ferent train operating compa- in creating open and stimulating Harris was acting like a “pound to the MP’s request for details nies over safe operation and safe debate.” shop McCarthy” and said he must of their teaching on Brexit, with staffi ng has been kicked back in Asked if he would take the op- explain his motivation. many publicly saying they have no our faces and we are left with no portunity to reassure universities, “It would be deeply ironic if, intention of complying. option but to confi rm a further he said: “The letter was sent in a even as the universities minister Caroline Lucas, co-leader of phase of industrial action in early personal capacity. Free speech is was unveiling his latest unwork- the Green party, has put down two November. “It is frankly ludicrous one of the foundations on which able gimmick in the name of free parliamentary questions asking that we have been able to negoti- our universities are built and of speech, a senior Tory colleague what the purpose of Heaton-Har- ate long-term arrangements in course it should be respected.” was busy compiling a register of ris’s letter was. Scotland and Wales that protect The Guardian revealed Heaton- heretics,” she said. “I’ve asked the prime minister the guards and passenger safety Harris, the Conservative MP for “The last thing universities whether he was acting on her be- but we are being denied the same Daventry and a staunch Euro- need is some kind of pound shop half when he wrote to universities opportunities with rail companies sceptic, wrote to vice-chancellors McCarthy telling them what they – and why it happened,” she said. in England. at the start of this month asking are allowed to teach. “Academic freedom is absolutely “This suspension of normal in- for the names of any professors “Academics and students are essential in a democracy, and the dustrial relations by the employ- involved in teaching European af- perfectly capable of critical think- government must now withdraw ers has to end if we are to make fairs “with particular reference to ing and discussion about policy this letter and guarantee that this progress towards a solution that Brexit”. issues like Brexit. If only we could kind of veiled threat to universities guarantees safe rail travel for all. The letter gave no explanation say the same about Tory minis- won’t be repeated in the future.” “RMT is in no doubt that it is for the request, but asked for a ters.” Prof David Green, vice-chan- the dead hand of the minority copy of each university’s syllabus Layla Moran, the Liberal Demo- cellor of Worcester University, Tory government that is interfer- and any online lectures on Brexit. crats’ education spokeswoman, told the Guardian he had felt a chill ing in these disputes to block ne- After Downing Street disowned called for Heaton-Harris to be down his spine when he read the gotiated settlements. the letter, Heaton-Harris tweeted: sacked from his role as a whip. The “sinister” request. “It is outrageous that Prime “To be absolutely clear, I believe in Oxford MP has written to Theresa “This letter just asking for in- Minister Theresa May and Trans- free speech in our universities and May asking her to contact univer- formation appears so innocent port Secretary Chris Grayling are in having an open and vigorous sities to make clear they are in no but is really so, so dangerous,” he happy to stand aside and cheer on debate on Brexit.” way obliged to provide the infor- said. “Here is the fi rst step to the overseas rail companies that rip The MP has not responded to mation requested. thought police, the political censor off the British passenger to sub- Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa arrives at Dublin Airport yesterday following his release from requests for an explanation for Moran said the MP must explain and newspeak, naturally justifi ed sidise their domestic transport detention in Egypt. Halawa spent four years in jail in Egypt over accusations that he took part why the letter was sent. himself. “This chilling letter could as ‘the will of the British people’, operations while throwing the in the August 2013 clashes with police. Lord Patten, the chancellor of have come straight out of a dysto- a phrase to be found on Heaton- guards off our trains.” the University of Oxford, called pian novel,” she said. Harris’s website.” Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 13 BRITAIN

MP O’Mara could face Labour inquiry over verbal abuse claim

Guardian News and Media shadow women and equalities The Sheffi eld Hallam MP, who friends. Evans told BBC2’s Daily aren’t broadcastable. There were Asked if there should be an Evans’s allegations emerged London minister, both said they expected unseated Nick Clegg at the general Politics that she had fi rst encoun- some transphobic slurs in there.” investigation, McDonnell said: after various websites uncovered that O’Mara would face investi- election in June, apologised for the tered O’Mara on a dating app, and A spokesman for O’Mara said: “That would be the normal abusive and homophobic online gation by Labour over his com- web comments, telling a meeting while an initial meeting “didn’t “He categorically denies the latest process.”Butler told Daily Poli- comments O’Mara made 15 years abour MP Jared O’Mara fac- ments. of the parliamentary Labour party really work out” there were no allegations.” tics: “It’s not acceptable and it’s ago. Evans said she had not been es a potential internal party O’Mara – who denies the new on Monday evening that they were hard feelings. McDonnell said O’Mara had al- completely off ensive language. surprised to learn about the earlier Linvestigation over allega- claims – resigned from the wom- made during “a particularly diffi - She said, however, that O’Mara ready issued “a profuse apology” I’m pleased that Jared has gone on comments. tions he verbally abused a woman en and equalities committee on cult time” in his life. had abused her in March before he for the earlier comments. He told a journey, I think he has probably “Fair enough for him to have in a nightclub, two Labour front- Monday after sexist and homo- But since then, new claims were became an MP after encountering the Press Association: “Any lan- got further to go on his journey.” said that about 15 years ago, benchers have said. phobic comments he posted on made by Sophie Evans, who alleg- him while out with friends. Asked guage like that, we know is unac- She added: “I’m sure it will be but he won’t even acknowledge John McDonnell, the shadow internet message boards around 15 es the abuse incident in a Sheffi eld what O’Mara said, she replied: ceptable and I’m hoping he will investigated by the party, it’s un- something that happened seven chancellor, and Dawn Butler, the years ago emerged. nightclub was witnessed by her “Obviously, some of the things apologise for that.” acceptable language.” months ago,” she said. Men in UK Barracks visit ‘enjoy more leisure time than women’

Guardian News and Media per week on mean average to this London activity, while women dedicated 14 hours and 23 minutes. The analysis, for 2015, fo- en take more leisure cused on people aged over time than women in eight, drawing on data from the Mthe UK, a study of the UK harmonised European time nation’s work-life balance has use survey. shown. The fi gures also show that, on Men spend six hours and nine average, 16 to 24-year-olds en- minutes a day on leisure pur- joy the same amount of leisure suits, compared with fi ve hours time as people aged 55-64 – six and 29 minutes for women, the hours per week. Offi ce for National Statistics For people aged 65 and over, (ONS) has found. the amount increases to seven The gender gap is greatest hours and 10 minutes a week. in north-west England, where The least leisure time was Queen Elizabeth II and her son, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, at the stables of Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment at the Hyde Park Barracks in west London yesterday. men spent an average 36.2 hours taken by 25 to 34-year-olds – a week engaged in leisure ac- four hours and 46 minutes per tivities, seven hours more than week. women. The smallest gap was in In terms of regional diff erenc- Northern Ireland where the time es, people in south-east Eng- spent was identical for men and land spent the most time on lei- women. sure activities – fi ve hours and When not in leisure, women two minutes per week. By con- were more likely than men to trast, people in Northern Ireland be performing unpaid work, the spent the least – four hours and study showed. Unpaid work for 22 minutes per week. Alarm as hopes for early the purposes of the study was Based on a median household anything households perform income, individuals from lower- for themselves such as child- income households take less care, adult care, volunteering, leisure time on weekends, the cooking, cleaning, DIY, garden- study revealed. ing, transporting themselves or The largest diff erence be- others, or ironing and washing tween those from higher- and Brexit transition deal fade clothes. lower-income households was For men, the days with the on Saturdays where 33.1% of Reuters tain full access to the EU’s sin- banks have already triggered but declined to say when such a in the FTSE 100 index of blue- highest average time spent those from lower income house- London gle market for two years after contingency plans. deal might be reached. chips said its management had performing unpaid work were holds took less than 40% of the Brexit and told executives from “The diffi culty is timing,” “It is incredibly dishearten- spent much of Tuesday morn- Mondays and Saturdays, where median leisure time, as opposed leading British companies two Barclays chairman John McFar- ing,” said Catherine McGuin- ing trying to establish if May men carried out an average 131 to 24.3% of those from higher xecutives at some of Brit- weeks ago they should consider lane said. “We can avoid mate- ness, the political leader of the had misspoken in parliament, minutes of unpaid work per income households. The median ain’s largest companies a transition period as assured. rial dislocation if we know by the City of London’s municipal or whether her statements had day. The day women spent the leisure time taken on Saturdays Ehave reacted with alarm to But the prime minister sur- end of the fi rst quarter next year, body. “Clarifi cation around a been incorrectly reported. highest amount of time on un- was 7 hours and 12 minutes. Prime Minister Theresa May’s prised many on Monday when although real money is likely to transition so late in the day will “I can understand it politically paid work was Monday with 207 This could be explained be- statement that the details of any she told parliament that any be spent if uncertainty persists.” be like closing the stable doors and from a negotiation point of minutes per day, the ONS said. cause those from lower-income transitional arrangements with transition deal would be part McFarlane said he believed once the horse has bolted.” view, but from a business point Women spent more time so- households are more likely to be the European Union may not be of a wider trade agreement — Brussels was open to a transition Concern about Brexit arrange- of view, this is going to cause cialising than men – four hours working at weekends, the ONS known until a broader trade deal meaning companies may not deal that gave businesses and ments had been growing even be- problems,” the executive, who and 19 minutes, compared with found. has been agreed. have specifi c details about in- the British government time to fore May’s comments on Monday declined to be named, said. three hours and two minutes per People who worked in skilled- Already rattled by the slow terim trade arrangements for adjust to the post-Brexit world, spooked executives further. Executives at some other week respectively. trade professions spent the least progress of Brexit talks, busi- some time. but an agreement needed to be The country’s fi ve leading FTSE 100 companies were also The majority of leisure time time on leisure - four hours and nesses operating in the world’s Britain is due to leave the EU reached as soon as possible. business organisations warned confused by May’s statement for both sexes was spent con- 34 minutes per day – compared fi fth largest economy have been in March 2019 and many com- A spokesman for May tried to on Monday that companies on Monday, saying it was the suming mass media, the ONS with people in sales and cus- pressing for months for details panies say they need to know provide more clarity yesterday would start moving jobs and in- latest example of a lack of co- said, such as watching TV, read- tomer services professions who about what any transitional EU the terms of any transition deal saying Britain hoped to agree a vestment out of Britain if they do herence from the government ing, or listening to music. Men spent the most at fi ve hours and trade deal will actually look like. at least a year beforehand to broad framework for its transi- not get a transition deal soon. about its Brexit plans, and that gave 16 hours and 24 minutes 21 minutes per day. May had promised to re- reap any benefi ts while some tional trade agreement quickly, An executive at a company they needed hard details. Minister warns over Miller is UK’s most soil fertility eradication infl uential black person Guardian News and Media when she challenged the govern- London ment over its authority to trigger Guardian News and Media decline in biodiversity, Gove said “It feels as if soil is now a hot Article 50 without parliamentary London he hoped the SSA, a new body topic,” said Helen Browning, approval. The Supreme Court formed with the mission of bring- head of the Soil Association. ina Miller, the campaign- ruled in her favour in Janu- ing UK soils back to health within Meanwhile a new German er who won a Brexit le- ary and, as a consequence, she he UK is 30 to 40 years one generation, would hold the study has revealed that numbers Ggal challenge against the became a hate fi gure for many away from “the funda- government to account and bring of fl ying insects have fallen by up government, has been named as Brexit supporters. Tmental eradication of soil him ideas and inspiration. “We to three quarters. Intensive farm- the country’s most infl uential In the same month as the Su- fertility” in parts of the coun- are listening to you now and it’s ing techniques that encourage the black person. preme Court judgment, the Met- try, the Environment Secre- critical that we do so.” heavy use of fertilisers, herbicides The acknowledgement comes ropolitan police revealed they tary Michael Gove has warned. Gove’s speech came as UK and pesticides are believed to be in the latest annual list of the 100 had issued eight “cease and de- “We have encouraged a type of farmers anxiously wait to see if major factors in these problems. most infl uential people of Afri- sist” notices to people who had farming which has damaged the Brexit will take them out of the The UK has a poor record in can or African-Caribbean herit- sent Miller threatening mes- earth,” Gove told the parliamen- EU’s Common Agricultural Pol- this area. The government has age in Britain, published by the sages. tary launch of the Sustainable icy, and if so, what will take its not been conducting regular soil Powerlist Foundation yesterday. In July, Rhodri Philipps, the Soils Alliance (SSA). “Countries place. Defra is currently working monitoring since the last Coun- It is set against an extraordi- fourth Viscount St Davids, was can withstand coups d’état, wars on a new agricultural bill and is tryside Survey in 2007, and in nary range of vitriol directed at jailed for 12 weeks for off ering and confl ict, even leaving the EU, simultaneously drawing up a 25- 2012 ministers helped block a the lawyer over her successful money to anyone who would run but no country can withstand the year environmental plan. Gove critical EU soil health directive. challenge to the UK government over and kill Miller. loss of its soil and fertility. promised both would refl ect the Even a year ago, experts such as over Article 50. The entrepreneur, who found- “If you have heavy machines concerns of the SSA. Peter Stevenson at Compassion “It’s amazing to get an acco- ed and leads the online wealth churning the soil and impacting There has been a spike in in World Farming felt there was lade when what I’ve done has so- manager SCM Direct and the it, if you drench it in chemicals awareness of the impact that in- no real appetite for reform of in- licited a huge amount of abuse,” True and Fair foundation char- that improve yields but in the long tensive farming techniques are tensive farming. said Miller, who has previously ity, has had 24-hour security term undercut the future fertil- having on the world’s soils and But environmentalists are now said she would “seriously con- installed in her home and hired ity of that soil, you can increase its biodiversity. In 2014 Sheffi eld increasingly hopeful that, unlike sider” leaving the UK because of security guards. yields year on year but ultimately University researchers said that his predecessors at Defra, Gove threats of an acid attack that left The recognition for Miller you really are cutting the ground UK farm soils only had 100 har- will take this issue seriously. In her afraid to leave her home. comes in a year that has seen a away from beneath your own feet. vests left in them, and a year later July he said that the UK would “To have somebody acknowl- signifi cant growth in the number Farmers know that.” a UN spokesperson warned that not move towards “US-style edge me is extraordinarily kind of females on the Powerlist, with Arguing that farmers needed at current rates of degradation, farming” and would prioritise and counters a lot of what I still black women accounting for al- to be incentivised to tackle both the world’s topsoil could be gone “high environmental and animal get on a daily basis.” most half of the top 100 and six the loss of soil fertility and the within 60 years. welfare standards”. Gina Miller: anti-Brexit campaigner Miller became a public fi gure of the top 10. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 EUROPE

Cyber attacks hit Turkish ministry drops Ukraine, Russia

Reuters/AFP US visit amid visa row Kiev/Moscow Reuters and cancelled the trip. Washington this month ment Administration (DEA) what it sees as US reluctance to Rights groups and Turkey’s Ankara “Due to the recent visa cri- stopped issuing visas at its mis- worker was detained in Istanbul. hand over the cleric Gulen, who Western allies have expressed yber attacks using mal- sis between the two countries, sions in Turkey, citing safety Both are accused of links to has lived in Pennsylvania since concern that Turkey using the ware called “BadRabbit” the visit was cancelled by our concerns for its staff following last year’ failed coup. 1999. coup as a pretext to quash dis- Chit Ukraine and Russia urkey’s justice ministry ministry,” it said in a statement, the arrest of two US consular The US embassy has said the US offi cials have said its courts sent. yesterday, causing fl ight delays said yesterday that it had adding that there were no visa staff , both Turkish nationals. accusations are baseless. require suffi cient evidence to or- Ankara says that the measures at Ukraine’s Odessa airport and Tcancelled a planned study applications to be rejected. The crisis has weighed on the Turkish police want to ques- der his extradition. are necessary, given the extent aff ecting several media outlets visit to the United States due to The delegation had planned a lira currency and alarmed some tion a third worker based in Is- Gulen denies any involvement of the security threat that the in Russia, including the Interfax the widening diplomatic row study visit to the United States, investors. tanbul. in the failed coup. country faces. news agency. between the countries over the at the invitation of US authori- Yesterday a group of leading His wife and daughter were More than 150,000 people Turkey has also been enraged The attack appears to be one of issuing of visas. ties, between October 29 and Turkish and US businesses urged detained over alleged links to in the police, civil service and by Washington’s support for the biggest since the “NotPetya” Local media earlier reported November 4, the ministry said. both governments to resolve the the network of US-based cleric private sector have been sacked the Syrian Kurdish YPG militia cyber attack in June that fi rst hit that United States authorities The pro-government Daily dispute. Fethullah Gulen, blamed by An- or suspended from their jobs in in the fi ght against the Islamic Ukraine and spread around the had rejected visa requests from Sabah newspaper said that the In May, a translator at the US kara for orchestrating the abor- the crackdown that followed the State group. world. members of the delegation, but delegation had planned to study consulate in the southern prov- tive putsch. failed putsch. Turkey regards the YPG as Interfax, one of the largest the Turkish justice ministry said the US penal system and visit ince of Adana was arrested and, They were later released. Some 50,000 have been de- an extension of the outlawed news agencies in Russia, said that it had taken the initiative American prisons. more recently, a Drug Enforce- Turkey has been angered by tained. Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). that some of its services were hit by an “unprecedented virus at- tack”. The agency will be back on- line by the end of the day, Inter- fax deputy chief executive Yuri Asylum-seeker can Pogorely told Reuters. A spokeswoman for Odessa airport said a few fl ights were be deported despite delayed because workers had to process passenger data manu- ally. suicide risk: ECJ told The metro system in Kiev also reported a hack on its payment system but said trains were run- Reuters from, owing to shortcomings ning normally. Luxembourg in the health system, and is “According to our data, most likely to commit suicide if he is of the victims targeted by these returned to his country of ori- attacks are located in Russia. We uropean governments gin,” Bot said. have also seen similar but fewer can refuse asylum to Britain’s Supreme Court had attacks in Ukraine, Turkey and Etraumatised torture vic- sought the ECJ’s guidance. Germany,” said Russian cyber tims and deport them – even Bot said that the British security fi rm Kaspersky Lab. if a lack of healthcare in their judges could still choose to Ukraine’s cyber police chief home country means they may rule that the man was entitled told Reuters the country was kill themselves on return, a EU to protection as a “very excep- “barely aff ected”. court adviser said yesterday. tional case”, but said MP did Security researchers said that An advocate general of the not appear to fi t that category. BadRabbit appears to be a type of European Court of Justice (ECJ) Bot stressed that a broader malware known as ransomware, gave the opinion in the case of reading of the relevant law, which is damaging because it a former Tamil rebel who was giving asylum to all those who encrypts data on computers, refused asylum in Britain and had suff ered persecution in the making them inoperable and appealed on the grounds that past, would “considerably in- sometimes halting activity at he would not get treatment in crease the obligations” of EU organisations that use them. his native Sri Lanka for mental member states and would go “This ransomware infects stress caused by his previous beyond the intentions of law- devices through a number of torture by government forces. makers. hacked Russian media websites,” Yves Bot advised ECJ judges The EU has faced deep polit- Kaspersky said about yesterday’s who will rule on the case later ical crisis in the past few years A man looks at Day and Night in Toledo by Chinese artist Cai Guoqiang during the presentation of his exhibition The Spirit of Painting at El attack. that the man, identifi ed only as over large numbers of people Prado museum in Madrid. NotPetya in June took down “MP”, no longer risked torture seeking asylum; more than a many Ukrainian government in Sri Lanka. million arrived in 2015. agencies and businesses, before The LTTE rebels were de- That has fuelled national- spreading rapidly through cor- feated in 2009. ist opposition to the EU as an porate networks of multination- ECJ judges typically fol- institution and raised tensions Prado museum hosts Cai Guoqiang’s als with operations or suppliers low the advice of the advocate among the member states, in eastern Europe. general, although they are not which have tightened controls In May, the “WannaCry” ran- bound to do so. on immigration. somware attack forced hospitals, “MP may not claim subsidi- Immigration, and the power gunpowder and explosive artwork factories and businesses around ary protection ... even if it is of the ECJ to overrule Brit- the world to shut down because unlikely that he could receive ish law, were both among the they could not access critical the necessary treatment to reasons cited by campaigners AFP In his exhibition, some of ever scene or fi gure he wants to (59’) work of art called The Spirit computer systems. manage the post-traumatic when Britain voted to leave the Madrid which was produced on-site us- create or re-create, sometimes of Painting on Monday evening, “Based on our investigation, stress syndrome he suff ers bloc. ing his trademark gunpowder, mixed with colour. which explained the lingering this has been a targeted attack Cai sought inspiration from fa- Then he sets fi re to the pow- smell of gunpowder. against corporate networks, us- he smell of gunpowder mous artists such as El Greco, der. A burst of colours and dark- ing methods similar to those still lingered in Madrid’s Spain’s Francisco Goya and Di- Sometimes, Cai says, he cov- ness, the painting re-creates used during the ExPetr attack,” TPrado museum yester- ego Velazquez, as well as other ers the canvas and gunpowder classic scenes or fi gures from said Kaspersky Lab, using an- day, just hours after China’s Cai painters in the collection like with cardboard and bricks to past artists – but with a modern other name for the NotPetya France says police Guoqiang, famed for his explo- Peter Paul Rubens. make the explosion more pow- twist. virus. “However we cannot con- sive art, put the fi nishing touch The result? A literal explo- erful. Goya’s The Naked Maja, an fi rm it is related to ExPetr. We to an exhibition inspired by sion of colour and darkness that For the eight works created image of a reclining Venus, now continue our investigation.” abuse against Calais Spain’s greats. reveals silhouettes, faces and on-site at the Prado, he used appears at the top of the canvas Ukraine’s central bank said Better used to the work of landscapes, at times obvious gunpowder from a company in pulled by a plane fl ying through Ukrainian banking services, long-dead painters, this is the and imposing, other times small the eastern region of Valencia a brief burst of light, as if on an which have been hit by previous migrants ‘plausible’ fi rst time that the museum has and discreet. known for its annual, fi recrack- advertising banner. attacks, were unaff ected. welcomed an artist-in-resi- It is a “dialogue between to- er-mad Fallas festival – and that Rubens’ Diana and her Cyber security experts said dence, whose internationally- day’s art and the art of the past”, gave him a few scares. Nymphs surprised by Satyrs, the computer virus also ap- DPA Individual cases of injuries acclaimed contemporary work the 59-year-old told journalists. “Valencia gunpowder is really also appears in Cai’s 10-canvas peared to have spread to Turkey Paris attributed to police actions stands in stark contrast to the Cai makes his work by sprin- powerful, really strong,” he said, painting. and Germany as the day pro- might also have been the result centuries-old masterpieces kling gunpowder over his can- smiling. The exhibition is on until gressed – but that its size ap- of fi ghts between migrants, or normally on show. vases and over stencils of what- Cai only fi nished his last, 18m March 4 next year. peared to be relatively small. year after France de- eff orts to climb over obstacles molished the notorious or enter moving vehicles, ac- A“Jungle” migrant camp cording to a summary of the Maltese journalist’s family in court in the English Channel port report by the interior ministry. city of Calais, an offi cial report But the inspectorates said The husband and three sons of the assassinated Maltese journalist said yesterday that some alle- that the large body of evidence French judiciary creaking under Daphne Caruana Galizia appeared in court on Monday to represent gations of ongoing police abuse nevertheless led them to con- her in a libel case filed against her by Malta’s economy minister. against migrants in the area clude that allegations of ex- Caruana Galizia, a 53-year-old newspaper columnist and vocal were “plausible”. cessive use of force well as the sheer weight of terrorism cases government critic, was killed by a car bomb just metres from her Some 1,000 migrants are destruction of migrants’ be- home in the village of Bidnija on October 16. thought to sleep rough in the longings were “plausible”. She had alleged that Economy Minister Chris Cardona had visited a Calais area, hoping to fi nd a Migrants who recently spoke By Emmanuel Jarry, Reuters More than 240 people have rorist investigators at the Paris brothel in Germany while on government business. way across the Channel to to DPA in the area alleged that Paris been killed in the past three prosecutor’s offi ce has doubled “I want to make it clear that we want the case to continue,” Matthew Britain to join family or friends, police woke them up constant- years in France, including 130 by since 2012, but still stands at Caruana Galizia told the court. study or request asylum. ly during the night, confi scat- a group of IS-inspired gunmen only 14. “Chris Cardona has an interest in stopping the case to go forward,” A joint report by adminis- ing their bedding and using rance’s eff orts to combat and suicide bombers in Paris in Alongside them, the number the journalist’s son said. trative and police inspectorate tear gas or pepper spray. terrorism and prevent fur- November 2015. of so-called investigating mag- The Maltese government has off ered a €1mn ($1.2mn) reward to bodies said allegations by Hu- The inspectorates noted that Fther attacks on its soil are Statistics collected by the jus- istrates and judges dedicated to help catch the killers of the 53-year-old. man Rights Watch (HRW) in security forces in the area were generating so much work for in- tice services underscore the scale counter-terrorism has risen to July that police regularly used working in “particularly dif- vestigators and law courts that of the judicial challenge. 11 from 7-8, with another begin- pepper spray against sleep- fi cult conditions”, with fi ghts further staffi ng will be needed to In all of 2012, the year religious ning next year. ing migrants were unlikely to breaking out and police fre- keep up, intelligence and justice militant Mohammad Merah “We are not at breaking point, Kremlin blames journalist attack on be accurate as French police quently targeted with projec- offi cials say. killed three Jewish schoolchil- but the question now is how long ‘madman’, dismisses criticism are not equipped with pepper tiles as they patrolled access The warning comes at a time dren and three soldiers near Tou- it can last like that,” said Pascal spray. zones to border controls. when President Emmanuel Ma- louse – an attack now regarded Gastineau, head of the French The Kremlin has rejected criticism over the attack on a journalist, cron is trying to curb public as a turning point, there were 10 Association of Investigating Tatyana Felgenhauer, and blamed the assault on a “madman”. spending while ensuring security cases of suspected terrorist ac- Magistrates. “The actions of a madman are the actions of a madman,” President Ethnic Serb judges sworn in in Kosovo is not compromised, a balancing tivity. The workload is piling up in the Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. act that has already prompted an In 2016, 240 new terrorism- courts as France cracks down on “Trying to link them to anything is absolutely illogical and wrong,” Ethnic Serb judges in Kosovo’s north were sworn in to the country’s army commander to resign over related cases were opened, while those who leave for Iraq and Syria he said, expressing sympathy to the journalist and her employer, judicial system yesterday for the first time, as part of an EU- budget cuts. in the fi rst three months of 2017 a to join IS, a number estimated at the Echo of Moscow radio station. brokered deal between Pristina and Belgrade. The workload of the anti-ter- further 130 were added. between 1,800 and 2,000. Felgenhauer, a 32-year-old presenter, was attacked with a knife on Forty judges and 13 prosecutors – most of them ethnic Serbs and rorism justice system has risen The total workload as of Octo- In the past, terrorism-related Monday at the off ices of the radio station the Echo of Moscow by a the rest from other minority groups – took oath in Kosovo’s capital 10-fold in the past fi ve years, ber 9 was 621 cases, of which 452 convictions meant around 10 man who claimed he had a “telepathic connection” with her. in a ceremony led by President Hashim Thaci. ministry fi gures show, with a were either early-stage or full in- years in prison. She underwent surgery and was on a ventilator on Monday. Since Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, judicial sharp increase since 2014, when quiries into suspected religious Now many of those who fi - She showed signs of improvement and was awake yesterday, the off icials in its Serb-dominated north has refused to integrate with followers of the Islamic State (IS) militant activity, according to nance, recruit, join or return Echo of Moscow reported, citing doctors. the country’s institutions, instead running a parallel Belgrade- group specifi cally called for at- justice offi cials. from the wars in Syria and Iraq Many commentators accused state propaganda of fomenting what backed justice system. tacks targeting the French. The number of counter-ter- face 20 years in jail. they say is an atmosphere of hatred towards dissenters. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 15 EUROPE

Austria’s Kurz picks far-right AfD makes parliament for talks on coalition debut, vows a ‘new era’ Reuters AFP president who led the German etal matters. Religious freedom Vienna Berlin Reichstag to a dictatorship, that therefore does not apply here.” I fi nd was a disturbing moment”. Each party reserves the right The fl are-up appeared to be a to nominate a vice-chair of the ustrian conservative he far-right AfD party harbinger of future Bundestag lower house, but he or she has to leader Sebastian Kurz vowed a “new era” as it sittings. be elected by parliament. Awill hold coalition talks Tmade its debut yesterday The AfD’s leading fi gures have All three attempts by the AfD with the far-right Freedom Party at the fi rst sitting of Germa- repeatedly smashed taboos by to get Glaser elected ended in (FPOe), both sides said yester- ny’s newly-elected parliament, staking claims to German iden- failure. day, bringing the anti-immigra- where it immediately sparked an tity and challenging Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel’s tion party a step closer to power, outcry by comparing itself to an culture of atonement over World former coalition partner, the which it last held more than a MP once targeted by notorious War II and the Holocaust. venerable Social Democats, also decade ago. Nazi Hermann Goering. “Take note: the old Bundestag took on a combative tone from Having won last week’s par- Alternative for Germany has been voted out. The people the opposition benches. liamentary election with 31.5% (AfD) fi led a motion to challenge have decided, a new era begins In the party’s fi rst speech at of the vote, Kurz’s party is far a change in parliamentary rules now,” said the AfD’s Baumann. the house, senior SPD lawmaker short of a majority, needing a that thwarted one of its lawmak- “From this hour on, the issues Carsten Schneider ripped into partner to gain control of parlia- ers from making the opening will be renegotiated – not your Merkel, saying that she is “the ment and form a stable govern- speech in the lower house. manoeuvres and tricks on par- reason that we have a right-wing ment. Defeated by the rest of the liamentary business but the populist party here”. Only two parties have enough lawmakers, the AfD’s parlia- euro, massive debt, enormous The frontal attack was met seats to do that with – the Social mentary group chief Bernd Bau- immigration numbers, open with shock by Merkel’s CDU Democrats (SPOe) and the FPOe. mann drew an erroneous com- borders and brutal criminality in party, with general secretary Kurz, 31, took a hard line on parison to a move he claimed our streets.” Peter Tauber condemning it on immigration in the campaign Goering made in 1933 to block The AfD’s arrival in the Bun- Twitter, saying that “First she- that left little space between him communist MP Clara Zetkin destag is nothing short of a po- nanigans not coming from the and the FPOe, and both parties from opening the sitting. litical earthquake in post-war AfD, but from the elderly aunt capitalised on a widespread feel- The quip drew gasps from the Germany. SPD. How low has she sunk!” ing that the country had been fl oor and was slammed as “taste- Railing against the more than Merkel is now scrambling to overrun during Europe’s migra- less” by Marco Buschmann of 1mn asylum-seekers who have German Chancellor Angela Merkel casts her vote to elect one of the six deputy presidents of the form a coalition with parties tion crisis in 2015 and 2016. the liberal FDP party. come to Germany since 2015, the German lower house of parliament in Berlin. Seen seated on the left is AfD parliamentary group leader that have opposing views on a He called for an end to the German news agency DPA Islamophobic party had capital- Alexander Gauland. string of issues from migration current coalition with the SPOe swiftly corrected Baumann’s ised on anger among some Ger- to environmental protection. when he took over as leader of account, noting that Goering’s mans over the new arrivals. Bundestag who appear to want Schaeuble, known for his has claimed that the fundamen- Coalition talks with the left- the People’s Party (OeVP) in action had actually blocked a Ahead of yesterday’s session, to hide the Nazi past and to tar- caustic wit, was reportedly tal right to freedom of religion leaning Greens and the FDP be- May, arguing in favour of a break member of his own party rather Josef Schuster, the president of get Muslims and asylum-seek- asked by Merkel to take on the should not apply to Islam. gan last week. with Austria’s tradition of often than Zetkin from opening par- the Central Council of Jews in ers,” he told the Juedische Allge- role to stop the AfD running riot Defending Glaser’s view, AfD The potential alliance, which deadlocked centrist coalitions. liament that year. Germany, said the AfD’s pres- meine, a Jewish publication. at the Bundestag. MP Beatrix von Storch, grand- would be a fi rst for Germany That left the FPOe, a party Social Democratic Party (SPD) ence in parliament gave him a Yesterday’s meeting also saw When the MPs moved on yes- daughter of Adolf Hitler’s fi - at the national level, has been founded by former Nazis in the chief Martin Schulz said “this “queasy feeling”. veteran former fi nance minister terday to electing vice-chairs at nance minister, wrote on Twit- dubbed “Jamaica” because the 1950s, a more willing partner. unspeakable reference to Her- “It’s a depressing and unset- Wolfgang Schaeuble, 75, elected the Bundestag, the AfD courted ter: “Islam does not only seek parties’ black, yellow and green “I have therefore decided mann Goering, this calculated tling feeling to know that there as speaker of the house, as was controversy again with their to regulate issues surrounding colours match those of the Car- to invite (FPOe leader) Heinz- reference to the Reichstag’s are now people sitting in the widely expected. nominee Albrecht Glaser, who beliefs, but also legal and soci- ibbean country’s fl ag. Christian Strache and the FPOe today to take part in coalition talks,” Kurz told a news confer- ence. Strache soon accepted, say- ing that teams from both parties Spain pressures Catalan rebels amid civil resistance threats would meet today but adding that the FPOe would not strike a deal at any cost. AFP October 1 independence refer- de pau” (Stand up for Peace in Some European leaders have Barcelona endum. Catalan) – warning of “a tough expressed concern about the About 90% of participants campaign” ahead. possible return to power of the voted “Yes”, according to Cata- The government stuck to its FPOe, which fi rst became a ma- pain ramped up pressure lonia’s Generalitat executive, guns. jor force in the 1990s under the on Catalonia’s secessionist though only about 43% of voters Under the never-before-used late Joerg Haider, who praised Sleaders yesterday as rum- turned out. Article 155, Madrid has threat- Hitler’s employment policies. blings grew louder of civil re- Many anti-secessionists ened to depose Catalonia’s gov- The party has steadily in- sistance to a threatened regional stayed away. ernment, wrest control from its creased its mainstream appeal in power grab by Madrid. The region of 7.5mn people is police force, replace the heads of recent years. As the central government fi ercely protective of its culture, its public news outlets, and take It says it has turned its back on moved to depose Catalonia’s language and autonomy, though over the entirety of its fi nances. its Nazi past, though it still fre- leadership unless it abandons all polls indicate its inhabitants After Friday’s senate approval, quently has to expel members for secession threats, new ultima- are divided on whether to break the measures would come into anti-Semitic statements. tums were given. away from Spain. eff ect once published in the gov- It has also dropped calls for Only three days remain to As a nervous nation waited ernment gazette on Saturday, Austria to leave the European fi nd a solution, before Madrid to see who will blink fi rst in the eff ectively ousting Puigdemont Union as most Austrians back invokes an article of the consti- stand-off , the far-left, pro-in- and his team. membership. tution designed to rein in rebel dependence CUP party, which Catalonia’s separatist parties Kurz has sought to allay such regions. had threatened “massive civil have called for a special session concerns and repeated yesterday Spain’s justice minister insist- disobedience”, scheduled meet- of the regional parliament two that any government must have ed that simply calling elections ings to plot a way forward. days earlier, tomorrow, to decide a “clear pro-European orienta- for a new Catalan parliament On Monday, the CUP accused on a response. tion”. would not be enough to prevent Madrid of the “biggest assault” Two options – fresh Catalan the takeover of the region’s po- on the Catalan people since elections or a unilateral declara- litical power and fi nances. Francisco Franco’s 1939-1975 tion of independence – were still “Mr Puigdemont’s violation dictatorship, which suppressed fi rmly “on the table”, the king- of his obligations cannot be re- Women hold Spanish and Catalan flags during a demonstration yesterday against Catalonia’s the region’s staunchly-defended maker CUP party said yesterday. solved merely by calling elec- independence in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. autonomy, language and culture. The impacts of the stand-off tions,” Rafael Catala told public Firefi ghters, teachers and stu- are already been felt. radio RNE, referring to Catalan and member of Prime Minister Senate sitting Friday set to give Turull also announced that dents have also warned of strikes Spain’s companies’ registry leader Carles Puidgemont. Mariano Rajoy’s Popular Party fi nal approval for the takeover. Catalonia intends to go to court and protests, while social media said nearly 1,400 enterprises He would need to off er (PP), said that Puigdemont has “He (Puigdemont) is willing to challenge any moves to seize brimmed with “tips” for Cata- have moved their legal head- “something extra” – including been invited to state his case in to go, to challenge this action of regional power, but was waiting lans planning civil resistance. quarters out of Catalonia since an unequivocal renouncement Madrid this week. the Spanish state,” Catalan gov- to see exactly which steps Ma- “Millions of people are ready the troubles began. of his threat to unilaterally de- This could be tomorrow, be- ernment spokesman Jordi Tu- drid intends to take. to go to the Catalan parlia- CaixaBank, Spain’s third larg- Kurz: repeated yesterday that clare Catalonia an independent fore a senate committee created rull told journalists. “However, I The worst political crisis in ment to prevent the arrest of its est lender, said yesterday that its any government must have a state. to draw up a roadmap for seizing cannot give any assurances that Spain in decades was sparked by president (Puigdemont),” Ruben relocation to Valencia was per- ‘clear pro-European orientation’. Pedro Sanz, a senior senator power in the region, or at a full it will be practically possible.” a banned, and deeply divisive, Wagensberg, founder of “En peu manent.

Kremlin candidate Sobchak aims to unite unhappy voters Italy ready to discuss

AFP Alexei Navalny to run. tions ... it’s an expensive show of autonomy: president Moscow Putin’s 18 years in power re- rather low quality,” Sobchak said. sulted in a lack of freedom in- “But we must still try to fi ght.” cluding free courts and free elec- Political analysts have said AFP a visit to Veneto. “This will be a ussia’s “It Girl” Ksenia tions, she said, adding that polls Sobchak’s bid was designed by Rome complex discussion, but we are Sobchak, who plans to run should be open to all, including Putin’s team to rekindle public ready to carry it out within the Rfor the presidency, said Navalny. interest in a dull election expect- limits of the law and the con- yesterday that she wanted to “I will try my best to get him ed to extend the president’s term talian Prime Minister Pao- stitution.” unite unhappy voters but would registered,” Sobchak said. “If he to 2024. lo Gentiloni said yester- Both Veneto and Lombardy not attack leader Vladimir Putin. is registered I will withdraw my Sobchak said a “huge number Iday that Rome is prepared are run by the Northern League Sobchak vehemently denied candidacy.” of businessmen” had expressed to negotiate with two of its party, which was once openly that her plan to run in the March However, she said she would a desire to help her campaign, wealthiest regions “within the secessionist but has shifted its elections, which she announced “not personally off end Putin” which is headed by Igor Malash- limits of the law”, after voters focus to run on an anti-euro last week, was a Kremlin plot to Sobchak: promised to drop out of the race if opposition leader Alexei despite disagreeing with his poli- enko, a former head of Boris supported autonomy. ticket in the hope of expanding boost interest in the polls. Navalny was allowed to run. cies, because he had helped her Yeltsin’s 1996 presidential cam- More than 95% of those who its infl uence into the south. Holding her fi rst news confer- late father. paign. took part in referendums on The consultative votes are ence in a trendy theatre in central Sobchak, is seeking to promote formally put on the ballot. Navalny has declared his in- His decision to join Sobchak’s Sunday in the northern regions only the beginning of a process Moscow, Sobchak stressed that herself as the choice for Russians So far just over 9,200 have tention to run for president and staff has already generated high of Veneto and Lombardy, home which could eventually lead to she was not a professional poli- who are “against all” candidates. signed, according to her website. campaigned across Russia, mus- drama as his partner, socialite to Venice and Milan respec- powers being devolved from tician and said her programme Before 2006, Russian elections A former host of reality show tering several mass rallies against Bozhena Rynska, supports Nav- tively, supported more powers Rome. would be developed with the help allowed voters to reject the list of Dom-2, in which young people the Kremlin despite attacks on alny and wrote on Facebook that being devolved from the Italian “We will discuss how to of experts and supporters. candidates by ticking a box titled lived together and formed cou- his supporters. she is “in shock” and would pon- capital. make Italy function better,” “I’m putting myself out there “against all”. ples, Sobchak rejected ridicule Authorities say he is not eligi- der whether to leave him. The leaders of the two re- Gentiloni said, adding that and I’m saying that I’m against “These elections should be- of her past job, saying that “our ble to put his name on the ballot Sobchak’s Internet campaign gions, which contribute up to there would be no discussions what is happening in the coun- come a national referendum in parliament is a much funnier due to a controversial conviction chief is Vitaly Shklyarov, a vet- 30% of Italy’s GDP, want bet- on Italy or its constitution. try,” she said. which the ‘against all’ candidate place than Dom-2”. for fraud, widely seen as a politi- eran of the 2016 US presidential ter deals on tax revenues. “We do not need new social Sobchak, who is the daughter would unite people,” she said. Sobchak repeated a promise to cal ploy. election where he was a politi- “The government is ready to divisions, but we need to repair of Putin’s late mentor, former Sobchak said she needs to col- drop out of the race if the author- “What we have now are not cal consultant for Senator Bernie hold talks on the issues of au- the divisions the crisis has cre- Saint Petersburg mayor Anatoly lect 100,000 signatures to be ities allowed opposition leader elections, they are quasi-elec- Sanders. tonomy,” Gentiloni said during ated.” Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 INDIA

RELIGION CONTROVERSY STORAGE JUDICIARY ORDER Guruvayoor temple mulls Case against Goan poet to Half of milk, fruit, vegetable Tripura in quandary over Court summons Tihar Jail entry to non-Hindus be withdrawn: BJP leader production goes waste: study hiring non-teaching staff off icial over hygiene issues

The chief priest of the famed Guruvayoor Sree A Bharatiya Janata Party leader in Goa Despite India being the world’s largest The Left Front government in Tripura was in a A New Delhi court yesterday asked the Tihar Jail Krishna Temple of Kerala has urged the state yesterday said a case filed against ailing producer of milk and the second largest quandary after the Supreme Court yesterday superintendent to appear in person and respond government to take the initiative to allow entry Goan poet Vishnu Wagh over his scathing producer of fruits and vegetables, about 40 postponed hearing of a petition challenging the to jailed gangster Neeraj Sehrawat’s plea to ensure of non-Hindus. Leading political parties have criticism of the state’s elite Gaud Saraswat to 50% of the total output valued of $440bn state government’s recruitment of 12,000 non- hygienic conditions for prisoners. Additional expressed their support for the move and the state Brahmin caste will be withdrawn. Wagh, who ends up being wasted, a study said yesterday. teaching employees until January next year. A Sessions Judge Rakesh Pandit sought the off icial’s government has decided to take it forward. Ruling is bedridden following a cardiac arrest more “India has about 6,300 cold storage facilities division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising appearance on November 1 and to explain Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Kodiyeri than a year ago, was booked last week after with a capacity of 30.11mn tonnes, which are Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Uday Umesh Sehrawat alias Neeraj Bawana’s complaint about Balakrishnan said the government welcomed the a women’s organisation filed the case against only able to store about 11% of the country’s Lalit, postponed hearing of the contempt “inhuman” conditions in the jail. Bawana’s lawyer statement of Tantri Dineshan Nampoothiri on him and publisher Hema Naik, alleging that total perishable produce,” said Dc S Rawat, petition filed by a Tripura man to January. The M S Khan urged the court to issue directions to jail letting non-Hindus enter the temple. Opposition the compilation of poems in Wagh’s Sudhir secretary general of the industry body court ordered that the ban enforced on October off icials to provide better and hygienic conditions Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala too Sukta book used deprecatory language against Assocham. About 60% of this capacity was 4 on recruitment of 12,000 non-teaching staff to his client and other inmates. Khan asked the welcomed the Tantri’s statement. “Now a consensus women. Goa BJP vice president Anil Hoble also spread across Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, would remain eff ective till final the hearing, court to appoint a Local Commissioner to visit the is needed. Talks should be held with the temple said that the book contained no objectionable Gujarat and Punjab, the Assocham-MRSS Education Minister Tapan Chakraborty said in jail and meet the inmates. Bawana said he was priests, social and cultural organisations besides references, contrary to allegations made by India joint study said. “The situation is severe Agartala. The court on March 29 had upheld kept in a high-risk ward of Jail Number 1 along political parties,” said Chennithala. State Devasom a section of the state’s caste elite, who have in southern part of India due to unavailability the Tripura High Court verdict terminating the with 45 inmates and they once went on hunger Minister Kadakampally Surendran said they will first said that the book was targeting the influential of cold storage units, moreover as the jobs of 10,323 government teachers beyond strike to demand basic facilities, proper food with hold talks with the Guruvayoor Devasom. Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community in Goa. climate is far more hot and humid.” December 31 citing some indiscretion. lodging as well as medical facilities.

Opposition Anniversary celebrations to observe Rajasthan govt Nov 8 as Black Day defers bill on IANS New Delhi

pposition parties yester- day said they will observe ONovember 8 as a Black ‘media curbs’ Day to protest against the “ill- conceived and hasty” decision of the government to scrap Rs500 and Rs1,000 currency notes last year. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi after criticism Azad told reporters here that the opposition parties have worked By Manoj Kumar actions of judges, magistrates or In a letter to Rajasthan Chief out a joint strategy to register Agencies/Jaipur public servants. Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia, their protest against the Novem- In the absence of such permis- they said the bill seeks to protect ber 8 demonetisation. sion, it also sought to block pub- public servants from allegations “Demonetisation was an ill- he Rajasthan government lication of the identity, or other arising out of possible vested in- conceived and hasty decision of the yesterday deferred until personal, or family details of terests and restrains the reporting government. It is unprecedented, Tnext year a measure requir- those being investigated. by the media of any possible alle- perhaps in the entire world, that a ing government permission for “No one shall print or publish, gations made against such offi cers. government had to alter its policy the publication of details regard- or publicise in any manner, the Not only does this clampdown 135 times within a month,” Azad ing judges and public servants name, address, photograph, fam- on reporting militate against said, recalling how the Bharatiya who face accusations over action ily details, or any other particulars public interest as the public are Janata Party government kept taken in the course of their duty. which may lead to disclosure of impacted by government policies changing its rules in the aftermath The measure, which prescribes identity of a judge or magistrate and decisions – good or bad – the of the note ban last year. jail terms of up to two years for or a public servant,” it added. bill subverts the basic freedom of The decision to mark Novem- violations, aimed to minimise The bill’s passage by the state the press which is enshrined in ber 8 as a Black Day was taken at frivolous complaints against of- assembly would have helped turn the spirit of Article 19 (1) (a) of the the opposition’s co-ordination fi cials, said the Bharatiya Janata into law an executive decree on Indian Constitution, said the or- committee meeting on Monday Party government. the subject issued in September ganisations that also included the attended by Janata Dal – United In recent years many journal- that would otherwise have lapsed Press Association and the Federa- rebel leader Sharad Yadav, Com- ists reporting corruption and at- within six months. tion of Press Clubs in India. munist Party of India MP D Raja, tacks on minorities in India have When asked about the status of In their letter, they noted that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP complained of being targeted the decree, the state government “it is ironic and unfortunate that Kanimozhi, Bahujan Samaj Party by online smear campaigns, al- spokesman declined to comment. at a time when there is a great de- leader Satish Mishra and Trina- though there have been no reports Rajasthan was only trying to mand and an even greater need for mool Congress’ Derek O’Brien. of measures elsewhere similar to “shield honest offi cers so that public accountability and trans- Azad said no particular way what Rajasthan proposed. they can perform their duty”, fed- parency, your government ap- of protest had been decided and The Editors’ Guild of India and eral Law Minister Ravi Shankar pears to be moving in the opposite various opposition parties would the opposition Congress Party Prasad told reporters on Monday, direction”. do it in diff erent ways like holding called Rajasthan’s move an at- but declined further comment, They urged the chief minister demonstrations, taking out pro- tempt to curb media freedom and saying it was a state matter. to withdraw the bill as” neither is cessions and educating the mass- shield corrupt individuals, criti- “It is a big victory for the people it in the public interest, nor does es about the damage wreaked by cisms that forced the state to de- and the Congress. It was pressure it serve the aims and objectives of demonetisation. lay discussion on the bill. from the Congress both inside our vibrant democracy.” “The general public did not “The government has agreed and outside the state assembly India has slipped three places to fully realise, or it could not fore- to refer the bill to a panel of leg- because of which the government 136 in the 2017 world press free- see, the ramifi cations of demon- islature members,” a state gov- had to refer the bill to a select dom rankings of 180 countries, etisation. They thought the prime ernment spokesman said, adding committee,” Archana Sharma, a amid growing “self-censorship” minister might be correct about that the bill could be introduced, Congress leader, said. and attacks by right-wing groups. the objectives of demonetisation. following amendments, in the Leading journalist organisa- In a statement, Raj Chengappa, But one year down the line, people next assembly session early next tions, including the Press Club president of the Editors’ Guild of are realising the damage done by year. of India and the Indian Women’s India, described the Rajasthan bill this ill-conceived step,” Azad said. When introduced this week in Press Corps, earlier slammed the as “a pernicious instrument to He said “almost every politi- People pose for a photo in front of Vidhana Soudha, a landmark building that houses the the state assembly, it set a six- “draconian” bill, saying it re- harass the media, hide wrongful cal party except the BJP” was on Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Council, as it is illuminated on the eve of the building’s month deadline for courts to se- strains the media from acting as acts by government servants and board in observing November 8 60th anniversary celebrations in Bengaluru yesterday. cure the government’s permission a “watchdog and ombudsman of drastically curb the freedom of as a Black Day. for any investigations into the society”. the press”. By-polls lost, only Gujarat can now restore BJP

wo by-elections last week, February this year when Captain Communist Party-Marxist (CPM) the harbinger of what is in store in this month it was further raised to one to the Lok Sabha and Amarinder Singh led the Congress had fi elded Muslim candidates. 2019. Rs60. But by now the total length Tthe other to a state assem- to a resounding victory, gaining The LDF had thrown everything of the lines had also increased to bly, went along expected lines as many as 31 seats compared to Delhi Diary into the election but its candidate 330km with 241 stations. It will from the perspective of the even- the previous elections fi ve years P P Basheer, despite being a ‘lo- Delhi Metro soon overtake the 150-year-old tual winners, but it is the losers ago. The Congress also improved By A K B Krishnan cal’ as he hails from Vengara it- desperately London Tube to be the third long- who are having a hard time trying its vote percentage substantially, self, could not match the Muslim needs fare hike est after Shanghai and Beijing. to decipher what hit them. making it amply evident that the Gulf Times Correspondent League’s might. Fresh develop- Sadly, the increase in network Gurdaspur in Punjab had been BJP-SAD coalition, saddled with ments in the shenanigans of some did not mean an increase in revenue the pocket borough of Hindi fi lm serious corruption charges, had of the senior UDF leaders in what Air India is a bad story. Indian for DMRC. Whereas it had made a star Vinod Khanna of the Bharati- run its course. were ejected because they did not clear for Prime Minister Modi and has come to be known as ‘solar Railways is a bad one. And if some, $4mn profi t in 2007, it was in the ya Janata Party (BJP) who had won The AAP, although a new en- toe Kejriwal’s line. But because his party president Amit Shah that scam’ could only help reduce the especially Delhi Chief Minister red by as much as $73mn in 2016. the Lok Sabha seat four times and trant, did creditably winning 20 the SAD-BJP rule under Parkash continuing with SAD as a partner margin of victory of its candidate Arvind Kejriwal, could help it, The audited results show that input with massive margins. Khanna’s seats to come second to become Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir could only bring more sadness. The K N A Khader. the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation cost has increased by over 105% in death earlier this year had neces- the principal opposition party. Singh Badal was so immersed in BJP should be worried that it has Here again, the BJP has a lot to (DMRC) could easily be joining energy, 139% in staff cost, and by sitated the by-election and the But Jakhar’s victory was so over- self-aggrandisement, the voters lost more than 180,000 supporters worry. The party had just about that select group of businesses 213% for repair and maintenance. Congress Party’s Sunil Jakhar won whelming that AAP candidate had gravitated towards the Con- in one single constituency. If the kept its head above water by win- that government monopolises and In 2009-10 one unit of electricity it by a landslide. Suresh Khajuria lost his depos- gress and the AAP. trend continues - and in this Chief ning a single seat in the 2016 as- slowly but steadily runs to ground. cost Rs3.21, in 2016 it was Rs7.25. The BJP and its ally Shiromani it. While Jakhar polled close to But Kejriwal’s ambivalent Minister Amarinder Singh will have sembly elections. It was sup- The DMRC plied its fi rst train in All these statistics only go to Akali Dal (SAD) and even the Aam 500,000 votes, all that Khajuria statements about the Sutlej- a big hand- the BJP can forget Pun- posed to be the breakthrough 2002. The minimum fare then was prove one thing; that Delhi Metro Aadmi Party (AAP), the other got was a mere 23,579 votes. De- Yamuna Link (SYL) canal had jab in 2019. that Modi and Shah had wanted. Rs4 and the maximum Rs8. The could be another Air India if fares chief protagonists in the three- spite his candidate’s defeat, AAP angered Punjabi farmers to no The second by-election was Further inroads will ensue, they total length of the network was were not increased substantially. way contest, would explain it state unit chief Bhagwant Singh extent. And his continuing con- for the assembly seat of Vengara had maintained. But the BJP’s K just 25km then. The fares stayed A Rs10 hike for the longest jour- away as the Congress Party’s use Mann found solace in the fact that frontation with the Modi gov- in Kerala’s Malappuram district Jayachandran polled a mere 5,728 that way for 15 months before ney should not be too cumbersome of “extra-constitutional” meth- Punjabis have once again rejected ernment had not helped matters where the Indian Union Muslim votes. Even the fl edgling Social they were raised to Rs6 and Rs15. even for daily wage earners who, by ods to ensure victory by putting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s for citizens of Delhi, a sizeable League (IUML) cantered to an Democratic Party of India (SDPI) With the addition of more lines the way, may only be a miniscule all available government machin- policies by defeating the BJP can- number of who hail from Punjab. easy victory. The seat had become did better with 8,648 votes to fi n- and more kilometres, the fares in- percentage of metro riders. But Ke- ery to work to its advantage. But didate. That’s the state of politics Obviously they wouldn’t want an vacant after incumbent MLA P ish third. creased to Rs10 and Rs30. But that jriwal and his ilk would have none from a defeat of 135,000-plus in India at present. encore in Punjab. This has led to K Kunhalikutty of the IUML re- It may still be early for the was in May 2009 after which the of it. His government even staged votes to a victory of 193,000-plus The AAP and its leader Arvind the surreal defeat of Khajuria. signed following his election to Congress Party to celebrate the fares had not seen any increase. a sit-in strike disrupting public votes would, by any reckoning, Kejriwal must be really wor- For the BJP, fl ying high after the the Lok Sabha from Malappuram. BJP’s predicament. The real Then in May this year the corpo- life. Surely Kejriwal was looking to take something more than mere ried now. In the 2014 Lok Sabha success of Uttar Pradesh, a defeat in The Congress Party must be hap- tests will come later this year in ration’s Fare Fixation Committee target the Modi government more ‘government machinery.’ elections, it had won four seats, one constituency may not seem to py in refl ected glory because the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. came up with a blueprint to raise than helping the ordinary citizen by The mood in Punjab is very the only state to return its can- be a measure of the present politi- IUML is part of the Congress-led Anything short of convincing the fares periodically commensu- opting for the “sop opera”. As Burke clear. It fi nds the BJP, with SAD didate in all India. But soon two cal sentiment in the country. But if United Democratic Front (UDF). victories, especially in Gujarat, rate with the increase in running put it, “it is a general popular error as an ally, not worthy of govern- of its MPs fell out of favour with the party were to dismiss it as such, Being a Muslim-majority seat, would put the Modi-Shah com- and maintenance costs. While to suppose the loudest complainers ment. This was amply evident in Kejriwal and several state lead- it may be asking for serious trouble. both the UDF and the ruling Left bine in tangible trouble. In a sense the minimum stayed at Rs10, the for the public to be the most anx- the state assembly elections in ers, including the unit president, By now it must have been amply Democratic Front (LDF) led by the these two elections could well be maximum rose to Rs50. Earlier ious for its welfare.” Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 17 INDIA Noted Malayalam fi lm director I V Sasi dead

IANS tomorrow after his daughter, who was a director and he went on to luxury of seeing the shot on a TV one who acted in his fi lms turned Of the nearly 150 fi lms that Sasi Chennai lives in Australia, arrives here. reach heights which not many monitor, but he could visualise the up. Leading from the front then directed, Mammootty acted in Sasi, who was inactive in the can reach. He proved through his scene and the shot with precision were Kamal Haasan, Mammoot- more than three dozen of them. fi lm world for a while, was plan- fi lms that a director stands above and that was his greatness.” ty and Mohanlal. Haasan was Mohanlal’s hit movie Devas- cclaimed Malayalam fi lm ning to get back to his passion. actors,” Innocent said. Actor Dulquer Salmaan said Sasi Sasi’s friend for 45 years. uram scripted by Ranjith was director I V Sasi, who was He had announced a blockbuster Hugely popular writer-direc- “created an era of his own in Ma- “The industry and I mourn directed by Sasi. The two su- Ainstrumental in the suc- fi lm with technology geek Sohan tor Ranjith said he heard the news layalam cinema”. Actor-producer a great technician. My support perstars also acted together in a cess stories of superstars Mam- Roy to make a fi lm on Iraq’s inva- at his hotel room in Kozhikode. It Nivin Pauly said Sasi was an “icon and love to my sister Seema Sasi dozen of Sasi’s fi lms. mootty, Mohanlal and Jayan, sion of Kuwait in 1990. was in that room that Sasi always who created cinema that stood the and family,” he tweeted. Sasi’s biggest hit Angadi, re- died here yesterday. He was 67. The news of Sasi’s death drew stayed when he directed his fi lms test of time” and “bridged the gap Sasi’s glorious career as a di- leased in 1980, starred Jayan. In a career spanning close to emotional tributes from the fi lm in the north Kerala city. Sasi: irreparable loss between commerce and art in Ma- rector began after the stupendous They worked in six fi lms. four decades in which he also fraternity. “I scripted for him a while layalam cinema”. success of Avalude Raavukal in Sasi’s magic last worked in helmed some Tamil and Hindi Innocent, a member of the back and even when we met re- Sasi was a creator and made mem- Although Sasi hailed from 1978. It told the tale of a prosti- 2003 when Balram Vs Tharadas projects, Sasi directed nearly 150 Lok Sabha and the Association cently, he again asked me for orable movies when technology Kozhikode in Kerala, he was tute, a role essayed by Seema who met with reasonable success. Af- fi lms. He was ailing for some time. of Malayalam Movie Artistes a script. The only thing in his that’s available now was not there. based in Chennai. later became the director’s wife. ter that, he did just one fi lm. Since He is survived by his wife, the (AMMA), said Sasi’s departure blood was fi lms and fi lms. The “Sitting on his chair, he would The love Kozhikode and the In the two decades starting in then, he was cooling his heels popular yesteryear actress See- was an irreparable loss to the Malayalam fi lm industry has lost easily complete a shot in which industry had for Sasi was seen the 1980s, Mammootty and Mo- in Chennai, while his wife See- ma, a son and a daughter. Malayalam fi lm industry. one of its legends,” Ranjith said. hundreds of people were act- in a huge public reception held hanlal established themselves ma found more visibility on TV His last rites will be conducted “When I started my career, Sasi Actor-director Joy Mathew said ing. In his days, he never had the there in 2013 when almost every- in the category of superstars. screens than on the silver screen. Gujarat BJP govt Tillerson arrives in Delhi unveils welfare schemes ahead of key elections

IANS maternity leave and Rs200,000 Gandhinagar death insurance for employ- ees working in the Sachivalaya, various boards and corporations mid widespread specu- as well as other government of- lation that the Election fi ces. ACommission will fi nally Deputy Chief Minister Nitin declare the Gujarat Assembly Patel announced waiving of the poll dates tomorrow, the state 18% Goods and Services Tax government continued its last- (GST) on micro irrigation equip- minute announcements of wel- ment. This expense of around fare schemes and various sops Rs776mn will be borne by the to woo voters before the model state government. code of conduct comes into ef- The state government also an- US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson walks to a vehicle, after stepping off a plane, as he arrives in New Delhi yesterday. fect. nounced a 50% hike in the in- According to sources, the centives given to ASHA workers, possible polling dates could be who have been holding demon- December 10 and 14, while the strations at various levels for the last day for fi ling nominations past many days against the gov- was likely to be November 28. ernment. On average an ASHA The Election Commission had worker earns around Rs2,000 to already announced while declar- Rs2,500 per month. The govern- ing the Himachal Pradesh polls ment also will be distributing that the counting of votes in two saris or dress to them annu- both states would take place on ally. SC bans ‘dirty fuel’ to December 18. On Monday, the government However, when asked offi - also announced the much- cially about the election dates, awaited appointments to various Gujarat Chief Electoral Offi cer B vacant posts of various boards B Swain said: “I don’t have any- and corporations in a bid to woo thing to say about it. My lips are communities. The most striking sealed on this matter.” appointment was that of rebel fi ght Delhi pollution The Gujarat government, MLA from Congress who de- meanwhile, has been announc- fected to the BJP, Balwantsinh Agencies Delhi experiences suff ocating consumer of petroleum coke, third the size of New York state, fuel over coal because of its as- ing schemes in a panic mode. In Rajput. After his loss in the Rajya New Delhi smog every year around Diwali a dark solid composed mainly but houses 2.5 times more peo- sured supply. the last 22 days, there have been Sabha elections, he has been giv- when farmers in north India of carbon, which emits 11% ple. Such companies say banning 22 major welfare announce- en a key position as chairperson burn the stubble left behind af- more greenhouse gases than Those deaths could be the cheap fuel might stunt their ments from the Bharatiya Janata of the Gujarat Industrial Devel- he Supreme Court yes- ter the harvest and revellers let coal, according to the Carne- result of pollution from many ability to expand and hire more Party government. opment Corporation. terday banned the use of off smoke-spewing fi recrack- gie-Tsinghua Centre for Global sources, including coal, or have staff , just as Prime Minister The government has lately The government also fi lled Tpetroleum coke - a cheap ers. Policy. other causes. Narendra Modi is trying to cre- been showering the Gujarati crucial positions of chairpersons but dirty fuel - in and around The latest ban follows an- Burning it also emits several The ban on the sale and use of ate jobs. public with hordes of special of the newly-formed Gujarat Ra- New Delhi, the latest crack- other recent court order that times more sulphur dioxide, pet-coke could hit the country’s Pet-coke demand fell in Au- attractive announcements like jya Bin Anamat Varg Aayog (Gu- down aimed at improving air barred sale of fi recrackers in which causes lung diseases and small and medium scale indus- gust after Hurricane Harvey interest-free agriculture loan jarat Non Reservation Category quality in one of the most pol- Delhi ahead of Diwali. acid rain. tries, which employ millions hit shipments from the United of up to Rs300,000 to farm- Commission) and the Gujarat luted cities in the world. The onset of winter aggra- Annual demand for the fuel, of workers and operate on thin States, the biggest exporter to ers, minimum support price of Rajya Bin Anamat Varg Shaik- The court also ordered a ban vates the problem as the cooler which is more energy effi cient margins. India, but analysts and trad- Rs900 for groundnut, Rs100 bo- shanik ane Arthik Vikas Nigam, on the sale and use of furnace oil air traps the pollutants, a phe- than coal, has nearly doubled Pet-coke and other cheap, ers say consumption is likely to nus on 20kg of cotton, formation (Gujarat Non Reservation Cat- - a polluting refi nery by-prod- nomenon known as inversion. over the past four years to more highly polluting fuels such as recover and continue growing, of 16 new Gujarat Industrial De- egory Educational and Financial uct - in industries in Haryana, “It is a big win for Delhi as than 27mn tonnes. furnace oil are widely used by unless there is a country-wide velopment Corporation (GIDC) Development Corporations). Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan well as the rest of the country Last week, the Lancet medi- cement factories, dyeing units, ban. units, inauguration of passenger These bodies were formed starting November 1. fi ghting a tough battle against cal journal said pollution had paper mills, brick kilns and ce- Meanwhile, the Punjab Pol- service from Ghogha to Dahej, after the BJP government’s ne- Furnace oil and pet-coke are toxic pollution,” the Delhi- claimed as many as 2.5mn lives ramics businesses. lution Control Board (PPCB) joining the east and west coasts gotiation with the Patidar so- the dirtiest by-products from based Centre for Science and in India in 2015, the highest in Puneet Gupta, founder of urged farmers to conserve pad- of the Gulf of Khambhat amid cial and religious institutions the refi nery process and use of Environment said in a state- the world. online coal and pet-coke mar- dy straw in a scientifi c manner others. and leaders, along with Hardik these fuels was banned in Delhi ment. Indian health ministry data ketplace CoalShastra, said and not to recklessly burning it. Yesterday, in a bid to woo Patel-led Patidar Anamat An- in 1996. “Use of such dirty fuels con- shows that respiratory issues “per-unit delivered energy for “The Air Quality Index has the angry salaried workers who dolan Samiti (PAAS) and other But glass manufactur- tributes hugely to toxic gases killed about 10 people per day pet-coke is much cheaper when deteriorated mainly on account have long been demanding pay agitating groups. These posi- ing units and other industries like sulphur dioxide and nitro- in the year ended March 2017 in compared to the next alternate, of the fact that the farmers of revision, the state government tions were given obviously to around the Indian capital con- gen oxide in the air,” the envi- the National Capital Region - a coal,” making it attractive for Punjab have been burning pad- announced a hike of Rs250 daily Patidar faces, Hansraj Gajera tinue to be reliant on them for ronmental watchdog said. rapidly urbanising and polluted buyers. dy straw at large scale, an offi - allowance, 11 holidays, a 40-day and B H Ghodasara. their energy needs. India is the world’s biggest area around New Delhi that is a Users say they also prefer the cial said.

Fighter jets land on highway in drill Ghani holds talks with Modi, Kovind

Agencies ing security and stability in be Afghan-led and Afghan- Today he is due to hold talks New Delhi Afghanistan” which has seen controlled,” he said. with External Aff airs Minister the resurgence of the Taliban in His comments come days Sushma Swaraj on US President recent months. after Afghanistan participated Donald Trump’s new strategy rime Minister Narendra Ghani also met President in the 6th Quadrilateral Co- for South Asia that focuses on Modi and Afghan Presi- Ram Nath Kovind, who con- ordination Group (QCG) meet- fi ghting extremist groups and Pdent Ashraf Ghani yester- demned deadly terrorist attacks ing along with the US, China stabilising the situation in Af- day discussed their countries’ in the country that claimed 200 and Pakistan in Muscat to re- ghanistan. bilateral strategic partnership lives in recent days. vive stalled peace talks with the During his visit to Pakistan, as well as regional security and Kovind expressed admiration Taliban. Tillerson pressed Islamabad to the fi ght against terrorism. for the astute leadership that On the same day, India’s act over terrorist safe havens. The leaders met at New Del- Ghani has provided to Afghani- National Security Adviser Ajit Kabul and New Delhi have hi’s Hyderabad House a day be- stan through diffi cult times and Doval had fl own to Kabul to long accused Pakistan of back- fore US Secretary of State Rex commended the Afghan presi- meet with the Afghan leader- ing and sheltering insurgents Tillerson is due to hold talks in dent for strengthening bilateral ship. who carry out attacks on their the Indian capital. relations between India and Af- “Securing sustained peace soil, allegations that Pakistan “Prime Minister Naren- ghanistan. and security remain the key denies. dra Modi and President Ghani Kovind added that India it- fundamentals in leading Af- During his talks in Delhi, discussed a range of bilateral, self has been victim of state- ghanistan on the pathway of Tillerson will discuss expand- regional and global issues, sponsored, cross-border ter- economic recovery and growth. ing co-operation with India, expressed fi rm resolve to end rorism for decades. Unfortunately, mindless and which Washington perceives as menace of terrorism,” External “We can fully empathise with senseless violence is being im- a counterweight to China’s ris- An Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighter jet prepares to touch down at the Agra-Lucknow Aff airs Ministry spokesman the ongoing quest of the Afghan posed on the people of Afghan- ing assertiveness and infl uence highway during a touchdown operational exercise by the IAF at Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh Raveesh Kumar said on Twit- people to secure peace,” Kovid istan,” Kovind said. in Asia. yesterday. The IAF landed over a dozen fighter jets and transport planes on the highway as part ter. told Ghani. Tillerson, who had already He will also discuss step- of the country’s emergency landing drills on national highways. Fourteen combat jets including Modi and Ghani also dis- “India believes that whatever met Ghani in Afghanistan on ping up the scope of defence Sukhoi 30s, Mirage 2000s and Jaguars performed touch-and-go landings on a stretch of the cussed ways to further a initiatives are taken for bring- Monday, arrived in New Delhi and security co-operation highway near Lucknow. “shared objective or promot- ing peace in Afghanistan should last night from Pakistan. with India. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

DECISION OUTAGE TOURISM LAW AND ORDER DIALOGUE Nicaragua signs Paris Blackout hits oil-producing Lonely Planet names Chile 2.5 tonnes of cocaine Colombia, ELN in talks climate agreement state in Venezuela top country to visit in 2018 headed for Spain seized to end last armed conflict

Nicaragua has signed the Paris climate agreement, A blackout left parts of Venezuela’s oil- Lonely Planet has named Chile the number-one Colombian authorities have seized nearly 2.5 The Colombian government and the rebel force leaving the US and Syria as the only two holdouts producing and most populous state of Zulia country to visit in 2018, while recommending tonnes of cocaine which was about to be sent to National Liberation Army (ELN) have launched on the global climate pact. The government of without power yesterday, the government said. Seville for the best city break. In the travel Spain in a wood shipment. The drug was found a fourth round of negotiations in an attempt to President Daniel Ortega said the global 2015 pact Electrical Power Minister Luis Motta blamed the book giant’s “Best in Travel 2018” publication, by police and representatives of the attorney end the South American country’s last armed represented “the only international instrument outage, which hit Venezuela’s second-largest released yesterday, Chile was handed the general’s off ice in the northern port of Barranquilla. conflict. The talks in Montecristi near the that off ers the conditions to face global warming city Maracaibo, on sabotage. He said there coveted hotspot for top country destination, It had been hidden in a container filled with blocks Ecuadorian capital Quito follow a peace deal and its eff ects,” according to a statement read was an explosion at an electrical substation followed by South Korea and Portugal. The of wood, according to the statement. The relatively with a much bigger guerrilla movement, the out by Vice President Rosario Murillo. The in a town called El Tablazo in Zulia, which is list of top cities included Detroit, Michigan light weight of the container drew attention to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), announcement leaves the US and Syria as the only in western Venezuela. But he did not say who at number two and the Australian capital fact that the blocks of wood were hollow, with the which was sealed in November. The agreement countries holding out on the Paris deal. Ortega might have been behind the alleged sabotage, Canberra at number three. The Spanish city of cocaine hidden inside. The container had been followed more than five decades of conflict said last week that Nicaragua would sign the pact, which he often cites as the cause of frequent Seville was praised for its recent transformation due to travel to the port of Algeciras. The cocaine involving left-wing rebel movements, the army but did not say when. The country had previously outages in economically stricken Venezuela. from “a traff ic-congested metropolis resting on will be used as evidence against a drug traff icking and right-wing paramilitary groups, during refused to sign the agreement on the grounds that The latest blackout started overnight Monday its historical laurels...into a city of bicycles and ring that the authorities have been investigating which more than 260,000 people were killed it did not go far enough to combat global warming. and continued at least partially into yesterday. trams, keen to reinvigorate its artistic past.” for six months, the statement added. and millions displaced. Latam poised for growth amid Fed rate hike: experts

Reuters current chair Janet Yellen, spe- New York cifi cally highlighted the country in remarks he gave touting the strength of emerging economies atin America and Brazil in during the IMF/World Bank particular are well-posi- meetings. Ltioned among developing The climate is benign enough countries to withstand expected that Brazil’s central bank and rate increases by the US and Eu- others in the region could move ropean central banks in coming to real interest rates that are be- months, investors and econo- low the neutral rate, said Wim mists said. Vandenhoeck, portfolio manag- In the months after May 2013, er for Oppenheimer’s emerging when then-Federal Reserve chair markets local debt fund. Ben Bernanke announced plans “Infl ation is so anchored right to reduce monetary stimulus, now that there might be an op- the JPMorgan Emerging Mar- portunity for some central banks Laidy Gomez, elected governor of Tachira state, talks to the media during a news conference, next to elected governor of Merida state Ramon Guevara (left), elected kets Global Bond Index dropped to pull it off ,” he said. governor of Nueva Esparta state Alfredo Diaz (second left) and elected governor of Anzoategui state Antonio Barreto, in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. nearly 15% from its May high to Long a largely closed economy its low for the year in September. that is not overly reliant on trade, MSCI’s index of emerging the country has signifi cantly re- market stocks dropped 17.4% duced its current account defi - from its May high to its low point cit from 4.2% of gross domestic of the year in June. product in 2014 to 1.5% this year, But that pattern, since dubbed according to International Mon- the “taper tantrum,” is unlikely etary Fund data and projections. to be repeated even as the Fed The relatively rosy outlook is Opposition governors begins to unpack its $4.5tn of true for much of Latin America. bond holdings and looks set to In 2013, many of these mar- keep hiking interest rates, ana- kets were funding defi cits with lysts said. foreign capital and dollar-de- “If you look at the fundamen- nominated debt. tals this time around, you have a “There’s no reason capital better situation than you had, needs to go out,” said Josephine take oath in Venezuela for example, around the time Shea, director of emerging mar- of the ‘taper tantrum,’” said kets at Standish, a BNY Mellon Reuters opposition later acknowledged After presiding over the cer- the dictatorship,” he added. “I’ve told them: ‘Let’s turn Sonja Gibbs, senior director at subsidiary. “So when will that Caracas that abstentionism in its ranks emony, Constituent Assembly Critics see the creation of the the page...and get down to the Institute for International gravy train stop? It might not be played a big part in the defeat, head Delcy Rodriguez chided Constituent Assembly, which work,’” he said. Finance. for a while,” Shea said. which shed doubt on its ability the one winning opposition has superseded all powers in- Democratic Action is one of Brazil in particular has seen Carlos Vegh, chief economist n another setback for Ven- to beat the ruling socialists in candidate, Juan Pablo Guanipa cluding the opposition-led the biggest parties in the oppo- infl ation ease during a severe for Latin America at the World ezuela’s dispirited opposi- next year’s presidential vote. of oil-rich Zulia state, who held congress, as the cementing of sition coalition, and its decision recession and has made some Bank, said he does not see risks Ition, four of its fi ve state After the regional ballot, the out. dictatorship in Venezuela. infuriated many opposition progress on structural reforms, for the region from tighter Fed governors broke with their coa- coalition said none of its win- “These actions will have con- Major Western and Latin supporters who viewed it as a boosting investors’ comfort with policy for a couple of years, when lition’s offi cial stance to swear ning candidates would “kneel” sequences,” she said. American nations have refused sellout. its plan to keep cutting rates even US interest rates are expected to themselves in before a pro-gov- before the pro-Maduro Con- Maduro previously warned to recognise its legitimacy. But The move could presage a as the Fed tightens, she said. reach 2% and above. ernment legislative superbody. stituent Assembly body, which there may be a new election in Maduro said it was the only way complete reformulation, or Latin America’s largest econ- If growth rates in some Latin The Democratic Unity coali- it has refused to recognise since any state where the winner does to bring peace back after four possible breakup, of the coali- omy was previously named by American countries remain tion went into the October 15 its establishment in an election not swear loyalty to the assem- months of opposition protests tion, which consists of more Morgan Stanley analysts as one anaemic, they could then face a gubernatorial polls as favourites in July. bly. this year that led to 125 deaths, than two dozen parties and has of its “Fragile Five” — economies “monetary dilemma” of whether for a big win against President But the newly elected gover- Guanipa, of the Justice First thousands of arrests and inju- long suff ered from infi ghting. most vulnerable to capital fl ight. to cut rates further, risking capi- Nicolas Maduro’s candidates nors for Tachira, Merida, Nuevo party, which has a militant line ries, and widespread damage to “We are going to see a new But this time it is one of the tal outfl ows. because of voter anger at a bru- Esparta and Anzoategui — all against Maduro, said he would property and infrastructure. unity. In the worst crises and best situated, other top offi cials “The region therefore will tal economic crisis in the Opec from the Democratic Action not legitimise the “fraudulent” Appearing on state TV, Ma- circumstances, opportunities and economists said. have to strengthen and to fi nd its member. party, one of Venezuela’s biggest Constituent Assembly whose duro said he had congratulated always crop up,” wrote opposi- Fed governor Jerome Powell, own sources of growth...(and) But it ended up taking just and oldest — swore themselves election the opposition boy- the four Democratic Action tion leader Henrique Capriles, a candidate on President Don- will have to deepen the struc- fi ve of 23 states. in before assembly directors as a cotted. governors by telephone and of the Justice First party, hinting ald Trump’s shortlist to succeed tural reforms,” he said. Initially alleging fraud, the prerequisite to taking offi ce. “Zulia will never kneel before would meet with them soon. at imminent changes.

Official visit Spanish tourist shot dead Haiti wary of new ‘accidentally’: Brazil police UN justice mission Reuters said its aim was to build on MI- Port-au-Prince NUSTAH’s work to strengthen AFP unit fought with drug gang Drug gangs control much of the security, bolster democracy Rio de Janeiro members in two locations in the territory. and the country’s institutions. Rocinha, a favela that has long Despite strong warnings that new United Nations- That would enable a “social been almost beyond the control tourists should stay clear of backed mission to sup- contract” to be established olice in Rio de Janeiro said of the authorities. favelas, some companies con- Aport Haiti’s justice between Haiti’s rulers and the they had accidentally shot The clashes left two offi cers tinue to organise “favela tours.” system has had a mixed reac- people, Diallo said. Pand killed a Spanish tour- and a suspected gang member The Spanish embassy in Bra- tion from local politicians and However, MINUJUSTH has ist visiting a violent favela slum hospitalised with wounds, said silia said it was in contact with civil society groups after long- quickly come under fi re. “The where two offi cers had been police, who confi scated a Glock authorities over the death of its standing criticism of its pred- country should expect nothing wounded. pistol. national. The G1 news site re- ecessor. positive from this new mission A car broke through a police ported that the car’s driver was President Jovenel Moise’s which is only a tactic to contin- blockade in the Rocinha favela The shooting happened an Italian tour guide who has government has welcomed the ue with the occupation that the at about 10.30am (1230GMT), an hour aft er police from been in Brazil for four years. deployment of the UN mission Haitian people have rejected,” police said in a statement, which an elite unit fought with He told authorities he did not for Justice Support in Haiti former presidential candidate added that offi cers “reacted” drug gang members in two see the police barricade and was (MINUJUSTH) in the face of Eric Jean-Baptiste said. without knowing that tourists locations in Rocinha unaware of the earlier gunfi re in opposition skepticism. Retired army colonel were aboard. the favela. A UN peacekeeping mission Himmler Rebu, a former Cabi- On later examination “the Hundreds of heavily armed According to Brazilian media in Haiti intended to restore sta- net minister and one-time vehicle was found to be for the soldiers have been deployed to photos of the grey car allegedly bility after a 2004 coup ended in contender for the presidency, transport of tourists. help police in crackdowns on linked to the incident, there was October after 13 years. Known also had harsh words. “The One wounded Spanish woman Rocinha since September after no sign indicating that it carried as MINUSTAH, the departing UN stabilisation mission has was taken to the Miguel Couto rival drug gangs battled each passengers. mission was dogged by contro- been here for the past 13 years hospital but died of her wounds,” other, spraying bullets. The brother and sister-in-law versies, including the introduc- and they have done nothing, the statement said. The sprawling, densely packed of the victim, who were appar- tion of cholera to the island and except for preventing armed The homicide squad identifi ed neighbourhood of small homes ently with her in the vehicle, ar- allegations of sexual abuse. thugs from taking over the the victim as Maria Esperanza sits on hills overlooking Rio’s rived at the hospital but made no The new mission will focus presidential palace,” Rebu said. Jimenez, 67, who was hit at least posh Leblon district. comment to journalists. Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila shakes hand with specifi cally on the justice sys- The new mission, which of- once in the neck area. Since last year’s Olympics, In August, a British tourist Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos during a tem and the police. fi cially launched last week, has a An internal investigation has security in Rio has steadily de- was shot and wounded after ac- welcoming ceremony at Narino presidential palace, in Mamadou Diallo, deputy six-month renewable term end- begun. clined, particularly in the favelas cidentally driving into a favela Bogota yesterday. Sipila is visiting Colombia to promote special representative of the UN ing April 15, 2018. It will include The shooting happened an where around a quarter of the controlled by criminals near Rio, business and co-operation between the two countries. Secretary General in Haiti and 1,275 UN police offi cers and will hour after police from an elite city’s population of 6.5mn live. police said at the time. acting head of the new mission, train Haiti’s national police. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 19 PAKISTAN Pakistan has ‘produced results’ in fi ghting terrorism: PM tells US z “We are committed in the war against terror,” Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi tells US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson z“ Pakistan is important regionally to our joint goals of providing peace and security to the region”, says Tillerson

Agencies Islamabad

rime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi yesterday Preconfi rmed Pakistan’s commitment to the “war on ter- ror” during a meeting with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, saying his country had “pro- duced results” fi ghting the re- gion’s militants. Tillerson, on a tour of Asia and the Middle East, arrived in Pakistan yesterday afternoon US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson sits across from Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi during their meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence in Islamabad yesterday. and met with Abbasi, as well as Pakistan’s powerful army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa. “We are committed in the war against terror,” Abbasi told Till- erson, as the two men sat facing each other on a long table. “We have produced results. And we are looking forward to moving ahead with the US and building a tremendous relation- ship,” added Abbasi, who sat next to Bajwa. During a short part of the meeting available to media, Till- erson told the Pakistani delega- tion that the nuclear-armed na- tion was an important US ally in the region. “(Pakistan is) important re- gionally to our joint goals of pro- viding peace and security to the region and providing opportuni- ty for greater economic relation- ship as well,” Tillerson said. US offi cials say they are frus- trated that Afghan Taliban and Haqqani militants are aff orded freedom of movement and are able to transport weapons and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shakes hands with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson shakes hands with Pakistani Chief of Army Staff Qamar Javed Bajwa as raise funds inside Pakistan, before their meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence in Islamabad yesterday. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbas looks on in Islamabad yesterday. something their Islamabad counterparts staunchly deny. as the Pakistani Taliban and the er Indian role in Afghanistan. seeking to “undermine the sup- wayward Cold War ally. tinued providing support to Af- please the Americans.” On Monday, during a visit to Islamic State continue to pose But this deepening in ties has port that the Taliban receives”. The US-Pakistan relationship ghan militant groups. Earlier this month Pakistani Kabul, Tillerson urged Pakistan to a threat and have periodically alarmed Pakistan, which has re- Pakistan has repeatedly de- has waxed and waned dramati- As one of 16 “Non-Nato Major forces acting on American intel- act against safe havens on its soil. staged large-scale attacks. jected a greater political role for nied the charge, insisting it cally since Trump took offi ce in Allies”, Pakistan benefi ts from ligence rescued a US-Canadian “Pakistan needs to, I think, Pakistan recently started to India for Afghanistan as a “red maintains contacts only to try January. billions of dollars in aid and has family which had been in Taliban take a clear-eyed view of the sit- fence its long and porous 2,500- line” for Islamabad. to bring the militants to peace Pakistan said the President access to advanced US military captivity for fi ve years, spark- uation that they are confronted km border with Afghanistan The secretary’s visit, the fi rst talks. had praised its then-prime min- technology banned from other ing hopes that ties were on the with in terms of the number of in an attempt to stop militants to Pakistan by a senior Trump During his brief visit to Af- ister Nawaz Sharif as “terrifi c” countries. mend. terrorist organisations that fi nd criss-crossing the frontier. administration offi cial, comes ghanistan’s Bagram air base in an eff usive phone call when However political analyst Za- The rescue was followed by a safe haven inside of Pakistan.” As well as support for the Af- months after the US President Monday, Tillerson told report- Trump took offi ce in January. hid Hussain said there may be series of drone strikes on both Pakistani offi cials bristle at the ghan Taliban and the Haqqani angrily accused Islamabad of ers Pakistan needs to “take a But Trump’s blistering speech little Islamabad can do at this sides of the Afghanistan-Paki- idea that the country is not doing network, another sticking point harbouring “agents of chaos” clear-eyed view of the situation in August accusing Pakistan of point to convince the US that stan border targeting long-time enough against militants and say in the relationship has been who could attack US-led Nato that they are confronted with in harbouring militants saw Is- it had prevented militants from foes of both Washington and Is- Pakistan has suff ered more than growing closeness by the United forces in neighbouring Afghani- terms of the number of terrorist lamabad angrily hit back at the using its territory to target forces lamabad. 60,000 casualties in the war on States to India, Pakistan’s arch- stan. organisations that fi nd safe ha- claims, insisting the US took no in Afghanistan. The US has vowed to send terror since the Sept 11 attacks in foe and neighbour. It follows on the heels of an ven inside” the country. account of the thousands of lives “I think they would like to as- more than 3,000 additional United States in 2001. Tillerson said last week that the unannounced stop in Afghani- US and Pakistani sources lost and billions spent in fi ghting sure to the Americans that they troops to Afghanistan, on top In recent years Pakistan has Trump administration wanted to stan on Monday, where Tillerson say his visit to Islamabad extremism. are sincere and they are tak- of the 11,000 already deployed made substantial gains against “dramatically deepen” co-opera- reiterated America’s commit- will be followed later in the Following the August speech, ing action against some of the there, to train and advise Afghan militants and the number of at- tion with New Delhi, partly to off - ment to the country and warned year by Defence Secretary Tillerson cautioned Pakistan groups,” Hussain said. troops and police as part of a new tacks have drastically reduced, set Chinese infl uence in Asia. that Washington has made “very Jim Mattis as Trump seeks to that it could lose its status as a “The perception here is what- strategy outlined by the admin- but some militant groups such Trump has also called for great- specifi c requests” of Pakistan send a tough message to the privileged military ally if it con- ever they do, it is not going to istration.

India’s initiative on Kashmir ‘not sincere’ Pakistani defence Pakistan yesterday dismissed India’s decision to appoint an Bill for increase in marriageable interlocutor to talk to all stake- holders in Jammu and Kashmir products match best as insincere and unrealistic. If anything, the announcement proved the futility of the use of age for girls approved in Pakistan force and of the indispensabil- in the world: PM ity of dialogue vis-a-vis the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, Internews of the committee, Senator Reh- marriageable age should be 18 They said it was also unfair the Foreign Ministry said in a Islamabad man Malik, said the bill will be and Pakistan is signatory to UN that the minimum age for men Internews Production Rana Tanvir Hussain statement. reconsidered the next day after conventions which also call for to marry is 18 and that for wom- Islamabad led the process of briefi ng. New Delhi designated former getting input from all stake- the same, she argued. en is 16. Secretary to the Prime Min- Intelligence Bureau chief aking a U-turn on its de- holders. Senator Kamran said girls are Senator Abbasi opposed the ister (SPM) Fawad Hasan Fawad Dineshwar Sharma as its repre- cision from a fortnight The bill was included on the deprived of an education when bill and said there is no need to hile expressing satis- was also present on the occa- sentative to initiate “interaction Tago, the Senate Standing agenda items for the commit- they are married off young and follow other countries. faction about the per- sion. and dialogue to understand the Committee on Interior cleared tee meeting yesterday and at that their physical and mental He said this is an Islamic is- Wformance of Ministry The minister told the prime legitimate aspirations of the a bill seeking an increase in the the very start of the discussion, health is also compromised. sue and that the matter of mar- of Defence Production in pro- minister that export of the prod- people” in Jammu and Kashmir. marriageable age for women to PML-N Senator Javed Abbasi She added that the Sindh and riages should be left to parents ducing sophisticated weapons, ucts of Ministry of Defence were A Ministry spokesman said the 18 with a majority vote. said the bill should not be dis- Punjab assemblies have passed to decide as they know what is Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan increasing every year and the measure did not appear to be However, PML-N and Jamiat cussed at all as the committee similar legislations in 2013 and best for their children. Abbasi has maintained that the government was generously pat- sincere and realistic. Also, for Ulema-i-Islam (F) members had already rejected it. 2015 respectively. JUI-F’s Haifz Hamdullah weapons and defence equip- ronising the production process any dialogue process to be still opposed the bill for being Senator Malik said the bill Shairah Academy Direc- had come into the room to get ment’s manufactured in Paki- which has been modernised rap- meaningful and result-oriented, un-Islamic. will be reconsidered as there tor General Dr Mohamed Mu- an answer about a query of his stan match the best standards of idly in recent years. “it has to include the three main Moved by PPP Senator Sehar was confusion over it. nir, who was invited to give his from the chairman. the world. Prime Minister Abbasi said parties — India, Pakistan and Kamran, The Child Marriage He said the Quaid-i-Azam opinion, said the issue should Senator Abbasi welcomed The defence production is that despite the intense compe- the Kashmiris. “In that context, Restraint (Amendment) Bill, had fi led a bill before the parti- not be linked to religion and him and said he was glad a reli- playing signifi cant role in help- tition, Pakistan’s defence prod- without the participation of the 2017 suggests the minimum age tion due to which the marriage- suggested the marriageable age gious scholar was fi nally in the ing for improvement of econo- ucts were favourite in the mar- Hurriyat leadership, no interac- women can be married be raised able age was raised to 16 years. be increased to 18 years because room. my. ket. tion or dialogue would carry from 16 to 18. Kamran argued that someone those younger than that can- He suggested his opinion be He said, “The quality of Pa- The ministry is also cater- any weight or meaning,” the The committee had on Oc- below the age of 18 years cannot not fulfi l the responsibilities of sought as he did not think of Dr kistan’s products is attracting ing the needs of the country’s spokesman said. The spokes- tober 11 rejected the bill after enter into a legal contract and marriage. Munir as a scholar. several countries of the world for defence requirements since the man emphasised that the need declaring it un-Islamic even that marriage is also a contract. “It is brutal to allow young Senator Malik said he will purchase of the same”. products are reliable. of the hour was to end “Indian though the mover of the bill was She said mother and child girls to be married,” he said. not allow a Senator who is not The prime minister was ex- Rana Tanvir Hussain briefed state-sponsored terrorism” in not present during the meeting. mortality is three times higher Rights activists Ambreen a member of the committee pressing his views yesterday at the premier on matters pertain- Jammu and Kashmir and resolv- Three other bills were de- in girls of less than 20 years of Ajaib, Valarie Khan and Mina to speak on the issue to which the Prime Minister Offi ce (PMO) ing to the ministry especially ing the lingering dispute in ac- ferred in the same meeting be- age. Gabina also supported the bill Hamdullah said he knows he is during the briefi ng submitted by the indigenous production and cordance with the UN Security cause the movers were absent. The Organisation of Islamic and said other Muslim countries a persona non grata but he will the Ministry of Defence where manufacture of defence related Council resolutions. Due to the criticism that en- Co-operation has recom- had also fi xed the minimum age play his role in ensuring the bill Federal Minister for Defence equipment and its exports. sued, the next day the chairman mended that the minimum to marry between 18 and 21 years. is not passed by parliament. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 PHILIPPINES Australia to train Philippines in urban warfare

AFP of the city. While the victory ended being employed by terrorists,” she told to build our capacity to train our troops. Clark immediate fears that the Islamic State reporters on the sidelines of a regional Part of our programme that we are go- would establish a Southeast Asian base security meeting in Clark, a northern ing to do in the near future is to build our in Marawi, concerns remain about its Philippine city. urban (warfare training) centres,” Loren- ustralia will train Filipino sol- longer-term intentions and capabili- “Globally we have seen the eff ect of zana said. diers in urban warfare to com- ties for the region. extremist ideology and terrorist threats The two sides will also work together Abat the spread of extremism Australia has experience tackling on millions of civilians and it is alarm- to enhance intelligence, surveillance and after months of fi erce fi ghting against the group in Iraq and Syria and Defence ing to see this disruption come to our reconnaissance in the south. They will militants in the southern Philippines, Minister Marise Payne said it was cru- region.” also bolster maritime security engage- it was announced yesterday. cial the Philippines had the expertise to Payne said the spread of Islamic State- ment and bilateral maritime patrols and Canberra has since September been keep extremists at bay now that the key inspired terrorism was a direct threat to co-host a seminar on eff orts to recover helping Manila battle local supporters fi ght had been won. Australia and its interests, and Canberra from confl ict. of the Islamic State group in the south- She said Canberra would imme- was determined it “cannot establish a Hundreds of local and foreign gunmen ern city of Marawi, deploying two AP- diately send teams composed of 80 geographic foothold in the region”. who had pledged allegiance to IS ram- 3C Orion aircraft for surveillance while troops to provide urban warfare coun- Philippine Defence Secretary Delfi n paged through Marawi, on May 23. helping in information-gathering and ter-terrorism training at Philippine Lorenzana welcomed Australia’s “in- They then took over parts of the city analysis. military bases. valuable support”, saying the military using civilians as human shields. Defence chiefs in the Philippines on “The practical training the Austral- would use the assistance to replicate the About 400,000 residents were dis- Defence Minister Delfin Lorenzana and Australia’s Defence Minister and Senator Monday declared victory after a fi ve- ian Defence Force will provide will en- training locally. placed as near-daily air strikes and in- Marise Ann Payne (right) issue a statement during the Philippine-Australia month battle that claimed more than sure the Philippines defence force is “While we need troops now to be tense ground combat left large parts of Defence Ministers’ joint press conference on the sidelines of the 11th Asean 1,100 lives and destroyed large parts better able to counter the brutal tactics trained on urban warfare, we also need the city in ruins. Defence Ministers (ADMM) and 4th ADMM-Plus in Clark.

Environment minister hopeful of end to open-pit mining ban US touts military relations as The Philippines’ environment minister said he was hopeful that a ban on open-pit mining would be lifted before the end of the year after a government panel recom- mended its removal yesterday. Lifting the ban would allow the Duterte courts Russia, China development of some big-ticket mining projects including the Reuters $5.9bn Tampakan copper and Clark gold mine. Open-pit mining is allowed under the mining laws of the Southeast Asian country, the he timing of US Defence world’s top nickel ore exporter. Secretary Jim Mattis’ trip However, the former environment Tto the Philippines this minister Regina Lopez banned it week couldn’t have been better, during her 10 months in off ice, say- coming just as it celebrated a ing the environmental degradation victory against militants in Ma- ruined the economic potential of rawi City — with a critical dose places where it was done. of help from the US military. A staunch environmentalist, But as Mattis met President Lopez stepped down in May after Rodrigo Duterte yesterday, fi ve she failed to win congressional Russian warships were parked confirmation. Roy Cimatu, a former off the Philippines and Moscow soldier, replaced her and was was preparing to formally hand confirmed in his post by lawmak- over thousands of assault rifl es, ers earlier this month. The Mining a million rounds of ammunition Industry Co-ordinating Council and 20 army trucks at a public said in a statement that a majority ceremony today. of the panel voted to recommend Duterte, known for his stri- that the Department of Environ- dent anti-American rhetoric, ment and Natural Resources “lift has made no secret of his plans the ban on open pit mining pro- to cultivate ties with America’s Chinese Minister of National Defence General Chang Wanquan (centre) vided that mining laws, rules and rivals, Russia and China. attends the Defence Ministers meeting at Clark Field in Pampanga. regulations are strictly enforced.” Those eff orts appear to be Cimatu, who co-chaired the starting to bear fruit. tis said during his fl ight, adding gave $1.5mn in January for the council with Finance Secretary Just before he met Mattis, he thought the Philippines had attack on Marawi, Ano said. Carlos Dominguez, said he will Duterte sat down with Russian sent “a very necessary message But even on Marawi, Duterte follow the recommendation and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to the terrorists.” has also credited US rival China present it at a Cabinet meeting yesterday, who, like Mattis, was President Rodrigo Duterte meets US Defence Secretary James Mattis during a courtesy call at the Kim said the US military as- for its assistance. in the first week of November. attending a gathering of Asian 11th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and 4th sistance made a “huge diff er- Duterte said it was one of the Asked whether the ban will likely defence ministers north of Ma- ADMM-Plus, in Clark, Pampanga, yesterday. ence” in the battle in Marawi, 100 sniper rifl es donated by be lifted before the end of the nila. particularly its intelligence China that fi red the bullet that year, Cimatu said: “Hopefully.” Shoigu signed two military years. The fact that the Chinese pines and spoke warmly of ties. nila announced the end of fi ve support, including with the de- killed Isnilon Hapilon, Islamic “We will strengthen the regula- deals, including the procure- and the Russians have provided “I want to be (as) politically months of military operations in ployment of Gray Eagle and P-3 State’s “chief” in Southeast tory environment surrounding ment of unspecifi ed equipment. some rifl es, I’m not sure is really correct as possible and I want to a southern city of Marawi held Orion aircraft. Asia, on Oct 16. the implementation of open-pit Today, Duterte was scheduled such a cause for concern for the be understood. So reading this by pro-Islamic State rebels, af- “I think all of us were sur- The ranger unit conducting mining,” he told reporters. The to visit a Russian anti-subma- United States.” speech will be good,” he said be- ter a fi erce and unfamiliar urban prised by the extent of infi ltra- the operation said the shot was Tampakan project in South Cota- rine ship, the Admiral Panta- Duterte’s often profanity- fore reporters were escorted out war that marked the country’s tion by the terrorists into Ma- fi red from a heavier weapon bato province on the island of leyev, docked in Manila. laden tirades against the United of the room. biggest security crisis in years. rawi City,” he said. mounted on an armoured vehi- Mindanao is the nation’s biggest US ambassador Sung Kim States have become his trade- Ahead of a visit by US Presi- The rebel occupation stunned “When you encounter a situ- cle. stalled mining venture. played down any US concerns mark during his year-old presi- dent Donald Trump to the Phil- a military inexperienced in ur- ation like that, you obviously Philippine Defence Secretary Its development was halted after about Duterte’s outreach to dency, and he has chided Wash- ippines, the US envoy cited an ban combat and stoked wider need good intelligence to be able Delfi n Lorenzana told reporters South Cotabato banned open-pit China and Russia and noted that ington for treating his country improvement in “tone and sub- concerns that Islamic State to target key areas and I think yesterday about the receipt of mining in 2010, prompting opera- the United States, a former co- “like a dog,” despite the long- stance” in bilateral ties over the loyalists have gained infl uence that’s where our support was heavy equipment from China tor Glencore Plc to quit the project lonial power, was the country’s standing US assistance. 10 months since he’s been in his among locals and have ambi- quite critical.” to help rebuild Marawi, and also in 2015. Lopez has said the only treaty ally, with far deeper Still, Duterte’s rhetoric has post. tions to use the island of Mind- On Monday night, Philippine noted the receipt of rifl es and project would cover an area the ties in the Philippines. been inconsistent, and he “President Duterte has made anao as a base for operations in military chief General Eduardo ammunition from Beijing. size of 700 soccer fields in what “I’m not really threatened by warmly greeted visiting Sec- clear that even as he pursues Southeast Asia. Ano said the US technical sup- He expected to receive four otherwise would be agricultural this notion that China or Rus- retary of State Rex Tillerson in improved relations with coun- Mattis, on his fl ight to the port “tilted the balance” be- fast boats from China before the land.Removing the ban would sia are providing some military August, calling himself a “hum- tries like China and Russia, he Philippines, commended Ma- cause “we had a very hard grasp end of the year. may also lead to the resumption equipment to the Philippines,” ble friend” of the United States will continue to focus on mak- nila on the operation and yes- of the situation in the early The United States has for of development of the $1.2bn Kim told a small group of re- at the time. ing sure that the US-Philippines terday discussed ways to deepen days” until information fl owed decades been the Philippines’ Silangan copper and gold mine, porters travelling with Mattis. Yesterday, he cautiously kept alliance remains strong,” Kim US-Philippines military ties in and helped defeat the militants. defence treaty ally and its big- also in Mindanao, by Philippine “We have been providing to scripted dialogue at the start said. talks with the Philippine de- The United States also pro- gest source of hardware and miner Philex Mining Corp. very important equipment to of his meeting with Mattis, as The same day that Mattis fence minister. vided information Islamic State training, providing about $1bn the Philippines for many, many he welcomed him to the Philip- landed in the Philippines, Ma- “It was a tough fi ght,” Mat- leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in equipment since 2000. Families begin returning to war-torn Marawi

AFP near daily bombing raids by hid- as he stood close to a military Marawi ing in basements, tunnels and checkpoint. “I’m happy because Residents get training to identify bombs mosques. we are able to return. But I’m “We are afraid but we want to very sad at what happened to my Philippine teachers yesterday gave endured 154 days of the off ensive esidents of a southern check on our houses,” Jamaliah city.” families returning to the destroyed by stockpiling huge amounts of Philippine city where Is- Lomontong, a village offi cial in Some small shops selling lakeside city of Marawi a course weapons, including bombs. Warn- Rlamic State supporters her 40s, said yesterday as she daily household items and food, on how to identify unexploded ings from the teachers included waged a brutal fi ve-month bat- and some relatives walked into known locally as sari-sari stores, bombs in their homes and warned drawings of inquisitive children tle began returning home yes- their neighbourhood near where had reopened. them to stay clear. The five-month hammering bombs and trying to terday, but gunfi re greeted them the main fi ghting occurred. However the authorities said battle to retake Marawi from pro- set them on fire. as soldiers scoured devastated Lomontong said her house the military had yet to give the Islamic State rebels left the city in “This helps us parents to under- neighbourhoods for remaining had survived, although it had all-clear for residents to return ruins. The government announced stand and tell our children not to militants. been looted. because of safety concerns. the end of military operations on touch or get near the bombs,” said Defence chiefs announced on “Anything easy to take away And even when they do, large Monday in the country’s biggest Sobaida Sidic, a housewife attend- Monday that the fi ghting, which has gone — televisions, laptops,” parts of the city would be unin- security crisis in years, allowing ing the training. claimed more than 1,100 lives she said. habitable with a multi-billion- rebuilding and rehabilitation ef- Authorities said 920 militants, 165 and left the eastern half of Mara- Only a few dozen civilians dollar rehabilitation programme forts to begin. The teachers taught troops and police and at least 45 wi in ruins, had ended following could be seen yesterday morning expected to take years to com- children and their parents how civilians were killed in the conflict, a fi nal clash in a religious place on the outskirts of the mostly A soldier (right) talks to a resident returning to inspect her home plete, according to local govern- to recognise live mortar shells, which displaced more than in which dozens of gunmen were destroyed eastern half of Mara- near the battle area of Mapandi in Marawi, on the southern island ment offi cials and aid workers. grenades, aircraft rockets and “im- 300,000 people. killed. wi, where regular bursts of gun- of Mindanao yesterday. Duterte has warned in recent provised explosive devices” in their Lominog Manoga, a principal at a The militants had occupied fi re and occasional explosions days that, even with the defeat villages. Security forces used artil- school in Marawi overseeing the Marawi on May 23 in what Presi- could still be heard. also detonating bombs that the fi rst into the hole before they of the militants in Marawi, oth- lery bombardment and air strikes training, said it was important to dent Rodrigo Duterte and se- However the sounds of war gunmen had planted. “It’s pos- check with their fl ashlights,” he ers may be hiding in nearby cit- to flush out the gunmen who teach people the risks. curity analysts said was a bid to did not mean there was renewed sible that there were some (mili- said. ies or elsewhere in the southern establish a Southeast Asian base fi ghting, according to Colonel tants) left behind. In every war, In the western half of the city, Philippines and planning further for IS. Romeo Brawner, deputy com- that is the SOP (standard oper- which largely escaped the fi ght- attacks. they would not be able to live in don’t want their children to be The campaign to oust them mander of Marawi forces. ating procedure),” Brawner said. ing, hundreds of residents had Eric Alarcon, head of the Phil- destroyed neighbourhoods. aff ected,” Alarcon said. turned into the Philippines’ He said they were due to sol- “So the fi ring is part of the begun returning. ippine Red Cross’s operations “There are a lot of factors. “Others are looking for a new longest urban war, forcing about diers going through buildings mopping operations, because “I feel a mixture of joy and for Marawi, said many residents Some are just afraid that this is livelihood, a new business. May- 400,000 people to fl ee their looking for militants who may if there are holes, tunnels (in sadness,” businessman Go- may never return to the city be- just a brief peace. Afterwards, be they want a place where they homes as the militants defi ed still be hiding, while troops were buildings), then the troops fi re naranko Mapandi Jr, 46, said cause of security fears or because there will be fi ghting again. They can sustain their business.” Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL New fi eld hospital treats hundreds of Rohingya M K Anwar AFP desperate need of treatment. Kutupalong, Bangladesh “A lot of patients we’ve treat- ed are weak and tired. There is Veteran a lot of exhaustion and dehy- he eight-month-old Ro- dration due to long walks,” said hingya boy was close to paediatric nurse Hildur Sven- BNP leader Tdeath when he arrived onsdottir at the clinic equipped at the fi eld hospital in a Bang- with an operating theatre, ma- ladesh refugee camp, his tiny ternity ward and isolation unit. passes away lungs racked by pneumonia as “There are patients who have he struggled to draw breath. not eaten for days,” she added. But he made it - saved by The threat of a serious dis- By Mizan Rahman doctors at a new Red Cross fi eld ease outbreak stalks the densely Dhaka hospital in Cox’s Bazar, the populated camps, where hun- largest clinic of its kind in the dreds of thousands of refugees overcrowded camps stretch- live squeezed together in basic top leader of opposition ing along the border with shanties lacking proper toilets. Bangladesh Nationalist Myanmar. Doctors fear a water-borne AParty (BNP) M K Anwar died “Had he come even an hour disease like cholera would yesterday at his Elephant Road later, he would have no chance wreak havoc in such conditions residence in Dhaka. He was 84. to survive,” Peter Meyer, team and thousands of patients - es- Anwar, a bureaucrat-turned leader at the 60-bed hospital pecially children - are already politician, breathed his last the size of two football fi elds, suff ering from acute diarrhoea. at around 1:20am, said BNP said. Meyer said the hospital was spokesperson Sayrul Kabir Khan. The infant, Mohammad planning to send mobile teams He was a BNP standing com- Hares, is among the more than deeper into the camps, where mittee member and former min- 600,000 refugees who have bamboo and plastic shanties - ister. The veteran BNP leader had poured into Bangladesh since perched on hillsides far from long been suff ering from diabe- late August to escape eth- relief centres - stretch for miles. tes, heart disease and various old nic violence in neighbouring “What we have seen so far is age complications. Myanmar. only the tip of the iceberg,” he He is survived by wife Mah- Many arrived sick, starv- said. muda Anwar, daughter Khadiza ing and nursing bullet wounds For many Rohingya, the new Anwar and two sons Mahmud and landmine injuries, putting hospital staff ed by foreign doc- Anwar and Masud Anwar. enormous pressure on the al- tors and stocked with equip- Born in Homna in 1933, Mo- ready overwhelmed medical ment is their fi rst encounter hammad Khorshed Anwar, clinics operating in camps near with modern medicine. Myanmar refugee Razia Begum holding the hand of her three-year-old son Irfan as he is treated at the Red Cross clinic in Kutupalong popularly known as M K Anwar, the border. Healthcare is abysmal across refugee camp in Ukhia yesterday. joined the then civil service and Red Cross doctors at the new the border in Rakhine, Bud- also served the country’s ad- hospital have been treating up- dhist-majority Myanmar’s minority have been largely other preventable illnesses. “When we were sick, we only his lungs - treatment unimagi- ministration after the liberation wards of 200 patients a day, as poorest state, where the Ro- deprived of proper medical “I have never seen such a hos- saw the local village healers.” nable in her village back home. in 1971. exhausted Rohingya Muslims hingya are denied citizenship care, and doctors say those pital in my entire life,” Moham- Her young boy was saved by The infant was “recovering After his retirement from pub- continue to cross into Bangla- and regarded as illegal migrants. arriving already show signs mad’s mother Halima Khatun urgent surgery from a team of fast”, Meyer said, adding: “He is lic service as the cabinet sec- desh by land and sea, many in The persecuted Muslim of serious malnutrition and said. doctors who drained fl uid from a great fi ghter.” retary in 1990, he joined BNP in 1991 and was inducted in the cabinet twice in 1991 and 2001 Six arrested for when the party came to power. He was elected member of smuggling parliament fi ve times from Hom- protected animals na constituency. in Nepal Lanka to develop Trincomalee harbour Anwar was reappointed as BNP standing committee mem- ber when the party’s highest Three Indians and a Pakistani Agencies The prime minister also proving healthcare. The only ing,” the Premier said that it policymaking body was formed were among six people arrested Colombo pointed out that develop- way to strengthen the econo- is necessary to adapt to new following its 6th national council in Kathmandu for allegedly ment activities in Colombo my for all these is to strength- technology and trends. in 2016. smuggling protected live animals and Trincomalee harbours also en private investment,” the He said the Kandy city is On August 18, 2015, a Comilla to Nepal from Nigeria, a media ri Lanka’s Prime Minister aff ect Kandy. premier said. a perfect location to devel- court sent him to jail rejecting report said yesterday. Ranil Wickremesinghe Explaining that the govern- Pointing out that China, In- op information technology his bail petition in a case fi led The Central Investigation Bureau Shas said the government ment needs Rs3tn for the debt dia and Singapore have become and he also hope to develop for petrol bomb attack on a bus of the Nepal police arrested three plans to develop Trincomalee payment in 2018 and 2019, developed today through pri- agricultural technology. in Chouddagram upazila on Indians - Mohammad Usman, harbour with support from the premier said although vate sector development, the With the completion of Central February the same year. 34, Mohammad Faim, 35, and foreign investments, a media there will be loans to pay after premier said Sri Lanka should Expressway exports from Kandy Later, he was also shown ar- Mohammad Sherif Shahid, 35, the report said. that the government will be follow the same path. can be transported to Katunayake rested in some other cases fi led Himalayan Times reported. Participating in a function Prime Minister Ranil able to repay those with the “In addition, we hope to within an hour, the premier said. in connection with violence Two Nepalese - Sanjeev Bhari, yesterday, the prime minister Wickramasinghe revenues. “At the same time launch a new development Kurunegala, Kegalle and Kandy during the BNP-led 20-party’s 40, of Kathmandu and Raj said both India and Singapore we have to borrow more for bank to help businessmen. All should obtain the benefi ts of the movement early 2015. Kumar Tiwari, 42, of Bara - and are willing to extend support to in the Bay of Bengal and with development,” he said. this should be done in a special Central Expressway, he added. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia Jawaid Aslam Khan, 55, of the port development activi- the development of the Bay “Our main objectives are to way. We are in a new economic The Premier said the gov- and secretary general Fakhrul Pakistan were also arrested, ties and the discussions with of Bengal in the next 10 years stabilise the economy, to pay system. Today most people ernment hopes to introduce Islam Alamgir expressed deep police off icials said. the two countries are going on. development of Trincomalee back loans, to manage debt, travel using Uber. How many large development projects for shock at his death. Two chimpanzees, eight The premier pointed out harbour will have considerable to spend money on important shops in Kandy will be left in the Kandy city and has also fo- Fakhrul visited Anwar’s resi- monkeys, seven golden that the Trincomalee harbour infl uence in accelerating the activities and to provide for 13 20 years? That’s because the cused attention to develop the dence in the morning and consoled pheasants, two ringneck is located in a strategic position country’s economy. years of school education, im- online marketplace is operat- tourism industry in the area. the bereaved family members. pheasants, 38 pigeons and 65 parrots were seized from the accused after a raid at the house of Bhari in Kathmandu on October 18, said Superintendent of Polcie Jeevan Shrestha, the CIB Submarine spokesperson. The final destination of the apes ‘The car horn is uncivilised’: how is believed to be India, he said. cable repairs “Preliminary investigation suggests the racketeers would smuggle apes to India from hit Internet Nigeria by making Nepal their Kathmandu’s streets went quiet transit,” Shrestha said. He said the apes were brought By Pete Pattisson, GNS paign and fl exibility over implementa- service to Nepal from the African Kathmandu tion. “Also, there was nothing to spend country by air, but off icials at the and no investment needed – it was just Tribhuvan International Airport a change in behaviour,” he added. angladesh is experiencing here failed to intercept the animal hen the authorities in Kath- Surya Raj Acharya, an urban scien- slow Internet as the coun- species. mandu outlawed the use of tist based in the city, believes horn use Btry’s fi rst undersea cable The accused have been handed Wvehicle horns in April, the was not a deep-rooted habit. “People has been shut down for repairs, over to the District Forest Off ice, start of the Nepali year, many expect- pressed the horn just for the sake of an offi cial said yesterday, IANS Kathmandu, where legal action ed the ban would go the way of most it … 80% of the time it was unneces- reports from Dhaka. under National Parks and Wildlife new year’s resolutions and be quickly sary. It was mostly just to express their The offi cial of the Bangla- Conservation Act will be initiated, forgotten. indignation,” he said. desh Submarine Cable Company while the animals and birds But six months later, the streets of Drivers in Kathmandu have kicked (BSCCL) said that Internet users rescued alive have been sent to the capital remain remarkably quiet. In the habit of continually using their in capital Dhaka and elsewhere the Central Zoo. a city where a horn was widely used as horns after the authorities introduced a in the country would likely face Anyone involved in the trade of a substitute for a brake, Kathmandu’s horn ban in April 2017. poor connectivity for the next protected species may face a jail drivers appear to have kicked their noisy Drivers in Kathmandu have kicked three days from yesterday. term of five to 15 years, and also habit for good. the habit of continually using their The cable, which for the fi rst be slapped with a fine of up to “To mark the new year we wanted horns after the authorities introduced a time in its history of 12 years, was Rs100,000, the report said. to give something new to the people of horn ban in April 2017. shut down for repairs at a depth Indian national Usman is a Kathmandu,” said Mingmar Lama, the The horn ban follows other suc- of 115km in the Bay of Bengal repeat off ender and was arrested head of the traffi c police at the time cessful initiatives to improve drivers’ from its landing station in Cox’s with 109 tortoises and 162 the ban was introduced. “The horn is a behaviour, including a crackdown on Kathmandu’s drivers must contend with chaotic roadworks. Bazar district, 292 km southeast birds of diff erent species from symbol of being uncivilised. We wanted drink-driving and enforcement of lane of capital Dhaka, he said. Kathmandu in June last year, it to show the world how civilised we are discipline. “The public really trust us. If quiet, but in every other way they re- ple earn money from them, so the syn- The (BSCCL) offi cial said the said. in Kathmandu.” you are known by people as being hon- main congested, chaotic and polluted. dicates are bargaining with the govern- second submarine cable, how- Police had raided a house and The ban is now being introduced in est they will follow your reforms. They Roads are dug up, resurfaced and then ment. They will only give up the [old] ever, remains fully operational. recovered the reptiles and birds other parts of the country, including the will be convinced it is for the common dug up again; buses and trucks emit vehicles if the government pays them.” State Minister for Telecoms kept in boxes and cages. Off icials tourist hotspot Pokhara. good,” said Sarbendra Khanal, the cur- black fumes while traffi c police, caked Similarly, the traffi c police have large- Tarana Halim had ealirer said said the tortoises, which weigh “We received a lot of complaints rent head of Kathmandu’s traffi c police. in dust, try to keep order in a city with- ly relaxed an initiative to curb jaywalk- that Internet speed in Bangla- three to five kg each, and the about horn pollution. Everyone felt But civic pride has its limits. Law en- out a single traffi c light. ing. Immediately after its introduction, desh may slow between October birds, including several varieties that in recent years it had become ex- forcers have issued almost 11,000 fi nes In an eff ort to cut pollution, the gov- thousands of pedestrians were fi ned 24 and October 26 due to repairs of parrots, were smuggled into cessive,” said Kedar Nath Sharma, the for horn use since the ban was intro- ernment banned vehicles over 20 years every day, but many were unable or even on the fi rst submarine cable. Nepal from India. chief district offi cer for Kathmandu. “It duced. At Rs500 ($5.5), a fi ne is roughly a old, but unlike the horn ban the policy unwilling to pay, citing the shortage of Bangladesh was connected It is believed the seized animals was not just the view of one person or third of what a taxi driver earns in a day, has been aggressively resisted. “The zebra crossings. with its second submarine cable were to be illegally transported to community; we all felt the same. It was leaving drivers such as Krishna Gopal syndicates that run passenger vehicles Acharya is not convinced by the ap- system called South East Asia- China, where they would end up discussed in every tea shop.” Maharjan fuming. “We have dogs, cows are very strong, so the government has proach. “When the economy is devel- Middle East-Western Europe 5 in restaurants or thriving markets Sharma credits the success of the and tractors crossing the streets, so we failed to phase them out,” said Meghraj oping and people are poor, it will not (SEA-ME-WE 5) with a design in Vietnam selling animals and policy to consultation with all stake- need our horns,” he said. Poudyal, vice president of the Nepal work if you put a fi nancial burden on capacity of 1,500 Gbps in Sep- birds, according to the report. holders, a “massive” information cam- Kathmandu’s streets may now be Automobile Sports Association. “Peo- people.” tember this year. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Empowering China’s Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar new miracle workers [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), By Michael Spence 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Milan Fax 44350474 s the Chinese Communist Party’s 19th National Congress has unfolded, much Aof the focus has been on who will occupy the key positions in GULF TIMES President Xi Jinping’s administration for the next fi ve years. But China’s future trajectory depends crucially on another group of leaders, who have received far less attention: the There’s a tech technocrats who will carry out the specifi c tasks associated with China’s economic reform and transformation. Over the last four decades, problem that China’s technocrats have collectively engineered a miraculous transformation. The current generation, a gifted group of needs fi xing policymakers, will step down in or around March 2018, passing the baton to a new generation. That generation – The Big Tech is gradually being taught a lesson with highly educated, experienced, and, for long-term consequences: Size does matter, for good the most part, successful on their own and bad. Now under fi re for letting their platforms be merits – is prepared to carry China’s economic and social progress forward hijacked by political actors during the 2016 election in with great skill and dedication. The the US, Silicon Valley companies have long been the question is whether they will have an target of antitrust concerns across the world. open fi eld on which to run. Tech giants such as Amazon, Apple, Facebook and One thing is certain: the next generation of technocrats will face Google joined Microsoft in 2017 to become the fi ve very diff erent conditions from those most-valuable companies in the US. They dominate confronted by their predecessors. their markets, using their huge profi ts and big data China has reached a moment of advantages to gobble up smaller rivals or to enter signifi cant uncertainty. Beyond the new markets. They’ve made close to 500 acquisitions questions inherent in the process of Chinese President Xi Jinping raises his hand to vote for the reports with other China’s leaders at the closing of the 19th generational turnover, there has been Communist Party Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing yesterday. Chinese President Xi Jinping’s name was worth about $140bn over the last decade, according a dramatic shift in China’s dominant added to the Communist Party’s constitution at a defining congress, elevating him alongside Chairman Mao to the pantheon to Bloomberg data. New research also connects their policy framework under Xi. of the country’s founding giants. market power with chronic economic problems, Under Deng Xiaoping – the leader including the decline in workers’ share of national who initiated China’s radical “reform While few Western observers have refl ected the inherent tension between basic research do have a substantial and opening up” in 1978 – the singular fully recognised this perspective, the long-standing imperative of impact. income and slower economic expansions. policy goal was domestic economic developments in the West over the ensuring social and political stability Moreover, in both policymaking That’s been giving regulators headaches for long. transformation and growth, to be last ten years – the 2008 fi nancial and the more modern objective and academia, active debate is In June 2017, the European Union fi ned Alphabet’s achieved with a collaborative decision- crisis, widening income and wealth of market liberalisation. China’s indispensable to sorting good ideas Google $2.7bn for abusing its search-engine dominance making model that included vigorous inequality, and intensifying political leadership remains steadfastly from bad ones. Yet while the Chinese internal debate. Deng explicitly ruled polarisation – have reinforced this committed to protecting the system has proved its capacity for by favouring its own shopping service in search out a broader international agenda mindset. Party’s interests, which it views as high-level internal policy debate results. But the US Federal Trade Commission in 2013 for China – a dictate that China’s As a result, Chinese leaders and coterminous with those of society. among highly trained and experienced declined to bring a case against Google for the same policymakers followed for more than citizens are more convinced than For that reason, the CCP continues to participants whose loyalty is not in conduct. Germany is examining whether Facebook three decades. ever that government by a strong focus on upholding order and instilling question, and then act quickly and abuses its market dominance – it now has 2bn regular Since taking power in 2012, Xi single party is an essential pillar of values in all aspects of Chinese life, decisively, China’s leaders remain has changed this policy framework stability and growth. The focus in the maintaining an active presence not suspicious of unfettered public users worldwide – in several key ways. For starters, he West on the form of governance, as only in policy debates, but also in debate and commentary. But many by requiring new tackled the endemic corruption that opposed to inclusive economic and private-sector activities and social complex policy choices – for example, The Big Tech members to give up had been undermining the credibility social outcomes, is misguided, they aff airs. about fi nancial-sector reform and privacy rights. Japanese of the CCP (and, by extension, China’s believe, because both democratic and At the same time, the government is opening up – would benefi t from made some 500 governance model), by launching an autocratic systems can be corrupted. seeking to give markets a more decisive the winnowing process that greater and South Korean unprecedented anti-graft campaign Moreover, China’s economic agenda role in the economy, unleash the power openness aff ords. acquisitions watchdogs are also that reached the highest levels of the under Xi has expanded beyond its of entrepreneurship and innovation, Over the next fi ve years, China’s looking at the exclusive Party’s leadership. narrow focus on domestic growth and and respond more eff ectively to success will depend largely on how worth $140bn control Google and Many expected Xi’s anti-corruption development to include a concerted the needs and desires of a young, well the government’s complex Facebook have over vast campaign to be a temporary eff ort to expand Chinese infl uence educated, and fast-growing middle agenda, and the tensions it entails, are over the last initiative, intended to pave the way in the global economy, especially in class. And for good reason: these are managed. To achieve their objectives, amounts of consumer for implementation of the aggressive the developing world. This broad and the internal engines that have enabled China’s leaders will need to strike a decade data. economic reforms announced at expanding external agenda generates China to achieve 6-7% annual GDP delicate balance between a muscular, There’s now a the Third Plenary Session of the claims on resources – you can’t be the growth amid a diffi cult structural disciplined, and ubiquitous Party, conspicuous political angle, too. The Silicon Valley 18th Central Committee in 2013. dominant external investor in Africa shift and middle-income transition, setting standards and protecting Instead, the campaign has become and Central Asia without spending carried out in a relatively weak global the public interest, and innovative, brethren, especially Facebook, are being blamed for essentially a permanent feature of Xi’s a lot of money – while infl uencing economy. empowered, and potent markets, helping Russia get Donald Trump elected. administration. policy choices. For example, state- It is hard to say for sure whether driving the economy into the future. – Just as Facebook is scrambling to respond to Xi believes that a government’s owned enterprises, including banks, these two objectives are in direct Project Syndicate pressure from US Congress about the fl ood of fake legitimacy is mainly a function may respond more fl exibly than purely confl ict with each other. But there of consistently delivered values, private enterprises to a variable mix is reason for concern. The kind of z Michael Spence, a Nobel laureate in news and bogus political ads on its site, in developing together with economic and social of public and private incentives and dynamic competition that leads to economics, is Professor of Economics countries, it’s also become a platform for hate progress, with strict commitment to investment returns. innovation is, after all, far from a at New York University’s Stern School speech and incendiary rumours. In India, Facebook’s the public interest taking precedence Finally, in recent years, China’s centrally guided process, though of Business and Senior Fellow at the second-biggest market, fake stories spreading on its over the form of governance. policy frameworks have increasingly public-sector choices in areas like Hoover Institution. WhatsApp messaging service have led to lynchings. And in Myanmar, Facebook posts and fake images have contributed to the plight of Rohingya Muslims, more than 500,000 of whom have fl ed their homes since late August. For sure, Facebook could deny direct responsibility for these trends, but its platform exacerbates the potential for violence and social breakdown. Why the renminbi won’t rule Tech behemoths could argue their success is underpinned by the quality of their off erings; why By Paola Subacchi rise of renminbi diplomacy. Kong, where they are priced either in institutions. This was precisely Tokyo Chinese policymakers have been US or Hong Kong dollars. And most the point that Zhou Xiaochuan, punish success? But the 20-year dry spell in US hoping to develop the renminbi’s of China’s fast-expanding loans and the governor of the People’s Bank monopoly cases has led economists, lawmakers and role in international finance, in order overseas investments are in dollars. of China, made in a 2009 speech even some tech experts to conclude that enforcement n the dystopian fantasy Blade to strengthen China’s geopolitical But the most compelling reason challenging the view that only has been too timid, with negative economic eff ects. Runner 2049, Los Angeles 32 standing, since the 1990s. And, in why one should not expect a the US, through the dollar, could years from now looks a lot like recent years, the Chinese leadership renminbi-dominated international guarantee the functioning of the Going beyond the narrow focus on consumer prices China’s megacities today: grey, has led a concerted effort to fulfil finance system to arise anytime soon international monetary system. and services, the long-drawn tech monopoly can stifl e I polluted, and dominated by tall that ambition, especially by is that China’s leaders have never As Zhou pointed out, the US innovation and job creation, leading to inequality. With towers emblazoned with flashing internationalising China’s currency. shown any sustained commitment dollar’s monetary dominance is some exceptions, tech giants reap hefty profi ts from small neon advertisements. The viewer Yet renminbi-denominated to developing the renminbi as underpinned by the Bretton Woods never learns much about the outside finance is nowhere near ready to a true alternative to the dollar. institutions, created after World labour forces, leading to more national income going to world, much less in what currency compete with – let alone rival – Instead, they have pursued a co- War II. Reforming the international fewer workers and stagnating median wages overall. the advertised goods are traded. Is dollar finance. In fact, the renminbi operative approach to reform of monetary system, therefore, means Across the world, technology has become an the US dollar still dominant, has the still trails other reserve currencies the international monetary system, reforming the governance of the inseparable part of everyday life. If the loftier aim of Chinese renminbi taken over, or has (the US dollar, the euro, the Japanese which they argue should not be multilateral financial institutions – the Big Tech is to build a more equitable global society, some other currency surged to global yen, and the British pound) in dependent on any one currency. an argument that China emphasised preeminence? international finance by so much For the Chinese, the future of during its G20 presidency last year. it should never be allowed to use as a means to tear US President Donald Trump seems that a renminbi-led international the international monetary system As the US retreats from the societies apart, economically and politically. intent on ensuring that America monetary system by mid-century should be one in which multiple world stage and a multipolar global retreats, at least partly, from its seems about as likely as a Blade national currencies provide choice order emerges, the international global leadership role. But, as was Runner 2049-style dystopia. – in terms of invoicing, payments, monetary system may well be the case with the British pound One reason for the renminbi’s and asset allocation – thereby transformed – but probably not into in the interwar period, a currency continued weakness in international reducing the system’s exposure to a renminbi-led system. Whether To Advertise can remain globally dominant even finance is that, despite considerable national politics. Moreover, with because of the intrinsic weakness after its issuing country loses its progress since 2010, it remains a more central banks creating liquidity, of China’s international finance [email protected] economic, financial, and geopolitical half-baked international currency. and international financial centres or an understanding that a truly Display hegemony. Today, too, the world The renminbi is illiquid and offering pools of it, such a system international currency must be Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 should expect the US dollar to remain unconvertible outside designated would entail a lower risk of cash more market-driven than the the key reserve currency, used to offshore markets. As a result, its crunches. Already, China has been government-controlled renminbi Classified invoice and settle international trade, weight in international investors’ experimenting with the development could be, not even China expects the Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 for a long time to come. portfolios is miniscule. of offshore renminbi markets in age of renminbi diplomacy to arrive But, in terms of international Even China itself uses the key financial centres, as a way to anytime soon. – Project Syndicate Subscription financial diplomacy, the dollar’s renminbi in only about a quarter overcome its currency’s limited [email protected] position may not be as secure. of its international trade, and its liquidity. zPaola Subacchi is Research The question is whether the end international finance remains dollar- In order to build such a multi- Director of International Economics of “dollar diplomacy,” which the denominated. China’s blue-chip currency system, however, the at Chatham House and Professor 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved economist Barry Eichengreen firms – Alibaba, Baidu, and Tencent world would need to undertake far- of Economics at the University of predicts, will necessarily mean the – are listed in New York or Hong reaching reforms of the international Bologna. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 25, 2017 23 COMMENT Venezuelans in US ship food home

By Andrea Castillo to nonprofi ts in Florida, which sends asylum. Others who remain in Venezuela Latin American governments have called Los Angeles them on to Venezuela. Venezuelan send him grocery lists to fi ll out and ship. on Maduro to accept humanitarian actors living in Los Angeles, including “Most of our customers actually live aid. But the Venezuelan president has the telenovela star Carlos Montilla, have here in the States now,” he said. “A lot of refused, instead off ering $5mn in aid to hile video chatting with helped mobilise people through social them, one of the fi rst places they come to Texas after Hurricane Harvey and then relatives in Venezuela, media posts. ask for work is here.” helping Caribbean island nations hit by Tere Caicedo watched as Venezuelans in the US tend to be Caicedo and a volunteer from her Hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria. Wthey opened a package professionals with higher levels of church in Santa Ana hauled bags of This year, the government banned a she had sent them stuff ed with clothes, education than other Latino immigrants. donations into Olarte’s company on a long list of imports, including fi rst aid shoes and a large bag of oatmeal. Experts say the crisis is forcing the Friday in August. The sound of salsa supplies and prescription medicine. The bag had ripped during transport, Venezuelan population to become more music mixed with loud rips of packaging Courier services keep shipments small spilling oatmeal all over. Caicedo, a Santa like the rest of Latin America, where tape securing boxes addressed to “Jose to avoid the attention of authorities and, Ana resident who cleans houses for a relying on remittances is the norm. Caicedo,” her brother in Venezuela. They as needed, bribe customs offi cials to look living, told her relatives not to worry. She Caicedo’s relatives never asked for packed heavy cans of beans and tomato the other way and let packages through. would send more. help – they only spoke of how expensive sauce at the bottom, then added bags of Dassler Dazha, who runs a Facebook But her uncle carefully picked out the things had become. Her father owns a pasta, sugar, fl our and white rice before a page called United Venezuelans in Los package’s contents, fl ipped the box over farm, but shortages of pesticides and fi nal layer of sweaters, underwear, pants Angeles, recalled the story of a cousin and dumped the oatmeal into a bowl. vitamins started about three years and shoes. who last year got into a store line in “No,” he told her. “This is food. We ago and have worsened, making them About 225,000 Venezuelan-born Caracas at 4 am and fi nished shopping can’t just throw it away.” prohibitively expensive even when they immigrants live in the US, according to at 5pm. When she left the store, thieves That moment in January brought were available. the Pew Research Center – more than were waiting. They beat her and stole home to Caicedo, the only member of As the humanitarian crisis in double the population in 2000. In 2014, her food. her immediate family in the US, the Venezuela grew, Caicedo asked her Los Angeles was estimated to be home to Dazha used to send boxes of food but pressing needs of a country spiralling out church for donations of food, clothes about 5,000 Venezuelans. switched to cash because relatives could of control amid skyrocketing food costs, and money. She held a raffl e and Venezuelans top the list of asylum still fi nd food in big cities or on the black political chaos and shortages of nearly organised a carwash. Expats in Miami show their support for anti-government protests in Venezuela in seekers in the US, with more than 21,000 market. He, like many expatriates, sends everything. She and a group of volunteers have this file photo. such applications fi led in 2017. money home using an underground Caicedo is one of a growing number of since shipped about 8,000 pounds Nearly 75% of the population network of Venezuelans with US bank Venezuelans in the US who regularly ship of food, clothes and necessities, such pounds of rice, nearly 9 pounds of black other parts of Latin America, shipping involuntarily lost an average of 19 accounts who trade dollars for bolivars at necessities – beans, rice and sugar – to as toilet paper, diapers and soap, to beans, 4 pounds of corn fl our, several to Venezuela through the postal service pounds last year, according to a survey the black market rate. Venezuela at great expense. Venezuela. Her brother, Jose, and other bags of salt and three avocados. The comes with a strong risk that packages released this year by three of Venezuela’s But the country is running out of cash. “Before it was out of enjoyment, a relatives keep what they need and three freezers and two refrigerators were could be stolen. In the US, shipping largest universities and a foundation that Dazha said that to withdraw 30,000 Christmas gift,” Caicedo said of previous distribute the rest of the goods to needy empty. Meat is impossible to aff ord. companies have popped up to meet the tracks nutrition. bolivars from the bank in August, packages. “Now it’s more serious. Now families. Food prices in Venezuela have need for an alternative. Venezuelans call the weight loss the enough for less than a week’s worth of it’s necessity.” Several boxes from one of Caicedo’s skyrocketed as production of oil, Ralph Olarte built his Los Angeles- “Maduro diet,” a sarcastic reference to groceries, his sister had to go several days Behind the eff orts are individuals, latest shipments went to the Providence agriculture and cars has plummeted. based company, Olarte Transport, on life under President Nicolas Maduro. in a row because the bank would only let large-scale organisations such as San Antonio Asylum, a retirement Infl ation since the beginning of the Venezuelan retailers who bought goods Severe malnutrition among children her withdraw 5,000 bolivars a day. the nonprofi t Humanitarian Aid for home for low-income men located in year has risen by more than 536%. This in Southern California and shipped them has risen most dramatically. Reports The situation – and by extension, the Venezuela Programme in Florida, and southwest Caracas. month, earnings for people who make home for sale. Shipments to Venezuela this year showed that 11.4% of children best way to help – changes constantly. grass-roots groups such as the one There’s almost nothing the shelter minimum wage were the equivalent of are now dominated by people sending younger than 5 suff er from moderate to Dazha’s brother and sister had founded by Caicedo. isn’t short on. The director, Sister Ana just over $8.50 per month, at the black food to relatives. severe malnutrition. The Venezuelan saved dry and canned food items in Los Angeles is far from the hub of Medina Suarez, said that although there market exchange rate. Olarte delivers in Caracas and health minister was fi red in May after she anticipation of hard times, but ran out of Venezuelan American life in Miami, is space for 70 people, only 52 live there “People are dying of hunger now,” surrounding areas, co-ordinating with released a report showing that maternal their stores in mid-September. but expatriates in Southern California because the foundation can no longer Caicedo said. “Over there, a small bag of people who live in high-risk areas deaths had risen by 65%, while infant He’s now thinking about sending began organising as their home country aff ord to care for more. rice is like pure gold.” to meet couriers at the nearest safe deaths were up 30%. them boxes of food again. But he worries plunged deeper into disarray. Suarez said that residents are losing It costs $100 to ship a 7-cubic-foot location. Other shipping companies have Across Venezuela, people are using the shipments won’t arrive. Their eff orts caught the attention of weight and that food shipments are vital. box, which can weigh around 120 set up pickup locations so people can Facebook and other social media to “I don’t know what to do,” Dazha said. one crisis response organisation late “There is no adequate phrase to pounds. Caicedo has spent about $1,500 safely collect packages. arrange food swaps – agreeing, for “That’s the dilemma of all Venezuelans, last year, the Buena Park-based Giving describe what we are going through,” of her own money, plus more than Olarte said some Venezuelan example, to hand over some sugar in the helplessness of not being able to do Children Hope, which has since shipped she said. $11,000 in donations. entrepreneurs who used to fl y to Los exchange for corn fl our. anything for our families.” – Tribune more than 30,000 pounds of supplies The pantry’s contents consisted of 22 Boxes are shipped by air and sea. As in Angeles on business are now seeking The United Nations and the US and News Service Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Not a good place to drill High: 35 C Low : 26 C Inshore: Hazy to misty at places at first By Bill Mckibben bers on economically viable options cars on the road and operating them members such as Republican Barbara becomes hot daytime. Tribune News Service to reduce climate risk and protect our for the next three decades. This is Comstock of Virginia, who has a nation’s economy.” precisely the opposite of what politi- 3% lifetime voting record from the If the members take that man- cians who say they’re interested in League of Conservation Voters. In THURSDAY he high Arctic is almost date seriously, saying “no” to Arctic “climate solutions” should be doing, the last few months, she’s voted to High: 34 C unbearably beautiful. The refuge drilling should be the ultimate as absurd as solving the opioid epi- eliminate the Stream Protection Rule Low: 26 C plains that turn tawny gold no-brainer. For one thing, it’s not demic by building a pipeline to carry against coal ash pollution of drinking Sunny Tand rust red come autumn, going to make the government any millions of pills an hour into rural water, to allow offshore oil drilling the flat tundra that rises sharply into money. Proponents have been claim- America. along the Atlantic Seaboard and even icy peaks, the vast herds of caribou. ing that there’s $1.8bn, with a “B,” in There’s no great mystery about to overturn US Fish and Wildlife pro- FRIDAY For decades these images have been it for the government; a new analysis the price that our climate negligence tection for Alaska’s bears and wolves. High: 34 C enough to protect the Arctic National puts revenues closer to $37.5mn, carries, and there’s no argument that But people can change – I have no Low: 26 C Wildlife Refuge from oil drilling – it with an “M.” And that, of course, is we’re insulated from it here in North doubt that the valiant folks who set Sunny is, after all, a wildlife refuge, and the revenue before you count up the America. We’ve watched Harvey, up the Climate Solutions Caucus will people who’ve never been there can losses. Irma and Maria slam into our shores, be working hard with people such as nonetheless deduce simply from that Which would be enormous. The and economists say that beyond the Comstock to help them understand. Fishermen’s forecast Because some climate solutions name that it is no place for oil rigs. refuge is not only a beautiful, wild, lives lost and the homes ruined, the OFFSHORE DOHA But we are in a season of wreckage serene place, it is a safe storage con- cost will run into the hundreds of bil- are not actually that complicated. Wind: NW-NE 3-12 KT in Washington, and so there is real risk tainer for something very dangerous. lions of dollars. California’s wildfires Basically we need to keep coal and Waves: 1-3 Feet that the budget now under consid- That something very dangerous is the aren’t even out yet, but the recovery oil and gas in the ground. Right now INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-NW 5-15 KT eration will allow oilmen into that carbon that the oil will produce if it’s work could well be the most expen- the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Waves: 1-2 Feet refuge. In fact, the fi nal decision may ever burned. sive in modern world history. is performing that job admirably, and come down to a small group of House The possible 7.7bn recoverable Some cynics have suggested that all Congress needs to do is leave it Around the region Republicans who have announced that barrels of oil the refuge may contain, the Climate Solutions Caucus is alone. What could be simpler? Weather Weather they’re interested in “climate solu- if piped down to civilization, would just a convenient way for vulnerable today Max/min tomorrow Max/min tions.” release carbon equivalent to open- Republicans to signal their concern z Bill McKibben teaches environ- Abu Dhabi Sunny 33/27 Sunny 34/27 With the help of the Citizens ing 820 new coal-fired power plants about climate change to interested mental studies at Middlebury College, Baghdad Sunny 36/21 M Sunny 36/20 Dubai Climate Lobby, which turns 10 this and running them for a year, which voters without actually, you know, founded the climate campaign 350. Sunny 36/24 Sunny 37/24 Kuwait City Sunny 36/21 Sunny 38/20 fall, 60 lawmakers – 30 from each is something even America’s coal- solving anything. org and wrote the forthcoming novel Manama Sunny 34/26 Sunny 33/26 party – have been persuaded to join a crazed president has not proposed. And in truth, there’s reason for Radio Free Vermont. He wrote this for Muscat Sunny 32/24 Sunny 33/24 caucus that aims “to educate mem- It would be like putting 23mn new skepticism. The caucus includes the Los Angeles Times. Riyadh Sunny 35/20 Sunny 35/19 Tehran Sunny 26/13 Sunny 28/15

Live issues Experimental drug may reduce weight

IANS eating was recorded, along with food London preferences and their sensations of lik- ing and wanting food. They then repeated the process, with esearchers have found a drug participants who got semaglutide, that targets the appetite con- this time getting the placebo and vice trol system in the brain and versa. Around the world Rcould bring about signifi cant The research team found that on Weather Weather weight loss in people with clinical an average the daily energy intake, a today Max/min tomorrow Max/min obesity. measure of the amount of food con- Athens S Showers 21/14 P Cloudy 21/11 “The drug reduced hunger but also sumed, was 24% lower with semaglu- Beirut Sunny 26/22 Sunny 27/22 S T Storms 32/25 cravings for food and the sensation of tide. Bangkok 32/25 S Showers Berlin Cloudy 17/11 Cloudy 14/10 wanting to eat and these had previous- “The potency of the drug is probably Cairo Sunny 31/21 Sunny 33/21 ly been thought to stem from diff erent due to the action of the GLP-1 protein Cape Town Showers 16/11 Cloudy 15/11 parts of the brain,” said lead researcher receptors on broad aspects of the ap- Colombo S T Storms 30/25 Showers 30/25 John Blundell, professor of Psycho- petite control system including hunger, Dhaka M Sunny 32/23 Sunny 32/21 Hong Kong Sunny 24/21 Sunny 26/21 Biology at the University of Leeds. craving and rewarding aspects of food,” Istanbul Rain 19/13 S Showers 17/11 “Semaglutide” is a new drug being Blundell noted. Jakarta P Cloudy 33/26 S T Storms 33/26 developed by the Danish pharmaceuti- A further feature of the study was Karachi Sunny 33/24 Sunny 33/24 cal company Novo Nordisk as a treat- that measured energy expenditure London P Cloudy 18/12 Cloudy 17/10 Manila P Cloudy S Showers 31/24 ment for diabetes. It is in the advanced from metabolic processes (the Resting 32/24 Moscow P Cloudy 02/-4 M Cloudy 01/-2 stages of development but is not yet Metabolic Rate) remained roughly New Delhi Sunny 34/18 Sunny 34/18 available in the market. the same throughout the experiment New York P Cloudy 20/12 P Cloudy 17/09 For the study, published in the jour- suggesting the weight loss could not Paris P Cloudy 22/10 P Cloudy 20/11 nal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, be due to metabolism becoming more Sao Paulo S T Storms 27/18 S T Storms 28/19 Seoul Sunny 19/08 P Cloudy 19/09 the drug was given to a few people with groups – half got semaglutide and the invited to a testing centre and off ered active. Singapore T Storms 31/25 T Storms 31/26 a body mass index (BMI) range of 30 to other half a placebo (dummy) sub- lunch and evening meal and told to Consequently the fat loss produced Sydney P Cloudy 27/17 Cloudy 24/16 45 kg/m2. stance for 12 weeks. consume as much as they needed to by the drug could be attributed to bet- Tokyo Rain 14/12 Clear 19/12 The participants were split into two At the end of the 12 weeks, they were feel ‘pleasantly full’. What they were ter control over appetite. Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, October 25, 2017 QATAR

UAE hires US fi rm close to Bannon for anti-Qatar campaign

company with “close ties” cials behind closed doors, visited the tion about the visit as is customary,” challenge to Wyoming GOP Senator contract with the Royal Embassy of fee for his work before resigning his with Steve Bannon, ex-chief country as recently as last month and McClatchy said. John Barrasso. Saudi Arabia 11 days before the block- position there in August 2016. Astrategist of Donald Trump, pushed for a group of Middle Eastern The UAE also helped broker a The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain ade was announced paying the fi rm “Bannon was supposed to sell the was hired by the UAE to launch a so- nations, including the UAE, in their meeting in January between a Ban- and Egypt cut off all ties with Qatar in $80,000 per month. Harbour, which stake while he served in the adminis- cial media campaign against Qatar, US bitter dispute with Qatar. non friend, Blackwater founder Erik June, supposedly in response to its al- has represented the UAE for 15 years, tration as part of his ethics agreement website McClatchy has reported. On Monday, Bannon spoke at a Prince, and a Russian close to Presi- leged support of terrorism and ties to declined to comment. and obtained a certifi cate of dives- Quoting McClatchy, Al Jazeera day-long conference in Washington dent Vladimir Putin to try to establish Iran, and mounted a blockade against “SCL Social Limited, which shares titure in April 2017 to defer taxes on News said that a $330,000 contract organised by the Hudson Institute, a a back-channel line of communica- the nation. the same ownership and leadership as the potential sale. However, there’s was paid by the UAE to the fi rm in or- conservative think tank and paid for tion to Moscow for Trump just days Qatar hosts Al Udeid, the largest Cambridge Analytica, recently dis- no indication that he actually sold the der to launch a social media campaign by multiple donors, entitled ‘Coun- before Trump’s inauguration, accord- American military base in the Middle closed a $330,000 contract with the stake, as he never fi led the transaction that included calling for the boycott of tering Violent Extremism: Qatar, Iran, ing to the Washington Post; Prince East, home to nearly 10,000 troops. National Media Council of UAE for “a report that’s required after the pur- Qatar. and the Muslim Brotherhood’. met with the Russian in the Seychelle “The US has a pretty substantial wide range of services specifi c to a glo- chase or sale of any asset. The hired fi rm is SCL Social Limited “The speech follows Bannon’s Sep- islands off East Africa. presence across the Middle East, but bal media campaign,” according to For- “Another of the company’s own- and is part of the same group as Cam- tember meeting in the UAE with its According to McClatchy, Prince Al Udeid is the most important,” said eign Agents of Registration Act records. ers is Robert Mercer, the billionaire bridge Analytica. crown prince, Sheikh Mohamed bin lives in the UAE and had a multimil- Mara Karlin, who worked at the De- It received $166,500 on September 20. who spent millions of dollars helping Cambridge Analytica is the fi rm Zayed al-Nahyan. The two weren’t lion dollar contract with that govern- fense Department during the prior “Bannon, who served as White Trump get elected. Cambridge Ana- that Donald Trump hired during his strangers: Bannon, Trump’s son-in- ment to assemble a mercenary se- two administrations and is now a pro- House chief strategist until August, lytica didn’t respond to a request for presidential campaign to reach voters law Jared Kushner and ousted Nation- curity force there. His fi rm also does fessor at the Johns Hopkins School of retained an ownership stake in Cam- comment,” Mclatchy added. with “hyper-targeted online messag- al Security Adviser Michael Flynn met security work in Africa, much of it for Advanced International Studies. bridge Analytica worth $1mn to $5mn The House Intelligence Commit- ing”, the website said. with crown prince at Trump Tower Chinese interests. “Another fi rm, the Harbour Group when he entered the White House, ac- tee, which is looking into whether Bannon, who remains one of during the presidential transition in But Bannon has encouraged Prince was paid more than $2.5mn by the cording to his fi nancial disclosure re- Trump associates worked with Rus- Trump’s closest advisers, has long had December. That meeting triggered to move back to the US and run for of- UAE for work between October 2016 port. He had served as vice president sia to meddle in the 2016 election, has an interest in the Gulf region. controversy, as the UAE hadn’t noti- fi ce, and in recent weeks, Prince has and March 2017, according to the most and secretary for Cambridge Analyt- questioned Cambridge Analytica, ac- He has huddled with UAE offi - fi ed the outgoing Obama administra- begun to publicly consider a primary recent fi ling available, and signed a ica and received a monthly consulting cording to the Dailybeast.

CMC stresses Doha set to welcome fi rst improving safety for cruise ship of the season tourist dhows By Ayman Adly By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter Staff Reporter ore safety measures oha Port is all set to welcome 21 should be introduced for ships for the 2017/2018 cruise Mthe tourist boats (dhows) Dseason, including Seabourn operating from Doha Corniche, the Encore, which will dock tomorrow, Central Municipal Council (CMC) carrying around 600 passengers, Qa- recommended yesterday. tar Tourism Authority (QTA) has an- The Ministry of Transport and nounced. Communication (MoTC) should According to QTA, fi ve ships will consider inspecting such boats to make their maiden calls to Qatar this ensure that the necessary safety and year, and for the fi rst time, two megash- security standards are in place, in ips will make calls into Doha Port. addition to its validity for tourist use. A mega ship carries between 2,500 The MoTC should also study and 6,000 passengers, which is more the possibility of ensuring that than triple the capacity of a standard these boats use low-noise electric- cruise ship. The Seabourn Encore. Hassan al-Ibrahim. ity generators for the convenience “It continues to be an exciting time of the customers. In addition, the of rapid growth for Qatar’s cruise tour- The German mega ship Mein Schiff vessels calls, three ships are scheduled the 47,000 passengers and crew re- who add Qatar to their itineraries for maximum passenger capacity of ism sector, which will witness more 5 and the Italian MSC Splendida are to dock at the Doha Port next month corded in the 2016/2017 season due to the following seasons. each boat should be clearly defi ned. fi rsts this season,” QTA’s chief tourism scheduled to make 12 calls to Doha Port and another four in December. the increasing number of mega ships QTA said it also continues to work In the meantime, the council development offi cer Hassan al-Ibrahim until April 2018, QTA said. It will be followed by fi ve ships in arriving to the country. with local and international partners to asked Qatar Tourism Authority said in a statement. MSC Splendida, carrying 3,900 pas- January 2018, two in February, three in QTA is currently talking with major carefully plan, develop and manage the (QTA) to tighten its control on these “As we embark on the next chapter of sengers, replaced the MSC Fantasia March and fi nally three in April. European cruise liners to share the lat- cruise terminal facilities, infrastructure boats and conduct more regular the National Tourism Sector Strategy, as demand for the region continues to Among the fi rst cruise ships, which est developments in Qatar’s tourism and operations needed to achieve sus- inspection to ensure their safety the growing number of visitors arriving grow. visited Doha last year, included luxury industry, including the ongoing rede- tainable growth. and security. In particular, the boat at our shores highlights the opportuni- With 13 passenger decks and 66m cruise ship Azamara Journey and The velopment of Doha Port into a perma- Once all developments are com- should have enough life-jackets to ties for investors to develop authentic high, it is the largest ship to enter Doha World, known as largest private resi- nent cruise terminal and tourist hub. pleted, it is projected that the cruise in- cover the maximum numbers of and memorable experiences that rein- Port. dential ship on the planet. The discussions aim to foster more dustry can attract more than 500,000 passengers allowed on board. force Qatar’s position as a hub to dis- According to Qatar Ports Manage- QTA said the number of cruise visi- interest in Qatar as a destination, and passengers and generate QR350mn an- Children under 12 years should cover,” he noted. ment Company’s (Mwani Qatar) cruise tors this season is expected to surpass to increase the number of cruise liners nually by 2026. wear such jackets throughout the duration of the trip for their safety. QTA should also insure that each tourist boat has a plate indicating the maximum passenger capac- Kuwait emir’s crisis comments welcomed ity and the safety and security in- Updated Qatar Airways structions. High standards should be adopted for the boat and its The Emir of Kuwait Sabah will be bad for the region,” he a joint venture of the Gulf lighting system. app improves usability al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah said. “The security of the GCC Times and Qatar Media Corp The route of each boat at the sea has wisely warned against the region is very important for Urdu Radio. should be defi ned clearly in accord- prolongation of the ongoing all of us and negotiations are The show is hosted ance of the category of its license. Each atar Airways has “further executive Akbar al-Baker said: Gulf crisis, Doha-resident Hari the only way we will be able by Saif-ur-Rehman. It is boat should have on board the basic enhanced” its mobile app “Continuously improving dig- Bahadur Karki told Qatar Urdu to end the crisis, as the Qatari broadcast from Sunday to safety gear and equipment, including Qwith a new look and feel, ital technologies to enhance our Radio’s live show Haqeeqat leadership has insisted time Thursday on FM107. fi re extinguishers, and fi rst-aid kits. making it now even easier for passengers’ travel experience yesterday. and again.” Log on to Qatar Urdu Similarly, each boat should be customers to use. is of key importance to us, and “The emir of Kuwait Haqeeqat, which aims to Radio on Facebook and ‘@ equipped with safe boarding and The award-winning airline has our updated mobile app off ers Hari Bahadur Karki was the rightly pointed out that if the engage and interact with the QatarUrduRadio’ on Twitter docking facilities for the conven- added a suite of innovative fea- our passengers even more con- guest on Qatar Urdu Radio’s crisis prolongs, it may lead to large South Asian expatri- for feedback and comments ience of the passengers. tures to its mobile app, making venience to manage their travel live show Haqeeqat yesterday. foreign interference which ate community in Qatar, is about the show. The council earlier addressed it as simple and user-friendly as plans and access the information the issue based on the complaints possible, allowing passengers to they need on the go, from wher- of some residents that these boats have all the important informa- ever they are in the world. lack a considerable number of tion they need at their fi ngertips “Our updated app makes it the necessary safety features that through their mobile devices. easier than ever to access our should be otherwise an essential The new and improved mo- award-winning, fi ve star servic- part of their equipment. bile app replicates the clean and es and products at the tip of their Fashion expo to celebrate Qatari designers Also, some complained that modern Qatar Airways website, fi ngers.” many of these boats are not in a giving passengers a more seam- Since the initial launch of the good shape needed to promote less and familiar experience application in 2013, Qatar Air- By Joey Aguilar tourism in the country. when accessing Qatar Airways’ ways passengers have had access Staff Reporter Accordingly, the council discussed platforms online. to their bookings and fl ights at the issue with the parties concerned It includes a sleek new and the click of a button. and issued these recommendations unique design for its Privilege Passengers are able to search Some 90 Qatari brands out of the more than aiming at aiming at boosting both Club section, making it easier for and book fl ights, check fl ight 150 international brands will take part in the safety and a good outlook. passengers to access their profi le status and visit the airline’s on- 12th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition from The council reiterated yesterday and frequent fl yer dashboard. line check-in facility. November 3-7 at the Doha Exhibition and its demands to allow Qataris to add The new app also features In 2016, Qatar Airways added Convention Centre. The number of Qatari a third fl oor to their two-storey a redesigned menu, providing ‘My Trips’ to the application, exhibitors represents a 25% increase in local residential villas to address the is- customers with all the informa- providing passengers with jour- designers this year compared to the previous sue of shortage in residential units tion available on the website in a ney details such as a time line edition of Heya. as population is growing fast. seamless way. view, gate information, board- The event, held under the patronage of HE However, the Ministry of Mu- Qatar Airways has also intro- ing time, bag tag information, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa nicipality and Environment (MME) duced a new function for Apple lounge information, an interac- al-Thani, will showcase a wide range of abayas again rejected the demand as it Watch users, with the popular tive Hamad International Air- and modest fashion brands from emerging and (From left) Moody al-Harbi, Aysha al-Romaihi, Mashal Shahbik, and Fatma al-Ahmed at would refl ect negatively on the in- ‘My Trips’ feature, providing port (HIA) map and an interac- established designers from 12 countries. These the press conference. PICTURE: Othman al-Samarraee frastructure and basic services of the journey details for current and tive virtual tour of the aircraft. include Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, India, Turkey, Leba- country, in addition to the potential upcoming trips, including gate Further, passengers can use non, Indonesia, Morocco, Hong Kong, Spain, strates her keenness to shed light on Qatari French-Algerian model, actress and film- overload on traffi c and the vari- information and a time line view push notifi cations to stay updat- Germany and Italy, organisers have announced. culture and traditional design at its best. maker Farida Khelfa will speak about empow- ous service facilities such as school, available on Apple Watch. ed with online check-in avail- Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Heya, Qatar’s biggest platform for contem- ering women to achieve in fashion, the arts health centres and shopping centres. Qatar Airways group chief ability, boarding times, potential QTA’s festivals and tourism events director porary Arabian fashion creations launched in and other fields while two German designers The MME stressed that a new gate changes, bag tags, baggage Mashal Shahbik said they are fully supporting 2007, will hold a Qatar National Day catwalk will host a fashion show of their collection comprehensive urban develop plan is updates and more. Heya as part of their strategy to bolster and show hosted by local designers. before holding a discussion, which forms part being prepared to address all the in- Customers can download the grow the business events sector in the country. In collaboration Virginia Commonwealth of the Qatar Germany Year of Culture. volved issues based on the real needs application at qatarairways.com/ “We have worked closely with our partners University in Qatar (VCUQatar) and Qatar Two Italian designers will also showcase and potential size of the population. mobile and follow the links to the at Design Creationz to ensure this edition of Business Incubation Centre (QBIC) led by CEO their collections as part of a new partnership Yet, the council saw that such iPhone or Android smartphone Heya provides a solid platform for local emerg- Aysha al-Mudahka, the event will also hold with the Italian embassy in Doha. response is not suffi cient and asked app store. ing and established businesses, designers, and numerous fashion shows, workshops and The exhibition will also off er shoppers and that a further detailed study be The mobile website can be ac- institutions to enrich and off er well-rounded panel discussions with experts who will be visitors unique collections from high-street ap- conducted about the issue and the cessed by entering qatarairways. experience to our visitors,” she noted. talking about various topics such as fashion parel, couture and luxury, to the latest modest MME should reconsider its de- com directly into the browser of She cited HE Sheikha Mayassa’s “generous marketing and finance, and how to start a fashion evening gowns, leather accessories, cision in the light of the current The Qatar Airways app. any smartphone or tablet. support’ to this exhibition, which demon- fashion business, among others. and for the first-time, perfumery and make-up. needs of the inhabitants.