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THURSDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10989 November 1, 2018 Safar 23, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir receives credentials of Spanish ambassador

In brief

QATAR | Offi cial Amiri decree invites Advisory Council to convene on Nov 6 His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued yesterday Decree No 58 of 2018 inviting the Advisory Council to hold its 47th Ordinary Session on Tuesday, 28th of Safar 1440, corresponding to November 6. The decree is eff ective as of the date of issue and is to be published in the off icial gazette. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received the credentials of Spain’s ambassador to Qatar, Maria Belen Alfaro Hernandez, at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. The ambassador conveyed to the QATAR | Diplomacy Amir the greetings of her country’s leader and his wishes of further progress and prosperity to the Qatari people. The Amir welcomed the new ambassador and wished her success in her duties and further PM sends message growth in the relations between Qatar and Spain. Earlier, on arrival at the Amiri Diwan, the ambassador to Greek counterpart was accorded an off icial reception ceremony. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday visited the 12th International Event for HE the Prime Minister and Minister Homeland Security and Civil Defence (Milipol Qatar 2018), at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin The Amir was accompanied by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani has sent bin Khalifa al-Thani. Page 2 a written message to Greek Prime Her Highness Sheikha Moza Minister Alexis Tsipras, pertaining to bilateral relations and means of meets Nepalese president boosting them. The message was handed by Qatar’s ambassador to Greece Abdulaziz Ali al-Neama, during a meeting with Assistant Director of the Prime Minister’s Off ice Ioannis V Giorgakakis. Amir visits QATAR | Gymnastics Russia’s Dalaloyan wins men’s All-around gold Russia’s Artur Dalaloyan held his nerve to claim his first ever men’s Milipol Qatar All-around title in a thrilling finish at the world championships in O Organisers say event a huge port security systems and others. Doha yesterday. On a night of high success, next edition in October His Highness the Amir visited several sections tension and despite ending on the of the MoI and the pavilion of the Internal Secu- same score as China’s defending 2020 rity Force (Lekhwiya) He was also briefed on the champion Xiao Ruoteng, 87.598, the O Deals worth QR527.5mn command and control unit of Hamad Medical 22-year-old Russian took gold on a Corporation as well as a number of security, safety count back of each competitors’ top signed by MoI and surveillance applications designed by young five scores. Sport Page 1 Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and O Number of visitors increase Qataris for individuals and institutions. Community Development (QF) and Chairperson of Education Above All (EAA), met the President of Nepal The Amir was accompanied by HE the Prime ARAB WORLD | Confl ict Bidya Devi Bhandari yesterday. During the meeting, they discussed areas of potential collaboration in by 39% compared to 2016 Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah education and research with Qatar Foundation, and explored ways to increase education access for out- bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. Pompeo calls for end of-school children in Nepal through EAA’s projects. HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani, Vice-Chairperson is Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Meanwhile, the organisers described the 2018 of Yemen confl ict and CEO of Qatar Foundation, attended the meeting. PICTURE: AR Al-Baker/HHOPL Hamad al-Thani visited the 12th Interna- edition of Milipol as a “huge success”. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Htional Event for Homeland Security and Milipol Qatar Committee president Maj Gen yesterday called for the cessation Civil Defence (Milipol Qatar 2018) at Doha Exhi- Nasser bin Fahad al-Thani gave out details of of hostilities in Yemen and said bition and Convention Centre yesterday to learn the event at a press conference in the presence of UN-led consultations are to start in about the latest technologies and global defence Brigadier Saud Rashid al-Shafi , member of the November. In a statement, Pompeo and security industries. Milipol Qatar Committee and assistant director- said Saudi-led Coalition air strikes ‘Qatar capable of defending itself’ As the exhibition concluded yesterday, it was general of the General Directorate of Logistics “must cease in all populated areas revealed that the Ministry of Interior (MoI) signed at the MoI, and Michael Weatherseed, Milipol in Yemen.” Pompeo called for QNA resources of oil and gas. has allies but has never thought of deals worth more than half a billion Qatari riyals events director. “substantive consultations” under Doha However, he noted that at- they defending it, as it is capa- at the event, covering diff erent sectors such as se- The Milipol Qatar Committee president said the UN Special Envoy in a third tention to the defence dimen- ble of defending itself. This is its curity, information and services, the offi cial Qatar the expo held under the auspices of His Highness country in November to “address sion is an insurance policy, philosophy and its military doc- News Agency (QNA) reported. the Amir was a great success and the 13th edition the underlying issues of the conflict, E the Deputy Prime stressing that His Highness the trine.” On the role of technology During his visit, the Amir toured the pavilions of Milipol Qatar will be held from October 26-28, the demilitarisation of borders, Minister and Minister Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad in war and combating terrorism, and sections of the exhibition, which witnessed 2020. and the concentration of all large Hof State for Defence Af- al-Thani seeks to support and he stressed the importance of this the participation of several international com- He informed that a total of 8,487 people visited weapons under international fairs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al- strengthen Qatar’s defence capa- issue, noting that all the equip- panies and others from Qatar. He reviewed the the exhibition, marking an increase of 39% com- observation.” The secretary of state Attiyah has affi rmed that Qa- bilities and stability of the region. ment and systems that Qatar latest products of these companies in the field pared to 2016. Also, the 12th edition was spread said that a “cessation of hostilities tar is economically strong and Speaking yesterday at the Fo- buys are modern and advanced, of safety, defence and internal security, espe- over an area that was 30% larger than in 2016, and vigorous resumption of a plays an important role in the rum on “Returning Foreign Fight- including means and systems of cially cyber security and security management while 352 reporters from diff erent parts of the political track will help ease the world economy with its huge ers”, HE Dr al-Attiyah said: “Qatar cyber defence. To Page 10 of major events, communications software, air- world covered the event. To Page 10 humanitarian crisis as well.” Page 13

BRITAIN | Politics Britain eyes Brexit deal by November 21 Khashoggi was strangled on entering Saudi consulate: Turkey Britain’s Brexit minister believes there could be a divorce deal with the European Union by Later yesterday, the spokesman for ing was premeditated and Riyadh said Tuesday that Fidan had asked al-Mojeb Agencies Federer not to play in Saudi November 21, it emerged yesterday, Istanbul Turkey’s ruling AK Party, Omer Ce- 18 suspects had been arrested. But Tur- to disclose who sent a 15-strong team although Downing Street was lik, said Khashoggi’s killing could not key, which released a stream of evidence from Riyadh that was suspected of in- more cautious. Dominic Raab have been carried out without orders undermining Riyadh’s early denials, volvement in the killing. Tennis legend Roger Federer made the comment in a letter to he Istanbul chief prosecutor’s from senior positions, in one of An- has demanded more details - including The prosecutor’s statement said Fi- has revealed he turned down an the House of Commons Brexit offi ce yesterday said journalist kara’s strongest accusations directed at the whereabouts of Khashoggi’s body dan also repeated Ankara’s request for off er to play an exhibition match scrutiny committee, dated October TJamal Khashoggi was strangled Riyadh yet. and who ordered his killing. the 18 suspects to be extradited to face in Saudi Arabia which his fellow 24 but only now made public. “I in a premeditated killing as soon as he Celik also said it was not possible “Despite our well-intentioned ef- trial in Turkey, and asked Mojeb to dis- players are under pressure to pull would be happy to give evidence entered Saudi Arabia’s consulate in the that Saudi offi cials had still not found forts to reveal the truth, no concrete re- close the identity of a “local co-opera- out of following the murder of to the committee when a deal is Turkish city four weeks ago, and his the journalist’s body after nearly a sults have come out of those meetings,” tor” who, according to a Saudi offi cial, journalist Jamal Khashoggi. finalised, and currently expect 21 body was then dismembered and dis- month of investigations. the Istanbul prosecutor’s offi ce said disposed of Khashoggi’s body. “They contacted me too,” said the November to be suitable,” he wrote. posed of. Khashoggi’s death has escalated into of the talks on Monday and Tuesday In a written response, al-Mojeb invit- 37-year-old. “I prefer not to play. I’m Both Raab and Oliver Robbins, In a statement issued after two days a crisis for Saudi Arabia, the world’s top between al-Mojeb and Istanbul chief ed Fidan to Saudi Arabia to question the happy practising. I’m happy doing Prime Minister Theresa May’s chief of talks with Saudi Arabia’s public oil exporter, which at fi rst denied any prosecutor Irfan Fidan. suspects and determine “the fate of the other things, and I didn’t want to Brexit adviser, have been invited prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb, it also said knowledge of or role in his disappear- Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip body” and establish whether the killing play there at that time. So, for me, it to address the committee on that no concrete results were reached in ance on October 2. Erdogan, who has demanded more in- was premeditated, the Turkish prosecu- was a very quick decision.” Page 12 date. Page 18 those meetings. Al-Mojeb later said Khashoggi’s kill- formation from Saudi Arabia, said on tor’s statement said. To Page 12 Gulf Times 2 Thursday, November 1, 2018 QATAR

Amir visits Milipol Qatar 2018

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday visited the 12th International Event for Homeland Security and Civil Defence (Milipol Qatar 2018), at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre. During the visit, the Amir was briefed on the latest technologies and global defence and security industries. The Amir toured the various pavilions and sections of the exhibition, in which several international and Qatari companies are participating. During the tour, the Amir reviewed the latest products of these companies in the field of safety, defence and internal security, especially cyber security and security management of major events, communications software, and airport security systems. The Amir visited several sections of the Ministry of Interior and the pavilion of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya). He was also briefed on the command and control unit of Hamad Medical Corporation and on a number of security, safety, and surveillance applications designed by young Qataris for individuals and institutions. The Amir was accompanied by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. Huawei showcases latest AI Online edition of MoI public safety technologies magazine launched irector General of Pub- municate better with others. al-Muftah, director of the Pub- uawei’s latest artifi cial a single smart analysis, now a ers. The solution enables intel- life of Qataris by creating a world lic Security Staff Major He stressed the local press has lic Relations Department at the intelligence (AI)-driven variety of diff erent intelligent ligent crime investigation and with better city management, DGeneral Saad bin Jassim relatively good levels of aware- Ministry of Interior, said the de- Hhomeland security tech- analysis functions are imple- prevention. It can analyse huge faster emergency response al-Khulaifi yesterday launched ness and they give prominence cision to stop printing versions nologies and solutions took cen- mented at the same time in the volumes of data to obtain valu- times, and more accurate iden- the online edition of the Minis- to the issues of the homeland se- of the police magazine Al Shurta tre stage at Milipol Qatar 2018. same device.” able information on fi rst-time tifi cation and apprehension of try of Interior’s Police magazine curity aspects. Maa’k and other magazines is- During the event, which con- Further, with the improve- visitors, frequent access sta- criminals. Al Shurta Maa’k. The senior MoI offi cial spe- sued by other departments and cluded at Doha Exhibition and ment of the camera’s own com- tistics, movement patterns and “We are proud to have been While praising the eff orts of cifi cally lauded the role of local bring them all in one website Convention Centre yesterday, puting power, the intelligence suspicious activity. It provides selected as Gold Sponsor of the media in covering the min- media, particularly the newspa- comes within the framework of Huawei launched its latest smart becomes more precise via be- a holographic profi le of key per- this important event, and look istry’s events well, the top offi - pers in the success of the Milipol the technological advancement. public safety solutions in Qatar ing hierarchical in nature, al- sonnel, background information forward to continuing to sup- cial said the new online edition Qatar 2018 exhibition. The magazines can be down- in the presence of His Highness lowing the co-ordinated work- and activity track dynamics. On port the government of Qatar in would help the authorities com- Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa loaded as PDF fi les. the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- ing between cameras and the a wider scale, it supports cross- building a safe and secure envi- mad al-Thani as well as HE the cloud nodes. This also enables regional and global information ronment for their people.” Prime Minister and Minister of the continuous evolution of al- sharing, according to Huawei. Huawei’s AI portfolio includes Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin gorithms and applications on Charles Yang, president of its new Ascend series of AI chips Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. the camera evolved iteratively, Huawei Middle East, said: “AI is – the world’s fi rst AI IP and chip Huawei showcased its lat- with advanced features such as a powerful and versatile new tool series designed for a full range of est Software Defi ned Camera, health state self-detection, self- with huge potential to drive the scenarios. The portfolio also in- which is the “fi rst AI camera perception and scene adaptive public safety sector. The tech- cludes new products and cloud in the CCTV industry”, able to learning, which in all enables nology can be applied to the pro- services that are built on Ascend provide on-demand real-time visual management of an entire tection of life and property, as chip capabilities. “With its full- defi nitions according to the us- network, the statement explains. well as to the promotion of mod- stack AI portfolio, Huawei aims age scenario, the company said Huawei’s public safety solu- ern governance. We are excited to provide pervasive intelligence in a statement. “This allows for tions include the Video Cloud to launch our AI-driven public to help drive industry develop- it to quickly adapt to the changes Policing Big Data Solution, safety solutions here in Qatar, ment and build a fully connect- of multiple scenarios – where an integrated AI analysis tool believing as we do that they will ed, intelligent world,” the state- Director General of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi launching the online in the past a single camera did for public security custom- directly improve the quality of ment adds. edition of the Ministry of Interior’s Police magazine Al Shurta Maa’k. Visitors try their hand Letters of Intent signed with Nepal, Mexico police forces at shooting ver 4,000 visitors of the 12th International atar’s Ministry of Interior (MoI) has signed Let- OEvent for Homeland ters of Intent (LoIs) with Nepal Police yesterday, Security and Civil Defence Qthe concluding day of the Milipol Exhibition at (Milipol Qatar 2018) tested the Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre yesterday. their shooting capabilities, The signatories were Qatar’s Director General of Pub- supervised by a special unit lic Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khu- of ‘Lefdawiya’, at Lekhwiya’s laifi and Inspector General of Nepal Police Sarbendra pavilion. Khanal. The visitors used weapons One LoI is intended to enhance security co-operation such as the 9mm Squeezers in combating crimes and holding training courses and and the MP5 rifl e. The Special programmes. Unit offi cers guided the par- Another LoI was signed between Qatar’s Ministry of ticipants in the proper use of Interior and Mexican Secretariat of Interior, aiming at the weapons. co-operation in the areas of cyber-security, combat- “Lefdawiya group is spe- ing money laundering and human traffi cking, as well as cialised in combating terror- exchanging experiences in the fi eld of securing major ism, liberating hostages, raid- events, especially during the FIFA 2022 World Cup in ing and arresting drug dealers Qatar. Qatar’s Director General of Public Security Staff Major General Saad and outlaws, in co-operation The LoI was signed between Staff Major General al- Qatar’s Director General of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim bin Jassim al-Khulaifi and Ricardo Eduardo Aranda, Commissioner of with the departments con- Khulaifi and Ricardo Eduardo Aranda, Commissioner of al-Khulaifi and Inspector General of Nepal Police Sarbendra Khanal at the signing the Federal Police, Mexico, after signing a Letter of Intent at the Milipol cerned. – QNA the Federal Police, Mexico. of a Letter of Intent. exhibition yesterday. Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 3 QATAR

Amir receives credentials of Poland’s envoy

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received the credentials of the ambassador of Poland, Janusz Janke, yesterday at the Amiri Diwan. The ambassador conveyed to the Amir the greetings of his country’s leader and his wishes of further progress and prosperity to the Qatari people. The Amir welcomed the new ambassador and wished him success in his duties and further growth in the relations between Qatar and Poland. Earlier, on arrival at the Amiri Diwan the ambassador was accorded an off icial reception ceremony.

Ministerial group to supervise National Development Strategies

QNA draft decision, a committee Development Strategy. Convention for the Protec- Doha called the “Ministerial Group The Cabinet also ap- tion of the Ozone Layer and for Public Supervision and proved draft decision by the 1987 Montreal Protocol Follow-up of National Devel- HE the Minister of Munic- on Substances that Deplete he Cabinet’s regular opment Strategies” shall be ipality and Environment the Ozone Layer. meeting, chaired by established. on the quota system for The Cabinet moreover THE the Prime Min- The committee will be the import of Hydrochlo- approved a draft agreement ister Sheikh Abdullah bin entrusted with a number of rofluorocarbons (HCFCs). for economic, trade and Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani, functions, including general The Ministry of Munici- technical co-operation be- approved a draft decision by supervision, follow-up and pality and Environment tween the governments of the prime minister to form a evaluation of the perform- prepared the draft resolu- Qatar and Somalia. ministerial group for general ance indicators and rates of tion within the framework The Cabinet reviewed the supervision and follow-up achievement of the National of completing the issuing comments by the ministers of the National Develop- Development Strategy to en- of the necessary decisions and some entities about the ment Strategies. sure the achievement of Qa- to activate the provisions proposals of the commit- Following the meeting, tar National Vision’s pillars. of Law No 19 for 2015 on tee concerned with study- which was held at the Amiri It also will ensure the issuance of the com- ing the phenomenon of bad Diwan, HE the Minister of that plans, programmes, mon system on ozone- cheques, and the views of Justice and Acting Minister projects and implemen- depleting substances for the Ministry of Justice in of State for Cabinet Aff airs Dr tation mechanisms are the GCC countries, and in this regard. Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Mo- aligned with the goals and accordance with the pro- The Cabinet took the ap- hannadi said that as per the priorities of the National visions of the 1985 Vienna propriate decision.

Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 5 QATAR

PM meets Ukrainian minister of internal affairs

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Aff airs, Arsen Avakov, and his accompanying delegation, on the occasion of their visit to Qatar to attend the 12th International Event for Homeland Security and Civil Defence (Milipol Qatar 2018). The meeting reviewed relations between Qatar and Ukraine and ways of enhancing them in various sectors, especially in the security field, in addition to discussing a number of regional and international issues.

Index Qatar to attract 5,000 local and international participants

he upcoming Index panies being particularly qadia, said: “The pace of tainable downtown regen- Qatar 2018 slated well-represented at the ex- development in Qatar is re- eration project, Msheireb Tfrom November 13 to hibition. markable, and the country Downtown Doha is blazing a 15 at the Doha Exhibition “Qatar represents an ex- is now very much a priority trail with a new architectur- and Convention Centre is ceptionally exciting mar- for us in terms of business al language that is modern expected to bring 5,000 lo- ket for us – with enormous development. Index Qatar yet inspired by traditional cal and international par- growth potential. provides an excellent op- Qatari heritage and archi- ticipants to the country. Over 90% of our turnover portunity for us to be able to tecture,” said Fatima Fawzy, It is also expected to gath- is driven by the export mar- meet current and prospec- design manager at Msheireb er hundreds of international ket, and Qatar is central to tive clients.” Properties, who will be ad- product manufacturers, our international develop- Index Qatar will bring dressing audiences at the interior designers and ar- ment strategy. back ‘Design Talks’ panels exhibition. chitects, project managers, “Last year’s event was featuring leading interior “Msheireb Downtown importers, and distributors a huge success and we are and architectural specialists Doha will become a new so- across the retail, hospitality, thrilled to return to Doha for from around the world. cial and civic hub in the city residential, and commercial a second year to be part of These include engineer- centre. We are delighted to design sectors. the Index Qatar community ing fi rms Hilson Moran, take part in Index Qatar and In a statement, organis- once again,” said Cristal de Arab Engineering Bureau, share our latest news and ers of Index Qatar said the Paris general director Guy Cundall, designers Mirabel- innovations, as well as to country is also a booming Ferstler. lo Interiors, and developer meet with and learn from a market for global suppliers, Pauline Hutchinson, Msheireb Properties. cross-section of the indus- with international com- marketing manager at Ar- “As the world’s fi rst sus- try,” she added. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, November 1, 2018 QATAR

Mercedes-Benz, Chevrolet Express models recalled

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce model of 2014-2017 over a defect in the driver (MEC), in collaboration with Nasser Bin Khaled side window switch. Automobiles, has announced the recall of the The MEC said the recall campaign comes within Mercedes-Benz E-Class model of 2018 because the framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect the brake pads on the front axle and the wheel consumers and ensure that automobile dealers bolts do not correspond to the manufacturer’s follow up on vehicles’ defects and repair them. specification. The MEC said it will co-ordinate with the dealers z The Ministry of Economy and Commerce to follow up on the maintenance and repair works (MEC), in collaboration with Jaidah Automotive, and will communicate with customers to ensure has announced the recall of Chevrolet Express that the necessary repairs are carried out.

Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari meets Qatar Foundation off icials. Right: Nepal’s president tours Qatar National Library (QNL) Nepal president visits Qatar centres of excellence

atar Foundation (QF) yesterday welcomed Qthe Nepal’s Presi- dent Bidya Devi Bhandari, to Education City. QF’s com- munity development presi- dent Machaille al-Naimi accompanied the delega- tion to the open-air view- ing platform on the eighth fl oor of QF Headquarters, and highlighted the various education, science and re- search, and community de- velopment entities of Edu- cation City. Concluding the tour, al-Naimi presented a Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari at MIA yesterday. gift to President Bhandari, who then signed QF’s Visi- 370,000 visitors, and reg- ited the Museum of Islamic art dating back to the 14th Designed by renowned ar- tors Book to commemorate istered more than 100,000 Art (MIA) yesterday as part century. chitect I M Pei, the museum her visit. members, since opening to of their offi cial visit. With its vision to be is set to celebrate its 10th The Nepal president was the public in November 2017. The delegation toured recognised as a centre of anniversary this November also given a tour of the Qa- Over the course of the past MIA and viewed its collec- knowledge, dialogue and in- by hosting “Syria Matters”, a tar National Library (QNL) year, QNL has developed nu- tion of masterpieces which spiration, MIA has become major exhibition document- yesterday by its executive merous local and internation- include books, manuscripts a landmark attraction in the ing the extraordinary cul- director, Dr Sohair Wastawy, al collaborations to promote and coins made of silver, country, highlighting Qatar tural heritage of Syria and highlighting the wealth of learning and research. copper and bronze, as well Museums’ commitment to its key role in the artistic and resources and facilities. QNL A delegation headed by as artefacts and precious turn Qatar into a thriving intellectual history of the has welcomed more than President Bhandari also vis- stones representing Islamic arts and culture hub. world. Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 7 QATAR

Chief of Staff meets Bosnian minister

HE Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces Lieutenant-General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem met yesterday with Bosnian Deputy Minister of Defence Sead Jusic and his accompanying delegation. The meeting focused on bilateral relations and ways to enhance them.

Woqod opens petrol stations in Al Froosh and Fereej Al Soudan atar Fuel (Woqod) opened yesterday Qthe Al Froosh pet- rol station and one mobile station in Fereej Al Soudan, raising its network of various petrol stations to 74. Woqod CEO Saad Rashid al-Muhannadi said: “We are pleased to open a new fi xed petrol station in Al Froosh. Woqod aspires to expand its petrol station network in the country to meet the ris- The new Al Froosh petrol station. ing demand for petroleum products and achieve the opened one mobile station goal of providing customers Fuel prices for November in Fereej Al Soudan for gaso- with access to best-in-class line to reduce the vehicles products and services at their Qatar Petroleum (QP) yesterday announced petrol and diesel congestion as many private convenience and comfort. prices for November. While the 91-octane Premium gasoline stations closed recently. “Woqod has recently ac- will cost QR2.05 a litre, the price of 95-octane Super gasoline He said, “As part of its stra- celerated the process for the will be QR2.10 per litre, according to QP. Diesel will cost tegic expansion plan, Woqod construction of new petrol QR2.05 a litre this month. All prices remain unchanged from is targeting the achievement stations to meet the fuel and October. of a total of 130 fuel stations energy needs of the country. by the end of 2020.” The Woqod team would like The new petrol station of- to extend gratitude to the all that will serve Al Froosh and during the current year, fer round-the-clock servic- governmental and private its neighbourhood. and noted that there are es to residents, and includes entities that contributed He added that Woqod nine stations in the bidding Sidra convenience store, and are contributing to the is currently overseeing phase and 14 stations in the manual car wash, oil change completion of this project.” the implementation of 23 design phase. and tyre repair, sale of LPG Al Froosh is spread over a new petrol stations, a large Al-Muhannadi said cylinders, in addition to the 1,500sq m area and has three number of which are ex- Woqod, in furtherance of sale of gasoline and diesel lanes with six dispensers pected to be operational customer’s satisfaction, products for light vehicles.

Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 9 QATAR

Al-Attiyah and Greek minister Campaign on right discuss defence relations to education begins he National Campaign on Dr al-Sulaiti added that this is Right to Education began evidenced by the great achievement Tyesterday at the national- of the Education for All Foundation level within the framework of co- in providing education for 10mn operation between authorities children around the world. Qatar concerned in Qatar and the United has pledged to provide education Nations Educational, Scientifi c and to 1mn children around the world Cultural Organisation (Unesco), by 2021. along with the ongoing eff orts of For her part, Unesco director the state to support and disseminate Dr Paolini praised the support of education to millions of children Qatar for achieving the Education around the world. 2030 agenda. She expressed hope Dr Hamda al-Sulaiti, secretary- that the two sides would work to general, Qatari National Commit- encourage the community to par- tee for Education, Culture and Sci- ticipate actively in this campaign to ence, said that Qatar is one of the ensure that all of its members have fi rst countries to launch a national the right to a good education. campaign for the right to education Aisha al-Tawar al-Kuwari, chair- at this level, stressing that educa- person of the Right to Education tion contributes positively to the Dr Hamda al-Sulaiti Dr Anna Paolini Campaign Committee, said that the rapprochement and communica- campaign would continue until next HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid tion among cultures and civilisa- the launch ceremony of the inter- tary-General Mariam bint Abdullah April. “It will include several school bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, met yesterday with Greek Minister of National Defence tions and enhances common hu- national campaign for the right to al-Attiyah, Unesco regional offi ce events and educational lectures on Panos Kammenos. The meeting discussed the relations between the two friendly man values, human rights and the education at the national level held director in Doha Dr Anna Paolini, the right to education, celebration countries and means of enhancing them in diff erent military fields besides the principles of truth, justice, peace yesterday in Doha. The event was and Education Above All Foun- of International Day of Science, latest developments in the region. The meeting was attended by a number of and tolerance. also attended by National Human dation Executive Director Fahd besides participation in the Doha senior off icers of the Qatari Armed Forces. Dr al-Sulaiti was speaking at Rights Committee (NHRC) Secre- Hamad al-Sulaiti. International Book Fair.” (QNA) SC to launch sustainability strategy soon

By Joseph Varghese later this year,” revealed Othman SC as an organisation and for the dium sites. “Khalifa International Staff Reporter Zarzour, executive director, Tech- 2022 FIFA World Cup as an event. Stadium was the fi rst tournament nical Department, SC at the recent “Sustainability has been embed- venue to receive GSAS 4-star Sustainability Summit organised ded in all our plans and projects certifi cation for sports and for he Supreme Committee by Gulf Organisation for Research since the day we started prepar- construction management. All of for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and Development. ing our bid to host the World Cup. our sites are on track to meet our Twill launch its sustainabil- “This groundbreaking sustain- We believe that our sustainability target of 4-star GSAS certifi ca- ity strategy for FIFA World Cup ability strategy covers fi ve pillars: programme will deliver an amaz- tion targets. In fact, we are near- 2022, later this year, disclosed an Human, Social, Economic, Envi- ing FIFA World Cup and deliver ing completion of Al Wakrah and offi cial. ronmental and Governance,” he tangible progress towards the Qa- Al Bayt stadiums, and both are He also revealed that Al Wak- explained. tar National Vision and the United reaching the 5-star GSAS Con- rah and Al Bayt stadiums are “The purpose of the strategy Nations Sustainable Development struction Management certifi ca- nearing completion and both are is to maximise the sustainability Goals,” described the offi cial. tion level,” pointed out the offi cial. reaching the 5-star GSAS (Global of the preparation, staging, and Othman Zarzour addressing the He also noted that after the sus- “Sport, and football in par- Sustainability Assessment Sys- post-tournament activities of the Sustainability Summit. tainability strategy is launched, ticular, has a unique capacity to tem) Construction Management 2022 FIFA World Cup by fulfi lling PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed a signifi cant eff ort by all sustain- inspire and spark the passion of certifi cation level. our obligations, managing risks ability professionals across Qatar millions of fans around the globe. “Together with our main tour- and leveraging opportunities re- and will enable us to deliver an and beyond will be essential to de- Hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup nament delivery partners, FIFA lated to people’s rights and well- amazing tournament providing liver an amazing and sustainable Qatar is a precious opportunity and the Local Organising Com- being, economic development and sustainable outcomes,” explained 2022 FIFA World Cup. that we must not waste. We must mittee, we will be publishing the environmental protection. This Zarzour. According to Zarzour, the SC work together to deliver a sustain- fi rst ever jointly developed FIFA strategy is perfectly aligned with He maintained that sustain- has been hard at work to deliver able legacy for our country and the World Cup Sustainability Strategy the Qatar National Vision 2030 ability is a core value both for the sustainable outcomes at the sta- region,” added Zarzour.

Exhibition of Vietnamese artist’s works at Katara The Vietnamese embassy events organised by the Vietnam Arts University. He has travelled launched yesterday the “Vietnam embassy since early 2018 to widely across Vietnam, taking Landscapes” exhibition featuring celebrate the 25th anniversary of the in the natural beauty, which is works by artist Nguyen Minh Son at establishment diplomatic relations reflected in his works. Katara – the Culture Village. with Qatar,” said the ambassador. The paintings in the exhibition depict The exhibition was inaugurated by The envoy explained that the artist the beauty of Hanoi Old Quarter, Vietnamese ambassador Nguyen Nguyen Minh Son grew up in the and the extraordinary beauty of the Dinh Thao in the presence of Bac Ninh province, home to many northwestern region of Vietnam. Katara general manager Dr Khalid traditional villages with temples, “He wants to bring the natural bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, the artist, pagodas. He loved painting since landscape beauty of Vietnam to diplomats and other dignitaries. he was a young boy. When he grew the friends in the world,” the envoy Vietnamese ambassador Nguyen Dinh Thao and his wife are seen with “This exhibition is part of a series of up, he studied at the Vietnam Fine added. artist Nguyen Minh Son at the exhibition yesterday.

2nd seasonal market Sidra Medicine activates for camping opens intra-operative imaging suite he Ministry of Econ- ing includes specialised ar- idra Medicine recently activated an partments. Our collaboration goes beyond omy and Commerce eas for the sale of goods from intra-operative imaging suite – the clinical teams to involve the patient and T(MEC) will open today tents and cabins, generators, SInterventional-MRI-Surgery Suite, their entire family. From multi-disciplinary the second seasonal market camping equipment, carpets, also known as IMRIS; creating a step change discussions among many medical and sur- for camping in Al-Riff a area, solar appliances, lumines- in the role radiology and interventional ra- gical teams to collaboration with Support which will continue until cent appliances, fi rewood and diology play in successful patient outcomes. Services, Sidra Medicine takes great care to December 1. charcoal, as well as camping The IMRIS hybrid operating theatre fea- ensure that the hospital visit and stay are as The market, which serves equipment and tools for full tures intraoperative imaging capabilities, in- smooth and calm as possible for the child. visitors and camp owners, trips of cooking utensils and cluding a moveable intraoperative MRI and Very few hospitals around the world are promotes commercial activ- camping clothes. capacity to run highly complex interventions. able to collaborate and deliver patient care ity in the local market. It also The MEC launched the Sidra Medicine is the fi rst hospital in Qatar in this manner, all under one roof.” aims to provide a convenient seasonal market initiative to install an IMRIS suite, which is also a fi rst The fi rst two procedures performed in place for Qatari merchants for camping in its fi rst sea- in the region. The hospital recently performed October using the IMRIS suite were on and families to present their son in 2017, which has been two highly complex procedures using the lat- young patients aged seven and eleven years own camping products, as successful in terms of wide est state-of-the-art diagnostics equipment. old, with vascular anomalies which can well as to facilitate consumers’ participation by companies, The radiology department at Sidra Medi- change rapidly progress and are diffi cult to acquisition of these products. public demand and high cine works closely with general paediatrics, assess. The highly precise IMRIS technology The market for camp- sales. (QNA) paediatric surgery and multiple other sub- was able to better defi ne the lesions and help specialties such as cardiology and neuro- the team at Sidra Medicine to determine surgery, to provide best-practice care to progress of the disease with a high degree of patients using the IMRIS suite. accuracy. This in turn guided the best course Young patients are prepared for the proce- of treatment for both patients, who are re- dure with the help of Sidra Medicine’s Child covering well from the multi-disciplinary Life specialists who assist with the diagnos- care provided by Sidra Medicine. tic and interventional steps by meeting with Since the installation in October, the IM- the child and family before the procedure to RIS suite facilitated a decrease in patient ensure understanding and comfort. wait times by combining multiple proce- Dr Ashley Robinson, acting chair of Di- dures in one setting. This has also allowed agnostic Imaging and Division head of the team at Sidra Medicine to ensure the Interventional Radiology at Sidra Medi- safety of the procedure by performing it cine said, “Activating the service requires under the same general anaesthetic and in large number of staff from diff erent de- one space.

Sidra Medicine – Radiology and Imaging Department team. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, November 1, 2018 QATAR

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah, Greek Minister of National Defence Panos Kammenos and other dignitaries attend the forum yesterday.

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah Participants at the forum. speaking at the forum. Seminar on crisis leadership held at Milipol ‘Qatar capable of defending itself’ From Page 1 to be ready to face any threat.” no-one can aff ect its vision. We seminar on ‘Crisis lead- of the necessary equipment, the He added that Qatar is dou- On Qatar being accused of ter- must trust in ourselves to achieve ership in times of global other is the construction depart- bling its eff orts to build its de- rorism, he said: “We have faced the interests of our nation and Achange’ was held as part of ment, which puts in place provi- fence capabilities to be ready at violent and strange attacks from serve our people.” the Milipol Exhibition on Tues- sions for fi re safety and meets any time. HE al-Attiyah stressed some countries that started this On how countries deal with day. the requirements of individuals that “the State of Qatar does not imaginary charge of terrorism their fi ghters returning from Speaker Emily Hough ex- fi ghting fi re. care about any threats or where in a desperate attempt to off end confl ict areas, HE al-Attiyah plained some of the threats faced The Hong Kong offi cial high- they come from. But it always Qatar on the international scene, stressed that Qatar has con- by societies in various crises and lighted the mandatory require- prepares its people, develops its stressing that the State of Qatar tained, provided rehabilitation, the roles of leadership in protect- ments in Hong Kong for high-rise plans and strategies, and works has a vision and goals, and that education and then integration. ing their people. buildings to be approved for their Hough, editor of a magazine construction and there should be specialising on crises responses, pathways for the fi re equipment highlighted the likely adversities that should not be less than 6m the world is expected to encoun- wide. “They should be strong ter in the next 12 years owing to enough to withstand 30 tonnes, Forum calls for rehabilitation of the adverse weather conditions allowing the passage of one to 10 and human disasters. cars, and provide at least 25% of While calling for the neces- its area for security and safety re- returning fi ghters from confl ict zones sity of fi nding eff ective solutions quirements.” to overcome such weather ad- A representative of French QNA for hosting the event and thanked which is also a global challenge in versities and natural calamities, Ministry of Interior Commandant Doha the organisers for the prepara- a legal framework. Hough advised the states to learn Frederic Harrault also spoke. Chi Wah Wu from Hong Kong addressing the delegates. tions that led to its success. The For his part Executive Director from the experiences of countries Returning Foreign Fighters Fo- of Programs at Silatech Founda- that had experienced such situa- articipants in the Return- rum addressed a number of top- tion Faisal Mohamed al-Emadi tions earlier. “The issue of crises ing Foreign Fighters Forum ics and themes, and witnessed presented the organisation’s def- is also about epidemics and dis- Precommended the need to lively discussions on the return inition, methodology, projects, eases and the change that needs to combat violent extremism and to of foreign fi ghters and the chal- such as the departments of stud- be taken. Disasters are damaging help communities deal with the lenges of terrorism and extrem- ies, research, entrepreneurship to reputation and sustainability challenges of terrorism and the ism, the need to respect inter- and employment, and their ef- and today’s leaders need diff erent return of fi ghters from confl ict national law and human rights forts to help youth and provide kinds of skills to overcome such zones. while providing employment jobs for them wherever they are crises,” she added. They stressed the need for opportunities for young people in Arab countries, stressing that Later, Chi Wah Wu, assist- concerted eff orts by all con- so as not to fall victim to terror- now they are working in 16 Arab ant divisional offi cer and station cerned parties, including civil ist crimes. countries including Turkey, commander from Hong Kong society organisations, to combat The forum also focused on where they are assisting Syrian spoke on ‘Strategies and tactics violent extremism in line with the challenges of dealing with refugees. adopted for fi refi ghting in high- Security Council resolutions, the children and women, especially He predicted that the scope of rise buildings in Hong Kong’. High rule of law and human rights. those who came from marginal- its work will include more coun- rises are so common in Hong Kong The delegates highlighted the ised areas to join terrorist groups. tries next year. owing to the small size and high need to develop programmes A number of participants, in- Al-Emadi said that the foun- density of population in the terri- to deal with returnees from the cluding the Greek Minister of dation has 300 partnerships with tory, he said, while explaining the battlefi elds, and to prevent them National Defence Panos Kam- private and government enti- methods adopted to counter fi re- from joining war and confl ict menos, talked about the chal- ties, and now has 1mn jobs, and fi ghting in such high-rise build- zones again while providing an lenge facing his country because seeks to reach 3mn jobs by the ings like the World Trade Center, environment conducive to their of the infl ux of migrants across end of 2022. Al-Emadi stressed which stands almost 460m tall. rehabilitation, education and in- the border and how it treats them the need to rehabilitate young Hong Kong, said Wah Wu, has tegration into society. with respect within legal consid- people who return from fi ghting two authorities to support the Participants in the forum, erations. socially, religiously and mentally, protection of high-rise buildings. which started on Tuesday, ex- The Greek minister also called so that they become involved in While one of them is in charge A view of the gathering. pressed their gratitude to Qatar for the fi ght against terrorism, societies. Milipol a huge success, next edition slated to be in 2020 From Page 1 Weatherseed said the 2018 edition of the expo achieved huge success, as revealed by key statistics related to the event, including the total value of contracts signed by the MoI - QR527.5mn. Also during the press conference, Brig al-Shafi said the last contracts signed for the MoI during the expo were a deal worth QR48mn with a com- pany working in the fi eld of cyber security and another worth QR20mn with Diyar Al Sharq Al Awsat, an information security fi rm. Brig al-Shafi also informed that the fi rst contract signed yesterday - worth QR9.36mn - was signed with Ideal Solutions for importing and fi xing vehicle tracking devices and their maintenance. Mannai Trading Company bagged a contract worth QR92.5mn for preparing infrastructure and upgrading vo- cal communication systems and technical support for Cisco systems, the MoI said in a press statement. The third contract, worth QR3.1mn, was signed with Orbis Systems for upgrading document reading and iris-scan based attendance systems, while the fourth contract with GET Group worth QR20.7mn was for importing ID cards for expatriates as well as driving licences and their components. Meanwhile, Maj Gen al-Thani said 222 exhibitors from 24 countries, in- cluding seven new countries - Greece, India, Latvia, Morocco, Russia, Slove- nia and Switzerland - participated in the event. There were fi ve international pavilions featuring the UK, Germany, Italy, France and North America as well as one on Qatar. A total of 90 companies took part in the exhibition. A number of ministers and deputy ministers, police chiefs, undersecre- taries, Gendarmerie commanders, representatives of ministries and high- ranking security chiefs from brotherly and sisterly countries attended the exhibition, he added. Milipol Qatar off icials addressing a press conference yesterday. Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 11 QATAR

CMC delegation visits Berlin

A delegation from the Central Municipal Council (CMC) has visited Berlin, Germany’s capital, to review ways of mutual co-operation in related fields. Headed by CMC vice chairman Hamad Lahdan al-Muhannadi, the delegation discussed the various possible ways of co-operation between Qatar and Berlin City. The visit was in co-ordination with Qatar embassy in Berlin and the German-Arab Friendship Association. The delegation reviewed the sustainable city project and how to build environment-friendly future cities that use resources smartly, including a briefing on a driver-less bus experiment.

Safari woos patrons with troika of promotions afari Group has announced get 50% discount while purchas- as LG sports and fi tness equip- the launch of three new pro- ing branded items such as shirts, ment, which are available at dis- Smotional off ers – the That- T-shirts, trousers, jeans, suits in counted rates, the statement adds. tukada Festival, ‘Health & Beauty the menswear division and saree, The ongoing promotion allowing Promotion’ and ‘Sale up to 50% off churidar, churidar materials, customers to win 10kg gold was in- Promotion’. These are in addition abaya, ladies western wear in the troduced at all Safari outlets in Sep- to an ongoing promotion at all Sa- ladieswear section. This off er is tember. A total of fi ve draws will be fari outlets, allowing customers to also applicable to kidswear as well held during the promotion and 2kg win 10kg gold. as men’s and women’s footwear. gold will be given away in each draw. To “stimulate one’s taste buds laku Curry and Koonthal Roast, comments that we received from The third new promotion from There will be four winners per with nostalgic feelings”, Safari has etc. customers the previous year. So, Safari features health and beauty draw. The fi rst-prize winner will launched the ‘Thattukada Festival’ Film actor, anchor and model this year we have arranged all the products available in the cosmetics, get 1kg gold, while the second-, in the bakery & hot food division, Swetha Menon will inaugurate the dishes available in each and every fi tness and electronics divisions. A third- and fourth-prize winners the leading hypermarket group has Safari Thattukada Festival at Safari thattukada located in all districts wide variety of international brands will receive 500gm, 300gm and said in a statement. Mall — Abu Hamour at 5pm today of Kerala,” the statement noted. are included, such as Dove, Nivea, 200gm gold, respectively. The More than 75 varieties of food along with Radio Suno RJs. This off er is available at Safari Parachute, Enchanteur, Fair & Love- second lucky draw will take place items are available in the festival, The festival has been designed Hypermarket — Salwa Road and ly, Olay, Romano and L’Oréal. at Safari Mall — Abu Hamour on including Thattudosha, Irachiput- in such a way that it will remind Safari Mall — Abu Hamour from A range of health and fi tness December 10. Customers will get tu, Porotta, Poth Curry, Kappa customers of the real thattukada today. products is also available as part a raffl e coupon for every purchase Biriyani, Killippalam Kozhi Pori- – including old fi lm posters, radio Safari has also launched a sale of this promotion in addition to worth QR50, which will enable chathu, Tharavu Kumbil Curry, songs, etc in a vehicle. promotion with 50% discounts. branded electronic items from them to take part in the draw to Nadan Njandu Curry, Meen Mu- “We got the inspiration from the This off er enables customers to Philips, Panasonic, Clickon as well decide the winners.

ICAI hosts conference he Doha Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Ac- countants of India (ICAI) conducted its fi fth Inter- Tnational Conference with the theme ‘Sustainability and Growth in the Digital Era’ in Doha recently. The event was attended by more than 300 delegates, Ashraf Abu Issa and other dignitaries with Hatim Hussain. who hold various leading positions in top business units and enterprises in Qatar, India and other GCC countries. For the year 2018, chartered accountant (CA) Hatim Hussain bagged the CA Dilip Thakker CA Professional Achiever Award. The award, instituted by Thakker, fi rst chairman of the Doha Chapter of the ICAI, recognises an Indian chartered accountant residing in Qatar for excep- tional contribution in the accounting/fi nance profession to industry, the profession and community at large. The purpose is to motivate CAs to aspire, work and con- tribute to becoming exemplary CA Professional Achievers, according to a press statement. Hussain was given the award for his outstanding per- formance by Ashraf Abu Issa, chairman of Abu Issa Hold- ing, who was the chief guest at the event. Other guests of honour were CA Sripriya Kumar, ICAI Central Council, and Asim Mirza, director — Client Aff airs at Qatar Financial Centre. The conference had distinguished speakers who covered the topics such as forensic audit, IFRS, robotics, business valuation entrepreneurship tips and mental wellness. Sheikha Athba al-Thani shared her views on how digiti- sation could bring the sustainability in Qatar. Hussain holds an MBA (Executive) from Harvard Busi- ness School as well as many certifi cations from various or- ganisations. Hussain was the chairman of the Doha Chap- ter of ICAI for the year 2015 and a pioneer in organising the fi rst International Conference in Doha. He contributes to the activities of the chapter in the form of sponsorships and recruitment of CAs. “The chartered accountant fra- ternity is proud of CA Hatim Hussain,” the statement adds.

Free data and local talk time for patrons switching to Ooredoo eSIM

oredoo has an- nounced that Oall customers who make the switch to eSIM technology with Qatar’s biggest mobile network on a compat- ible device will enjoy a reward of free unlim- ited local calls and data for three months. Ooredoo will off er eSIM technology for both its post-paid and pre- paid customers and has the only self-service dig- ital eSIM feature available in Qatar and the region. eSIM is a revolution- ary technology that al- lows a mobile phone to work without a physical SIM card and enables users to use both their private and business numbers at the same time and switch between them seam- lessly without needing to physically swap SIM cards. Currently, only the latest generation of Google Pixel and iPhones are eSIM enabled in Qatar, and Ooredoo has stated it is working with a host of manufacturers to enable the software, so that every customer can eff ortlessly use their numbers simultaneously or switch between them seam- lessly as needed. More information on eSIM can be had from Ooredoo.qa Gulf Times 12 Thursday, November 1, 2018 QATAR/REGION

Federer turns down off er to play exhibition match in Saudi

By Anthony Harwood the 37-year-old. “I prefer not to come under pressure to pull out Amnesty International, said: “looking forward to playing and something very bad happened cision whether it’s good to go or Gulf Times Correspondent/London play. I’m happy practising. I’m as more grisly details emerged of ‘It’s up to Nadal and Djokovic visiting for the fi rst time.” inside there. So we are looking not.” happy doing other things, and I how the Washington Post jour- where they play their lucra- Djokovic tweeted: “Looking about how the situation evolves Last week Amnesty also called didn’t want to play there at that nalist was killed at the Saudi tive exhibition matches, but if forward to playing and visiting and I hope the things will clarify for Italy’s top football teams, Ju- ennis legend Roger Fed- time. So, for me, it was a very Consulate in Turkey four weeks they go to Jeddah we’d like to this beautiful country.” as soon as possible.” ventus and AC Milan, to recon- erer has revealed he turned quick decision.” ago. see them using their profiles Speaking at the weekend, Djokovic, a 14-time Grand sider its plans to play the coun- Tdown an off er to play an Novak Djokovic and Rafael Human rights groups have to raise human rights issues. Nadal said: ‘Of course I’m aware Slam champion, also would try’s Super Cup in Saudi Arabia in exhibition match in Saudi Ara- Nadal have announced they accused the pair of helping the Tweeting support for Saudi of the situation. But I had a com- not confi rm he would be going. January. Yesterday US wrestling bia which his fellow players are are re-considering whether to kingdom to use sport to rebrand Arabia’s brave human rights de- mitment since one year ago to “Of course I know, I’m aware of champion John Cena announced under pressure to pull out of fol- play in the King Salman Tennis its image, known as ‘sportswash- fenders would be a start.” play there. And my team is talk- what’s happening, and it’s sad, he would not be taking part in lowing the murder of journalist Championship in Jeddah on De- ing’. On October 7, three days af- ing to them, to analyse things. of course. We have to get more WWE’s Crown Jewel event due to Jamal Khashoggi. cember 21. The pair, ranked the Allan Hogarth, the head of ter Khashoggi’s disappearance, That’s it. It’s terrible that one information on what’s happen- start tomorrow at the King Saud “They contacted me too,” said top two players in the world, have advocacy and programmes at Nadal had tweeted that was journalist lost his life. I know ing so we can make a rational de- University Stadium in Riyadh. US senators urge Trump to Amir sends message to UN chief suspend N-talks with Saudi

Reuters di Arabia,” the senators wrote. particularly on nuclear ener- US resident who had American Washington “We, therefore, request that gy, must be based on trust and children, sparked global outrage you suspend any related negotia- shared values, but Saudi Arabia’s and pitched the world’s top oil tions for a US-Saudi civil nuclear actions “have made it clear that exporter into crisis. oth Republican and Demo- agreement for the foreseeable any nuclear co-operation with its The US has called for trans- cratic senators yesterday future,” said the lawmakers, who government does not currently parency in the investigation of Basked US President Donald included senators Cory Gardner, meet that bar”. Khashoggi’s death and revoked Trump to suspend civilian nucle- Rand Paul, Dean Heller and Todd Washington has wanted Sau- the American visas of some Sau- ar energy talks with Saudi Arabia Young. di Arabia to buy nuclear power dis over the incident. Trump said following the murder of journal- In addition, Democratic Sena- technology from US companies, Crown Prince Mohamed bore ist Jamal Khashoggi. tor Edward Markey wrote an- including Westinghouse, which ultimate responsibility for what Five Republican US lawmak- other letter to Trump calling for a recently emerged from Chapter happened to Khashoggi but also ers, led by Senator Marco Rubio, suspension of discussions on ci- 11 bankruptcy. cited Riyadh as a strong ally. said in a letter to Trump they vilian nuclear co-operation with In July, Saudi Arabia put South US Secretary of State Mike would use the Atomic Energy Act Saudi Arabia, and for the admin- Korea’s state-run utility Kepco, Pompeo and Defence Secretary to block any US-Saudi nuclear istration to revoke any approvals the US, France, China and Russia James Mattis have called for a agreements if Trump did not cut for the transfer of nuclear serv- on a shortlist to bid for a nuclear cessation of hostilities in Yemen His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has sent a written message to UN off talks. ices, technology or assistance to power project and the winner and urged the start of UN-led Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, inviting him to attend the annual ceremony of His Highness’ “The ongoing revelations the kingdom. would likely be selected in 2019, negotiations to end the civil war Anti-Corruption Excellence Award. The message was handed over by HE the Attorney-General Dr about the murder of Saudi jour- Representatives for the White a South Korea offi cial said. next month. Ali bin Fetais al-Marri, who is also the United Nations Special Advocate on Anti-corrupition, during nalist Jamal Khashoggi, as well House did not immediately re- Khashoggi, a critic of Saudi Saudi Arabia’s offi cial com- his meeting with Guterres in New York yesterday. During the meeting, the attorney-general also as certain Saudi actions related spond to requests for comment Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown ments on Khashoggi’s death have conveyed the greetings of His Highness the Amir to the UN secretary-general. For his part, Guterres to Yemen and Lebanon, have on the Republican letter, fi rst Prince Mohamed bin Salman, shifted from initially denying any praised the Amir’s eff orts to combat corruption and establish the foundations of the rule of law, raised further serious concerns reported by NBC News, or Mar- disappeared after visiting the involvement to saying the killing expressing his full support for Qatar in its eff orts in this field. The meeting was attended by HE the about the transparency, ac- key’s letter. Saudi consulate in Istanbul on was premeditated. Both Saudi Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani, and countability and judgment of Markey said in his letter that October 2. The death of the Arabia and Turkey are investigat- the delegation accompanying the attorney-general. current decision makers in Sau- co-operation between nations, Washington Post columnist, a ing Khashoggi’s death. Jamal Khashoggi’s murder: a month of crisis ere is a timeline of had heard audio recordings of murder was “premeditated”, events since the killing the event. based on information supplied Hof Saudi journalist Jamal The New York Times says a by Turkey. Khashoggi in the kingdom’s Is- suspect identifi ed by Turkey in In a statement carried by the tanbul consulate on October 2, the disappearance was in Crown state-run Saudi Press Agency, as issued by AFP. Prince Mohamed’s inner circle. he says the public prosecution Three other suspects are linked “continues its investigation”. z ‘Murdered’ to his security detail. On October 2, Washington z ‘Strangled’ and Post contributor Khashoggi is z Saudi Arabia ‘dismembered’ recorded on camera entering the admits murder On October 26, Istanbul’s Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Ac- US President Donald Trump chief prosecutor prepares a re- cording to his fi ancee, he went says on October 18 that he now quest for the 18 suspects to be there to collect a document for believes Khashoggi is dead and extradited to Turkey. his upcoming marriage. warns of “very severe” conse- However, the Saudi foreign In an interview published on quences should Saudi Arabia be minister insists that “the in- October 5, Saudi Arabia’s Crown proven responsible. dividuals are Saudi nation- Prince Mohamed bin Salman Two days later, Riyadh fi nally als. They’re detained in Saudi maintains Khashoggi entered admits Khashoggi was killed Arabia, and the investigation the consulate but came out inside the consulate after talks is in Saudi Arabia, and they shortly afterwards. deteriorated into a “brawl”. will be prosecuted in Saudi The next day, a source close The public prosecutor says 18 Arabia.” to the Turkish government says Saudi nationals have been de- On October 29, Saudi Arabia’s police believe the journalist was tained. chief prosecutor arrives in Is- murdered inside the consulate Riyadh simultaneously an- tanbul for talks with his Turkish “by a team especially sent to nounces the sacking of top counterparts. Istanbul and who left the same intelligence offi cial Ahmad al- On October 31, only an day”. Assiri and royal media adviser hour after the Saudi prosecu- Riyadh calls the claim “base- Saud al-Qahtani, both top aides tor leaves the city, the Turk- less”. to the crown prince. ish prosecutor says Khashoggi Saudi Foreign Minister Adel was “strangled” as soon as he z Grim details al-Jubeir tells Fox News on Oc- entered the consulate and then On October 7, The Washing- tober 21 that the operation was “dismembered” as part of a ton Post cites a US offi cial saying not ordered by the crown prince. “premeditated” plan. Khashoggi’s body “was likely A vehicle with a diplomatic registration plate leaves Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul yesterday. It is the fi rst public confi rma- dismembered, removed in boxes z ‘Total fi asco’ tion of such details after grue- and fl own out of the country”. On October 23, Turkish came from Riyadh. ing, discussing their “joint ef- prince addresses the investment some reports in Turkish media. Turkish newspaper Yeni President Recep Tayyip Erdog- Trump ridicules the king- z ‘Repulsive incident’ forts” in investigating the case, summit in Riyadh, denouncing The Turkish prosecutor’s of- Safak reports on October 17 an says the “savage” murder of dom’s response as “one of the On October 24, Erdogan a Turkish presidential source Khashoggi’s murder and vowing fi ce says it was “obliged” to re- that Khashoggi was tortured Khashoggi had been planned worst cover-ups” in history. speaks with Crown Prince Mo- says. “justice will prevail”. veal the details after the talks before being decapitated in- for days in advance and carried “It was a total fi asco,” he later hamed in their fi rst telephone In his fi rst public comments On October 25, Saudi Ara- with their Saudi counterpart side the consulate, saying it out by a 15-person team that added. conversation since the kill- since October 2, the crown bia’s public prosecutor says the produced “no concrete results”.

Khashoggi was strangled French FM: sanctions against Saudi possible From Page 1 It said al-Mojeb’s response also distanced Riyadh from the idea Agencies “We’ll take the necessary identified. The truth needs Istanbul on October 2 and has that a “local co-operator” had Paris measures against those who to come out. And today, even not been seen since. His body has been involved, saying that the are responsible,” Le Drian said, though Saudi authorities have not been found. Saudi Arabia has Saudi authorities had not made an adding that France didn’t rule admitted that there was a mur- admitted he was killed in what it offi cial statement to that eff ect. rance doesn’t rule out any out any sanctions against Saudi der, it’s not enough. The truth described as a botched rendition Al-Mojeb left Turkey last sanction against Saudi Arabia, which is a large buyer has not been revealed,” he told attempt. evening after a three-day visit, FArabia if its authorities of French armaments, luxury RTL. “The investigations need Western countries have grown during which he also held talks at are found to have been involved products and many other ex- to continue. We will continue to increasingly critical of Saudi the offi ces of Turkey’s National in the killing of journalist Jamal ports. be demanding.” Arabia over the case, as well as Intelligence Agency (MIT). Khashoggi, French Foreign Min- The foreign minister cast doubt He added that “depending Saudi’s pursuit of its war in Yem- Meanwhile, both Republican ister Jean-Yves Le Drian said yes- on Saudi Arabia’s investigation on the results that will be an- en. Germany has said it will stop and Democratic senators yester- terday. into the death of Khashoggi, say- nounced (of the Turkish and arm sales to Riyadh. day asked US President Donald France has called on Saudi Ara- ing “not enough” was being done Saudi investigations), we will im- Le Drian said Germany acted Trump to suspend civilian nuclear bia to establish the truth about to find those responsible for his plement the necessary sanctions too early. “I think we must wait energy talks with Saudi Arabia fol- the case - having already changed murder. against those guilty”. for the investigation to find the lowing the murder of Khashoggi. its story several times - identify The comments appear to sig- The death of Khashoggi - a culprits,” he said. Five Republican US lawmakers, those behind the killing and pun- nal France upping the pressure on Washington Post columnist and He downplayed the impor- led by Senator Marco Rubio, said ish them. Saudi authorities, having so far a critic of Saudi Arabia’s de facto tance of weapon sales to Saudi in a letter to Trump they would “So long as those who are re- declined to openly criticise the ruler, Crown Prince Mohamed Arabia for the French economy, use the Atomic Energy Act to block sponsible and the circumstances Riyadh regime over a death that bin Salman - has sparked global saying they represented only 7% any US-Saudi nuclear agreements around the killing are not made has badly strained relations be- outrage and pitched the world’s of France’s overall weapon ex- if Trump did not cut off talks. public, released and evaluated, tween the Middle East kingdom top oil exporter into a period of ports. In addition, Democratic Senator we will go on demanding the and the West. crisis. “We are not dependent on Edward Markey wrote another let- truth,” Le Drian told RTL radio. “This crime has to be pun- Khashoggi disappeared after Saudi Arabia on that matter,” he ter to Trump. “So far we don’t have it.” ished and the perpetrators entering the Saudi consulate in said. Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Artists emerge from Mosul’s ruins to reclaim city’s cultural life

Reuters The next thing he did was re- Thousands died in that bat- Mosul was long celebrated as music, trade books, fi lms, music. versity library, one of the most ing Badri have performed there. Mosul cover his beloved violin and his tle or fl ed the city, large parts of a centre of Iraqi culture but that That never stopped even though it important in the region. Its walls show paintings and oud, similar to a lute, from where which was reduced to rubble. life was suppressed even be- was dangerous,” he said. “Mosul lost its identity, lost photographs of Mosul’s rich his- he had hidden them in the frame The musicians played in a park fore Islamic State declared its Baroodi and Badri belong to its features, lost thousands of its tory and its recent devastation. he fi rst thing musi- of his bed. where the militants once trained caliphate in 2014. a community of artists and ac- people with many more still un- One wall depicts the crimes cian Fadhel al-Badri did He said he hugged and kissed child soldiers and the music, a Al Qaeda targeted musicians in tivists who have defi ed fears of der the rubble,” he said. of IS, displaying a yellow jump- Twhen Mosul was liberated them “like they were my own mixture of Western and Iraqi the wake of a US-led invasion in fresh attacks to hold weekly book “These eff orts aren’t going to suit worn by detainees as well as from Islamic State last year was children,” and played amid the classical, wafted along the banks 2003 and no one could remember markets and photography exhi- fi x everything overnight but it handcuff s. breathe a sigh of relief. ruins “a song for Mosul.” of the Tigris River. when they last heard live music in bitions. gives us hope.” Not every cultural institution The militants who seized the On Saturday, Badri and other “Music is my life. It’s amazing Mosul. In a bold move, that communi- One new cultural centre is the in Mosul is seeing rebirth. city in 2014 had targeted artists musicians and activists attended to hear it in Mosul again,” he said. Islamic State continued that ty has also painted murals around vibrant Qantara cultural cafe. It The central public library, a like himself so when neighbours the fi rst orchestral concert in the The concert was conceived by crackdown, blowing up statues the city in a bid to reclaim public opened in east Mosul in March, research centre that housed rare said they were hunting for him, northern Iraqi city since the mil- Karim Wasfi , former director of and monuments, said Ali al-Ba- spaces. welcomes men and women, manuscripts including govern- he left home, called his wife to itants were defeated more than the Baghdad Orchestra, whose roodi, a Mosul University profes- Last year, he helped launch an boasts a well-stocked bookshop ment records dating back to the say he was likely to die and took a year ago by Iraqi and Kurdish visiting Peace Through Arts sor and photographer. international book drive to re- and hosts readings and work- Ottoman era, was the only one to to sleeping in a diff erent place forces and a coalition led by the Farabi Orchestra played along- “We continued to consume cul- plenish the million books that shops. survive Islamic State intact, even each night. United States. side local musicians. ture in secret: we would listen to Islamic State torched at the uni- In addition, musicians includ- though it was used as a base. Netanyahu pick for Jerusalem mayor ousted in fi rst round

AFP boost attendance. Jerusalem Average turnout nationwide, posted after polls closed on Tuesday, night was 54%, com- sraeli Prime Minister Ben- pared to just shy of 51% in 2013. jamin Netanyahu’s pick for The fi nal fi gures were not re- IJerusalem mayor has failed leased yesterday as planned due to make it past the fi rst round to a technical glitch in its data of polling, local election results systems, the interior ministry showed yesterday. said. None of the six candidates for It did not say when the full mayor, all Jewish, won the 40% data would be available. of votes required to be elected in Figures for historic elections the fi rst round held on Tuesday. in the Israeli-occupied Golan A runoff between the top two Heights went online overnight, Protesters hold up a poster of Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi during a protest against the deteriorating economy in Taiz, Yemen. will be held on November 13. before the crash. Minister for Jerusalem Aff airs Minority Druze on the stra- Zeev Elkin, a member of Netan- tegic plateau cast ballots for the yahu’s right-wing Likud party fi rst time since Israel captured it and who received the premier’s from Syria in 1967, but the vote endorsement, won only 20% of sparked protests. the vote. The vote was controversial Moshe Leon, another right- since many Druze, who feel con- winger, garnered the most votes nected to Syria, fear it helps Is- UN aims to re-launch with 33%, according to offi cial rael legitimise its control over the fi gures. occupied plateau. Leon has the backing of hawk- Several hundred protesters ish Defence Minister Avigdor in the village of Majdal Shams, Lieberman and of ultra-Ortho- some carrying Syrian fl ags, tem- dox Jewish factions. porarily blocked a polling cen- The ultra-Orthodox, who tre as police sought to maintain Yemen peace talks make up some 10% of Israel’s calm, an AFP correspondent re- population, wield particular in- ported. Agencies bring the Yemeni parties to for a cessation of hostilities in long-term,” May told parlia- tion has deployed 10,000 new fl uence in Jerusalem, and the city There had been calls to boycott Sanaa the negotiations table within a Yemen and said UN-led negoti- ment. troops to the Red Sea coast, has previously had an ultra-Or- the election, and a string of can- month.” ations to end the civil war should Saudi Arabia and its allies in- ahead of a new off ensive on Ho- thodox mayor. didates pulled out. Pentagon chief Jim Mattis begin next month. tervened in the confl ict between deida “within days”. In comparatively liberal Tel The Majdal Shams vote fi nally he United Nations said said on Tuesday that Saudi Ara- In a statement, Pompeo said embattled Yemeni President Abd- Some 110 rebels have been Aviv, Labour mayor Ron Huldai went ahead and Dulan Abu Salah yesterday it aims to re- bia and the United Arab Emir- missile and drone strikes by Rabbu Mansour Hadi, whose gov- killed in air strikes in Hodeida was elected to a fi fth fi ve-year was elected mayor of the town of Tlaunch Yemen peace talks ates, which are in a US-backed Houthi rebels against Saudi Ara- ernment is recognised by the Unit- province in the past three days, term. 10,000 - winning 260 out of just “within a month”, shortly after coalition fi ghting Houthi rebels bia and the United Arab Emirates ed Nations, and the Houthis in 2015. including 23 killed yesterday, In Haifa, also a traditional 350 ballots cast. the United States called for the in Yemen, are ready for talks. should stop, and the Saudi-led The coalition has been wag- three medics from diff erent hos- Labour stronghold, the party’s In the Golan village of Ein warring parties to come to the “We have got to move towards coalition must cease air strikes ing an aerial bombing campaign pitals in the area said. Einat Kalisch Rotem became the Qiniye, which has a population negotiating table. a peace eff ort here, and we can’t in all populated areas of Yemen. in Yemen aimed at pushing the Two military offi cials with northern port city’s fi rst woman of about 2,000, Wahil Mughrabi UN envoy Martin Griffi ths say we are going to do it some British Prime Minister There- Houthis back, but the rebels still pro-government forces said mayor and fi rst female to head was elected mayor with 21 votes welcomed calls for an immediate time in the future,” Mattis said sa May welcomed the US posi- hold the key port city of Hodeida three air strikes were conducted any of Israel’s three largest cities. against his rival’s two. resumption of talks and a cease- at the US Institute of Peace in tion yesterday and said Griffi ths and the capital Sanaa. yesterday, after the US call for Israel’s elections for may- In two other villages, elections fi re in Yemen. Washington. had spoken with Foreign Secre- After UN-backed talks col- negotiations, while 15 have been ors and councils, held every fi ve were called off as there were no “I urge all concerned parties to “We need to be doing this in tary Jeremy Hunt the previous lapsed in September, the coali- carried out since Monday. years, are largely local aff airs but candidates. seize this opportunity to engage the next 30 days,” he added. evening. tion announced it was relaunch- Nearly 10,000 people have have served as a springboard for In Israeli-annexed east Jeru- constructively with our current Mattis said that the US is call- “They agreed that the UK ing an assault on Hodeida, whose been killed since 2015 and the politicians with national ambi- salem, which Israel also occupied eff orts to swiftly resume political ing for the warring sides to meet will continue to encourage all port serves as an entry point for country now stands at the brink tions. in 1967, Palestinians for the fi rst consultations to agree on a frame- with Griffi ths in Sweden in No- parties to agree to de-escala- more than 70% of imports into of famine, with more than 22mn For the fi rst time in local elec- time fi elded a list of candidates work for political negotiations,” vember. tion, and to that lasting politi- the impoverished country. Yemenis - three quarters of the tions, voting day was declared a for the city council but it failed to he said in a statement. US Secretary of State Mike cal deal, which will ensure that Yemeni government offi cials population - in need of humani- national holiday in an eff ort to win any seats. “We remain committed to Pompeo also called on Tuesday any ceasefire will hold in the said on Tuesday that the coali- tarian assistance.

S Sudan rebel leader Machar Brace for hard times, returns to mark peace deal Rouhani tells Iranians

Reuters a string of failed ceasefi res and cidences of fighting since the Reuters ers have chanted anti-govern- Juba deals. latest agreement was signed, Tehran ment slogans. The world’s youngest nation but violence has largely died The rial currency has also sunk plunged into confl ict in 2013 af- down. against the US dollar due to the outh Sudan rebel leader ter Kiir sacked Machar as vice Kiir hosted yesterday’s cer- ranian President Hassan Rou- sanctions threat, with a heavy Riek Machar returned to president. emony near the mausoleum of hani has warned Iranians they demand for dollars among ordi- Sthe capital Juba yesterday Troops loyal to both men national hero John Garang - the Iface hard times when new US nary Iranians trying to protect to celebrate a peace deal, more clashed in the capital that De- same spot where the country sanctions take eff ect on Sunday their savings. than two years after fi erce fi ght- cember and ethnically charged celebrated its independence but said the government would do Iran began selling crude oil to ing erupted in the city and forced fi ghting soon spread across the from Sudan in 2011 after decades its best to alleviate them. private companies for export on him to fl ee the country. state, shutting down oil fi elds, of north-south war fuelled by oil, Washington reimposed a Sunday as part of a strategy to To further reinforce the peace forcing millions to fl ee and kill- ethnicity and religion. number of sanctions on Iran in counter the planned sanctions. deal, President Salva Kiir ordered ing hundreds of thousands of Leaders from Uganda, Ethio- May after pulling out of an in- “You will not be able to reach the release of a jailed adviser to people. pia, Sudan, Egypt and Somalia ternational 2015 agreement in- any of your goals with regard to Machar, and a spokesman to his Kiir said he had ordered the re- looked on as traditional dancers tended to curb Tehran’s nuclear Iran’s oil,” Rouhani said, accord- rebel group. lease of an adviser and a spokes- entertained the crowds. programme. US offi cials have ing to IRIB. Machar fl ew in with his wife man to rebel leader Machar to- Machar fl ed to neighbouring said they aim to reduce Iran’s oil “You will not be able to bring it and a small retinue but none of day. Democratic Republic of Congo exports to zero. to zero or reduce it.” his troops - then met Kiir, his Kiir said retired South Af- in 2016 after fi ghting broke out The Islamic Republic of Iran Separately, Oil Minister Bi- long-time rival, and a line-up of rican colonel William Endley, again in the capital, wrecking Broadcasting (IRIB) news agen- jan Zanganeh said yesterday regional leaders who have spent who was sentenced to death an earlier peace deal and killing cy yesterday quoted Rouhani as 280,000 barrels of oil had been years pressing the two men to in February for trying to bring hundreds. calling the move “a new injus- sold on Iran’s energy bourse and end their civil war. down the government, would He later travelled to South Af- tice” which the government did an additional 720,000 barrels “We need peace,” Machar told be released. rica, where he was held under not fear. would be off ered for sale again thousands of people who gath- “I’ll release him tomorrow and house arrest until earlier this But he added: “In the past few on the exchange, according to Oil ered at a ceremony marking the he will be deported to his coun- year. months our people have faced dif- Ministry news site SHANA. accord that he, Kiir and other try,” he said, adding that rebel Under pressure from govern- fi cult times and it’s possible that the European powers will imple- groups signed last month. spokesman James Gatdet will ments in East Africa and from next few months will be diffi cult. ment a so-called Special Purpose “We really pray that this peace also be released. United Nations and Western do- But the government will use all its Vehicle (SPV) under considera- agreement holds this time,” said Gatdet had also been sen- nors, Machar’s group, other rebel power to reduce these problems.” tion to facilitate trade with Iran 27-year old Juma Khamis in the tenced to death in February on factions and the government last The cost of living has soared in next week, Mahmoud Vaezi, the crowd. charges of treason and incite- month signed a peace deal, under recent months, leading to dem- presidency offi ce head, said yes- Regional and Western powers ment against the government. which he will again become vice South Sudan rebel leader Riek Machar addresses the nation at the onstrations against profi teering terday, according to the Islamic alike have been exasperated by There have been sporadic in- president. John Garang’s Mausoleum in Juba yesterday. and corruption in which protest- Republic News Agency (IRNA). Gulf Times 14 Thursday, November 1, 2018 AFRICA

REPORT OFF THE AIR DETAINED INVESTIGATION DIPLOMACY DR Congo soldiers, militias TV station suspended over Tanzanian opposition Cameroon accuses militants ‘executed’ 92 in Sept: UN ‘fake’ Bongo death report lawmaker arrested of killing US missionary

A UN rights group said yesterday that armed A private Cameroonian television station has Tanzanian opposition lawmaker Zitto Kabwe was An American missionary gunned down in groups and security forces in the Democratic been barred from broadcasting for six months in arrested yesterday in Dar es Salaam after having Cameroon’s northwest anglophone region was Republic of Congo had carried out 92 “extra- neighbouring Gabon after erroneously reporting claimed that dozens of people were killed in killed during clashes sparked when militants judicial executions” in September. The Joint UN the death of President Ali Bongo Ondimba, who is in recent clashes between herders and the security attacked security forces and a university campus, Off ice for Human Rights (BCNUDH) recorded hospital in Saudi Arabia suff ering from exhaustion, forces, his ACT party said. Kabwe, head of the Cameroon’s defence minister said yesterday. 623 human rights violations in the sprawling Libreville authorities said. Vision 4, thought to be Alliance for Change and Transparency and its only Charles Wesco, 44, was travelling with his wife, central African country last month, up from close to the Cameroonian government, reported member of parliament, is an outspoken critic of son and a driver, when they came under fire on 620 in August and 515 in July. “State agents last week that the Gabonese president had died. President John Magufuli. “Our leader was arrested Tuesday. He died of his wounds in hospital later are responsible for 52% of the documented Gabon’s broadcasting authority HAC, which met at his home. He is now being questioned by the same day in the regional capital Bamenda, violations, including the extra-judicial executions Tuesday, said in a statement that the “incorrect police. Our lawyers are with him,” ACT spokesman the latest violence to rock the country’s English- of at least 25 people,” the BCNUDH’s monthly and false” report had “undermined national unity, Ado Shaibu said. “We do not yet know exactly speaking areas. Defence minister Joseph Beti German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes report said. It added that 48% were perpetrated social cohesion and public order”. Bongo took over why he was arrested, but according to initial Assomo called the shooting a “terrorist ambush” African Union chairperson Moussa Faki by fighters from armed groups, including the as leader of the oil-rich equatorial African nation in police explanations it has to do with our press in a statement broadcast on state radio, adding Mahamat at the Chancellery in Berlin summary executions of at least 67 people. 2009 on the death of his father Omar Bongo. conference on Sunday,” the spokesman added. that an inquiry had been opened. yesterday.

Watchdog wants 42 die as Nigeria security SA minister disciplined for forces fi re upon protests lying under oath Reuters Reuters a statement later that day saying 400 Johannesburg Kaduna IMN members were detained. The statement did not mention any deaths. Police and army spokesmen did outh Africa’s Home Aff airs Minister Malusi he movement of a jailed Ni- not respond to phone calls seeking Gigaba should be disciplined for lying un- gerian Shia cleric, whose fol- comment on the updated death toll. Sder oath about the wealthy Oppenheimer Tlowers have repeatedly been The army has said that three IMN family’s attempt to open a private airport immi- targeted by the authorities, said members were killed on Monday. gration facility, the country’s offi cial anti-graft yesterday security forces had killed Zakzaky was charged in April this watchdog said yesterday. This is the latest setback 42 of its members during two days year with murder over the 2015 vio- for Gigaba, who said on Sunday that he had faced of violent crackdowns on protests in lence, after being held for more than blackmail threats over a private sex video that was the capital Abuja. two years. leaked after he said his phone was hacked. Security forces opened fi re with Authorities ignored a court rul- Gigaba was fi nance minister between March live ammunition on members of the ing during the period before he was 2017 and February 2018 under scandal-plagued Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) charged that he be released, sparking former president Jacob Zuma. He was moved back who had marched in their hundreds protests from his followers. to the home aff airs ministry by President Cyril to demand the release of their leader President Muhammadu has in the Ramaphosa in a cabinet reshuffl e in February. Ibrahim Zakzaky, jailed since 2015 past accused the Shias of creating “a A South African court ruled last December that when the army killed hundreds of state within a state”, though he said Gigaba had violated the constitution when he de- his followers at his compound and a at the time that civilian deaths could nied having ever approved an application by the nearby mosque and burial ground. not be justifi ed. Oppenheimers to operate an immigration service The IMN yesterday raised its Around half of Nigeria’s 190mn for wealthy VIPs at Johannesburg’s main airport. death toll from the two previous people are Muslims. Although virtu- Nicky Oppenheimer, former chairman of days’ violence to 42 from an earlier ally all of them are Sunnis, Zakzaky diamond miner De Beers and one of South Af- fi gure of 25. has attracted an estimated 3mn fol- rica’s wealthiest people, told a parliamentary The toll included seven people lowers. committee this week that Gigaba had initially who died of injuries received on The repression of IMN and de- approved his family’s plan to open a private ter- Tuesday and 35 killed the previ- tention of its leader have drawn minal at OR Tambo airport in 2016. ous day, said Ibrahim Musa, an IMN criticism from international human Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane yester- spokesman. rights watchdogs and raised concern day directed Ramaphosa to discipline Gigaba and On Monday, the army opened fi re that the group could become radi- to inform her of the action he had taken within on the marchers on the outskirts of calised, just as the Sunni militant 20 days. “The minister has committed a breach Abuja. group Boko Haram turned into a vio- of the constitution,” Mkhwebane told a news A Nigerian off icer watches a police vehicle as it goes up in flames following clashes with supporters of Islamic On Tuesday, the police shot at the lent insurgency in 2009 after police conference. Gigaba’s spokesman did not answer Movement of Nigeria in Abuja. protesters in the city centre, issuing killed its leader. his phone when called by Reuters yesterday.

Cape Town mayor quits amid opposition row ‘Racist’ Gandhi statue plan blocked

AFP October but appeared to back- sion cameras outside the High The coastal city, one of AFP of loathing and detestation of for the southern African country. Johannesburg track in recent weeks. Court in Cape Town where South Africa’s prime tourist Blantyre Gandhi,” said the “Gandhi Must Though Gandhi is more com- She also announced her she was lodging an application destinations, has been battling Fall” group in their application monly remembered for his peace- resignation from opposition against what she called a “po- a drought and a high crime rate. which gave 18 grounds against the ful resistance to British rule in his he mayor of South Af- Democratic Alliance (DA), litically-manipulated” foren- Cape Town is the DA’s fl ag- ampaigners in Malawi yes- construction. native India, his legacy in Africa rica’s second city of which had tried unsuccessfully sic report ordered by the mu- ship city as the fi rst the oppo- terday won an injunction Judge Michael Tembo ordered is more mixed. Foreign ministry TCape Town resigned in recent months to strip her of nicipality which has accused sition wrested from the ruling Cto temporarily halt work that work be suspended on the offi cial Isaac Munlo previously yesterday amid a bitter dispute her membership. her of maladministration. African National Congress on a statue of Mahatma Gandhi in statue “until the hearing of the defended the statue, saying “Gan- roiling the country’s main op- “I can no longer stay in this The DA welcomed her res- (ANC) in 2009 and is one of the commercial capital as part of substantive matter” or a court or- dhi promoted values of simplicity, position in the runup to 2019 abusive relationship. When ignation and said she will be three major cities under its ad- a $10mn construction deal with der to the contrary. fi ght against social evils”. elections. people abuse you, you must replaced as interim mayor by ministration. New Delhi. The site was deserted yesterday Statues have sparked charged Patricia De Lille vowed she walk away,” she told reporters. provincial minister for com- The troubles pose a threat to They argued in the high court afternoon, an AFP correspondent debates in Africa in recent years would vacate her offi ce at 7pm, “It’s my long walk to free- munity safety Dan Plato, 57. the party’s popularity nation- that the statue, part of a deal to saw, and a police offi cer said work- as the continent wrestles with the ending uncertainty about her dom... I’m free, free from op- De Lille’s seven-year tenure wide just months ahead of the build a convention centre in Blan- ers had been ordered home after legacy of colonialism and history future following several con- pression,” she said, describing has been marred by allega- general election due in the fi rst tyre, celebrated Gandhi who they the injunction was issued. of racism. In 2016, Ghana’s gov- fl icting statements. the DA as “rudderless” and tions of corruption and fi nan- half of 2019, when the DA faces accused of using racial slurs in his Over 3,000 Malawians have ernment said it wanted to relocate The 67-year-old had fi rst “leaderless”. cial mismanagement that have a revived ANC following the lifetime. signed a petition opposing the a statue of Gandhi on a university announced in August that she De Lille signed her resigna- threatened to tarnish Cape departure of scandal-tainted “Being black people ourselves, statue, saying the Indian inde- campus after professors launched would step down at the end of tion letter in front of televi- Town’s reputation. Jacob Zuma. such remarks have invited a sense pendence hero had done nothing a petition claiming he was racist. S Leone’s chimpanzees pay price of human expansion

By Saidu Bah, AFP Over the past three months, to protect the animals’ habitat, resentative Nyabenyi Tito Tipo Freetown the Sierra Leone sanctuary has their eff orts are often frustrated told AFP during her visit to the received seven orphaned chimps, by the actions of local offi cials, sanctuary. a record number. said Amarasekaran. “Our forests need to be pro- hey have their hands full But those fi gures only hint at “We planted over 4,000 trees tected, regenerated and not de- at the Tacugama Chim- the true scale of the slaughter, around the National Park area in pleted,” she added. Tpanzee Sanctuary, where said Amarasekaran. Freetown,” he said. But for Papanie Bai Sesay, bio- record numbers of orphaned They calculated that for every “But city planners gave it away diversity offi cer at the Conser- chimps are being delivered to chimp they received, up to 10 for the construction of dwelling vation Society of Sierra Leone, their care, victims of the relent- others could have been killed. houses, due to lawlessness, greed there are two problems with less expansion of human activity. Over the past three or four and corruption. Sierra Leone’s current conser- Poachers hunt them for their months then, between 70 and “Government should stop all vation laws. “We have obsolete meat, farmers shoot them to pro- 100 chimpanzees could have human activities around our for- wildlife laws, which date as far tect their crops and a lack of po- perished. ests to protect biodiversity. If we back as 1978,” he explained. litical will means more and more “Most chimps that arrive at continue to deplete our environ- But the other problem was of their habitat is being surren- the sanctuary are less than fi ve ment there will be nothing left more fundamental, he added. dered to urban development and years old and would still be suck- for the future.” “Our current forest conservation forestry. ling milk from their mothers,” Western chimpanzees are the laws and policies are also not en- Founder of the sanctuary Bala said Mama Posseh Kamara, who only critically endangered chimp forced by authorities.” Amarasekaran does not mince his acts as surrogate mother to the subspecies. Beran Forster, an assistant words. “Over the past 10 years, the new arrivals at the sanctuary. They have already been wiped director at Sierra Leone’s Envi- environment has suff ered much “Many have lost their mothers out in Burkina Faso, Benin, Gam- ronmental Protection Agency, depletion as a result of widespread to bush meat hunters, abandoned bia — and possibly Togo too. acknowledges the scale of the construction of houses, logging or illegally sold as pets,” she ex- According to The American problem. and mining with the approval of plained. Journal of Primatology, their “The major impact on the en- corrupt politicians and lands min- As she spoke, she fed milk to population plunged more than vironment in Sierra Leone is hu- istry offi cials,” he said. one of her new charges, a four- 80% between 1990 and 2014. man expansion into wildlife ar- Several species of wildlife month-old baby chimp, as sev- And Sierra Leone is home eas, bush fi re to clear lands and Mama Posseh Kamara, a conservationist working as a foster mother for chimps, poses with one of the around the forest, he added, had eral others climbed over her back to about 10% of an estimated hunting wild animals for bush seven rescued chimps from private homes at the Tacugama Chimpanzee Sanctuary in Freetown. been wiped out. and head. 55,000 still living wild. meat,” he said. The chimps’ plight echoes the “I have been doing this job for And the loss of their natural “Deforestation through un- fects of deforestation and replant manner, engaging the local villag- plant and animal life, including core message of the WWF’s new the past 14 years,” she said. habitat is only making the situa- sustainable logging practices for across the country. es near the Tacugama Sanctuary. snakes, birds, butterfl ies, chimps Living Planet report, released “They usually see me as their tion worse. exporting of logs is the worst sit- International partners, such as But change needs to come and other monkeys, he said. earlier this week: that the dev- mother because I feed and clean “Sierra Leone is losing a lot of uation the environment is faced the US Embassy in Freetown are soon, warned Amarasekaran. But, he added: “If we continue astation of the planet’s wildlife is them daily. Sometimes they even forest cover, due to human activ- with,” he added. also helping. They are fi nancing The Freetown National Park to deplete our environment there mostly down to “runaway human cry for me.” ities,” the Food and Agriculture In response, they were trying an agricultural project to improve boasts a high level of biodiversity: will be nothing left for the fu- consumption”. While they do what they can Organization’s (FAO) local rep- to educate local people on the ef- crop diversity in a sustainable large numbers of species of both ture.” Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 15 AMERICA

SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCE LACK OF EVIDENCE POLITICS INVESTIGATION TECHNOLOGY Boston gangster’s death Stallone not to be prosecuted Oprah jumps into Georgia Audit finds Florida bridge Driverless car testing sans being probed as homicide over alleged sexual assault race, endorses Abrams collapse not tied to grant backup driver gets the nod

US prosecutors are investigating Boston gangster The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s off ice Oprah Winfrey plans to lend her star power today A US Transportation Department inspector Alphabet Inc’s Waymo unit on Tuesday became James “Whitey” Bulger’s death as a homicide, has decided there is not enough evidence to to Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams’ quest to general’s audit set to be released yesterday has the first company to receive a permit from the off icials said yesterday, a day after his bloodied prosecute Rocky actor Sylvester Stallone over become the United States’ first black woman found no evidence the Obama administration’s state of California to test driverless vehicles body was discovered at a West Virginia federal allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in governor at a couple of appearances in the state. 2013 grant for a Florida bridge project was a factor without a backup driver in the front seat, the state’s prison. “The United States Attorney’s Off ice and 1987 and 1990, according to an agency document The media mogul, who has long associated in a deadly accident. The collapse of a pedestrian Department of Motor Vehicles said. California said the FBI are investigating the death of James released on Tuesday. The allegations from a herself with Democratic Party causes, has thrown bridge under construction at Florida International Waymo can use about three dozen test vehicles Bulger as a homicide,” the US Attorney’s Off ice woman in Santa Monica, California, also are outside her influence into a race that has become a University killed six, including five people in without drivers behind the wheel in Santa Clara for the Northern District of West Virginia said in a of the statute of limitations, off icials said in a charge flash point for accusations of voter suppression. vehicles, and injured eight. The Board said in May County, part of the greater technology hub of statement. The off ice declined to provide further evaluation worksheet by the district attorney’s Abrams’ Republican rival, Brian Kemp, serves it was evaluating the bridge design, construction Silicon Valley. Although self-driving vehicles are details. Bulger, 89, had lived a double life as one of off ice seen by Reuters. The document said the as Georgia secretary of state, a role in which he process, and the construction materials. The designed to eliminate the need for a driver, most Boston’s most notorious mobsters and as a secret victim, whose name was blacked out, stated that oversees state elections. Earlier this month, a inspector general report, seen by Reuters, did not testing thus far has been with a safety driver behind Federal Bureau of Investigation informant before she and Stallone had a consensual relationship in coalition of state civil rights groups sued Kemp, find evidence connecting the $11.4mn grant to the the wheel who can take over in case of emergency. going on the run for 16 years. He was convicted in 1987. The complaint was made in November 2017, accusing him of trying to depress minority voter collapse, but found “documentation shortfalls in About 60 companies have permits in California to August 2013 of 11 murders. and Stallone consistently denied the accusations. turnout to improve his chances of winning. the review and selection process.” test self-driving cars with such a backup driver. Pittsburgh buries three more Trump steps up synagogue shooting victims anti-immigrant

Reuters Pittsburgh off ensive ahead ittsburgh yesterday began holding three more funerals Pfor Jewish victims of a shoot- ing rampage at a synagogue that has of midterm vote become the focus of a fi erce political debate about white nationalism and anti-Semitism ahead of hotly con- By W G Dunlop, AFP ject to the jurisdiction thereof’.” That tested US congressional elections Washington phrase traditionally has been interpreted next week. as meaning people who have immunity Eleven worshippers were gunned from US law such as children born to for- down on Saturday by a man who S President Donald Trump yes- eign diplomats in the United States. stormed into the Tree of Life Syna- terday said he would fi ght all the Trump’s administration has detained gogue and opened fi re, yelling anti- Uway to the Supreme Court to end thousands of illegal immigrants under Semitic statements including: “All a constitutional guarantee of citizenship US immigration law, undercutting the Jews must die.” for people born on US soil, stepping up argument that they do not fall under It was believed to be the deadliest his anti-immigrant off ensive in the fi nal American legal jurisdiction. attack on Jews in the United States in stretch before key midterm elections. And the US Supreme Court has upheld recent history. With control of Congress at stake in the citizenship of children born in the Funerals were being held yesterday the November 6 vote, Trump has sought United States to immigrant parents. for Melvin Wax, 88, who was lead- to energise his base by portraying mi- “The World is using our laws to our ing Sabbath services when the attack grants as a national security threat, detriment. They laugh at the Stupidity began; retired real estate agent Irving ordering thousands of soldiers to the they see!” Trump tweeted. Younger, 69; and retired university southern border and pressuring Mexico Trump has also announced he is send- researcher Joyce Fienberg, 75. to halt groups of migrants headed for the ing more than 5,000 soldiers to shore up Mourners began showing up hours US. the US-Mexico border, but they will like- before Fienberg’s midmorning fu- In the latest twist, he has vowed to ly be limited to support activities as they neral at the Beth Shalom Synagogue eliminate the automatic right to citizen- are legally barred from conducting law as police blocked off surrounding People protesting against President Donald Trump wait near the Tree of Life Congregation on Tuesday in Pittsburgh. ship of persons born in the United States, enforcement operations in the United streets. long guaranteed — with few exceptions States. The aftermath of the tragedy still Kansas militia men blame Trump rhetoric for mosque attack plan — under the 14th Amendment to the US And he has called on Mexico to halt pervaded life in the Squirrel Hill Constitution. groups of Central American migrants neighbourhood where the synagogue Three Kansas militia members who Wright of conspiracy to use a weapon Trump’s surprising victory would likely “So-called Birthright Citizenship, which — which he has repeatedly vilifi ed in is located. were convicted of plotting to bomb of mass destruction and conspiracy have led them to call off their attack costs our Country billions of dollars and is campaign speeches — that are travelling In coff ee shops, customers talked the mosque and homes of Somali im- against civil rights. as an orderly transition from president very unfair to our citizens, will be ended one through the country to reach the United about the victims they knew. migrants should be granted leniency The attack, planned for the day after Barack Obama to Trump would have way or the other,” Trump tweeted. States. In the street, friends embraced and in their sentencing because they were the 2016 election in Garden City, Kan- largely disproved their conspiracy He said he would take the fi ght to the “The Caravans are made up of some comforted one another during the inspired by President Donald Trump’s sas, was thwarted by another member theories, the attorneys said. nation’s highest court. very tough fi ghters and people. Fought period of raw grief. rhetoric encouraging violence, lawyers of the group who informed authorities. Kari Schmidt and Tyler Emerson, “This case will be settled by the United back hard and viciously against Mexi- The synagogue attack has height- for the men said in court documents. Prosecutors are seeking life terms lawyers representing Wright, said States Supreme Court!” he wrote. co at Northern Border before breaking ened a national debate over Repub- The defence lawyers, in filings made for all three men when they are sen- Trump continued to stoke Islamopho- Trump had said previously in an inter- through. Mexican soldiers hurt, were lican US President Donald Trump’s in federal court in Kansas, said the tenced in November. Attorneys James bia, recently tweeting that “unknown view with Axios that he would end the unable, or unwilling to stop Caravan. rhetoric, which critics say has con- court had to acknowledge Trump’s Pratt and Michael Shultz, representing Middle Easterners” were in a migrant blanket guarantee via an executive order Should stop them before they reach our tributed to a surge in white-national- “rough-and-tumble verbal pummeling” Stein, said Trump appealed to “lost and caravan heading to the US border from — something not included in provisions Border, but won’t!” Trump tweeted. ist and neo-Nazi activity. in the 2016 election campaign that ignored white, working-class men” like Honduras, and calling it an “invasion.” for modifying the US constitution. The migrant groups that Trump has His administration denies he has “heightened the rhetorical stakes for their client, who was “an early and avid “As long as the Executive Branch Trump also asserted that birthright sought to cast as a threat to the United encouraged far-right extremism and people of all political persuasions.” supporter” of the president. condemns Islam and commends and citizenship “is not covered by the 14th States are still in southern Mexico, hun- is instead attempting to unify Amer- One of the lawyers said that Trump “The court cannot ignore the circum- encourages violence against would-be Amendment because of the words ‘sub- dreds of miles from the US border. ica. continued to stoke Islamophobia. stances of one of the most rhetorically enemies, then a sentence imposed Amid the fi rst funerals for victims The sentencing memorandums, mold-breaking, violent, awful, hateful by the Judicial Branch does little to on Tuesday, Trump visited Tree of filed on Monday and Tuesday, are just and contentious presidential elections in deter people generally from engag- Life. the latest instances of people blaming modern history, driven in large measure ing in such conduct if they believe Thousands protested his pres- Trump’s nationalistic rhetoric for en- by the rhetorical China shop bull who is they are protecting their countries ence in the city, accusing him of us- couraging right-wing extremists. now our president,” the lawyers wrote in from enemies identified by their own ing rhetoric that has fuelled anti- A federal jury in April convicted their sentencing memorandum for Stein. Commander-in-Chief,” they wrote in a Semitism in America. Curtis Allen, Patrick Stein and Gavin Had the three not been arrested, sentencing memorandum for Wright. Several thousand protesters, an ethnically mixed crowd of all ages, held an anti-Trump rally about a More than 1,800 people paid their felony counts including hate crimes. ther,” Smith said. “He was always at block away from the synagogue just respects on Tuesday at Rodef Sha- Four days after the attack, nerves in the synagogue, always helping out. as his visit began, singing Old Testa- lom, another synagogue in Squir- Squirrel Hill were still frayed. The synagogue had been his life since ment psalms and carrying signs with rel Hill, the heart of the city’s Jewish A public school was placed on lock- his wife passed away a few years ago.” such slogans as: “We build bridges community. down following an unsubstantiated Fienberg spent 25 years as a re- not walls.” Trump’s visit to Pennsylvania’s report that someone had brought a searcher at the University of Pitts- Trump made no public comments second largest city came seven days gun onto campus, police said. burgh’s Learning Research and De- during his visit, but wrote on Twitter before elections that will determine The lockdown ended after police velopment Center until she retired in yesterday morning that his offi ce had whether his Republican Party main- found no weapons. 2008. been “shown great respect on a very tains control of both houses of Con- Jodi Smith, a Pittsburgh native, “She was an engaging, elegant, and sad and solemn day” in Pittsburgh. gress or whether the Democrats seize joined mourners ahead of the Wax warm person,” the centre said on Fa- “Small protest was not seen by us, a majority in one chamber or both. funeral at the Ralph Schugar Chapel cebook. staged far away,” he tweeted. “The The accused gunman in the syna- and remembered him as a “very po- Younger, whose funeral is being Fake News stories were just the op- gogue attack, Robert Bowers, was lite, gentle man.” held at Rodef Shalom, was remem- Election workers deal with early mail-in ballots for the upcoming congressional posite-Disgraceful!” charged on Monday with 29 federal “I could have claimed him as a fa- bered as a doting grandfather. elections in Orange County at the Registrar of Voters in Santa Ana, California. Nasa retires its planet hunting Kepler space telescope

By Joey Roulette, Reuters Its positioning system broke down in may be about the same size and tempera- Orlando, Florida 2013 about four years after its launch, ture as Earth. though scientists found a way to keep it “Basically, Kepler opened the gate for operational. mankind’s exploration of the cosmos,” he Kepler space telescope has run But the telescope has now run out of William Borucki, Kepler’s now-retired out of fuel and will be retired af- the fuel needed for further operations, chief investigator, told reporters. Tter a 9-1/2-year mission in which leading to its retirement. Borucki described his favourite exo- it detected thousands of planets beyond “While this may be a sad event, we are planet, located more than 600 light years our solar system and boosted the search by no means unhappy with the perform- from Earth and fi rst spotted by the tel- for worlds that might harbour alien life, ance of this marvelous machine. Kepler’s escope in 2009, named Kepler 22B. Nasa said on Tuesday. nine-and-a-half year fl ight was more It is a possible “water world” the size Currently orbiting the sun 156mn km than twice the original target,” Char- of Earth perhaps covered with oceans and from Earth, the spacecraft will drift fur- lie Sobeck, project system engineer at with a water-based atmosphere. Water is ther from our planet when mission engi- Nasa’s Ames Research Center in Califor- considered a key ingredient for life. neers turn off its radio transmitters, the nia, told reporters on a conference call. Kepler’s data also provided a new way US space agency said. Kepler was succeeded by Nasa’s Tran- to assess whether a planet had a solid The telescope laid bare the diversity of siting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or surface, like Earth and Mars, or is gase- planets that reside in our Milky Way gal- TESS, which was launched in April. TESS ous, like Jupiter and Saturn. axy, with fi ndings indicating that distant is on a two-year, $337mn mission. The distinction helped scientists zero star systems are populated with billions of Nasa launched the Kepler telescope in on potential Earth-like planets and planets, and even helped pinpoint the fi rst on March 6, 2009, to learn if Earth-like better the odds for fi nding life. moon known outside our solar system. planets that might harbour life are com- Kepler used a detection method called The Kepler telescope discovered more mon or rare in other star systems. transit photometry, which looked for pe- than 2,600 of the roughly 3,800 exo- During its mission, Kepler found 2,681 riodic, repetitive dips in the visible light planets — the term for planets outside confi rmed planets and another 2,899 of stars caused by planets passing, or A February 3, 2009 file photo of Nasa’s Kepler spacecraft being placed on a stand for fuelling inside the Hazardous our solar system — that have been docu- candidates, bringing its tally to 5,580. transiting, in front of them. Processing Facility at Astrotech in Titusville, Florida. mented in the past two decades. That number includes about 50 that Gulf Times 16 Thursday, November 1, 2018 ASIA

WFP needs more funds for Rohingya

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) yesterday said that it needs more funds to continue assisting the hundreds of thousands 2,000 Rohingya to arrive Rohingya refugees, who have been living in Bangladesh camps after fleeing an off ensive by the Myanmar military last year. The WFP said it had spent around $20mn to assist the refugees in Bangladesh following the crackdown in Myanmar in this month: Myanmar August 2017. “We are here to highlight the AFP 8,032 Rohingya that Bangladesh Reilly said the refugees “want to plight of families of Rohingya Cox’s Bazar authorities sent in February. see justice served and an end to so that governments around “From that 5,000, the fi rst the violence and discrimination the world do not forget about batch will be about 2,000 peo- that have caused this crisis”. their needs. The international top Myanmar offi cial said ple. And then a second batch will “It is deeply concerning that community stepped up in a yesterday that his coun- follow. So in mid-November we Rohingya people may be sent successful way... but pretty soon Atry would take back a fi rst will receive the fi rst batch,” Thu back to Myanmar to face the we will need more money,” said group of 2,000 Rohingya refu- told reporters. same persecution they fl ed,” she WFP Executive Director David gees from camps in Bangladesh Bangladesh offi cials said a said. Beasley in a press conference. this month despite widespread new list of 24,342 Rohingya The 720,000 joined about Beasley said the shortage of doubts over the proposal. names was handed over in talks 300,000 who fl ed earlier vio- funds was owing to the fact that Offi cials from the two coun- this week. lence in Myanmar, where the “in the last two years the number tries announced on Tuesday that But Rohingya representa- Rohingya are refused citizenship of civilian hungry people in the some of the 720,000 Muslim Ro- tives expressed strong doubts and rights. Many brought har- world rose from 80mn to 224mn, hingya who fl ed a deadly military about going back despite the an- rowing tales of rape, murder and primarily driven by man-made clampdown in the Buddhist- nouncement. burning of villages. conflict whether we talk about majority country last year would “We would rather die in the Investigators have said sen- Syria, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan, start returning this month. camp in Bangladesh. We will not ior Myanmar military offi cials Nigeria or North East Nigeria”, Efe Myanmar foreign secretary return without any guarantee should be prosecuted for geno- news reported. Myint Thu visited the camps in of citizenship or fully restored cide, but Myanmar has rejected The WFP usually imports Cox’s Bazar yesterday to discuss rights,” Abdul Hakim, one refu- the calls, insisting it only tar- emergency supplies from outside the repatriations with refugees. gee from Myanmar’s Rakhine geted militants. the country but in the case of Most repeated demands that state, said. The two neighbours fi rst an- Bangladesh, the agency has been they be given Myanmar nation- The United Nations, aid nounced a large-scale repatria- trying to integrate into the local ality with full rights before they groups and even Bangladesh au- tion plan in November 2017. But economy, said Beasley, adding return. thorities have said any repatria- it has failed to advance, with each that the WFP has been buying Thu said Myanmar has veri- tion must be voluntary. government blaming the other. A Rohingya refugee woman, right, speaks to Myanmar’s Foreign Secretary Myint Thu, left, and Myanmar’s around $10mn worth of products fi ed 5,000 names on a list of Oxfam spokesperson Rachael envoys during their visit at a Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar yesterday. monthly from Bangladesh. (IANS) Lanka attorney general refuses Ruling AL Cyber law will guard invites against fake news, to endorse sacking of premier alliance terrorism: Vietnam

AFP Mahinda Rajapakse’s bully boys for talks Reuters “The enactment of the Colombo took over the state media is Hanoi Cybersecurity Law is absolutely unacceptable,” RSF essential to meet the said, adding that the crisis re- IANS urgent requirement ri Lanka’s attorney gen- called the “darkest hours of the Dhaka Vietnamese cyberse- to protect eral yesterday refused to Rajapakse presidency between curity law that global cybersecurity” Sendorse the president’s 2005 and 2015”. Atechnology compa- dismissal of the prime minister “We call on all parties to act re- he ruling Bangladesh nies and rights groups have not have local offi ces or local for a former president accused sponsibly by guaranteeing jour- Awami League (AL) par- warned could undermine de- data storage facilities. of rights abuses, the strongest nalists’ safety and by respecting Tty has invited a newly- velopment and stifl e innova- The ministry said there had sign yet the move may be un- their editorial independence, so formed opposition alliance for tion, will protect the coun- been no eff ective way to con- constitutional. that impartial news coverage is talks on the general election try from increasing cyber trol things such as fake news The country has been locked available to the public.” slated for December. threats, the security ministry and slander which caused in a tense standoff between two Journalists say that state me- AL secretary Abdus Sobhan has said. “unfortunate consequences”. rivals claiming to head Sri Lan- dia has largely become pro-Ra- Golap hand delivered an invi- Legislators approved It also said unidentifi ed ka’s government since Prime japakse while private networks tation letter to the opposition the law in June, overrid- “enemy” and “reactionary” Minister Ranil Wickremesin- have kept up a low-level cover- alliance leader Kamal Hos- ing strong objections from forces were using cyber space ghe’s shock sacking last Friday. age of Wickremesinghe. sain, reports Xinhua news companies like Facebook to call for protests and incite Wickremesinghe insists Presi- Special Task Force member stands guard at the off ice of newly appointed During Rajapakse’s tenure, 17 agency. and Alphabet Inc’s Google, riots and terrorism. dent Maithripala Sirisena acted Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo yesterday. journalists and media workers According to the letter, the rights groups and Western Despite sweeping econom- outside the constitution by dump- were killed, according to rights talks will begin at 7pm on No- governments including the ic reforms and increasing ing him for Mahinda Rajapakse, a “Having regard to the role of day urged Sirisena to allow organisations. vember 1 at Prime Minister United States. openness to social change, former president who ruled with the attorney general under the the 225-member parliament In 2015, Wickremesinghe Sheikh Hasina’s offi cial resi- But the Ministry of Pub- Vietnam’s Communist Party an iron fi st for a decade. constitution, I am of the view to hold a vote, warning of a helped Sirisena to defeat Ra- dence in Dhaka. lic Security, which admin- retains tight media censor- Wickremesinghe has refused that expressing an opinion on “bloodbath” if the president japakse and formed a unity Obaidul Quader, AL general isters the police, said the ship and does not tolerate to leave the prime minister’s of- the said questions would be delayed further. government, but the two have secretary, said the decision to Communist nation was dissent. fi cial residence and demanded deemed inappropriate,” said Ja- Unconfi rmed reports said the drifted apart over policy and hold the talks come after Hos- threatened by tens of thou- Offi cials from private com- Sirisena reconvene parliament yasuriya, the government’s top speaker was being pressured to personality clashes. sain wrote to Hasina seeking a sands of large-scale cyber panies have privately ex- so MPs can vote for a leader and legal adviser. defy the president and recon- Rajapakse, 72, has given fi ve dialogue. attacks that directly cause pressed concern that the law end the constitutional crisis. Sri Lanka’s parliamentary vene parliament unilaterally. legislators from Wickremes- The country’s main opposition serious economic losses will make it easier for authori- Sirisena has refused despite speaker had asked Jayasuriya to As the island reels from crisis, inghe’s party ministerial port- Bangladesh Nationalist Party and threaten security and ties to seize customer data and international pressure, and his provide his legal opinion as pres- Sri Lanka’s journalists have been folios in his cabinet after per- (BNP) earlier this month formed social order. expose local employees to ar- appointee Rajapakse has assumed sure builds on Sirisena to resolve caught in the power struggle be- suading them to change sides. the alliance called the “Jatiya “The enactment of the Cy- rest. his duties, naming a new cabinet the nearly week-long impasse tween the warring leaders. Wickremesinghe has con- Oikya Front” (United National bersecurity Law is essential to The ministry said people’s and addressing bureaucrats at the that has left one dead in clashes. Reporters without Borders vinced at least two lawmakers Front). meet the urgent requirement information would not be dis- fi nance ministry yesterday. Wickremesinghe amended (RSF) said supporters of Ra- from Sirisena’s camp to join his Hossain is a former foreign to protect cybersecurity,” the closed and fi rms would only be The two rivals are jockeying the constitution after winning japakse, whose tenure was United National Party. minister and a prominent lawyer ministry said in a question- asked to provide user infor- for power behind the scenes, the premiership in 2015 to re- marred by allegations of rights Following the latest defec- who drafted the country’s con- and-answer session posted on mation for investigations or battling to tempt lawmakers move the president’s power to violations and corruption, tions, Wickremesinghe has 104 stitution after its independence its website. law enforcement under strict from opposing sides to bolster sack prime ministers. stormed state-owned media MPs in the 225-seat chamber in 1971. The law, which comes into procedures. their numbers if a vote is held. Sirisena insists his actions institutions shortly after his while Rajapakse and Sirisena He has demanded the imme- eff ect next year, requires for- The law would not prevent But Attorney General Jay- were legal but Speaker Karu Ja- appointment late Friday night, together have 99. diate release of all political pris- eign technology fi rms to set up people from accessing Face- antha Jayasuriya has cast fresh yasuriya, another powerful fi g- roughing up ministers and A majority of the 22 remain- oners including BNP chairperson offi ces and store data in Viet- book or Google, the ministry doubt on the legality of Sirise- ure, has also refused to defend journalists who then had to be ing MPs are expected to back Khaleda Zia, who has been in jail nam. said, but anyone who vio- na’s actions, declining to en- his manoeuvrings. rescued by police commandos. Wickremesinghe in any vote, since February in a corruption Facebook and Google, both lated it would be dealt with dorse them. Jayasuriya again yester- “The violence with which observers said. case. widely used in the country, do strictly. Thailand plans to legalise Nepal counts its big cats

medical marijuana use AFP pal’s Bardia National Park where Bardia National Park tiger numbers have grown nearly fi vefold. AFP bill to the speaker,” Jet Sirath- seized the moment, including The 25-year-old helped track Bangkok raanon, chairman of the NLA’s legalising exports. hayan Kumar Chaudhary and record wild tiger movements standing committee of public He cited the revenue-generating fl icked through photo- through the park by scanning health, said, adding that it will possibilities that amending the Cgraphs captured on a hid- images taken by cameras hidden hailand is rolling out have its fi rst reading in the jun- laws would provide for Thailand den camera in the jungle, hoping in the jungle’s undergrowth. plans to legalise medi- ta’s rubber-stamp parliament as well as the benefi cial eff ects it his favourite big cat – dubbed “It was very exciting when we Tcal marijuana, an offi cial in less than one month. could have on patients in pain. “selfi e tiger” for its love of the checked the (memory) cards and said yesterday, as the country The cannabis would be “for He also praised the quality of limelight – had made another found photos of tigers,” Chaud- hopes to cash in on a multi- medication only, not for rec- the Southeast Asian country’s appearance. hary said. billion dollar industry with a reation,” he added. plants, which thrive particular- Thousands of camera traps “It felt like we are part of product its supporters hail as Marijuana remains illegal ly well in the Golden Triangle have helped conservationists something big.” some of the world’s best. in Thailand, with stiff penal- borderlands of Thailand, Laos track Nepal’s wild tiger popula- Nepal’s southern lowlands, Several nations have em- ties for drug traffi cking even and Myanmar. tion, which has nearly doubled home to fi ve national parks, were braced the use of medicinal though the country remains “I’m doing this because it’s in recent years as the big cats mapped into grids, each fi tted This handout photograph shows Bengal tigers in the Bardia National cannabis, including Canada, a key regional transit hub and an opportunity for Thai peo- claw their way back from the with a pair of camera traps to Park, some 500kms southwest of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu. Australia, Israel, and more than producer of narcotics. ple,” he said. “Thailand has the verge of extinction. record any tiger activity. half the states in the US. But the idea of medical mari- best marijuana in the world.” After a nine-year push to pro- More than 3,200 of these spe- with sensors that triggered a front of the lens. But Thailand would be the fi rst juana has long been more ac- Experts agree and see similar tect tigers, an exhaustive census cial camera traps were installed, click whenever any movement The census began in Novem- country in Asia to do so, tap- ceptable to broad swathes of potential. across 2,700km (1,700 miles) of some by fi eld workers on el- or a change in temperature was ber 2017 and by the following ping into a market that US-based society in the Buddhist-major- “Today, Thailand can pro- Nepal’s lowlands completed ear- ephants to navigate the dense detected. March, more than 4,000 images Grand View Research has estimat- ity country and junta offi cials duce awesome cannabis at a lier this year revealed the popu- jungle. Soon the photos started to of tigers had been collected. ed could reach $55.8bn by 2025. have previously mooted the fraction of the cost of Western lation has grown from 121 in “It was not an easy process trickle in: lone tigers walking Nepal has tough punishments A draft bill to permit its lim- need to reform drug laws. growers,” said Jim Plamondon, 2009 to an estimated 235 adult and risky as well,” said Man Ba- past, mothers with their play- for poachers – up to 15 years in ited use has been sent to the Jet said Thailand has delayed VP of Marketing at the Thai cats today. hadur Khadka, head of Nepal’s ful cubs and the occasional ti- jail and a heavy fi ne – and it has military junta’s National Legis- making the change for far too Cannabis Corporation, de- On the frontline of the pains- department of wildlife and na- ger feasting on a fresh kill. And recently started a genetic data- lative Assembly (NLA). long while other countries such scribed as the country’s fi rst taking survey were trained locals tional parks. Chaudhary’s favourite: a big cat base of its tigers to aid investiga- “We have submitted the as Canada and Australia have legal marijuana fi rm. like Chaudhary in western Ne- These cameras were equipped that seemed to enjoy preening in tions. Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 17 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Singapore launches survey on death penalty

AFP number in a decade, according to has been retained by the city state government’s “regular research commissioned for the project, to back their views and provide of step with the times,” she told Singapore offi cial data. They had all com- since independence. Neighbour- on our criminal justice system” the newspaper said. justifi cation for their contin- AFP. “Authorities must resume mitted drug off ences. ing Malaysia, where the cabinet and involves citizens and perma- Human rights groups said the ued defi ance of the international its moratorium on executions, as The Straits Times said it was had decided to abolish the death nent residents. survey is unlikely to be a prel- trend towards abolishing the a fi rst step to abolishing this cruel ingapore will gauge public the fi rst time that the govern- penalty, had asked Singapore to “Participants were randomly ude to Singapore softening its death penalty,” he told AFP. punishment once and for all.” attitudes towards the death ment department in charge of spare the 31-year-old convict on selected based on age, race and position on capital punishment. “Opinion polls are a ques- Previously, the death penalty Spenalty in a survey, the in- prisons has conducted a survey humanitarian grounds. gender, for a representative sam- “There’s been no indication tionable measure of public sup- in Singapore was mandatory terior ministry said yesterday, on the subject. “The Ministry of Home Aff airs ple of the Singapore resident whatsoever that Singapore’s po- port for the death penalty,” for crimes like drug trafficking as human rights groups renewed Last week’s hanging in Singa- (MHA) is conducting the survey population,” it added. sition on use of the death penalty said Amnesty International’s and murder. Following a review, calls for its abolition. The city- pore of convicted Malaysian drug to give us a better understanding Some 2,000 respondents will is softening,” said Phil Robertson, Singapore researcher Rachel legislation was passed in 2012 state – which staunchly main- traffi cker Prabu N Pathmanathan of Singapore residents’ attitudes be questioned between Octo- deputy director for Asia at Hu- Chhoa-Howard. “As more and removing the mandatory pro- tains that capital punishment is a sparked fresh calls to scrap capi- towards the death penalty,” MHA ber and December by market man Rights Watch. “One won- more governments move away vision for drug trafficking and crime deterrent – executed eight tal punishment, a penalty that said in a statement to AFP. research consultancy Blackbox ders whether the MHA is count- from the death penalty, this an- murder under certain circum- convicts last year, the highest dates to British colonial rule but It said the survey is part of the Research, which the MHA has ing on a survey of public opinion nouncement is completely out stances. Indonesia closes in on crashed jet’s black box

AFP aviation expert at the University Jakarta of Leeds, told AFP. “Is there (a problem) that could aff ect other aircraft?” ndonesian investigators said The crash has also resurrect- A rescue team member examines shoes that belonged to a passenger of Lion Air’s flight JT610, at Tanjung they were homing in on the ed concerns about Indonesia’s Priok port in Jakarta, Indonesia. Iblack box from a crashed jet- patchy air safety record which led liner after locating its “pings” to a now-lifted ban on its planes yesterday, two days after the jet entering US and European air- crashed shortly after take-off space. Lion’s co-founder Rusdi with 189 people on board. Re- Kirana, now Indonesia’s ambas- trieving the black box will be key sador to Malaysia, said in a 2015 to unlocking why the Boeing 737- interview that “my airline is the MAX, one of the world’s newest worst in the world, but you don’t and most advanced commercial have a choice”. Founded in 1999, passenger jets, nosedived into the budget carrier capitalised on the Java sea so soon after leaving a boom in Indonesia’s aviation Jakarta. industry, but has been plagued by Authorities said they believed Head of Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency Muhammad Syaugi safety woes and complaints over they were closing in on the main (centre right) talks with Indonesia’s military chief Hadi Tjahjanto during unreliable scheduling and poor wreckage and had picked up the their visit at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta, Indonesia. service. box’s signals some 30-40m (100- Lion was involved in a 130ft) below the surface of the Dozens of divers were taking part stressed that the measure meant number of incidents including a water off Indonesia’s north coast, in the 1,000-strong personnel to free up the technical director fatal 2004 crash and a collision where the plane crashed Monday. recovery eff ort along with heli- to help with the crash probe. between two Lion Air planes at “We’ve detected the black box copters and ships, but authorities Aviation experts say it is too Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta air- signal,” Muhammad Syaugi, head have all but ruled out fi nding any early to determine what caused port. Indonesia’s biggest low- Rescue team carry the remains of a victim of the ill-fated Lion Air flight JT 610 as they arrive at a port in of Indonesian search and rescue survivors. the accident. But Lion’s admis- cost carrier announced this year Jakarta. agency, told reporters in Jakarta. The development comes as sion that the plane had an un- it was buying 50 Boeing-737 “We could see a lot of passengers’ Boeing offi cials were due to meet specifi ed technical issue on a MAX 10 jets for $6.24bn. Boe- through clothes, wallets and ...Today, I’m bringing in DNA walking hand-in-hand over a belongings – lifejackets, pants, with Lion Air yesterday, after In- previous fl ight – as well as the ing suspended release of the other retrieved personal eff ects samples.” bridge. The story went viral on- clothes – underwater not just on donesia ordered an inspection of plane’s abrupt nosedive just 12 fuel-efficient 737 MAX just on a Jakarta dockside, as author- Late yesterday, forensic ana- line and the pair were later iden- the surface,” he added, saying the the US plane maker’s 737-MAX minutes after takeoff – have days before its first commercial ities sent body parts to hospital lysts said they had made their tifi ed as Ine Yunita Savitri and debris suggested the main fuse- jets. Indonesia’s transport min- raised questions about whether delivery last year due to an en- for DNA testing fi rst confi rmed identifi cation – her husband Wahjoe Noegrohan- lage should be nearby. ister Budi Karya Sumadi took it had any faults specifi c to the gine issue. “He was the best husband in a 24-year-old female chemical toro, who was on the downed jet. The black box contains fl ight the unusual step of ordering the newly released model, includ- But the single-aisle jet was the world,” 33-year-old Ningsi engineering graduate who de- Savitri was not on the plane. data that shows the speed, alti- temporary removal of Lion Air’s ing a speed-and-altitude system subsequently cleared for com- Ayorbaba said of her partner Fer- scribed herself in an online blog On Tuesday, their daughter tude and direction of the plane, technical director and several malfunction. “The bigger pic- mercial delivery and has had dinand Paul Ayorbaba, who was as “energetic and highly moti- Samantha posted the image to while the cockpit voice recorder other staff who cleared the fl ight, ture here is that you’ve got a lot thousands of orders from more on the fl ight. vated”. Among the items plucked her Instagram account with the keeps track of conversations citing government authority of American carriers fl ying the than 100 customers world- “We had planned to celebrate from the water was a smartphone words: “Dad, I love you every and other sounds in the cockpit. over the aviation sector. He later same aircraft,” Stephen Wright, wide. Distraught relatives sifted our 15th anniversary in April case with the image of a couple day”.

German Blazing the ramp Japan’s nuclear industry growing, guides killed in Mt Hicks but slower than govt expectation avalanche Reuters energy option in Japan and the The older BWR technology Tokyo country will reboot only a frac- used in many of the reactors tion of the 54 reactors it had be- under review is also an issue be- AFP fore the disaster. cause the stigma of Fukushima Wellington apan’s resurgent nuclear Six reactors at Fukushima hangs over them. industry will miss a gov- Daiichi are being dismantled “When you come to the Jernment target of providing in a decades-long exercise that BWRs, the issue becomes very climber who dug herself out at least a fi fth of the country’s is fraught with technologi- politicised,” said Nobuo Tan- to safety after being buried electricity by 2030, a Reuters cal challenges and radioactive aka, the chairman of the Sa- Aby an avalanche in New Zea- analysis shows. With eight re- waste. Operators have decided sakawa Peace Foundation who land said yesterday she was “abso- actors running and one more to decommission another 10 was the head of the Interna- lutely broken” by the deaths of two set to come online in November, units across the country since tional Energy Agency between German guides in the accident. Jo nuclear has this year overtaken Fukushima. The Nuclear Regu- 2007 and 2011 after a stint in Morgan was climbing Mt Hicks in non-hydro renewables in power lation Authority created new Japan’s industry ministry. New Zealand’s southern alps with output for the fi rst time since safety standards from scratch The reputation of Tepco, mountaineering guides Martin the 2011 catastrophe, when all after the disaster highlighted which operates two nuclear Hess and Wolfgang Maier, both of the country’s nuclear plants failings in the industry and its plants that have been damaged German citizens. were idled. overseers. All reactors must be in natural disasters, also looms The trio were attached to the Yet operators can expect as relicensed before restarting. large, Tanaka said. same rope when a wall of snow few as six units to restart in the Yet Japan’s nuclear industry, “Tepco does not have any collapsed, sending them crashing next fi ve years, and fewer than which before Fukushima oper- support as a nuclear opera- down the slope. “They were bur- 20 by 2030, the analysis shows. ated the world’s third-largest tor,” he said. The utility has ied and I was buried too, but I had That is far short of the 30 need- number of reactors and provid- to be removed from the equa- my face out so I could continue ed to meet the government tar- ed about 30% of the country’s tion before progress on BWR to breathe,” Morgan told Televi- get reiterated this year. electricity, has staged a signifi - reactors can be made, he said. sion New Zealand. She spent 45 Based on the analysis, the cant recovery. The turnaround Tepco has reached the first minutes digging herself out before world’s third-largest economy has exceeded expectations of stage of approval, but faces realising that her companions had may get about 15% of its power analysts and the utilities them- strong opposition from local perished in the disaster. “I’m ab- from nuclear in 2030, com- selves. Kansai Electric Power residents. But Japan’s utility solutely broken,” she said. “Two pared with a government target and Kyushu Electric Power, for lobby group said progress was of my very dear friends lost their of 20-22%. “It’s impossible to instance, have won approval to being made. lives today, under tragic circum- meet the target, that’s pretty restart or are on course to win “The safety reviews of PWR stances. I just got really lucky.” much confi rmed,” said Takeo approval for all the reactors they plants took time but they have New Zealand Mountain Guide Kikkawa, an energy studies applied to relicense. been progressing steadily and Association president Jane professor at Tokyo University of Those units are far from To- there have been some devel- Morris told the New Zealand Science, who sat on an offi cial kyo and are pressurised water opments in the BWR category Herald that the German climb- panel that reviewed Japan’s en- reactors (PWR), unlike the boil- as well,” Satoru Katsuno, the ers had extensive experience in ergy policy this year. He said he ing water reactor (BWR) designs chairman of Japan’s federation the southern alps. “Martin has did not expect another round of favoured in eastern Japan, in- of electric utilities and presi- called New Zealand home for restarts before 2020. cluding those that melted down dent of Chubu Electric, said of the last 20 years and Wolfgang One major trading house at Fukushima. Many court cases the outlook for restart approv- would come and work from now predicts nuclear will account are pending for reactors in the als. Chubu Electric has been until around February guid- for 14% of power production in east of the country. Local po- locked in a dispute for years ing New Zealand summers,” she 2030, according to a presenta- litical support varies, and the with the regulator over disas- said. The 3,216-m (10,551-ft) A model presents a creation from the ‘Beautyberry’ collection by Wang Yutao during China Fashion tion given at a private seminar regulator is locked in disputes ter resilience measures at its high Mt Hicks is part of the Ao- Week in Beijing yesterday. this year and shown to Reuters. with operators over earthquake Hamaoka plant, which uses raki Mt Cook National Park. Nuclear remains an unpopular risk assessment. BWR reactors. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, November 1, 2018 BRITAIN/IRELAND We got things wrong in the run-up to EU vote: Osborne

Guardian News and Media its the Evening Standard, said his He said David Cameron’s pledge ity of Leave supporters who were defended his decision to make the public fi nances”. Osborne said a Labour opposition that I don’t London party “did get things wrong” in the that net migration would be below convinced by the “rather esoteric £12bn in welfare cuts, though he was deeply concerned about the think is in a fi t state at the mo- run-up to the 2016 vote, including 100,000 was not possible to de- issues of constitutional sovereign- he did not specifi cally address future of the Conservative party, ment.” promising a net migration target – liver and would not be delivered in ty”, which had not previously been whether the cuts were too much. which he said had fuelled his per- He said his party had won pre- eorge Osborne has admit- of tens of thousands – that could the future, but suggested that had an issue of major public concern. It would be a bit odd to leave out sonal criticism of the prime minis- vious elections by being “socially ted the Conservative gov- not be delivered. led to claims that leaving the EU “We allowed that kind of mi- the very large chunk the govern- ter, whom he has previously called progressive and fi scally conserva- Gernment “didn’t spot the “I think we were wrong to play would be the only way to meet the nority concern – because we pool ment was spending on welfare,” he “a dead woman walking”. tive” but in the last election had shift in politics” that led to the into the debate that everything target. “We defi nitely contributed sovereignty in all sorts of diff er- said of his austerity measures. He said: “I worked very hard all “tried to out-Ukip Ukip” which he Leave vote in the EU referendum, that Brussels did was a challenge to that argument. We didn’t make ent organisations like Nato – to be He said Philip Hammond’s my life to make the Conservative blamed for the loss in support. saying it had failed to fi x the bank- and a battle,” he told Newsnight. enough of the value of immigra- linked to immigration control. And budget, in which the chancellor party electable. And it’s painful “We ain’t going to win the next ing system or explain the positives “We were too late in the day trying tion,” he said. that was pretty lethal in that refer- said the era of austerity was com- to me to see it losing support in election by trying to out-Corbyn of immigration or the EU. to explain some of the benefi ts of Osborne said that argument endum debate,” he said. ing to an end, was “a perfectly nat- large areas of the country where it Corbyn,” he said of the Labour The former chancellor, who ed- European Union membership.” had then been used by a minor- During the interview, Osborne ural end point to the repair job on shouldn’t be – particularly against leader. Govt plans diplomatic Government expansion

Reuters London eyeing Brexit oreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday set out plans Fto “reinvigorate and expand” British diplomacy after years of budget cuts as the country looks to boost its infl uence around the deal by Nov 21, world after Brexit. With just fi ve months until Brit- ain leaves the European Union, its biggest foreign policy shift in more than 40 years, Hunt said the gov- ernment plans to hire nearly 1,000 more diplomatic staff , open new says minister embassies and boost language training. Agencies pressing for a deal this autumn. services industry regulation after “Our democratic values are ar- London British offi cials are keen to Brexit. guably under greater threat than at avoid the negotiations dragging Britain and the EU aim to secure any time since the fall of the Berlin on, with Brexit day scheduled for a “standstill” or business as usual Wall...We can use our infl uence, ritain’s Brexit minister March 29. transition deal starting after Brex- reach and power to defend our val- believes there could be a Separately, Raab’s predecessor it next March, but the country will ues by becoming an invisible chain Bdivorce deal with the Eu- David Davis, who quit over the need new trading terms with the that links the world’s democra- ropean Union by November 21, government’s approach to Brexit bloc from the end of 2020. cies,” Hunt said. it emerged yesterday, although in July, said the fi nal deal will like- EU offi cials have said that the Since Britain voted in a 2016 ref- Downing Street was more cau- ly pass when it comes to a vote in EU’s fi nancial market access sys- erendum to leave the EU, the gov- tious. the House of Commons. tem known as equivalence, where ernment has repeatedly fl agged its Dominic Raab made the com- Davis is among a large minority Brussels grants access to foreign ambition for a ‘Global Britain’, but ment in a letter to the House of of May’s Conservative MPs who banks and insurers if their home lawmakers and foreign policy ex- Commons Brexit scrutiny com- strongly oppose her strategy, rais- rules converge with the bloc’s, is perts have accused it of lacking a mittee, dated October 24 but only ing fears the deal will be rejected. probably Britain’s best bet. strategy or resources to deliver on now made public. “The fear of no deal, I think.... Morgan told an industry con- that goal. “I would be happy to give evi- that will win and there will be ference yesterday the Treasury The Foreign Offi ce has faced dence to the committee when a a deal,” Davis told an event on committee would look at equiva- budget cuts under successive deal is fi nalised, and currently ex- Tuesday evening, according to lence and post-Brexit fi nancial governments which have seen it pect November 21 to be suitable,” Sky News television. services in early 2019. reduce embassy jobs and sell off he wrote. Both Raab and Oliver Davis yesterday retracted his “The story of the next 40 years exotic properties overseas. Robbins, Prime Minister Theresa reported remarks saying that any of this country, or it could be At the same time its remit has May’s chief Brexit adviser, have deal similar to May’s current plan longer, in relation to that future shrunk, with key policy areas in- been invited to address the com- of close economic ties with the EU relationship with the EU, is going cluding foreign aid, trade and the mittee on that date. “will not pass the Commons”. to be whether we converge, stay relationship with the EU moved Most of the divorce deal with Meanwhile, Nicky Morgan, the same or whether we choose to to other departments. The Foreign Brussels is agreed but talks remain who chairs parliament’s Treas- diverge and go our own way,” Mor- Offi ce’s operating expenditure fell stuck on how to avoid new checks ury Select Committee, said it gan told the Personal Investment by 21.6% between 2010 and 2015 on Britain’s land border with EU could take decades for Britain to Management & Financial Advice and was then frozen in real terms, member Ireland after it leaves the determine the shape of fi nancial Association annual conference. spending watchdog the National bloc’s single market and customs Audit Offi ce said last year. union. Number of Brit seeking Irish passport soars “There is a mismatch between Raab will visit the UK province the rhetoric and ambition around of Northern Ireland today on a The number of Britons applying Fine Gael party. In June 2016, a Global Britain and actually what “fact-fi nding trip”, which will for Irish citizenship has nearly 52% of participants in Britain’s we invest in the diplomatic serv- include meetings with local busi- doubled since the year before referendum on European Union ice itself,” said Tom Raines, head nesses and politicians, an offi cial Britain’s referendum to leave membership voted in favour of of the Europe Programme at glo- in his ministry said. Raab wrote: the European Union. In 2015, leaving the political bloc. Since bal aff airs think-tank Chatham “The end is now fi rmly in sight 46,229 Britons applied for then, Britain has been struggling House. and, while obstacles remain, it Irish citizenship, while 80,752 to secure a deal with the EU on its The mismatch, he added, was cannot be beyond us to navigate Britons sought their neighbour’s exit. Many political leaders have “quite obvious to others”. In his them.” passport in 2017. In the first warned that the short time frame speech, entitled ‘Britain’s role in However, May’s spokesman half of 2018, 44,962 Britons is making planning diff icult for the world after Brexit’, Hunt said Artist Andrea Deans poses next to the Edenbridge Bonfire Society’s 2018 ‘Celebrity Guy’, former British refused to repeat the date of No- applied, the Press Association British and continental European the new jobs will include 335 dip- foreign secretary Boris Johnson, during the unveiling in Edenbridge yesterday. The giant eff igy of vember 21, only repeating that news agency reported, citing citizens and companies alike. lomatic positions overseas, 328 Johnson, depicted eating a piece of EU-themed cake wearing his trademark boarding shorts and buses “we wish to conclude the deal as figures released to politician The Republic of Ireland is an EU in London and 329 new local staff at his feet bearing the controversial £350mn Brexit campaign claim, will be burned at the Edenbridge quickly as possible”. Previously, Neale Richmond of Ireland’s member. around the world. Bonfire Society’s annual bonfire night celebrations on November 3, 2018. he had said the government was Violence against NHS Anti-fracking protest Search continues in murder probe staff at fi ve-year high Guardian News and Media Police named him as the prime London suspect in Lamplugh’s presumed murder in 2002 and have ques- Guardian News and Media for any one of them to be sub- Quality Commission inspec- tioned him several times. He de- London ject to aggression or violence is tions. olice are continuing to dig up nies the allegation. completely unacceptable,” said Dr Taj Hassan, the president the concrete fl oor of a garage A smaller excavation took place Hancock. of the Royal College of Emergen- Pin the West Midlands in the at the same house in 2002, when iolence against NHS staff “I have made it my personal cy Medicine, which represents search for the body of the missing police examined a patio area fol- has reached its highest mission to ensure NHS staff feel A&E doctors, said: “Patients – estate agent Suzy Lamplugh. lowing a tip-off , but nothing was Vlevel in fi ve years, with safe and secure at work and the and their families – coming into On Tuesday forensic teams found. Searches were also carried one in seven health profession- new violence reduction strategy emergency departments are of- began digging up the garden and out in 2003 and early 2004. als attacked in the course of their will be a key strand of that.” “We ten experiencing the worst day dismantling the garage at a home Lamplugh’s brother, Richard, work last year, fi gures reveal. will not shy away from the is- of their lives: worried, confused previously owned by the mother of said the family were frustrated Matt Hancock, the health and sue. We want to empower staff and often frustrated. This can be the prime suspect, John Cannan. with the police investigation and social care secretary, announced and give them greater confi dence understandable. Lamplugh was aged 25 when she hoped her body would be found so the rising trend yesterday as he to report violence, knowing that “What is unacceptable though disappeared after going to show they could say a “proper goodbye”. unveiled an initiative to reduce they will see meaningful action is when this spills over into vio- a man identifi ed only as Mr Kip- Jim Dickie, the detective su- assaults, including speedier from trusts and a consistent pros- lence. Staff always seek to give per around a property in Fulham, perintendent leading the investi- prosecutions of off enders. ecution approach from the judi- the best care possible in a hugely south-west London, in July 1986. gation between 2000 and 2006, Ambulance workers, nurses cial system.” Hancock announced pressurised environment; it is Although the case has been confi rmed his offi cers did not dig and doctors in A&E and mental an NHS violence reduction strat- always wrong to lash out at those reopened several times, her body or perform an extensive search of health personnel have borne the egy aimed at eradicating attacks trying to help.” Jacalyn Williams, has never been found. She was of- the home. “We had no evidence brunt of the increase, which has on staff , in a speech to the Royal a national offi cer for health with fi cially declared dead, presumed or intelligence to lead us to believe already prompted MPs to pass College of Nursing yesterday. the union Unite, added: “This ini- murdered, in 1994, but no one has that Cannan may have secreted new legislation to deter attacks. A partnership between the tiative to combat violence against been convicted. Suzy’s body there,” he said. The latest staff survey of NHS NHS, Crown Prosecution Serv- those who work in the NHS is The house being searched in The specialist fi rm Alecto Fo- staff in England shows that while ice and police forces is being set welcomed, but the proof of the Sutton Coldfi eld, Birmingham, rensics, which assisted the inves- 15% said they had experienced up to try to bring perpetrators in pudding will be in the eating. was purchased from the mother tigation into the disappearance physical violence from patients, England to court more speedily, “Unite will be monitoring the of Cannan, a former car salesman. of Madeleine McCann, was at relatives or the public in 2013, as part of a tough new “zero tol- government’s actions against He was jailed for life in 1989 for the the scene from early on Monday that increased slightly to 15.2% erance” approach to such crimes. this growing and very unpleasant rape and murder of Shirley Banks, morning. An angle grinder could in 2017. In addition, NHS trusts will in phenomenon that is blighting the attempted kidnapping of Julia be heard and clouds of dust seen “NHS staff dedicate their lives future be examined on the qual- such areas as A&E departments Protesters sit outside the Houses of Parliament during Holman on the previous night, and coming from the former location to protecting and caring for us in ity and robustness of their plans to see it follows through with its a demonstration against fracking, in London yesterday. the rape of a woman in Reading in of the garage, which was screened our times of greatest need and to reduce violence as part of Care new tough zero tolerance policy.” 1986. by wood panel fencing. Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 19

BRITAIN

LAW AND ORDER DEFENCE ACCIDENT CONTROVERSY CRIME Company charged over British planes scramble Two teens arrested after Reporter hauled off air Couple held for enslaving hospital baby deaths to intercept ‘Russian jets’ boy injured in hit and run over Leicester crash slur man in garden shed

Police yesterday said they had charged British jets were scrambled to investigate Two teenagers have been arrested after a A senior BBC reporter was hauled off air for an A couple have been arrested for enslaving pharmaceutical company ITH Pharma as suspected Russian fighter aircraft flying near three-year-old boy was left fighting for his off ensive comment about the Leicester City a Polish man in their garden shed for four part of an investigation into the deaths United Kingdom airspace yesterday. “Typhoon life following a hit-and-run collision. Leo chairman’s private life. BBC News sports editor years, and forcing him to work for expired and illnesses of babies at several hospitals. fighters...were scrambled as a precautionary Durrington, from Wigan, was hit by a stolen Dan Roan was standing near a memorial food, authorities said yesterday. A 56-year-old The Metropolitan Police said the company measure against a potential incursion into UK white Ford Transit Connect van that was being when he suggested that Thai beauty queen woman and 54-year-old man from Chilworth in had been charged with seven counts of area of interest by one or more unidentified chased by off icers in Leigh after failing to stop Nusara Suknamai was club owner Vichai southern England were arrested on suspicion supplying a medicinal product which was aircraft,” a spokesman for the ministry of shortly after 10.35am on Tuesday, Greater Srivaddhanaprabha’s mistress. The pair died of modern slavery off ences on Tuesday, the not of the nature or quality specified in defence said. “At no time was there a threat Manchester police (GMP) said. A 16-year- alongside Kaveporn Punpare and co-pilots Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority the prescription. It was also accused of to UK airspace..,” he added. Britain routinely old boy was arrested on Tuesday evening Eric Swaff er, 53, and Izabela Lechowicz, 46, on (GLAA), said in a statement. It said medics failing to take all reasonably practicable monitors Russian warplanes near UK airspace on suspicion of causing serious injury by Saturday night after their helicopter crashed alerted authorities when a Polish man in his 40s steps to ensure that patients were not and Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters intercepted dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking, next to Leicester’s King Power Stadium. entered a walk-in health centre and told staff infected by contaminants. ITH Pharma, jets flying over the North Sea last month. failing to report a collision and failing to stop Roan was picked up on a microphone saying: he was forced to work for food. The man, who based in north London, is due to appear at Minister of State for the Armed Forces, following a collision. A 15-year-old boy was “That’s what you do if you are a billionaire or is now receiving government support, also said London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Mark Lancaster, spoke about “an ever more arrested on suspicion of allowing himself to be royalty, it’s relatively expected so we shouldn’t he had no flushing toilet and was made to sleep December 17. assertive Russia” in a speech in London in July. carried in a stolen vehicle. judge.” on a plastic sun lounger in the concrete shed. Police to sue Catherine visits Imperial War Museum government unless it backs down on cuts

Guardian News and Media select committee saying cuts had London left forces teetering on the edge. The Police Federation criticised the chancellor’s award of £420mn olice chiefs in England and to deal with potholes, roughly the Wales will take legal action same amount he had declined to Pin the high court against give police forces to solve their the government unless it backs extra pensions payments. Ham- down on plans to deduct hundreds mond did give an extra £160mm of millions of pounds from their for counter-terrorism policing. budgets, the Guardian has learned. The Labour MP Louise Haigh, The unprecedented decision the shadow policing minister, was taken by the National Police said: “The government’s relation- Chiefs Council, which sent a for- ship with the police lies in tatters mal letter to the Treasury saying and it is unprecedented that police it will seek a judicial review of the chiefs are now being forced to take government’s proposals. legal action against ministers. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, speaks with the director general of the Imperial War Museum, Diane Lees, next to the Weeping Window poppy installation during a visit It marks a new low in relations “Forcing the police at the last to the Imperial War Museum in London yesterday to view letters relating to the three brothers of her great-grandmother ahead of Armistice Day. between police chiefs and the gov- minute to bear the huge cost of ernment. The NPCC represents pension changes demonstrates the police chiefs of the 43 local forces utter failure of ministers to grasp in England and Wales, and it has the crisis in policing caused by already hired a barrister to seek a their cuts. judicial order forcing the govern- The NPCC has estimated the ment to climb down. extra £420mn bill, if met solely The dispute centres on the by cuts to police numbers, would Treasury’s recalculation of the mean 10,000 fewer offi cers on money each force needed to pay Britain’s streets. Corbyn berates May for into the police pension scheme. Last week, three of the UK’s This landed forces with a £420mn most senior chief constables – bill, on top of the 19% cut in police representing the West Midlands, funding since 2010. Greater Manchester and Mersey- Police chiefs say the reductions side – warned of a fresh crisis in have left forces struggling to pro- policing because of the pensions tect the public. Leaders of three decision, which they said would ‘broken-promise budget’ of the largest forces estimate the leave them with no alternative but move will leave them with offi cer to cut offi cer numbers. Guardian News and Media giveaway billed by ministers – he The prime minister then noted He then noted the decision to from 10mn low and middle-in- levels last seen in the 1970s. Dave Thompson, the chief con- London used the phrase broken-promise the unexpected boost to public not reverse the benefi t freeze, come households. A low-income An NPCC spokesman said: “We stable of West Midlands police, budget three times – and focused fi nances which, budget calcula- asking why money had instead household with children will be have raised concerns about pro- said: “We are struggling to de- on the impact on services other tions say, will pay for the previ- been devoted to a tax cut which, £200 worse off . For them, there is posed pension changes aff ecting liver a service to the public. I think eremy Corbyn has castigated than the NHS. ously-promised increase in NHS analysis shows, will mainly ben- no end to austerity. Labour would police force contributions with the criminals are well aware now how the government for what he The Labour leader began by funding. efi t wealthier households. have ended the benefi t freeze. Treasury and informed them of stretched we are. These further Jcalled a “broken-promise quoting analysis from the In- Corbyn cited a calculation by This prompted May to mock “As she well knows, Labour our intention to legally challenge cuts will leave us smaller than we budget”, using Prime Minister’s stitute for Fiscal Studies’ direc- the IFS that government depart- him for Labour’s seemingly wa- policy is to raise taxes for the top the proposal if it goes ahead.” One have ever been.” Questions to argue that the spend- tor, Paul Johnson: “‘If I were a ments not protected from cuts vering view on the tax cuts: “I’m 5% and for the biggest corpora- chief constable said: “The letter The Merseyside chief consta- ing plans brought no benefi t to prison governor, a local authority would see combined real-term interested that Corbyn chose tions in the country. That would has gone to the Treasury and the ble, Andy Cooke, said the extra poorer people and would see fur- chief executive or a headteacher, reductions of £4.1bn. He said: to raise the issue of tax cuts. On be a fair way of dealing with fi - chiefs are very perplexed as to why pensions bill would be crippling ther cuts to many public services. I would struggle to fi nd much to “The prime minister promised Monday, he said that cutting nancial issues facing this coun- they would want to take this money for his force. “The impact of the Theresa May responded by celebrate in the budget. I would be austerity was over. The reality is taxes for 32mn people was frit- try.” The Labour leader ended off us.” proposed changes on police offi cer insisting she was delivering on preparing for more diffi cult years it was a broken promise budget tering money away on ideological by in turn noting May’s speech The budget further angered pensions cannot, and should not, her pledge to end austerity, and ahead.’ Does the prime minister and she knows it.” tax cuts. On Tuesday, the shadow when she fi rst entered Downing some in local forces that received be underestimated. It is incum- mocked the Labour leader over think that analysis is wrong?” Corbyn quoted a parent who chancellor said Labour would Street, where she promised to no more money despite doing the bent on me to ensure that those his party’s uncertain position on May replied by insisting there said the £400mn extra for schools support the tax cuts.” tackle social problems. bulk of policing.The decision of who will make the fi nal decisions whether or not to support tax was more money for schools and would not be nearly enough to She added: “Perhaps he can “The prime minister once the Chancellor, Philip Hammond, in relation to the pension changes cuts outlined in the budget. prisons, and hailing the tax cut. cover shortfalls. “Many schools, tell the house whether he will claimed to be concerned about to freeze funding came despite understand the crippling impact Corbyn used all his questions She said: “What we have set out including mine, have had to re- back the tax cuts and vote for burning injustices. Well, that recent reports from the National these changes will have on polic- to hammer home the argument in the budget is that austerity is, sort to asking students and their the budget?” Corbyn replied: concern has fi zzled out, hasn’t Audit Offi ce and the home aff airs ing,” he said. that the budget was not the indeed, ending.” parents for funds.” “The benefi t freeze takes £1.5bn it?” he said. University stops making Harry and Meghan’s Pacifi c tour ends unconditional off ers McCartney dress and a carved Reuters Wellington greenstone necklace gifted by the Guardian News and Media Gyimah, has described the rise in that particular part of our re- country’s governor general and London unconditional off ers as irrespon- cruitment programme.” Harry, in a grey suit, were both sible, and said handing them out He added: “By listening to rince Harry and his wife adorned with feathered cloaks undermined the credibility of the the views of schools, teachers, Meghan yesterday be- gifted by local Maori. university in London has university system. our own staff and students, we Pstowed names to two Harry began his speech in the banned the controversial believe that with the evidence newly-hatched young of New Te Reo language and ended it Apractice of off ering pro- “By listening to the views that has been available to us that Zealand’s national bird, the kiwi, with a Maori proverb, drawing spective students unconditional of schools, teachers, our we’ve made the right decision.” in the northeastern town of Ro- applause from the crowd with his places in a move designed to own staff and students, Nearly 70,000 unconditional torua, on the fi nal day of their strong pronunciation. “maintain standards”. we believe that with the off ers were made to 18-year-olds two-week tour of the Pacifi c. Then he led the song. St Mary’s University in Twick- evidence that has been in England, Wales and Northern The couple visited a breed- His enthusiasm for the Maori enham announced the plan after available to us that we’ve Ireland in 2018, up from fewer ing programme for the endan- language was welcomed by Ro- admitting that a number of stu- made the right decision” than 3,000 fi ve years ago. gered species and admired two torua Mayor Steve Chadwick, dents who had been given un- Overall, 22.9% of 18-year-old three-day old chicks, whom they who said, “As our confi dence as conditional off ers did not go on In a tweet he congratulated St university applicants – 58,385 named Koha, meaning “gift”, and a bilingual district grows, so does to achieve their expected grades. Mary’s for “standing up for qual- in total – from England, Wales Tihei, derived from a phrase that our confi dence in our people and Such off ers, which were given ity and standards in our higher and Northern Ireland received at means “sneeze of life” in the in- our future.” to almost a quarter of students in education system”. least one unconditional off er this digenous Te Reo Maori language. The use of Te Reo Maori lan- this year’s cohort, allow students John Brewer, the pro vice- year. Earlier, Harry led a group at a guage is experiencing a revival to accept an undergraduate place chancellor for St Mary’s, said the When those fi gures were re- Maori meeting ground in sing- in New Zealand, after years of without meeting their A-level or institution was determined to leased in July, Sir Peter Lampl, ing Te Aroha, a traditional song, decline when policy makers BTec grades predicted by teachers. maintain standards of entry and the founder of the Sutton Trust whose name means “Love” in Te cracked down on its use, particu- They are seen as an attempt to had decided to withdraw uncon- educational charity, told the Reo. The couple were welcomed larly in schools. fi ll course places irrespective of ditional off ers for 2018-19. Guardian that grade predictions at Te Papaiouru Marae, visited Later, with Meghan wearing academic requirements. Post- Announcing the move, he said: were often the least reliable. by Harry’s grandmother Queen black puff a jacket, black trou- exam admissions are seen as a “It was clear to us that a number “Having actual grades on ap- Elizabeth in her coronation sers and fl at shoes and Harry in a better gauge of academic stand- of students who enrolled with us plication empowers the student. year of 1953, in Rotorua, a town black shirt and beige chinos, they ards and more likely to benefi t after an unconditional off er was They can pick the right course at famed for its geothermal activ- visited a tree-top canopy in a students from disadvantaged made didn’t meet the grades they the right university with a high ity and described by its mayor as redwood tree forest, followed by backgrounds. expected and this didn’t merit degree of certainty they are mak- Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, visit the ‘heartland of Maori culture’. a walkabout meeting with some The Universities Minister, Sam the investment we made into ing the right choice,” he said. Redwoods Tree Walk in Rotorua yesterday. Meghan, who wore a navy Stella of the public. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, November 1, 2018 EUROPE

GORY FIND FRAUD DIVISIVE FIGURE NUMBER CRUNCH SPACE JOURNEY Missing girl’s kin demands Finnish couple jailed over Franco’s tomb defaced Italy mulls reward of state Russia eyes first manned Vatican’s truth on bones $14.72mn art forgery scam with red dove painting land for ‘fertile’ families ISS launch since accident

The family of a teenager who went missing in The married owners of an art gallery in Finland A Spanish artist yesterday painted a red dove Italy’s populist government plans to reward Russia hopes to launch three crew for the Italy in 1983 yesterday called on the Vatican to were jailed yesterday and ordered to pay 13mn along with the slogan ‘For Freedom’ on the parents who have a third child by awarding them International Space Station on December 3, the first provide more details on the discovery of human euros ($14.72mn) for selling hundreds of forged tomb of late dictator Francisco Franco at the a piece of land, in a bid to reverse the country’s manned blast-off since an accident this month, the remains in one of its properties. The bones artworks in a five-year scam. Helsinki district vast mausoleum near Madrid where he is plummeting birth rate, media reported yesterday. Roscosmos space agency said yesterday. Russia, were uncovered on Monday during repairs to a court found that buyers and auction houses had buried. The incident comes amid a debate in The plan, cooked up by the far-right League and the only country able to ferry astronauts to the building owned by the Vatican in Rome. Since been duped into buying counterfeited paintings Spain over where Franco’s embalmed body included in the draft budget for next year, would orbiting science lab, suspended all launches after the grisly find, Italian media have been rife with bearing the signatures of some of Europe’s best should be relocated after it is exhumed from the see the state concede parcels of agricultural land a Soyuz rocket failed on October 11 just minutes speculation that they could shed light on the fate known artists, including Matisse, Renoir, Monet controversial site as planned by Prime Minister for 20 years to parents who have a third child after blast-off . Roscosmos executive director Sergei of one or possibly two missing teenagers. “We will and Kandinsky. Many other works purported to be Pedro Sanchez’s socialist government. “For between 2019 and 2021. “Something is needed to Krikalyov told the RIA Novosti state news agency: ask Rome prosecutors and the Holy See how the by Russian artists from the romantic period, and freedom and the reconciliation of all Spaniards,” turn the trend around,” said Agriculture Minister “The industry is now making significant eff orts bones were found and why their discovery has the noted Finnish painters Helene Schjerfbeck the man, identified by Spanish media as Enrique Gian Marco Centinaio. “That’s why the ministry to move forward the launch to December 3.” On been linked to the disappearance of Emanuela and Albert Edelfeldt. Gallery owners Kati Marjatta Terneiro, a sculptor and video artist known for wants to contribute, favouring rural areas in the rocket destined for the ISS will be Russian Orlandi or Mirella Gregori,” the Orlandi’s family Karkkiainen, 46, and Reijo Pollari, 75, were found his provocative acts, could be heard shouting in particular, where people still have children,” he told cosmonaut Oleg Kononenko, Canadian astronaut lawyer, Laura Sgro, told the media. guilty of 30 charges of aggravated fraud. video images broadcast on Spanish TV. the media. Italy has the lowest birthrate in Europe. David Saint-Jacques, and Nasa’s Anne McClain. France probes babies born without arms

Former parliamentary group leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Friedrich Merz, leaves after addressing a press in rural areas conference in Berlin yesterday. Reuters “I want to know, I think all of “It is a terrible tragedy for the Merkel nemesis gears up to grab the throne Paris France wants to know,” Health Min- families,” said Amar. ister Agnès Buzyn told BFM TV. The parents of a girl born with- “It could be an environmental out forearms in the village of Guidel, AFP But two separate polls commissioned swers to ambitious proposals by French rance has launched a nationwide factor. Maybe it is due to what these in the Morbihan, said the inquiry Berlin by business weekly Handelsblatt and President Emmanuel Macron. investigation into why some two women ate, drank or breathed in.” should focus on the 2011-13 period, Spiegel Online show Germans favouring Merz’s proximity to industry would Fdozen babies have been born An initial inquiry in early October when most of the cases appeared. a Merz comeback over the other hope- likely win him backing from economic without hands or arms in a handful found the incidence of limb defects “No point in looking ahead. Focus ngela Merkel faces strong head- fuls. leaders. In Merz, the business lobby of rural areas since 2000 after several in the aff ected regions to be no great- on what happened then,” the girl’s winds in her bid to see out her A potential obstacle for Merz was re- would fi nd a dyed-in-the-wool con- new cases were reported this week, the er than elsewhere in the country, but father Samuel Bernard told BFM TV Afourth and fi nal term as Germa- moved as Armin Laschet, the premier of servative who champions tax breaks. health minister said yesterday. now the probe has been widened. earlier this month. ny’s chancellor as a long-time nemesis Germany’s most populous state North “There is already backing from eco- A separate investigation has also The new inquiry will be run jointly Amar said that in the Ain region emerged in the race to succeed her as Rhine-Westphalia, said yesterday he nomic advisors and SME entrepreneurs,” been opened into reports that calves by the health agency and the sanita- farmers had also reported calves be- party chief. would not run. said political analyst Oskar Niedermayer. and possibly chickens have been tion, food and environment agency, ing born without tails and without In her two-step plan to leave politics, Mer- Once a career CDU man, who started “With his economically liberal and so- born without limbs in the same three Buzyn said. fl anks. kel has said she will fi rst give up the Christian out in the youth wing of the party before cially conservative positions, he would heavily agricultural areas, an offi cial “It is very complicated, we need to An offi cial at the national food Democratic Union (CDU) party leadership in rising to lead its parliamentary group, be the clear antithesis to Merkel,” he told Reuters. investigate the history of families in safety agency Anses told Reuters it December before leaving as chancellor when Merz’s political ambitions were short- added in an interview with Rhein-Neck- Public health agency Sante Pub- cases which sometimes date back ten had now opened a separate investi- her mandate runs out in 2021. circuited in 2002. ar Zeitung. lique France said it had identifi ed 11 years or more,” she said. gation into legless calves in the three Merkel has said she hoped the an- After the CDU lost the general election In public clashes with Merkel before additional cases of babies born with First conclusions were due by Jan- same regions. nouncement of her withdrawal would that year, then party chief Merkel made he quit parliament, Merz had pushed for limb defects between 2000 and 2014 uary 31, and a full report by June. Poultry may also be investigated allow her fragile coalition to fi nally fo- it clear to Merz that his time leading the tax cuts and complained she was shifting in the rural Ain department of east- Epidemiologist Emmanuelle as there are suspicions about chick- cus on governing Europe’s top economy, group in the Bundestag was over. the centre-right party too far left and al- ern France, near the Swiss border, Amar, who fi rst revealed the birth ens being aff ected. rather than lurch from crisis to crisis be- Merkel took over as CDU chief on the ienating core voters. where seven cases were already re- defects in Ain, told Reuters the only Hospital registries show limb de- cause of infi ghting. opposition benches and three years later, Although he has not made his views ported in 2009-14. thing mothers of the aff ected babies fects occur in 1.7 of every 10,000 But her time as chancellor could yet became chancellor. public about Merkel’s deeply polaris- There have also been malformed had in common was that they lived births, or about 150 cases per year in be cut short if corporate lawyer Friedrich A wounded Merz left the Bundestag in ing refugee policy that let in more than a births in two departments in west- in cereal-growing areas amid fi elds France. Merz, who has long nursed a grudge 2009, and returned to work as a lawyer. million asylum seekers since 2015, Merz ern France: four in the Morbihan, of corn and sunfl ower. Birth defects can have multiple against Merkel, wins the party leader- Today, he is the supervisory board had controversially backed the concept Brittany area between 2011 to 2013, She said most of the defects had causes, including chromosome dis- ship race at a congress in December. chairman of the German unit of mam- of a “Leitkultur” or the guiding or domi- and three in neighbouring Loire-At- been reported between 2009 and orders, drug use or exposure to toxic A day after Merz, 62, declared his can- moth asset manager BlackRock. nant national culture. lantique in 2007 and 2008. 2014 and that since then there had substances. didacy, German media give him a real He also holds top oversight positions Conservative daily Frankfurter Allge- Ain and Morbihan are several been no new cases. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, chance at grabbing the top seat with the in other major corporations, including meine Zeitung said the far-right and hundred kilometres apart. She criticised the health minis- about 10,000 babies worldwide were backing of the CDU’s conservative wing. Axa, Deutsche Boerse and HSBC. anti-immigration AfD “sees him as a The reports have raised alarm try’s initial fi ndings and said con- born with malformed or missing “His candidacy has electrifi ed the In a press conference yesterday, Merz real danger” who could appeal to right- among the French public that some genital defects in the aff ected re- limbs after their mothers received CDU because in Friedrich Merz, the an- played down his friction with Merkel, of-centre voters who have drifted away kind of toxin in food, water or air gions had been way higher than what the drug thalidomide to treat morn- ti-Merkel is reaching out for the party saying “there is nothing that needs rec- from the CDU to the young party. could be responsible. would normally be expected. ing sickness. chairman seat,” said national daily Sued- onciling” between them. Merz off ered the conservative wing of deutsche Zeitung. “I am convinced that Angela Merkel the CDU “the promise that everything However, CDU general secretary Anne- and I will get along under these changed can be as it was before,” said the Sued- gret Kramp-Karrenbauer as well as health conditions,” he said, adding that he was deutsche Zeitung. minister and Merkel critic Jens Spahn have “ready to join the venture” with her. “Merz is the projection screen for an- Nato drill also thrown their hats in the ring. A win by At the same time, he criticised her for ything and everything. And that’s what Kramp-Karrenbauer would better allow lacking a vision on EU reforms, saying makes his candidacy so promising, and the German leader to see out her term. Germany has given “inadequate” an- his possible competitors so nervous.”

Teen blows himself up inside FSB offi ce

Reuters the teenager as a resident of the city, witnesses after the blast showed what Moscow which is around 1,000km north of Mos- looked like a body lying on the fl oor out- cow, but did not name him. side the FSB building’s heavy wooden Three FSB employees were wounded entrance doors. ussia yesterday opened an in- in the blast, the Investigative Committee A spokeswoman for the Investigative vestigation into suspected ter- said in a statement. Committee said the investigation would Rrorism after a 17-year-old youth It published what it said was a CCTV be handled by Moscow and that Russia’s blew himself up in the lobby of an offi ce image of the bomber in the lobby of the top investigator, Alexander Bastrykin, belonging to Russia’s Federal Security building. wanted the teenager’s motive and other Service (FSB) in the north of the country. The picture showed a young man with details to be established as soon as pos- Russia’s Investigative Committee said his right hand inside a bag that he was sible. the unnamed teenager had detonated holding with his left hand. Svetlana Petrenko, the spokeswoman, a homemade bomb in the lobby of the Russia’s Anti-Terrorist Committee said the bomber’s fl at was being searched FSB, the country’s main domestic secu- said the teenager had removed the bomb and that his friends and close relatives rity and intelligence service, in the city from his bag which had then gone off in were being questioned. of Arkhangelsk. his hands shortly afterwards, fatally in- She said checks would also be carried A V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft makes a pass during Nato’s Exercise Trident Juncture, near Trondheim, Norway. It said he had died on the spot. juring him. out to establish whether he was a mem- Investigators said they had identifi ed Pictures posted on social media by ber of any banned militant group. EU makes new off er to reluctant states on digital tax

By Francesco Guarascio, the digital turnover of large fi rms The levy was always intended tend to have diff erent stances on cuss the Austrian “options” in plan to tax online platforms on taxation under a diff erent stand- Reuters such as Google and Facebook that as a temporary solution on cap- the issue, and sometimes com- their monthly meeting on No- Tuesday. ard,” US Treasury Secretary Ste- Brussels are accused of routing their prof- turing revenues from digital pete with each other on rates and vember 6 in Brussels. But a large number of states, ven Mnuchin said last week, urg- its to the bloc’s low-tax states. companies which escape many other benefi ts to attract fi rms. A third of EU states, including including Germany, Sweden, ing a global solution instead of While France and some other taxes thanks to their cross-bor- Austria has also proposed ex- France, Italy and Spain, yesterday Ireland and Malta, raised objec- “unilateral action”. uropean Union fi nance big EU states are pushing for a der and virtual business. cluding the sale of users’ data supported the Austrian plan in a tions, diplomats said. Echoing US concerns, Nordic ministers will discuss next quick introduction of the tax, A “sunset clause” has already from the activities covered by the meeting, diplomats told Reuters, All EU states must back the EU countries have expressed con- Eweek a watered down pro- smaller countries such as Ire- been backed by most of the 28 EU planned tax, softening the Com- calling for a deal by December. plan for the tax to be introduced. cerns the tax could damage the posal on an EU-wide digital tax, land or Luxembourg oppose the states, but has been so far linked mission’s proposal. They pushed for an EU-wide After initially backing the plan, bloc’s competitiveness as it would a document seen by Reuters measure, fearing it could cut to a global deal on tax reform. Only revenues from online deal because many states are Berlin has grown more sceptical, be imposed on revenues rather shows, trying to persuade reti- their tax revenues. Under the Austrian proposal, advertising services, in which planning to introduce simi- fearing that Washington will re- than profi ts, which is the tradi- cent governments to agree on the To overcome opposition, the levy could end at a predefi ned Google and Facebook excel, and lar national levies which could taliate on the tax, which would tional way of taxing companies. plan by the end of the year. Austria, which holds the EU’s date. from virtual marketplaces, such fragment the EU’s common hit mostly US tech giants. Other legal and technical is- Under a proposal from the Eu- presidency, has proposed to set a A lengthy global debate on as Amazon, would be subject to market. “A tax should be based on in- sues have also been raised by ropean Commission in March, EU “fi xed expiry date” on the tax, the the overhaul of digital taxation the new tax under the plan. Britain, which will leave the come, not sales, and should not some states in an attempt to de- states would charge a 3% levy on document said. has produced no results as states EU fi nance ministers will dis- bloc in March, announced its single out a specifi c industry for rail the plan, diplomats said. Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 21 INDIA

Court sentences 16 ex-policemen to life for killing 42 Muslims

Agencies A lower court had acquitted lines of Muslim men kneeling at pounded by the endemic sys- The case was transferred to taken to investigate the case and services authority to address the New Delhi the offi cers from the Provincial gunpoint as uniformed police temic delays, have frustrated the Delhi in September 2002 on the unearth the truth. needs of the victims’ families in Armed Constabulary (PAC), a stood guard, rifl es at the ready attempts at securing eff ective Supreme Court’s orders follow- “Indeed, their 31 years of wait- the case of custodial killings or special branch of Uttar Pradesh’s in what came to be known as the justice for the victims.” ing a petition by the families of ing for justice may have eroded state excesses. he Delhi High Court police force, in 2015 for a lack of “Hashimpura massacre”. Vibhuti Narain Rai, the then the victims and the survivors. their faith in the state machin- Former police offi cer Rai, who yesterday sentenced 16 evidence. The policemen, all of whom superintendent of police in Ghaz- A sessions court in July 2006 ery. This case involves the killing later brought out an investigative Tformer police offi cers to But a two-judge bench of the have retired, have been asked to iabad who registered the fi rst framed charges of murder, at- of around 38 innocent persons book on the massacre, recalled life imprisonment for round- Delhi High Court overturned surrender to authorities before complaint in the case on the night tempt to murder, tampering with in cold blood by members of an that it was one-and-a-half hours ing up and massacring dozens of that decision, saying they con- November 22. of May 22-23, 1987, said: “This evidence and conspiracy against armed force, the PAC. The grav- after the killings that they got to unarmed Muslims during riots in ducted a “targeted killing of un- “The present case is yet an- was the fi rst and biggest custodial all the accused. ity of the crime is obvious. We are know about the massacre. Uttar Pradesh decades ago. armed and defenceless people”. other instance of custodial killing massacre in independent India. The Delhi High Court said: “... conscious that for the families of “We could rescue one person, The offi cers were found guilty The court found them guilty of where the legal system has been There was a similar carnage in the relatives of the victims who those killed, this (punishment) is Babudin. It was on his descrip- of shooting 42 men and tossing criminal conspiracy, kidnapping, unable to eff ectively prosecute Nellie (Assam) but that was not in died as a result of the brutal and perhaps too little, too late.” tion of the massacre that we reg- their bodies into canals, in one of murder and the destruction of the perpetrators of gross human police custody unlike this.” bone-chilling action of the PAC Observing that compensa- istered the FIR.” the bloodiest moments of violent evidence. rights abuses,” the court said. The charge-sheet was fi led be- remained in the dark about not tion they have received cannot Uttar Pradesh has a long histo- clashes between Muslims and Grisly photographs submitted “The prolongation of the fore the Chief Judicial Magistrate only the fate of the victims them- make up for the lives lost, the ry of violence between its Hindu Hindus in 1987. as evidence to the court showed trial for over two decades, com- in Ghaziabad in 1996. selves but also about the steps court recommended state legal Muslim communities. Government has destroyed Patel’s legacy, says Congress

IANS targeted Modi’s Bharatiya Janata New Delhi Party (BJP), saying Patel’s legacy cannot be appropriated and his- tory cannot be rewritten. ongress president Rahul “True tribute to Sardar Val- Gandhi yesterday said labhai Patel will be to genuinely CPrime Minister Narendra absorb his message of national Modi may have unveiled the statue unity, uphold the principles and of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel but values that he espoused. His his government has been smash- legacy cannot be appropriated. ing his legacy, and added that History can not be rewritten or “destruction of institutions” is distorted. Those who try to do so “nothing short of treason”. will not be forgiven by history,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi poses for a photo as he takes part in the inauguration festivities for the ‘Statue Of Unity’, the world’s tallest statue dedicated to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat. “Ironic that a statue of Sardar he said in a tweet. Patel is being inaugurated, but Sharma added that Patel was a every institution he helped build close associate of Mahatma Gan- is being smashed. The systemat- dhi and one of the tallest Con- ic destruction of India’s institu- gress leaders. tions is nothing short of treason,” “His memory will always in- Gandhi said in a tweet. spire us and a grateful nation will Gandhi’s remarks came hours remember him with respect.” after Modi unveiled a statue of Congress spokesman Randeep Modi unveils Statue of Sardar Patel, which at 182m is the Singh Surjewala also attacked tallest in the world. Modi in a series of tweets and The Congress has accused the posed him questions. government of creating a “cred- “Did Sardar Patel not ban RSS, ibility crisis” in the Central Bu- your parent organisation, for reau of Investigation (CBI) and anti-national activities on Feb- Unity amid ‘silent protest’ trying to destroy autonomous ruary 4, 1948? Will you at least institutions like the Reserve repent today? Did Sardar Patel Agencies “The Statue of Unity is to re- helicopters onto its head as Modi it public funds – to build the The protest was in protest Bank of India (RBI). not write to then RSS chief M S Kevadia, Gujarat mind all those who question In- bent in front of the statue on the statue over a nearly four-year against acquisition of their land The opposition party has also Golwalkar on September 11, 1948 dia’s existence and its integrity. ground. period. without adequate compensation alleged that institutions like that ‘RSS men distributed sweets This country was, is and will al- Modi hailed Patel’s “strategic Hundreds of Chinese have for the project. Enforcement Directorate (ED), over Gandhiji’s killing’? rime Minister Narendra ways be eternal,” Modi said. thinking” in bringing together been among the 3,500 workers Tribal leader Praful Vasava, Income Tax Department, Direc- “Modiji, did Sardar Patel not Modi yesterday unveiled He said the height of the stat- the disparate country after in- involved in its construction. who has been leading the protest torate of Revenue Intelligence held the ideology of RSS respon- Pthe world’s tallest ‘Statue ue is to remind the youth that dependence in 1947. However, when Modi was un- ever since the project was de- (DRI), besides central universi- sible for assassination of Bapu? of Unity’ calling it India’s re- the future of the country is in More than 5,000 armed po- veiling the statue, twice as tall as clared by Modi as chief minister ties, are being damaged. Did not associates of your ideo- ply to those who questioned its their aspirations and is as huge lice guarded the huge site with the Statue of Liberty, thousands in 2013, said, “We are all for giv- In an earlier tweet, Gandhi said logue Syama Prasad Mookerjee unity amid a silent protest by as the statue. Anand Mazgaonkar, a commu- of tribals across the eastern tribal ing honour to Sardar Patel, but Sardar Patel was a Congressman to want to hang Patel and Pandit thousands of tribals who term “The only mantra to fulfi l nity group leader in Narmada belt of Gujarat, including the Nar- this is something which is at the the core who had no tolerance for Nehru publicly?” he asked. the project a harbinger of their these aspirations are ‘Ek Bharat- district, accusing plain clothes mada district where the massive cost of our very existence.” bigotry or communalism and fought Sharma said Patel had writ- devastation. Shresth Bharat’ (One India, Best offi cers of detaining 12 people structure is located, were observ- Patel would never have agreed for a united and secular India. ten to Nehru on February 5, 1948 Unveiling the 182m (600ft) India). The Statue of Unity is late Tuesday. ing a pin-drop protest. to this, he said. “A man with a steely will, tem- that they had been comrades for Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue, also symbolic of our engineering Police denied the claims. Kitchen fi res in the homes of Local legislator Chotu Vasava pered by compassion, he was a their entire lives for a purpose Modi hit out at his critics for politi- and technological aff ordability,” But the authorities took no an estimated 75,000 tribals in said: “Tribal groups have been Congressman to the core. On his and their love for the country cising the mission for erecting the he added. chances in case community 72 villages were not lit, in keep- exploited by diff erent govern- birth anniversary, I salute this kept them together and enabled tallest monument and asked all cit- Indian Air Force jets fl ew over groups staged noisy protests to ing with the convention of not ments, the ruling BJP (Bharati- great son of India.” them to work together for the izens to remain united in counter- the giant fi gure and clouds of condemn the decision to spend cooking when mourning the ya Janata Party) is repeating it Party leader Anand Sharma Congress and the nation. ing eff orts made by divisive forces. rose petals were dropped from Rs30bn ($400mn) – much of dead. again.” Delhi air quality ‘very Actor Anupam Kher quits as FTII chief poor’, curbs imposed IANS Pune-based institute. Pune Rathore wished Kher the best in all his future endeavours and IANS provement due to winds, the air those with existing diseases. expressed delight about him New Delhi quality was still “severe” in many The “very poor” levels cause eteran Bollywood actor representing India as a cultural places. The air quality in Guru- respiratory illness on prolonged Anupam Kher said yes- ambassador in the international gram in Haryana was still in the exposure. Vterday he had resigned as domain. he air quality in the na- “severe” category. “There is increased burning of chairman of the Film and Tel- The ministry will continue to tional capital and regions Pollution levels in Delhi-NCR paddy straw in Punjab and Hary- evision Institute of India (FTII), rely on his experience and ad- Taround it improved from are likely to see a spike in coming ana, the direction of the wind is a year after his appointment, vice, Rathore added. “severe” to “very poor” yester- days, as farmers in neighbour- now from the northwest. All this, citing his international assign- An actor with a repertoire of day but an environment panel ing Punjab and Haryana step up combined with Delhi-NCR’s own ments as the reason. over 500 movies including in- imposed curbs on some indus- stubble burning. pollution sources, could lead to a “It has been an honour, a priv- ternational projects, Kher was tries amid forecasts that pollu- EPCA has ordered closing spike in pollution in the coming ilege and a great learning expe- named for the top post in Octo- tion may worsen. down the entire industrial area 10 days,” EPCA said. rience to be the chairman of the ber 2017. The Supreme Court-appoint- of Mundka in north Delhi from Yesterday, almost all places prestigious FTII. But because of His predecessor Gajendra ed Environment Pollution Con- today until November 10 while in the NCR saw a drop in the my international assignments, I Chauhan’s tenure was marked trol Authority (EPCA), which is the municipal corporation clears the major pollutants PM2.5 and won’t have much time to devote by controversies and protests by monitoring the pollution lev- plastic, rubber and other wastes. PM10 – particles in the air with at the institute. Hence decided to FTII students. els, announced restrictions on EPCA has also requested peo- diameters less than 2.5mm and send my resignation,” Kher said Kher has been busy working construction activities, hot mix ple in Delhi to avoid using private 10mm respectively. in a letter to Information and in the US on the TV show New plants, coal and biomass-based vehicles between today and No- Across 35 areas in Delhi where Broadcasting Minister Rajyavar- Amsterdam, which has now been industries, brick kilns and stone vember 10. pollution is actively monitored, dhan Rathore. extended. crushers in the national capital At 4pm yesterday, the Air the average concentration of The letter, sent on Tuesday, In the letter, he said: “This region (NCR). Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was PM2.5 and PM10 was 221 and 408 was released by Kher yesterday. decision has not come without It said it can restrict move- 358 or “very poor”, against 402 microgrammes per cubic mt at He requested the ministry to considerable thought of the re- ment of private vehicles and en- on Tuesday. The AQI of Guru- 7pm yesterday, against 263 and scout for someone suitable for sponsibilities expected of me try of trucks to Delhi if needed. gram was severe at 416. 472 units on Tuesday. the post during his notice period. vis-a-vis the time I have at my “The coming days could see a Meanwhile, Ghaziabad in Ut- The same PM2.5 and PM10 con- The ministry said in a state- disposal to execute them. At the sharp deterioration in air quality tar Pradesh saw an improve- centration across 48 monitoring ment it has accepted Kher’s res- time when I was offi cially ap- in Delhi-NCR,” EPCA said. ment in AQI to 362. At Noida and stations in the NCR was 209 and ignation. proached by the former Infor- It added that the coal-based Greater Noida, the AQI was 347 386 on Wednesday, against 257 Rathore thanked the actor for mation and Broadcasting Min- Badarpur power plant was al- and 383 respectively. units and 457 units on Tuesday. steering FTII with such acu- ister Smriti Irani to be appointed ready shut and diesel generator According to the Central Pol- The safe limit for PM2.5 is 60 men and empathy, and said his as the chairman, I did share with sets were banned in Delhi since lution Control Board (CPCB), units as per national standards stature, erudition and goodwill her that I was due to be stationed October 15. the “severe” levels aff ect healthy and 25 units according to inter- Red FM Radio Jockey Rohan distributes free masks to motorists among the film fraternity con- in the US for nearly six months Yesterday, despite a slight im- people and seriously impact national standards. during an awareness campaign in New Delhi yesterday. tributed to the standing of the for an international TV show. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, November 1, 2018 INDIA

REAL ESTATE APPRECIATION POLITICS CONTROVERSY JUDICIARY Building of housing units Moon thanks PM 18 disqualified TN Govt desperate, hiding facts Court bans sale of drugs behind schedule: report for ‘Modi jackets’ MLAs not to appeal on economy: Chidambaram by online pharmacies

Construction of around 400,000 housing units South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed Eighteen legislators of the All India Anna Dravida Former finance minister P Chidambaram expressed The Madras High Court yesterday banned the sale was running behind schedule in the Delhi-NCR his thanks to Prime Minister Narendra Modi Munnetra Kazhagam will not appeal against the concern yesterday on reports that the government of medicines by online pharmacies till November region and Mumbai as of September, according yesterday for sending him “Modi jackets”, a vest- Madras High Court’s order upholding Tamil Nadu had invoked a hitherto unused section of the RBI Act 9. The court passed the order on a plea by the to a report by real estate portal 99acres.com like sleeveless jacket the Indian leader usually Speaker P Dhanapal’s order disqualifying them, to direct the central bank to act at its bidding, saying it Tamil Nadu Chemists and Druggists Association. yesterday. The report also noted that new dons. Moon uploaded photos of him wearing their leader T T V Dhinakaran said yesterday. shows that the government is “desperate” and “hiding The court asked the central government to file a launches were put on hold during the period the jackets in a Twitter posting, saying they “fit He said his group would face by-elections facts” about the economy. “If, as reported, government counter and posted the matter for further hearing due to a high level of unsold inventory. “Delayed great”. “This is a Modi jacket modified from a whenever they are held for the 20 vacant seats. has invoked Section 7 of the RBI Act and issued to November 9. According to the association, construction timelines continued to mar traditional Indian outfit so that it can be worn On October 25, Justice M Sathyanarayanan, the unprecedented directions to the RBI, I am afraid there though online shopping might be convenient to buyer sentiment towards under-construction with ease in South Korea too,” Moon said in the third judge named by the Supreme Court after will be more bad news today,” Chidambaram said in a consumers, purchasing medicines from unlicensed projects, especially in Delhi-NCR and Mumbai message cited by Yonhap news agency. “During a split verdict delivered by a two-judge bench series of tweets. He said the Congress governments online stores can be risky as they may sell fake, Metropolitan Region (MMR), which together my visit to India, I told Prime Minister Modi that earlier, upheld Dhanapal’s 2017 order, saying did not invoke Section 7 in 1991 or 1997 or 2008 or 2013. expired, contaminated, unapproved drugs or accounted for over four lakh units running what he was wearing looked great and he sent it was done under the provisions of the anti- “What is the need to invoke the provision now? It shows otherwise unsafe products that are dangerous behind schedule and pegged at Rs3.6 lakh me some exactly my size. I thank him for his defection law and vacated the stay on holding that the government is hiding facts about the economy,” to patients and which might put their health at crore,” the report said. great kindness.” Moon visited India in July. by-elections. Chidambaram said. risk.

Journalist’s allegations defamatory, SC gives govt Akbar tells Delhi court 10 days to

Agencies New Delhi

ormer minister M J Ak- bar yesterday told a Delhi reveal details Fcourt that journalist Priya Ramani’s allegations of sexual misconduct against him were defamatory in nature. Akbar told Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal that the allegations were of Rafale deal false and defamatory and in the process his reputation has been Agencies three judges during arguments. had negotiated with Dassault tarnished. New Delhi The court’s order was a “very, for 126 Rafale jets under which The court recorded Akbar’s very substantial step forward,” 18 were to be supplied in a fl y- statement as a complainant wit- Shourie told NDTV after the or- away condition and 108 were to ness in a criminal defamation he Supreme Court yester- der. be manufactured in India along suit fi led by him against Ramani. day gave the government “Confi dentiality does not with HAL. Ramani was the fi rst in a long T10 days to disclose the relate to price, only technical The opposition party yes- list of female journalists to ac- details of an $8.7bn military jet specifi cations,” he added. “It will terday said the Supreme Court cuse Akbar of sexual harass- deal with France’s Dassault Avi- be subject to challenge. It will be move was “extremely critical” ment. ation to former ministers and an diffi cult to say pricing is confi - and asked what the government A Rajya Sabha member, Ak- activist who say the information dential.” was hiding. bar has denied all the charges should be in the public domain. The Offi cial Secrets Act cov- “The Supreme Court has against him as “false, wild and Prime Minister Narendra ers most of the details regarding made certain very signifi cant baseless”. Modi’s deal for the purchase of the Rafale jets, including pricing, observations in the Rafale mat- The former minister of state 36 Rafale planes has become a and it would not be possible for ter,” Congress leader Manish Te- for External Aff airs said it was major political controversy be- the government to share them wari told reporters in New Delhi. apparent that a false narrative cause of the escalating price and with anyone, Attorney General “The court has ostensibly di- against him was being circulated a decision to pick billionaire Anil K K Venugopal, representing the rected that the information in in a motivated manner and with Ambani’s Reliance Defence as a government, told the court. the confi dential report submit- an agenda. domestic off set partner. The panel said that if the gov- ted by the government in the last Akbar wasn’t present when a Reliance, which has no aero- ernment felt the pricing of the hearing should be made public,” Delhi court took up his case on nautical expertise, was chosen Rafale jet could not be shared he said. October 18, a day after his exit instead of the state-run Hindus- with the court, even in a sealed He alleged that the govern- from the government. tan Aeronautics Ltd, which has cover, it should say so in an af- ment had been repeatedly trying “I have fi led a criminal defa- a long history of making planes. fi davit. to hide information surrounding mation complaint against Ms The court ruled that if the ma- The Supreme Court also asked the deal. Priya Ramani for a series of terial was strategic in nature or the government to give copies of “The Supreme Court has tweets that she published. The involved national security, the the decision-making process to sought to pierce the wheel of fi rst one that came to my notice government might choose not the petitioners. secrecy,” he said, adding that was on my return from an offi cial to reveal it to the petitioners, but A political row over the jet deal the court also observed that the tour from Africa. The off ending will instead have to furnish it to escalated sharply after former details with regard to the off set portion is the text of her tweet,” the court in a sealed package. French president Francois Hol- partner need to be provided to Akbar told the court. “We ask the Centre to give de- lande said in an interview last the petitioners. He cited a number of tweets tails of the pricing and strategic month that France had no role “On pricing, which is the most by Ramani from October 10 to details of Rafale fi ghter aircraft in the selection of Anil Ambani’s signifi cant part of the deal, the 13, and an article published in in sealed cover in 10 days,” Chief company for the off set clause. court has said that the govern- Vogue in 2017 and claimed that Justice Ranjan Gogoi said. Congress president Rahul ment needs to fi le an affi davit to “it had a history”. The ruling came in a hear- Gandhi has repeatedly accused claim confi dentiality. This is an Akbar in his statement said ing on petitions including a the government of negotiating a extremely critical observation by that the “opening sentence of joint plea by former ministers not-so-favourable contract just the Supreme Court.” the tweet explained one anom- Yashwant Sinha and Arun Shou- to benefi t Ambani. He said that there are 18 arti- aly. When the article was pub- rie, along with lawyer and activ- Both the government and the cles in the defence agreement. lished in Vogue in 2017, it did ist Prashant Bhushan, on the jet industrialist have denied the “Would the prime minister, Fi- not include my name. When deal. charge. nance Minister (Arun Jaitley) Ms Ramani was asked why my “There should be a court- The Congress also accuses and Defence Minister (Nirmala name was not included, she monitored Central Bureau of In- the government of deliberately Sitharaman) enlighten the na- said it was because I had done M J Akbar leaves a New Delhi court after a hearing in a defamation suit he filed against a female jour- vestigation probe into the Rafale scrapping a deal the previ- tion which one of the 18 articles nothing.” nalist yesterday. deals,” Bhushan told the panel of ous Congress-led government highlights secrecy?”

Tharoor seeks Railways takes on airlines Malabar Gold opens Ludhiana showroom Prasad apology Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has sent a legal notice to Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad seeking by off ering discounted fares an “unconditional apology” for calling him a “murder accused”. “You are well aware that in the IANS from 1.5 to 1.4 times the base He said that the decision was ongoing criminal case against New Delhi ticket fare in 101 trains, the min- taken after an eight-member Shashi Tharoor in relation to ister said. committee which was formed the death of his wife Sunanda The railways plans to give to review the scheme to make it Pushkar, the off ence alleged by the o give airlines a run for graded discounts in fares for more passenger friendly submit- prosecution against him is not that their money, the Indian all classes of current fl exi-fare ted its recommendation to the of murder and the trial court is yet TRailways plans to lure trains, four days prior to the date railways. to frame any charges against him,” more passengers by revoking the of the train starting from the The offi cial said the review read the legal notice sent by law fl exi-fare scheme on some trains originating station. Flexi-fares was also done based on the rec- firm Suraj Krishna and Associates and off ering discounts on others. increase as occupancy increases. ommendation of the Comptrol- on behalf of Tharoor. The move comes at the start The railways will off er a dis- ler and Auditor General’s report “Even the police-charge sheet of the festive season when the count of up to 20% in the fares and representations from pas- against Shashi Tharoor does not airlines are full due to discount of premium trains with an occu- sengers. contain any allegations of murder. schemes. pancy of 70%, while a discount The railways had decided to Your purposeful comment that Railway Minister Piyush Goy- of up to 10% will be given on discontinue the fl exi-fare in a Shashi Tharoor is charge-sheeted al described the move as a “gift trains which have a booking rate pre-defi ned lean period of three in a serious allegation of murder to passengers” during the festive of 70-80%. months on 32 trains with uni- seems to have some oblique season. There will be no discount on directional monthly occupancy motives,” it said. “As a gift to passengers this fares of the premium trains with between 50-75% throughout the “In the above circumstances, you festive season, the railways has an occupancy rate of over 80%. last fi scal year, he said. have clearly committed the off ence decided to reduce fl exi-fares According to a Railway Minis- The trains included 18 Shat- of defamation for which you are from 1.5 to 1.4 times the base try offi cial, the scheme has been abdi Express, fi ve Rajdhani Ex- liable to be tried before a court of ticket fare, and to completely re- discontinued for 15 trains, where press and nine Duranto Express law,” it said, as it demanded the move fl exi-fares from trains with the average uni-directional trains. taking down of the video clip from less than 50% occupancy,” Goyal monthly occupancy was less The decision assumes signifi - social media wherein Prasad is said in a series of tweets. than 50% throughout the year. cance as it will enable the railways seen making the said comments. “Win-Win Situation: The re- The offi cial said that the to lure more passengers it had lost “You are hereby called upon to duction of Flexi Fares is going to fl exi-fare has been completely to other means of transport, espe- tender an unconditional and benefi t passengers who can now scrapped from 13 Shatabdi Ex- cially the aviation sector. written apology within 48 hours of avail of tickets at cheaper rates. press and two Duranto Express In addition, the fl exi-fare Bollywood star Anil Kapoor inaugurated Malabar Gold and Diamonds’ new showroom in the receipt of this notice for making The railways will see a surge in trains. scheme will continue in over 100 Ludhiana, Punjab, in the presence of Malabar Group chairman M P Ahammed, Malabar Gold and such an untrue, false and baseless demand and occupancy,” the “The decision would increase trains in which uni-directional Diamonds’ India operations managing director Asher O, the group’s executive director Abdul imputation against Shashi Tharoor minister said. occupancy by over 15% due to monthly occupancy is more than Salam K P, other management team members, and well-wishers. to avoid the consequences of a It also reduced fl exi-fares lower fares,” the offi cial said. 75% throughout the year. litigation,” it said. Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 23

LATIN AMERICA

UTILITIES APPOINTMENT AVIATION LEGAL ECONOMY Millions in Mexico City to Venezuela names new spy Plane makes emergency Chile charges firm with Colombia fiscal go without water for days chief after politician’s death landing in Argentina environmental breaches situation improving

Millions of people in Mexico City are set to Venezuela yesterday named a new chief for its A passenger plane of the Chilean carrier Chile’s environmental regulator yesterday Colombia’s fiscal situation is improving but be without water for at least four days as state intelligence agency following the death LATAM Airlines made an emergency landing charged the local unit of Norway’s Marine at a rate less than what the government authorities undertake maintenance work of a politician in custody that was off icially in Buenos Aires yesterday after its windscreen Harvest with breaching the terms of its permits forecast in its medium-term fiscal targets, a on one of the major supply systems. Half of ruled a suicide but critics called a murder. was damaged by a hailstorm, Argentinian following the escape of hundreds of thousands director at credit rating agency Standard & the capital’s 8mn population are expected Army general Manuel Cristopher takes over media reported. The plane, which was en of salmon from a facility in southern Chile in Poor’s said. The Andean country’s so-called to be aff ected, with a further 3mn people the agency, known as Sebin, just weeks after route from Sao Paulo to Santiago de Chile, had July. Chile’s environmental superintendent “fiscal rule” sets a central government deficit from the neighbouring State of Mexico also the government announced that municipal previously plunged down 1.5kms in 90 seconds (SMA) said salmon farmer Marine Harvest had goal of 3.1% of gross domestic product for impacted. Authorities are preparing for the legislator Fernando Alban had committed after being hit by the storm while passing failed to properly maintain its infrastructure this year. The target figure will fall to 2.4% of huge challenge by employing tanker trucks suicide by jumping from the 10th floor of the through the Argentinian province of Misiones along the country’s coastline, allowing the fish GDP by 2019 and 1% of GDP in 2027 under to supply strategic areas such as schools, agency’s headquarters in Caracas. Opposition near the Brazilian border. Hail damaged its to escape out to sea. Some of the environmental the rule. “We think there is a consolidation hospitals and prisons. Mexico City is one of the leaders said the government provided windscreen and the cover of a communications damage was irreparable, the regulator said. trend, but maybe our projection is a bit largest metropolises in the world. Maintenance inconsistent accounts of the incident, and system located in the front part of the “(Marine Harvest) risks the revocation of its slower than the rule would demand,” Manuel will be carried out on the Cutzamala say Alban had been tortured and later killed plane, according to the website Infobae. The environmental approvals, closure, or a fine,” Orozco, S&P’s director of sovereign & engineering works that provide part of the by security forces. The incident drew global emergency landing went smoothly and without the SMA said. Marine Harvest did not reply to international public finance ratings for Latin city’s water supply from Michoacan state. condemnation. causing injuries. requests for comment on the charges. America told journalists.

Heading for the US El Chapo prepares for courtroom showdown

DPA only once before been accorded New York — to gangster boss Al Capone. A dozen prosecutors in New York are waiting to present their n previous court appearanc- case. es, Joaquin Guzman always But Guzman has also been Ilooked to the crowd for his charged in Chicago, Miami, San wife. When his trial begins next Diego and other federal districts week in Brooklyn, the Mexican where prosecutors were rubbing drug boss known as El Chapo their hands. will be watching for Emma But the trial is taking place in Coronel and the couple’s twin the Eastern District of New York daughters. And he will need all in Brooklyn. the emotional support he can There, prosecutors are armed get. with the combined knowledge Guzman has been sitting for gained from the decades-long nearly two years now in a high- battle against organised crime. Salvadoran migrants embark on a journey to the United States, in San Salvador, yesterday. Many Salvadoreans inspired by the much larger Honduran caravan already in security prison on the southern Guzman has correspondingly Mexico and striving to reach the US, are heading for the border with Guatemala in the hope of eventually realising the “American dream” and reaching the US. tip of Manhattan Island, a facil- lined up a formidable team of de- ity said to be tougher than the fenders. Guantanamo prison in Cuba. Alongside lawyers Eduardo He spends his days in a Balarezo and William Purpura, 15-square-metre, window- he has gained the services of less cell. On weekdays, he is let star defender Jeff rey Lichtman, out for one hour of fi tness room known for his successful defence training. of the son of mafi a boss John His lawyers say he is in danger Gotti in a $25mn securities trad- of depression and hallucinations. ing fraud case. The former boss of the power- Now, Guzman’s lawyers are Venezuela a threat to ful Sinaloa cartel earned billions going through 300,000 pages of of dollars smuggling drugs and documents and masses of evi- with other illegal activities, the dence. For a long time it wasn’t prosecution alleges. clear whether Guzman, 61, could The core of Mexican drug op- even pay his defence team. erations is located in the state The prosecution was keeping of Sinaloa on the western coast, open the possibility that pay- regional stability: US involving marijuana, poppy cul- ments to his defenders could be tivation to produce heroin, and confi scated. Reuters “Venezuela poses a clear threat in money laundering, graft, fraud sought to pressure Maduro, his Venezuelans lined up at Peru’s smuggling of tonnes of cocaine Lichtman, due to these con- Washington to regional stability and security and illegal mining schemes, in- relatives, and senior members of northern border on Tuesday in from Colombia into the US. cerns, was initially not part of on top of the horrifi c humanitar- cluding mining gold and sending the Socialist Party through sanc- hopes of entering the country The US Drug Enforcement the team. ian crisis that is unfolding before it abroad for processing. tions but the government has before a deadline for acquiring Agency says the Sinaloa syndi- But in August he said the prob- enezuela poses a clear our very eyes,” Billingslea told the “It is being done not just ille- shown no willingness to hand residency, and another 4,000 cate has long been the main sup- lem about payments had “fi nally threat to regional stability Washington-based American gally, but it is being done at enor- over power or negotiate a transi- were due to arrive in the next plier of illegal narcotics to the been resolved” — without giving Vand its economic collapse Enterprise Institute in Washing- mous environmental expense,” tion. two days, Peru’s ombudsman’s US. any details. could drag down key US allies ton. he said, “The regime has basi- Billingslea said the US was col- offi ce said. Guzman is like a hunting tro- Meanwhile US authorities in Latin America such as Brazil, Oil rich Venezuela’s economy cally awarded itself control over laborating with countries such as Peru was one of the fi rst coun- phy in the drug war that is going have no trace of the estimated Argentina and Colombia, a sen- has sunk into crisis under Ma- a huge percentage of the country Mexico, Colombia, Panama, Ar- tries to off er temporary residency on without him. $14bn from Guzman’s alleged ior Treasury Department offi cial duro forcing tens of thousands of and is now stripping this gold out gentina and Spain to block assets cards for Venezuelans who have His worldwide fame is com- drug dealing. warned. Venezuelans into neighbouring and dumping massive amounts of stolen from Venezuela. been fl eeing their crisis-stricken parable with that of Colombian Eastern District Court judge Marshall Billingslea, assistant countries amid hyperinfl ation, chemical and mercury contami- “We are on the hunt for Ma- homeland and crossing Colombia drug baron Pablo Escobar, who Brian Cogan has been unper- secretary for terrorist fi nancing food and medicine shortages, and nants into water supplies.” duro and (his wife) Cilia Flores’ and Ecuador to reach Peru. was killed in 1993. turbed by all the hype surround- at the Treasury Department, also power cuts. Venezuela’s information min- money and we are not going to As the number of Venezuelans The independent Chicago ing the biggest drug trial in accused the government of Presi- Billingslea said Maduro’s gov- istry did not immediately reply stop until we fi nd it,” Billingslea in Peru has surged to nearly half Crime Commission in 2013 de- American history. dent Nicolas Maduro of contami- ernment was “one of the larg- to a request for comment about said, adding: “It’s not their mon- a million, the government moved clared El Chapo public enemy He has calmly presided over nating Venezuelan water supplies est criminal enterprises in the Billingslea’s remarks. ey, it’s money they stole.” the deadline from the end of the number one, a ranking that had the pre-trial proceedings. at gold mining sites. Western Hemisphere” involved The Trump administration has Meanwhile at least 6,000 year to the end of October. Environment ministry Call for snipers to kill criminals condemned slams Bolsonaro plan Asked if his plan included AFP Rio de Janeiro shooting suspects in the back, he AFP It underlined its role in pre- Environmentalists warn that said: “Gun in hand? He’s a threat. Brasilia venting “criminal and predatory progress will now be jeopardised. He’s going to use that gun to attack exploitation” of Brazil’s resourc- “We are entering a tragic time he far-right governor-elect anyone who’s in front of him.” es, and said “the national econo- in which environmental protec- of Rio de Janeiro, Wilson Rio de Janeiro’s impoverished razil’s environment minis- my would suff er, especially agro- tion will amount to nothing. TWitzel, met with criticism “favela” neighbourhoods are try yesterday said far-right business, from possible reprisals The Bolsonaro government after announcing he would deploy regular scenes of combat-style Bpresident-elect Jair Bol- by importing countries.” hasn’t even started and the back- snipers to take down armed crimi- confrontations between heavily sonaro’s plan to merge it with the Bolsonaro, a former army cap- sliding is already incalculable,” nal suspects, even if offi cers’ lives armed drug traffi ckers and secu- agriculture ministry is “reckless” tain whose vitriolic, hardline respected former environment are not in danger. rity forces. and will undermine not only en- rhetoric has deeply divided Bra- minister Marina Silva tweeted. Witzel, a vocal backer of pres- In February, President Michel vironmental protection but eco- zil, had promised in the past that Meanwhile, the World Wildlife ident-elect Jair Bolsonaro, was Temer deployed the army to Rio nomic growth. the combined ministry would Fund said if Bolsonaro wants to elected alongside him on Sunday to try to gain the upper hand. Wit- Bolsonaro’s team confi rmed “come from the productive sec- make good on his promise to re- after both campaigned on hard- zel said he wants to extend that on Tuesday he would combine tor,” saying: “We won’t have any boot the economy, he should stop line platforms that tapped outrage 10-month emergency deployment the two ministries, drawing con- more fi ghts over this.” his attacks on the environment over violent crime. by another 10 months. demnation from activists who But environmentalists have Bolsonaro, who is backed by Following through on a cam- In a country that registered a warned the move would subor- strongly condemned the move the powerful agro-industry lob- paign pledge, the governor-elect record 63,880 murders last year, dinate environmental regulation — a “grave mistake” and “shot by, has vowed not to let the envi- said he would instruct police and many Brazilians are fed up with to agrobusiness in a country that in the foot,” according to Green- ronment get in the way of kick- soldiers to open fi re on armed sus- violent crime — a big factor in Bol- is home to some of earth’s most peace. starting a fl agging economy. pects, even if it meant shooting sonaro’s victory, and those of 12 vital natural resources, including The Amazon is vital to the Taking a step back from the them in the back unprovoked. far-right governors swept to offi ce the Amazon rainforest. exchange of oxygen for carbon debate, the WWF insisted that a He also proposed deploying with him. “Weakening the environment dioxide in the atmosphere — a strong economy and healthy en- snipers in helicopters to shoot But rights activists said Witzel’s ministry’s authority at a time check on global warming. vironment in fact go hand in hand. suspects from above during police proposals were not even legal. when concern over the climate Most of the rainforest is lo- The vital role forests play operations against drug traffi ck- “Giving prior authorisation crisis is intensifying would be cated in Brazil, which has taken in purifying our air and water ers. to automatically kill anyone who reckless. More than ever, the major steps in recent years to should be seen as “environmen- “If you have fi ve criminal ele- may be armed when there is no world is counting on Brazil to protect it in the face of massive tal services,” said Andre Nahur, ments shooting at a policeman, all imminent risk to life is an aff ront maintain its environmental lead- deforestation that has reduced coordinator of the group’s cli- Brazil’s new president-elect, Jair Bolsonaro, waves to supporters as of them can and should be taken to Brazilian and international law,” ership,” the ministry said in a its size by about 20% in the past mate change and energy pro- he watches airplanes performing near his condominium at Barra da down,” he said in an interview with Amnesty International said in a statement. 50 years. gramme in Brazil. Tijuca neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. TV network Globonews. statement. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, November 1, 2018 PAKISTAN PM calls for calm as protests erupt after blasphemy ruling

AFP Islamabad

akistani Prime Minister Imran Khan hit out at re- Pligious hardliners and ap- pealed for calm yesterday after extremists called for the coun- try’s Supreme Court justices to be murdered for overturning the conviction of a Christian woman facing execution for blasphemy. Residents watch the speech of Prime Minister Imran Khan as he addresses Khan, who took to the na- the nation following the Supreme Court decision on Christian woman Asia tion’s airwaves several hours Bibi, in Karachi yesterday. after the court ordered the ac- quittal of Asia Bibi, delivered a forceful call for Pakistanis to re- spect the verdict which sparked protests across the country. “They are inciting you for their own political gain, you should not get trapped by them for the sake of the country, they are doing no service to Is- lam,” Khan said in a televised broadcast. “We will protect people’s properties and lives, we will not allow any sabotage, we will not allow any traffi c to be stopped,” he added. Blasphemy is an incendiary charge in Pakistan, where even This file handout photograph shows Christian woman Asia Bibi unproven allegations of insult- (centre) applying her thumb to appeal papers filed against her death ing religion can provoke death at sentence for blasphemy charges as the then-governor of Punjab the hands of vigilantes. Salman Taseer (right) looks on at the Central Jail in Sheikhupura. Demonstrations broke out in Supporters of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chant slogans during a protest against the Supreme Court decision on Christian woman major cities across Pakistan in Asia Bibi, in Islamabad yesterday. peared to question the case against In recent years, it has also been the ruling’s wake, with club- her, with Justice Asif Saeed Khan used to smear dissenters and pol- wielding protesters blocking country’s airwaves as broad- Her legal team celebrated amid they let me out, really?” Bibi told claims, means a life under threat Khosa, considered Pakistan’s top iticians. Islamabad’s main highway and casters appeared to steer clear beefed-up security in Islamabad. AFP by phone from prison after by hardliners, who regularly hold expert in criminal law, listing fl aws Mere calls to reform the law barricading roads in Karachi and of covering the controversial “The verdict has shown that the ruling. demonstrations calling for her in the proceedings. have provoked violence, most Lahore. topic. the poor, the minorities and the “I just don’t know what to say, execution. “I don’t see any derogatory re- notably the assassination of Sal- One of the most vocal groups Khan, who has previously lowest segments of society can I am very happy, I can’t believe The allegations against Bibi marks vis-a-vis the Holy Qur’an maan Taseer, the governor of Pa- - the Tehreek-e-Labaik Paki- caused concern with his full- get justice in this country despite it.” date back to 2009, when Muslim as per the FIR,” added Chief Jus- kistan’s Punjab province, by his stan (TLP) - called for “mutiny” throated defence of blasphemy its shortcomings,” Bibi’s lawyer Her case drew the attention of women she was labouring with in tice Nisar, referring to the initial own bodyguard in broad daylight against the army’s top brass laws during his recent election Saif-ul-Mulook said. international rights groups and a fi eld objected to sharing water complaint fi led in the case. in Islamabad in 2011. and the assassination of the top campaign, vowed yesterday to hit “This is the biggest and happi- swiftly became the most high- with her because she was Chris- Approximately 40 people are His assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, court’s justices. back against hardliners inciting est day of my life.” profi le in the country. tian. believed to be on death row or was executed in 2016 and has “The Muslim generals of the violence, saying the infl amma- Bibi appeared to be in a state of Pope Benedict XVI called for After an argument, the women serving a life sentence in Paki- been feted as a hero by hardlin- army, it is their responsibility tory rhetoric would only benefi t disbelief after hearing that Paki- her release in 2010, while in 2015 went to a local cleric and accused stan for blasphemy, according ers, who built a shrine to him just that they should launch a re- “Pakistan’s enemies”. stan’s Chief Justice Saqib Nisar her daughter met his succes- Bibi of blasphemy, a charge pun- to a 2018 report by the United outside the capital. bellion against these generals,” Bibi was set to be released im- had quashed her conviction sor and the current head of the ishable by death under colonial- States Commission on Interna- Taseer had also called for Afzal Qadri - a TLP leader - told mediately according to the court, nearly eight years after she was Catholic Church, Pope Francis. era legislation. tional Religious Freedom. Bibi’s release and his son Shah- supporters in Lahore. although there was no word if fi rst sentenced to death. Freedom for Bibi in Pakistan, During the appeal hearing on Rights groups have long criti- baz tweeted “Pakistan Zindabad” For hours the acquittal was any security arrangements were “I can’t believe what I am where university students have October 8, a three-member panel cised the legislation, saying it is (“Long live Pakistan”) following met with near silence on the being made for her protection. hearing, will I go out now? Will been lynched over blasphemy of Supreme Court justices ap- routinely abused. the ruling. NAB is probing 71 PM gives Punjab ministers two politicians, offi cials months to improve performance Internews Zulfi qar Bokhari and former Islamabad secretary to PM Fawad Hus- sain Fawad. Internews PM Khan paid a short visit he quoted the prime minister as must feel relieved,” he quoted ready presided over half a dozen The list of 71 top politicians, Lahore to Lahore on October 30 dur- saying. the prime minister as saying. meetings in this regard. he National Account- bureaucrats and public of- ing which he addressed the The provincial minister said The minister said during his The minister said during his ability Bureau (NAB) fi ce holders, includes 19 from parliamentary party and held the prime minister had made address, PM Khan hailed the fi - meeting with the provincial as- Thas released a list of Sindh including Murad Ali rime Minister Imran Khan a meeting with Chief Minister it clear that such bureaucrats nancial package from Saudi Ara- sembly speaker, Khan discussed 71 politicians, bureaucrats, Shah, Babar Ghauri, Dr Asim has set a deadline of two Sardar Usman Buzdar and Pun- “would not and should not get bia and informed the parliamen- with him the opposition’s boy- and public offi ce holders that Hussain, Agha Siraj Durrani, Pmonths for ministers in jab Assembly Speaker Chaud- active postings.” He said PM tary party that he was going to cott of the provincial assembly it is investigating in cases Sohail Anwar Sial, Rauf Sid- Punjab to improve perform- hry Pervaiz Elahi. He returned Khan had told the cabinet mem- China and the nation would get proceedings. of corruption or misuse of diqi, Sharjeel Inam Memon, ance and urged them to either to Islamabad in the evening. bers that they should prioritise more good news soon. “I would The speaker briefed the prime authority. Zia Langar, Waseem Akhtar, perform or get ready to be sent Rashid said PM Khan was the development agenda for each not be seeking loans in China, minister on how he was trying to The list includes the names Jam Khan Shoro, Adil Siddiqi, home. monitoring performance of the district. but investment and technology run the house smoothly and the of fi ve former prime minis- Ijaz Jakhrani, Liaquat Jatoi, According to Punjab Hous- provincial cabinet. He said the “Though every district might transfer. The Chinese are also opposition was trying to create ters, including Nawaz Sharif, Pir Sibghatullah Rashdi, Sid- ing Minister Mian Mehmoodur prime minister believed that have its own peculiar develop- keen to help Pakistan in both disruptions in the house. Shaukat Aziz, Raja Pervaiz diq Memon, Ghulam Haider Rashid, Khan warned the minis- 90% bureaucrats considered ment needs the entire province areas,” PM Khan was quoted as The prime minister has re- Ashraf, Syed Yusuf Raza Gi- Jamali, Nawab Talpur, Man- ters that if their performance did themselves as employees of the needs clean drinking water and saying. portedly told the speaker that lani, and Chaudhry Shujaat zoor Qadir and Manzoor not improve, the cabinet would state and followed the rules. it must be given priority over Rashid said the prime minister he should run the house ac- Hussain. Wassan. not be reshuffl ed and instead “The trouble is with the re- other needs. The entire planning expressed his seriousness about cording to the rules and regula- Former and serving chief KP has 18 names, includ- the non-performing ministers maining 10% who act more as should be for the good of com- the Naya Pakistan Housing tions, and not bother about the ministers have also been in- ing Pervaiz Khattak, Amir would be sent home. personal servants of the rulers,” mon man. The common man Programme and said he had al- opposition’s behaviour. cluded in the list, including Muqam, Asma Arab Alamgir, Sindh CM Syed Murad Ali Arab Alamgir Khan, Akram Shah, former Punjab CMs Durrani, Murid Kazim, Cap- Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and tain (Retd) Muhammad Safdar, Shahbaz Sharif, former CMs Osman Saifullah, Azam Khan, of KP Pervaiz Khattak and Naeem Khan, Malik Naveed, PML chief’s sons skip NAB visit Nishtar named support Akram Khan Durrani and Tariq Hayat Khan, Sikandar former CMs of Balochistan Aziz, Nawabzada Mehmood amza Shahbaz and Sal- the public money. An offi cial whose son-in-law Imran Ali Aslam Raisani and Sanaullah Zeb, Sher Azam, Ziaur Reh- man Shahbaz — sons of source said, Shahbaz Sharif ap- Yousuf, wanted by NAB in Saaf programme chief Zehri. man, Malik Qasim, Asim Khan Hdetained Pakistan Mus- proved the construction of the Pani Company and Punjab Power The names of top currently and Hafi zur Rehman. lim League-Nawaz (PML) presi- bridge which NAB calls illegal. Development Company cases, is Internews scholar in the field of public elected or serving lawmak- From Balochistan, the dent — did not appear before the Hamza, who is leader of the reportedly hiding in London. Islamabad healthcare systems and reform. ers and bureaucrats include names of nine people have National Accountability Bureau opposition in the Punjab As- Earlier, Salman appeared be- The statement said the poverty Punjab Minister Aleem Khan, been included. They are: (NAB) in connection with an in- sembly, was in Islamabad to fore NAB regarding provision of alleviation and provision of former fi nance minister Ishaq Aslam Raisani, Snaullah Ze- vestigation into the construction attend a party meeting while the property record of his family. The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) social protection to marginalised Dar, former foreign minister hri, Khalid Langu, Mushtaq of a bridge in Chiniot. Salman is in London. NAB has The bureau, on October 5, government has appointed health groups, especially in the less Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Raisani, Asfandyar Kakar, NAB summoned the two also summoned a director of arrested Shahbaz Sharif in expert Dr Sania Nishtar as the developed areas of the country, former minister for railways Muhammad Asim Kurd, Mir brothers, directors of Ramzan the Ramzan Sugar Mills. the Ashiyana-i-Iqbal housing chairperson of Benazir Income was amongst the highest Khawaja Saad Rafi que, former Shah Jahan Kehtran, Saa- Sugar Mills, on October 30 for NAB has also summoned the project scam. The opposition Support Programme (BISP). priorities of the government. federal minister Ijaz Hussain dat Anwar, Mir Ali Khail and their alleged role in the con- two brothers on November 2 in leader in the National Assembly The position, which was BISP has outlined its plans Jakhrani, former minister Rehmat Baloch. struction of Rs200mn bridge an inquiry into the assets be- is remanded in the NAB custody occupied by Farzana Raja for a comprehensive social for ports and shipping Babar From Punjab, the names in- to facilitate their mills from yond means of Shahbaz Sharif, till November 7. (Internews) during the tenure of Pakistan protection strategy aimed Ghauri, former law minister clude Nawaz Sharif, Shaukat People’s Party and by Marvi at protecting the poor from Babar Awan, former federal Aziz, Pervaiz Ashraf, Yusuf Memon during Pakistan Muslim economic shocks. minister Riaz Hussain Pir- Raza Gilani, Chaudhry Shu- PIA and Steel Mills not on privatisation agenda League-Nawaz tenure, has been Dr Nishtar currently co-chairs zada, former fi nance minister jaat Hussain, Shahbaz Sharif, filled by a neutral figure for the the World Health Organisation Shaukat Tareen, Mayor Kara- Pervaiz Elahi, Ishaq Dar, Kha- The Privatisation Commission public sector entities excluding According to sources, the first time. (WHO) high-level commission chi Waseem Akhtar, Peshawar waja Saad Rafi que, Shoukat has decided to slash the list PIA, Steel Mills and some other government has decided to exclude According to an off icial on non-communicable District Council Administra- Tareen, Rana Mashood, Hanif of entities on the privatisation state-owned entities (SOEs) would PIA, PSM, Pakistan Railways and statement, the government diseases. She also chairs the US tor Asim Khan, Sindh MPA Abbasi, Aleem Khan, Zulfi qar agenda, including Pakistan be presented to the Cabinet power distribution companies from had invited Dr Nishtar to National Academy of Sciences Nawab Taimur Talpur, Di- Bokhari, Ali Arshad Hakeem, International Airlines (PIA) and Committee on Privatisation (CCOP). the privatisation agenda. chair the BISP board and the initiative on the Quality of rector-General Sindh Build- Abdullah Yousuf, Salman Sid- Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) set by Sources said the meeting presided The government will begin the appointment was made after Healthcare in low- and middle- ing Control Authority (SBCA) diqi, Fawad Hassan Fawad, the previous government. over by Privatisation Commission privatisation programme with getting her acceptance. income countries and heads Manzoor Qadir, Senator Os- Ahad Cheema, Ayaz Khan Ni- The decision was taken in first chairman Mohamed Mian Soomro small entities including small Dr Nishtar is a civil society leader the United Nations International man Saifullah, Principal Sec- azi, Riaz Pirzada, Babar Awan, meeting of the commission under conducted a thorough review of and medium enterprises (SMEs), and former cabinet minister. Institute for Global Health’s retary to the PM Azam Khan, Akhtar Nawaz Gangeera and the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) the privatisation programme and First Women Bank and National She is also a widely published Advisory Committee. Special Assistant to the PM Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. government. The final list of 34 finalised the list. Insurance Company. (Internnews) Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 25 PHILIPPINES Australian nun who angered Duterte to leave Philippines

AFP Manila

n Australian nun who battled a government bid to expel her Afrom the Philippines after she angered President Rodrigo Duterte, said yesterday she will leave rather than face certain arrest and deporta- tion. Sister Patricia Fox’s abrupt an- nouncement came because immigra- tion authorities refused hours earlier to extend her tourist visa and ordered the 71-year-old out by Saturday. Fox, who has spent nearly three decades advocating for the Philip- pines’ poorest, has become a symbol of understated resistance during her seven-month administrative fi ght to stay. But with her legal options all but exhausted, the soft-spoken nun de- cided to return to Australia rather than Crews were struggling to sift through the wall of mud that smashed into a public works compound where labourers and take the risk of being removed forcibly. locals had taken refuge in the Cordillera mountain community of Natonin. “I’ve been given an ultimatum that if Australian nun Sister Patricia Fox lights a candle as she attends a prayer vigil for I don’t leave by 3 November, they will slain Catholic priests in front of Quiapo church in Manila earlier this year. send people to chase me,” she told AFP. “There is no point being arrested and ed briefl y on charges of violating her founded in France in 1847 and famed deported and I don’t have any choice.” visa’s terms against activism and the for harbouring Jews fl eeing from Nazi Her supporters condemned the denial slow turning wheels of the Philippine persecution in World War II. A former and pledged to keep up their legal bat- bureaucracy began moving to strip practising lawyer who worked with in- tle to allow her to return. “We will not her of her papers. It coincided with digent clients in Australia, Fox has said allow the government to forcibly expel a crackdown by Duterte against for- she has been educating landless Fili- Sr Fox,” the National Union of People’s eigners whom he accuses of meddling pino farm hands and factory workers Typhoon toll Lawyers said in a statement. “Our fi ght in his nation’s aff airs. In April, Manila about their rights. is not yet over.” also expelled Italian Giacomo Filibeck, Justice Secretary Menardo Gue- She apparently angered the presi- deputy secretary general of the Party varra told AFP that Fox has to leave the dent by joining a fact-fi nding mission of European Socialists, who had con- Philippines because her visa will ex- in April to investigate alleged abuses demned Duterte’s anti-drug war. pire, even though the deportation case against farmers, including killings and Four months later Australian rights ac- against her is not resolved. “If Sister evictions by soldiers fi ghting guerril- tivist Gill Boehringer, 84, was barred entry Fox eventually wins, her name will be las in the southern Philippines. In Du- for having attended a protest in 2015, alleg- removed from the immigration black- climbs, hunt terte’s hometown of Davao, Fox went edly in violation of immigration laws. Du- list and she may return to the Philip- to see farmers detained on charges of terte accused Fox of “disorderly conduct” pines,” he said. possessing explosives, and attended a and said: “Don’t let her in because that nun Fox imagines a slightly diff erent press conference by workers who were has a shameless mouth”. scenario under which she will make fi red after demanding better wages and She landed in the Philippines in her way back to Manila. “Maybe when conditions. 1990 as a member of the Sisters of Our Duterte is not there anymore,” she said, for landslide Shortly after that she was arrest- Lady of Sion, a congregation of nuns referring to the 2022 end of his term. victims on AFP there are ongoing.” police said. Cutting a path just south Manila Five people had been rescued and of last month’s Typhoon Mangkhut, three corpses found at the scene, with the new storm hit a region still reeling another roughly 20 people still unac- from the last one. hilippine rescuers used hand counted for in the compound. However, Philippine disaster offi - tools yesterday in a desperate Dramatic images shot on smart- cials said the typhoon was less pow- Psearch for around 20 people phones emerged yesterday of swollen, erful than Mangkhut, which left more buried in a landslide unleashed by Ty- churning rivers and a large concrete than 100 dead. Most of the fatalities phoon Yutu, as the powerful storm’s bridge washed away by fl oodwaters. from Mangkhut were due to a land- toll rose to nine. When Yutu struck The howling winds picked trees slide in the mining area of Itogon. on Tuesday, torrential rains sparked clean of their leaves in certain areas, At least 1,000 people were evacu- fl oods that washed away bridges and and sliced the corrugated metal roofs ated from slide-prone areas in Itogon fi erce gusts razed hundreds of fl imsy off homes. ahead of the storm, and about 9,000 homes in the nation’s north. Crews have begun fanning out more fl ed their homes near water- Crews were struggling to sift across the storm’s path on the Philip- ways. through the wall of mud that smashed pines’ most populous Luzon island to An average of 20 typhoons and into a public works compound where count the cost of the typhoon which storms lash the Philippines each year, labourers and locals had taken refuge struck with sustained winds of 150km killing hundreds of people and leav- in the Cordillera mountain commu- (95 miles) per hour and gusts up to ing millions in near-perpetual pov- ONE SMOKER. nity of Natonin. “They (searchers) 210. erty. are digging manually but they still Most of the other deaths in the The Philippines’ deadliest storm cannot penetrate (with heavy equip- storm came due to landslides in hilly on record is Super Typhoon Haiyan, ment),” provincial disaster offi cial areas, including ones that took the which left more than 7,350 people Edward Chumawar told AFP. “The lives of a father and his three young dead or missing across the central TWO PATIENTS. clearing operations for road access children, a 5-year-old girl and a man, Philippines in November 2013.

Party time

TOBACCO KILLS

Students with painted faces take part in a Halloween party in Quezon City, Metro Manila. Issued in Public Interest by GULF TIMES Gulf Times 26 Thursday, November 1, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Will Angela Merkel’s departure leave liberal democracy leaderless?

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the de facto leader of the European Union and, in the wake of US abdication, of Western liberalism. Her announced departure in 2021 throws the future of both enterprises into doubt. It can be diffi cult for Americans to grasp the importance of the transatlantic alliance that for nearly three-quarters of a century has protected democracy, prosperity and peace in the US, in Europe and, intermittently, around the globe. American Did the global order ambivalence and sometimes outright hostility toward this nation’s role in the world fuelled the rise of Donald Trump, who as president heaped scorn on Nato and other institutions of international co-operation. With Britain already planning its exit from die with Khashoggi? Europe, Merkel was left with the task of keeping the continent’s liberal democracies together, shoring up workplace dress codes and standards to some extent by broader values, amount of faith in the system – even its weaker economies, taking in Syrian war refugees By Ana Palacio Washington, DC for communication – that has been especially increasing the “fairness” of if it is qualifi ed by frustration with (and in so doing, expressing long-standing Western fuelled by the rise of social media. US relationships, from security co- inequality or impunity – is essential to As our public and private lives are operation with Nato allies to trade ties its survival. humanitarian values) and, importantly, providing a ast month, Jamal Khashoggi – a blurred, public figures are under with China. Despite Trump’s “America A world in which all that matters counterweight and counterexample to a belligerent Washington Post columnist and pressure to appear as “real” and fi rst” rhetoric, such actions seemed is the deal, in which there is no ethos Russia and an increasingly infl uential China. prominent critic of the Saudi “normal” as our neighbours and to be focused more on rebalancing the guiding our actions and underpinning There came a point a year ago when Merkel, Lgovernment – walked into colleagues. Even Pope Francis has system than destroying it. our governance systems, is one where Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul to released a rock album. Trump’s response to the Khashoggi citizens do not know what to expect acknowledging that the US under Trump had become pick up documents that would enable Of course, not all of these shifts are episode, however, is fully decoupled from their leaders and countries do not an unreliable partner and an absent leader, declared him to marry his Turkish fi ancée. necessarily bad. The breakdown of from any overarching values. To be know what to expect from their allies. Instead of receiving help from his formal structures can create space for clear, US presidents, together with Such an unpredictable and unstable that Europeans must country’s government, he was tortured, independent thinking and innovation. European leaders, have been coddling world is not one that we should blindly take their destinies murdered, and dismembered by a team The danger comes when no new Saudi Arabia for decades, and leaders accept. Angela Merkel’s into their own hands. of its agents. framework emerges to help guide our worldwide often base their foreign- It is not too late to respond to It is a shocking crime that raises behaviour – and, more important, the policy decisions on realpolitik, rather Khashoggi’s brutal murder in a way that brief time as She would, in eff ect, some serious questions, not least behaviour of our leaders – to ensure than moral considerations. reinforces, rather than undermines, the grab the torch of regarding the appropriate balance that it adheres to some shared values or But this is the fi rst time a rules on which we all depend. German leader of the free liberty and economic between defending human rights reasonable expectations. US president has unabashedly Chancellor Angela Merkel’s suspension and maintaining long-standing US President Donald Trump acknowledged the purely transactional of arms sales to Saudi Arabia is a good world is coming liberalism that (and lucrative) alliances. More embodies this risk. Since coming nature of their policy decisions. The start, even if it was driven largely by American presidents fundamentally, the sheer brazenness onto the political scene, Trump has Saudis, Trump declares bluntly, her desire to shore up support for her to an end once carried but that with which the Saudi government had shattered expectations about how are “spending $110bn on military Christian Democratic Union ahead of Khashoggi killed – not to mention a US presidential candidate – and, equipment and on things that create regional elections in Hesse; so, too, is Trump cast aside. Western leaders’ weak response – subsequently, a US president – should jobs” in the US. “I don’t like the concept the current pushback from Washington But she was not strong enough to lift it. Not without has underscored for people around behave. While there is nothing of stopping an investment of $110bn against a business-as-usual approach the US as senior partner, not with the rise of right- the world just how coldly calculated fundamentally wrong with a political into the United States.” to Saudi Arabia. geopolitical machinations really are. leader communicating frankly and Notwithstanding the dubiousness But more must be done, with wing populism and authoritarianism now on display Transparency is usually a virtue to directly with his or her constituents, of the fi gures involved, Trump’s principled leaders declaring clearly in Hungary and Poland, and gaining ground in Italy, be encouraged. Here, however, the the tone and style of Trump’s delivery comments are a bald statement of that what happened in Istanbul is revelation comes at a cost. The belief – largely via Twitter – is highly monetised interest. The comfort, not acceptable. Otherwise, we will Austria and her own country. Thanks especially to that principles, values, and rules hold damaging. His below-the-belt insults, even pride, with which he makes such eff ectively be giving up the discourse of the migrant crisis, Merkel lost the confi dence of many at least some weight in international racist dog whistles, and unfounded statements indicates that we really have values and rules – a decision that could of her German constituents, as shown by a series of relations has a stabilising eff ect. As that attacks on the media and other entered a new era, in which we cannot well leave us with no coherent and belief is shaken – say, by the poisoning democratic institutions are deepening expect our leaders to clear even the low stabilising discourse at all. – Project disastrous election losses. Her brief time as leader of earlier this year of the former Russian political and social divisions, while bar of trying to fi t their decisions into a Syndicate the free world is coming to an end. double agent Sergei Skripal and his diminishing respect for the presidency rules- or values-based narrative. Who will replace her? Liberalism’s remaining daughter on British soil – the global and the US more generally. This is dangerous, because such zAna Palacio, a former Spanish order is damaged, perhaps beyond Trump’s unprecedentedly narratives are vital to maintain the foreign minister and former Senior champions _ French President Emmanuel Macron, repair. transactional – and highly erratic – credibility of the global order and the Vice President of the World Bank, is a for example _ lack Merkel’s presence or her nation’s The delegitimising effect of such approach to foreign policy is similarly support of domestic constituencies member of the Spanish Council of State economic might. Meanwhile, Russia looms over episodes is exacerbated by a broader destabilising. To be sure, Trump’s for it. Just like eff ective leadership and and a visiting lecturer at Georgetown University. Europe, and although it may be economically weak abandonment of formalities – such as deal-making was initially framed respect for the rule of law, a certain and possess a mere shadow of the military might of the old Soviet Union, it is apparently powerful enough to seduce the American president away from this nation’s erstwhile friends and fracture not just the Atlantic alliance but Europe itself. Strains of nativism and authoritarianism are evident in many global. Many of these leaders and would-be leaders _ such as France’s right-wing politician Marine Le Pen _ are openly lauded by Trump. Once giving up its leadership, the US may fi nd it is a hard thing to win back. Merkel has handled it as best she could during the period of American retrenchment. We can only hope that her European successor will do the same.

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The sheer brazenness with which the Saudi government had Khashoggi killed – not to mention Western leaders’ weak response – has underscored for people around the © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved world just how coldly calculated geopolitical machinations really are. Gulf Times Thursday, November 1, 2018 27 COMMENT A history of murderous politics

By Jeff rey D Sachs by the right for being too soft, yet he, withdrawals from a glitzy investment New York too, notched up quite a death toll. His conference is a who’s who of America’s administration repeatedly approved military-industrial complex: top Wall drone attacks that killed not only Street bankers, CEOs of major media ill no one rid me of this terrorists, but also innocents and companies, and senior offi cials of meddlesome priest?” US citizens who opposed America’s military contractors, such as Airbus’s asked Henry II as he bloody wars in Muslim countries. defence chief. Winstigated the murder of He signed the presidential fi nding The US prides itself on being a the Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas authorising the CIA to co-operate constitutional democracy, yet when it Becket, in 1170. Down through the with Saudi Arabia in overthrowing comes to foreign policy, the president ages, presidents and princes around the Syrian government. That “covert” is little diff erent from a despot. Trump the world have been murderers and operation (hardly discussed in the has just announced the US withdrawal accessories to murder, as the great polite pages of the New York Times) from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Harvard sociologist Pitirim Sorokin led to an ongoing civil war that has Force Treaty without so much as a and Walter Lunden documented in resulted in hundreds of thousands of mention to Congress. statistical detail in their masterwork civilian deaths and millions displaced Political scientists should test the Power and Morality. One of their main from their homes. He used Nato air following hypothesis: countries led by fi ndings was that the behaviour of strikes to overthrow Libya’s Muammar presidents (as in the US) and non- ruling groups tends to be more criminal Gaddafi , resulting in a failed state and constitutional monarchs (as in Saudi and amoral than that of the people over ongoing violence. Arabia), rather than by parliaments whom they rule. Under Trump, the US has abetted and prime ministers, are especially What rulers crave most is Saudi Arabia’s mass murder (including vulnerable to murderous politics. deniability. But with the murder of the of children) in Yemen by selling it Parliaments provide no guarantees of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi by bombs and advanced weapons with restraint, but one-man rule in foreign his own government, the poisoning almost no awareness, oversight, or policy, as in the US and Saudi Arabia, of former Russian spies living in the accountability by the Congress or almost guarantees massive bloodletting. United Kingdom, and whispers that the public. Murder committed out of Americans are rightly horrifi ed by the head of Interpol, Meng Hongwei, view of the media is almost no longer Khashoggi’s murder. But their own may have been executed in China, murder at all. government’s murderous ways may be the curtain has been slipping more In this file photo taken on October 06, 2018 shows a Yemeni man carrying his child who is suff ering from malnutrition into a When the curtain slips, as with little diff erent. The pervasiveness of than usual of late. In Riyadh, Moscow, treatment centre at a hospital in the capital Sanaa. Under President Donald Trump, the US has abetted Saudi Arabia’s mass the Khashoggi killing, we briefl y see state-sponsored killings is no excuse and even Beijing, the political class is murder (including of children) in Yemen by selling it bombs and advanced weapons. the world as it is. A Washington Post for treating murder as acceptable, ever. scrambling to cover up its lethal ways. columnist is lured to a brutal death It is instead a rationale for subjecting But no one should feel self-righteous Since 1947, the deniability of its violent and, yes, murderous ways, perhaps the self-fulfi lling proof of his and dismembered by America’s close power to strict constitutional here. American presidents have a long presidential murder has been without any accountability for it or madness.) In the end, the Johnson- “ally.” The American-Israeli-Saudi constraints and especially to history of murder, something unlikely facilitated by the CIA, which has for the presidents who authorised its Nixon American war in Indochina cost big lie that Iran is at the centre of international law, including the United to trouble the current incumbent, served as a secret army (and sometime actions. millions of innocent lives. There was global terrorism, a claim refuted Nations Charter and the Universal Donald Trump, whose favourite death squad) for American presidents. Many mass killings by presidents never a true accounting, and perhaps by the data, is briefl y threatened Declaration of Human Rights. This predecessor, Andrew Jackson, was a The CIA has been a party to murders have involved the conventional the opposite: plenty of precedents for by the embarrassing disclosure of is our only true hope for survival and cold-blooded murderer, slaveowner, and mayhem in all parts of the military. Lyndon Johnson escalated later mass killings by US forces. Khashoggi’s grisly end. Crown Prince safety in a world where the casual and ethnic cleanser of native world, with almost no oversight US military intervention in Vietnam The mass killings in Iraq under Mohamed bin Salman, who ostensibly resort to violence can easily be the end Americans. For Harry Truman, the or accountability for its countless on the pretext of a North Vietnamese George W Bush are of course better ordered the operation, is put in charge of all of us. - Project Syndicate atomic bombing of Hiroshima spared assassinations. It is possible, though attack in the Gulf of Tonkin that known, because the US-led war of the “investigation” of the case; him the likely high cost of invading not defi nitively proved, that the CIA never happened. Richard Nixon went there was made for TV. A supposedly the Saudis duly cashier a few senior zJeff rey D Sachs, professor of Japan. But the second atomic bombing, even assassinated UN cecretary- further: by carpet-bombing Vietnam, civilised country engaged in “shock offi cials; and Trump, a master of non- Sustainable Development and Professor of Nagasaki, was utterly indefensible general Dag Hammarskjöld. Cambodia, and Laos, he sought to and awe” to overthrow another stop lies, parrots offi cial Saudi tall tales of Health Policy and Management at and took place through sheer The CIA has only been held to public instil in the Soviet Union the fear that country’s government on utterly false about a rogue operation. Columbia University, is Director of bureaucratic momentum: the bombing account on one occasion: the 1975 US he was an irrational leader capable pretenses. Hundreds of thousands of A few government and business Columbia’s Centre for Sustainable apparently occurred without Truman’s Senate hearings led by Frank Church. of anything. (Nixon’s willingness to Iraqi civilians died as a result. leaders have postponed visits to Development and the UN Sustainable explicit order. Since then, the CIA has continued implement his “madman theory” is Barack Obama was widely attacked Saudi Arabia. The list of announced Development Solutions Network.

America’s plutocrats are winning Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 300c Minimum Temperature : 250c By Jeff rey D Sachs in the US Congress: slash taxes for the the keys to the State Department, the oil and gas, regardless of the Washington wealthy at the expense of programs for Environmental Protection Agency, consequences for the planet. Their FRIDAY the poor and working class; increase and the Energy Department. Industry evil is chilling, but it is real. And Maximum Temperature : 310c military spending at the expense insiders also hold senior congressional Trump is their factotum. Minimum Temperature : 270c S President Donald of diplomacy; and allow for the staff positions. It is now the job of the rest of the SATURDAY Trump’s ravings against destruction of the environment in the Much of the corporate money can world to say no to America’s reckless Maximum Temperature : 300c social programmes and name of “deregulation.” be traced; the rest fl ows anonymously, corporate greed, and of Americans Minimum Temperature : 270c environmental regulations But these are not the priorities as “dark money” that avoids public themselves to reclaim their democratic U Fisherman's forecast are partly a product of his ignorance shared by most Americans – not scrutiny. The largest source of dark institutions by eliminating dark and narcissism. But they also even close. A majority wants to tax money is the Koch brothers – David money and the corporate malevolence WARNING it underwrites. Americans – and the Inshore : Nil represent something else: the the rich, broaden health coverage, and Charles – who, with a combined Offshore : Expected strong wind corruption of the US political system. stop America’s wars, and fi ght global net worth of some $100bn, have spent world – deserve better. - Project and high sea/Thundery American politics has become warming. Trump and his accomplices freely for decades essentially to buy Syndicate rain at places a game of, by, and for powerful are bucking public opinion, not the US political system. Their eff orts WEATHER Inshore : Party cloudy to cloudy corporate interests, with tax cuts for representing it. are succeeding. zJeffrey D Sachs, Professor of at times with weak the rich, deregulation for polluters, They are doing this for one reason: When it comes to tax policy and Sustainable Development and chance of scattered and war and global warming for the money. Trump’s policies serve the climate change, the Republican Professor of Health Policy and rain by afternoon, mild by night. rest of us. Trump is but a symptom, corporate interests that fund electoral Party is almost completely in the Management at Columbia University, Offshore : Partly cloudy to cloudy albeit a shocking and dangerous one, campaigns and eff ectively run the hands of the Koch brothers and is Director of Columbia’s Center for with chance of sctd of a much deeper political malaise. US government. Today, mega- their oil-industry cronies. Their Sustainable Development and the UN rain at places maybe thundery at times. Trump’s policies embody priorities polluting companies no longer need immoral aim is simple: to cut Sustainable Development Solutions WIND that are widely backed by Republicans to lobby; Trump has handed them corporate taxes and deregulate Network. Inshore : Northwesterly-North- easterly 05-16 KT Offshrore : Northeasterly-South- easterly 10-20/35 KT Visibility : 4-8 KM Live issues Offshore : 3-6/15 FT Around the region Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Baghdad Sunny 29/13 M Sunny 29/16 Baby ‘sleep sacks’ might be safer than blankets Kuwait CityM Sunny 29/19 P Cloudy 29/21 Manama M Sunny 31/26 M Sunny 31/25 Muscat P Cloudy 29/25 M Sunny 28/23 Tehran M Sunny 16/08 P Cloudy 15/07 By Tamara Mathias “Most (SIDS) deaths in the UK now Reuters Health occur in socially deprived families who struggle to engage with safe sleep messages,” Garstang said. “Sadly, a nfant sleeping bags, or sleep very common scenario is of a baby sacks, are at least as safe as other dying co-sleeping with parents who bedding in preventing sudden have consumed signifi cant amounts of Iinfant death syndrome (SIDS) alcohol or taken drugs.” and might be safer, a new analysis “Sleeping bags are generally used concludes. by higher income families who are SIDS is the sudden, unexplained anyway at the lowest risk of SIDS,” she death of a baby younger than 12 adds. months. While little is known about Launched in the 1990s, the Back the condition, factors like putting a To Sleep public education campaign, baby to sleep face down, or using soft now renamed Safe to Sleep, has bedding, have been found to increase strived to educate caregivers about Around the world the risk of SIDS. SIDS and ways to reduce it. Since the Weather Weather In response to prevention guidelines campaign began, SIDS rates have fallen today Max/min tomorrow Max/min warning against putting infants to dramatically, although the condition Athens P Cloudy 27/16 Sunny 26/15 sleep with blankets, parents have been remains a leading cause of death for Beirut Sunny 27/21 Sunny 28/21 putting them to sleep in sleeping bags. American infants. Bangkok Sunny 32/21 Sunny 32/21 These “bags” are sleeveless sacks that Because SIDS is rare, “it is hard Berlin P Cloudy 15/07 M Sunny 14/02 cover the shoulders, containing the to accumulate enough data to fully Cairo Sunny 32/17 Sunny 32/16 rest of the body, with the arms outside understand what factors might come Cape Town Cloudy 18/12 P Cloudy 26/14 of the sack to prevent it from rising SIDS but those available are of high The Austrian study found that together to cause (it),” said Dr David Colombo T Storm 29/24 T Storm 29/24 over the head. quality,” Williams said. infants stayed just as warm when Schwebel of the University of Alabama Dhaka M Sunny 32/23 P Cloudy 31/23 “Infant sleeping bags are used by Two of the studies looked at the they slept in sleep sacks as when at Birmingham, who was not involved Hong Kong S Showers 23/19 Cloudy 23/19 many parents around the world but eff ect of infant sleeping bags on the wrapped in blankets. The study in in the study. Istanbul M Sunny 23/15 M Sunny 21/14 it is important not to assume that risk of SIDS. The other two considered Mongolian babies found similar body Garstang said the main limitation of Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 33/26 popularity is equivalent to safety,” temperature regulation. temperatures in infants wearing sleep the new analysis is that it lacked data, Karachi Sunny 35/22 Sunny 34/21 said Alessandra Glover Williams of The Dutch study, published in sacks or swaddled. since there are very few publications London S Showers 11/02 M Sunny 11/06 Britain’s Royal United Hospitals Bath. 1998, found that cotton sleeping bags The Lullaby Trust, a British charity about sleeping bags and SIDS. Dr Manila S T Storms 33/25 M Sunny 33/26 Williams and her colleague Fiona lowered the risk of SIDS by 65% and that aims to prevent unexpected Schwebel agrees. Moscow P Cloudy 08/03 P Cloudy 09/05 Finlay analysed four previous studies that babies who wore them were less deaths in infancy, recommends “The studies reviewed are excellent, New Delhi Sunny 31/18 Sunny 32/19 of Austrian, Mongolian, Dutch and likely to turn prone or face-down. sleeping bags for babies as a good but there are few of them, and some New York P Cloudy 22/17 T Storm 22/16 English infants that examined the The English study found at fi rst alternative to blankets but does not of them (were small),” he said. “The Paris Rain 13/05 M Sunny 13/02 impact of sleeping bags on risk of SIDS that sleep sacks did decrease babies’ specifi cally say they reduce the chance overall conclusion is that there is some Sao Paulo T Storm 29/18 Cloudy 22/18 or SIDS risk factors. They reported risk of SIDS. But after the researchers of SIDS. evidence these sleeping bags are safe Seoul Sunny 14/01 Sunny 17/02 their fi ndings in the journal Archives accounted for other factors aff ecting “I think most UK parents are aware when used properly, and at least some Singapore T Storm 29/26 T Storm 30/26 of Disease in Childhood. SIDS risk, they could no longer say of SIDS,” said Dr Joanna Garstang initial indication they could help to Sydney P Cloudy 27/19 Cloudy 34/24 “There are not many trials looking for sure that the lower SIDS rate was of the University of Warwick, who prevent SIDS. But the evidence is Tokyo Clear 19/11 Clear 19/10 into infant sleeping bags and risk of actually due to wearing the sleep sacks. reviewed the paper. preliminary right now, not defi nitive.” Gulf Times 28 Thursday, November 1, 2018 QATAR HMC opens Sealine Clinic for ninth consecutive year

amad Medical Corpora- Prof Sven Wikstrom tion (HMC) yesterday Hopened its Sealine Medi- International consultants to visit HMC cal Clinic, located in the south- ern part of the country near Me- saieed City. Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) will welcome a number of This is the ninth consecutive visiting consultants from various medical specialties during year that HMC has operated the November and December. clinic, which will begin receiv- Dr Damalcheruvu Reddy, a specialist plastic and reconstructive ing patients at 3pm today and surgeon from India, will visit from November 11 to 15; Prof Sven will remain open every weekend Wikstrom, a specialist plastic surgeon and head of Nordic Ear Clinic until mid-April. at Sophiahemmet Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden (November 18 to 25); Ali al-Khater, chief commu- Dr Faiz Bhora, a thoracic and cardiac surgeon at St Lukes Roosevelt nications offi cer at HMC and Hospital, New York, US (November 18 to 21); Dr Ahmad Nassar, a project manager for the Sea- consultant laparoscopic and upper GI surgeon at University Hospital line Medical Center, said HMC Monklands, Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK (November from 25 to 29) operates the clinic each year to and Dr Foad Nahai, a plastic surgeon at Emory University Hospital, ensure medical care, and specif- Atlanta, Georgia, US (November 29 to December 5). ically emergency medical serv- Dr Hossein Gharib, professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic College ices, are available for residents of Medicine and Consultant, Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition, and during the busy camping season. Metabolism at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, US, will visit from “Today’s opening of the Ha- December 2 to 6; Dr Alexander Lyon, consultant cardiologist and mad Medical Clinic at Sealine clinical lead for Cardio-Oncology Services, Royal Brompton Hospital, signals the beginning of what London, UK (December 2 to 5); and Dr Ali Asghar, a geriatrician will no doubt be another busy at Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Aff airs Medical Center, Houston, camping season. Our annual Texas, US (December 4 to 6). Other experts are scheduled to visit operation of this clinic dem- throughout the year as part of HMC’s focus on hosting highly- onstrates HMC’s commitment respected physicians and surgeons from around the world. Hosting to providing the best possible visiting international consultants who are experts in their field is healthcare to campers in the in line with HMC’s commitment to providing specialised medical Sealine and surrounding ar- services to the people of Qatar. eas,” said al-Khater, who is also Members of the public wishing to book an appointment with one of chair of the Ministry of Public the visiting consultants are advised to discuss this option with their Health’s Healthcare Communi- physician. If the doctor agrees that an appointment with a visiting cations Committee. consultant is appropriate, they will provide a referral. Al-Khater noted that HMC and the Ministry of Municipal- The Ambulance Service is ready to transport emergency cases from the desert to the clinic, or to the helicopter landing area, as required. ity and Environment collaborate each year to establish the clinic. camping areas to facilitate easier will also provide services dur- regular round-the-clock emer- oration between HMC and Qa- He said the location of the clinic access should healthcare serv- ing public holidays, will receive gency coverage in the Sealine tar Tourism Authority, we have provides easy access for both ices be required by residents or patients with minor health area, the Ambulance Service will 11 ambulances stationed in the campers and other visitors and visitors,” said al-Khater. concerns, as well as emergency permanently station two ambu- Sealine area during peak times. effi cient transfer to hospital for Dr Hamid Ghareeb, consult- cases. He noted there is also a lances and two 4x4 emergency On Thursdays, Fridays, and patients with more serious med- ant at HMC’s Medical Admin- helicopter landing area to trans- vehicles in the area. He said the Saturdays, and during holidays, ical conditions. istration Department said the fer patients who have urgent Ambulance Service is ready to there will be six ambulances, “The clinic is located very clinic will operate every week- medical needs or severe injuries transport emergency cases from fi ve 4x4 emergency vehicles close to the seashore, on the end during the camping season, to hospital. Saleh Nasser al- the desert to the clinic or hospi- stationed at the Sealine Medical same site where it has been lo- opening each Thursday at 3pm Mejareh al-Marri, operations tal, or to the helicopter landing Clinic, and our LifeFlight serv- cated for the last four years. The and remaining open until Sat- manager for HMC’s Ambulance area, as required. ice will also be available for more clinic is located close to popular urday 5pm. The clinic, which Service, said in addition to its “As a result of ongoing collab- critical cases,” said al-Marri. Dr Faiz Bhora