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FRIDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10206 September 9, 2016 Dhul-Hijja 7, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Qatar aims to boost QATAR | Offi cial MoI working hours during Eid holidays The Ministry of Interior (MoI) has announced the working hours of quality of its diff erent service departments during the Eid al-Adha holidays, from Sunday (September 11) to Thursday (September 15). During this period, MoI departments such as the General Directorate of Nationality, Borders & Expatriate education Aff airs, General Directorate of Traff ic and Criminal Evidence & Information By Ayman Adly Department will function from 8am Staff Reporter until 12noon. Traff ic Investigation Qatar’s Prime Minister and Interior Minister HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani meeting with Turkish President off ices will work round the clock, Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Kulliye Palace in Ankara yesterday. the MoI has said in an update on its atar is keen to attract more out- online platforms. standing international schools Qto open branches in the coun- try, HE the Minister of Education and QATAR | Diplomacy Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul Muraikhi meets French Wahed Ali al-Hammadi has said. Turkish premier hails “We are determined to boost the envoy for Mideast peace quality of education imparted in Qatar,” Qatar’s Minister of State for he told a press conference yesterday, Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad on the occasion of the upcoming new HE the Minister of Education and al-Muraikhi met yesterday with school year. Higher Education Dr Mohamed Abdul France’s special envoy for the Qatar’s stance, support The ministry will also review the Wahed Ali al-Hammadi at the press Middle East peace initiative Pierre strategies of technical and vocational conference yesterday. Vimont, on the sidelines of the QNA education based on the outcomes of the 146th regular session of the Arab Doha Erdogan meets Qatar Prime Minister school curriculum in the country. various school stages.” League Council in Cairo. During the “Eventually, additional specialised Dr al-Hammadi said that the min- meeting, they discussed relations Turkish President Recep Tayyip Khalifa al-Thani with his greetings to HH schools will be opened according to the istry had worked to improve the qual- between the State of Qatar and urkish Prime Minister Binali Erdogan met with Qatar’s Prime Minister the Emir, wishing him the best of health needs and the external and internal var- ity of school tests through questions the French Republic, as well as Yildirim has underlined the and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh and happiness and for Qatar further iables,” he explained. banks. Two new local independent pri- the developments of the peace Tdepth of the brotherly rela- Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani development and prosperity. To cater to the increasing demand for mary schools were opened this year. The process. tions between Qatar and Turkey, in Kulliye Palace in Ankara yesterday. Talks during the meeting dealt with school education in the country, 2,360 students of three other independent stressing that HH the Emir Sheikh At the outset of the meeting, the Prime bilateral relations between the two new seats have been introduced this schools have been transferred to new Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is deter- Minister conveyed greetings of HH the brotherly countries and means of year in independent schools, run by the school buildings. ARAB WORLD | Confl ict mined to develop these relations. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani enhancing them in various fi elds, in government. Seven new school buildings at vari- Kerry, Lavrov to hold In an interview with Al-Sharq to the Turkish President, wishing him addition to a number of regional and Dr al-Hammadi said there were 191 ous areas around the country have been Syria talks in Geneva newspaper published yesterday, and the brotherly Turkish people further international issues of mutual interest. independent schools, with 100,319 stu- assigned to operate as kindergartens. Yildirim said that the visit paid by HE development and prosperity. HE the Prime Minister left Ankara in the dents and 12,940 teachers for the up- Besides, classes for secondary school US Secretary of State John Kerry the Prime Minister and Minister of For his part, President Erdogan entrusted evening ending a two-day offi cial visit of coming 2016-2017 academic year. The education were introduced in three will meet Russian Foreign Minister Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin the Turkey. Page 3 total number of government kindergar- diff erent preparatory schools and pre- Sergei Lavrov in Geneva today in bin Khalifa al-Thani to Turkey is an tens is 72, with 7,730 pupils and 1,750 paratory classes added to one primary teachers. school. an eff ort to move toward a political essential and important motivator for agreement to end the Syrian civil “The ministry is continuing its eff orts Among the priorities of the minis- the two countries’ relations. the Turkish people will never forget threats, referring to the nearly 3mn war, the US State Department to encourage Qatari investors in opening try this year is to develop a system at He added that Qatar and Turkey this. refugees living in Turkey. said yesterday. “Their discussion new private schools in the country and schools to enhance responsibility and follows recent conversations on enjoy friendly and fraternal relations About the countries that sup- About the Turkish military opera- decrease the load on the currently oper- accountability and raise awareness Syria and will focus on reducing for a long time and they are also stra- ported the coup attempt launched tion in Syria, Yildirim said that the ating schools,” he pointed out. about them, the minister said. violence, expanding humanitarian tegic countries. by Fethullah Gulen organisation, support given by Turkey to the Free Accordingly, 12 new private schools In addition, a system was put in place assistance for the Syrian people, and The prime minister pointed to the Yildirim said that Turkey was looking Syrian Army aims to get rid of the ter- and kindergartens, including some out- to evaluate the managers and licence moving towards a political solution broad joint investments and trade ex- at parties and states that backed the rorist organisations as soon as possi- standing international schools, have owners of independent schools. The needed to end the civil war,” State change as well as the economic rela- coup attempt, and it cannot accuse ble, to return Syrian refugees to their been granted licences to operate from ministry is focused on developing stu- Department spokesman John Kirby tions between the two countries. any party or country without an ob- country and to protect the Turkish this school year, providing 10,380 seats. dents’ skills in practical fi elds, related to said in a written statement. He also stressed that the two jective evidence. border and citizens. “There are a total of 85 kinder- the requirements of the labour market countries had common thoughts on Regarding the steps taken by the He also stressed that Ankara will gartens and 160 schools, offering 23 while adopting an eff ective strategy to regional and international issues, Turkish government after the coup never accept Syria being divided and different curriculums and provid- improve discipline in schools and limit EUROPE | Rescue especially in terms of achieving secu- attempt, Yildirim said that people turned into smaller sectarian state- ing education to 172,247 students at any adverse conduct of students. Page 3 50 remain stuck in rity and stability in the region, adding who were arrested in the fi rst phase lets, pointing out that if so there will cable cars over Alps that Qatar was making a great eff ort participated directly in the coup and be no calm or stability in all coun- in this area and there was a joint eff ort investigation revealed other persons tries of the region, and that every- Strategy for early childhood education Around 50 people were stuck in between Turkey and Qatar to resolve involved in this attempt. one would be aff ected, especially the cable cars high above the glaciers the crisis in Syria as well as the Pales- Fethullah Gulen organisation Muslim world. The Ministry of Education and Higher Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi of Mont Blanc in the French Alps tinian cause. thought that the conditions were ripe Turkey is making contacts and Education is implementing a strategy There is also a training plan to attract and late yesterday after a helicopter In the past year, the two countries for implementing the coup plans and talks with several countries to achieve for the development of early childhood train special education teachers, and staff . rescue operation was suspended signed a strategic partnership, and they have committed a treason and a solution in Syria, Yildirim said. education. Accordingly, Class III will The ministry is supporting the new centres as night fell, off icials said. The cable the fi rst meeting in this regard was will pay the price for this treason. Regarding relations with Egypt, be added to classes I and II at the early for children with disability such as Ru’a cars got stuck at an altitude of held in Doha, Yildirim said, point- Yildirim said that Turkey rules the Turkish prime minister indicated childhood education at 11 diff erent (Visions) Centre for evaluation, consultation 3,800m (12,468ft), initially with 110 government schools on an experimental and support and Al Hidyah kindergarten for ing out that during the Qatari Prime out that the United States will re- that there is no problem between the people on board. “We succeeded basis this year. students with special needs, the latter being Minister’s visit to Turkey the second frain from Gulen’s extradition and Egyptian and Turkish peoples, and in evacuating, in very diff icult “We would also continue to expand the the fi rst facility of its kind. meeting will be held in the framework that the two peoples are willing to conditions, 60 people in an hour his country is continuing its eff orts project of developing the linguistic and The minister also conveyed the best and a half,” the prefect of the Haute- of this partnership to promote bilat- to achieve this through legal process. normalise relations. arithmetic skills of primary schools’ wishes of HE the Prime Minister and Savoie region, Georges-Francois eral relations. On the issue of refugees and rela- He also underlined that his country pupils to raise their performance Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Leclerc said. The problem was The Turkish premier praised Qa- tions with the European Union, he sought to develop its relations with the from class I through class IV,” stressed Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani to all for a caused by cables that got crossed tar’s stance and support for Turkey that Turkey was not a threatening GCC countries, stressing that Turkey’s Education Minister HE Dr Mohamed successful school year. for “unknown reasons”. during the failed coup attempt and state, but takes measures against future is the future of the region. August sees a big increase in new building permits

By Santhosh V Perumal gust, while the additions constituted witnessed 240% increase in August (8%), Umm Slal 43 permits (7%), and Al permits), mosques 15% (six permits) comprised 64 villas and 39 ‘dwellings Business Reporter 38% (237 permits) and fencing permits month-on-month, followed by Rayyan Shamal 17 permits (3%). and other non-residential buildings 8% on housing loans’. 5% (28 permits), said the fi gures re- (127%), Umm Slal (72%), Al Daayen Within the new residential build- (three permits). In the case of Al Wakrah, a total of 71 leased by the Ministry of Development (69%), Al Wakrah (38%), Al Khor (32%) ings permits, MDPS said villas’ permits Of the 312 new residential building new permits were issued for residential atar witnessed 67% increase in Planning and Statistics (MDPS). and Doha (19%). topped the list, accounting for 48% (151 permits issued in the country in August purposes, which included nine for villas building permits issued by vari- The monthly data comes under the According to the geographical distri- permits) of all new residential build- this year, 151 were for villas, followed by and 57 for ‘dwellings on housing loans’. Qous municipalities in August; co-operation between the MDPS and bution, MDPS found that Rayyan mu- ings permits, followed by ‘dwellings of 121 for ‘dwellings of housing loans’, 35 Al Daayen saw a total of 62 new resi- with Al Shamal and Al Rayyan record- the Ministry of Municipality and En- nicipality (including Sheehaniya) came housing loans’ 39% (121 permits) and apartments and fi ve others. dential buildings permits being issued ing the fastest expansion, according to vironment to make use of the existing at the top where the number of building apartments buildings 11% (35 permits). Doha witnessed 30 new residen- in August, of which 34 were for villas, offi cial fi gures. electronic link between the two min- permits issued were 234 or 38% of the Commercial buildings were found to tial building permits issued in August, 15 for apartments and 13 for ‘dwellings The new building permits (residen- istries. total issued permits; while Doha came be in the forefront of non-residential which included 15 permits for apart- on housing loans’. tial and non-residential) constitute Although there had been a gen- in second place with 100 permits (16%), buildings permits with 51% (20 per- ments and 14 for villas. Al Khor saw a total of 18 permits is- 57% (351 permits) of the total building eral rise of 67% in total building per- Al Wakrah 91 permits (15%), Al Daayen mits), followed by industrial buildings Rayyan had seen 106 new residential sued for residential purposes, of which permits issued in the country in Au- mits issued in the country, Al Shamal 81 permits (13%), Al Khor 50 permits as workshops and factories 23% (nine permits being issued in August, which 15 were for villas.

Gulf Times Friday, September 9, 2016 3 QATAR PM meets Turkish premier Schools need approval for fee increase, says offi cial

HE the Prime and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim at the By Ayman Adly on the fi nancial results of the last educational vouchers. A group of Cankaya Palace yesterday. Talks during the meeting dealt with bilateral relations. The two sides also discussed the latest in regional and Staff Reporter three years. 75 private schools are still part of international developments. Earlier Sheikh Abdullah met Turkey’s Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu. The minister later left Turkey. “While parents complain of the coupon system. high and rising fees in private HE Dr al-Hammadi attributed hile seeking permis- schools, the operators of the in- the low success rate (about 58%, sion for a fee hike, stitutions maintain that they which was 10% less than the Greetings sent Wprivate schools base need to cover their high opera- previous year) of independent their claim on operational tional costs, including salaries, schools at the general secondary to president losses and the improvements rents and other expenses,” HE schools to the improvement of of Macedonia introduced to their services, a the Minister of Education and the examination and assessment senior government official said Higher Education, Dr Mohamed system to refl ect the real skills of Qatar gears for yesterday. Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi students. HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Ghali, director of said. Regarding the preparations for Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy the Private Schools Offi ce at the “Accordingly, we strive to the new school year at independ- Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Ministry of Education and High- reach a balance while protecting ent schools, Omar al-Shahwani, al-Thani and HE the Prime er Education, explained that the interests of both parties,” he director of the Joint Services De- Minister and Interior Minister these requests, accompanied said. partment at the Ministry of Edu- Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser wholesome Eid with fi nancial audit reports veri- Regarding the exclusion of 12 cation and Higher Education, bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday fi ed by a specialised entity, are private schools from the educa- said that 2,036 highly equipped sent cables of congratulations verifi ed through a special com- tional voucher system, the Min- buses of diff erent sizes are ready to President of the Republic of mittee. ister said these institutions failed to provide transportation for Macedonia Dr Gjorge Ivanov on He was speaking a press con- to get the necessary academic students. the anniversary of his country’s entertainment ference at the headquarters of the accreditation even after a grace Contracts have been made Independence Day. Ministry, on the occasion of the period of two years. with 17 suppliers for school can- new school year, which begins on The schools concerned can- teens to provide quality meals. A Al-Kuwari arrives By Joey Aguilar is organising a four-day Eid for a cause, among others. September 18. not admit students, according supervisor has been appointed Staff Reporter festival to entertain its visitors Organisers said Filipinos, as Any rise in private schools fees to this system, from the upcom- for these canteens to ensure the in Kampala from September 12 to 15, which well as other expatriates in Qa- should be pre-approved by the ing academic year (2016/2017), quality of the food items, in co- will take place at the esplanade. tar, are welcome to attend the Private Schools Offi ce after stud- while already enrolled students operation with all the other gov- reparations are under- It will feature a fi reworks festival. ying the real need for this based will continue to benefi t from the ernment entities concerned. The Adviser at the Emiri Diwan way for Eid al-Adha display every night, and Sin- The Pearl-Qatar is also set and Qatar’s candidate to the Pcelebrations at various bad, the fi ctional sailor and to welcome Eid visitors from post of the Director-General of locations in Qatar, aimed at hero of One Thousand and One 6pm to 10pm with a rich enter- the United Nations Educational, providing an array of whole- Nights. tainment programme for three Scientific and Cultural some entertainment and cul- The Museum of Islamic Art days at the 1 La Croisette’s in- Organisation (Unesco), HE Dr tural shows, as well as fun- (MIA) invites ‘treasure hunters’ door shopping arcade in Porto Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, fi lled activities, for residents for an exciting activity starting Arabia. arrived in the Ugandan capital and visitors. at noon on September 14. Multi-cultural perform- Kampala yesterday within the In co-ordination with the Since slots are limited, the ances such as Qatari traditional framework of his current African Hamad International Air- museum requires participants dance will be staged at the Dahl tour. During the two-day visit, al- port, Qatar Tourism Author- to register in advance by e- Al Hamam Park for three days. Kuwari will meet with a number ity (QTA) will welcome visitors mailing rsvptreasurehunt@ Sports competitions and of senior Ugandan off icials. from September 12 with ‘Eidi- qm.org.qa activities such as row boating, Earlier he visited Kenya yas (Eid gifts)’ and information A QR50 fee will be charged tennis, football, basketball, His tour, which includes a number pamphlets about the Eid festi- per group (of fi ve) with at least volleyball, wireless car racing of African countries, comes as val, themed as ‘Capture Joy.’ one adult and one child over and biking will be held at As- part of his campaign held under Major malls are all set to host the age of fi ve. pire Zone from 3pm to 9pm. the theme “Towards a New Start family entertainment shows Winners will receive prizes. Entry fee cost between QR5 for Unesco.” from 4pm to 10pm daily such For those who want to sa- and QR35. In Kenya, Dr al-Kuwari met a as African Drummers, Circus vour a wide range of Filipino Other Eid activities in Qa- number of dignitaries, including Bear and Clown, and Funny dishes and buy authentic tar include horse riding at Al Secretary for Foreign Aff airs Ball performances who will be Filipino-made products, the Samriya Equestrian Academy Amina Mohamed, Minister of moving from one mall to an- three-day ‘Kulinarya Qatar from 9am to 6pm, celebra- Foreign Aff airs and Co-operation other. 2016’ at Westin Doha Hotel tions at Souq Waqif from 4pm of Rwanda, Louise Mushikiwabo A number of performers, and Spa will be the right place to 10.30pm, aerial paraglid- and former president of Tanzania, including the Fritters, B-Boys to visit. ing tours at sea line beach HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education, Dr Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi and other Jakaya Kikwete. and the Shopkins, will roam The event, an initiative of from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, cel- off icials at the press conference yesterday. around these malls for the in- the Philippine embassy in Doha ebrations at Al Dosari Zoo and door parades to entertain fami- and organised by the United Game Reserve from 3pm to Qatar-Russia lies and children. Filipino Entrepreneurs in Qa- 7pm, tours at Sheikh Faisal bin ties reviewed In addition, exclusive live tar, will also feature numerous Qasim Al Thani Museum from entertainment shows will be activities and competitions 9am to 6pm, and celebra- staged at every mall for seven such as cooking, fruit-carving, tions at Aqua Park from 2pm Exchange programme HE the Minister of Culture and days. Zumba party, and photoshoot to 8pm. Sports Salah bin Ghanim bin These include Sinbad (in Nasser al-Ali yesterday met Arabic) at Hyatt Plaza, Tarzan MoI to hold community events with Russian ambassador Noor at City Center Doha, Beauty & for Galaxy Note7 owners Mohammad Julov. Talks dealt The Beast at Dar Al Salam, Fly- The Public Relations Depart- The events will take place at with Qatar-Russia Year of Culture ing Super Kids at Al Khor Mall, ment at the Ministry of Interior Al Wakrah Sports Club on Sep- 2018 as well as cultural and Alvin and the Chipmunks at (MoI) has announced the line- tember 12 and at Asian Town amsung Gulf Electronics is an absolute priority, Samsung on the Samsung Gulf Electron- sports relations. Ezdan Mall, and Pirates from up of events for the “Commu- – near the cricket stadium has announced the avail- has stopped sales of the Galaxy ics offi cial website at www.sam- the Caribbean at Lagoona Mall. nities Eid al-Adha Celebrations (Doha Industrial Area) and Sability of its exchange Note7. sung.com/ae The Qatar National Con- 2016.” Barwa Workers’ Sports Com- programme for Galaxy Note7 For customers who have the Galaxy Note7 owners are ad- vention Centre also joins the The events will be held on the plex (Al Khor Industrial Area) owners in Qatar. This is in re- Galaxy Note7 device, Samsung in vised to call Samsung Customer festive season as it prepares first and second days of Eid al- on both September 12 and 13, sponse to the recent announce- Qatar will voluntarily exchange Service on 800-2255 for any to host the new Baraem musi- Adha – September 12 (Monday) according to the MoI notice, ment regarding isolated battery their current device to a new questions or concerns. Discussion cal ‘Fafa Saves the Forest’ live and 13 (Tuesday), the ministry which has been issued in a cell issue of the Galaxy Note7 Galaxy Note7 over the coming “Samsung is taking a proactive show at its main theatre. has said, inviting the public to number of languages for the device. weeks until December 31 at Sam- approach to address customer Tickets start from QR150. attend the celebrations at a benefit of diff erent expatriate While there have been only a sung brand shops in Al Nasser or needs around the Galaxy Note7,” on amnesty Katara - the Cultural Village number of locations in Qatar. groups. small number of reported inci- Al Watan in Doha. said Ismail Yoon, president of Cultural and traditional shows The programmes, for which dents, Samsung is taking great Until the new Galaxy Note7 Samsung Gulf Electronics. “We he Ministry of Interior Embassy holiday will be staged as part of the entry is free, will be staged care to provide customers with stock arrives, a loan device will are encouraging customers to (MoI) has launched a dis- festivities, featuring perform- from 5pm to 10pm. the support they need through be provided as an option. More replace their Galaxy Note7 by Tcussion forum on its web- The Indian embassy will ances by Indian, Nepalese, There will be separate areas the Galaxy Note7 exchange pro- updates on the Galaxy Note7 ex- taking advantage of our Product site on the amnesty scheme for remain closed on Monday on Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan and for families and gifts will be gramme. Since customer safety change programme are available Replacement Programme.” illegal residents. the occasion of Eid al-Adha, it Indonesian community teams distributed among the public A three-month grace period was announced yesterday. and orchestra. through a raff le draw. was announced last month and came into eff ect on September 1. It will continue until Decem- ber 1. Temporary closure of street in two phases Under the amnesty scheme, Minister meets university chief foreigners residing in the country temporary closure will be in violation of the provisions of in place on the Mohamed Law No 4 of 2009 Regulating the ABin Thani Street in both Entry, Exit, Residence and Spon- directions to and from the Civil sorship of Expatriates can exit Defence Intersection. the country without legal conse- It is being implemented in two quences. phases. Now, the ministry has invited The closure was to have taken comments and opinions from the place last week but was post- public on the issue. A related poll poned until the completion of on the MoI website asks people another part of the project. if they think the amnesty period In the fi rst phase, the street will help reduce absconding cases will be closed in the direction and related violations. from the Civil Defence Intersec- In a statement, the MoI tion to the Medical City Intersec- stressed that abiding by laws was tion until tomorrow morning. key to spreading safety and se- Subsequently, it will be closed curity in the country. Violations The Minister for Administrative Development and Labour and Social Aff airs, HE Dr Issa Saad in the direction from the Medical lead to social and security-relat- al-Jafali al-Nuaimi yesterday met with US Seattle Pacific University’s President Daniel J Martin, City Intersection to the Civil De- ed problems, which may result in and his accompanying delegation. Talks during the meeting dealt with aspects of co-operation fence Intersection until Monday crimes that have a negative im- and co-ordination between the Ministry and the Seattle Pacific University in the fields of train- morning. pact on society. This also applies ing and scholarship. The temporary closure is Roundabout into a signalised in- The project aims to enhance to Law No 4 of 2009. to convert the Civil Defence tersection. the traffi c fl ow in the area. Gulf Times 4 Friday, September 9, 2016 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Syrian regime forces regain south Aleppo

Reuters Beirut

yria’s army and its allies have re- gained an important Aleppo district Slost to rebels last month, state media and a war monitor said yesterday, and were pressing an off ensive south of the city to further squeeze the insurgents. If sustained, the advance in Ramousah would reverse nearly all gains rebels made in a push last month, tighten a blockade over rebel-held eastern Aleppo and ease access for the army into government-held western districts through the city’s south. A second line of attack, aimed at villages south of Aleppo and supported by what a pro-government fi ghter called “dusk to dawn” bombardment, is intended to isolate Telat al-Eis, a hill captured by rebels in May that commands fi re over the region. However, a rebel source said insurgents still held part of Ramousah and that though the army was mobilising forces, the Jaish al-Fatah coalition of Islamist groups was still present at the southern Aleppo front. The battle for Aleppo has become the focus both for President Bashar al-Assad, backed by Shia militias from Iraq and Leb- anon, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, and Russian air power, and for the Sunni rebels seeking to overthrow him. In early August the rebel advance into southern Aleppo gave them control over the residential district of Ramousah, a complex of military colleges immediately to its west and the 1070 Apartment Blocks district west of that. It opened a corridor into the rebel-held parts of Aleppo that are home to at least 250,000 people and had been under siege for weeks, while forcing the government to access its own areas in the city by a longer, more precarious route. As international concern has mounted, the United Nations has renewed a call for weekly 48-hour humanitarian ceasefi res to allow aid into the city, but eff orts by Russia and the United States to agree terms for a truce are dragging. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry yes- terday discussed by phone potential coop- eration to facilitate aid deliveries. Pilgrims touch the golden doors of the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. Syria’s fi ve-year war has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced 11mn, half of Syria’s pre-war population, while drawing in world and regional powers, inspiring mil- itant attacks across the world and sparking an international refugee crisis. However, the army and its allies yester- day “managed to restore control over all of Ramousah district”, the Syrian Observatory Pilgrims throng Makkah for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitor of the war that has a network of contacts across the country, reported. AFP starts tomorrow, white-clad pilgrims take their prayer, the shops are shuttered and the faithful to data from foreign offi cials, close to 2,300 pil- Pro-government Al Mayadeen television Makkah turn circling the Kaaba in a procession that con- line up to worship. grims died during the Haj stoning ritual last year. showed its reporter speaking from Ram- tinues 24 hours a day. Outside at all the Grand Mosque’s entrances, The stampede and security had been on the ousah, standing near piles of rubble, shell- Pilgrims who cannot walk are pushed police control the movement of pilgrims be- mind of a pilgrim from Ivory Coast, who gave pocked walls and twisted metal. lose to 1.5mn Muslims from around the around the mosque in wheelchairs by work- tween green plastic barriers. her name only as Mrs Coulibaly, 49. “Units of our armed forces in co-op- world yesterday descended on Saudi ers. Step out of line, and a policeman calls through “But since arriving at the airport we have been eration with allied forces control the gas CArabia for the annual Haj pilgrimage. Regularly-spaced taps provide thirsty pil- a megaphone to order them back into place. taken charge of and well supervised. So I feel at works, the tannery, the slaughterhouse, the As temperatures exceeded 40C (105F), pil- grims with spring water, and visitors can eat At prayer time, access to the Kaaba is sus- ease and totally dedicated to my prayers,” she said. post offi ce and the military checkpoint area grims crowded into Makkah’s sprawling, air- under large fast food signs at a commercial cen- pended and the walk around it is stopped to For the fi rst time in almost three decades, of Ramousah in Aleppo,” a Syrian military conditioned Grand Mosque complex to walk tre inside the complex, where they are also able avoid overcrowding. Iranians will not join the pilgrimage after talks source had said earlier. around the Kaaba. to shop. It is one of several safety measures authori- between Tehran and Riyadh on logistics and se- Parts of the 1,070 district and a school re- In one of the fi rst rites of Haj, which formally But as soon as loudspeakers sound the call to ties say they have implemented after, according curity fell apart in May. main in rebel hands, the Observatory said. Abbas denies he was Soviet agent

AFP Palestinian court Jerusalem suspends local elections A Palestinian court yesterday sraeli researchers say they have suspended municipal elections set uncovered a document showing for October 8 following disputes IPalestinian President Mahmoud between the rival Fatah and Hamas Abbas was a Soviet agent in the movements over candidate lists, 1980s, but his offi ce called it a smear jeopardising the first vote since campaign and pointed to suspicious 2006 to involve both parties. timing. “The court decided in a meeting The claim fi rst emerged in a re- today to stop the elections planned port by Israeli public television on for October 8,” Hisham al-Hatoo, Wednesday night citing two re- head of the Palestinian high court in searchers studying documents from the Fatah-led West Bank, explained. the so-called Mitrokhin papers The Fatah website said a second stored in Britain at Cambridge Uni- hearing would be held on Decem- versity’s Churchill Archives Centre. ber 21, though it was not immedi- The researchers, Gideon Remez Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ... storm in a teacup. ately clear whether the elections and Isabella Ginor of the Truman could then be rescheduled. Institute at Jerusalem’s Hebrew Abbas was born in what was then tory said the claim regarding Abbas Islamist movement Hamas, University, said he was named as a British mandate Palestine, but his was plausible. which runs the Gaza Strip, boycott- KGB agent in Damascus in 1983 un- family fl ed to Syria during the 1948 “There were numerous contacts ed the last Palestinian municipal der the codename “Mole”. war surrounding the creation of Is- in the Middle East with the former elections in 2012, but it was due to Remez said Abbas was not simply rael. Soviet Union,” said Yaacov Roi of the participate this year. labelled a “source or collaborator.” In 1980, Abbas was selected to sit University of Tel Aviv. A Hamas spokesman said it “It says explicitly regarding Ab- on the Palestine Liberation Organi- “It is very plausible that the Sovi- rejected the decision. bas that he was a KGB agent,” said sation executive committee. ets would have tried to use Abu Ma- “This is a political decision,” Remez. He had been in Moscow in 1982, zen (Abbas) at the KGB while he was Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri Abbas spokesman Nabil Abu Ru- where he studied for his doctorate, a student.” said. deineh told AFP it “falls under the according to his online biography. The report comes as Russian The court issued yesterday’s framework of Israeli absurdities The Mitrokhin Archive, where President Vladimir Putin seeks to ruling in response to a challenge by which we have got used to,” calling it the document was said to have been organise a face-to-face meeting be- a lawyer, Nael al-Houh. a “smear campaign.” found, is based on fi les of the Soviet tween Abbas and Israeli Prime Min- Houh said his appeal was based He also alleged it was an attempt spy agency KGB that were smuggled ister Benjamin Netanyahu. on the fact that the elections were to derail a Russian peace initiative. to Britain. Putin’s Middle East envoy Mikhail not being held in Jerusalem and “It is clear Israel is troubled by the Major Vasili Mitrokhin was a sen- Bogdanov met with both Netanyahu over concerns related to polling in (Palestinians’) strategic relationship ior archivist in the KGB’s foreign and Palestinian offi cials this week. the Gaza Strip. with Russia and by the clear and an- intelligence archive from 1972 until He also reportedly met Abbas in Jor- In Gaza, a court run by Hamas nounced Russian position, which is his retirement in 1984, and, disil- dan three weeks ago. cancelled lists of Fatah candidates to solve the Palestinian-Israeli con- lusioned with domestic Soviet op- The television report recalled that in a number of municipalities for fl ict on the basis on an independent pression, secretly copied informa- Bogdanov was stationed in Damas- “violating the election law”, ac- Palestinian state and the right of tion by hand, before defecting to cus in 1983. His offi cial CV online cording to a judicial source and a self-determination for our people,” Britain with it in 1992. shows that he was in Syria between spokesman for Fatah. Abu Rudeineh said. An Israeli specialist in Soviet his- 1983 and 1989. Gulf Times Friday, September 9, 2016 5 AFRICA

Kenyan journalists hold rally AU mediation mission after two colleagues to Gabon is postponed are killed Reuters tice because its head, Chad’s where the participation rate Libreville President Idriss Deby, was was more than double that of “tired” after attending a sum- other regions and showed that AFP mit in China. 95.46% of voters backed Bongo. Nairobi abon’s political crisis There was no immediate The European Union has said deepened yesterday af- comment from Chad or the Af- it found anomalies in the results Gter the postponement of rican Union. from Haut-Ogooue. enyan journalists angered a planned mission by the Afri- Some analysts have ques- As well as its military base, by the suspicious deaths can Union (AU) to mediate be- tioned whether Deby, one of Af- France has about 14,000 na- Kof two colleagues within a tween two opposing candidates rica’s “big men” in power since tionals based in Gabon and, fortnight turned out to protest in who both claim to have won last 1990, will push for a recount. through its oil giant Total, a several cities including Nairobi month’s presidential election. Bongo, whose family has large stake in the country’s oil yesterday, saying that they faced Election results announced ruled Gabon for nearly a half sector, which produces 200,000 an increasingly hostile environ- last week showed incumbent century, is under increasing in- barrels per day. ment. Ali Bongo beating his main rival, ternational pressure to allow a But Paris has ruled out inter- Waving placards read- Jean Ping, by fewer than 6,000 recount, though he has said that vening in Gabon’s post-elector- ing “JournalistsUnderSiege” votes in the oil-producing West is a matter for the courts. al crisis as it has done before in and “Reporters deserve to re- African nation, sparking days of France, the former colonial its former colonies, saying that turn safely to their loved ones”, riots in which at least six people power which has a military base it is up to Africans to resolve it. around 100 people rallied in were killed. and substantial business inter- Critics of Bongo, who won a downtown Nairobi while smaller Ping, a veteran diplomat, has ests in Gabon, has urged a re- disputed election in 2009 after groups protested in western Ki- contested the results, though count. the death of his long-ruling fa- tale, Eldoret and southwestern it was not immediately clear “France considers that a ther Omar Bongo, say he has not Nakuru. yesterday evening whether he transparent, impartial exami- done enough to redistribute oil The demonstrations came had fi led a formal request to the nation of the results of the pres- wealth beyond a small elite. a day after Kitale-based free- constitutional court for an offi - idential election is a condition Ping, a life-long political in- lance photojournalist Dennis cial vote recount by a 1500 GMT for ending the crisis as it’s the sider and former African Union Otieno was shot dead by three deadline. only way to establish the sincer- Commission chairman, was a men armed with Kalashnikovs in Ping has previously said he ity of the result incontestably,” close ally of president Omar what colleagues said was a kill- doubted the court’s neutrality. French foreign ministry spokes- Bongo but fell out with his son ing linked to his job. Gabon’s Foreign Minister man Romain Nadal said. and resigned from the PDG in “Journalists will not relent Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet said International criticism of the 2014. until justice is done for the de- the AU mission, scheduled to election has focused on the re- He has fathered two children parted colleague,” Simon Ngure, arrive in Libreville today, had sults from Bongo’s stronghold, with Ali Bongo’s sister Pasca- This photo taken on Wednesday outside the opposition headquarters in Libreville shows a makeshift a journalist with Royal Media been postponed till further no- the province of Haut-Ogooue, line. memorial for victims of post-presidential election violence. Services said in Kitale. Last week a journalist with the Standard Media Group, John Oakbay ‘implores’ banks to reopen its accounts Masha, collapsed and died in what his family and colleagues Oakbay Investments said yesterday that it will again try to restore its re- said was due to poisoning. Gordhan says his fate is in Zuma’s hands lationships with South African banks which ostracised it after allegations “We are tired of being har- of undue political influence by its owners, the Gupta family. assed and intimidated in the Oakbay’s announcement comes weeks after its owners said they course of our work,” said a pro- Reuters ticipant at a book festival which With the economy forecast by planned to sell all of their stake in the local business before the end of tester in Nairobi. “Journalism is Cape Town he visited in Cape Town. the central bank to record zero the year. becoming too dangerous a pro- “You can arrest me now if growth this year, the political “We intend to reach out in the coming weeks, again, to the four banks, fession.” you want, but what have I done tensions surrounding Gordhan and implore them to reopen our account,” chief executive Nazeem Howa The secretary general of the outh African Finance Min- wrong? I am not required by law have unnerved investors and hit said after releasing annual results. Kenya Union of Journalists, Eric ister Pravin Gordhan, who to go there. All the questions the rand and government bonds. The Indian-born Gupta brothers, whose businesses stretch from media Oduor, has linked Masha’s kill- Sis facing an investigation have been asked and answered,” At yesterday’s event, Gordhan to mining, are friends of South African President Jacob Zuma. ing to earlier complaints by a lo- by police that the opposition has he said. also said that a judicial inquiry They have denied using this friendship to influence his decision-making, cal politician over a story by the called a “witch-hunt”, said yes- Gordhan said that he had told into the banking sector was un- including cabinet appointments, or advance their business, saying they reporter. terday that whether he remained the Hawks of his willingness to necessary, adding that anyone are pawns in a plot to oust Zuma. “The suspicious death of in offi ce was up to President co-operate but the police were who felt aggrieved could ap- Zuma has confirmed that the Guptas are his friends, but has denied al- Standard journalist John Masha Jacob Zuma. yet to contact him. proach the courts. legations that they wield undue political power. is a culmination of the increas- Police are investigating Gord- Zuma has said he backs Gord- Mineral Resources Minis- The president set up a three-minister committee to patch up relations ingly hostile environment jour- han over the activities of a sur- han but cannot stop the investi- ter Mosebenzi Zwane last week between Oakbay and the four banks – FirstRand, Barclays Africa, Ned- nalists in Kenya are working in,” veillance unit set up years ago gation. urged Zuma to launch the probe, bank and Standard Bank – but this has made little headway. said Victor Bwire, deputy head when he headed the tax service, Some senior members in the to fi nd out why the top four ma- The banks have not given reasons for closing the company’s bank ac- of Kenya’s Media Council. “The an investigation that has rocked ruling African National Con- jor banks had cut ties with Oak- counts between December and April, citing client confidentiality. attacks against and the harass- markets and raised concerns gress (ANC) party have criti- bay Investments, a company Lenders have consistently declined to comment, but FirstRand chief ment of journalists call for ur- over a possible sovereign credit cised the fi nance minister for not owned by the wealthy Gupta executive Johan Burger said yesterday that his bank had nothing to hide gent attention.” downgrade this year. Gordhan: You can arrest me obeying the police summons. family. after Mines Minister Mosebenzi Zwane said last week that the inter- He said that a number of jour- Gordhan, who last month de- now if you want, but what have I In December, Zuma sacked The Indian-born Gupta ministerial team had asked Zuma to launch a judicial probe into why the nalists had faced serious harass- clined to obey a police summons done wrong? Nhlanhla Nene as fi nance min- brothers, whose businesses banks cut their ties with Oakbay. ment from national and local linked to the inquiry into wheth- ister and replaced him with then stretch from media to mining, “Cabinet said there is no such thing. And why would we be concerned? government offi cials as well as er he used a unit of the tax serv- in one week, sending the rand relatively unknown lawmaker had complained to the govern- We have nothing to hide,” Burger said. from political activists, business ice to spy on politicians includ- plummeting. Des van Rooyen, sparking a wave ment when their accounts were Zwane was castigated last week by opposition parties for saying that people and organised crime syn- ing Zuma, said he had complied Gordhan said cabinet ap- of fi nancial turmoil. closed in April. cabinet was behind the team’s proposal to urge Zuma to set up the dicates. with the probe by the elite police pointments were made by Zuma. In a dramatic U-turn, Zuma They have been accused by inquiry. “The most worrying thing is unit Hawks. “If required to deliver the replaced Van Rooyen with Gord- the opposition of holding undue Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan, part of the inter-ministerial team, also that there has never been a con- Investors have become wary budget in February, I will be han who had previously held the sway over Zuma. distanced himself from Zwane’s comments yesterday, saying that a viction of a person involved in since last December when Zuma willing to do that,” he said in re- post from 2009 to 2014, when he The Guptas and Zuma have judicial inquiry into the banking sector was not necessary. harassing journalists in Kenya, changed fi nance ministers twice sponse to a question from a par- was replaced with Nene. denied the accusations. even in obvious cases.” Kenya, which has a history of political assassinations, is ranked 95th out of 180 na- tions for press freedom by press watchdog Reporters Without Iron bridge collapse halts Ivory Coast-Burkina rail traffi c Borders.

AFP transport) between Abidjan and made up of two locomotives and Abidjan Ouagadougou,” Noel Kouadio, 20 wagons, was carrying more One dead in light head of security at operator Si- than 1,000 tonnes of goods. aircraft crash tarail, told AFP at the scene. It remains stranded on the ail traffi c between Ivory Sitarail said “signifi cant re- bridge. A Polish national was killed and Coast and Burkina Faso sources” were being poured into Local residents reacted angrily five other people, including the Rhas been halted for at least repairing the line and ensuring a to the collapse, saying that the pilot, were injured when a light two weeks after a bridge col- resumption of rail traffi c, which entire bridge, which also had pe- aircraft they were flying in on a lapsed on the line linking the two would take “at least a fortnight”. destrian access, was badly rusted tour over Lake Naivasha crashed countries, the operator has said. It said it was “looking into and in need of repair. yesterday, police said. The 250m iron bridge, built temporary rail solutions in order “The whole economy is para- The light aeroplane was flying in 1910 across the Nzi river, col- that (the collapse) would not pe- lysed. Today is market day but across the lake, some 104km (65 lapsed dramatically on Tuesday nalise the considerable volume of everything is blocked,” Abu miles) northwest of the capital as a freight train was crossing. traffi c which is important to the Kone, 52, a local trader told AFP Nairobi, when the accident Nobody was hurt during the economies of both countries”. on Wednesday. occurred at around midday. incident, which took place near Sitarail, the International With the bridge out of action, Civil aviation authority Dimbokro, a town in central Ivo- Company for African Rail Trans- residents were using boats to investigators were trying to ry Coast some 250km (150 miles) port, is a subsidiary of French in- cross the river. establish the causes of the crash. north of Abidjan. dustrial giant Bollore, which runs The railway is the main means Apart from the dead person, “We have a single track and the line between Ivory Coast’s of access to the Atlantic coast for who was a woman, the other this accident means we cannot capital Abidjan and Ouaga- Burkina Faso and the cheapest occupants were the Kenyan pilot The partially collapsed railroad bridge connecting Burkina Faso to Ivory Coast is seen in Dimbokro, continue rail operations. There dougou, capital of Burkina Faso. way for Ivorian fi rms to export and four passengers from Britain. Ivory Coast. will be a total stoppage (of rail The freight train, which was goods. President urges Nigerians to change for a better future

AFP the oil-rich Niger delta lay down scams originating from Nigeria our country for so long,” he told buses and fair prices in markets, commitment to restoring order Abuja their arms, rubbish is thrown in that have snared victims around delegates. “You must fi rst ask, while tardy civil servants were and accountability. bins, not the street, and workers the world. how far have I changed my ways? made to do star jumps if ever they The straight-laced president are on time. The “re-orientation cam- What have I done to be part of the arrived late for work. has criticised Nigerians before resident Muhammadu Bu- “I won’t sell my body for paign” conjures up images of so- change?” More than 30 years on, the is- for being “unruly” and urged hari has set out his vision marks,” a student is quoted as cial engineering and Big Broth- The campaign, set to an in- sues are the same: police and people to reform their “lawless Pfor a better Nigeria, imag- saying in a promotional video er-style state control but Buhari fectious jingle with the lyrics public sector workers still solicit habits” while embarking on a ining an incorruptible paradise to launch the initiative before a maintained it was fi rst and fore- “change begins with me”, ap- bribes, while stopping at traffi c wide-ranging corruption crack- where drivers don’t run red lights gathering of high-profi le politi- most about a change in “mind- pears to be a gentler revamp of lights remains more of a sugges- down. and internet scams are a thing of cians in the presidential villa in set”. the “war on indiscipline” Buhari tion than the law. “Every one of us must have the past. Abuja. “We must resist the temp- introduced as military ruler in Buhari was voted into power in a change from our old ways of In Buhari’s Nigeria, police of- “I no go do yahoo yahoo or 419 tation to fall back on the same the 1980s. 2015 on an anti-corruption plat- doing things,” Buhari said. “We Buhari: Every one of us must fi cers turn down bribes from rich again,” says another in pidgin partisanship, pettiness and im- Then, soldiers in his regime form and Nigerians have largely cannot fold our arms and allow have a change from our old men driving SUVs, militants in English, referring to the online maturity that have poisoned enforced orderly queues for praised the retired general for his things to continue the old way.” ways of doing things. Gulf Times 6 Friday, September 9, 2016 AMERICAS

Libertarian Party candidate asks: ‘What is Aleppo?’ Libertarian Party presidential can- didate Gary Johnson framed an em- barrassing lapse on foreign aff airs as simple human error yesterday after he responded to a question about a flashpoint in the Syrian civil war by asking: “What is Aleppo?” Putin a better leader The gaff e came during an MSNBC interview about the continuing battle for Syria’s biggest city, Aleppo, which has been divided for years into government and rebel sectors and has been in the news daily in recent weeks. “What would you do, if you were than Obama: Trump elected, about Aleppo,” Johnson was asked. Reuters feat Islamic State militants could “About Aleppo. And what is Aleppo?” Johnson: I guess people will New York raise eyebrows among foreign he responded. have to make that judgement. policy experts who feel Moscow “You’re kidding?” the MSNBC inter- is interfering with eff orts to stem viewer said. onald Trump has declared the Syrian civil war. “No,” Johnson said. that Russia’s Vladimir “If he says great things about “Aleppo is in Syria ... it’s the epicentre of the refugee crisis,” the inter- DPutin had been a better me, I’m going to say great things viewer said. leader than US President Barack about him,” Trump said of the “OK, got it. Got it,” Johnson said. Obama, as the Republican presi- Russian president. “Certainly in The embarrassing exchange followed a forum on Wednesday night in dential nominee used a televised that system, he’s been a leader, which Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton and Republican rival Donald forum to argue that he was best far more than our president has Trump sought to showcase their national security and defence creden- equipped to reassert America’s been.” tials. global leadership. Trump had called Obama “the Johnson, a former Republican governor of New Mexico, has been trying Trump suggested at the event founder of ISIS”, an acronym for to turn the two major candidates’ low approval ratings to his advantage in in which he and Democratic rival Islamic State, in stump speeches the race to win the November 8 election. Hillary Clinton made back-to- several weeks ago. However, he has just 8.6% support in the current average of opinion polls back appearances that US gener- The statement drew broad by website RealClearPolitics in a matchup with Clinton, Trump, and Green als had been stymied by the poli- criticism, prompting him to take Party candidate Jill Stein. cies of Obama and Clinton, who a more disciplined approach to While the Libertarian Party has long rejected US military intervention served as the Democratic presi- campaigning. abroad, the candidate’s failure to recognise one of the most troubled dent’s fi rst secretary of state. He has since picked up ground spots in the Middle East drew ridicule and prompted speculation that his “I think under the leadership of on Clinton in national opinion campaign was essentially over. Barack Obama and Hillary Clin- polls. Clinton, asked at a news conference about Johnson’s remarks, laughed ton the generals have been re- Trump also fl irted with reveal- and quipped, “You can look on the map and find Aleppo.” duced to rubble. They have been ing what he had been learning in In a statement after the MSNBC interview, Johnson said the mistake reduced to a point that’s embar- classifi ed intelligence briefi ngs showed he was human and explained that, when asked about Aleppo, he rassing for our country,” Trump given to him by US offi cials be- Trump speaking during the Commander in Chief Forum in Manhattan on Wednesday. was thinking of an acronym and not the Syrian war. said at NBC’s “Commander-in- cause he is the Republican nomi- “Can I name every city in Syria? No. Should I have identified Aleppo? Yes. Chief” forum in New York at- nee. qualifi ed to serve as president. in-chief, Trump said: “One hun- he would avoid lengthy confl icts Do I understand its significance? Yes,” he said. tended by military veterans. “There was one thing that She said she had “an absolute dred per cent.” in the Middle East. In the 2012 presidential election, Johnson set a record for most votes won It was the fi rst time Trump and shocked me,” Trump said. “What rock steadiness” to be able to Trump quickly abandoned On the US intervention in by a Libertarian candidate – about 1% of the popular vote – and was aim- Clinton had squared off on the I did learn is that our leadership, make tough decisions, a not so Lauer’s entreaties to avoid at- Libya in 2011, Clinton rejected ing to attract disaff ected Republicans and Democrats to sustain steady same stage since accepting their Barack Obama, did not follow subtle dig at Trump, who Demo- tacking his opponent and focus Trump’s criticism of her support growth in the party. parties’ presidential nomina- what our experts ... said to do, crats say is temperamentally un- on what he would do if elected for the eff ort as secretary of state. The Libertarian agenda promotes civil liberties and a small-government tions in July for the November 8 and I was very, very surprised. fi t for the White House. president in November. “Permitting there to be an on- agenda. election. Our leaders were not following Moderator Matt Lauer dog- “She’s been there for 30 years,” going civil war in Libya would be Johnson has pledged to cut spending, stick to conservative fiscal policies Clinton was grilled over her what they recommended.” gedly pressed her about her han- Trump said. “We need change, as threatening and as dangerous and legalise marijuana. handling of classifi ed informa- Earlier on Wednesday, Trump dling of e-mails from a private and we need it fast.” as what we are seeing in Syria,” Appearing on ABC’s talk show The View later, Johnson reacted mildly to tion while using a private e-mail pledged to launch a new US mili- server while secretary of state The event brought together the she said. suggestions the gaff e would kill his campaign. server during her tenure at the tary build-up, saying that Amer- from 2009 to 2013. meticulously prepared Clinton, Trump said Clinton’s handling “I guess people will have to make that judgement,” he said. State Department. ica was under threat like never The issue has raised questions 68, the wife of former president of Libya proved disastrous. Federal Bureau of Investiga- before from enemies like Islam- about whether she can be trusted Bill Clinton, and Trump, 70, a Republicans have made much tion director James Comey had ist extremists, North Korea and to serve as president. New York businessman whose of the fact that the US ambas- declared that she was “extremely China. Clinton said none of the e- brash, freewheeling style has al- sador to Libya, Chris Stevens, careless” in her handling of sen- The event off ered a prelude to mails she sent or received were lowed him to dominate the head- was killed in an Islamist attack in sitive material but did not rec- how Clinton and Trump will deal marked top secret, secret or clas- lines during his campaign. Benghazi, Libya, in 2012. ommend charges against her. with questions on national secu- sifi ed, the usual way such mate- Clinton said she regretted her “She made a terrible mistake in “I did exactly what I should rity issues in their three upcom- rial is identifi ed. decision as a US senator from Libya,” said Trump. have done and I take it very seri- ing presidential debates later in Appearing in the second half New York to vote in favour of the Clinton said US policies un- ously, always have, always will,” September and in October. of the hour-long show, Trump much-criticised 2003 Iraq war der her leadership at the State she said. Clinton began the forum say- faced questions about his fi tness and that Trump had been in fa- Department had helped promote Trump’s praise of Putin and his ing her long experience in gov- for offi ce. vour of it as well. security. suggestion that the United States ernment as a US senator and sec- Asked if he would be prepared Trump has condemned the “We made the world safer,” she and Russia form an alliance to de- retary of state made her uniquely on Day One to be commander- war during his campaign and said said.

Obama: I don’t think the guy’s qualified to be president of the United States, and every time he speaks, that opinion is confirmed. Yosemite hails largest expansion since 1949

Reuters land is especially important be- Trump is not qualifi ed Los Angeles cause it consists of a meadow. While just 3% of Yosemite National Park is meadows, they to be president: Obama osemite National Park are home to some one-third of has announced its larg- the plant species found there. Yest expansion in seven Frank Dean, president of the AFP/Reuters Obama won the 2008 and 2012 decades with the donation by Yosemite Conservancy, said in a Ventiane/New York presidential elections handily a conservancy group of a large statement that Ackerson Mead- by mustering large numbers of meadow surrounded by trees ow had been included in the young, black, Latino and Asian that will be home to dozens of original boundary plans for the utgoing President Barack voters to go to the polls. endangered species. park, which was inspired by the Obama has condemned Meanwhile, Clinton chastised Ackerson Meadow at the advocacy of Scottish-American ODonald Trump as unsuit- Trump yesterday for hinting western edge of the current naturalist John Muir. able to be commander-in-chief, about things that he learned in park was purchased from a pri- “Donating the largest addition after the Republican nominee classifi ed intelligence briefi ngs, vate couple earlier this year by since 1949 to one of the world’s blasted US military brass and calling it “totally inappropriate the Trust for Public Land for most famous parks is a great way praised Vladimir Putin. and undisciplined”. $2.3mn and donated to the Na- to celebrate the 100th birthday “I don’t think the guy’s quali- Speaking to reporters the tional Park Service, a Yosemite of our National Park Service – fi ed to be president of the United morning after a New York secu- spokeswoman said. and honour John Muir’s original States, and every time he speaks, rity forum featuring separate ap- The gift of 400 acres (161.87 vision for the park,” said Will that opinion is confi rmed,” pearances by the two candidates, hectares) of land marks the Rogers, president of The Trust Obama said in unusually caustic Clinton also slammed the busi- largest expansion of Yosemite, for Public Land. language while overseas. nessman for praising Putin and which was fi rst protected in Ackerson Meadow, a 400-acre parcel of land located at the western edge of Yosemite National Park, is Yosemite, considered one of Obama, who was in Laos for saying that US generals had been 1864 and encompasses nearly shown in this undated photo. the crown jewels of America’s a summit with Southeast Asia “reduced to rubble” by Obama’s 1,200sq miles (3,107.99sq km) national park system, regularly leaders and his fi nal trip to east policies. in central California, since 1949. meadow is going to provide hab- Among them are two endan- nonprofi t Yosemite Conservan- ranks among the top US tourist Asia, said that Trump holds con- “I would never comment on “It’s a big open meadow sur- itat for a number of protected gered species of owls. cy, the National Park Trust and attractions. tradictory and “outright wacky any aspect of an intelligence rounded by forest land. We’re species,” park spokeswoman Among the major contribu- American Rivers. The park saw a record 4.3mn ideas” and is “uninformed”. briefi ng I received,” said Clin- very excited. This pristine Jamie Richards said. tors to the purchase were the According to the park, the visitors in 2015. “I can tell you from the inter- ton, a former secretary of state, actions I have had over the last before boarding her campaign eight or nine days with foreign plane. leaders that this is serious busi- Trump’s campaign fi red back ness,” Obama added. “You actu- at Clinton after her session with ally have to know what you are reporters, saying that she was Magnifi cent Seven remake kicks off Toronto film fest talking about and you actually resorting to “unhinged and dis- have to have done your home- honest” attacks. work. When you speak, it should “These are the desperate at- AFP Bronson – which in turn was ey or land on behalf of White Ethan Hawke (also at the festi- youth radicalisation, racism, actually refl ect thought out poli- tacks of a fl ailing campaign sink- Toronto a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s America. val in Maudie) as a sharpshooter, feminism and alien arrivals, as cy you can implement.” ing in the polls, and character- Japanese-language epic Seven The real Wild West’s racial Vincent D’Onofrio in the role of well as questions around race. Trump on Wednesday raised istics of someone woefully unfi t Samurai. make-up was actually a melt- a tracker, and South Korea’s Lee Films being positioned for ac- eyebrows by saying that Putin for the presidency of the United ouble Oscar-winner In the latest version, Wash- ing pot of Europeans, Chinese, Byung-hun as a knife-throwing colades include the new Denis was “far more” of a leader than States,” Jason Miller, senior com- Denzel Washington and a ington plays bounty hunter Sam Mexicans, Native American and assassin. Villeneuve sci-fi movie Arrival, Obama (see lead story). munications adviser for Trump, Dmotley band of gunslin- Chisolm who leads his crew to blacks. Washington and Fuqua have and Oliver Stone’s Snowden, Trump also drew fi re for criti- said in a statement. gers open the Toronto Film Fes- liberate a Wild West town from “Westerns have always spo- collaborated previously, notably about former National Secu- cising the military. Clinton’s lead over Trump in tival yesterday, blazing trails in a the clutches of a bad man (an in- ken directly to what is going on on Training Day, which also pre- rity Agency contractor Edward “The generals have been re- national opinion polls has weak- much-anticipated remake of the dustrialist played by Peter Sars- in present day America even miered at the fi lm festival and Snowden’s massive 2013 leak duced to rubble,” Trump said, ened in recent days. 1960 Western The Magnifi cent gaard, who also appears at the though it’s dealing with its his- went on to earn Washington a revealing the extent of govern- before noting he had “faith in The current average of polls by Seven. festival in Jackie) and his private tory,” Toronto fi lm festival co- best actor Oscar in 2001 for his ment snooping on private data. certain of the commanders”. website RealClearPolitics puts The fi lm festival, which runs army of henchmen. director Piers Handling told performance as a rogue cop in Ryan Gosling and Emma Speaking in Laos about her at 45.6% support, compared through September 18, is the While initially motivated by AFP. Los Angeles. Stone’s performances as a jazz Trump’s unsuitability for of- to Trump’s 42.8%. largest in North America and cash off ered up by townswoman “This one certainly speaks to (Washington earned his fi rst musician and an aspiring actress fi ce, Obama observed that over Clinton said she would con- has become a launchpad for Os- Emma Cullen (played by Haley contemporary America. It’s is an Oscar in 1990 for his support- in the musical La La Land, which the course of the election season vene a meeting of bipartisan se- car-conscious studios and dis- Bennett), these swashbucklers interesting metaphor for what’s ing role in the civil war drama opened the Venice Film Festival, “people start thinking behaviour curity experts today to discuss tributors, attracting hundreds of end up taking a principled stand going on in American right now,” Glory.) has also stirred up a frenzy. that in normal times we would the fi ght against Islamic State fi lmmakers and actors to the red against greed and hegemony to he said. “It’s about a community They also paired up in 2014 for American Pastoral, Ewan Mc- consider completely unaccept- militants. carpet in Canada’s largest city. save the fl edgling town. under duress, under extreme Fuqua’s adaptation of the 1980s Gregor’s directorial debut look- able and outrageous becomes “What you didn’t hear from Nearly 400 feature and short Fuqua told AFP during post- pressure, and the people that television series The Equaliser, ing back at an ideal family torn normalised”. Donald Trump last night was any fi lms from 83 countries will be production in April that he also come together to defend this about a loner who dispenses jus- by the upheavals of the 1960s, is Obama is expected to hit the plan to take on ISIS,” Clinton told screened at the festival. hoped to dispel the mythology community who are representa- tice from the barrel of a gun. generating tremendous buzz, as campaign trail with Clinton reporters, using an acronym for Director Antoine Fuqua’s fi lm of the American frontier propa- tive of American society.” The fi lm earned poor reviews is Lion – the true story of a boy when he returns to the United the group. “That’s not only dan- is a reimagining of the Western gated by Hollywood, that it was The action-packed fi lm also and $200mn at the box offi ce. separated from his family who States, with voter turnout likely gerous, it should be disqualify- classic starring Yul Brynner, populated by ranchers, lawmen stars Chris Pratt as a card shark Toronto this year shines a goes searching for home 25 years to be a key theme. ing.” Steve McQueen and Charles and outlaws battling for mon- and explosives enthusiast, spotlight on American politics, on. Gulf Times Friday, September 9, 2016 7 ASEAN

S’pore says unclear Obama says S China if Zika strain causes birth defects

Reuters Sea ruling is binding Singapore Obama defended his pivot to Asia that the arbitration ruling, which China China’s embassy in Manila said there ingapore said yesterday which has been his major foreign refuses to recognise, was “binding”. has been no dredging or building at the it did not know if the policy focus “We discussed the importance of claim- shoal and China has maintained a coast- SZika virus detected in the ants adhering to steps they’ve already guard presence there for law enforcement country could cause the same Reuters agreed including respecting international patrols. birth defects and other disor- Vientiane law, not militarising disputed areas and The Philippines’ move came after a dis- ders linked to an outbreak in not occupying uninhabited islands, reefs pute with the United States, its former co- Latin America. and shoals,” he told reporters later. lonial power. A DNA analysis of the mos- A member of a pest control arack Obama defended his eff orts For its part, Beijing voiced objections Ties turned frosty when new president quito-borne virus, which has team shows a container of to ‘rebalance’ US foreign policy to- several times to what it referred to as Rodrigo Duterte insulted Obama on Mon- infected almost 300 people mosquito larvae that they Bwards Asia yesterday even as he countries outside the region “interfer- day, prompting the cancellation of a meet- in Singapore, including two collected during their wound up the fi nal visit of his presidency ing” in tussles over the South China Sea ing between them. pregnant women, revealed inspection at Zika clusters in to the region with the South China Sea — wording that is usually understood to Duterte has bristled at criticism from slight diff erences between the Singapore. dispute still smouldering. President Barack Obama gestures as he mean the United States and Japan. abroad of his war on drugs, in which strains but it was not clear Obama’s trip to Asia began and ended boards Air Force One following the Vice foreign minister Liu Zhenmin told more than 2,400 people have been killed what that meant in terms of virus and microcephaly fi rst on awkward notes. closing ceremony of the Asean at the reporters in Laos it had been “inappropri- since he became president two months the severity of the disease, the came to light in Brazil, which Arriving for a G20 summit in China last Wattay International Airport in Vientiane. ate” for two countries, which he did not ago. health ministry said. has been the hardest hit by week, his staff argued with airport security name, to bring up the arbitration issue Obama and Duterte made some steps The World Health Organi- the outbreak aff ecting Latin offi cials over media access, and a meeting engagement is sustained,” he told a news during the summit. towards clearing the air late on Wednes- sation (WHO), which has de- America. in Laos with the Philippines’ new presi- conference in Vientiane, the capital of Laos. Besides the Asean members, China, Ja- day, chatting briefl y, and exchanging clared Zika an international Scientists say the Zika strain dent was called off after he insulted him. Nevertheless, there was barely con- pan, South Korea, Russia, India, Australia, pleasantries as they prepared to take their health emergency, says more in Brazil most likely evolved Obama, who lived in Indonesia as a boy cealed tension at the summit of East Asian New Zealand and the United States at- seats at a leaders’ dinner. research is needed to deter- from an Asian strain. with his mother, a development worker, and Southeast Asian nations in Laos. tended. Obama has made 11 trips to the region as mine the eff ects of the diff er- The virus, fi rst detected told a group of young leaders that the em- The leaders played down diff erences over China has over the past year alarmed US president. ent Zika strains. in Uganda in 1947, spread to phasis he had placed on Asia over his two the South China Sea in a carefully worded other claimants, and outside powers such But they have often been overshadowed “There is no evidence from equatorial Asia in the 1960s terms was personal. statement, mentioning only that several of as the United States and Japan, by re- by events at home or other parts of the existing studies and from this and 1980s. But addressing leaders of Southeast them were “seriously concerned over re- claiming land on several disputed reefs world, and his ambition to put a Trans- sequence to indicate whether Singapore said the strain Asian nations in Laos yesterday, he said it cent developments” in the waterway that is through dredging, and building air fi elds Pacifi c Partnership (TPP) trade pact at the the diff erences between these causing the current outbreak was also “key to a peaceful and prosperous the most volatile hotspot in the region. and port facilities. heart of the “pivot” to Asia has been frus- strains and the South Ameri- also evolved from an Asian future for the world”, and voiced his hope China, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philip- The Philippines, a longtime ally of the trated. can virus correlate with diff er- strain. that whoever succeeds him in the White pines, Malaysia and Brunei have compet- United States, pumped up tension over the The prospects for US congressional ap- ences in severity or type of dis- Raymond Lin, head of the House next year would take it forward. ing claims on the sea, through which more South China Sea on Wednesday ahead of a proval for the TPP have looked increas- ease,” the health ministry said. National Public Health Labo- Obama, whose foreign policy focus has than $5tn of trade moves annually. meeting between Chinese Premier Li Ke- ingly dim, with both major presidential “Correlation of virus strains ratory said the strain in Sin- been widely seen as a response to China’s The last four are part of the 10-member qiang and Asean leaders. candidates — Democrat Hillary Clinton with specifi c clinical mani- gapore and Brazil were slightly economic and military muscle-fl exing Association of Southeast Asian Nations It released photographs and a map and Republican Donald Trump — standing festations will take long-term diff erent, but it was not clear across the region, said critics at home were (Asean). showing what it said was an increased opposed. careful epidemiological stud- what this meant. wrong to say it had failed when Asian lead- The statement made no reference to a number of Chinese vessels near the dis- “I have said before and I will say again ies as well as experimental “There might be fi ne dif- ers only wanted more. July ruling by a court in The Hague that puted Scarborough Shoal, which China failure to move ahead with TPP... will studies,” it added. ferences, there might be more “The concern that I’ve heard is — will it declared illegal some of China’s artifi cial seized after a standoff in 2012. call into question America’s leadership,” The WHO has said that in- mutations but currently there continue? And, almost uniformly, the ques- islands and invalidated its claims to almost Its defence ministry expressed “grave Obama said in Laos.“I think it is important fection with the virus in preg- is no evidence at all to suggest tions I get from other leaders is: we hope the entire sea. concern” that China was preparing to for the entire region and it is important for nant women can cause the birth that it’s less severe or more se- that America’s interest, and presence, and But Obama pointedly told the meeting build structures at the shoal. the United States.” defect microcephaly, in which vere; whether there is less or the brain and head of the baby more likelihood of getting mi- are undersized, and other se- crocephaly,” he told media. vere brain abnormalities. A WHO spokeswoman also The WHO also said it was said more research was needed likely that the Zika virus could to better understand the virus. trigger the Guillain-Barre syn- “Researchers do not yet drome, a rare neurological dis- know if the ‘old’ lineage of Zika Four years on, lives of Rohingya also causes complications such order that can result in paraly- sis, though conclusive proof as microcephaly and neuro- may take years. logical disorders,” the spokes- still on hold in refugee camps The connection between the woman said.

AFP the Rohingya and are viscerally opposed to anywhere,” said Shwe Sin, Myee Shay’s Sittwe, Myanmar any move to grant them citizenship. mother, of a web of government restric- They insist the roughly one-million tions that heap misery on daily life. Singapore to expand strong group are intruders from neigh- Their family of 14 lives in a cramped our years after fl eeing religious riots bouring Bangladesh, even though many hut made of thatched bamboo and plastic that emptied her Muslim Rohingya can trace their ancestry in Myanmar back scraps. vending machine cafes Fneighbourhood in Myanmar’s Ra- generations. The family can not leave the camp to khine State, Myee Shay yearns for the Today the state is eff ectively segregated work and they are almost entirely depend- trappings of a normal life: a job, a school on religious grounds, with no major moves ent on humanitarian aid. DPA aimed at revamping the city- for her children and the chance to buy her to see the displaced return home. “Without freedom of movement, farm- Singapore state’s food industry and own food. International rights groups have urged ers can’t go to their fi elds, fi shermen can’t boosting the sector’s annual But the 35-year-old, like tens of thou- Myanmar’s democracy champion Aung go to the sea, traders can’t go to the mar- productivity growth. sands of others displaced by the violence, San Suu Kyi to grant the Rohingya citizen- ket,” said Pierre Peron, a spokesperson for ingapore yesterday an- “The food services indus- remains stuck in a displacement camp, ship. UNOCHA in Myanmar. nounced plans to open try now has to think ahead of unable to return home in a region ruptured But the Nobel Laureate has shied away Most of the barracks-style shelters in Smore vending machine new ways of doing business, by confl ict between Muslims and a major- from coming to their defence, wary of the the camps were only built to last three cafes after the successful so that many years from now ity-Buddhist population. dangers of a Buddhist backlash. years and now, battered by annual deluges launch of the fi rst one last we still have a vibrant, di- “We eat when we get our quota,” Myee She recently appointed former UN of rain, need to be rebuilt. month. verse set of restaurants, cof- Shay told AFP, referring to monthly ra- chief Kofi Annan to advise her govern- Healthcare and education is at best The vending machine cafes fee shops, hawker stalls... tions of food, mostly rice, that families re- ment on how to heal the state’s caustic patchy inside the camps, with aid groups will be located in 10 sites over But with much less man- ceive from aid groups in the camps. divides. desperately plugging the yawning gaps in the next year, serving hot power compared to today,” “If we do not get it, we cannot eat,” the This week he met with local leaders and the system that see frequent outbreaks of meals and freshly squeezed deputy prime minister Thar- mother-of-four added. visited internally displaced people from sickness. orange juice without em- man Shanmugaratnam said. She spoke while preparing plant stalks A Rohingya woman at the Thet Kal Pyin both communities in Rakhine, where he While aid groups say the ultimate goal ploying any waitstaff . Other aspects of the collected from the outskirts of the Thet displacement camp in Sittwe. was jeered by angry Buddhist protesters is for displaced people to go home, the im- The fi rst such cafe opened food industry roadmap an- Kae Pyin camp — an attempt to enrich the on his arrival. mediate priority must be to ensure “mini- to hour-long queues, with nounced yesterday include meagre meals and break the tedium of days Muslims boiled over in 2012 — although “We are here to advise, not to impose,” mum living standards are met”, Peron curious diners eager to try digital ordering and cashless spent waiting for change that never seems several thousand ethnic Rakhine Bud- Annan told reporters in Yangon after re- added. the aff ordable Halal-certi- payment at traditional coff ee to come. dhists also lost their homes in the vio- turning from the two-day visit, stressing Myee Shay laments the grinding real- fi ed dishes. shops. Flooded during the monsoon and dust- lence. his commitment to remain “rigorously ity of her family’s life, one that means her A bento box of grilled The plan is one of 23 in- choked in the hot season, the camps are That bloodshed left more than 100 impartial”. children go without medical care when salmon and spaghetti costs dustry-specifi c roadmaps clustered on the outskirts of the state cap- people dead and saw thousands of homes The trip was the fi rst of many his team they are sick. S$5 ($4), for example. to be launched under a na- ital Sittwe. torched by mobs. will make to Rakhine before submitting a “I have no money... The vending machines are tionwide Industry Transfor- They mostly hold Rohingya, a stateless Anti-Muslim sentiment still runs high report to the government within one year, My husband doesn’t work as we have no part of a broader plan an- mation Programme that is group that became the target of riots af- in the impoverished region, fanned by he added. job here. nounced by trade statutory pushing for long-term eco- ter long-running discrimination against hardline Buddhist nationalists who revile “Security is everywhere, we cannot go What can we do?” board SPRING Singapore nomic development. Thailand, Malaysia plan wall to halt illegal fl ow

Reuters “It is still at the memorandum of un- killed, says Deep South Watch, a body ing, while funds for education and in- a 4.7% haircut to 493bn baht ($14.1bn) Vientiane derstanding phase,” said colonel Yut- that monitors the violence. frastructure were pared back. and transport was cut by two thirds thanam Petchmuang, a spokesman for Thailand’s three southernmost The army seized power from the ci- from $136bn baht to $63.5bn. Thailand’s internal security operations provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathi- vilian government in 2014, saying it “This budget will be spent based on hailand and Malaysia will dis- command. wat were once part of an independent was forced to act to end bloody street laws and rules to maintain the coun- cuss plans to build a wall along Malaysia’s foreign ministry did not Malay Muslim sultanate until they were protests and rampant corruption. try’s fi scal discipline,” Wisanu Krea- Ttheir shared border, Thai offi - respond to a request from Reuters for annexed by Thailand in 1909. The army, navy and air force will Ngam, deputy prime Minister, said in cials said yesterday, a day before Ma- comment. Two issues in particular have spurred receive a 2% raise taking next year’s televised comments at the end of the laysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is Najib’s visit follows three deadly the interest of Malaysia and Thailand spending to 210.7bn baht (nearly vote, promising the budget allocation set to meet his counterpart in Bangkok. bomb attacks in southern Thailand in building a border wall, said Srisom- $6.1bn), according to the budget en- had been carefully considered. People-traffi cking and the smug- over the past month, including a wave pop Jitpiromsri, director of Deep South dorsed by the hand-picked National Experts say the budget follows a pat- gling of drugs and weapons are among of bombs in tourist towns in August Watch. Legislative Assembly. tern that has seen defence spending the transnational crimes that have that Thai police have linked to Muslim “The fi rst is to stop the fl ow of illegal The budget comes into eff ect next creep up from around $5.7bn a year be- fl ourished along the 640km Thai-Ma- separatists operating in the country’s goods, whether it is petrol, drugs or hu- month and runs until September 2017. fore the coup. lay border, until a crackdown by Thai- south. man traffi cking,” he told Reuters. It is the third straight year of rises “Perhaps the rise does not appear land last year disrupted regional traf- The porous Thai-Malay border has “The second reason is that insur- in state spending for defence since the to be breathtaking but the amount of fi cking routes. also been a site for the smuggling of gents operating in Thailand regularly coup. spending is remarkable — really more Najib is to meet Thai Prime Minister weapons, drugs and illegal oil. cross the border and use Malaysia as a Thailand’s royalist military has for than ever before,” said Paul Chambers a Prayuth Chan-ocha on an offi cial visit After taking power in a May 2014 safety base.” decades been at the centre of politics, Thailand-based expert on the military, that will focus on security cooperation coup, Thailand’s junta promised what Yet it remains unclear how far the battering down the country’s nascent adding it was unclear how the spending and investment. it called a “zero tolerance” policy of wall will reduce crime. democratic movements. had been justifi ed. The wall is on the agenda for the Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak human traffi cking and launched a na- “There are still many logistical issues Each coup has broadly been followed After years of impressive growth, meeting, said a Thai foreign ministry arrives for the ASEAN Plus One bilateral tionwide crackdown on vice and crime. to address before building the wall,” by a handsome budget hike, while the Thailand’s economy is faltering, mired offi cial. meeting with India at the Asean summit In January 2004, a shadowy separa- Srisompop said.”It’s a tremendously civilian leaders who have governed in- in high household debt, stuttering ex- “It will be on the agenda during Na- in Vientiane yesterday. tist insurgency by ethnic Malays resur- long area.” termittently have also lavished cash on ports and low consumer confi dence. jib’s visit, but it will not be the biggest faced in Thailand, after simmering for Thailand’s junta-appointed law- the powerful military hoping to curry The army’s infl uence in Thai politics item on the agenda,” foreign ministry uters at a regional meeting in the Lao- decades. makers yesterday signed off on a nearly favour. has been embedded in a new constitu- spokesman Chinawut Setawat told Re- tian capital of Vientiane. Since then, 6,500 people have been $124mn budget hike for defence spend- The budget for education was given tion written by junta appointees. Gulf Times 8 Friday, September 9, 2016 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Japan’s proposed anti-conspiracy Politician says pressed law stirs civil rights concerns

By Linda Sieg, Reuters to quit HK city election Tokyo

By Venus Wu, Reuters Hong Kong ore than a decade after an initial attempt failed, Japan wants to enact legislation to Mpenalise conspiracies to commit crimes such Hong Kong politician has as terrorism but critics say such changes would give said he was pressured to bow police power to trample civil liberties. Aout of a city election to clear Proponents say the steps are vital to fi ght terror- the fi eld for a candidate favoured by ism in a climate where the risks have grown as Tokyo the Chinese government, which, prepares to host the 2020 Olympics, and to ratify a if confi rmed, could off er rare evi- UN Treaty aimed at battling international organised dence of interference by Beijing in crime. city politics. “It’s very important...to fi ght organised crime by Hong Kong, which has a special cooperating with international society,” chief cabinet autonomy in China, held an elec- secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters when asked tion for a city legislature on Sunday, about the proposals. its fi rst major test of public opinion Opponents see the proposals as part of Prime Min- since pro-democracy protests in ister Shinzo Abe’s broader agenda to tighten the gov- 2014 ignited calls for independence, ernment’s grip at the expense of individual rights. especially among young voters. Critics including the Japan Federation of Bar As- Ken Chow of the pro-business sociations also warn the changes — when combined Liberal Party told Reuters he with- with a recent expansion of the scope of legal wire- drew from the election after three tapping and the reluctance of courts to rein in police men he believed were sent by the surveillance powers — could have a chilling eff ect on Chinese government threatened grassroots opposition to government policies. him while he was visiting the city of The federation also says Japanese law already pro- Shenzhen in August. hibits preparing to commit certain serious crimes “They said I must stop cam- such as murder, arson and counterfeiting or plotting paigning. They also said I must an insurgency or the use of explosives. leave Hong Kong as soon as pos- “The ruling coalition is emboldened and, led by the sible...and I was only permitted to prime minister, wants to push these kinds of laws,” come back after the results,” Chow said Meiji University law professor Lawrence Repeta. said. “He’s pushing an agenda that grants the police and “They said, ‘If you keep being the government broader authority and limits the pro- stubborn, we will take action, and tection of individual rights.” your supporters will pay a heavy Proposed changes fl oated in a document leaked to price’.” Japanese media and seen by Reuters would make it a Reuters was not able to inde- crime for “organised crime groups” to conspire and pendently corroborate Chow’s ac- prepare to commit serious crimes punishable by four count. or more years imprisonment. China’s main representative of- (From left) Lawyer Michael Vidler, elected councillor Paul Zimmerman, lawmaker-elect Lau Siu-lai, new anti-establishment lawmaker Eddie Chu, Leung Examples included gangsters readying a plot to fi ce in Hong Kong, the Liaison of- Kwok-hung — known as “Long Hair” — of the League of Social Democrats, Nathan Law and Joshua Wong, both leaders of the 2014 “Umbrella Movement” shoot a rival gang leader and terrorists preparing a fi ce, gave no response to faxed rallies, shout slogans before Chu makes a report to the police at Wanchai police station in Hong Kong. chemical attack. questions. Workers chatting over drinks and saying they want China’s Foreign Ministry spokes- chance to win. If you really partici- In late August, Chow announced The party said its honorary chair- tice, Rimsky Yuen, told reporters to kill their boss wouldn’t qualify, the document says. woman said she had no real under- pate in the election, you’ll only ruin he was dropping out of the race but woman and Hong Kong deputy of yesterday he could not comment on Legal experts, however, say the vague phrasing sug- standing of the issue. the grand plan’,” Chow said. did not say why. China’s National People’s Congress, individual cases but he trusted the gests that civic groups opposed to government poli- Chow, who campaigned as a The former British colony re- The pro-Beijing candidate he Miriam Lau, would write to China’s ICAC would follow up, even though cies could be considered “organised crime groups” if pro-establishment candidate, said turned to China in 1997 under a would have competed for votes head of parliament to urge the Bei- it was hard to investigate events they are found to be preparing for illegal actions, such other people, whom he declined to “one country, two systems” agree- with, won a seat on Sunday. jing government to investigate. that took place outside Hong Kong. as plans by activists opposed to US military bases identify, had off ered him money to ment that ensured its freedoms. Chow’s party told media in Au- The ICAC said it would not com- “If we think there is evidence blocking roads to construction sites. withdraw from the election, in or- But Beijing has ultimate control gust the Independent Commission ment on individual cases but it showing there may be corrupt be- “There is no clause limiting this to a group like the der to leave the fi eld open for a pro- and some Hong Kong people are Against Corruption (ICAC) would placed great importance on election haviour relating to the elections, I Mafi a,” said lawyer Yuichi Kaido. Beijing candidate. concerned it is increasingly inter- investigate whether he had been fairness. think our government has the duty “It could target a group that is opposed to the gov- “They said ‘you don’t have a fering to head off dissent. threatened. Hong Kong’s Secretary of Jus- and the need to follow up,” Yuen said. ernment in some way.” If the revisions are enacted, “people will become afraid and it will have a chilling eff ect,” he said. Bullet train driver puts Liberal Democratic Party-led governments have his feet up on the job tried three times to enact such legislation since the United Nations adopted a Convention Against Tran- A Japanese bullet train driver China wants to ‘dispel interference’ in disputed waters snational Organised Crime in 2000. came under fire yesterday after But outcries from lawyers, activists and media an online photo emerged of him scuppered the bills. operating it with his feet up. Reuters preparing to build structures at a The Hague that declared illegal nese leaders to refer to not allow- This time, though, Abe’s ruling coalition has a two- Central Japan Railway said the Beijing disputed shoal in the South China some of China’s artifi cial islands ing countries from outside the re- thirds majority in both houses of parliament, and 29-year-old acknowledged that Sea, shattering an appearance of and invalidated its claims to al- gion with no direct involvement in public worries about terrorism ahead of the Olympics he operated the high speed train cordiality at the summit. most the entire waterway. the dispute, like the United States, have grown after deadly attacks overseas. in that position for 10 seconds on hina wants to work with the China claims much of the South In a statement released by Chi- from getting involved. “We are facing the Tokyo Olympics and once Tuesday. Association of Southeast China Sea, through which more na’s Foreign Ministry about the With joint eff orts from China something happens, it will already be too late,” LDP “He told the company that he CAsian Nations (Asean) to than $5tn of trade moves annually. meeting, Li was paraphrased as and Asean members, the situation Secretary General Toshihiro Nikai was quoted by me- had tired feet,” a spokesman for “dispel interference” in the disput- Vietnam, the Philippines, Ma- saying China was willing to work in the South China Sea is moving dia saying on a radio programme. the operator said, also telling AFP ed South China Sea, Premier Li Ke- laysia, Brunei and Taiwan also with Asean countries in “dispel- towards a positive direction, Li The justice ministry is taking pains to allay con- that there was never any danger qiang said during a regional sum- have claims. ling interference...and properly added. cerns ordinary people would be ensnared by the to the 320 passengers aboard the mit in the Lao capital Vientiane. Offi cials said talks between handling the South China Sea is- Peace and stability in the South changes, stressing that’s not true in a Q&A on its Tokyo-to-Osaka train. The Philippines had said on Southeast Asian leaders and Li sue”. China Sea was directly related to website. “Shinkansen are equipped with Wednesday it was “gravely con- went smoothly, but there was no He did not elaborate, but such prosperity and development of Critics see the push for legal changes as integral an automatic control system that cerned” that Chinese boats were reference to a July court ruling in wording is typically used by Chi- countries in the region, he said. to Abe’s eff orts, refl ected in LDP proposals to revise manages speed and the distance Japan’s post-war constitution, to strengthen the au- between trains,” the spokesman thority of the state. said. Other moves include the 2013 enactment of a states Central Japan Railway, secrets law toughening penalties on leaks, and chang- however, in a statement called es this year that widened the scope for wiretapping to the behaviour “extremely inap- Sydney Opera House mulls ‘sleepover’ plan include fraud and theft. propriate” and vowed a “strict” Some legal experts fi nd the trend especially trou- response, suggesting the driver bling given the judiciary’s reluctance to restrict police would be punished.” isitors could soon have the an email statement yesterday. separate guests on fi ve diff erent for people to experience and un- powers. Responses on Twitter were chance to take part in “slee- The Opera House, Australia’s occasions each year. derstand this masterpiece from In a recent example, the Supreme Court this year mixed. Vpovers” at Sydney’s iconic top tourist attraction, has lodged Guests could stay in one of six the inside out...we are constantly declined to review a case concerning police surveil- “I wonder if it was necessary Opera House if a proposal to let the plan with the New South Wales locations: the Board Room, Utzon evolving the breadth and depth of lance of 17 Muslims who were monitored purely be- to expose the photo on the guests stay inside diff erent thea- government. Room, Joan Sutherland Theatre experiences we off er,” he said. cause of their religion, upholding a lower court ruling internet,” one Twitter user said, tres and halls is successful. They are also asking the public Northern Foyers, Joan Sutherland Earlier this year, during the that the surveillance had been “necessary and una- while others criticised him, with “The Opera House hopes to to have a say. Theatre Southern Foyer, and the Vivid art festival, an audience of voidable” to protect against terrorism. one saying he “should know join other cultural institutions According to the plan, two two foyers of the Concert Hall. more than 150 people were allowed “This would be added to an existing criminal jus- he’s responsible for passengers’ and performing arts centres... nights accommodation would be “As we renew the Opera House to participate in an eight-hour- tice system in which the courts do not serve as an ef- lives”. in offering an overnight expe- off ered for 100 guests once a year, for future generations, we are long live overnight performance of fective check on police and prosecutors,” Meiji Uni- rience,” a spokesman said in as well a two-night stay for fi ve constantly considering new ways “Sleep” in one of the theatres. versity’s Repeta said.

Mao concerts split Australian Chinese community

AFP this week in the face of criticism people all over the world”, accord- Yang Xi, said in a television in- Sydney it would have praised “the worst ing to Chongyi Feng from the Uni- terview that while Mao’s mis- mass murderer in human history”. versity of Technology in Sydney. takes had been recognised, his The City of Sydney said the For those who blame him for legacy, including his contribu- oncerts planned to hon- September 6 event planned at the deaths of tens of millions of tion to the Chinese Revolution, our Mao Zedong in Aus- the grand Town Hall to honour people in famine and purges in was more important. Ctralia on the 40th anni- the anniversary raised the “po- the decade from 1966, this was Leading the backlash has been versary of his death have been tential for civil disturbance, pa- “too much”, the associate profes- the Embracing Australian Values cancelled amid warnings they tron to patron confl ict and staff sor in China studies wrote in a Alliance group which launched could spark disturbances, illus- to patron confl ict”. commentary. an online petition that attracted trating a generational divide in It said the organisers them- To many Australians “Mao or thousands of signatures. the Chinese community over the selves identifi ed the event, billed Maoism is a symbol of violence, The concerts had “triggered the Communist icon’s legacy. as a cultural concert, as being dictatorship, intolerance, politi- trauma of many Chinese victims Despite Chinese government at “high risk of disruption” and cal persecution and cultural re- of Mao’s revolution” and went recriminations over the brutal that the distribution of free tick- pression”, he added. against Australian values, it said. decade of mayhem he unleashed, ets only added to concerns. The Communist Party’s offi cial John Hugh, one of those behind Mao’s appeal has not diminished Australia is home to some verdict on Mao in 1981 declared the petition, said Mao’s legacy re- among diehard loyalists both at 866,000 ethnic Chinese among he had been “a great....strategist mained painful for many Chinese. home and among migrant com- a population of 24mn — with half and theorist” but acknowledged “He is not gone yet,” he said of munities. born in mainland China. he made “gross mistakes”, an in- Mao who still commands a pow- But authorities in Australia’s Flyers for the concerts de- dictment over his reign which left erful personality cult in some two biggest cities, Sydney and scribed Mao as “a national leader chaos in its wake and transformed quarters. Melbourne, axed the “Glory and forever in the hearts of Chinese the political landscape. “These kind of concerts just Commemorative plates with images of late communist leader Mao Zedong are displayed at a stall in Dreams” concerts scheduled for people and a hero in the eyes of But one concert organiser, refreshed their wounds,” he said. Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. Gulf Times Friday, September 9, 2016 9 BRITAIN

EDUCATION CLAIM PEOPLE OPINION VIOLENCE Minister supports more We’re fighting for patients, Tate Modern chief quits to Garden Bridge will win Man stabbed in grammar and free schools claim junior doctors take Arts Council top job over critics, says minister eye as gangs fight

Children across Britain should be off ered a choice Junior doctors yesterday urged the public to trust Tate director Sir Nicholas Serota confirmed he is Critics of London’s flagship Garden Bridge A movie-goer was stabbed in the eye during of grammar, free and other schools, a senior them with the future of the NHS as they prepared leaving the institution after almost three decades. will be won over by the scheme’s beauty and fighting at a screening of gang film Brotherhood Cabinet minister said yesterday. Defence Secretary for a High Court showdown with Health Secretary Sir Nicholas, who will quit next year to take the ambition, a minister has suggested. Transport in east London. The 28-year-old was taken to Michael Fallon voiced support for a significant Jeremy Hunt. The Justice for Health campaign, top job at Arts Council England, said he would be Minister Andrew Jones told MPs in a Commons hospital with a laceration after being hit with increase in the number of grammar schools, a formed by five London doctors, insists it is acting leaving behind “an institution that has the potential debate that critics of the pedestrian walkway, a plastic cleaning triangle in a clash between stance likely to fuel the growing row over Theresa in the best interests of patients by seeking to to reach broad audiences across the UK and which will span the River Thames between gangs at Vue cinema at Westfield shopping May’s move to allow more of them to open. Fallon, block new contracts due to be imposed from abroad”. The recent multi-million-pound expansion Temple and the South Bank, will be converted centre in Stratford. The brawl, captured on CCTV, whose own constituency of Sevenoaks in Kent next month as part of the government’s drive of Tate Modern has cemented the gallery’s position when they see it is an emblem of a “creative, was sparked when one group was turned away was the location in 2015 of the first new grammar towards a “seven-day NHS”. The legal action is at the top of the art world, with crowds flocking to bustling and ambitious” city. The Thomas from the 12A-certificate movie for being too opened in 50 years, insisted the reforms would backed by £300,000 in public donations raised the Southbank venue in ever-greater numbers. The Heatherwick-designed bridge has attracted young. Witnesses said the gangs overwhelmed not mean a return to “sink schools” for children by a crowdfunding appeal. A two-day High Court search for his successor has already with potential controversy over its cost to the taxpayer. Jones security guards. The cinema suspended who miss out on selection at 11. May told a meeting hearing will begin on September 19, after Justice candidates including Tate Modern director Frances used a Commons debate to urge the Garden screenings of the film after the fight, which is of MPs she wanted to create a “21st century Green decided that concerns over the imposition Morris and Maria Balshaw, who has overseen the Bridge Trust charity to scout more financial said to be one of a number of “incidents” last education system” with an “element of selection”. of the junior doctors’ contract should be heard. transformation of the Whitworth Gallery. backers to share the risk. week. Govt review Nightclub to appeal closure decision outlines £12mn for temporary fl ood defences

Guardian News and Media Ben Gummer, Cabinet Offi ce London minister, said: “The government has made clear that we expect water and telecoms companies he UK’s new fl ood de- to work ever closer together to fence plans anticipate sig- improve their preparation and Tnifi cantly higher extreme response to fl ooding, mak- rainfall, after new research was ing sure lifelines such as mobile published as part of the govern- phone masts and water treatment ment’s National Flood Resilience works continue to function even review. when the great British weather is The government, which had throwing its very worst at us.” been criticised for not taking full The review asked the Met Of- account of the impact of climate fi ce to develop new plausible ex- change in driving up fl ood risk, treme rainfall scenarios. It added will now plan for 20%-30% more 20%-30% to recently recorded People view tributes that have been placed outside the Fabric nightclub in London yesterday. The nightclub owners have confirmed that they will appeal the decision extreme downpours than before. extreme events, a fi gure it expects to take away their licence. The review, prompted by severe will mean only a 10% chance of fl ooding in recent winters, also worse rain in the next 10 years. found that critical infrastructure, “When we used a selection of the such as water and telecoms, are at Environment Agency’s detailed serious risk from fl oods and util- models to predict the fl ooding ity companies have committed to associated with these extreme increasing protection. rainfall scenarios, we discovered The government’s offi cial cli- (unsurprisingly) that it, too, was mate change advisers recently worse than anything we have seen warned that fl ooding could cause to date,” the review states. a cascade of emergencies by Speaking before the report’s Britain, EU must work knocking out energy, transport, publication, former fl oods min- water and communications link. ister Richard Benyon said farm- The review allocates £12.5mn ers could to be paid to hold back for more temporary defences, fl oodwater under a post-Brexit such as barriers and pumps, at rural payments system. “There is strategic locations around the an opportunity now to complete- country. By this winter, the gov- ly rethink rural policy, and fl ood for smooth divorce: May ernment said, four times more protection can come in as part temporary barriers will be avail- of the way we support farmers Reuters But a spokeswoman said ropean Union that we can have a need for her new government to house prices rising. able. and see farming as doing a public London May felt little pressure, hav- strong relationship with once we take time to get to grips with the Britain’s biggest consumer The review has also led to the good when it protects communi- ing won the agreement of EU have left.” complicated negotiations, some electricals and mobile phone re- setting up of more projects in ties from fl ooding,” he said. officials to take at least until Over breakfast, the two leaders EU offi cials are keen to move tailer, Dixons Carphone was the which natural approaches, such Flood defence spending was ritain and the European the end of this year to come up agreed that Britain would have quickly, fearing uncertainty over latest company to say that its as tree planting and moorland cut sharply by David Cameron’s Union must work togeth- with a negotiating stance for “a strong voice” in the EU while future relations is hurting invest- consumers seem unfazed by the restoration, are used to slow the coalition government but partly Ber to make their divorce the talks that will shape Brit- it was still a member and that it ment. Brexit vote. fl ow of water into rivers and re- reversed after severe fl oods in the smooth and forge a new “strong ain’s relationship with Europe would stand fi rm on sanctions Tusk who, as head of the Euro- Politicians who campaigned duce fl ood risk, including one in winters of 2013-14 and 2015-16. relationship”, Prime Minis- and its future standing in the against Russia over its actions in pean Council, leads the body that for Britain to leave the EU have Cumbria, which was hit hard last In March’s budget, a £700mn ter Theresa May told European world. Ukraine. defi nes the bloc’s political direc- taken the economic data as proof winter. boost was pledged, meaning Council President Donald Tusk “The main points that the May has given little away on tion and priorities, said on Twit- that the “Remain” campaign had “Last winter we saw just how some cities and towns that had yesterday. prime minister made were what she wants when Britain ter that it was “in everybody’s tried to frighten voters into stay- devastating fl ooding can be. This been left without planned fl ood At their fi rst one-to-one about working together so that leaves the EU, saying she will best interest to start ASAP (as ing by forecasting economic dif- review sets out clear actions so defences by the cuts are now get- meeting since May became prime there was a smooth process for not show her hand before Britain soon as possible).” fi culties. we are better prepared to respond ting the projects. The north of minister after Britain voted to the UK leaving the European triggers Article 50 of the EU’s Lis- Britain’s economy, while One, Liam Fox, who is now quickly in the event of future England, devastated by winter leave the European Union at a Union, that is why we are taking bon Treaty to start the exit proce- slowing sharply, has recovered trade minister, said Britain was fl ooding and can strengthen the fl oods, is getting at least £150mn June 23 referendum, Tusk said time to prepare for the nego- dure. from the initial impact of the pressing on with plans to reach nation’s fl ood defences,” said the of the new money, giving bet- the British leader should start the tiations,” the spokeswoman told That will not happen this year, vote. Reports published yester- agreements with some of the Environment Secretary, Andrea ter protection for thousands of formal procedure to leave the bloc reporters. she says. day showed fi rms increasing the world’s largest and fastest-grow- Leadsom. homes. as soon as possible. “We want to see a strong Eu- But while understanding the number of permanent staff and ing economies. Refurb project to force MPs ‘IS terror plot’ foiled out of Parliament building as two men arrested London Evening Standard arrested on suspicion of funding London terrorism and failure to disclose Reuters able to occupy the palace,” the opposition Labour lawmaker information regarding a terrorist London joint committee on the Palace Chris Bryant. act. of Westminster, set up to con- The committee recommend- cotland Yard yesterday He was also arrested on suspi- sider the renovation options, ed parliament now set up a de- smashed a suspected plot to cion of preparing terrorist acts un- he parliament should said in a report. livery authority to put together Slaunch an Islamic State ter- der a separate investigation by the completely vacate its “Unless an intensive pro- detailed plan and budget. ror attack in Britain after arresting south east counter terrorism unit. Thistoric Palace of West- gramme of major remedial A world heritage site and ma- two men in London. The current terrorist threat lev- minster building for six years work is undertaken soon, it is jor tourist attraction, the pal- Counter-terror detectives el in Britain is considered severe, in order to allow a multi-bil- likely the building will become ace includes the famous clock swooped on the pair in west Lon- meaning that an attack is highly lion pound major renovation uninhabitable.” tower housing the Big Ben bell. don and held both on suspicion of likely. project to take place, a com- The oldest building on the being involved in the “preparation Met commissioner Sir Bernard mittee of lawmakers said yes- “Unless an intensive site, Westminster Hall, dates of terrorist acts”. Hogan-Howe said recently that it terday. programme of major from 1099 and is still in daily The men, aged 19 and 20, were is a matter of “when, not if ” an IS The neo-Gothic fronted remedial work is use. held at the same address in an outrage is carried out in Britain. building on the banks of the undertaken soon, it is The committee said that early morning raid involving offi c- There have been a spate of ter- River Thames was rebuilt in likely the building will while the work, expected to be- ers from the Met’s counter terror- ror attacks in France and Ger- the mid-1800s following a fi re become uninhabitable” gin in the early 2020s, is carried ism command and the south east many and last month assistant and its mechanical and electri- out, the House of Commons counter terrorism unit. commissioner Mark Rowley, in cal services have not undergone The committee looked at a should relocate to the nearby A number of addresses in west charge of the UK’s counter terror major renovation since. series of options ranging from department of health’s build- and south-west London and the operations, said his offi cers were Last year an independent a six-year, £3.5bn programme ing, where a temporary cham- Thames Valley were also searched currently carrying out “hundreds report on required restoration involving lawmakers moving ber would be built in an inner by specialist offi cers yesterday. of investigations” into terror sus- work found asbestos through- out of the building, to a 32-year courtyard. Police would not comment on any pects. More armed offi cers have out the building, stonework rolling programme carried out Parliament’s upper chamber, seizures. The operation is under- been deployed across London and crumbling, roofs leaking and while it continued to function the House of Lords, should be stood to be “signifi cant” but police the Met recently revealed details of plumbing failing. as a parliament, at a cost of moved to an adjacent confer- refused to reveal further details of its new specialist counter-terror “There is a substantial and £5.7bn. ence centre, it said. the plot or its intended target. Both fi rearms offi cers. growing risk of either a single, “All the evidence points to “Both houses must act now men are from London. The latest arrests came days catastrophic event, such as a having to move out of the whole to restore and renew this his- The 19-year-old was arrested after preacher Anjem Choudary, major fi re, or a succession of palace simultaneously. That toric building for the future, on suspicion of preparing terrorist 49, was jailed after pledging al- incremental failures in essen- is the lowest risk, most cost- and to ensure that the Palace acts in connection with an investi- legiance to Islamic State. His net- tial systems which would lead eff ective and quickest option,” of Westminster is preserved for Scaff olding is seen on top of the Palace of Westminster which houses gation by the Met’s counter-terror work inspired plots in the UK and to parliament no longer being said committee member and future generations,” it said. the Houses of Parliament in central London yesterday. unit. The other man, aged 20, was overseas. Gulf Times 10 Friday, September 9, 2016 EUROPE 11,000 teachers suspended Reuters supporters of US-based Muslim against the PKK terrorist organi- links to Gulen’s network and half insurgency that has killed 40,000 though the local governor later leged support for Kurdish mili- Diyarbakir cleric Fethullah Gulen, accused sation in its history, both within of those arrested. people, most of them Kurds. denied it. tants. by Turkey of orchestrating an at- and across our borders,” Erdogan The scope of the crackdown The government suspended “Reports on the taking over of Diyarbakir is a province in Tur- tempted coup in July. said. has raised concern from rights 11,500 teachers over alleged two mayor’s offi ces in Diyarbakir key’s largely Kurdish southeast. urkey is waging the larg- Gulen has denied any involve- “Whether it’s the struggle groups and Turkey’s Western al- links to the PKK, an offi cial said do not refl ect the truth. There The Democratic Regions Party est operation in its history ment. against the PKK or against the lies who fear Erdogan is using the yesterday, after Prime Minister has not been such an appoint- (DBP), which runs the councils Tagainst Kurdish militants Erdogan has repeatedly said FETO, an important dimension failed coup as pretext to curtail Binali Yildirim said during a visit ment at this stage. If there is an and many across the region, has and the removal of civil servants that he will not stop in his ef- of this struggle is the removal of dissent. to the region over the weekend appointment, a statement will be been dubbed by Erdogan as an linked to them is a key part of the forts to quash both the outlawed civil servants that are extensions Following the coup, there has that there were an estimated made,” the governor’s offi ce said extension of the PKK, which has fi ght, President Recep Tayyip Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK) of these organisation within the been no let-up in the govern- 14,000 teachers with links to the in a statement. fought a three-decades-old con- Erdogan said yesterday, as more or followers of Gulen, a network state.” ment’s campaign against the PKK militants. Security offi cials, the private fl ict in the mainly Kurdish south- than 11,000 teachers were sus- Ankara has labeled as FETO, Turkey has sacked or suspend- in the mainly Kurdish southeast. Security offi cials and local Dogan news agency, and the east. pended. meaning “Gulen Terror Organi- ed 100,000 people following the The group, seen as a terror- media reports said the state had state-run Anadolu agency earlier The DBP is the local partner of The crackdown comes as An- sation”. failed July 15 coup. ist organisation by the United appointed administrators to two said the government appointed Turkey’s national pro-Kurdish kara also pushes ahead with a “We have run and are currently At least 40,000 people have States, Turkey and the European municipalities in the southeast- the administrators to replace a opposition party, the Peoples’ purge of tens of thousands of running the largest operations been detained on suspicion of Union, has waged a three-decade ern province of Diyarbakir, al- pro-Kurdish party because of al- Democratic Party (HDP). Two women sought over gas cylinders in Paris car Benedict admits

AFP the security services for links to Speaking yesterday, President “If it was an attack plot, the was driven by one of its followers. Paris radical Islamists. Francois Hollande referred to at- method was very strange,” a po- Less than two weeks later, two indecision while The man’s brother and his tack plots that have been foiled lice source said yesterday. young jihadists murdered a priest girlfriend, both aged 26, were “in recent days”, without elabo- Photographs of the car after it near the northern city of Rouen. rench police were search- arrested late on Wednesday, the rating. was discovered showed its boot In May, the head of France’s ing yesterday for two “radi- source said. A bar employee working near open and the gas cylinders placed DGSI domestic intelligence serv- he was the pope Fcalised” women linked to a The two women being sought Notre Dame raised the alert af- on the ground in a quiet side ice, Patrick Calvar, warned of a car containing six gas cylinders are the daughters of the owner ter noticing a gas cylinder on the street opposite the cathedral. “new form of attack” in which found near the Notre Dame ca- of the grey Peugeot 607 that was back seat of the car, police said. Interior Minister Bernard Ca- explosive devices would be Reuters thedral in central Paris. found abandoned on Sunday The car had no number plates zeneuve said on Wednesday that left near sites that attract large Vatican City Four people – two brothers near Notre Dame, which draws and its hazard lights were fl ash- the intentions of those arrested crowds. and their girlfriends – are cur- millions of visitors every year. ing. were as yet unknown. French security services are rently in custody over the discov- They have both been described Although the cylinder on the Hollande’s comments fol- particularly worried about the ormer pope Benedict XVI ery, a source close to the probe as “radicalised”. back seat was empty, fi ve full lowed a deadly summer in France danger posed by extremists re- has acknowledged that also said. France is on high alert follow- cylinders were discovered in the in which 86 people were killed turning from Syria after fi ghting Fhe was a better profes- A 34-year-old man and a ing a string of Islamist attacks, boot of the car. when a truck ploughed into a with IS forces. sor than a leader, revealing in 29-year-old woman, the fi rst including last November’s co- Three bottles of diesel fuel Bastille Day crowd in the south- Around 700 French nation- a new book that he sometimes couple arrested, have been held ordinated bloodshed in which were also discovered, but police ern resort of Nice. als are still in Syria, France’s top struggled to take decisions since Tuesday and are known to extremists killed 130 people. found no detonators. Islamic State said the truck prosecutor said last week. during his time in charge of the scandal-plagued Vatican. However, in a book-long interview, the German-born Benedict, who is now 89, said he did not regard his eight- Woman Relationships between women are year stint as head of the world’s 1.2bn Roman Catholics as a failure. on trial for Benedict stepped down as a mystery to men, says Portman pope in 2013, becoming the fi rst pontiff in 600 years to re- refusing sign, leaving behind a church Benedict: In reality I am more Reuters tainted with scandals and of a professor, a person who Venice snarled by mismanagement. reflects and meditates on customer In excerpts of the new book spiritual questions. published yesterday by Italian elationships between newspaper Corriere della Sera, But Benedict said the el- in a hijab women remain a mystery Benedict said he had not been evation of Francis, whom he Rto men, US-Israeli actress comfortable in a leadership described as experienced at Natalie Portman said at the role. “practical reform” unlike him- AFP Venice Film Festival yesterday, “One of my weak points is self, showed the church was Oslo adding her voice to calls for the perhaps a lack of resolve in moving forward. movie industry to employ more governing and in decision tak- Anger at the dysfunction- female directors. ing. In reality I am more of a al state that the Vatican had hairdresser went on trial Portman spoke while pre- professor, a person who re- fallen into in 2013 was one fac- in Norway yesterday for senting Planetarium, a drama in fl ects and meditates on spir- tor in the decision to choose Arefusing a Muslim client which she and Lily-Rose Depp itual questions,” Benedict said a non-European pope for the wearing a hijab, in the fi rst case play two spiritualists in late in the book, The Last Conver- fi rst time in nearly 1,300 years. in the country to go to court over 1930s France who are also sis- sations, by German journalist Benedict, widely viewed as the Islamic head covering. ters. Peter Seewald. a shy, scholarly man, said he Merete Hodne risks up to six Screening in the out-of-com- “Practical government is chose to write his resignation months in prison for religious petition section in Venice, it is not my strong point and that speech in Latin because he discrimination for turning Ma- directed by Rebecca Zlotowski. is certainly a weakness. But I knows the ancient language so lika Bayan away from her hair “It’s crazy that in 25 years of cannot see myself as a failure.” well that he could avoid any salon in Bryne, a small town in making fi lms this is the fi rst time Benedict described diffi - mistakes that he may have southwestern Norway, in Octo- I’ve been in a feature directed cult moments including scan- made in Italian. ber last year. by a woman,” the 35-year-old dals around child sex abuse by A more unexpected anec- According to the charge sheet, actress told a news conference priests, which he was accused dote emerged yesterday when Hodne told Bayan that “she ahead of the movie’s premiere. of not doing enough to stop, Seewald told German maga- would have to fi nd someplace Portman said there were no Actresses Natalie Portman (left) and Lily-Rose Depp on the red carpet before the screening of and over his lifting the excom- zine Die Zeit that Benedict, else because she didn’t accept inherent diff erences between Planetarium at the 73rd Venice Film Festival yesterday. munication of a Holocaust- found “serious” romance when (clients) like her”. female and male directors but denying bishop. he was a “good-looking young The 47-year-old hairdresser opportunities for women – at leads, including Amy Adams in lis, which she co-directed with which is what you get used to as He also mentioned the “Va- man”. told the court she saw the hijab least in the United States – were thrillers Arrival and Nocturnal Massimo D’Anolfi . an actress in the US,” she said. tiLeaks” case in which his but- “One of his fellow students as a political symbol represent- far fewer. Animals, Dakota Fanning in sur- Portman, who won an Os- Depp said she was attracted to ler leaked documents alleging told me that he had an eff ect ing an ideology that frightens That in turn aff ected how vival epic Brimstone and Port- car for her role in ballet thriller her role because of the charac- corruption at the Vatican, but on women, and vice versa. The her, rather than as a religious stories were told, she said, with man again as former fi rst lady Black Swan and made her own ter’s strength and depth, unu- said overall there had been a decision in favour of celibacy symbol. little regard to relationships be- Jacqueline Kennedy in drama directorial debut with drama sual in a cinematic portrayal of a “positive movement” during was not easy for him,” Seewald “I see it as a totalitarian sym- tween women which were “cen- Jackie. A Tale of Love and Darkness, young women. his papacy. said. bol. When I see a hijab, I don’t tral to any women’s existence But just two of the 20 mov- said she enjoyed working with “She knows things that the Benedict, who lives in the Seewald also recalled tell- think of religion, but of totali- but of course invisible to any ies vying for the coveted Golden 17-year-old Depp, the daughter adults surrounding her don’t grounds of the Vatican, re- ing the ailing Benedict: “‘Your tarian ideologies and regimes,” male imagination of female life”. Lion to be awarded tomorrow of maverick actor Johnny. know ... she’s strong because of vealed that the election of Ar- 90th birthday is next year, you she told the judges, cited by daily This year’s edition of the are directed by women; Ana Lily “It’s always a joy when you get that and she defends her fam- gentinian Cardinal Jorge Mario will surely still be around for Verdens Gang. world’s oldest fi lm festival fea- Amirpour’s The Bad Batch and to work with another woman on ily, she takes care of her sister,” Bergoglio as Pope Francis had that.’ And he said: ‘Well, hope- “A hijab is not religious, it’s tures several strong female Martina Parenti’s Spira Mirabi- set and not be ‘one of the boys’, Depp said. come as a huge surprise to him. fully not!’” political,” she added. Described by Norwegian me- dia as a former activist in Is- lamophobic movements such as Italy expels Muslim cleric who Pegida, Hodne recently told TV2 refused to accept gender parity news channel that the headscarf Italy court clears accused people smugglers was a symbol of “Islamic ideol- A Moroccan man who served as a “stand-in imam” in a mosque in ogy” – which she called “evil” – northern Italy was forcibly repatriated home because he refused to just like “the swastika is that of accept Italian constitutional rights such as gender parity, Interior Reuters a copy of the court ruling. the accused smugglers, who “would have meant certain Nazism”. Minister Angelino Alfano said yesterday. Rome Hundreds of similar cases are were taken into custody when death at the hands of the Liby- She said that accepting a Following the Charlie Hebdo Islamist attacks in Paris in January pending in Italy, and the ruling the rescue ship reached Pal- ans”, Modica said. woman in hijab as a client would 2015, Italy adopted legislation making it easier for police to arrest or may have set a “historic” prec- ermo. Palermo prosecutors Claudio have meant she would have had expel suspected terrorists. n Italian judge acquitted edent, said one of the defence “The defendants did not au- Camilleri and Maurizio Scalia to turn away male customers, Since then, 115 have been sent home, including 12 imams, Alfano two men accused of peo- lawyers in the case. tonomously and freely set out said they planned to appeal the since the woman would not have said in a statement. Aple smuggling and mur- The two were accused of both in the Mediterranean at the decision. been able to expose her hair with The latest case concerns a 33-year-old who acted as secretary of der, saying that they had been people smuggling and murder helm of a fl imsy boat impossi- In Italy, both prosecutors and men present. the Muslim Community of Treviso, an industrial town in northeast forced at gunpoint by Libyan because 12 people died during bly packed with people,” Judge defendants can appeal court The hairdresser refused to pay Italy about 40km north of Venice. traffi ckers to drive a rubber boat the attempted crossing in July Gigi Omar Modica wrote in his rulings. a fi ne of 8,000 kroner (€870, He was put on a plane to Casablanca late on Wednesday, the packed with migrants last year. 2015 when the rubber boat they ruling. Almost 800 suspected $980) for religious discrimina- minister said. A judge in the Sicilian city of were driving started to defl ate. Libyan people smugglers “scafi sti” or “boat smugglers” tion, and the case therefore went The decision was taken because the man refused to swear on the Palermo on Wednesday ordered The prosecution had sought forced them to take the helm were arrested in the 12 months before the Jaeren district court constitution before taking up Italian citizenship, arguing that his that Jammeh Sulieman and life sentences for both. at gunpoint, and then handed to July, the interior ministry said yesterday. ultra-conservative Salafist Islam beliefs were “fully incompatible” Dampha Bakary, from Senegal The other migrants on the them control of the boat only in August. “I have known racism and with Italy’s fundamental laws. and Gambia respectively, be re- boat were rescued by an Italian after it had taken to sea. More than 700 were arrested discrimination before this, lit- The Moroccan denounced Italian laws as “‘a collection of sins upon leased from prison, according to coastguard vessel, along with If they had turned back, it in the previous 12 months. tle looks and things like that, but sins’ such as, for example, parity between men and women”, Alfano I’ve never had it thrown in my said. face so clearly,” Bayan told the The minister has for weeks been publicising an anti-radicalisation Armenian prime minister resigns, says country needs new approach court, quoted by news agency campaign for Muslim preachers, which should lead to new rules NTB. requiring them to study Italian rules and customs and deliver their Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan consultations with parliament. In 2015 Armenia’s economy started to “It hurt me in several ways. I sermons in Italian. tendered his resignation at a government “We need a new approach, new start. deteriorate – economic growth slowed to felt small, stupid, not integrated, “We are working to create a new model of imam, which we could meeting yesterday, saying that the country That’s why I’ve decided to resign and let 3% in 2015 from 3.5% in 2014 and below the in pain. I couldn’t understand call needed fresh policies, after an economic the president form a new government,” government’s growth forecast of 4.1%. why a scarf on my head could ‘Italian imam’,” Alfano told the Libero newspaper in July, expressing slowdown and outbreaks of violence. Abrahamyan said. The government expects 2.2% economic provoke this,” she said. concern that current Muslim clerics in Italy are all foreign-trained His announcement paves the way for the A former parliamentary speaker and an growth in 2016. The verdict is expected on “and therefore have diff erent values from us and sometimes radical cabinet to resign and the president to economist by training, Abrahamyan was Armenia, a country of 3.2mn, depends Monday. inclinations”. appoint a new prime minister following appointed prime minister two years ago. heavily on aid from Russia. Gulf Times Friday, September 9, 2016 11 INDIA

Tuk-tuk trip from India to UK halted by passport theft in France

Guardian News and Media one country short of his intend- project/mission. Especially for – hopefully on Monday – he will he said they were very helpful He said the theft of the cash the mountains in Turkey in hail- London ed destination after his pass- them to imagine a guy from In- have racked up 10,000km in the when they found an English- would not prevent him reaching stones on a narrow road with a port and wallet were stolen from dia to do this, (it) is exciting for vehicle he has named Tejas, which speaking offi cer and came to un- his fi nal destination as he need- sideways incline, with one set his parked vehicle in Sarcelles, them. I left the tuk only for 10 means radiance or brilliance. derstand the details of his trip. ed money only for food, much of tyres close to the side of the n engineer travelling north of Paris, while he was us- minutes or so. Normally I always Rabelli bought the tuk-tuk for Rabelli had contacted the of which was donated anyway. mountain and the other close to from India to the UK in a ing a bathroom. have my things with me all the $1,500 and spent $11,500 cus- Australian embassy in France As well as food, people have of- the edge of the cliff , an experi- Asolar-powered tuk-tuk to The 35-year-old is now await- time. It was just this time, since tomising it. As well as making it for an emergency passport. He fered him accommodation and ence he described as “terrifying.” promote clean energy has been ing a new passport so that he can I had to urgently use the toilet. I run on solar and electric power, he became an Australian citizen the use of showers. Rabelli said Rabelli says his goal is to cre- thwarted agonisingly close to his cross the Channel and fi nish his left my passport in the tuk-tuk.” installed a bed, solar cooker and when he worked there for three he had washed at police stations ate awareness of the potential goal after being robbed in France. journey at Buckingham Palace. He has travelled through Iran, a cupboard, which he stocks with years as an automotive engineer. and petrol stations and in shops, for solar-powered passenger Naveen Rabelli, who set off “Till yesterday I had zero bad Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, food donated by well-wishers. He later returned to India, where lakes and rivers along the way. vehicles in Asian and European from Kochi in Kerala, in Febru- experiences,” Rabelli said. “Peo- Austria, Germany and Switzer- After initial diffi culties com- he was born and brought up, and Until the theft, he said, his countries, presenting an Indian ary, has had to pause his journey ple were absolutely loving my land, and when he gets to London municating with French police, pursued project Tejas. worst moment was travelling in solution to the world. Mumbai court sentences man to death for acid attack murder

Agencies a group of men who have been Mumbai convicted but are on bail pend- ing an appeal. About 300 acid attacks were Mumbai court yesterday reported in India in 2015, ac- sentenced a man to death cording to the latest offi cial Afor murdering a woman crime fi gures. by throwing acid on her face Experts say these fi gures and after she rejected his marriage similar ones in other South proposal, in a landmark judge- Asian countries are likely to ment. represent only the tip of the ice- Ankur Panwar was found berg. guilty on Tuesday of hurling Deaths are rare but scores of sulphuric acid on 24-year-old survivors face lifelong scars and Preeti Rathi in a fi t of jealousy battle social stigma. outside a railway station in The Supreme Court ordered Mumbai in May 2013. states in 2013 to enforce restric- Rathi, who was a neighbour of tions on the sale of acid in a bid Panwar’s in New Delhi and had to curb attacks, but Mukherjee US President Barack Obama meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the East Asia summit in Vientiane yesterday. just arrived in Mumbai to start a and other campaigners say it re- new job as a nurse, died in hos- mains easy to purchase. pital of multiple organ failure the The victim’s family applauded following month. yesterday’s decision, saying it “The court has awarded the should now be swiftly carried death penalty to Ankur Panwar. out. I convinced the court that the “We had sought the death acid attack belonged to the rarest penalty since the beginning so of rare cases,” public prosecutor the verdict is good. Now, we PM seeks action against Ujjwal Nikam said. want it to be carried out without The Supreme Court says capi- any delay,” Hitesh Rathi, Preeti’s tal punishment should only be brother, said. carried out in “the rarest of rare” “I am fully satisfi ed by the cases in India, among a dwin- verdict. Justice has been done to dling group of nations that still our daughter,” said the victim’s have the death penalty on their father. state sponsors of terror statute books. He said if the verdict is chal- “This is a landmark judgement lenged it in the Supreme Court, IANS Modi said most countries in cluding through membership Sea (Unclos),” the prime minis- clos, India urges all parties to for such crimes. This is the fi rst he would fi ght the case there Vientiane, Laos the South Asian region were of export control regimes, to ter said. show utmost respect for the time that such a judgement has too. pursuing a peaceful path to eco- pursuing total and verifi able China is involved in disputes Unclos,” he said. been passed for an acid attack- Police alleged Panwar, report- nomic prosperity. elimination of weapons of mass with littoral countries of the re- Before leaving for New Delhi related case against a woman,” edly 26, and a hotel management rime Minister Narendra “But, there is one country in destruction. gion over the South China Sea yesterday afternoon, Modi held said Nikam. graduate, had committed the Modi yesterday called India’s neighbourhood whose Since its inception in 2005 particularly over the Spratly a meeting with US President “The convict had a one-sid- crime out of jealousy after she Pfor the strongest action competitive advantage rests – India is a founding mem- and Paracel groups of islands. Barack Obama in what could ed love for the victim. He asked rejected his marriage proposal against states that use terrorism solely in producing and export- ber – the East Asia Summit In July, an international ar- be the last bilateral between the her not to travel to Mumbai and and had wanted to disfi gure her as an instrument of state policy ing terrorism.” has played a significant role in bitration tribunal at the Per- two before the Obama leaves of- wanted to marry her, but the face to destroy her career. while outlining India’s princi- India-Pakistan relations have the strategic, geopolitical and manent Court of Arbitration in fi ce in January next year. girl had rejected his marriage Panwar’s lawyer said she pled stand on the South China soured in recent times follow- economic evolution of the re- The Hague ruled in favour of the Obama expressed confi dence proposal,” Nikam told report- would appeal the verdict – de- Sea issue. ing the killing of Hizbul Muja- gion. Philippines in its dispute with that the Goods and Services ers. livered at a special court dealing “We need to target not only hideen militant Burhan Wani Elaborating on India’s prin- China over the South China Sea. Tax (GST), passed by the Indian Activists welcomed the sen- with crimes against women – to the terrorists, but also their in Kashmir in July. Pakistan de- cipled stand on the South China While the Philippines wel- parliament last month, would tence which they said would go the Bombay High Court. entire supporting ecosystem,” scribed Wani as a “martyr.” Sea issue, Modi said the lanes comed it, China reacted angrily unleash signifi cant economic a long way to preventing future “We are moving the case to Modi said while addressing the Over 70 people have died in of communication passing calling the verdict null and void activity. attacks, but criticised the length the high court. There is no sec- 11th East Asia Summit here, the large-scale violence in the state through the sea were the “main with no binding force and that Apart from Obama, Modi of time taken to bring the of- ond thought about it,” Apeksha premier forum of the Asia-Pa- since then. arteries of global merchandise “China neither accepts it nor held bilateral meetings with fender to justice. Vora said. cifi c region. Terrorism was the most seri- trade.” recognises it.” South Korean President Park “It is a welcome judgment Nikam successfully argued “And, our strongest action ous challenge to open and plu- “India supports freedom of Modi said India believed Geun-hye, State Counsellor but it has come too late. It took that Panwar’s attack had been should be reserved for those ralistic societies, Modi said, and navigation, over fl ight, and un- “that the threat or use of force and Foreign Minister of Myan- a fast-track court three years to premeditated. state actors who employ ter- called for collective eff orts to impeded commerce, based on to resolve disputes would com- mar Aung San Suu Kyi and Laos punish the guilty,” said Sonali Vora had pleaded leniency for rorism as an instrument of state combat the scourge. the principles of international plicate matters aff ecting peace Prime Minister Thongloun Sis- Mukherjee, whose own face was her client, saying that he was his policy,” he said without naming The prime minister said In- law, as noted in the 1982 UN and stability.” oulith during the course of the severely disfi gured in 2003 by family’s sole breadwinner. Pakistan. dia remained committed, in- Convention on the Law of the “As a state party to the Un- day.

Delhi sees spike in dengue Mahindra-Ola deal and chikungunya cases to ‘empower drivers’ IANS platform,” the statement said. Agencies Lalit Dar of the Department of Government-run Safdarjung Bengaluru The alliance seeks to en- New Delhi Microbiology at AIIMS, said. Hospital offi cials said a total of courage micro-entrepreneur- Dengue is accompanied by 10-12 senior faculty members ship among drivers, to ad- high fever, severe headache and have tested positive for chikun- utomobile manufac- dress India’s growing mobility ew Delhi has seen a 60% muscle and joint pain and rashes. gunya and at least 25 junior doc- turer Mahindra and needs, it said. spike in mosquito-borne As the fever dips, the blood tors, including senior and junior AMahindra and ride- “The Mahindra-Ola pack- Ndiseases like dengue and platelet count falls, a stage at residents, are also suff ering from hailing firm Ola have entered age focuses on fi nancial in- chikungunya during the past which the disease could become chikungunya and dengue. into a strategic alliance, tar- clusion by empowering driver week, Health Department offi - fatal. A total of 15,867 cases of den- geting vehicle sales and fi- partners who otherwise may cials said. Chikungunya, also mosquito- gue and 60 deaths were reported nancing of over Rs26bn in not be able to invest in a car, Four people have died of den- borne, is usually accompanied between June 1 and October 31 two years. to purchase one at a highly gue in this season’s outbreak, by severe and, at times, debili- in 2015, according to the federal “Through this strategic al- aff ordable price, and at up Municipal Corporation of Delhi tating joint and muscle pain, Health Ministry. liance, they target 40,000 to zero down payment,” the health offi cer N K Yadav said. along with fever, headache, nau- The Municipal Corporation of driver partners aiming overall statement said. More than 700 cases of den- sea and rash. Delhi is carrying out regular fog- vehicle sales and fi nancing of “This is an important stra- gue and more than 560 cases of It is considered less dangerous ging in areas with high mosquito over $400mn (Rs26bn) in two tegic alliance for the Mahindra chikungunya had been reported than dengue. densities. years,” a joint statement from Group, one that I believe will in India’s capital since June, Ya- The chikungunya outbreak The state and federal health the two companies said here change the contours of our dav said, adding that the fi gures this time seemed to be milder departments are also carry- yesterday. industry, while giving us the were expected to rise. than the past and victims were ing out awareness campaigns “Ola’s driver partners can fi rst mover advantage in the However, the All India Insti- recovering faster, Yadav said. in print and electronic media now avail of Mahindra-Ola fast growing sharing economy tute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Doctors say the actual number across the country. package which will include of India,” Anand Mahindra, said yesterday it has tested over of dengue and chikungunya cas- Mosquitoes carry diseases Mahindra cars at special pric- chairman of Mahindra Group 400 new samples for chikun- es are likely to be much higher, as like dengue, chikungunya and es, attractive fi nancing with said. gunya in the last two weeks. only about a third of total cases malaria. They breed in stagnant zero down payment, and the “Our alliance with Mahin- “The samples testing for are reported. water and there is often a spike in best non-banking fi nancial dra will help build signifi cant chikungunya is rising. Till now Among the aff ected are also cases after monsoon rains. company (NBFC) interest scale by innovatively build- some 885 samples have tested several doctors of both central West Bengal, Odisha and Ker- Chairman and managing director of the Mahindra and Mahindra rates, subsidised insurance ing more mobility options and positive for dengue and out of and Delhi government hospitals, ala states have reported more Group, Anand Mahindra (left) shakes hands with CEO of Ola cabs, premiums, comprehensive newer use cases in the time to which over 400 are new one test- which has led to staff crunch in than 5,000 cases each of dengue Bhavish Aggarwal during a joint press conference in Mumbai maintenance packages, as well come,” Bhavish Aggarwal, co- ed positive in the last two weeks,” various departments. each this year. yesterday. as exclusive benefi ts on the Ola founder and CEO of Ola said. Gulf Times 12 Friday, September 9, 2016 INDIA

POLITICS CULTURE APPOINTMENT CRIME CONTROVERSY Akhilesh promises Classical music, dance New team takes Rs30mn seized from Union govt should more freebies to UP state artistes to perform charge of Aadhaar BJP leader’s car not stoop low: Kerala

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav Classical music and dance performers like Retired IAS off icer J Satyanarayana was yesterday Cash amounting to Rs30mn was recovered Kerala Industries and Sports Minister E P yesterday said he will soon announce more Sivamani, Fazal Qureshi, Balabhaskar, Bickram appointed as part-time chairman of Unique from the car of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Jayarajan yesterday said the central government schemes like the distribution of free laptops Ghosh, Aditi Mangaldas and Vishwa Mohan Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which leader in Ghaziabad yesterday, police said. The should behave in a responsible manner and and smartphones to the people of his state. Bhatt with his son Salil Bhatt will perform at a issues Aadhaar, an off icial statement said. “Minister car was coming from Delhi and was headed “should not stoop low,” after New Delhi sought Speaking at a function of the Uttar Pradesh Urdu three-day mega concert to be held from today for Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad for Lucknow, an off icial said. It had a Haryana a report on a crude bomb attack on a Bharatiya Academy, Yadav said he has been told that the in Delhi, Noida and Gurgaon. It is HCL’s initiative administered the oath of off ice and secrecy to J number plate (HR 26 AR 9662). The Maruti Janata Party off ice in Thiruvananthapuram. His Bharatiya Janata Party was rattled about the to encourage people to stay connected to their Satyanarayana,” the statement said. Satyanarayana, Swift car was intercepted at Indirapuram when response came following reports that Home scheme and was planning to petition the Election culture, heritage and traditions. The aficionados a former IAS off icer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, has the driver tried to break through a police Minister Rajnath Singh called up Chief Minister Commission of India (ECI) alleging that the state of classical music and dance will witness an close to four decades of experience in varied areas barricade. The police chased the car and on Pinarayi Vijayan following the crude bomb attack government was bribing people. He, however, ensemble representing a wide repertoire of music of governance having served as the secretary, checking found the cash in the boot. The car on a BJP state unit off ice on Tuesday night. While asserted that he was not shaken by the charge. genres, including world fusion, semi-classical Department of Electronics and Information is registered in the name of Ajeet Mishra of the state and national leaders of the BJP alleged “I am committed to the people of the state and music, contemporary classical dance and pure Technology from 2012 to 2014 before retiring. He Gurgaon and two persons, Siddhartha Shukla that it was the work of the Communist Party of their welfare and would do everything that can classical jugalbandis (fusion music). “With HCL has been instrumental in training political leaders and Anoop Agarwal, were travelling in the car India (Marxist), the ruling party in the state has be done,” he said while brushing aside charges Concerts, we aim to build an appreciation for the and policy makers on the concepts and principles of at the time. The two said the money belonged denied it. Following the attack, Singh called up that the smartphones were to lure people into Indian classical performing arts among audiences e-governance. Rajesh Jain and Anand Deshpande to them and that they were taking it to deposit Vijayan and expressed concern over and sought voting for the ruling Samajwadi Party. of all age groups and interests,” an off icial said. were appointed part-time members of UIDAI. it in the party fund in Lucknow. a report. HC quashes appointment of AAP’s 21 secretaries Delhi’s ruling party suff ers earmarked space in the ministers’ was arrested last week after the major blow offi ces to help them in the offi cial woman approached Sultanpuri work. police station in north Delhi with IANS Additional Solicitor General a complaint of sexual harassment Cricketer-turned politician Navjot Singh Sidhu addresses a press conference organised to launch his new political front Awaaz-e-Punjab in New Delhi Sanjay Jain appearing for the cen- against him, following which a Chandigarh yesterday. tral government had said “even if case was fi led. you are using a driver, it is an of- The woman alleged in her n a setback to Chief Minister fi ce of profi t.” complaint that she was sexually Arvind Kejriwal’s govern- NGO Rashtriya Mukti Morcha harassed by Kumar at his offi ce- Iment, the Delhi High Court had sought scrapping of the ap- cum-residence in Sultanpuri area yesterday quashed the appoint- pointments as these were “un- where she had gone to get her ra- ment of 21 parliamentary secre- constitutional, illegal and with- tion card made. Kejriwal didn’t want me to taries after the ruling Aam Aadmi out jurisdiction.” She had also alleged that Ku- Party conceded that Lt Governor The petition said the chief mar had off ered her a spiked drink Najeeb Jung’s approval was not minister had “no power, jurisdic- following which she could not re- taken. tion or authority” to administer call what exactly happened with Following the submission of the oath of offi ce to parliamentary her and how she had acted. contest Punjab polls: Sidhu the government and in light of secretaries. Kumar was sacked after an al- its recent judgment giving pri- The Congress Party said the leged “sex video” involving him IANS was against the system and Indian hockey team captain the media to ask the BJP leader- macy to the LG in administrative court order was a vindication of became viral. Chandigarh leaders who had “ruined” Pun- Pargat Singh, a legislator of ship if he and his wife, Navjot control of the capital, a bench of its stand and demanded the dis- He later defended himself, say- jab. With this announcement, Punjab’s ruling Shiromani Akali Kaur, who is also a sitting BJP Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice qualifi cation of the legislators. ing he had resigned on his own he has closed all doors on his Dal, and two independent leg- legislator in Punjab, were still Sangita Dhingra Sehgal quashed “What AAP has done by ap- and claimed that he had been tar- ricketer-turned-politi- speculated association with islators, Balwinder Singh Bains with the party or not. the appointments. pointing 21 MLAs as parliamenta- geted because he was a Dalit. cian Navjot Singh Sidhu any party. and Simarjeet Singh Bains, dur- “Let me make one thing very The AAP government told the ry secretaries is completely illegal Also yesterday, AAP lead- Cyesterday revealed why Sidhu’s revelations on the ing the launch of the front. clear. My resignation from the court that the appointment of and unconstitutional,” Congress er Ashutosh told the National his much-speculated associa- AAP episode, which he de- Pargat Singh was last month Rajya Sabha had nothing to do 21 parliamentary secretaries was spokesman Ajoy Kumar said. Commission for Women (NCW) tion with the Aam Aadmi Party scribed as the “other half truth” suspended from the Akali Dal with the AAP. It was purely my made without approval of the “All the 21 MLAs of the AAP to take cognisance of a case of never happened. that had not been revealed by for “anti-party” activities. The decision as I wanted to work for Lieutenant Governor. The court should be disqualifi ed,” he added. snooping on a woman in Gujarat He said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal in his tweets, came on a Bains brothers, who had fallen Punjab,” he said. was hearing a public interest liti- The Congress leader also said allegedly by Narendra Modi while Kejriwal had asked him not day when the AAP chief started out with the Akali Dal top lead- Sidhu lambasted Punjab’s gation (PIL) challenging the AAP that the Delhi High Court order is he was the Gujarat chief minister to contest the Punjab assem- his four-day Punjab trip to reju- ership three years ago, have sig- ruling Badal family, particularly government’s decision to appoint vindication of what the party has and Bharatiya Janata Party chief bly elections but only focus on venate the party’s crisis-ridden nifi cant infl uence in Ludhiana Deputy Chief Minister and Shi- the party legislators as parlia- been saying for long. Amit Shah. campaigning for it. unit. district. romani Akali Dal president Su- mentary secretaries. Taking a dig at Kejriwal, Kumar Ashutosh, who appeared be- Giving details of his talks with Sidhu said the move to launch The political front, which is khbir Singh Badal, for trying to Earlier, the government had said: “Kejriwal and his leaders fore the panel in compliance the AAP after he resigned from the new political front was to likely to be converted into a par- scuttle him politically. defended its decision to appoint preach that they believe in de- with a summons, told reporters the Rajya Sabha in July, Sidhu ensure that people in Punjab and ty later, is likely to contest all 117 He even linked the Badal fam- the party legislators as parlia- mocracy but they are guilty of de- later, “I appeared before them said the AAP leadership, partic- Punjabiat won. assembly seats in the elections ily to “kale badal” (black clouds) mentary secretaries, saying the stroying institutions in political (NCW) because I have faith in ularly Kejriwal, were non-com- “Our slogan is ‘Punjab will to be held early next year. over Punjab and added that a move did not amount to creation impropriety and mudslinging.” the Constitution of this country mittal on his role if he joined win’ this time. Punjabiat will The former Rajya Sabha new light would soon dawn on of a “public offi ce.” In other developments, a New and the institutions established ranks with them. win. Our fi ght is against the member had on September 2 the state. He said that Chief After coming to power in Feb- Delhi court extended till today by it.” “Like the BJP, they (AAP) system that has ruined Punjab. fl oated the new political front Minister Parkash Singh Badal ruary 2015, the Kejriwal govern- the police custody of sacked AAP “I told them that your letter is wanted to make me another People with selfi sh interests online. was a “do akhaan wala Dhri- ment appointed the parliamen- minister Sandeep Kumar, ar- in violation of my fundamental decoration piece. Kejriwal told have overridden interests of the Sidhu, who is a Bharatiya Ja- trashtra” (King Dhritrashtra, tary secretaries, saying this would rested on charges of rape follow- rights. If I have done something me not to contest and only cam- state. People want change in nata Party member, said that the blind king from Mahabharat, facilitate smooth functioning but ing a complaint by a woman who wrong, you can hang me. But the paign for the party. I was of- governance. he had resigned from the Rajya with two eyes). made it clear that they won’t re- fi gured in a video with him in an Constitution of India gives me fered that my wife will be made “At this stage, Awaaz-e-Pun- Sabha as the BJP had given him He accused the ruling family ceive any remuneration or perks objectionable position. freedom of expression and I wrote a minister,” Sidhu told reporters jab is not a party. It is a forum for two options – either to support of running the government in of any kind from the government, During in-camera proceedings, that blog under this right,” he said. here. good governance,” Sidhu said, and campaign for Badals or not Punjab for the past decade as a and hence there will not be any Special Judge Poonam Chaudhary The NCW summoned The chirpy Sidhu, who for- adding that the forum should be to look towards Punjab. personal fi efdom and putting burden on the exchequer. remanded Kumar in one-day. Ashutosh for writing an article mally announced a new po- given 15-20 days to work out its “I refused to accept either of their self-interests before the The order, however, permitted The former social welfare and in defence of Kumar, which the litical front ‘Awaaz-e-Punjab’ future course. these two conditions and re- interests of the state and its them to use government trans- women and child development women’s panel found “insulting here yesterday, said his fi ght Sidhu was fl anked by former signed,” Sidhu said. He asked people. port for offi cial purposes and minister in the Delhi government and demeaning” towards women.

India launches rocket with Govt slammed over new cryogenic technology ‘fl exi’ train fares IANS day after Indian Railways an- DPA peratures to prevent them from director P Kunhikrishnan said. New Delhi nounced fl exi pricing in its three Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh turning into gas. In the current mission, the cry- premium trains. Indian scientists have been de- ogenic unit propelled one of the According to the new system, veloping the technology for over rocket’s three stages. pposition parties yester- the base fares of these trains will ndia has successfully carried two decades, with some hitches At 415 tonnes, the GSLV-F05 day slammed the govern- increase by 10% with every 10% out a crucial mission using and failed tests. is ISRO’s heaviest launch vehicle Oment’s decision on “fl exi of berths sold subject to a pre- Inew cryogenic rocket technol- Yesterday’s mission was sig- so far. It successfully launched fares” on certain trains and de- scribed ceiling limit. ogy, expected to feature in a moon nifi cant as it is the fi rst opera- an advanced weather satellite, manded a rollback. The Communist Party of India mission in 2017, scientists of the tional test of the technology, ISRO weighing 2,211kg into a geo-syn- The Congress termed the surge (Marxist) said the fares will be Indian Space Research Organisa- spokesman D P Karnik said. chronous orbit. pricing as “Tuglaki Farmaan” by extended to other trains too. tion (ISRO) said yesterday. The GSLV is set to be used for According to ISRO, the major the Narendra Modi-led govern- The “fl exi fares” provide for an “We have achieved another India’s second moon mission users of this technology in India ment. increase in fares up to 50% over landmark. The launch vehicle Chandrayaan 2, scheduled for are the defence services, the Coast “Battling rising price of essen- and above the normal fares for performed extremely success- some time in 2017-2019, Karnik Guard, the Airports Authority of tial commodities and runaway 90% of the seats on these three fully,” ISRO chairman A S Kiran said. India, the Directorate General of food infl ation, the latest decision categories of trains, a CPM state- Kumar Rao said. Scientists at the Satish Dha- Shipping and fi shermen. by the government to impose ment said. Doordarshan TV showed live wan Space Centre on the island of The Indian alert service re- ‘surge pricing’ through ‘fl exi fare “This scheme, however, ex- footage of the lift-off of the latest Sriharikota applauded as tracking gion includes a large part of the system’ in Rajdhani, Duranto and cludes the highest class of travel version of the Geosynchronous systems at the centre showed the Indian Ocean region covering Shatabdi trains is a rude shock AC I and Executive Chair, re- Satellite Launch Vehicle cryogenic unit performing opti- India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the for the ordinary people of India,” fl ecting the pro-rich bias of the (GSLV-F05) from a space cen- mally. Maldives, Nepal, Seychelles, Sri Congress leader Randeep Sur- government,” it said. tre at Sriharikota. ISRO scientists hugged each Lanka and Tanzania. jewala said in a statement. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind The rocket, which put a weath- other once the rocket ejected the In recent years India’s record “It is high time the Modi gov- Kejriwal demanded its rollback. er satellite in orbit, was powered satellite. of successful satellite launches ernment realises its mistake “AAP strongly opposes surge in its fi nal stage by cryogenic “Another magnifi cent mission; has showcased the reliability and Bystanders look on as the Indian Space Research Organisation’s and rolls back this ‘Tuglaki Far- pricing in railways and demands technology that uses liquid fuels now we have to develop an entire the cost-eff ectiveness of its space satellite INSAT-3DR, on board the Geosynchronous Satellite maan’,” he demanded. that it should be rolled back,” Ke- that have to be kept at low tem- cryogenic engine,” the project’s programme. Launch Vehicle (GSLV-F05) launches from Sriharikota yesterday. Surjewala’s remarks came a jriwal tweeted. Gulf Times Friday, September 9, 2016 13

LATIN AMERICA Doctors warn Haiti ripe for large Zika outbreak Reuters health ministry offi cial, said the abnormalities. sation’s representative in Haiti. shares the island of Hispaniola and 50 per 100,000 in Dominican In Haiti, the number of cases Port-au-Prince public service posters would be Widespread fumigation that “There is under-reporting.” with Haiti and has a similar pop- Republic. reported each week generally distributed to hospitals and air- has limited the virus’ spread in Such an epidemic could ulation and climate. The connection between Zika dropped from February through ports shortly, but that health other Caribbean nations such severely strain Haiti’s frag- Haiti by contrast, has reported and microcephaly fi rst came to the rains. A long strike by medical osters warning of the dan- funding had been cut this year as Cuba only began in Haiti last ile healthcare system, bat- 3,000 suspected cases, accord- light last fall in Brazil, which has residents at most public hospi- gers of Zika only reached and foreign aid was sparse to month. tered by an earthquake in 2010 ing to numbers shared by the US since confi rmed more than 1,800 tals coincided with that decline, PHaiti’s health ministry fi ght the mosquito-borne virus Publicity campaigns have been that killed 300,000, and still Centers for Disease Control and cases of microcephaly. raising the question of whether in August, six months after the that can cause severe birth de- all but invisible and hospital struggling with a cholera epi- Prevention. In the Dominican Republic there were fewer infections or a country reported an outbreak, in fects. workers were on strike for much demic that has sickened nearly That makes Haiti’s Zika infec- there were spikes in infections in lack of health workers available one example of delayed preven- Zika infections in pregnant of the year. 800,000 people. tion rate about 30 per 100,000 March and May, broadly coincid- to register cases. tion eff orts that have health ex- women have been shown to cause “We’re expecting a large epi- WHO data show 5,000 sus- people, compared to 82 per ing with rainy seasons on both A Zika task force, which in- perts worried a “large epidemic” microcephaly — a defect in which demic but we don’t know when pected cases have been reported 100,000 in Brazil, where the sides of the island, a time when cludes the government and non- is looming. babies’ heads and brains are un- it will occur,” said Jean-Luc Pon- in more prosperous neighbour connection between Zika and mosquitoes and diseases they governmental organisations, was Gabriel Thimothe, a senior dersized — as well as other brain celet, the World Health Organi- Dominican Republic, which microcephaly was fi rst detected, carry normally fl ourish. formed in May, Thimothe said.

Haiti ‘lost Stranded migrants time and Argentina millions to annulled election’ softens stand

AFP Port-au-Prince against UK aiti presidential hope- ful Jovenel Moise, the Htop fi nisher in last fall’s invalidated polls, has lamented the time and money lost to the annulled election in the poorest country in the Americas. on Falklands Moise — former president Michel Martelly’s hand-picked Guardian News and Media to fi fth place in the latest straw drocarbons was “a sensible thing candidate — won 32.8% of the Buenos Aires poll of Security Council members. to discuss and could make sense”. October 25 vote. Two further straw polls are ex- She argued her country might But the results were tossed by pected shortly, before a further be willing to lift restrictions on air the government after an inde- rgentina is willing to con- poll in October, which will reveal fl ights from Latin America if some pendent commission concluded sider resuming direct whether any permanent Security of the fl ights went direct to Bue- the vote had been plagued by Afl ights to and from the Council member will veto a spe- nos Aires. She also pointed out “massive fraud.” Falklands Islands and a joint UK- cifi c candidate. that an International Red Cross To avoid a power vacuum un- Argentinian exploration of hy- Malcorra said she was looking delegation had visited the Falk- til the next vote can be held, the drocarbons around the islands, for confi dence-building meas- lands to start the process of iden- country’s parliament named the Argentinian foreign minister, ures between the UK and Argen- tifying the bodies of Argentinian Jocelerme Privert as interim Susana Malcorra, has said. tina, and heralded a change in soldiers buried on the islands. president after Martelly left offi ce Alan Duncan, the UK Foreign rhetoric. “The previous adminis- Malcorra is in London for a in February. Offi ce minister, is due in Buenos tration was very confrontational, major conference on UN peace- “The country lost $100mn Aires next week for bilateral talks and we do not want that. We both keeping, and proposed reforms and we have lost a year,” Moise along with a UK business del- recognise that solving this prob- to make the performance of the said, recalling the cost of the 2015 egation, and the off er suggests lem will take time. Our claim to peacekeepers much more ac- election. Britain’s soured relations with the Malvinas will be sustained, countable after successive stories The fi rst round of the resched- Argentina are set for a more posi- but as part of the approach of a of UN forces sexually exploiting uled presidential election is set tive turn after years of diplomatic good neighbour. or abusing the population they for October 9, with a second confl ict following Argentina’s in- “We think over the long term a have been sent to protect. round on January 8. vasion of the Falklands in 1982. solution can be found but in the With the Chinese warming to Nearly 6.2mn voters are eligi- Duncan will also appear at the meantime we can and should be her candidacy and the US sup- ble to cast their ballots. inaugural Argentina Business respectful, and fi nd ways to open portive, the biggest stumbling Moise, a 48-year-old entre- and Investment Forum, due to be up the opportunities for confi - block to Malcorra’s candidature preneur, had never worked in attended by more than 40 UK- dence-building measures. There may be the attitude of the Rus- politics before spring 2015, when based business leaders. has been a zero-sum approach, sians and her status as former he was tapped by Martelly to Stressing that Argentina’s but we think if we sit at the table, chief of staff to Ban Ki-moon. represent the PHTK party in the claim to the Falklands is implant- and are positive and creative there The Russians in principle back presidential election. ed in its constitution, Malcorra, are alternatives.” a candidate from eastern Europe, He is running against 26 can- one of the leading candidates to She added that 80% of Anglo- on the basis that it is the region’s didates and has been targeted become the fi rst female secretary Argentinian relations were co- turn to run the world body, but with accusations of corruption general of the UN in the organisa- operative, and the task was to she is drawing support with her and money laundering. tion’s history, told the Guardian work on the remaining 20%. appeal to rein in the mushroom- “In Haiti’s politics, mud will she wanted to end the era of con- At present only Chile currently ing UN bureaucracy, focus on re- be thrown on your white clothes,” frontation. has an approved air route to the sults and bring a remote bureauc- Moise said, shrugging off the She also expressed confi dence Falklands after the government racy closer to the people. charges. “I am someone who has that the UK would not regard her of Nestor Kirchner banned char- With her experience in the worked honestly my whole life to nationality as a reason to veto her ter fl ights from passing through private sector as well as 10 years get to where I am. bid to succeed the current UN Argentinian air space. Under the at the UN, Malcorra has experi- “This is a purely political is- secretary general, Ban Ki-moon. previous administration the Ar- ence of breaking glass ceilings sue,” he said, adding that he had One of fi ve women still in the gentinian congress also approved and added: “I have an insider- not been contacted by authorities 10-strong race, Malcorra received a law that penalises companies outsider perspective. I have the over the accusations. warm support from the Chinese that explore and exploit hydro- advantage of knowing enough Another controversy for Moise at the G20 in China earlier this carbons without authorisation about what needs to change came after he was seen with Guy African migrants stranded in Costa Rica walk along the Inter-American Highway at the border week, and is now back in the run- from Buenos Aires. without being so deeply in- Philippe, a Senate candidate who between Costa Rica and Nicaragua, in Penas Blancas, Costa Rica. ning in a highly unpredictable Malcorra said joint ventures grained in the bureaucracy as to is accused of murder. race, after having fallen from third between the two countries on hy- be run by it.” Spending cuts fi rst test Oil drilling begins at Yasuni nature reserve for Mexico’s new minister Reuters a new era for Ecuadorean oil,” said Tiputini, Ecuador Vice President Jorge Glas after a tour of the site. Reuters omist fi rst as energy minister, country’s credit rating following “In this new era, fi rst comes Mexico City then in 2011 as fi nance minister. a marked increase in debt. cuador has begun drill- care for the environment and sec- Soft spoken and diplomatic, “The government will have to ing for oil near an Amazon ond responsibility for the com- Meade is widely liked in Mexican tighten its belt, not the families Enature reserve known as munities and the economy, for econd-time fi nance min- political circles. or companies of Mexico,” said Yasuni, a site that President Ra- the Ecuadorean people,” he told ister Jose Antonio Meade He survived the 2012 change Pena Nieto with Meade standing fael Correa had previously sought reporters, adding that the cost of Sis Mexico’s consummate of government to become foreign beside him as he announced the to protect from development and production was less than $12 per insider, serving under both main minister under Pena Nieto, and changes, emphasising that fi scal pollution under a pioneering con- barrel. political parties and widely seen most recently has run the Social consolidation was the govern- servation plan. Ecuador is Opec’s smallest as a potential presidential can- Development Ministry, a high- ment’s top economic priority. Correa in 2007 asked wealthy member and has suff ered heavily didate, but he now faces the un- profi le role that is often seen as a Pena Nieto vowed there would countries to donate $3.6bn to off - from the fall in oil prices. popular task of slashing spend- launch pad for a presidential run. be no new taxes or tax hikes in set revenue lost by not drilling in Around half its income comes ing. Several members of Pena Nie- Meade’s drive to contain debt the Yasuni National Park. from oil, according to the World President Enrique Pena Nieto to’s cabinet are quietly position- growth, and said he should give But the initiative was scrapped Bank. named Meade as fi nance min- ing themselves for a run at the priority to social projects and in- in 2013 after it brought in less It is also one of the world’s ister on Wednesday, replacing presidency in 2018, and Meade’s vestments. than 4% of the amount requested. most biodiverse nations, boast- Luis Videgaray, the president’s new role contains pitfalls for an- As one of the fi nance minis- Correa’s government blamed ing Amazon rainforest, Andean closest aide, after he report- ybody with ambitions for higher try’s technocratic old guard who the international community for mountains and the Galapagos Is- edly oversaw a visit to Mexico offi ce. is seen as close to central bank the failure of a plan once seen as a lands. by Donald Trump that angered However, his chances could Governor Agustin Carstens and possible model for other develop- The end of Ecuador’s conser- Mexicans stung by the US Re- be bolstered by a revival on his free of the corruption that has ing countries seeking to resist the vation initiative for the eastern publican presidential hopeful’s watch of Mexico’s economy, tainted the image of the PRI, the lure of oil money. Yasuni, a vast swathe of rainforest name-calling and his stance on which contracted in the second appointment of Meade was wel- The drilling by the state oil on the equator, drew outrage from immigration. quarter for the fi rst time in three comed by economists. company Petroamazonas began environmentalists when it was The son of prominent mem- years. Adam Collins of Capital Eco- in the ITT (Ishpingo-Tamboco- fi rst announced. bers of the ruling Institutional Meade’s fi rst task will be to nomics said Meade was well cha-Tiputini) block at Tiputini, “This is the worst imaginable Revolutionary Party (PRI), Meade present the 2017 budget, ex- known to investors and likely to which is just outside Yasuni. place to be drilling for oil. The has held top jobs both under Pena pected to lay out deep spending be seen as a “safe pair of hands.” Ishpingo and Tambococha are world can simply not aff ord to lose Nieto and his predecessor Felipe cuts aimed at restoring investor Videgaray was highly respect- within the Yasuni reserve itself. a place like Yasuni,” said Kevin Calderon of the centre-right Na- confi dence after ratings agency ed for his record of pushing major Members of the media inspect measures taken at the ITT, or block 43, Correra has said previously Koenig, Ecuador programme tional Action Party (PAN), who Standard & Poor’s last month economic reform through Mexi- oil block by Petroamazonas to minimise impact on the environment that drilling would aff ect less than director at Amazon Watch, in a named the Yale-educated econ- said it could downgrade the co’s divided Congress. during oil production in Tiputini, Ecuador. 1% of the reserve. “It’s the start of statement. Gulf Times 14 Friday, September 9, 2016 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

MIGRATION ART CORPORATE EDUCATION 100,000 Afghan refugees 3D street artist seeks Oil and gas sector sees 10,000 scholars to be return from Pakistan government support Rs1.6tn investments sent to US: minister

More than 100,000 Afghan refugees have been A local 3D street artist of Pakistan has sought Pakistan has received investments of around The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of repatriated from Pakistan since July, UNHCR government support and patronage for Rs1.6tn ($15.238bn) in the oil and gas exploration Pakistan will send 10,000 scholars to the US for off icials said yesterday, the highest number since promotion of 3D art in the country. Twenty sector in a very short span of time, the Minister of PhD studies in next 10 years. These scholars will the fall of the Taliban saw a flood of people cross six-year-old Waqas Ahmad said 3D art was Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan get admissions in agriculture and food security, the border in 2002. The majority of the refugees becoming popular around the world by the day Abbasi, told the National Assembly yesterday. medical and allied health sciences, energy, water, crossed in July and August, Qaisar Khan Afridi, and the government should pay attention to During a question-answer session, he said a total of climate change, advanced digital technology spokesman UNHCR at the Voluntary Repatriation it. Ahmad said 3D art was diff erent and much 82 oil and gas discoveries had been made during among others. This was revealed by Minister Centre outside the northwestern city of Peshawar, costly when compared to fine arts. He said the the last three fiscal years. “Production from 45 for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan near the Afghan border, said. In the six months cost of making a 3D painting ranged between out of the 82 discoveries has already begun, while Iqbal, while explaining about the Pakistan-US prior to that just 7,000 refugees crossed back Rs20,000 and Rs25,000 adding there was a dire necessary work on 37 discoveries is being carried Knowledge Corridor during a video conference Afghan refugees wait for their registration at the into Afghanistan, according to UNHCR figures. need for promotion of 3D art in all government out by the Exploration and Production companies session with vice chancellors from across the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Pakistani off icials said the increase came and private educational institutions enabling in order to start production,” he said. According to country yesterday. HEC chairman, Dr Mukhtar (UNHCR) repatriation centre on the outskirts of after they vowed to tighten border controls, the young generation to be on a par with the minister, drilling had increased by 46% along Ahmed and executive director Dr Arshad Ali, Peshawar yesterday. particularly at the porous Torkham Gate crossing. technologically advanced nations. with 36% increase in the 2D and 3D explorations. were also present on the occasion. Sharif party plans to step up campaign in PTI’s home turf

Internews Assembly (UNGA) session. His Islamabad KP tour is expected after his re- turn home but a few visits may take place before Eid, the sources he leadership of the ruling said. Pakistan Muslim League- According to the sources, the TNawaz (PML-N) party has prime minister is expected to decided to ‘aggressively’ canvass announce development projects in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) across KP especially in Pesha- province to counter the PTI’s war, Malakand, Mardan and largely Punjab-centric protest Hazara – divisions where PTI campaigns against the prime has made political inroads to re- minister. place the Awami National Party The premier is set to visit (ANP). various constituencies in KP, A few days ago, Sharif is said especially those where the Paki- to have exchanged notes with stan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has a members of his ‘kitchen cabinet’, strong political presence. including Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Afghan residents walk in the Tarin Kot district of Uruzgan province. The Taliban stormed into Tarin Kot yesterday, triggering heavy fighting around government buildings as The plan, reportedly mapped Asif and Pervaiz Rashid, be- panicked residents scrambled to flee the capital of southern Uruzgan province, the latest city to be targeted by insurgents. out on July 29, when the fed- fore deciding to adopt a tougher eral government devised its stance towards PTI in the back- 22-month development strategy, drop of an anti-PM rally led by is being given the fi nal touches, it Imran Khan in Lahore. was learnt. PML-N senior vice-president and PM’s advisor, Ameer Mu- “Unlike Imran Khan’s PTI qam, however, did not see any- which is restricted to a thing unusual in the reported handful of constituencies, policy. Taliban driven back from the PM is the representative “Sharif is the Prime Minister of the entire country” of all of Pakistan. He can go any- where to interact with the people “The equation needs to be and address their grievances,” he balanced,” commented a senior said. PML-N leader requesting ano- “Unlike Imran Khan’s PTI nymity. “The wait-and-watch which is restricted to a hand- southern Afghan capital policy is overdone. Other options ful of constituencies, the PM is need to be exercised,” he said with the representative of the entire Reuters in Tarin Kot, a city of about a provincial capital since losing normal for a month at least. The Taliban and abandoned check- reference to PML-N’s previous country. The premier prefers to Kandahar, Afghanistan 70,000 people, but by after- power in 2001. shops, bakeries, restaurants are points without a fi ght, while policy of dormancy towards PTI’s be on the ground, instead of be- noon, offi cials said they had re- Bolstered by reinforcements all closed. There are no vehicles another police offi cial accused confrontational politics. ing confi ned to the PM House. pelled the attacks. and air support, security forces on the streets, the city is just the province’s senior leadership Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Linking his visits with PTI’s pro- aliban forces fought their Reinforcements included began to push the Taliban back shut down.” of abandoning the city. yesterday arrived in Chitral, the test campaign is not right.” way deep into the capital General Abdul Raziq, a border in the early afternoon, said one Leaders in Uruzgan had re- In a statement late on Wednes- National Assembly’s lone con- In the federal government’s Tof Afghanistan’s central police commander from the resident, who asked not to be treated to the airport, home to day, the Taliban promised gov- stituency that belongs to General development plan, the con- province of Uruzgan yesterday, southern region of Kandahar named for his own safety. an Afghan military base, said a ernment forces protection if they (retd) Pervez Musharraf’s All Pa- struction of the Hazara Express- threatening government offi ces with a fearsome reputation, “This morning was very bad, police offi cial, who asked not to surrendered peacefully. kistan Muslim League (APML). way – connecting Islamabad and capturing a prison before said Dost Mohamed Nayab, a but the security situation is be named as he was not author- The city’s prison fell to the The premier has been criti- with Abbottabad via Havelian, being pushed back, offi cials spokesman for the governor of better now,” he said. “Yesterday ised to speak to the media. advancing militants, but its oc- cised by the PTI for ignoring the Abbottabad-Mansehra Express- said. Uruzgan. morning the circle of fi ghting In the Afghan capital, Ka- cupants had previously been victims of the deadly suicide at- way – and the repair of the Is- The attacks, in one of the Aircraft and helicopters fl ew was a kilometre or so from the bul, a spokesman for President transferred to the airport, said tack in Mardan. Sharif is yet to lamabad-Peshawar Motorway country’s top opium-produc- over the city, providing air sup- main bazaar. The government Ashraf Ghani expressed confi - Abdul Karim, head of the Uruz- visit the area. have been accorded top priority. ing areas, exposed how thinly port to embattled government and (offi cials) were all escaping dence in the security forces in gan provincial council. Sources close to the prime Moreover, the construction of stretched Afghan security troops, and the Taliban suff ered to the airport and trying to get Tarin Kot. In an online statement re- minister said it was highly likely airports in Bannu, Mansehra and forces have become as they try heavy casualties, Nayab added. out to Kandahar.” In telephone interviews, se- leased early in the day, the that he would visit Mardan to of- Dera Ismail Khan has also been to contain insurgents in other The off ensive, and apparent In the aftermath of the fi ght- curity offi cials were quick to Taliban said their fi ghters had fer condolences to the bereaved prioritised, the sources said. areas of the country. government collapse in some ing, streets remained deserted assign blame for the initial col- entered the city and overrun at families. On September 2, the premier In Uruzgan, militants had areas, were reminiscent of the and shops closed, with many lapse of the defences. least seven checkpoints as well Sharif is scheduled to fl y to the chaired a meeting on aviation fought to within a few hundred Taliban’s swift but brief capture families fl eeing the city, the res- Provincial police chief Wais as the prison, with offi cials tak- US after Eid al-Adha to partici- matters, including progress on metres of the governor’s com- of Kunduz city last year, the fi rst ident added. Samim said many offi cers in the ing the prisoners as “hostages” pate in United Nations General Mansehra and Bannu airports. pound and police headquarters time the movement had seized “The city won’t be back to city had made deals with the and fl eeing to the airport.

Missing an education 44 Pakistanis ‘have died in Govt misses fi scal attacks on CPEC’ since ’14 defi cit target again Internews nancing of Rs978.858bn in the Islamabad preceding fi scal year. Of the Reuters Frontier Works Organisation troops, to focus specifi cally on domestic fi nancing, the gov- Karachi (FWO), said all of the workers protecting CPEC projects and ernment generated borrowings killed were Pakistani and most Chinese workers. he Pakistan government of Rs787.015bn through bank- fell victim to roadside bombs FWO, which is owned by the yesterday admitted to ing avenues and Rs191.843bn ilitants trying to dis- and attacks on construction Pakistani army, has been award- Thave missed the budget through non-banking channel. rupt construction of an sites. ed the bulk of road-building defi cit reduction target for a Pakistan’s budget mainly re- M“economic corridor” “The latest fi gure has climbed contracts in Baluchistan and second consecutive fi scal year volves around three Ds – debt linking China with Pakistan’s up to 44 deaths and over 100 other volatile areas in Pakistan. in 2015-16. servicing, defence and devel- coast have killed 44 workers wounded men on CPEC projects Offi cials concede security The government had project- opment. since 2014, an offi cial said yes- mainly road construction in Bal- problems remain in Baluchistan, ed to reduce the gap between its The break-up of the current terday, a rising toll likely to re- uchistan, which began in 2014,” but say the work is progressing income and expenses to 4.3% of expenditure in the outgoing inforce Chinese worry about the Iqbal said. ahead of schedule. gross domestic product in FY16, fi scal year shows that servicing project’s security. In November 2015, the offi cial About $4.5bn of the planned but ended up having a defi cit of of domestic debt consumed The China-Pakistan Econom- fi gure was 25 killed, indicating investment in the corridor will 4.6%, according to a summary Rs1.15tn (3.9% of GDP) and ic Corridor (CPEC) is a $46bn that the toll has accelerated this go towards road infrastructure, of consolidated fi gures of feder- foreign debt Rs112.56bn (0.4% network of roads, railways and year. with two-thirds of the total al and provincial budgetary op- of GDP), respectively. energy pipelines linking west- The Pakistani projects are part $46bn investment funnelled to- erations released by the fi nance Defence spending touched ern China to a deep-water port of a Chinese plan to build land, wards energy projects. ministry yesterday. Rs757.63bn (2.6% of GDP). The on Pakistan’s Arabian Sea coast, sea and air routes across Asia and Offi cials expect the CPEC The budget defi cit was 8.8% overall development spending which passes through the Balu- beyond boosting trade and win- projects to signifi cantly boost of GDP when the PML-N gov- of both Centre and provinces chistan province. ning new markets overseas for Pakistan’s economic growth ernment came to power in 2013. stood at Rs1.3tn (4.4% of GDP). Pakistani officials say they Chinese companies as domestic above the current 5% a year. In 2015-16, the total revenue Both domestic and external have taken tough measures growth slows. Overall security in Pakistan stood at Rs4.446tn as against debt servicing has outpaced and that security has greatly Chinese offi cials have ap- has improved over the past few the total expenditure Rs5.796tn, development and defence improved in Baluchistan, a pealed for improved security in years but militant groups, es- indicating a budget defi cit of spending. resource-rich region where Baluchistan and other regions pecially those linked to the Pa- Students attend a class at a government school on Rs1.35tn, or 4.6% of GDP. The The government disbursed ethnic Baluch separatists have where projects are planned or kistani Taliban, still stage major International Literacy Day in Quetta yesterday. A staggering statistical discrepancy stood at only Rs593.39bn for develop- battled the government for under way. attacks from time to time. 24mn children are not in school and more than half of Rs212.01bn in July-June FY16. ment projects under the public years. In a bid to address their Last month, militants killed eight-year-olds cannot read despite the budget growing The fi nancing of the sector development programme They oppose the CPEC. fears, Pakistan last year cre- 74 people in a hospital bombing twofold to $7.5bn in the last six years, according a report budget defi cit was bridged (PSDP) in the previous fi scal Colonel Zafar Iqbal, a spokes- ated an army division, believed in the city of Quetta, the provin- from the US-based Wilson Centre. through external fi nancing of year as against the total project- man for construction company to number more than 10,000 cial capital of Baluchistan. Rs370.465bn and domestic fi - ed allocation of Rs700bn. Gulf Times Friday, September 9, 2016 15 PHILIPPINES Duterte tells regional leaders, US not to lecture Philippines President Duterte has held his picture of the killings of American sol- grow fat from feeding on them. ground and reminded the US of its diers in the past and the president said: Duterte has also repeatedly prom- rights record ‘This is my ancestor they killed. ised to protect police from prosecution Why now we are talking about hu- if they are charged over the deaths and Reuters man rights,” an Indonesian delegate insisted human rights cannot get in the Vientiane said. way of his war. Th delegate described the at- On the day he was sworn into offi ce, mosphere in the room as “quiet and June 30, Duterte urged people living in a hilippines President Rodrigo shocked”. Manila slum to kill drug addicts in their Duterte yesterday defended his Another diplomat described the community. Pcountry’s human rights record at speech as “normal Duterte”. His handpicked police chief, Ronald a regional summit in Laos, urging East Duterte set the tone for the week dela Rosa, last month called for drug Asian leaders and the United States to when, just before fl ying to Laos on addicts to kill traffi ckers and burn down help Manila eradicate the scourge of il- Monday, he launched a barrage of in- their homes. licit drugs. sults at Obama in response to the US The United Nations special rap- Duterte swept to power in May on president’s plans to question him over porteur on summary executions has promises to wipe out crime and cor- his war on drugs. warned incitement to kill is a crime un- ruption within six months, pledging to “You must be respectful. der international law. wage a war on drug dealers and crush Do not just throw away questions However Duterte has remained un- widespread addiction in a country of and statements. repentant. 100mn. I will curse you in that forum,” Du- “More people will be killed, plenty The toll in his government’s two- terte told reporters shortly before fl ying will be killed until the last pusher is out month war on drugs reached 2,400 last to Laos. of the streets,” Duterte said on Monday. week, with police saying about 900 At the press conference marking the Philippine President Rodrigo Du- people died in police operations, and end of his trip to Laos, Obama said he terte yesterday skipped the meetings the rest were “deaths under investiga- was unfazed by Duterte’s slur. between South-East Asian leaders and tion”, a term human rights activists call “I don’t take these comments per- their counterparts from the United a euphemism for vigilante and extraju- sonally because it seems as if this is a States and India due to a migraine, his dicial killings. phrase he’s used repeatedly includ- spokesman said. Setting aside a prepared speech, Du- ing directed at the pope and others,” “The president was not able to rest terte spoke for more than fi ve minutes Obama said. on the weekend, which is usually his about human rights and his campaign He added that such choice words rest day... against drugs during the East Asian Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte accepts the gavel from Laos prime minister Thongsing Thammavong during the were “a habit, a way of speaking for because he had to attend to the vic- Summit in the Laotian capital of Vien- closing ceremony of Asean and handover of the Asean chairmanship to the Philippines in Vientiane yesterday. him”. tims, the victims’ families and the tiane, according to one Indonesian dip- However Obama cancelled a meet- investigation” of the September 2 lomat at the meeting. United States, a close Philippine ally, to a brutal few days of diplomacy that “Because the consequences of when ing with Duterte scheduled for Tuesday bombing in the southern city of Davao, “Let me tell you about human rights,” and the United Nations. began with the famously acid-tongued you do it the wrong way are innocent because of the outburst. presidential spokesman Martin Anda- the diplomat quoted Duterte as saying In a tirade before the Laos summit, Duterte abusing Obama. people get hurt and you have a bunch They met on Wednesday night be- nar said. while displaying a picture of Filipinos Duterte insulted US President Barack After warnings from Duterte that he of unintended consequences that don’t fore a leaders’ dinner in what Obama “And then he had to work here in killed by American soldiers about a Obama and the White House respond- would not be lectured on his crime war solve the problem.” described as “not a long interaction”. Laos in bilateral meetings. century ago. ed by cancelling a two-way meeting. — which is seeing police and shadowy Obama’s call came shortly after Du- Duterte has said the Philippines is in I guess it’s taken its toll on our presi- “This is my ancestors being killed, so Philippine offi cials this week handed assassins kill an average of 44 people terte gave what diplomats said was a danger of becoming a “narco state”, and dent,” he added. why now we are talking about human out a 38-page pamphlet at the summit a day — Obama urged the Philippine “fi ery” address to leaders of the 18-na- eliminating drugs in society is the top Fourteen people were killed and more rights? We have to talk of the full spec- that praised Duterte’s drug campaign. leader to respect the rule of law. tion East Asia group, including Obama. priority of his administration. than 70 hurt in the bomb attack at a trum of human rights.” US President Barack Obama urged “As despicable as these (crime) net- Veering off his prepared speech, Du- Duterte was elected to offi ce in a night market in Davao City, where Du- Duterte spoke after Obama had de- Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte works may be and as much damage as terte launched into a tirade about US landslide this year after pledging to kill terte was mayor for more than 20 years. livered a speech that referred to human Thursday to conduct his crime war “the they do, it is important from our per- military killings in the Philippines when 100,000 people in an unprecedented Duterte was later able to attend the rights. right way”, as the pair clashed at an spective to make sure that we do it the it was an American colony from 1898 to war on crime. East Asia Summit and the closing cer- Duterte’s drive has won popular Asian summit over the crackdown that right way,” Obama told reporters when 1946, according to three diplomats AFP He vowed in the campaign that so emonies, where the yesterday chair- support at home but the killings have has claimed 3,000 lives. asked about his conversation with Du- spoke with who were in the room. many bodies would be dumped in manship was handed on to the Philip- drawn expressions of concern from the The showdown was a fi tting climax terte on the sidelines of Laos meetings. “The Philippine president showed a Manila Bay that the fish there would pines. Mercy plea Sandigan ‘takes at least 7yrs for a case’

Manila Times “If that will be granted by Makati City the supreme court, we will be able to lessen the period of delay for at least one year,” she t takes the Sandigan- said. bayan—an anti-graft The regional trial courts Icourt–around seven and (RTCs) are no better, taking a half years to resolve a case, an average of five years be- Sandiganbayan Presiding fore they are able to resolve Justice Amparo Tang told a case. a congressional committee Supreme court justice yesterday. Presbitero Velasco conceded Tan was being quizzed by that this case backlog has representative Harry Roque been a long-standing prob- of Kabayan party-list group lem and has urged congress to during a presentation of the create laws establishing more P32.5-billion proposed budget RTCs and ensure funding for Cesar and Celia Veloso, parents of Filipina drug convict facing execution in Indonesia, hold a candle light vigil in front of Quiapo church in Manila yesterday, ahead of of the judiciary for 2017 be- them. President Rodrigo Duterte’s working visit to Indonesia. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is to meet his Indonesian counterpart Joko Widodo, today. Last week Duterte fore the House appropriations Velasco said in Bacoor, told reporters he will ask the Indonesian president to spare the life of death row convict Mary Jane Veloso, who is awaiting execution for drug smuggling. Last year Widodo panel. Cavite alone, there are 8,000 stayed her execution after similar pleas from Duterte’s predecessor Benigno Aquino. The Sandiganbayan is under pending cases because the the jurisdiction of the Supreme newly created 10 RTCs by law Court, the head of the judici- are yet to be funded by the gov- ary. ernment. “The average [time]of get- “The only way that we can ting a case resolved is seven expedite the case processing and a half years or less. by a judge is to give him a man- Mayon eruption imminent, says Phivolcs offi cial I understand the con- ageable case load. cern, your honours, and the An RTC judge should Sandiganbayan has been only have, at most, 300 Manila Times this year that originated in Santo Domingo After the survey, he told The Manila Volcanic earthquake activity is increas- trying its best to expedite cases. Legazpi City fault line could have aff ected the volcano’s Times, they uncovered increasing amounts ing with a total of 146 earthquakes record- the resolution of cases be- Otherwise, there won’t be sudden restive condition. of sulphur dioxide, infl ation of the edifi ce ed by Mayon Volcano Observatory seismic fore it,” Tang also told law- enough time to expedite the The restiveness is also gauged by mas- of the volcano and implication of swarm network from August 3 to August 6, lo- makers. trial,” he added. ount Mayon, the country’s most sive drying up of wells in several towns of earthquakes. cated on the southeast side 10 kilometres “There are a lot of congru- Velasco rued that only 48 active volcano, might unleash a Albay. “We noted after the survey that Mayon away from the volcano. ent factors that explain the of the 100 family courts are Mbig explosion anytime as indicat- “Today, the possibility to continue for is infl ated, magma beneath the volcano is This earthquake swarm likely emanated delays. funded, and as such the RTCs ed by swarming earthquakes and magma magmatic eruption is possible. building up. Deep wells are drying up sur- from rock-fracturing processes that may From the time of the fi ling are being forced to function build-up, a Philippine Institute of Volcan- We cannot discount the possibility of rounding the volcano and in several towns or may not be associated with magmatic of the information, to the trial as Family Courts at the same ology and Seismology (Phivolcs) offi cial big explosion. Phreatic explosions usually here [which is]an implication of abnormal activity. proper… there are several in- time. warned yesterday. occur before the big explosion,” he said. activity,” Laguerta said. Steaming activity from the crater has cidents that crop up, like the “Since the RTC judges are “Phreatic explosion may happen any- The public is prohibited within the six- With the fi ndings, Phivolcs raised from ranged from weak to moderate. counsel fi ling a motion to de- also into family-related cases, time but a big explosion is expected in the kilometre danger zone from the volcano. zero to alert level 1 the condition of the Though no crater glow has been ob- termine the probable cause, this becomes an additional coming days. Mayon Volcano, with an elevation of volcano. served, Phivolcs warned of phreatic ex- among other several motions,” burden. The massive drying up of wells across 2,462m, is some 300km away from Manila The Continuous Global Positioning plosion anytime that could lead to a big she said. That is why we are calling Albay specifi cally in the municipalities sur- noted for magmatic and explosive erup- System and tilt measurements show con- explosive eruption. Tang then announced that on the government that once rounding the volcano may be attributed tions in the past. stant infl ationary trend since July 2016 Laguerta warned the public against en- the anti-graft court has al- new courts [are created], they to the magma movement activity beneath Laguerta said his offi ce requested geo- while results of precise levelling and elec- tering the 6km danger zone to avoid repe- ready asked the supreme court should be immediately fund- the restive volcano,” Ed Laguerta, Phivolcs’ detic engineers from Phivolcs central of- tronic distance surveys in the last week tition of 1993 and 2014 phreatic explosions to amend internal rules by ed,” he said. resident volcanologist chief in Bicol, said. fi ce to conduct immediate ground survey of August 2016 indicate infl ation of the wherein 77 farmers were killed in 1993 prohibiting parties from fi ling “We need warm bodies to Laguerta added that the occurrence of around the volcano after the three con- edifi ce, possibly because of magma move- while six foreigners, including a Filipino motion for determination of expedite the resolution of cas- three consecutive earthquakes in August secutive earthquakes last month. ment at depth. tourist guide, died in a sudden explosion. probable cause. es,” Velasco added. Gulf Times 16 Friday, September 9, 2016 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL/MALDIVES Eid rush Maldives’ police raid offi ces of website

AFP slap charges against her under Colombo a tough defamation law. Former Maldives auditor- general Niyaz Ibrahim, who olice in the Maldives alleged in the documentary fi - raided the offi ces of a lo- nancial irregularities under the Pcal media organisation Yameen regime, also reported- just hours after a documentary ly left the country on Wednes- aired accusing President Ab- day night fearing persecution. dulla Yameen and his govern- Yameen’s government la- ment of corruption, journalists belled the documentary dis- said yesterday. appointing, saying it mostly Police searched the seven- contained allegations revealed storey building housing the in an offi cial report by Ibrahim Maldives Independent web- that were already being probed site whose editor was quoted by Maldives’ authorities. in the Al Jazeera documentary “The Maldives government aired on Wednesday night de- would request that all evi- tailing high-level graft allega- dence obtained by Al Jazeera be tions. handed to the Maldives Police “We believe the search was Services or the Anti-Corrup- Bangladeshis scramble to reach the roof of an overcrowded train as they try to get home to be with their families ahead of Eid al-Adha in Dhaka. part of an attempt at intimi- tion Commission so as to as- dation,” a Maldives Independ- sist it with their own investi- ent journalist told AFP. “They gations,” the foreign ministry looked at rooms and even the said in a statement posted on toilets, but took only a broken its website yesterday. CCTV unit.” The Stealing Paradise docu- There was no immediate mentary, by Al Jazeera journal- comment from the police. ist Will Jordan, a former editor The documentary is the lat- of the Maldives Independent, est twist in a protracted po- shows what it says are leaked litical crisis that has dented messages from former vice- the Indian Ocean archipelago’s president Ahmed Adeeb’s Girls face shattered reputation as an upmarket phone to various offi cials dis- holiday destination and raised cussing payments. international alarm about an In June, Adeeb was jailed for erosion of democracy. 15 years on a charge of plotting Al Jazeera said the docu- to assassinate Yameen — part mentary was based on data in- of a sweeping crackdown on cluding e-mails and text mes- opponents, most of whom are sages it had obtained between in jail or exile. dreams as Nepal fails key offi cials of Yameen’s ad- Yameen’s administration ministration allegedly impli- faces international criticism cating them in graft and other over the crackdown along criminal activity. with the jailing last year of the The editor of the Maldives country’s fi rst democratically Independent left the country elected president, Mohamed before the documentary aired, Nasheed who has since ob- to curb child marriage fearing the government would tained asylum in Britain. Child marriage is ruining the “I could have gone to school and had a er Barr, women’s rights researcher at the Nepal, home to 28mn people, has the prospects of young girls better future too. HRW. third-highest rate of child marriage in But all that is a dream now,” she told the “Nepal’s government promises reform, Asia after Bangladesh and India, with 37% Thomson Reuters Foundation Thomson Reuters Foundation. but in towns and villages across the coun- of girls marrying before 18. Former politician Kathmandu Child marriage is illegal in Nepal, yet the try, nothing has changed.” The country outlawed the practice fi ve impoverished Himalayan nation has failed The study showed child marriage was decades ago with a punishment of up to to put in place policies to curb the practice prevalent throughout Nepal, and practised three years imprisonment and a fi ne of sentenced to death opila Wosti was just 14 when her with almost 40% of girls married before in Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and Chris- 10,000 rupees ($95). The age of marriage father married her off to a stranger the age of 18, a report by Human Rights tian communities. is set at 20 years old for both men and Kwho was fi ve years older. Watch said on Thursday. Government offi cials said the deeply women. DPA Silva was an infl uential fi gure A year later, she gave birth to a baby girl. It found that poverty, compounded entrenched nature of child marriage, But HRW said the law was seldom en- Colombo in the government of former By the time she was 20, she had three by illiteracy and society’s disapproval which the nation has vowed to end by forced with complaints rarely investigated president Mahinda Rajapakse children. of unmarried women, compelled many 2030, made it hard to tackle. by police or prosecuted. and worked closely with the “The fi rst time I became pregnant, I was parents to seek out husbands for their “The government considers child Police offi cials were not immediately former infl uential poli- ex-president’s brother, not even aware I was going to be a mother daughters. marriage as an act of violence and is available for comment. tician in Sri Lanka was Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, who and did not know how to raise the child,” Yet child marriage often results in a vi- making efforts to end the scourge which The HRW said gender discrimination Asentenced to death yes- was the former defence min- said Wosti, now 34, as she sat cross legged cious cycle of malnutrition, poor health is deep rooted in the society,” Sushila and poverty were key factors driving child terday for the murder of a rival ister. on the fl oor of a shelter home in the Nepali and ignorance since a child bride is more Paudel, an official from Nepal’s wom- marriage. politician and three others, of- The judgement is the fi rst capital, Kathmandu. likely to drop out of school and experience en’s ministry, told the Thomson Reuters Almost 25% of Nepalis live on a less than fi cials said. in a host of cases fi led against Separated from her husband for over problems during pregnancy and child- Foundation. $1.25 a day. Former member of parlia- loyalists in the Rajapakse gov- a decade, Wosti blames the marriage for birth. One third of girls in the developing “Some girls said they welcomed a child ment Duminda Silva was found ernment, which was ousted ruining her life — denying her the chance Her children are more likely to be un- world are married before the age of 18, ac- marriage because they hoped it might guilty of the murder of former from power last year. of going to school and of choosing a more derweight or die before the age of fi ve, said cording to the International Centre for Re- mean they had more to eat, a hope that was MP Bharatha Lakshman The case ranges from bribery suitable partner. the report based on over 100 interviews search on Women (ICRW). not always fulfi lled,” the report said. Premachandra during a shoot- and abuse of power to embez- “There are women of my age who with children, former child brides, parents Child marriage is most prevalent in sub- In many communities it is normal for out at a local election held on zlement of state funds. are yet to have children,” said the pe- and activists. Saharan African countries such as Niger girls to marry soon after puberty, as par- October 8, 2011. Sri Lanka does not imple- tite woman, dressed in a green shirt and “Many children in Nepal — both girls and Chad, but due to population size, the ents will avoid paying a higher dowry to Four others were also sen- ment the death sentence, in- trousers, with her long black hair tied up and boys — are seeing their futures stolen largest number of child brides live in South the groom’s family if the bride is younger, tenced by the Colombo high stead it is converted to life im- in bun. from them by child marriage,” said Heath- Asia. it said. court over the murders. prisonment.

New autopsy ordered on slain editor in Lanka

AFP istry of defence, has denied involvement, Colombo but rights groups say there is strong evi- dence the military played a role. An army intelligence offi cer was ar- Sri Lankan court yesterday or- rested in July in connection with the kill- dered a new autopsy on the body of ing. Aa high-profi le anti-establishment Rajapakse has faced wide criticism of newspaper editor whose 2009 murder his government’s dismal rights record. under the previous regime remains un- More than a dozen reporters and other solved. media persons were killed during his dec- A magistrate agreed to a police criminal ade-long rule. investigation unit’s request for the fresh Gunmen shot dead Wickrematunga in forensic report on the killing of Sunday his car in Colombo in January 2009, ac- Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunga, cording to police at the time, with the a police offi cial said. crime sparking international outrage. “We are guarding the grave site pend- But a police source said yesterday that ing the exhumation,” the unnamed of- there was also a “suggestion that he was fi cial at Colombo’s main cemetery told stabbed in the head with a very sharp in- AFP. “The court order to carry out the strument”. exhumation on September 27 has just “We need to establish how he was been issued.” killed,” the source said asking not to be President Maithripala Sirisena came to named, “before we can start a prosecu- power at 2015 elections pledging action tion”. against criminal and corrupt individuals Editor Wickrematunga and his news- under former ruler Mahinda Rajapakse’s paper were staunch critics of Rajapakse regime. and his family who are accused of ille- A former minister in Rajapakse’s gally amassing huge wealth during their government has publicly accused the rule. autocrat’s brother Gotabhaya Ra- The paper had accused Gotabhaya japakse of ordering Wickrematunga’s of corruption over the purchase of murder. second-hand aircraft and arms for the Gotabhaya, then secretary to the min- military. A Sri Lankan policeman points towards the gravestome of anti-establishment editor Lasantha Wickrematunga at the general cemetery in Colombo yesterday. Gulf Times Friday, September 9, 2016 17 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Journey of the soul

llah prescribed Haj once in a lifetime throw and calling on Him to accept their Haj. upon the Muslims who have the The time of stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah is after means and are physically able to per- sunrise. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sal- Aform it. There are three types of Haj: lam) threw the pebbles late in the morning and Haj at-Tamatt’u, Haj al-Qiran and Haj al-Ifrad. permitted weak people to stone after leaving In this article, we will explain the procedure for Muzdalifah after midnight. The size of the peb- Haj at-Tamatt’u as it is the most recommended bles should not be more than that of a bean as one. In this type, one is to perform ‘Umrah and described by the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa Haj in the same year with a sacrifi ce slaugh- sallam) who warned against exaggeration. The tered in Mina. These are the steps for Haj pebbles can be picked up on the way to Mina at-Tamatt’u: from Muzdalifah or in Mina. Ihram: Ihram is the intention of the person Slaughter of Sacrifi ce: After stoning Jamrat willing to perform all rites of ‘Umrah, Haj or Al-Aqabah, the pilgrim goes to slaughter his both when he arrives at the Meeqat. Each direc- sacrifi ce either personally or through the tion coming into Makkah has its own Meeqat. appointment of someone else to do it on his be- It is recommended that the one who intends to half. A pilgrim should slaughter either a sheep, perform Haj makes Ghusl (a complete bath with or share a cow or a camel with six others. the intention to purify one’s self), perfumes Shaving the head or trimming the hair: The his body, but not in his garments, and puts on fi nal rite on the 10th day after off ering his a two-piece garment with no headgear. The sacrifi ce is to shave one’s head or to cut short garments should be of seamless cloth. One all of the hair. Shaving the head is, however, piece to cover the upper part of the body, and preferable for it was reported that the Prophet the second to cover the lower part. For a woman (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) prayed three the Ihram is her normal dress except that she times for those who shave their heads, when he should not use perfumes at all and her dress said: “May Allah’s Mercy be upon those who should cover the whole body decently, leaving shaved their heads.” For women, the length of the hands and the face uncovered. hair to be cut is that of a fi ngertip. The stoning The pilgrim should say the intention accord- of Jamrat Al-Aqabah and the shaving of head or ing to the type of Haj. For Haj at-Tamatt’u one trimming of hair symbolises the end of the fi rst should say: phase of the state of Ihram and the lifting of its “Labbayka Allahumma bi ’Umrah” which restrictions except for sexual intercourse with means “O Allah I answered Your call to perform one’s spouse. ‘Umrah”. Stoning of Jamrat Al-Aqabah, slaughtering It is recommended to repeat the well known the sacrifi ce and shaving the head or cutting supplication of Haj, called the Talbiyah, as part of the hair are preferred to be in this order, frequently as possible from the time of Ihram as it is the order that the Prophet (sallallaahu till the time of the fi rst stoning of Jamrat Al- ‘alaihi wa sallam) did them. However, if they Aqabah in Mina. Men are recommended to utter are done in any other order, there is no harm in the Talbiyah aloud while women are to say it that. quietly. The Talbiyah is: Tawaf Al-Ifadhah: Tawaf Al-Ifadhah is a fun- “Labbayka Allahumma Labbayk. Labbayka La damental rite of Haj. The pilgrim makes Tawaf Shareeka Laka Labbayk. Inna-alhamda Wan- Al-Ifadhah by visiting Al-Masjid Al-Haram and n’imata Laka Wal Mulk. La Shareeka Lak.” circling the Ka’abah seven times and praying (Here I am at Your service. O my Lord, here two Rak’ah behind Maqam Ibrahim. Then the I am. Here I am. No partner do You have. Here pilgrim should make Sa’i between the Safa and I am. Truly, the praise and the provisions are the Marwah. After Tawaf Al-Ifadhah the state Yours, and so is the dominion. No partner do rites by shaving his head or trimming his hair day of Dhul-Hijjah and leaves for ‘Arafat. shed, sins are washed and faults are redressed of Ihram is completely ended and all restric- You have.” http://172.17.99.108/newspress/backup/fi les/ Departure to ‘Arafat: On the 9th day of Dhul- for those who ask Allah for forgiveness and of- tions are lifted including intercourse with one’s images/2016/09/5/49165.jpg?tmp=1473195599 Hijjah, the Day of ‘Arafat, the pilgrims stay in fer sincere repentance for their wrongdoings in spouse. Tawaf al-Ifadhah can be delayed until Performing ‘Umrah http://172.17.99.108/newspress/backup/fi les/ ‘Arafat until sunset. The pilgrims pray Dhuhr the past. Happy is the person who receives the the days spent at Mina are over. Tawaf: When a Muslim arrives in Makkah, images/2016/09/5/49165.jpg?tmp=1473195599 and Asr at ‘Arafat, shortened and combined Mercy and Pleasure of Allah on this day. Return to Mina: The pilgrim should return he should perform Tawaf around the Ka’abah, short all over the head (women should cut a during the time of Dhuhr to save the rest of Departure from ‘Arafat: Soon after sunset to Mina and spend there the days of Tashreeq as a gesture of greeting Al-Masjid Al-Haram. fi ngertip’s length from their hair). At this stage, the day for glorifying Allah and supplication on the Day of ‘Arafat, the pilgrims leave for (ie the 11th, 12th and 13th day of Dhul-Hijjah). This is done by circling the Ka’abah seven times the prohibitions pertaining to the state of Ihram asking forgiveness. A pilgrim should make sure Muzdalifah quietly and reverently in compli- During each day, and after Dhuhr prayer, the in the counterclockwise direction, starting are lifted and one can resume his normal life. that he is within the boundaries of ‘Arafat, not ance with the advice of the Prophet (sallallaahu pilgrim stones the three stone pillars called from the Black Stone with Takbeer, keeping the Although it is recommended to recite the necessarily standing on the mountain of ‘Arafat. ‘alaihi wa sallam) who said when he noticed “Jamarat”: the small, the medium and Jamrat Ka’abah to one’s left. Then the pilgrim goes to supplications that the Prophet (sallallaahu The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: people walking without calmness: “O people! Al-Aqabah, saying “Allah-u Akbar” with each Maqam Ibrahim (Ibrahim’s Station), and per- ‘alaihi wa sallam) used to say during the per- “I stood here on this rocky hill and all ‘Arafat Be quiet, hastening is not a sign of righteous- throw of the seven pebbles stoned at each pillar. forms two rak’ah behind it, near to it if possible, formance of these rites, there are no required is a standing place.” (Muslim). One should ness.” (Bukhari) These pebbles are picked up in Mina. A pilgrim but away from the path of the people making formulas or supplications for Tawaf or for Sa’i. keep reciting the Talbiyah, glorifying Allah the In order to follow the example of the Prophet may leave Mina for Makkah on the 13th or on Tawaf. In all cases one should be facing the It is up to the worshipper to praise Allah or to Greatest and repeating supplication. It is also (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) it is preferable to the 12th if he wishes, there is no blame on him if Ka’abah when praying behind Maqam Ibrahim. supplicate Him with any acceptable supplica- reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa keep reciting the Talbiyah, glorifying Allah the he chooses the latter, but he has to leave before Sa’i: The next rite is to make Sa’i between tion or to recite portions of the Qur’an. It must sallam) used to say the following supplication: Greatest and mentioning the names of Allah sunset. Safa and Marwah. The pilgrim starts Sa’i by be noted that ‘Umrah can be performed by itself “There is no deity worthy of worship except until the time of stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah (a Farewell Tawaf: Farewell Tawaf is the fi nal ascending the Safa. While facing the Ka’abah as described above at any time of the year. Allah, the One without a partner. The domin- stone pillar in Mina). In Muzdalifah, the pilgrim rite of Haj. It is to make another Tawaf around he praises Allah, raises his hands and recites ion and praise are His and He is powerful over perform Maghrib and Isha prayers combined, the Ka’abah. Ibn Abbas said: “The people the Takbeer “Allah-u Akbar” three times, then Performing Haj everything.” shortening the Isha prayer to two Rak’ah. Pil- were ordered to perform the Tawaf around makes supplication to Allah. Then the pilgrim Going to Mina: A pilgrim performing Haj Anas ibn Malik was asked once how he and grims stay overnight in Muzdalifah to perform the Ka’abah as the last thing before leaving descends from the Safa and heads towards the at-Tamatt’u should make the intention for his friends used to spend their time while Fajr prayers and wait until the brightness of the Makkah, except the menstruating women who Marwah. One should increase the pace between Ihram, from the place where he is staying, walking from Mina to ‘Arafat in the company morning is widespread before they leave for were excused.” (Bukhari) the clearly marked green signposts, but should on the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah, which is the of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). Mina passing through the sacred Mash’ar valley. Those are the rites of Haj. They should be walk at normal pace before and after them. Tarweyah Day, and leave for Mina in the Anas said: “Some of us used to cry out Talbiyah, Women and weak individuals are allowed to performed in the way prescribed by the Qur’an When the pilgrim reaches the Marwah, he morning. In Mina, the pilgrims pray Dhuhr, others used to glorify Allah the Greatest and proceed to Mina at any time after midnight to and Sunnah with no addition or subtrac- should ascend it, praise Allah and do as he did Asr, Maghrib and Isha of the 8th day of Dhul- the rest used to repeat prayers. Each one of us avoid the crowd. tion. But they should also be performed with at the Safa. This is considered one round and Hijjah and Fajr of the 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah. was free to worship Allah in the way he likes Stoning Jamrat Al-Aqabah: When the consciousness and not just as mere mechanical so is the other from the Marwah to the Safa. A Dhuhr, Asr and Isha are each shortened to two without prejudice or renunciation of his right.” pilgrims arrive at Mina, they go to Jamrat gestures. For “Whoever holds in honour the total of seven rounds are required to perform rak’ah only, but are not combined. The pil- (Bukhari) Al-Aqabah where they stone it with seven peb- rites of Allah, then it is truly from the piety of the Sa’i. After Sa’i, the Muslim ends his ‘Umrah grim remains in Mina until sunrise of the 9th In the vast square plain of ‘Arafat, tears are bles glorifying Allah “Allah-u Akbar” at each the heart.” (Qur’an, Surat al-Haj, ayah 32) A selfl ess sacrifi ce solely for Allah

. This is a journey that was taken by meeqaat that is still to come. It is the meeqaat you from all forms of shirk and bid’ah. It is neither their meat nor their blood that pilgrim to be a better person who is devoted to Prophets and Messengers before you. Those (appointed meeting) on the Day of Resurrection: 8. While in sa’yi, contemplate on Haajar, the reaches Allah, but it is your devotion that reaches Allah in every aspect of life. who take the path of the Prophets magnify Say (O Muhammad): (Yes) verily, those of mother of Ismaa’eel, when she asked her husband him. – Qur’an 22:37 PRIOR TO HAJ AND/OR ‘UMRAH THE 1the tawheed of Allah and His House. old, and those of later times. All will surely be Ibraaheem: “Did Allah order you to do this 12. When you have completed your Haj, do not MUSLIM SHOULD: There are those, however, who come to perform gathered together for an appointed Meeting of a (leaving her and her baby Ismaa’eel in Makkah)? think that the remembrance of Allah has ended. 1. Purify his creed (‘aqeedah) from any aspects Haj and their hearts are attached to other than known Day. – Qur’an 56:49-50 He said: “Yes.” Her great response was: “Then Listen to what Allah says: of shirk, greater or lesser, as shirk destroys one’s Allah. They invoke the dead and the righteous, 4. When you start saying the talbiyah He (Allah) will not neglect us!” Think about this So when you have accomplished your manaasik deeds. whether present or absent. This is the opposite remember the Command of Allah to Prophet great dependence upon Allah when you are in the (ie the rites of Haj) remember Allah as you 2. Devote his Haj purely and sincerely for Allah. of tawheed, it is shirk no matter what they call it Ibraaheem: sa’yi walking the same path which Haajar took in remember your forefathers or with a far more 3. Sincerely repent for all of his sins. because it is setting up rivals besides Allah. So, And proclaim to mankind the Haj. They will search for water and for the means of life around remembrance. – Qur’an 2:200 4. Acquire knowledge about Haj and its rites. free your intention from any kind of devotion to come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they the mounts of Safa and Marwah. Think about her Special note: If you go to Madinah then the 5. Use halaal (lawful) means to support this other than Allah. Repent and come with a sincere will come from deep and distant (wide) mountain endurance, perseverance and truth in Allah. The objective of your visit should be according to the great journey, taking what he will require (ie not heart submitting to Allah remembering what highways (to perform Haj). – Qur’an 22:27 sa’yi exemplifi es the strong belief that we are in Sunnah and not bid’ah. Your intention is to set on begging while on Haj to meet his needs). Ibraaheem and his son Ismaa’eel said when they The talbiyah you make is in response to Prophet need for the One Who Sustains and Provides – a journey to visit the Prophet’s mosque and not 6. Record all of his debts and include them in were raising the foundations of Allah’s House, the Ibraaheem’s proclamation to visit Allah’s house of Allah, the Exalted. his grave. When you reach the mosque and you his Islamic Will. Ka’aba. worship. Allah is Most Great. Think about Ibraaheem’s invocation on his way pray upon entering then you may go to the grave 7. Relieve himself from any kind of injustice “O our Rabb! Accept from us and make us 5. Upon entering Makkah remember that you homeward to Palestine: and say, “As-salaama ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyy.” which he may have infl icted upon others. submit to You in Islam and show us our manaasik are in the Secure Sanctuary: O our Rabb! I have made some of my The same salaam is also mentioned when you 8. Secure the needs of his family members (all the rite of Haj) and accept our repentance.” – Have We not established for them a secure off spring to dwell in a valley with no pass by Abu Bakr and ‘Umar without innovations whom he leaves home. Qur’an 2:128 sanctuary (Makkah), to which are brought fruits cultivation, by Your Sacred House (the Ka’aba like: 9. Accompany the knowledgeable and 2. You are set to depart and you may or may of all kinds, a provision from Ourselves, but most at Makkah); in order, O our Rabb, that they a. Visiting the grave of the Prophet before righteous Muslims and stay away from the not return to your home. Make this journey to of them know not. – Qur’an 28:57 may off er prayers perfectly, so fi ll some hearts praying in the mosque. mubtadi’ah (innovators in deen). Allah’s House as Allah wants it. Think of the Let one commit himself to repentance, having a among men with love towards them, and (O b. Making du’aa facing the grave. 10. Perform salaat on time and as prescribed next journey that is surely coming, the one that good opinion of Allah, hoping that Allah will grant Allah) provide them with fruits so that they c. Seeking nearness to Allah by means of the during the journey and in the Haj period. leads to the meeting of Allah, Most High. This him security from His Punishment. may give thanks. – Qur’an 14:37 Prophet. This is a prohibited form of tawassul. 11. Safeguard his tongue from backbiting, raises questions like: What did I prepare for that 6. You will enter one of the gates of al-Masjid Men and fruits came to Makkah from many d. Seeking intercession from the Prophet. arguing, complaining, etc. Day? Am I following Allah’s Commands? Am I a al-Haraam. Then there you are before the places. Ibraaheem returned to visit and later to e. Placing the hands upon the grills around 12. Keep his beard and not shave it for Haj or for follower of the Sunnah of Muhammad (sallallaahu magnifi cent House of Allah, Most High, the share with his son Ismaa’eel the noble task of the room containing the Prophet’s grave to seek any other reason, as this is prohibited. ‘alaihi wa sallam)? Do I really know of Allah? Am Ka’aba. Now you see what you hoped to see raising the foundations of the Ka’aba. blessings, etc. 13. Remember that it is unlawful for men to I a believer that Allah is above the seven heavens for a long time. Thank Allah for making this 9. The standing on ‘Arafaat is the Haj. Remember the Prophet’s sayings: “Do not wear gold (rings included). over His ‘arsh as He has stated in His Book and possible and hope that He will grant you the The crowds should remind you of the Day of make my grave an ‘eed (place of celebration)... Note: The position of the scholars regarding as His Messengers have asserted? Am I a believer greatest reward of seeing His Majestic Face on Resurrection. Humble yourself to Allah, manifest “May Allah’s curse be on the Jews and visiting the grave sites by women can be that believes Allah has a true Face that suits His the Day of Resurrection. This thankfulness is your ‘uboodiyyah to Him Alone through du’aa, Christians for taking the graves of their Prophets summarised as follows: Majesty as He has affi rmed in the Qur’an and as not just in saying “alhamdu-lillaah,” but also sincere intention and strong determination to as places of worship.” a. Disliked but not unlawful has been affi rmed by His Prophet Muhammad by obeying Allah while on Haj and for the rest free yourself from the sins of the past and to build “Those before you took the graves of their b. Allowable, if done infrequently. If a woman (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam)? Am I believer of your life. up a commitment to rush for doing what is good. Prophets as places of worship. Do not take graves is known as being unable to behave herself within in all of Allah’s Names, Attributes and Actions 7. You start your tawaaf knowing that it is Think of becoming a better person when you as places of worship for verily I forbid you to do the limits of Shariah at a grave site, then she shold which He has affi rmed in His Book and by His a great time for magnifying Allah the Exalted. return. Rid yourself of false pride and showing so.” be prevented from visiting the graves. Messengers? Or do I just take and accept by my Remember Him by His Names, Attributes and off because it may ruin what you may gain on this 13. The Haj journey is not meant to gain any c. Forbidden, and doubt, rejecting, or distorting (through what is Actions. Also while in tawaaf try to refl ect upon day. material reward. It is a selfl ess sacrifi ce solely d. A grave sin called fi gurative interpretation of His Attributes) the time when Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 10. You gathered the pebbles and you are about for Allah, Most Majestic. It demands true love Many scholars state that women visiting the the meanings of Allah’s Attributes and Actions? ‘alaihi wa sallam) was prevented from doing to embark on stoning the jamaraat. This is an act and fear of Him. It should be performed with Prophet’s Mosque may pronounce their salaam And invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with the same thing you are doing today. Then think of obedience and remembrance of Allah, Most full consciousness of one’s heart, with full upon the Prophet away from the grave site since Allah, la ilaaha ilaa huwa (none has the right to be about what he did in clearing out the site from Magnifi cent. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa humility and submission to Allah. It should not it is confi rmed by many ahadith that the salaam worshipped but He), Everything will perish save the symbols signifying worship to other than sallam) said: “When you cast the small pebbles be thought of as a tourist-type excursion or be is related to the Prophet wherever the person may His Face, His is the Decision, and to Him (all) shall Allah! All idols were demolished. Busy yourself (ie at the jamaraat), it will be a light for you on the performed as mere physical rites. It develops be. The Prophet is in a state of barzakh ( a state of be returned. – Qur’an 28:88 with du’aa. Ask Allah, the Most Great to make Day of Resurrection.” sincerity, piety, humility, self-control, sacrifi ce, existence that begins with death and lasts until 3. Know, may Allah’s Mercy upon you, that you hold to the correct belief and Path of the 11. When performing the sacrifi ce remember and true knowledge of the meaning of submission the Day of Resurrection) the nature of which is when you reach the meeqaat there is another salaf and make you die on it. Ask Allah to save that saying of Allah, the Most High: and obedience to Allah, Most High. It helps the only known to Allah. Gulf Times 18 Friday, September 9, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: Amjad Khan Concerns over N-arms

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] in unstable regions Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) In a time of crisis, Attacks have already been carried out and Syria. Those strikes would not their lives to defend nuclear sites Fax 44350474 on Pakistani military installations have succeeded had Israel not been against terrorists or rebels. And it when the facts on the reportedly housing nuclear able to identify the targets accurately. demands that states neighbouring ground change fast and components. The country’s new Indeed, though the existence of Iraq’s the country in question put ballistic mobile “battlefi eld nuclear weapons” Osirak plant was public knowledge, missile defences on alert. While India, fear clouds thinking, – easier to purloin – augment current uncovering Syria’s Al Kibar plant was South Korea, and Japan continue to mitigating the nuclear fears. an intelligence coup. modernise such systems, no missile North Korea, with its volatile Carrying out such a strike on defence is perfect. GULF TIMES threat is no easy feat and mercurial regime, is another North Korean or Pakistani nuclear In a time of crisis, when the facts on source of concern. Suspicious of the sites in a time of crisis would require the ground change fast and fear clouds By Bennett Ramberg military, Kim Jong-un’s government a similar breakthrough – one that thinking, mitigating the nuclear threat Los Angeles has repeatedly purged senior offi cers, may be even more diffi cult to achieve, is no easy feat. While concerned which has surely stoked opposition given extensive concealment eff orts. governments do have confi dential that someday could spark serious civil Stealthy movement of bombs or contingency planning in place, such Haj, the greatest strife. Adding nuclear weapons to that materials amid the unrest would planning has a mixed record when he recent failed military coup in Turkey has led to a mix would be highly dangerous. While further complicate targeting. it comes to responding to recent crackdown on the regime’s other nuclear powers appear stable, Another option – invasion and international upsets in the Middle Topponents. Luckily, it did countries like China and Russia, which occupation – avoids the challenge of East. And simply hoping that things conference on the not end with rebel forces seizing some rely increasingly on authoritarianism, identifying nuclear sites. The defeat of will go according to plan, and nuclear of the dozens of US nuclear weapons could face their own risks, should Nazi Germany permitted the Allies to command and control will stick, stored at Turkey’s Incirlik Air Base, political cohesion fray. fi nd and destroy the country’s nascent remains a gamble. from which rebel aircraft departed. Of course, there are plenty of nuclear programme. The 2003 invasion The time has come to discuss new face of the earth But what about next time? examples of security enduring strife. of Iraq granted the US unfettered access ideas, with the US – still the global The world’s nine nuclear The 1961 revolt of the generals in to all possible sites where weapons of leader in combating proliferation – powers claim that there is little to French Algeria, which placed a nuclear mass destruction could be stored. But taking the lead. A public discussion Haj is fi rst an act of worship that we are obliged worry about. They argue that the test device in the Sahara at risk, the costs were huge. Likewise, invasion with input from the executive branch, to fulfi l if we are able. Its reward is the greatest that combination of physical protection produced no dangerous incidents. In and occupation of either North Korea or Congress, think tanks, investigative and, in most cases, electronic China, the government eff ectively Pakistan would require massive armies journalists, and scholars should lay a one can hope to attain: forgiveness and entrance into safeguards (permissive action links, or protected nuclear weapons sites risking a bitter conventional war and foundation for policy. We cannot allow PALs) means that their arsenals would threatened by Revolutionary Guards possible use of the weapons against the ourselves to stand on the precipice of Paradise. However, the Haj in the end is not just an remain secure, even if countries where during the Cultural Revolution. And invaders. catastrophe without a well-considered individual or self-centred ritual. Indeed, one feels they are stored or deployed were neither the attempted coup against A third option is nuclear and broadly supported plan in place. engulfed by violence. Mikhail Gorbachev nor the Soviet containment, which relies on several The lesson from Turkey is not that anything but alone on Haj. It is certainly a time for Robert Peurifoy, a former senior collapse resulted in a loss of control measures. First, in order to prevent the bombs of Incirlik – not to mention self-refl ection and assessment, but where else will weapons engineer at Sandia National over the country’s nuclear arsenal. nuclear migration, all land, sea, and air other nuclear weapons in unstable Laboratories, disagrees. He recently But it is a leap to presume that routes out of the country in question regions – are safe. Rather, it is that a Muslim get to see up close and personal his or her told the Los Angeles Times that such these precedents mean that nuclear would have to be controlled, and our most deadly weapons could be brethren from all parts of the globe in one place in their safeguards – earlier versions of which weapons will remain safe, especially in homeland security near and far would compromised in an instant. It ought he helped to design – may only delay unstable countries like North Korea. have to be strengthened. While the to be a wake-up call for all of us. – various conditions? Where else will there be such a terrorists in using seized nuclear Nuclear bombs or materials risk Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI) is Project Syndicate gathering of scholars and their students? Where else weapons. “Either you keep custody or being controlled by rebels, terrorist already in place to stop the smuggling you should expect a mushroom cloud.” groups, or even failing and desperate of nuclear contraband worldwide, the zBennett Ramberg, a policy analyst will one be able to see the condition of the Muslims in Peurifoy’s statements have rightly governments. And, in those cases, International Atomic Energy Agency in the US State Department’s Bureau such a dramatic microcosm? raised concerns about the security the international community has few reports continued traffi cking of small of Politico-Military Aff airs under of nuclear weapons stockpiled in options for mitigating the threat. amounts of nuclear material. An President George H.W. Bush, is the How can any conscious Muslim who is thoughtful insecure regions. Consider Pakistan, External powers can, for example, increase in monitoring may reduce, author of Destruction of Nuclear and not just going through the motions not refl ect and which has the world’s fastest-growing launch a targeted attack, like the one but still not eliminate the problem. Energy Facilities in War and Nuclear nuclear arsenal and suff ers relentless that Israel carried out on suspected Containment also requires nuclear Power Plants as Weapons for the try to understand that what is going on around him terrorism and separatist violence. reactors under construction in Iraq custodians be persuaded to risk Enemy. represents the Islamic Ummah? Haj gives one a chance to know fi rst-hand what their brethren are going through around the globe. It is a gathering of scholars as well that one should take advantage of on those days when not involved The perils of planned extinctions in the rites of Haj. Often we hear of these men and we read about or from them and others. Haj is often By Claire Hope Cummings an opportunity chance to actually see and hear from Honolulu them. Also disputes cynical move is underway Haj is a time of and contentions or to promote a new, powerful, confusions get a chance and troubling technology great reminder Aknown as “gene drives” for to be addressed. use in conservation. that we must This is not just your everyday Forgiveness is a great genetic modifi cation, known as all return to our part of Haj and that “GMO”; it is a radical new technology, means not only one which creates “mutagenic chain Creator reactions” that can reshape living seeking forgiveness systems in unimaginable ways. Gene drives represent the next from their Lord, but striving to forgive those who frontier of genetic engineering, have perhaps wronged them in the past. Overlooking synthetic biology, and gene editing. The technology overrides the the faults is a necessary component of life itself and standard rules of genetic inheritance, magnifi ed on Haj because if one is unable to put it into ensuring that a particular trait, delivered by humans into an practice they will not be able to get along either. organism’s DNA using advanced Patience is a virtue that if someone does not gene-editing technology, spreads to all subsequent generations, thereby possess they will get plenty of chances to exercise. altering the future of the entire Understanding the many levels of the Ummah will species. One proposal aims to protect native birds on Hawaii’s Kauai Island by using gene drives to reduce the population of a It is a biological tool with species of mosquito that carries avian malaria. assist the pilgrim to have a well-balanced view of their unprecedented power. Haj experience. If one feels superior or suff ers from Yet, instead of taking time to drives in conservation. questions are taken into account will No open public discussion is consider fully the relevant ethical, I am one of the signatories, along be no easy feat. needed, apparently. arrogance, Haj should humble them if they go with ecological, and social issues, many are with the environmental icon David As a lawyer experienced in US But why should we blindly believe sincerity but the person will not be able to tolerate aggressively promoting gene-drive Suzuki, physicist Fritjof Capra, the government regulations, I can that everything is under control? technology for use in conservation. Indigenous Environmental Network’s confi dently say that the existing In my view, the focus on using gene- others who looks down upon them and they will lose One proposal aims to protect Tom Goldtooth, and organic pioneer regulatory framework is utterly drive technology for conservation is any of the lessons or sweetness of the Haj. native birds on Hawaii’s Kauai Island Nell Newman. incapable of assessing and governing a ruse to gain public acceptance and by using gene drives to reduce the The discussions that have begun gene-drive technology. regulatory cover. Haj is a time of great reminder that we must all population of a species of mosquito at the IUCN congress will continue Making matters worse, the media Why expose something to public that carries avian malaria. at the United Nations Convention have consistently failed to educate the scrutiny and possible restraints when return to our Creator. When one sees the multitudes, Another plan, championed by a on Biological Diversity in Mexico public about the risks raised by genetic you can usher it in through the back the throngs of ihraam-garbed pilgrims, how can the conservation consortium that includes this December, when global leaders technologies. door by pretending it will do some good? US and Australian government must consider a proposed global Few people understand that, as MIT The risks are too obvious for gene-drive imagery of the Resurrection not come to mind? agencies, would eradicate invasive, moratorium on gene drives. science historian Lily Kay explains, advocates to risk talking about them. One can see the huge potential in this Ummah, bird-harming mice on particular Such discussions refl ect demands genetic engineering was deliberately In my 20-plus years of researching islands by introducing altered mice by civil-society leaders for a more developed and promoted as a tool for and reporting on transgenic its diversity and become anxious for its fulfi lment that prevent them from producing thorough consideration of the biological and social control. technologies, I thought I had seen the and victory. One must, however, arm oneself with female off spring. scientifi c, moral, and legal issues Those driving that process worst of the false promises and hype Creating the “daughterless mouse” concerning the use of gene drives. were aiming to fulfi l a perceived that they engender. knowledge to be able to clearly distinguish truth would be the fi rst step toward As I see it, we are simply not asking mandate for “science-based social But gene drives are unlike anything from falsehood and correct practice and beliefs from so-called Genetic Biocontrol of the right questions. intervention.” we have witnessed, and amount to the Invasive Rodents (GBIRd), designed Our technological prowess is Powerful tools like genetic ultimate test of our self-control. innovations. All of that will allow the pilgrim to come to cause deliberate extinctions of largely viewed through the lens modifi cation and, especially, Can we really trust science to guide away from the Haj really feeling as though they have “pest” species like rats, in order to of engineering, and engineers gene-drive technology spark the us, or do we recklessly throw in our lot save “favoured” species, such as tend to focus on one question: imagination of anyone with an agenda, with technological “silver bullets” as participated in greatest conference on earth. endangered birds. “Does it work?” But, as Angelika from the military (which could use the way forward? The assumption underlying these Hilbeck, President of the European them to make game-changing bio- Fortunately, we still have a choice. proposals seems to be that humans Network of Scientists for Social weapons) to well-intentioned health The fact that gene drives can To Advertise have the knowledge, capabilities, and and Environmental Responsibility advocates (which could use them to change the basic relationship between prudence to control nature. (ENSSER) argues, a better question help eradicate certain deadly diseases). humanity and the natural world is [email protected] The idea that we can – and should would be: “What else does it do?” They certainly appeal to the hero both a challenge and an opportunity. Display – use human-driven extinction to When it comes to the GBIRd narrative that so many of my fellow We can do now what we should have Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 address human-caused extinction is project, for example, one might ask environmentalists favour. done a long time ago, with regard to both appalling. whether the “daughterless mouse” But the fact is that we have not nuclear and transgenic technologies: start Classified I am not alone in my concern. could escape the specifi c ecosystem created the intellectual infrastructure paying more attention to the dangers of Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 At the ongoing International into which it has been introduced, just to address the fundamental challenges human ingenuity – and more respect to Union for the Conservation of as GMO crops and farmed salmon do, that gene drives – not to mention the genius of nature. – Project Syndicate Subscription Nature (IUCN) World Conservation and what would happen if it did. other powerful technologies – raise. [email protected] Congress in Hawaii, a group of leading As for the mosquitos in Hawaii, one And now we are supposed to suspend zClaire Hope Cummings, conservationists and scientists issued might ask how reducing their numbers our critical faculties and trust the author, broadcast journalist, and an open letter, entitled “A Call for would aff ect the endangered hoary bat techno-elites’ promise to use gene environmental lawyer, is the author 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Conservation with a Conscience,” species. drives responsibly in the service of of UNCERTAIN PERIL: Genetic demanding a halt to the use of gene Ensuring that these kinds of seemingly positive environmental goals. Engineering and the Future of Seeds. Gulf Times Friday, September 9, 2016 19 COMMENT How to help the Middle East

To understand where the threatening global security. The resilient against ethnic divisions and Middle East is going, we Islamic State has exploited long- less vulnerable to external influence. standing Sunni grievances to challenge Opinion polls indicate that the vast need to look further back to the territorial integrity of Iraq and majority of people in the Middle East comprehend how the region Syria, creating a strategic vacuum in want to be governed by legitimate which Russia, Iran, the US, Turkey, states that uphold the rule of law, arrived at this point and Saudi Arabia now vie for power, protect civic rights, and promote sometimes through proxies, but coexistence among communities. By Ishac Diwan increasingly through direct military This is a worthy goal that will require Beirut intervention. compromise and reconciliation at a Each country has its own agenda. global, regional, and national level. Iran seeks to project its infl uence in For national actors to have space n Lebanon today, all the support of the region’s historically to fi nd solutions, it is necessary symptoms of the Middle East’s dominant Shia populations, while to de-escalate tensions and fi nd current turmoil are visible. Newly Saudi Arabia pushes back by arming compromises – fi rst globally, Iarrived refugees from Syria and rebel factions opposing Syria’s between the US and Russia, and then Iraq are joining Palestinian refugees Iranian-backed president, Bashar regionally, among Iran, Turkey, Saudi who have long been here. The country al-Assad, and by fi ghting what it Arabia, and Israel. The goal must be hasn’t had a president for two years, as views as an Iranian presence in its to reach a grand bargain that takes rival political factions, refl ecting the own backyard, in Yemen. As for into account the major issues dividing rising enmity between their backers, Turkey, it opposes the creation of a the region, including the status of are weakening domestic governance. Kurdish state, which became possible the Palestinians and Kurds, and Political corruption runs rampant. The when Iraq and Syria came undone creates conditions for viable political garbage doesn’t always get picked up. territorially. settlements in Syria and Iraq. But Lebanon also shows signs With the region seemingly being Addressing problems that have of resilience. Investors and sucked deeper into a vortex of remained unsolved for decades is a entrepreneurs are taking risks to start permanent confl ict, it is easy to believe tall order, but inaction is no longer new businesses. Civil-society groups that only dictators or religious bigots aff ordable. And none of the major are proposing and implementing could impose any stability. But to fault lines of the Middle East can be useful initiatives. Refugees are going think that is to forget past progressive resolved in isolation anymore. to school. Political enemies are uprisings, such as in Beirut in 2005, As Antonio Gramsci argued long collaborating to minimise security Algiers and Tehran in 2009, and the ago in his Prison Notebooks, “The risks, and religious leaders advocate Arab Spring that began in Tunisia and crisis consists precisely in the fact that coexistence and tolerance. spread throughout the region in 2011. Syrian refugee children take part in activities organised at by the non-profit organisation “Beyond Association” in Saadnayel the old is dying and the new cannot Lebanon’s resilience owes much To understand where the Middle on July 16, 2016. More than 250,000 Syrian refugee children in Lebanon are out of school, despite eff orts by the government be born, and in this interregnum a to the memory of its painful civil East is going, we need to look further and donors, Human Rights Watch said calling it an “immediate crisis.” great variety of morbid symptoms war (1975-1990). By contrast, the back to comprehend how the region appear.” That is the Middle East’s rest of the region’s experiences arrived at this point. Arab nationalism elsewhere – that pursued it. With no precarious. These problems were Iraq, Syria, Egypt, and elsewhere. situation in a nutshell. Helping it – which involve a long history of and its modernising aspirations began institutions left to ensure a peaceful simmering beneath the surface of With the latest great-power build a new regional order will require autocratic governance and neglect of to unravel after the 1967 Arab-Israeli political transition in these countries, autocratic repression for decades. interventions by the US and Russia, all actors, great and small, to accept long-simmering grievances – have War and the 1986 oil-price collapse. violent groups had an advantage over Now, Pandora’s box has been opened, many are reminded of the 1916 compromise, as the Lebanese have fanned the fl ames of confl ict. Syria, National leaders maintained control ordinary citizens, and a crude fi ght for revealing an incredibly complex Sykes-Picot agreement between done. A war that leaves one side Iraq and Yemen are now riven by through repression and used Islamic power ensued. geopolitical puzzle. Great Britain and France to draw new vanquished is never over. – Project war. Meanwhile, the Palestinians’ opposition parties as scarecrows Violent revolutions can reach The West deserves a share of the national borders in the region and Syndicate/Mohamed Bin Rashid worsening plight is still a perennial to avoid political reform. National peaceful resolutions, but such an blame for the current situation. divide it into spheres of influence. Global Initiatives, 2016. grievance on the Arab and Muslim economies, weighed down by outcome is less likely where deep, It failed to end the long-standing But, if anything, Sykes-Picot street. In this maelstrom, new radical cronyism, delivered low growth, and unresolved sectarian grievances are Palestinian confl ict, and it created provides a good model for what zIshac Diwan is an affi liate at the groups with transnational agendas are governments lost legitimacy. in play, as they are in the Middle new problems by dismantling the to avoid in rebuilding the Middle Belfer Center’s Middle East Initiative blossoming. It was this strategy’s untenability East. The renewed salience of Iraqi state, funding mujahedin in East. The region does not need new at Harvard University and holds the In the last two years, confl icts that led in 2011 to the fall of regimes old, intractable cleavages makes Afghanistan, and backing dictators borders and new protectorates, Chaire d’Excellence Monde Arabe at have spilled over national borders, – in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Syria, and the current situation especially who supported its security agenda in but rather better states, built to be Paris Sciences et Letters. Weather report Islamophobia hurts all Americans Three-day forecast TODAY High: 39 C Of course, Muslims are the primary than the Ku Klux Klan speaks for It’s also important to remember while Low : 31 C By Bob Roberts and Hazy to misty at places at first victims of Islamophobia, which Christians. Christians are a majority in the US, becomes hot daytime with some Charles C. Krulak clouds and relatively humid by night. Tribune News Service prevents them from exercising their Nearly all Muslims are part of the they are a minority when they travel or basic rights, including their right to American mainstream. More than move to many other countries. Treating religious freedom. It also threatens 5,000 Muslims are in the US military, Muslims with proper respect here SATURDAY ust as the United States accepts their lives. Violence against Muslims and thousands more serve their improves America’s standing to defend High: 37 C its 10,000th Syrian refugee, spikes after high-profi le incidents of country in other ways, as teachers, the religious freedom of Christians and Low: 28 C calls to ban future Muslims terrorism, and a recent Georgetown doctors, lawyers, social workers and other religious minorities around the Sunny Jfrom entering the country have University report found that an public offi cials. world. reached a fevered pitch. In recent upsurge has coincided with the Muslims stand ready to combat In this way, and in many others, weeks, the patriotism of an American presidential race. Between March 2015 extremism, but the bigoted rhetoric hostility toward Muslims cuts against SUNDAY Muslim soldier has been called into and March 2016, 12 American Muslims of public offi cials and discriminatory our own best interests. High: 39 C question without cause; a New York- were murdered in bias-motivated policies could make them reluctant to These debates are understandably Low: 29 C based imam and his associate were attacks. co-operate with law enforcement. A intense and full of emotion, but Sunny murdered and a county commissioner Yet Islamophobia isn’t a Muslim similar dynamic takes place overseas, emotion should never lead us to turn in Georgia temporarily blocked the issue. It is an issue for anyone who where American hostility toward our backs on the values that have construction of a new mosque. cares about the US and the values that Muslims alienates communities whose made us strong as a people and have Fishermen’s forecast made us a light for the world. Millions Thankfully, Americans of all undergird it. co-operation the US needs to wage OFFSHORE DOHA political and religious backgrounds are This shouldn’t need to be said, but a smart and eff ective battle against of Americans share a passionate Wind: NE-NW 03-13 KT pushing back. lies have gained so much traction that terrorism. commitment to our founding ideals, Waves: 1-3 Feet Many Americans understand that we feel we need to: Terrorist groups Calls for a blanket ban on Muslims and no ideal is more foundational than INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 05-15 KT that hatred of Muslims is an assault on represent a miniscule fraction of refugees appear to validate the clash- freedom of religion. It is this freedom Waves: 1-2 Feet American ideals. We’ve spent our lives Muslims worldwide, who are, after all, of-civilisation propaganda of the that allows us to practise our faith working in diff erent spheres – one of both the primary victims and primary Islamic State, which uses such rhetoric without government interference Around the region us is an evangelical Christian pastor, opponents of the Islamic State and Al to recruit followers. Conversely, and that has formed a society of Weather Weather the other a retired US Marine general Qaeda. According to the FBI, the vast openness to Muslim refugees shines astonishing religious pluralism. That’s today Max/min tomorrow Max/min – but we’ve both seen fi rsthand how majority of terrorist attacks in the a light on Islamic State propaganda. America, a place where people are free Abu Dhabi Sunny 40/29 Sunny 40/30 Islamophobia diminishes us all and US are committed by non-Muslims. Make no mistake: Islamophobia to worship according to the dictates of Baghdad Sunny 42/24 Sunny 42/23 Dubai weakens our country. Terrorists speak for Muslims no more weakens US national security. their own conscience. Sunny 38/30 Sunny 38/31 Kuwait City Sunny 41/27 Sunny 41/28 Manama Sunny 41/29 Sunny 39/29 Muscat Sunny 31/26 Sunny 31/26 Riyadh Sunny 42/28 Sunny 43/27 Live issues Tehran Sunny 31/21 Sunny 34/21 Some activities increase the risk of ACL injury

Tribune News Service boots, places considerable force on can go a long way toward protecting Washington your knee. against ACL injuries. The purpose of treatment for As you go back to your activities, an ACL injury is to reduce pain having the proper gear also can ear Mayo Clinic: I’m a and swelling, restore normal knee help lower your risk of injury. Wear 25-year-old woman, and movement, strengthen the muscles appropriate footwear when you play I recently tore my ACL around the joint and allow a return to basketball. When you go downhill Dplaying basketball. My activity. For some people, this can be skiing, adjust your bindings correctly, doctor says I don’t need surgery and achieved with physical rehabilitation so your skis will release when you recommends physical rehabilitation alone. If one of the menisci – the fall. Some people wear a knee brace instead. Can rehab completely fi x the cushioning cartilage in the knee joint – after an ACL injury, especially if they problem, so I can stay active? I love is also torn, however, that can increase have not had surgical reconstruction. playing basketball and skiing. I don’t knee instability, making surgery the Research has shown, however, that Around the world want to give them up, but I don’t want best option. It is worthwhile to note, wearing a brace does not appear to Weather Weather to wreck my knee either. too, that an ACL tear raises your risk of prevent or reduce the risk of an ACL today Max/min tomorrow Max/min A: Surgery isn’t always necessary developing arthritis in your knee joint injury. Athens Sunny 31/21 S T Storms 30/21 to treat an anterior cruciate ligament later in life. Studies show that risk to If you continue to have episodes Beirut Sunny 29/25 Sunny 30/25 S T Storms 33/26 (ACL) tear. Physical rehabilitation be similar whether or not you have of knee instability despite physical Bangkok 33/26 S T Storms Berlin P Cloudy 27/14 P Cloudy 28/17 can strengthen the muscles around surgical reconstruction. rehabilitation or if you want to return Cairo Sunny 37/23 Sunny 39/23 the joint and, in some cases, allow a Rehabilitation often involves to activities that place your knee at Cape Town P Cloudy 15/10 Sunny 19/11 return to physical activity. But, that’s When the ACL is torn, it usually working with a physical therapist to higher risk for further injury, consider Colombo Showers 29/25 Showers 29/25 usually true only if your activity does causes knee pain and swelling. After learn exercises that strengthen your ACL reconstruction surgery. Because a Dhaka I T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 32/26 Hong Kong S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 28/26 not involve aggressive cut and pivot an ACL injury, you also may feel leg muscles, as well as the muscles in torn ACL can’t be sewn back together, Istanbul Sunny 29/21 P Cloudy 29/21 movements, or jumping and high instability in the knee or feel that the your hips, pelvis and lower abdomen. surgery involves replacing the torn Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 T Storms 32/25 impact. The activities you mention, knee is “giving way” when you turn Increasing muscle strength helps ligament with a piece of tissue (i.e., a Karachi M Sunny 32/26 M Sunny 31/26 however, raise your risk for knee quickly or pivot. Often, a “pop” is stabilise your knee joint, making it less portion of your patellar or hamstring London Cloudy 22/18 Rain 20/11 T Storms S T Storms 32/26 instability if you choose not to have heard or felt. ACL injuries frequently susceptible to further injury. tendons) called a graft. Manila 32/26 Moscow S Showers 15/08 Cloudy 16/08 your ACL repaired surgically. happen as a result of suddenly To lower your risk of another ACL Talk to your doctor and your New Delhi Sunny 36/27 Sunny 36/26 Ligaments are strong bands of tissue stopping, changing directions or tear, a physical therapist should physical therapist about your sports New York P Cloudy 33/24 P Cloudy 31/25 that connect one bone to another. pivoting. Sports that put you at risk assess your movement patterns when and activity desires after your ACL Paris Sunny 27/13 M Sunny 28/17 Your ACL is one of two ligaments that of an ACL injury include basketball, you jump, land, pivot and change injury. They can help you create a Sao Paulo M Cloudy 21/15 P Cloudy 24/16 Seoul M Sunny 27/18 P Cloudy 28/18 cross in the middle of the knee and singles tennis, football, volleyball directions. Often, this will include a treatment plan that fi ts your goals Singapore S T Storms 32/26 T Storms 31/25 connect your thighbone, or femur, to and soccer. Downhill skiing also puts video analysis of how you land from and gives you the best odds for a safe Sydney P Cloudy 22/15 P Cloudy 21/11 your shinbone, or tibia. The ACL helps you at risk, because the length of a a jump. Improving your movement return to activity. – Mayo Clinic News Tokyo Clear 32/23 Cloudy 30/23 to keep your knee joint stable ski, combined with the rigidity of ski patterns with corrective exercises Network Gulf Times 20 Friday, September 9, 2016 QATAR

Katara deputy general manager for operations Ahmad Abdulrahman al-Sayed (second, left) leading the opening of Splash Water Park yesterday. PICTURES: Ram Chand Splash features dozens of inflatable water rides. Splash Water Park opens at Katara

By Joey Aguilar opened a unique water park here and a 50m city slide, two new at- “Splash will be fi lled with Staff Reporter in the beach area, which will tractions introduced in Qatar. lots of new activities that we are operate for a certain period,” al- Alaqat’s business develop- bringing for the fi rst time to the Sayed added. “We want to off er ment and events manager Ha- country,” Aboussid noted. “The atara – the Cultural Vil- a new facility for everyone to en- tim Aboussid told reporters that zip-line will give people the lage opened a new wa- joy, from 3pm to midnight daily, Splash will also feature numer- thrill, a feel of the adventure and Kter park in its beach area ensuring the safety and security ous water and sand activities the opportunity to face their fear (Gate 4) yesterday, aiming to of all guests.” such as slip slides, bubble soccer, of heights.” provide a unique attraction for The offi cial hopes to attract soapy fi elds, infl atable games The organisers have set up both residents and visitors. more visitors, including those and a water park city with inter- a stage that will host activi- The Splash Water Park, oper- from neighbouring GCC coun- connected games and competi- ties such as live performances, ated by an all-Qatari company tries such as Saudi Arabia, to the tions for children and adults. games and competitions for called Alaqat, features around 7,000sqm facility from the Eid “It is one of the fi rst wa- families and children. 60 infl atable water rides and a al-Adha holidays onwards. ter parks based on infl atables,” Aboussid said Splash is a per- number of attractions designed Katara receives between he said. “We appreciate all the fect getaway for families, who for families and children. 70,000 and 100,000 people dur- initiatives the government and want to regularly spend their Speaking to reporters at the ing the Eid holidays, according to public sector have been taking to afternoon or the weekend in a inauguration yesterday, Katara al-Sayed. have lots of events, especially in beach area at Katara. deputy general manager for Alaqat also wants to bring this season with Eid coming up.” “We are looking to expand operations Ahmad Abdulrah- several water sports competi- The entrance fee is QR100 for it and making it longer for the man al-Sayed said the water tions and a mix of aquatic activi- an all-day, all-access pass to all benefi t of the public, whether park would welcome visitors ties at Splash, “designed to thrill the rides and attractions at the expanding it to other beaches from today and operate for two everyone”. water park. A separate QR100 nearby,” he added. “We will con- months. Some of the main features of fee will be charged for those who sider extending its period and The Splash Water Park stage will host numerous activities to entertain visitors. “This is the fi rst time we have Splash include a 150m zip-line will be using the zip-line. maybe having it twice a year.” Thousands to benefi t from QC campaign in 37 countries

atar Charity (QC) has Eid clothing will be provided better life through such projects.” 1,027 sacrifi ces of mutton at a inaugurated the “sacri- to orphans and needy children, Al-Kuwairi congratulated the cost of over QR1.02mn. Qfi ces campaign” for year with the initiative costing more Qatari people and the Islamic QC also seeks to distribute 1437 under the title “Your Sac- than QR500,000. A number of nation on the occasion of Eid 4,646 sacrifi ces of mutton in So- rifi ce, Their Eid”, which seeks to educational and cultural activi- and prayed for a season of giv- malia at a cost of QR1.85mn and provide 26,040 sacrifi ces (cows ties/events will also be held dur- ing, worshipping and generos- 2,632 in Yemen at QR1.44mn, and goats) in 37 countries across ing the campaign. ity. He also encouraged good- among others. The prices will Asia, Africa and Europe. Speaking on new projects, doers to make use of the month be set according to the nature Thousands of people are ex- Yousef bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, of Dhu al-Hijja and donate for and circumstances of the coun- pected to benefi t from the vari- CEO of QC, said: “This year’s the campaign, which would help try where the slaughter will take ous projects lined up as part of campaign will include paying increase the number of sacrifi ces place. the campaign, to be implemented atonements and vows, the char- off ered. “There are millions of People can donate to the cam- at a cost of around QR23.28mn, ity of the ‘Ten of Dhu al-Hijja’ Muslim families that are poor paign through QC’s app, website QC has said in a statement. and off ering pilgrims’ presents. and rarely eat meat. They only (qcharity.org), collection points Beyond Qatar, the campaign “Besides, there will be pro- get to eat it during Eid. They and branches in the city or through targets 36 countries and seeks to grammes that are annually im- need us,” he said. the hotline, 44667711. When do- provide 23,040 sacrifi ces at more plemented, such as substitution A huge share of the sacri- nating more than QR5,000, do- than QR11mn. Within the coun- Haj, pilgrims’ meals, Eid clothing fi ces is allocated for countries nors can call for house collectors try, the campaign aims to distrib- within and outside Qatar as well as that suff er from “exceptional through the QC app. ute 3,000 sacrifi ces - from which cultural and educational events.” circumstances”, according to Last year, QC provided some 14,400 people will ben- He noted that during this time QC. This year, 490 sacrifi ces of 1,000,000 people from 55 coun- efi t. The total cost of the project of the year, QC opens its doors cows will be distributed in Pal- tries in Asia, Africa and Europe is QR1.4mn. The sacrifi ces will for good-doers to provide some estine and at Palestinian camps with meat (sacrifi ces). The or- be distributed on the third and happiness to the less fortunate. outside at an estimated cost of ganised allocated a huge share fourth days of Eid al-Adha to the “There are hundreds of thou- QR735,000. Syrians in Syria and of the sacrifi ces, amounting to benefi ciaries, including widows sands of needy people in diff erent refugees in Turkey, Jordan and more than 28,000, to countries and other groups of people. countries. We can help them have Lebanon will receive more than facing diffi cult circumstances. Countries facing diff icult circumstances are among the places where the campaign will be implemented.

Farewell to Haj pilgrims at HIA

he Airport Passports Department, Secu- Trity Department and Community Policing De- partment recently held a farewell ceremony for Haj pilgrims at Doha’s Hamad International Airport (HIA), according to a report on the Ministry of Interior (MoI) website. A number of offi cials from the departments concerned attended the ceremony, dur- ing which booklets and bro- Students selected courses for over 30 programmes off ered at the college. chures were handed over to the pilgrims in order to help them perform Haj safely. Maj Rashid Mubarak al- Khiyarain, head of the Com- CNA-Q students register for new academic year munity Support Section in the Community Policing Department; and Second Lt ollege of the North At- Students were selecting Q has said in a statement. This is the programme will run fi ve days Majid Mohamed al-Mailki, lantic – Qatar (CNA-Q) courses for over 30 programmes the fi rst time that the college has per week, Sunday to Thursday, offi cer at the Airport Se- Cwas busy this week as off ered at the college, includ- off ered an evening-only pro- from 3.30pm to 7.30pm. curity Department, were new and returning students ing the brand-new After Work gramme to accommodate stu- A limited number of spaces are among the participants who registered for the 2016-17 aca- diploma programme in Human dents with daytime family and still available for those who are extended greetings to the Booklets and brochures were handed over to the pilgrims. Picture courtesy demic year. Resources Management, CNA- work commitments. Classes for interested, the statement notes. pilgrims. of MoI website.