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SATURDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10557 August 26, 2017 Dhul-Hijja 4, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Nepalese show of solidarity

In brief

QATAR | Diplomacy FM, Boris Johnson Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim discuss Gulf crisis bin Hamad al-Thani HE the Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani held a telephone conversation yesterday with UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. During the phone call, they discussed bilateral relations and Abbas hails Qatar’s means of boosting and developing them, as well as the developments of the Gulf crisis and a number of issues of mutual interest. stance in support of On behalf of the nearly 450,000-strong Nepalese expatriate community in the country, a well-attended event was hosted QATAR | Reaction in Doha to express solidarity with Qatar. The event, under the slogan “We love Qatar, We support Qatar, We are in Qatar, and Qatar is our Second Home,” was held on Thursday. The participants said they do not tolerate any encroachment on Qatar’s Attack on Kabul sovereignty by the blockading nations. Rashid al-Dehaimi, assistant director of Asian Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign mosque condemned Palestinian cause Aff airs, was the chief guest and Fahad Saleem al-Marri, from the Asian Department, the guest of honour. Representatives from Qatar has strongly condemned the Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Filipino communities also participated in the programme. Page 16 armed attack on a mosque in the QNA Discussions during the phone call Afghan capital, Kabul, which resulted Doha also dealt with international eff orts in a number of deaths and injuries. aimed at fi nding a lasting, just and In a statement yesterday, the comprehensive solution to the Pales- Foreign Ministry reiterated Qatar’s is Highness the Emir Sheikh tinian question. firm stance rejecting violence and Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani The Palestinian President ex- terrorism, regardless of motives and Hheld a telephone conversation pressed his appreciation to His High- reasons. The statement stressed yesterday evening with Palestinian ness the Emir for the State of Qatar’s Qatar’s total rejection of targeting President Mahmoud Abbas on the lat- firm stance in support of the Pales- places of worship and intimidating Turkey detains est developments on the Palestinian tinian cause. civilians. The ministry expressed its arena. The two sides also discussed the as- condolences to the families of the President Abbas briefed the Emir sistance provided by Qatar to the Pal- victims, the government and people on the results of his meetings with the estinian people, especially the recon- of Afghanistan, and wished speedy US delegation headed by President struction projects in the Gaza Strip, recovery to the injured. Trump’s senior adviser Jared Kushner, and exchanged of views on a number and the eff orts exerted to resume the of regional and international issues of REGION | Confl ict fi ve involved in peace process. common interest. Saudi-led air raid kills 14 in Sanaa Hurricane Harvey threatens record fl ooding in Texas Children were among at least 14 people killed in an air strike Hurricane Harvey intensified yesterday and was poised to hit the mainland United that toppled residential blocks in States late yesterday evening as the most powerful storm in more than a decade Yemen’s capital Sanaa yesterday, hacking of QNA and authorities warned residents to shelter from life-threatening winds and witnesses and medics said. The flooding. Harvey became a Category 3 hurricane, the third most powerful, the attack was the latest in a wave of ive people have been detained Dr al-Marri stated while adding that terior (MoI) had announced on July 20 National Hurricane Center said yesterday. Page 5 deadly raids on residential areas of by the Turkish authorities for all the details regarding the subject they have evidence to prove the cyber- Yemen blamed on a Saudi-led Arab Ftheir connection to the hacking will be announced once the investiga- attack on the country’s offi cial media 30 killed in India as court convicts guru of rape military coalition, drawing strong of Qatar News Agency (QNA), which tion is over, QNA reported. originated from the UAE. international condemnation. The took place in late May, HE the Attor- Qatar had announced on June 20 The attack on the website of QNA At least 30 people were killed yesterday when clashes broke out in northern United Nations has accused the Arab ney General Dr Ali bin Fetais al-Marri that it had proof that the hacking of started as early as April 19 when pro- India after a court convicted a controversial religious leader of raping two of his coalition of killing 42 civilians in the said yesterday. its state-run news agency and govern- fessional hackers began to scan the followers, sparking fury among tens of thousands of supporters who had gathered week to Thursday, including many He told QNA that as part of co- ment social media accounts, which set site using VPN programmes to look for for the verdict. Authorities rushed hundreds of troops to the city of Panchkula after children. Pages 3, 16 operation between Qatar and Turkey off a major diplomatic crisis in the re- loopholes in the system, the technical followers of guru Ram Rahim Singh torched cars went on a rampage throwing in combating cyber crime, the Turk- gion, was linked to countries that have investigation team of the MoI revealed. rocks and attacking television vans and setting fire to dozens of private vehicles. ARAB WORLD | Off ensive ish authorities detained fi ve people recently cut ties with it. The UAE’s role in the hacking has Page 9 Iraqis break through involved in the hacking of QNA and Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and been widely reported both locally and broadcasting of false statements at- Egypt severed diplomatic relations internationally, and also confi rmed by Man with knife held outside Buckingham Palace IS lines in Tal Afar tributed to His Highness the Emir and cut off land, air and sea links with multiple American intelligence agen- Iraqi government forces broke Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. Qatar on June 5, accusing it of sup- cies. Both the Washington Post and British police said they had arrested a man carrying a knife outside Buckingham through Islamic State’s lines inside The Attorney General recalled that, porting “terrorism” and advancing NBC News, quoting US intelligence Palace last night, with two off icers suff ering minor injuries in the process. The man Tal Afar yesterday, reaching the old after the hacking crime, Qatari authori- the agenda of their regional rival, Iran. offi cials, have said the UAE arranged was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and assault on police near to city centre and the neighbourhood ties began investigations inside and Doha strongly denies the charges. hacking of Qatari media. Queen Elizabeth’s London residence. around the Ottoman-era citadel, outside the country. They contacted “Qatar has evidence that certain The Post reported on July 16 that according to a military statement. friendly countries and asked for help on iPhones originating from countries information from US intelligence offi - ‘Terrorist’ attacker in Brussels shot dead On the sixth day of the off ensive, the subject, given that electronic crimes laying siege to Qatar were used in the cials showed that senior UAE govern- elite Iraqi units seized the northern do not recognise borders by their nature. hack,” HE Dr al-Marri had told a press ment offi cials discussed the planned A knife-wielding man who attacked two soldiers in Brussels yesterday was shot neighbourhoods of Nida’, Taliaa, “Five people involved in the hacking conference in Doha on June 20. hacks on May 23, the day before the dead, federal prosecutors said. “We believe that it is a terrorist attack,” said a Uruba, Nasr, and Saad. Page 3 are currently being interrogated,” HE Offi cials of Qatar’s Ministry of In- hacking occurred. prosecutors’ off ice spokeswoman, who added the attacker “is dead.” Packing and peeling facility to cut waste in stores

By Joey Aguilar ing fruits such as papaya and lemons, Staff Reporter as well as other vegetables (carrots and zucchini) and diff erent kinds of herbs such as basil, coriander, and mint. packing and peeling facility at If successful, Agrico will increase its Al Khor, is expected to reduce a fruit production and other varieties of Asignifi cant quantity of vegetable vegetables to meet the growing demand and fruit waste in many hypermarkets in the country. across Qatar, once operational. Such strategy, which al-Khalaf de- The facility is being set up by Ag- scribed as a sustainable practice, will rico, a private local Qatari agricultural also help in lessening the quantity of development company established waste brought to the waste manage- in 2011 with the aim of helping Qatar ment facility for treatment. achieve food security. The 800sq m packing and peeling fa- “About 30% of vegetable and fruit cility will have a capacity of 100-tonnes waste in hypermarkets can be reduced per day but al-Khalaf plans to build a since peeling will be done in our facil- bigger one next year. It will be used pri- ity. It will also save them time and en- marily for trading and exporting. ergy,” Agrico managing director Nasser “Once built, it will serve our vision Ahmed al-Khalaf told Gulf Times. of increasing the local production and Agrico, which operates a 120,000sq m help in attaining food security,” he organic farm at Al Khor, supplies more said. Sorting and packing operations at Agrico, which harvests an average of six tonnes of Nasser Ahmed al-Khalaf showing lemon plants grown in organic compost. than 150 hypermarkets and small grocer- He also expressed confi dence that the vegetables daily during summer. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar ies across the country with various kinds country will soon export its own “high of vegetables such as tomatoes, cucum- quality organic fresh food products” using hydroponics farming, thereby saving strate,” al-Khalaf explained. grow other vegetables, fruits and herbs. “The government is encouraging ber, and mushrooms, among others. a Qatari technology developed by Agrico. money, energy and resources. Apart from building 10 more green- With about 1,400 farms in total these farms to produce more,” he said, The Qatari farm owner explained he The company is working hard to save “We do not waste any drop of water houses this year (in addition to the across the country, al-Khalaf hopes citing that the Qatar Development will also convert the vegetable and fruit and recycle almost everything, includ- and we developed this system only to existing 20), Agrico will also come up that many of them will produce and put Bank is supporting the country’s agri- waste into organic compost for grow- ing water and the substrate it uses for collect the extra water from the sub- with a pyramid-like greenhouse to their products in the Qatar market. culture sector. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, August 26, 2017 QATAR

OFFICIAL Mindsports International Emir greets to support Qatari youth Uruguay

By Joseph Varghese to the Staff Reporter school president curricu- lum but outh hostels in Qatar, in we ex- QNA collaboration with Mind- pect more Doha Ysports International, will schools to soon introduce the mindsports add this games for the youngsters by set- over the Dave Brannan. is Highness the Emir ting up a number of after school coming Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- clubs. months. We are also hopeful that Hmad al-Thani, His High- “We are about to sign an agree- the Ministry of Education and ness the Deputy Emir Sheikh ment with the local youth hostels Higher Education might include Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani to encourage and start after school it as part of the curriculum within and HE Prime Minister and Min- clubs. There are already several a year,” he noted. ister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah local schools working with us and “Mindsports education clubs bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani follow the mindsports games in support the teaching of team- have sent cables of congratula- earnest. A large number of stu- work. Moreover, Mindsports tions to Uruguay President Tab- dents in Qatar are taking part in helps sharpen and strengthen are Vazquez, on the anniversary most mindsports games,” Dave English, math and spelling; im- of his country’s National Day. Brannan, founder and chief exec- proves time management, con- utive of Mindsports International, fi dence and attention span and told Gulf Times. encourages students to make new Taking place in the Middle friends,” Brannan maintained. East for the fi rst time, the fourth The offi cial highlighted that a Prime Minister sends World Mindsports Champion- large number of countries have message to Bulgarian ships is currently underway at implemented mindsports games the Doha Exhibition & Conven- in schools. “Several countries counterpart tion Centre. More than 1,000 have introduced chess and players from 23 diff erent coun- scrabble in their schools. The UK tries who include a number of and the USA use chess in many E the Prime Minister mindsports enthusiasts from schools; India, Korea and Paki- and Minister of Inte- Qatar, compete across the six stan use scrabble in the schools. Hrior Sheikh Abdullah mindsports, for the crown title The same is the case with a large bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani of Mindsports World Champion. number of schools in several has sent a written message to According to Brannan, mind- countries all across the world,” the Prime Minister of Bulgaria sports are the fastest growing he continued. Boyko Borisov. and most highly watched sports Brannan felt that mindsports The message was handed internationally. Mindsports in- will become a part of STEM ( over by the ambassador of Qa- clude Chess, Scrabble, Bridge, Science Technology, Engineer- tar to Bulgaria Rashid bin Ali al- Backgammon, E-sports and Go. ing and Math) within fi ve years. Khater, during a meeting in Sofi a “We work with the Qatar Tour- There are more than 1bn mind- yesterday with R Petrov, adviser ism Authority and Qatar Founda- sports players around the world, to the Deputy Prime Minister for tion. At this time, there is nothing including 600mn chess players A grandmaster plays a game of chess with QTA chief tourism development off icer Hassan al-Ibrahim during the opening of the fourth World Judicial Reform and Bulgarian offi cial about adding mindsports and 400mn Go players. Mindsports Championships in Doha. foreign minister. MoI service transactions Sale of subsidised sheep starts

he sale of subsidised sheep provide 12,500 heads of Syr- in this regard. The sheep should larly, consumers can report any for Qataris will start today ian sheep, each weighing 45kg also meet the standards and violations or abuses, and ask Twith every individual 20 or above. These will be sold to conditions necessary for sacrifi - for any related information or years or above entitled to one at a Qataris directly at Abu Hamour cial sheep in accordance with the even submit related suggestions fi xed price of QR1,100, the Min- Central Market at the automat- Islamic law. through the various communi- istry of Economy and Commerce ed and public slaughterhouses, The sale of the live sheep con- cation channels of the MEC. (MEC) announced yesterday. in addition to the other Widam tinues until September 3, and to Further, MEC has presented The initiative has been slaughterhouses at Al Shamal, benefi t from the initiative, the consumers with some advice launched by the MEC for the Al Khor and Umm Salal Central purchaser should present his regarding the best ways to en- fi fth year in row aiming at creat- Market. Qatari ID at the selling point. sure that the sheep they buy are ing a balance in prices at the lo- The conditions of the MEC In the meantime, the MEC healthy and in excellent con- cal market, which experiences a contract with Widam ensures would intensify its inspection dition, so they can avoid any surge of demand on such sheep the sheep to be sold within this campaign until September 3 to fraud or deception and end up ahead and during Eid al-Adha. initiative should be of good make sure that the sellers abide buying sick or weak sheep that The MEC has made a contract health and weight and compli- by the sale conditions and the would not be fit for their Eid with Widam Food Company to ant with the approved standards fi xed subsidised prices. Simi- sacrifice. Mercury to star in a celestial event today

lanet Mercury will be at inferior con- indicator of the planet transitioning from an and hence Mercury was at inferior conjunc- junction with the Sun today at 11.30pm evening sky (Western horizon) to the dawn tion with Sun on April 20, while the next time PDoha time, Qatar Calendar House sky (eastern horizon). Venus is the only other during this year will be on December 13,” Dr (QCH) has announced. planet for which this phenomenon happens. Marzouk said. On this day, Mercury will be “During an inferior conjunction, the cen- People in Qatar and the region will be able rising in the Qatar sky at the same time of tre of three celestial objects (Sun, Earth and to observe Mercury over the eastern horizon sunrise, and both the celestial bodies will Mercury) will be align on straight line, more- after approximately 10 days from an inferior set together approximately. There are two over Mercury will be in between Sun and conjunction day on a clear sky without light types of conjunction: inferior and superior. Earth, and it will pass very close to the Sun and environment pollution, where the dura- An inferior conjunction only happens for more than the Earth,” astronomer expert at tion between the time of rise of Mercury and Mercury and Venus because their orbits are The Ministry of Interior has tweeted an infographic depicting the number of service transactions QCH Dr Beshir Marzouk explained. An infe- sunrise time will increase during the next few inside Earth’s orbit, while superior conjunc- completed during first half of 2017. rior conjunction of Mercury is an important weeks. “An inferior conjunction occurs once tion happens for all the planets in the solar astronomical phenomenon because it is an in every synodic cycle of the planet Mercury, system.

Beach clean-up Inspection tours

Al Shamal Municipality, represented by the General Inspection Department, intensified inspection tours to the fish sales depots at Ruwais Port. The inspection of the general cleanliness requirements, monitoring the sale activity Over the course of four consecutive days, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, represented by the Department in the shops and the inventory of shops were carried out in accordance with the terms of the contract between of Public Cleanliness at the Beach and Islands Department, cleared abandoned water scooters and other equipment. the Municipality and the owners of the shops. Gulf Times Saturday, August 26, 2017 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Kuwait contains small oil spillage near Qaruh island

A small oil spillage was discovered Children among 14 killed in by Kuwaiti authorities near Qaruh Island and ships owned by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) managed to contain the situation, Minister of Oil, Water and Electricity Essam Al Marzouq said yesterday. Kuwaiti news agency KUNA re- Saudi-led air strike on Sanaa ported yesterday that the minister said an air sortie was carried AFP that the strike was aimed at “a out to determine if there were Sanaa high-value target”. pollutants near the Kuwaiti Island. On yesterday’s strike, he said: The sortie was undertaken after “I will review the information.” satellite imagery showed a pos- hildren were among at Human rights groups have sible spillage near Qaruh, said the least 14 people killed in repeatedly criticised the coali- minister, aff irming that everything Can air strike that toppled tion, which controls Yemen’s was under control. residential blocks in Yemen’s airspace, over the civilian death capital Sanaa yesterday, wit- toll from the bombing cam- nesses and medics said. paign. Kuwaiti FM holds The attack was the latest in a Northern and southern Yem- wave of deadly raids on residen- en have both come under aerial talks with Turkish tial areas of Yemen blamed on a attack in recent months, and the counterpart Saudi-led Arab military coali- coalition has come under mas- tion, drawing strong interna- sive pressure from international Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime tional condemnation. organisations including the Minister and Minister of Foreign The United Nations has ac- United Nations over the raids. Aff airs Sheikh Sabah Khalid al- cused the Arab coalition of kill- The United Nations has said Hamad al-Sabah held a telephone ing 42 civilians in the week to the coalition was likely respon- conversation with Turkish Foreign Thursday, including many chil- sible for a July attack on the Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The dren. southwestern Taez province that Kuwaiti news agency (KUNA) re- Yesterday’s air raid destroyed killed 20 people, including chil- ported that the bilateral relations two buildings in the southern dren. between the two countries were district of Faj Attan, leaving peo- “In the week from August 17 discussed during the meeting. ple buried under debris, said an to August 24, 58 civilians have AFP photographer on the scene. been killed, including 42 by the The images he took showed Saudi-led coalition,” UN human Petrofac wins new severely damaged buildings, rights offi ce spokeswoman Liz piles of smashed concrete blocks Throssell told reporters in Ge- contract in Oman and splintered beams of wood. neva yesterday. Medics at the site said at least “In all these cases, in which UK-based oilfield services special- 14 people including six children civilians were killed and injured, ist Petrofac has been awarded a and two women had died in the witnesses said that there had US$2bn contract in Oman. strike at 3:15am. been no warnings that an attack The deal will see the troubled Al-Massira television chan- was imminent,” her agency said. firm – which is currently under nel run by the Houthi rebels who Yemen also faces a dead- investigation by the UK’s Serious control the capital said those ly cholera outbreak that has Fraud Off ice (SFO) – working killed were all civilians, and A man carries an injured girl, rescued from the site of a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa, Yemen, yesterday. claimed nearly 2,000 lives and on the Duqm Refinery, with its blamed the Saudi-led coalition aff ected more than half a million joint venture partner, Samsung for the strike. the buildings was immediately medics and residents searched war in 2015 in support of the di-led alliance intervened. people since late April. Engineering. Mohamed Ahmad, who lived destroyed which caused the for the missing. government against the rebels, Yesterday’s raid came two A combination of war, disease Petrofac will undertake engineer- in one of the buildings, said he building next door to collapse Survivors sat on the rubble who seized Sanaa the previous days after at least 35 people died and a coalition blockade have ing and construction work on the was among those who had taken too. and helped move the wounded to year after forming a fragile alli- in a series of strikes on Sanaa and pushed Yemen, long the poorest 810-hectare project, which will nine bodies to a hospital. Some residents got out, but ambulances. ance with troops loyal to former a nearby hotel that rebels have in the Arab world, to the brink of have a refining capacity of around “We extracted them one by others were trapped.” A man wearing a bloodied president Ali Abdullah Saleh. also blamed on the coalition. famine. 230,000 barrels of oil per day one from under the rubble,” he Some of them died and others white gown walked among the The World Health Organi- Coalition spokesman Colonel The United States also regu- when completed. said. “Some of them were chil- were wounded, he told AFP. torn and burnt pieces of clothing sation estimates nearly 8,400 Turki al-Malki said that those larly conducts deadly drone The Oman contract is the second dren from a single family.” Diggers were still working at and bits of wooden furnishings. civilians have been killed and killed in Wednesday’s air strike strikes on Yemen that Washing- to be secured by Petrofac in the “When the rocket hit, one of the site hours after the raid as The coalition entered Yemen’s 47,800 wounded since the Sau- were “armed militants”, adding ton says target Al Qaeda. country in as many months. Israeli brute force Iraq forces break through IS lines in Tal Afar

Agencies Erbil, Iraq

raqi government forces broke through Islamic IState’s lines inside Tal Afar yesterday, and reached the old city centre and the neighbour- hood around the Ottoman-era citadel, according to a military statement. On the sixth day of the of- fensive, Iraqi elite units seized the northern city’s neighbour- hoods of Nida’ and Taliaa, ac- Israeli security forces are pictured during clashes with Palestinian demonstrators following a cording to a statement from the weekly demonstration against the expropriation of Palestinian land by Israel in the village of Kfar Iraqi Joint Operations Com- Qaddum, near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, yesterday. mand. “The Iraqi fl ag has been hoisted in Al-Nasr district,” an eastern neighbourhood of the city, the Joint Operations Cen- tre said in a statement. It said Counter-Terrorism Service special forces had also Military vehicles of the Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) are seen during the fight with the Islamic State Loveless monkey adopts retaken Al-Taliaa district to the militants in Tal Afar, Iraq, yesterday. south and were tasked with ex- pelling IS from the citadel, the and the federal police force, po- month-long battle, Iraqi forces The International Organisa- last current target of the CTS in lice have seized the Saad district launched an assault Sunday on tion for Migration said “thou- chicken at Israeli zoo Tal Afar. and were moving into Al Qadis- Tal Afar, where an estimated sands of civilians” had fl ed Tal On the sixth day of an of- siyah, the JOC said. 1,000 jihadists are holed up. Afar since the off ensive began. fensive to recapture the city After routing the jihadists The attackers have faced an But around 30,000 civilians AFP launched between the CTS, Shia from Iraq’s second city Mosul in onslaught of suicide and car are trapped by the fi ghting, ac- Ramat Gan, Israel fi ghters of the Hashed al-Shaabi July following a gruelling nine- bomb assaults. cording to the United Nations.

lonely monkey at an Is- raeli zoo has found a way Ato soothe her maternal urges: by adopting a chicken. US-backed forces to start anti-IS off ensive in Syria Niv, an Indonesian black macaque, has spent the past week caressing, cleaning and playing AFP Forces, announced the up- been making a mad dash to- tribal unit, said yesterday that with the bird at the Ramat Gan Shadadi, Syria coming off ensive yesterday in wards the provincial capital of his fi ghters “will not target Deir Safari Park near Tel Aviv. northeast Syria. the same name. Ezzor city, but the province”. “It seems that Niv, who is four “Our forces are preparing for Regime troops have swept “Our forces are committed years old and has reached the S-backed Arab and the great battle of Deir Ezzor across Syria’s desert to break to what the coalition sees as fi t age of sexual maturity, has diffi - Kurdish fi ghters said and unifying the tribes,” said IS’s two-year siege on tens of -- to fi ght Daesh (IS) only,” he culty fi nding a partner,” the zoo’s Uyesterday they would DEMC head Ahmad Abu Khaw- thousands of people trapped in said. spokeswoman Mor Porat said. launch an off ensive “very soon” lah in Shadai, some 60km south Deir Ezzor city. IS has lost swathes of terri- “This probably explains the A four-year-old Indonesian black macaque named Niv holds a young to oust the Islamic State group of Hasakeh. The US-led coalition has said tory to US-backed forces in the maternal instinct she expresses chicken at the Ramat Gan Safari Park near Tel Aviv yesterday. from Syria’s oil-rich Deir Ezzor He said at least 1,500 tribal that a “de-confl iction line” has north and to Russian-backed to this chicken.” province. fi ghters had joined the DEMC. been set to prevent any “mis- Syrian troops in the country’s The bird, which doesn’t have other macaques — apart from Seemingly unlikely animal The strategic territory is also “There is no specifi c time- haps” between the two advanc- centre and east. a name, could easily escape her mother, who is often the friendships are often the result seen as a prize by advancing frame for the battle, but it will ing forces. Moscow has said the recap- through the bars but chooses to target of hostilities from other of diff erent species being put to- Syrian troops, but an agree- be very soon,” he said. Spokesman Colonel Ryan ture of Deir Ezzor could mark stay near Niv. females. gether by humans. ment between regime ally Rus- The SDF is currently waging Dillon told journalists this the conclusion of the battle “These kinds of relationships Porat said the chicken “seems A bear, lion and tiger dis- sia and the US-led coalition is a ferocious fi ght for IS’s de facto month that the line “has been against IS. are rare,” Porat told AFP. “Some- very happy to have found a sur- covered during a drug raid in expected to keep the rival as- capital in Raqqa city, about co-ordinated and de-con- And the US-led coalition’s times macaques kill and eat rogate mother. At night they the United States remained in- saults from clashing. 75km west of the administrative flicted, and has been placed deputy head, British Major chickens that enter their pens or sleep together.” separable for life after they were The Deir Ezzor Military border with Deir Ezzor. between the SDF and the re- General Rupert Jones, said play with them until they die.” A few months ago, Niv at- moved to an animal sanctuary. Council (DEMC), a coali- SDF fi ghters have seized gime and the Russians and the on Wednesday the fi nal fi ght To avoid such a tragic end, tempted to adopt a previous But Porat said it wasn’t clear tion of Arab tribes and fi ght- some territory in Deir Ezzor US”. would probably take place in offi cials separated Niv and her chicken, but it spurned her ad- where the chickens at the zoo ers that belongs to the broader province, but Russian-backed Abu Muhammad al-Shayti, the stretch of border between feathered companion from the vances. had come from. US-backed Syrian Democratic Syrian government forces have who heads the DEMC’s Shaytat Syria and Iraq. Gulf Times 4 Saturday, August 26, 2017 AFRICA

Nigerian group Angola’s ruling party retracts threat

AFP handily wins election Abuja Reuters Lourenco will become Angola’s For the fi rst time, the party processed without the involve- public, which seems to be the tidal wave majority,” said Alex Luanda fi rst new president for 38 years, lost its majority in the capital ment of some members of the strategy of the opposition,” he Vines, head of the Africa Pro- radical religious group replacing Jose Eduardo dos San- Luanda, winning just 48%. commission’s board or the input added. gramme at London’s Chatham has bowed to political tos. Overall, the MPLA lost 25 of provincial counting centres. Angola has been mostly House. Apressure and backed off ngola’s ruling MPLA Dos Santos, however, will re- seats compared with the elec- “The process violated the law peaceful since the end of the war “They know they’ve got to from a ultimatum to the mainly party convincingly won main MPLA party leader. tion in 2012. and the principles of democra- in 2002, but the Opec member, get serious reform in,” he add- Christian Igbo minority that Athe general election, the So far, 97.82% of the votes cast The National Union for the cy,” he told Reuters. Africa’s second largest oil pro- ed, stressing that Lourenco will they quit northern Nigeria. electoral commission said yes- during the election in sub-Saha- Total Independence of Angola UNITA said it plans to release ducer, is in dire need of reforms have to secure investment to The Arewa Youths had given terday, citing provisional results, ran Africa’s third-largest econo- (UNITA) won 51 parliamentary its own tally once it has counted to boost an economy hammered avoid a forecast decline in oil all Igbos living in the north until but the main opposition rejected my have been counted, said Julia seats, an increase of 19 com- 4mn votes. in the last three years by sup- production. October 1 to leave. the outcome. Ferreira, spokeswoman for the pared to the last election. The election had around 9mn pressed crude prices. A quiet 63-year-old more The threat, issued in June, The MPLA took 61.1% of the National Electoral Commission. Second opposition party CA- registered voters. Lourenco has vowed to revive used to army barracks and the worsened the ethnic and reli- votes counted compared with Defi nitive results will be pub- SA-CE doubled its seats to 16. The MPLA dismissed the the economy and has not ruled closed doors of party poli- gious tensions across Nigeria. the opposition UNITA party’s lished by September 6. “We reject completely these complaints from its old foe in the out deals with the World Bank tics than the public spotlight, Late on Thursday, the Arewa 26.7%, results showed. According to the electoral provisional results,” Raul Danda, country’s 27-year civil war. and International Monetary Lourenco has denied he will re- Youths issued a statement step- UNIT said, however, that the commission, the People’s Move- UNITA’s candidate for vice- “We have to wait with calm Fund (IMF) to help restructure main in dos Santos’ shadow. ping back from their ultimatum. numbers had not been gathered ment for the Liberation of An- president, told Reuters. “We for the defi nitive result,” João an economy that is overly de- Others are not sure. “Mindful of the concerns transparently and did not tally gola (MPLA) won 150 of 220 par- don’t know where they come Martins, MPLA party secretary pendent on oil. “The infl uence of the party generated by the clause ... that with their own count. liamentary seats, giving them from.” for political and electoral aff airs, Angola imports at huge cost elite and the dos Santos family advised the Biafran Igbo to relo- After a peaceful election on the two-thirds majority needed Claudio Silva, who sits on said. everything from washing pow- will limit (Lourenco’s) room for cate ... we immediately opened Wednesday, largely approved by to pass any type of legislation the electoral commission as a “If they have complaints there der to long-life milk. manoeuvre,” John Ashbourne, channels for dialogue and inter- international observers, former without help from another par- UNITA representative, said the are offi cial channels to make “It’s a good result for the analyst at Capital Economics, action,” the group said. “Admit- MPLA defence minister Joao ty. provisional results had been them, rather than doing so in MPLA, but it’s not a massive said in a note. tedly, we came under intense pressure from genuinely con- cerned national, political, tra- ditional, religious and cultural leaders. “As a consequence of these vigorous engagements ... we are Judge fi nds white today pleased to announce the immediate suspension of the re- location clause.” Since the so-called “quit no- tice” was issued on June 8, the farmers guilty in federal government in Abuja had repeatedly called for calm. Then on Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the issue in a televised speech ‘coffi n assault’ case following a long absence from the country for health reasons. “Nigeria’s unity is settled and AFP Two clips of footage taken on men, who had alleged that he not negotiable. We shall not al- Middelburg, South Africa their mobile phones showed the had threatened to kill their fam- low irresponsible elements to assailants shoving Mlotshwa ilies and burn farm crops before start trouble and when things get down into the wooden coffi n being forced into the coffi n. bad they run away,” he said. South African judge has and pressing the lid closed with South Africa is beset by deep- The Arewa Youths’ ultimatum found two white farmers their boots as he begged for his rooted racial inequality 23 years was itself in response to a bid by Aguilty of attempted mur- life. after the end of white-minority the Indigenous People of Biafra der after they fi lmed themselves Rival activists from the rul- apartheid rule, and cases of rac- (IPOB) – a mainly Igbo group in forcing a black man into a cof- ing African National Congress ism have erupted regularly on Supporters of the ANC stand next to mock-coff ins bearing the faces of co-accused Willem Oosthuizen the south – to secede from Ni- fi n and threatening to burn him (ANC) party, the main opposi- social media in recent years. and Theo Martins Jackson outside the Middleburg magistrate court in Mpumalanga. geria. alive. tion Democratic Alliance (DA) Outside the court yesterday, Supporters of the victim burst and the radical Economic Free- protesters carried mock coffi ns they would face justice.” out in celebratory songs in the dom Fighters (EFF) had rallied decorated with pictures of the Mlotshwa said he was walk- courtroom after Judge Segopotje outside court and attended each accused and called for them to ing to the town of Middelburg Mphahlele told the accused that day of the trial. be found guilty on all charges. to buy provisions for his mother “for attempted murder of Mr The DA welcomed the court On the phone footage, which and had decided to use a short ‘Contradictory’ Uganda court (Victor) Mlotshwa, I hereby fi nd ruling, saying: “Justice prevails. was shown in court during cut when the two men spotted you both guilty”. South Africa has no place for the trial, one of the men said: him. Willem Oosthuizen and Theo racists”. “Come, come. We want to throw The two men’s families told Martins Jackson, both wearing When the fi rst phone footage the petrol on.” local media they were shocked accused of targeting Muslims jackets and ties, were also found emerged several months ago, it They are also threatened to by the verdicts. guilty of kidnap, intimidation triggered national outrage and put a snake in the coffi n. “Today we are celebrating the and assault with intent to do led to the arrest of the two men. “This hideous case lays bare victory of the criminal justice By Michael O’Hagan, AFP Defence lawyer Fred Muwema assassins, and in each case Mus- grievous bodily harm. “Please don’t kill me,” Mlot- the discrimination that still system,” said Monica Nyuswa, Kampala thought he had an explanation lim suspects were rounded up. They had pleaded not guilty shwa begged the men while in runs deep in South African so- spokeswoman for the national for what he saw as the judg- For Rwakafuzi, the evidence over the incident last year in the the coffi n, the footage showed. ciety,” Amnesty said in a state- prosecuting authority. “There is ment’s inconsistencies. for Muslim involvement in the eastern province of Mpuma- “Why shouldn’t we, when ment. “The fact that the whole a lot more to happen on the day Ugandan court this week “I do not have direct evidence high-profi le killings is fl imsy at langa, saying that they only in- you are killing our farm?” one grotesque episode was captured of the sentencing.” jailed four members of ... but there is always politi- best. tended to scare Mlotshwa after farmer replied. on video and then posted to so- The two men were granted Aa Muslim sect for life on cal pressure and interference in “The Muslims are being pro- he allegedly stole copper cables Mlotshwa was in court to cial media suggests that the per- bail ahead of sentencing set for terrorism charges, a judgment a country like this,” he said. “I fi led,” he said. “We have very from their farm. hear the verdicts against the two petrators felt little concern that October 23. denounced by some as the latest think the state was interested in poor, underfunded investigation in a series of anti-Muslim rul- the Tabliq community. mechanisms. It’s an easy way out ings. “Court cannot accept some- to show to the public that you’re On Tuesday Kampala’s High thing and deny it at the same doing something about these Court sentenced Sheikh Yunus time,” Muwema continued. killings.” Kamoga and three members of “That’s a contradiction and a Muslims were being targeted, Grace Mugabe makes her fi rst public his Tabliq sect to life in prison, miscarriage of justice.” he said, because “it is easier to while two others were given 30 But Solomon Muyita, the believe” thanks to widespread years each. spokesman for Uganda’s judici- fears of religious terrorism, in But a day earlier the same ary, said if lawyers had evidence Uganda and elsewhere. appearance since South Africa case court had acquitted Kamoga and that judges had been politically A spokesman for the Tabliq 13 others of the murder and at- infl uenced they should bring it sect, Siraje Nsambu, said the tempted murder of leaders of two to court. terrorism and murder charges Reuters rival Muslim factions – on the Uganda has taken a hardline against Kamoga and the others Harare same evidence. against suspected religious ex- were trumped up. The apparently contradictory tremists since the deadly suicide He denounced the ruling verdicts have left some observers bombings in 2010 carried out by against them as “purely politi- imbabwe’s fi rst lady, suspicious. the Al Qaeda-aligned Shebaab cal”. Grace Mugabe, made her “I fi nd the decision very unu- militants in their fi rst attack out- But government spokesman Zfi rst public appearance sual because the main case was side of Somalia. Ofwono Opondo dismissed al- yesterday since leaving South about the murders and the ter- But some say that Muslims are legations that Muslims were un- Africa where she was charged rorism was arising from the mur- being scapegoated. fairly targeted. with assault. ders, so if they were not guilty of They argue that this week’s “Uganda has a very long stand- The wife of 93-year-old Rob- the murders then they should be terrorism conviction is just the ing record of having no political, ert Mugabe, a potential succes- not guilty of the terrorism,” said latest in a series of questionable religious or racial persecution,” sor to the president, was granted human rights lawyer Ladislaus cases where Muslims have been he said. “There is no reason diplomatic immunity and left Rwakafuzi. blamed for the murders of offi - whatsoever why the government South Africa on Sunday. In judgment Justice Mu- cials and Islamic clerics. of Ugandan should target those But South Africa’s opposition hanguzi said that while the men The cases include the mur- Muslim cliques.” is challenging the international were not proven to have killed ders of nine Muslim clerics since Nonetheless, this week’s rul- relations minister’s decision to anyone, they had used threaten- 2012; of Joan Kagezi, a prosecu- ing and its harsh sentences has give her immunity – a move that ing leafl ets and loudhailers to in- tor working on the 2010 Kampala further embittered a community could in theory aff ect any future timidate rivals. bombings case, in March 2015; that already feels marginalised by plans to travel to the country. Those threats amounted to of an army offi cer in Novem- the government and victimised The Mugabes attended a terrorism against the entire com- ber 2016 who had defected from by authorities. farming fair in Harare, where munity, he ruled. a Ugandan-led Islamist rebel “The government has clearly Grace was seen smiling and “Court fi nds that death threats group in eastern Democratic Re- shown that it is against Islam and talking with exhibitors. She were delivered by word of mouth public of Congo; and of a promi- Muslims. We are used as a scape- made no public comment. and on loudspeakers, hence it nent policeman in March. goat just like the world over,” said Harare has made no offi cial was indiscriminate,” Muhanguzi In each case the victims were Nsambu. “As Muslims, we are comment on the assault case said. shot dead by motorbike-riding angry right now.” and requests for comment from Zimbabwean government offi - cials have gone unanswered. ALL SMILES: Grace Mugabe at the annual Agriculture Show in Harare. Suspected Boko Haram militants kill at least 11 in Cameroon Twenty-year-old model Gabriella Engels accused Grace argue its case that Grace Mu- can or international law which persona non grata, prohibited Suspected Boko Haram militants killed at least 11 The mayor of Kolofata confirmed that an attack had Mugabe of whipping her with gabe’s diplomatic immunity be renders her deserving of diplo- from visiting South Africa. people and kidnapped eight others in an overnight taken place but said he did not know the death toll. an electric extension cable as declared unconstitutional. matic immunity.” Advocacy group Afriforum raid on a village in northern Cameroon near the “The attack happened around midnight. The Boko she waited with two friends in a “Grace Mugabe is not a mem- Selfe said the party hoped has given legal backing to the Nigerian border, off icials said yesterday. Haram assailants arrived. They set 32 houses on fire luxury hotel suite to meet one of ber of the Zimbabwean govern- that if the immunity is lifted alleged victim, Engels, and is The attackers burned down around 30 houses in ... killed, pillaged, and traumatised the population,” the Mugabes’ adult sons. ment and she was in South Af- Mugabe would have to surren- working on the case with Ger- Gakara village, just outside the town of Kolofata, said the district off icial, who asked not to be named South Africa’s main opposi- rica on personal business,” the der to South African state pros- rie Nel – the prosecutor who which has been a frequent target of suicide because he was not authorised to speak. tion Democratic Alliance (DA) party’s federal executive chair- ecutors or be extradited to face secured a murder conviction bombings by the Islamist group. Many people fled the village for a camp near party has asked the Constitu- man, James Selfe, said. “There the charges. against Olympic and Paralympic An army colonel put the death toll at 11, while a Kolofata that houses thousands displaced by Boko tional Court for permission to is nothing in either South Afri- If not she could be declared runner Oscar Pistorius. district off icial said that 15 people had been killed. Haram violence, he said. Gulf Times Saturday, August 26, 2017 5 AMERICAS

Republican and Democrat mull joint White House run

Reuters oper and former reality televi- Washington sion star who has an approval rating below 40% after seven months in offi ce, has held a hio’s Republican gov- series of re-election campaign ernor, John Kasich, and events. OColorado Governor Earlier this month Vice John Hickenlooper, a Demo- President Mike Pence denied a crat, have discussed the idea of New York Times report that he a joint run for the White House is preparing for a 2020 presi- in 2020, Axios and CNN re- dential run, saying the sug- ported yesterday. gestion was “disgraceful and Citing an unidentifi ed off ensive”. source, CNN said the discus- A spokeswoman for Hick- sions were not at an organi- enlooper did not immediately sational level for a bid, which respond to a request for com- would challenge Republican ment. President Donald Trump’s ex- Hickenlooper and Kasich pected re-election campaign are working on a proposal to and complicate Democratic stabilise the health insurance eff orts to regain the White markets, and Axios said they House. plan to extend their joint plat- “What they are trying to form to include immigration show the country is that hon- and job creation. orable people can disagree, but Kasich, whose state opted you can still problem solve to- to expand Medicaid under gether,” it quoted the source as Obamacare, has criticised saying. some of the so-far unsuccess- Kasich, who was among ful Republican eff orts to re- more than a dozen Republican peal the 2010 Aff ordable Care candidates to be defeated by Act, passed under Democratic Trump in last year’s presiden- President Barack Obama. tial primary campaign, would He said in an interview with top the ticket, according to National Public Radio aired CNN and Axios online news this week that the possibility Sal Valerio walks near bay waters as they churn from approaching Hurricane Harvey in Corpus Christi, Texas. Hurricane Harvey has intensified into a hurricane and is aiming for the outlet. of national single-payer health Texas coast with the potential for up to 3 feet of rain and 125 mph winds. Kasich adviser John Weaver coverage is not part of his dis- told Reuters the two governors cussions with Hickenlooper. “have an outstanding working Their jobs plan “will focus relationship” and had “done on the coming displacement a great job” showing how two from automation, with pre- people from diff erent parties scriptions that include trade, can work together. workforce training — and an “That model can work on optimistic and hopeful mes- other issues,” said Weaver, who sage, balanced with an honest ‘Disaster’ looms as did not say the reports were in- admission that some jobs just accurate. aren’t coming back,” Axios Trump, a real estate devel- said. Harvey bears down Spike in deaths of Harvey is the strongest storm to hit Harvey was bearing northwest at 10 potential for electric power failure,” said the US mainland in 12 years miles per hour as of 10am central time James Williams of WTRG Economics. (1500 GMT) yesterday. Should a refi nery shut down, he said it whales sparks probe AFP The fi rst major storm of the annual At- could take a week to get it up and running San Antonio lantic hurricane season, Harvey was ex- again. pected to dump as much as 35 inches of President Donald Trump weighed in AFP ing nets or colliding with ships rain in some parts of Texas through next with a tweet — “As #HurricaneHarvey Miami are considered the most likely undreds of thousands of people Wednesday. intensifi es — remember to #PlanAhead” causes of the whale deaths, but on the US Gulf Coast were urged “Catastrophic fl ooding expected — while Texas Governor Greg Abbott is- experts are awaiting the results Hto fl ee the path of Hurricane Har- across portions of southern and south- sued disaster declarations in 30 counties, ndangered right whales are of necropsies to determine the vey as Texas and Louisiana braced for eastern Texas,” the NHC warned in its a preemptive move allowing the state “to dying at unusually high reasons and to suggest solutions. “catastrophic” fl ooding from the pow- Alejandra Cisneros and Stephanie latest advisory. quickly deploy resources for the emer- Erates in the Atlantic Ocean NOAA has declared an “unu- erful category two storm barrelling in to Cisneros in Corpus Christi, Texas. Houston is braced for some 20 inches gency response eff ort”. off Canada and the northern sual mortality event”, or UME, shore. of rainfall, with a risk of dangerous fl ash In neighbouring Louisiana where the United States, sparking an in- kicking off an investigation and Roaring towards land with winds evacuate is rapidly coming to a close,” he fl ooding across the region. storm was forecast to hover for many vestigation by authorities in both making funds available for the whipping up to 175kph, the category two said. FEMA chief Long said the most press- days and could deluge fl ood-prone New countries, offi cials said yester- probe. hurricane is predicted to make landfall Corpus Christi — a major oil refi ning ing danger was the storm surge — set Orleans, Governor John Bel Edwards said day. “The fi rst reported stranding early today as a much more powerful cat- center where the hurricane was projected to reach between six and 12 feet above he spoke with the president who “off ered Thirteen of the massive, bus- in this event was on June 7, 2017 egory three storm. to make landfall today morning — has is- ground level in the worst-hit part of the his full support”. sized marine mammals have and was a dead North Atlantic If National Hurricane Center (NHC) sued voluntary evacuation orders, while Texas coast — but that many counties in- “This is going to play out over the next been found dead this year, a right whale reported fl oating to forecasts hold, Harvey would be the the evacuation was made mandatory in land should also prepare for a “signifi cant week or so,” Edwards told a news confer- large number considering the the west of Prince Edward Island strongest storm to hit the US mainland in the nearby coastal hamlets of Port Ar- inland fl ood event”. ence, “which makes it particularly dan- entire population numbers just in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Cana- 12 years, creating the potential for “life- kansas and Arkansas Pass. With one-third of the US refi ning ca- gerous”. 450-500, said experts at the Na- da,” said a NOAA statement. Ten threatening and devastating” fl oods in an “For anyone who has not already evac- pacity potentially under threat, several Edwards issued an emergency declara- tional Oceanic and Atmospheric of the whales have been found in area that processes some 7mn barrels of uated, please hurry to do so,” the city of energy companies evacuated personnel tion for his entire state, and hundreds of Administration (NOAA). Typi- Canada and two in US waters. oil a day. Portland, Texas warned on its website in from oil and gas platforms in the heart of boats were made ready for potential res- cally, 3.8 right whales per year are Prior to the announcement Local television footage showed su- capital letters. the US “Refi nery Row”. cues along with more than half a million found dead in Canadian and US of the UME, a North Atlantic permarket aisles plucked bare, highways Many residents were bent on sitting One oil drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico sandbags to hold back fl oodwaters. waters combined. right whale calf was found dead clogged with bumper-to-bumper traf- the storm out, however, like in Corpus has been evacuated, as well as 39 manned In New Orleans, where Hurricane Kat- David Gouveia, protected Spe- in April 2017 in Cape Cod Bay, fi c, and long lines snaking outside gas Christi were people were seen packing production platforms, according to the rina in 2005 caused widespread fl ooding cies Monitoring Program branch bringing the year-to-date total to stations as the country’s top emergency sandbags to protect their homes from Bureau of Safety and Environmental En- and killed more than 1,800 people, May- chief at NOAA Fisheries Greater 13. Four right whales were found offi cial urged coastal dwellers to get to fl ooding. forcement, representing an estimated or Mitch Landrieu told journalists that Atlantic Region, described the entangled in nets in Canada, and safety. Offi cials in Houston, the biggest city 9.5% of oil output and 14.7% of natural high-water rescue vehicles and boats deaths as “signifi cant” and said two of them were successfully “Texas is about to have a very signifi - in the path of the storm, cancelled school gas output in the Gulf. were at the ready — although there were an immediate response is needed. disentangled and appear to have cant disaster,” Brock Long, director of the classes through Monday although offi - “Harvey’s greatest risk to refi ners is no evacuations planned. “The North Atlantic right escaped with their lives. Federal Emergency Management Agency cials said they did not anticipate an evac- not just wind damage to the refi neries, “We just need to make sure that we’re whale recovery is fragile and one One of the whales in the US (FEMA), told CNN. “Their window to uation at this stage. but also the associated rainfall and the prepared,” Landrieu said. of most diffi cult conservation was a severely decomposed car- challenges,” he told reporters on a cass that washed up in Martha’s conference call. “Every factor in- Vineyard, and the other was fl uencing their ability to survive 258km off shore but NOAA was is signifi cant.” unable to retrieve the carcass for Getting entangled in fi sh- further study. San Francisco braces for protests

Reuters ers providing armed security. The those is a “Unite Against Hate” ty Law Center, which tracks hate The diff erence lies in a simple Free dental San Francisco group has decried racism and rally planned for noon local time groups, does not classify Patriot distinction: Unlike Alexandria, neo-Nazis. (1900 GMT) in a downtown plaza Prayer in those terms and report- Arlington is technically a county, Last weekend, 33 people were on Friday. ed on its website that Gibson de- not a city, and under Virginia law an Francisco braced yester- arrested in Boston as tens of US House Democratic leader nounced white supremacists and cannot alter major road names day for a weekend of pro- thousands of demonstrators took Nancy Pelosi, in a written state- “neo-Nazis” at a rally in Seattle without permission from the state Stests, including a rally by to the streets to protest a “free ment, slammed the Patriot Prayer earlier this month. legislature. an Oregon-based group that local speech” rally featuring far-right gathering as a dangerous “white Participants in the Patriot As offi cials across the United leaders labelled “white suprema- speakers. supremacist rally”. Prayer will not be allowed to bran- States increasingly consider ex- cist” as the city’s mayor urged In San Francisco, city offi cials Left-wing counter-protest- dish fi rearms, the National Park cising Confederate names from residents to boycott the event. including Mayor Ed Lee had lob- ers, meanwhile, were planning a Service said. streets, schools and monuments The demonstrations planned bied the National Park Service to march to Crissy Field, where po- On Sunday, conservative activ- following the violence in Char- for Friday, Saturday and Sunday deny a permit for Patriot Prayer lice were concerned a confronta- ists planned a so-called “No to lottesville, Virginia, many are across the Bay Area raised con- to hold its event at Crissy Field, tion could erupt. Marxism” rally in nearby Berke- confronting bureaucratic and le- cern among San Francisco police which is under federal control as San Francisco-based artist and ley, an event that left-wing groups gal obstacles. and elected offi cials two weeks af- part of the Golden Gate National designer Terrence Ryan, known were also expected to protest. In some cases, the local laws ter right-wing activists, including Recreation Area. professionally as Tuff y Tuffi ng- However, city of Berkeley of- impose a series of steps. In Aus- neo-Nazis and the Ku Klux Klan, When that permit was granted ton, has put out a call on Facebook fi cials on Thursday denied that tin, a liberal bastion in the heart of fought with anti-racism protest- on Wednesday, Lee told residents for canine owners to litter the group’s request for a rally permit. Republican Texas, the city coun- ers in the streets of Charlottes- of San Francisco to essentially fi eld beginning on Friday with dog An organiser for the planned Ber- cil recently began the process of ville, Virginia. boycott the rally. poop ahead of the Patriot Prayer keley rally could not be reached renaming Robert E Lee Road and A woman was killed at that “I ask our public and our resi- event. for comment. Jeff Davis Avenue. Recovering addict Neal McCarthy plays with a rescued dog “Unite the Right” rally when a dents of the San Francisco Bay Patriot Prayer founder Joey As early as November, the Austin’s ordinances call for at Pitbulls and Addicts, a Staten Island dog rescue which man thought to have neo-Nazi Area to honour our request to not Gibson said in a video message stretch of Jeff erson Davis High- every person who owns property aims to help both recovering drug addicts and stray animals sympathies drove his car into dignify people who are coming posted on the group’s Facebook way that runs through Alexan- along either street to be notifi ed, in New York City. Michael Favor started the dog rescue after a crowd of counter-protesters. in here under the guise of patriot page it was “absolutely not” white dria, Virginia, will boast a new and if anyone objects, the council 12 years of using drugs and losing countless friends to ad- Nineteen other people were in- and prayer words to really preach supremacist, adding he is a per- title after the city council voted must hold a public hearing on the diction. Pitbulls and Addicts looks to rescue abandoned and jured. violence and hatred,” Lee told a son of colour. to erase the name of the Confed- proposed change. Meanwhile, the abused dogs, rehabilitate them, and find them caring homes. Today’s event is billed as a “free press conference. “What I’m trying to do is bring eracy’s president. city’s traffi c engineer, fi re depart- Numerous volunteers at the facility are also recovering ad- speech” rally, but critics say the The mayor urged locals to in- people together who believe in But the city’s neighbours to the ment and police department must dicts who walk and feed the dogs. Eventually Favor hopes for Oregon-based organisers, Pa- stead attend city-hosted events freedom, who believe in love, be- north in Arlington are powerless review the proposal along with Pitbulls and Addicts to become a non profit that serves both triot Prayer, is a white nationalist that he said would focus on “in- lieve in peace and believe in free to initiate a similar change, even the local gas company and the the addiction community and abused animals. group, pointing to plans that may clusion, compassion and love speech,” Gibson said. though local offi cials would like to US Postal Service, among other include the far-right Oath Keep- rather than hate”. The fi rst of The nonprofi t Southern Pover- follow Alexandria’s example. agencies. Gulf Times 6 Saturday, August 26, 2017 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Turnbull slams ‘Stalinist’ critics of colonial statues

AFP indigenous commentator Stan Sydney council this week re- change the national day and alter ness and stoking racial friction. Sydney Grant this week pointed to the ferred concerns about the Cook monuments were being pushed Grant, the Australian Broad- “damaging myth” inscribed on a statue to an indigenous advisory by “fringe” leftists. casting Corporation’s indig- Sydney statue of British explorer board. “I think the vast majority of enous aff airs editor, countered ustralian Prime Minister Captain James Cook that says he The board will also examine Australians are as horrifi ed as by saying that statues need not Malcolm Turnbull yes- “Discovered this territory 1770”. memorials to New South Wales’ you and I are at the thought that come down, but a deeper discus- Aterday dismissed calls to Australia’s colonial history colonial-era governor Lachlan we’re going to go around rewrit- sion about the country’s history change colonial-era monuments credits Cook with discovering the Macquarie, who critics say or- ing history, editing the inscrip- was required. “There is a history and the date of Australia Day as country, but Aboriginal people dered massacres of indigenous tions on statues, deleting Aus- in Australia of not wanting to “Stalinist” exercises in re-writ- inhabited the land for more than people. The uproar follows a tralia Day,” he said. talk about the darker parts of our ing history as debate intensifi ed 60,000 years before the fi rst Euro- vote by two local councils in Vic- “If you want to write a new shared past,” he wrote this week. over the country’s treatment of pean explorers arrived. But Turn- toria state to no longer recognise chapter to our history, if you Aboriginals were believed to its Aboriginal population. bull said attempts to remove or January 26 as Australia Day. want to challenge assumptions have numbered around 1mn at Moves to remove Confed- alter such statues were mistaken. The date commemorates the in the past, by all means do so. the time of British settlement, erate statues and other Civil “Trying to edit our history arrival of the country’s fi rst Brit- “But we can’t get into this, but now make up only about three War-era symbols in the United is wrong,” Turnbull told Mel- ish settlers, but is termed “Inva- sort of Stalinist exercise of try- percent of the total national popu- States have renewed focus on bourne radio station 3AW. sion Day” by many indigenous ing to white-out or obliterate or lation of 24mn. They remain the the mistreatment of Aboriginal “All of those statues, all of Australians who say it marks the blank-out parts of our history.” most disadvantaged Australians, Sydney Tower can be seen behind a statue of British explorer Captain Australians in the colonial era those monuments are part of our beginning of the decline of Abo- Conservative commentators with higher rates of poverty, ill- James Cook, which includes the inscription ‘Discovered this Territory and recognition of their place in history and we should respect riginal culture. in Australia have accused critics health and imprisonment than any 1770’, as it stands in Hyde Park located in central Sydney, Australia. the nation’s history. Prominent them and preserve them.” Turnbull said attempts to of bowing to political correct- other community in the country. Former Thai PM misses verdict, US won’t pull back from faces arrest South China Sea: general AFP to avoid any incidents stoked Bangkok by people with “ill-intention AFP going to sail and fl y anywhere foreign ministry in Beijing voic- against the country and us”. Kuala Lumpur where international rules al- ing concerns American war- Her previous court appear- low. We will continue to do that. ships posed a “security threat” hai ex-prime minister ances over an 18 month trial have “Every day, we have operations to civilian vessels in the South Yingluck Shinawatra seen crowds gather outside the n American general in- within the South China Sea and China Sea. Monday’s acci- Tmissed a verdict in a neg- court, showering her with roses sisted yesterday the areas surrounding it.” dent was the second involving ligence trial yesterday that could and chanting support – a rare AUnited States would not He added that the latest colli- an American destroyer in two have seen her jailed, prompting sight in a nation where political pull back from operations in sion should not eclipse the work months after the USS Fitzger- the Supreme Court to issue an meetings remain outlawed. the disputed South China Sea of the US military as a whole. “I ald collided with a cargo ship arrest warrant fearing she is a The Shinawatra family to combat Beijing’s territorial don’t think that we should let off Japan in June, killing seven fl ight risk, a judge said. Thou- emerged as a political force in claims despite a series of acci- one incident overshadow the sailors. sands of supporters — outnum- 2001 when billionaire patriarch dents involving US warships. great capability that the United A multinational search oper- bered by security forces — wait- Thaksin swept to power. General Terrence States of America brings across ation at sea for the missing sail- ed for a glimpse of Thailand’s He jump-started the economy O’Shaughnessy, Pacifi c Air all services,” he said. ors on the McCain was called fi rst female prime minister, but and provided the most extensive Forces commander, said the Still, the incidents have pro- off Thursday, with divers now she did not show. pro-poor welfare schemes in American military still had vided a propaganda windfall to focusing on fl ooded compart- “Her lawyer said she is sick Thai history. “credibility ... all over the US rivals like China, with the ments in the warship. and asked to delay the ruling ... But critics accused him of us- world” despite the incidents, the court does not believe she is ing political power to further his which have raised concerns that US Navy recovers second body sick ... and has decided to issue business interests. the US armed forces are over- an arrest warrant,” fearing she He remains loathed by the stretched in Asia. US Navy and Marine Corps “More divers and equipment may fl ee the country, lead judge Bangkok royalist elite but cher- In the latest incident, the divers have recovered and arrived overnight to continue Cheep Chulamon told the court, ished by the rural poor. USS John S McCain collided identified a second body in the search and recovery rescheduling the ruling date to A coup toppled him in 2006 with a tanker off Singapore search for 10 sailors missing operations for eight missing September 27. and he fl ed overseas following a early Monday, tearing a huge after a collision between a sailors inside flooded Yingluck’s government was graft conviction. hole in the vessel’s hull and guided-missile destroyer compartments of the ship,” removed by a military coup in Protests and court cases have leaving two sailors dead and and merchant vessel near the US Seventh Fleet said 2014 and, if convicted for neg- hacked at their governments and eight missing. Singapore earlier this week, the in statement on its website. ligence over a rice subsidy to fi nances, followed by the 2014 It was the fourth accident US Navy said yesterday. The On Thursday, the US Navy the rural poor, she faced up coup. involving an American warship USS John S McCain collided suspended the wider search to 10 years in prison and a life To many supporters Yingluck in the Pacifi c this year, two of US Pacific Air Forces commander General Terrence O’Shaughnessy with the merchant tanker in and rescue operation to ban from politics. Her broth- is fi nally emerging from her them fatal. speaks with foreign journalists in Kuala Lumpur. waters near Singapore and focus recovery efforts on er, Thaksin Shinawatra also a elder brother’s shadow, drawing The McCain had been head- Malaysia on Monday, which led the damaged hull of the former premier, fl ed Thailand in on a star quality absent amongst ing to the city-state after con- ing out a growing number of “There is no setback to those to an international search- ship, which is moored at 2008 before he was convicted of the gloomy cast of ageing gener- ducting a “freedom of naviga- such operations in recent years (freedom of navigation) opera- and-rescue operation for the Singapore’s Changi Naval graft and handed a two year jail als who rule Thailand. tion” mission — sailing close to as China increasingly asserts tions following these incidents,” missing sailors. The navy Base. term. She has pleaded not guilty to a contested island in the South its claims to almost the entire O’Shaughnessy told reporters recovered the first body from The Navy has already released A conviction for Yingluck, the charges, saying she is the vic- China Sea in a show of strength sea, despite partial counter- during a visit to the Malaysian inside the hull of the warship the names of all the sailors 50, would be a gut punch to the tim of a “subtle political game.” to challenge Beijing’s territorial claims from some Asian neigh- capital Kuala Lumpur. earlier this week. who were missing. Shinawatra political dynasty, But her enemies say a convic- claims. The US has been carry- bours. “We stand fi rm that we are who have clung on in Thailand’s tion is merited for a dynasty ac- treacherous political game for cused of graft and nepotism. more than a decade despite two Historically the Shinawatras coups, deadly protests, a cascade have been able to mobilise huge of law cases and asset seizures. crowds of supporters — known Just married Yingluck’s fl agship rice subsidy as the “Red Shirts” — to take to N Korea steps up poured cash on her family’s ru- the streets when the family’s po- ral political heartland, but was litical fortunes have waned. beset by graft and led to billions But three years of repres- work on parts for of dollars of losses. In a Face- sive junta rule has successfully book post on Thursday Yingluck quashed any widespread oppo- asked her followers to stay home sition to the military for now. new reactor: IAEA

Reuters had a plan to fi re missiles at the Vienna US Pacifi c territory of Guam, while US President Donald Trump said any threats would be orth Korea has increased met with “fi re and fury”. its eff orts to produce It is not clear whether Nparts for a new nuclear Pyongyang can miniaturise a reactor it is building while con- nuclear bomb enough to fi t it tinuing to operate the main ex- on top of such a missile, and it isting one that provides fuel for is widely believed it cannot yet its atom bombs, the UN nuclear protect such a warhead from watchdog has said in an annual the heat generated when a mis- report yesterday. sile re-enters the earth’s atmos- North Korea has conducted phere. two nuclear tests and dozens of Its eff ort to produce material missile tests since the beginning for nuclear bombs, however, has Supporters of ousted former Thai prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra of last year, defying world pow- rumbled on, the International wait for her at the Supreme Court in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. ers and raising fears of a confl ict Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) breaking out on the heavily mili- said in a report to its annual tarised Korean peninsula. general conference. The IAEA A newly married couple poses for photographers before a procession to the reception party Aussie deputy PM a frontrunner for A missile test last month put does not have access to North following a mass wedding of more than 100 couples sponsored by an political party in the mainland United States in Korea and monitors its activities Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. ‘New Zealander of the Year’ awards range. Pyongyang later said it mainly by satellite imagery.

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister during the public nominations Barnaby Joyce was named as a period,” Taylor added. frontrunner in the New Zealander The awards were established in of the Year awards yesterday, 2010 to recognise people who amid a constitutional crisis in have “contributed to making New Fresh violence kills 71 in Myanmar’s Rakhine State Canberra over his unwanted Zealand a better place to live”. Kiwi citizenship. Organisers said Past winners include All Blacks Joyce received the second-most legend Richie McCaw and AFP reviled and perceived as illegal es. Some 20 police posts came the main town in northern Ra- known militant group emerged nominations for the award after a Hollywood director Taika Waititi. Maungdaw, Myanmar immigrants in Buddhist-majority under attack in the early hours khine, said gunfi re could be as a force last October under the public appeal for candidates. Australian-born Joyce Myanmar. The offi ce of de-facto of Friday by an estimated 150 in- heard throughout the night. banner of the Arakan Rohingya “It’s absolutely for real,” awards discovered earlier this month leader Aung San Suu Kyi said 12 surgents, some carrying guns and “We are still hearing gunshots Salvation Army (ARSA), which manager Glyn Taylor told AFP. that he unwittingly inherited t least 71 people includ- security offi cials had been killed using homemade explosives, My- now, we dare not to go out claims to be leading an insur- “Though I’m not sure how serious New Zealand citizenship from ing 12 security forces alongside 59 militants — the anmar’s military said. from our house,” the resident gency based in the remote May the nomination was.” his Kiwi father, putting him in Awere killed as Rohingya highest declared single day toll “The military and police said by phone, asking not to be Yu mountain range bordering The only person who outpolled breach of a constitutional clause militants besieged border posts since fi ghting broke out last year. members are fi ghting back to- named. Footage obtained by Bangladesh. A Twitter account Joyce was Metiria Turei, a banning dual citizens from in northern Rakhine state, My- Yesterday’s fi ghting exploded gether against extremist Bengali AFP showed smoke rising from (@ARSA_Offi cial) which fre- politician who resigned as sitting in parliament. Joyce has anmar’s authorities said yester- around Rathedaung township terrorists,” Commander-in- Zedipyin village in Rathedaung quently posts purportedly from co-leader of the New Zealand refused to stand down and has day, triggering a fresh exodus of which has seen a heavy build- Chief Min Aung Hlaing said in township where fi ghting was the group confi rmed its fi ghters Greens this month after admitting taken his case to the High Court, refugees towards Bangladesh. up of Myanmar troops in recent a statement on Facebook, using ongoing Friday. were engaging Myanmar’s mili- to welfare fraud. “It’s also not determined to preserve his The state is bisected by reli- weeks, with reports fi ltering out the state’s description for Ro- Despite years of persecution, tary in the area and accused the unusual for people of the moment government’s one-seat majority gious hatred focused on the state- of killings by shadowy groups, ar- hingya militants. the Rohingya largely eschewed soldiers of carrying out atroci- to attract significant support in the lower house. less Rohingya minority, who are my-blockaded villages and abus- One resident in Maungdaw, violence. But a previously un- ties in recent weeks. Gulf Times Saturday, August 26, 2017 7 BRITAIN

Woman escapes landslide UK accused of ‘magical that wrecked thinking’ ahead of talks her home By Jennifer Rankin the most detailed response yet of progress to achieve peace in Guardian News & Media from Brussels on the recent se- Northern Ireland which is why ries of papers that emerged from the UK has put forward a de- Reuters Whitehall. “If you look at the tailed position paper that puts Urris, Ireland he European Union has Irish paper, it is very good on as- protecting the Good Friday accused the UK of “magi- pirations but it is short on work- agreement at the heart of our Tcal thinking” over plans able solutions.” approach. orrential rains in north- to create an invisible border in The EU also thinks the UK is “That includes a proposal that west Ireland, described Ireland after Brexit, amid fad- trying to circumvent its negoti- the UK and EU should agree up- Tby the country’s weather ing hopes of an early divorce deal ating timetable, by putting for- front on the crucial importance offi ce as a once-in-a-century this autumn. ward proposals on trade, which of avoiding a hard border for the event, triggered a landslide that The response came as both it sees as an issue for the second peace process in Northern Ire- sent a car fl ying through the wall sides prepared for the next phase of Brexit talks. land.” of a house earlier this week. round of negotiations in Brus- “We are concerned by the “We look forward to the com- No casualties have been re- sels next week, with the EU issu- linkages created in the UK paper mission setting out its position ported as a result of the rains on ing a stern rebuke against using on Ireland, between the preser- and response to these propos- Tuesday, which totalled up to the peace process as a bargaining vation of the peace process, in- als.” 80mm (3”). chip. cluding the invisible border and Ireland argues the UK could Bridges collapsed, homes The Irish border is one of the the future of the EU-UK trade solve the problem by staying in fl ooded and authorities moved top priorities and the EU wants relationship … and, in that con- the EU customs union. to deploy defence forces in “suffi cient progress” in resolv- text, we say the peace process At the weekend Mairead fl ood-hit areas this weekend. ing its status, before negotia- must not be a bargaining chip in McGuinness, a vice-president Bernie Kearney, a medical tions can move on to trade – a these negotiations,” the offi cial of the European parliament receptionist who lives in the timetable the Brexit secretary, said. and member of the Irish ruling northern county of Donegal, was David Davis, criticised as “in- The Brexit secretary has long party Fine Gael, said the UK was dining alone in her kitchen on fl exible”. criticised the EU’s insistence on putting at risk “the good that Tuesday evening when a land- Last week the UK outlined separating the Irish border talks This picture taken on August 19 shows anti-Brexit, pro-EU supporters wave flags as they travel up and has grown from the Good Fri- slide hit the hill beside her house. ideas for “as frictionless and from discussions on future trade down the River Thames, outside the Houses of Parliament, in London. day agreement” and would bear Kearney said in a telephone seamless a border as possible”, and customs. responsibility for any return of interview that she heard a loud with waivers for people and Michel Barnier, who was the eliminate checks on goods cross- to manage the EU’s external land and it was not the decision borders and controls. bang and “the kitchen tumbled goods crossing the 310-mile European commissioner re- ing the border: the fi rst would frontier would be very diffi cult of the EU, so the UK has to take The sniping adds to the tense in around me”. long boundary between North- sponsible for setting up EU rely on technology to eliminate to accept. responsibility for the impact mood before the third round of “I’ll never forget it. It was ter- ern Ireland and the Republic. funds to promote peace after physical border checks; the sec- The British paper on the Irish of that. And in that respect the Brexit talks in Brussels, which rible. The roar of it coming down Both sides want to avoid a the Good Friday agreement, is ond would see the UK take re- border calls for “fl exible and im- uniqueness and the creativity, start on Monday afternoon. the mountain. I didn’t know hard border that risks reigniting treading carefully on Ireland. sponsibility for monitoring the aginative solutions” eight times, that cannot be only a burden on Neither side expects major what it was.” attacks on checkpoints, which His “suffi cient progress” test border and even collecting cus- a repeated phrase that has left the EU side,” the offi cial said. breakthroughs from what has Kearney escaped by climbing were a feature of the Troubles. is likely to be less demanding toms duties for the EU. EU diplomats rolling their eyes. A spokesman for the Depart- been billed as technical talks. out a window. But EU diplomats think the than the detailed guarantees he Talk of technical fi xes is seen Although the term originated ment for Exiting the European A report in the Sun that the She was not injured. British are trying to push re- is seeking on other areas of the as premature in Brussels. in the EU’s own negotiating Union said the UK had “always Brexit secretary is going on the In the light of day, Kearney sponsibility for solving the Irish Brexit divorce settlement, such But it is the second proposal guidelines, Brussels thinks it is been clear about the importance off ensive to attack “stubborn” discovered that the landslide had issue back on to them. as citizens’ rights and money. that has most alarmed EU diplo- the UK’s job to propose plans we attach to Northern Ireland Brussels offi cials has also gone thrown a boulder against her car, “What we see in the UK pa- The EU has promised to pub- mats, who think the UK already that avoid creating a hard border and the Good Friday agreement down badly. pushing it into her kitchen. per is a lot of magical thinking lish a position paper on Ireland has problems in preventing cus- and damaging the EU customs – and to the lives and livelihoods “That is not very helpful,” said The damage was captured in about how an invisible border in early September. toms fraudsters. union. of the people of Northern Ire- one diplomat. “For the time be- Reuters pictures on Thursday would work in the future,” said The UK paper on Ireland out- One EU diplomat told the “The decision to leave the EU land”. ing the EU27 is very much be- that show her silver hatchback the senior EU offi cial, giving lined two options to virtually Guardian that allowing the UK ... was not the decision of Ire- “There have been decades hind the commission.” sitting high on a pile of mud and rubble, with its roof touching the eaves of her bungalow. The property has been con- demned. Kearney is staying with rela- BBC must close gender pay gap faster, says Sturgeon tives while searching for alter- nate accommodation and deal- ing with her insurers. Scotland’s first minister speak” to defend the practice. page of the Daily Mail the next Conservative MP Damian Local authorities have been says pledge to close gap Moore, the most senior BBC day [after the talks with May] Collins, who chairs the Com- attempting to clear rubble from by 2020 is insuff icient, as executive in Edinburgh, was had reduced us both to a pair of mons culture, media and sport the property. BBC continues to be put on questioned about the pay gap on legs and talked about who won committee, called for produc- defensive over pay Thursday and said the corpora- the battle of the legs. tion companies that make pro- tion was “totally committed” to “Now you can laugh at that grammes for the BBC to reveal Semi-automated By Graham Ruddick closing it and that it was “great and you have got to laugh about what they pay on-screen stars. Guardian News & Media to set targets that we can meet”. that, but there is a serious issue There were high-profi le trucks to hit UK However, she also said the there in terms of how women are omissions from the BBC pay list roads by end 2018 BBC needed to address “diver- portrayed in the media and how – such as David Dimbleby and he gender pay gap at the sity in a broader sense”. that feeds through into women’s most of Graham Norton’s sal- Britain will begin trials of semi- BBC is unacceptable and However, Garvey, who or- sense of themselves and wom- ary – because they work on pro- automated, wirelessly connected Tthe broadcaster should ganised a letter from more than en’s willingness to come forward grammes made by independent truck convoys on public roads act faster in making salaries 40 of the BBC’s female stars into high-profi le or senior roles. companies. by the end of 2018, in a bid to more equal, Nicola Sturgeon has calling for the corporation to “These are really serious is- However, Collins said this was find more fuel-eff icient ways to said. take urgent action over the pay sues, which, yes, we have made an anomaly that people did not transport goods. The existing pledge by the gap, said: “Charlotte’s done a progress around, but there is a understand. Development of the technology director general, Tony Hall, to great deal to get more women in still a long way to go.” “You shouldn’t be able to hide has already started elsewhere in close the gap by 2020 was insuf- prominent positions on televi- Sturgeon: I do think the BBC should accelerate here. The equal pay The gender pay gap and the it simply because the money has Europe and the United States. fi cient, Scotland’s fi rst minister sion, and I respect her for that. act passed in the year I was born, which, as you probably know, was lack of diversity in the media been given to a production com- In April 2016, semi-autonomous said in a speech at the Edinburgh But this is a classic bit of BBC not yesterday. These issues have frankly been going on under the have been two key topics of dis- pany and they have paid the tal- trucks drove from factories in international television festival, management speak. radar for too long, well, they are not under the radar any more and cussion at the Edinburgh con- ent,” he said. Sweden and Germany to the where the BBC has repeatedly “It seems the top manage- it’s time to up the progress. ference. A BBC spokesperson said: Rotterdam in early trials. been put on the defensive over ment’s good intentions haven’t The Channel 4 newsread- “We have committed to go fur- The UK government said funding pay. fi ltered down the organisation, female presenters on its shows, question what was being done er Jon Snow said in a keynote ther and faster than anyone else of £8.1mn would enable so-called Sturgeon said: “I do think the or I wouldn’t have heard from “but it seems that in considering with public money by a public speech that reporting on the and close the gender pay gap by platooning trials where a lead BBC should accelerate here. The women right across the BBC equal representation on some institution,” Sturgeon said. deadly Grenfell Tower fi re made 2020. We’re working hard on truck driven manually controls equal pay act passed in the year who’ve been fobbed off , de- programmes, the BBC forgot She also criticised the por- him feel “on the wrong side” of this and people should judge us the acceleration, braking and I was born, which, as you prob- ceived or told they’ve picked the that there should also be equal trayal of women in the media Britain’s social divide and that on our progress.” steering of two others behind. ably know, was not yesterday. ‘wrong comparator’.” pay for equal work”. and said there was a “still a long he and others in the media had Responding to Collins’ com- All the trucks would have a driver “These issues have frankly The publication last month The Scottish leader said she way to go”. become too far removed from ments, the spokesperson added: ready to take control if necessary. been going on under the radar of the BBC’s list of stars earn- agreed with the contents of the Sturgeon highlighted an ar- ordinary people’s lives. “Programmes can be funded Platooning is seen as more for too long, well, they are not ing more than £150,000 a year letter organised by Garvey, but ticle in the Daily Mail about her Peter Fincham, a former from multiple sources and the eff icient as the first truck in the under the radar any more and it’s revealed that the top seven were she took aim at the UK govern- wearing the same suit fi ve times BBC1 and ITV boss, said yester- BBC is often only one of many convoy reduces air resistance for time to up the progress.” all men and just a third of the 96 ment for the motivations behind in two years and its controver- day that the pay gap at the BBC investors. the vehicles behind it. Earlier in the morning, Jane people on the list were women. forcing the BBC to publish its sial front-page photograph of was an “embarrassing mess”, “The decision on what’s ul- “Advances such as lorry Garvey, a presenter of BBC Radio In a wide-ranging speech, highest salaries. her and Theresa May after talks and that the TV industry had to timately paid to the talent and platooning could benefit 4’s Woman’s Hour, said women Sturgeon said that there was a “I think the motivation on on Brexit that was headlined guard against allowing a “nar- the contractual obligations rests businesses through cheaper fuel across the organisation had told “gross disparity” between the the part of the government was “Legs-it”. row breed of person” to work in with the independent producers bills and other road users, thanks her they had been “fobbed off ”, salaries of men and women at clearly to wind up licence fee “Almost every week I read it. “We don’t want every run- not the BBC. to lower emissions and less and accused Charlotte Moore, the BBC. payers about the high salaries something about myself that’s ner [an entry level job] to be “All this was agreed as part of congestion,” Transport Minister director of content, of engaging She praised the corporation paid to some presenters, and commenting on what I wear, someone’s nephew, niece or god the BBC royal charter, which ex- Paul Maynard said. in a “classic bit of management for increasing the number of encourage licence fee payers to how I look,” she said. “The front child.” ists for the next 11 years.” August bank holiday disruption expected on UK’s railways and roads

By Gwyn Topham Motoring organisations expect day, and are advising customers The disruption for London end as rail passengers sought particularly in and out of the fl y from Gatwick over the week- Guardian News & Media about 15mn drivers to set out for to avoid travelling on our west commuters is likely to intensify alternatives, with demand up by capital. end. leisure trips this weekend, with coast route on Saturday or Sun- with Southeastern trains run- more than a third compared with About 5mn motorists are ex- Returning passengers and visi- congestion building from lunch- day unless necessary. If custom- ning a reduced timetable and the previous August bank holi- pected to embark on leisure jour- tors may face long queues at im- eople travelling over the time yesterday. ers choose to travel, we strongly not stopping at Charing Cross, day. neys on Monday, up by nearly migration, British Airways has bank holiday weekend are Today and tomorrow, work to recommend they book their tick- Waterloo East or London Bridge There has been a surge of 1mn on the 2016 fi gure. warned. Pexpected to be hit by de- prepare for HS2 will close Euston ets in advance, make a seat reser- stations. bookings on routes out of London The RAC motoring organi- The national carrier said pas- lays and cancellations as millions station, aff ecting services the vation and allow longer to get to Queueing systems are likely to Waterloo and Euston stations to sation recommended drivers sengers were being forced to wait take to the roads and record levels length of the west coast mainline their destination.” be put in place at Cannon Street the southwest and cities in the wanting to beat the queues this in lines for more than an hour on of engineering works aff ect rail to Glasgow. The rebuilding of platforms at and Victoria stations throughout Midlands and northwest, while weekend should avoid Friday af- arrival from some international lines in and out of the capital. Travellers will be told to switch London Waterloo, the country’s the week to cope with diverted more than 1,000 extra seats will ternoon and evening, and set off fl ights, due to Border Force inef- The proportion of Britons via other routes to the east coast busiest railway station, will con- passengers. be provided on the Great Western early if travelling on Monday. fi ciency. planning an overnight UK trip line. tinue through the bank holiday, Elsewhere, electrifi cation route. Abta, the travel trade or- BA said around two-thirds of this weekend has risen by more Virgin Trains, the operator of with about 75% fewer trains than work on the Great Western Network Rail’s poll suggested ganisation, estimated 2.1mn the 29 automatic eGates at Hea- than a third compared with last intercity services on both main- usual running yesterday. mainline between Swindon and that 77% of Britons were not British holidaymakers would throw’s terminal 5 were “rou- year. lines, said the rail network would A Network Rail spokeswoman Bristol Parkway will aff ect serv- planning to venture far from travel abroad over the weekend, tinely” closed, with all of them About 6.9mn adults are plan- be extremely busy due to engi- said: “We apologise to our pas- ices between Wales and London home over the bank holiday. with Spain, Turkey and Greece shut “prematurely” at 11pm ning a domestic break over the neering works and the end of the sengers for the added disruption Paddington for four weeks from While Network Rail said most among the most popular desti- while customers are still making last long weekend before Christ- Edinburgh festival. to their journeys and thank them today. lines would be open for business, nations. their way off fl ights. mas, up from 5.1mn, according to A spokesman said: “We expect for their patience. This is all about The coach operator National its £133mn programme of engi- Heathrow expected 243,000 The airline said it was causing VisitEngland, the offi cial tourist our services on both routes to be delivering a bigger, better Water- Express said it was adding hun- neering works meant passengers departing passengers yesterday, “constant frustration to us and to board. very busy from Friday to Mon- loo station fi t for the 21st century.” dreds of extra services this week- should check before they travel, while an estimated 304,000 will our customers”. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, August 26, 2017 EUROPE

€26,000 bill for France, Poland row over makeup in Macron’s EU cheap labour rule fi rst 100 Reuters chargé d’aff aires to express “the days as Varna, Bulgaria/Warsaw Polish government’s indigna- tion about the arrogant words” of Macron. president rench President Em- It quoted Deputy Foreign manuel Macron said yes- Minister Marek Magierowski as Fterday that Poland was saying that Poland “expects that Reuters isolating itself within the Eu- France will abandon language Paris ropean Union and that Polish that is divisive and which dam- citizens “deserve better” than ages the unity of the EU”. a government at odds with the Relations between Szydlo’s ocial media commentators bloc’s democratic values and Law and Justice (PiS) party and and political opponents economic reform plans. the French government deterio- Sof Emmanuel Macron tore Macron said Warsaw, where rated soon after it won election into the French president yes- a nationalist, eurosceptic gov- in late 2015. terday after it emerged that he ernment took offi ce in 2015, was In October 2016, Poland spent €26,000 ($30,901) on moving in the opposite direction abruptly cancelled a nearly $4bn makeup during his fi rst 100 days to Europe on numerous issues military procurement deal with in offi ce. and would not be able to dictate Airbus. Szydlo: I advise (Macron) that he should be more conciliatory ... Macron won a landslide sec- the path of Europe’s future. Macron: Poland is not defining Europe’s future today and nor will it Macron’s election deepened perhaps his arrogant comments are a result of a lack of (political) ond-round election victory in Poland rejected the accusa- define the Europe of tomorrow. the rift, with the French globali- experience. May over far-right leader Marine tions, saying Macron was inex- sation advocate fanning worries Le Pen but his early popularity perienced and arrogant. In a scathing attack that could perhaps his arrogant comments in Warsaw that his vision of a Macron managed to enlist the western counterparts – to be at has proven short-lived, in part “Europe is a region created on drag relations between western are a result of a lack of (politi- “multi-speed” Europe would broad support of Czech Republic the negotiating table on Euro- because of cuts in housing ben- the basis of values, a relation- EU powers and the European cal) experience,” Szydlo said in undermine Polish infl uence and Slovakia, and the lukewarm pean integration. efi t and other sacrifi ces he is im- ship with democracy and public Commission in Brussels on one a statement e-mailed to Reuters. within the European Union. backing of Romania, all coun- On the posted worker rules, posing on the French people as freedoms which Poland is today side and Poland’s Law and Jus- “I advise the president that he French offi cials have ex- tries which fear being sidelined Bulgaria’s Radev said the EU he fi ghts to reduce a big budget in confl ict with,” Macron said in tice Party (PiS) government on should focus on the aff airs of his pressed concerns about Poland, in a multi-speed EU, whereas needed to balance the interests defi cit. Bulgaria on the third leg of a trip the other to a new low, he said own country. and Hungary, drifting towards Poland and Hungary remain de- of countries in the rich west and Confi rming the cost of the to central and eastern Europe to the Polish people deserved bet- “Perhaps he may be able to authoritarianism and said Ma- fi ant of what they see as an out- the poor east. makeup, Macron’s staff were generate support for his vision of ter. achieve the same economic re- cron would also make a defence of-touch EU elite based in Brus- “It is important that changes at pains to point out that the a Europe that better protects its “Poland is not defi ning Eu- sults and the same level of secu- of the rule of law and democratic sels and Western capitals. are made in a way that unites bill was smaller than that of his citizens. rope’s future today and nor will rity for (French) citizens as those principles one of the priorities Poland is at loggerheads with rather than divides Europe,” he predecessors and said it was a He described Poland’s refusal it defi ne the Europe of tomor- guaranteed by Poland.” of his mandate on the European the European Commission, the said. temporary situation that would to change its stance on a revision row,” Macron said at a joint press Her comments were an in- stage. Brussels-based EU executive, Current EU rules allow work- soon by be replaced by a less of the EU’s directive on “posted” conference with Bulgarian Pres- direct reference to her govern- On his three-day tour Macron over issues ranging from its re- ers to be posted from low-salary costly arrangement. workers – cheap labour from ident Rumen Radev in the Black ment’s insistence that it will not sought backing for his plans to fusal to accept EU migrant relo- countries to other EU states on “We had to call on a provider eastern countries posted tem- Sea resort city of Varna. accept migrants from the Mid- tighten EU rules on the employ- cation quotas to the ruling con- contracts that must guarantee at very short notice,” one offi cial porarily to more affl uent western In response, Poland’s Prime dle East, despite pressure from ment abroad of labour from low- servatives’ tightening grip on the host country’s minimum told BFM TV. countries – as a mistake. Minister Beata Szydlo said Brussels, because it believes pay nations. the judiciary and media. wage, but under which taxes Many public offi cials use Macron has said the practice Macron, 39, a former invest- they pose a threat to national Poland strongly opposes this Macron shunned both Poland and social charges are paid in the makeup for television appear- leads to unfair competition. ment banker elected in May as security. initiative. and Hungary on his trip through home nation. ances and other engagements. “In no way will the decision France’s youngest president, France has been hit hard by While “posted” workers com- the region. Poland and Hungary say in- Florian Philippot, Le Pen’s by a country that has decided to lacked political experience and deadly militant attacks in recent prise less than 1% of the EU work He said he wanted Bulgaria – creased restrictions on such right hand man who ran a cam- isolate itself in the workings of accused him of undermining the years. force, it is a political hot potato like Poland, Hungary, Romania, contracts would fl out the prin- paign targeting ex-banker Ma- Europe jeopardise the fi nding of EU. The Polish foreign ministry that has exacerbated the divide the Czech Republic and Slovakia ciples of the European single cron as the “candidate of cash”, an ambitious compromise,” he “I advise the president that he said in a statement that it had between the bloc’s poor east and a former communist state that market and cost hundreds of tweeted his disapproval: “While said. should be more conciliatory ... urgently summoned the French rich west for years. joined the EU much later than thousands of jobs. France toils, Macron smears 23 times the minimum wage on his face.” Unoffi cial pollster @Sondage- LiveFr opened voting yesterday on whether the cost was normal Rajoy urges Spain to show its ‘love’ in anti-terror march or unacceptable after several so- cial media users called the saga “Makeupgate”. AFP and spoke of the state’s aff ection to the Guardia Civil and Spain’s ger role in the Spanish unit that Others juxtaposed “before- Madrid for the region. national police, in what ap- liaises with European police and-after” pictures of the Game Only last month, he had ac- peared to be a bid to ease ten- agency Europol – as repeatedly of Thrones’ Night King and other cused Catalan leaders of “au- sions between the country’s se- requested by Puigdemont. famous fi ctional uglies next to rime Minister Mariano thoritarian delusions” which curity forces. Rajoy and Puigdemont have the dashing 39 year-old presi- Rajoy has called on Span- he pledged would “never defeat Earlier this week, the unions for months been at loggerheads dent. Piards to come out in force the serenity and harmony of our of the Guardia Civil and national over the Catalan leader’s drive to French media leapt on the in a weekend march against democratic state”. police complained that the Cat- separate from Spain. subject. terror to show their “love” and Yesterday Rajoy called on alan force left them out of the But both displayed a show of Even the ultra-serious broad- solidarity with Catalonia, a re- “everyone to participate in to- investigation. unity in the immediate after- sheet Le Monde had carried a gion that wants to separate from morrow’s protest in Barcelona” It also accused the Mossos of math of the attacks, appearing report on it within a day of the Spain. against extremism. ignoring important information side by side in public events. original revelation in weekly Le The march takes place this “There, with all of Catalan so- they had about suspects. This appearance of harmony Point on Thursday. afternoon as Catalonia and the ciety and all of Spain ... we will In their joint statement, they was shattered yesterday when The media is already critical rest of Spain reel from a van once again give a clear message Rajoy: called on ‘everyone to participate in tomorrow’s protest in claimed that Catalonia’s separa- Puigdemont accused Madrid of of Macron’s aloof approach to rampage in Barcelona and a car of unity and condemnation of Barcelona’ against extremism. tist executive had left them out “playing politics” with the se- journalists since he was elected attack in the nearby seaside re- terrorism, and of love for the city in the cold because they wanted curity of Catalans by blocking and critical of his declared desire sort of Cambrils last week that of Barcelona,” he said. love for the people of Barcelona, the terror cell had been “com- to project an image abroad of the hiring of new Mossos offi cers to be a “Jupiterian” head of state killed 15 people and injured over Rajoy will join King Felipe VI, of Cambrils, of Catalonia”. pletely disarticulated in just 100 Catalan self-suffi ciency ahead this year, in an interview with above the day-to-day political 120 others. Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, He also praised the rapid hours”. of a planned October 1 referen- the Financial Times. fray. In unusually warm comments Catalonia’s President Carles work of the region’s Mossos “That says a lot about the dum on independence. He also reiterated his determi- The fuss comes just over a at a time of high tension between Puigdemont and many others at d’Esquadra police squad in dis- preparation and ability of the But Rajoy said co-operation nation to hold the referendum. year after Macron’s predecessor, Rajoy and separatist leaders the march. mantling the terror cell behind Mossos,” he added, congratu- between diff erent forces had “We have more than 6,000 Francois Hollande, was pilloried in Catalonia where the vehicle Speaking to reporters, he said the attacks. lating the Catalan force which been “fl uid and constant”. ballot boxes already. I do not by his opponents for paying a rampages took place, he praised the king – Spain’s head-of-state Speaking after a cabinet enjoys a high level of autonomy. He also raised the possibil- see how the state can stop it,” he personal hairdresser €10,000 a the rapid work of the local police – would take part to “express his meeting, he said the nucleus of He also extended his praise ity of giving the Mossos a big- said. month.

Politician quits after far-right fallout

The leader of Sweden’s main opposition party has announced that she was stepping down after she suggested her alliance accept Russian tanker sails through Arctic without an icebreaker support from an anti-immigration far-right group. Criticised for months by her own party, the Moderates, whose public support has plunged in polls, Anna Kinberg Batra’s announcement By Patrick Barkham said Spears. “There’s always comes a year before a general election. Guardian News & Media been trade along this route but “I can take criticism ... it’s my job ... but I don’t think the voters who it’s been restricted a lot by the are doubting the Moderates are especially impressed by us in this ice. It’s exciting that this route situation,” she told reporters in Stockholm. Russian tanker has trav- presents a much shorter alter- The 47-year-old Batra’s mission was to lead a centre-right alliance elled through the north- native than the Suez route. It’s a between the Moderates, the Centre party, the Christian Democrats Aern sea route in record major saving.” and the Liberals to victory in the September 2018 vote. speed and without an icebreaker Simon Boxall, an oceanogra- But the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats, which has hitherto escort for the fi rst time, high- pher at the University of South- been shunned by the mainstream parties because of its roots in the lighting how climate change is ampton, said that shipping com- neo-Nazi movement, came second in a June opinion poll – ahead of opening up the high Arctic. panies were making a “safe bet” the Moderates. The $300mn Christophe de in building ships in anticipation Margerie carried a cargo of liq- that the northern sea route will uefi ed natural gas (LNG) from open up. 18 killed as bus plunges into sea Hammerfest in Norway to Bo- “Even if we stopped green- ryeong in South Korea in 19 days, house emissions tomorrow, the Eighteen people died in southern Russia yesterday after a bus about 30% quicker than the acceleration in the loss of Arctic carrying construction workers veered off a pier and plunged into conventional southern shipping ice is unlikely to be reversed,” the Black Sea. route through the Suez Canal. he said. “We’ve been able to sail The bus was carrying people from their shift building a pier for The tanker was built to take The Christophe de Margerie carried a cargo of liquefied natural gas from Hammerfest in Norway to through the northwest passage the Tamanneftegaz oil company in the port of Taman when the advantage of the diminishing Boryeong in South Korea in 22 days. for several years now but the accident happened. Arctic sea ice and deliver gas northern passage, which goes “Currently we know of 18 dead and 33 people injured in the from a new $27mn facility on which previously there had been can be powered by the LNG it is northern sea route from four past Russia, has opened up on tragedy,” said a statement on the website of the local authorities in the Yamal Peninsula, the big- in journeys,” said Bill Spears, transporting, reducing its sul- months with an expensive ice- and off since 2010. Temryuk, a town in Russia’s Krasnodar region. gest Arctic LNG project so far spokesperson for Sovcomfl ot, phur oxide emissions by 90% breaker to all year round in a “We’re going to see this route which has been championed by the shipping company which and nitrous oxide emissions by westerly direction. being used more and more by the Russian president, Vladimir owns the tanker. “It’s very excit- 80% when powered this way. In the route’s busiest year so 2020. Guide fined for scaring polar bear Putin. ing that a ship can go along this “This is a signifi cant factor in far, 2013, there were only 15 inter- “The irony is that one advan- On its maiden voyage, the in- route all year round.” a fragile ecosystem,” said Spears. national crossings but the Rus- tage of climate change is that we Usually the humans are scared of the wild animals. novative tanker used its integral Environmentalists have ex- The northern sea route be- sian government predicts that will probably use less fuel going But in the Norwegian far-north, an Arctic tourist guide has been icebreaker to cross ice fi elds 1.2m pressed concern over the risks tween Siberia and the Pacifi c is cargo along this route will grow to the Pacifi c.” fined €1,300 ($1,500) for scaring off a polar bear. thick, passing along the north- of increased ship traffi c in the still closed to conventional ship- tenfold by 2020. The extent of Arctic ice fell to When a group of tourists on a snowmobile expedition in May ern sea section of the route in the pristine Arctic but Sovcomfl ot ping for much of the year. This link with the Pacifi c re- a new wintertime low in March spotted a bear standing still, 900m away, their guide decided to Russian Arctic in a record six- stressed the tanker’s green cre- But the Christophe de Mar- duces its need to sell gas through this year after freakishly high approach the predator to take a closer look. and-a-half days. dentials. gerie, the fi rst of 15 such tank- pipelines to Europe. temperatures in the polar re- The animal, spotted on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, fled “It’s very quick, particularly As well as using conventional ers expected to be built, extends “There has been a steady in- gions, and hit its second lowest the scene. as there was no icebreaker escort fuel, the Christophe de Margerie the navigation window for the crease in traffi c in recent years,” summer extent last September. Gulf Times Saturday, August 26, 2017 9 INDIA

ACCIDENT SECURITY EPIDEMIC FOREIGN AFFAIRS HAND-OUT Six commuters hurt as Triple talaq petitioner from Swine flu death toll Nepal PM visits Infosys, Telangana to gift free Mumbai train derails Bengal seeks protection reaches 24 in Odisha T-Hub in Hyderabad sarees to 10mn women

Six commuters sustained minor injuries when four Ishrat Jahan of West Bengal, one of the five The death toll due to swine flu has reached Nepal Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar coaches of a Harbour Line suburban train bound petitioners to the Supreme Court who challenged 24 in Odisha while 281 people have tested yesterday visited the Infosys campus and Rao yesterday announced that the state will for Andheri derailed at a railway crossing near triple talaq, has written to Chief Minister Mamata positive so far, a health official said yesterday. T-Hub in Hyderabad. Deuba, who arrived on a distribute free sarees to over 10mn women Mahim yesterday morning, an off icial said. Due to Banerjee, appealing for police protection in the Of the 31 swab samples, 11 tested positive. two-day visit, went around the Infosys campus on the occasion of Bathukamma, a regional the derailment, services on the Andheri-Wadala wake of “threats” to her life. “My life is in danger. A total 810 samples have been tested while at Gachibowli where the Infosys officials festival. “Bathukamma festival is an integral part sector of the Harbour Line on Central Railway My husband’s older brother molested me twice. An 281 people have tested positive for the H1N1 briefed him about the facility. The Nepal Prime of the Telangana life and culture. This festival were suspended, hitting thousands of people FIR was lodged at the police station but no action virus so far, the official said. The Health Minister, who is currently on a five day-visit is a symbol of family relationships. The state travelling to and fro for the 12-day Ganeshotsav was taken. So I have no faith in the police station. I and Family Welfare Department had earlier to India, went to T-Hub, the start-up incubator government has decided to distribute sarees on celebrations which started yesterday. The off icial request you to take some steps for my protection,” issued guidelines for private and government facility set up by the Telangana government. this occasion to enable people to celebrate the said that around 9.50am, a train arriving from Jahan wrote in Hindi. Jahan, who was divorced by hospitals for the treatment of patients Jayesh Ranjan, Secretary, Information festival with more enthusiasm,” a statement from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and bound her husband over phone from Dubai, said if anything suffering from the H1N1 virus. Meanwhile, Technology, and T-Hub officials explained to the Chief Minister’s Off ice quoted him as saying. for Andheri derailed around 50 metres outside were to happen to her or her children, the police the state government has constituted a the visiting dignitary the functioning of the Rao said that the government will present the gift Mahim station. As per prima facie investigations, would be blamed for it. “If there is any incident 16-member committee to develop a roadmap facility and the initiative taken by the state to women irrespective of their caste, community the incident occurred while the train was changing (attempts made at my life) or anything happens to to identify the backlog of curable blindness to promote start-ups. Deuba later left for or religion, adding that the sarees would be tracks at a crossing outside the railway station, my two children then the entire blame for this lies and to achieve a target of more than 25% the Taj Falaknuma Palace, where the state distributed through ration shops to 1,04,57,610 and coach numbers six to nine jumped the tracks. with the police department.” Jahan wrote. reduction in blindness by 2022. government hosted a cultural reception. women from September 18-20. 30 killed in Dera violence Panchkula looked like war zone hours aft er verdict; Journalists, security personnel came under targeted attack

Dera followers throw stones at security forces during clashes in Panchkula yesterday. The body of a man killed during violence lies on the road in Panchkula. A member of the security forces walks towards a burning vehicle. IANS Dera followers, police offi cials selves to be misled by rumours”. Panchkula, Haryana said. Police and hospital sources “Some anti-social elements and with bullet wounds, lay on tions, including residential areas diers who had been deployed said that over 200 people were got mixed up with the followers the roads, witnesses said. of government offi cers and min- immediately rushed into the Sonia, Rahul express injured, some of them still bat- of Dera Sacha Sauda after the Panchkula town, where cur- isters, while the rest of the town court and took charge of the grave concern hirty people were killed tling for life. Several of the in- verdict by the CBI court (and) few was imposed after violence was left at the mercy of the vio- complex. The verdict was an- Condemning the violence in and scores injured in jured were referred to hospitals resorted to violence and disrupt- started, was virtually under lent Dera followers. nounced amid unprecedented Haryana, Congress President Tlarge-scale violence by in Chandigarh. ed peace,” said Khattar, without siege by the rampaging Dera fol- The Dera followers, in thou- security. The sentence will be Sonia Gandhi and Vice Presi- Dera Sacha Sauda sect support- Haryana Director General of condemning the violence in- lowers who had a free run as they sands, had gathered in Pan- pronounced by the court on dent Rahul Gandhi yesterday ers as mobs went on a rampage Police B S Sandhu said on Friday dulged in by the Dera followers vastly outnumbered the police chkula from various areas of Monday. expressed “concern and shock”, in Haryana after a CBI special evening that “Panchkula is 100 in Panchkula. and security personnel. Punjab and Haryana ahead of The sect chief was present in and appealed to maintain peace court convicted self-styled per cent safe”. Haryana Chief “Strict action is being taken Reports said that over 100 court verdict yesterday, in bra- the court. Court sources said and harmony. Sonia Gandhi godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Minister Manohar Lal Khat- against these persons. No one vehicles were set on fi re by the zen violation of orders banning the self-styled godman, dressed spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Singh. tar, whose government failed to is above the law and strict ac- rampaging mobs. Several the assembly of more than four in white clothes with his hair let Amarinder Singh and asked the The deaths took place in fi ring prevent the mass violence, later tion will be taken against anyone government and private people. loose, stood with his hands fold- governments of Haryana and by security forces on the enraged urged people to “maintain peace who tries to take the law into his buildings were also Once the CBI court held ed in prayer and his eyes closed Chandigarh to ensure safety Dera followers. The dead were all and harmony not allow them- hands,” he added. damaged and some Ram Rahim Singh guilty of when the judge started reading and security of all citizens. In Security forces opened fi re at torched. Residents re- rape and sexual molesta- the verdict. a statement, she expressed Modi appeals to maintain peace several places as Dera support- ported seeing plumes tion of two female devo- Outside the court, tens of “grave concern and shock ers went around setting vehi- of black smoke ris- tees, the violence began thousands of supporters were at the unabated violence in Prime Minister Narendra he said in series of tweets. “The cles and buildings on fi re in this ing into the sky at in no time. The sect chief massed. So were thousands of Panchkula and other parts of Modi yesterday condemned law and order situation is being town which adjoins Chandigarh. several places. was taken into cus- security personnel. The rape Haryana resulting in the death the violence that broke out closely monitored. I reviewed Panchkula looked like a war zone People tody following his victims, despite threats and of over two dozen persons in Haryana following the the situation with the NSA within hours after the verdict. complained conviction by pressures all along, stood their including children, widespread conviction of controversial (National Security Adviser Ajit Journalists and security person- that the trial court judge ground on rape and sexual har- destruction of public property godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Doval) and Home Secretary nel came under targeted attack. authori- Jagdeep Singh. assment allegations during the and senseless attack on the in a rape case and urged (Rajiv Mehrishi),” he said, adding Some journalists fl ed for their ties posted He was later nearly 15-year-long hearing of media”. Rahul Gandhi tweeted: everyone to maintain peace. that he has urged off icials lives and took shelter in nearby Army units fl own to Ro- the matter in court. “Violence and brutality have no “The instances of violence today to “work round the clock to homes. and para- htak by heli- The Dera management, in a place in our society. Condemn are deeply distressing. I strongly restore normalcy and provide More than 200 people, includ- military copter to be statement, said that the sect and the rampage and lawlessness in condemn the violence and urge all possible assistance that is ing security personnel and me- forces only lodged in a its chief have been “wronged” Haryana and appeal to restore everyone to maintain peace,” required”. dia persons, were injured in the to secure prison. and would go in appeal in a high- peace and tranquility.” mayhem. Some bodies, bleeding some loca- Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Sol- er court.

Privacy ruling may have bearing on beef ban cases: SC

The Supreme Court yesterday them time to study the judgment Appearing for some other said that its holding of the right by the nine judge bench which petitioners, senior counsel Indira India, Africa should aim to privacy to be a fundamental may have bearing on their Jaising told the court that 2005 right could have some bearing on matter. majority judgment (6-1) by a the hearing of a batch of petitions The judgment pronounced by a seven judge bench had wrongly including by Maharashtra nine-judge bench on Thursday decided in favour of complete government challenging the has held that the right to privacy prohibition on the slaughter of bigger: says Jaishankar Bombay High Court verdict was a fundamental right. cows and calves including other permitting the possession and Chander Uday Singh who milch and draught cattle. eating of beef brought from appeared for a Mumbai-based She said that Mirzapur judgment IANS visage people-centric sustain- has these very elements at its outside the state. lawyer Haresh Jagtiani referred as 2005 judgment is commonly New Delhi able growth strategy and will heart. “Yes, that judgement may have to Justice J Chelameswar’s known in legal circles needs to be be raised on the four pillars of Talking about New Delhi’s some bearing in these matters,” judgment on privacy which said: relooked and urged the court to development and cooperation diplomatic initiatives, he said the bench of Justice A K Sikri “I do not think that anybody pass necessary orders. At this, the ith India increasing projects, quality and infra- that growth and connectivity and Justice Ashok Bhushan said would like to be told by the State bench said that it would consider its engagements with structure, enhancing capacities were very central to India’s for- as senior counsel Chander Uday as to what they should eat or how whether this should be sent to a WAfrica, Foreign Sec- and skills, and people-to-peo- eign policy-making. Singh urged the bench to give they should dress ...” larger bench. retary S Jaishankar yesterday ple partnership. “The approach of ‘Sabka said the two sides should aim Jaishankar said that the saath, sabka vikas’ — that is bigger and not just what they AAGC should to be based on collective action and inclusive can do for each other. universally recognised interna- growth — is as much a belief in “We have an established de- tional norms, good governance, international relations as it is in Run-up to Onam velopment co-operation record rule of law, openness, transpar- domestic development,” he said. A dancer reacts in Africa that ranges from power ency and equality. “It is already being refl ected as he waits to projects and dams in Sudan and “There must be a strong vigorously in our Neighbour- perform during Rwanda to water treatment in Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar sense of ownership and that can hood First policy in the last festivities Tanzania and sugar factories in only happen with consultative three years.” marking the start Ethiopia,” Jaishankar said while emerged in the joint statement project designing, transfer of Jaishankar said that new en- of the annual speaking at a “Consultation on issued after the annual bilateral technology and encouragement ergies and additional resources harvest festival Asia-Africa Growth Corridor: summit between Indian Prime of skills,” he said. have been devoted to ensure of Onam in Kochi, The Way Forward” organised by Narendra Modi and his Japa- “No less important is the that India’s immediate neigh- India. the Research and Information nese counterpart Shinzo Abe in ensuring of fi nancial respon- bours were also benefi ciaries of Systems (RIS) think tank and Tokyo in November 2016. sibility so that there is no en- India’s growth story. “In fact, industry body CII in New Delhi. While India organises the couragement of unsustainable across South Asia, what you “Our training centres are India-Africa Forum Summit debts. Our activities must fully can see now are transforma- scattered across the continent (IAFS), a vital platform to en- conform to balanced ecologi- tional initiatives in energy, road and we have a long tradition gage with Africa at regional, cal and environmental protec- and rail connectivity and infra- of receiving students. Our ap- sub-regional, and bilateral tion and preservation standards structure building,” he said. proach has been to not only to levels, Japan holds the Tokyo and, I am compelled to add, “As they have realised, their teach people to fi sh but even International Conference on respect for sovereignty and ter- contribution to the emergence encourage them to identify the African Development (TICAD), ritorial integrity.” of a regional cooperative archi- fi sh in question,” he said. “So, which provides an open forum Referring to the four pil- tecture would be increasingly today, I think we need to aim to generate innovative discus- lars on which the AAGC will be appreciated. Signifi cantly, we more or bigger than just what sion among stakeholders par- raised, the Foreign Secretary are today working closely with we can do for each other.” ticipating in African develop- said that India’s own approach a number of other international The idea of the Asia-Afri- ment programmes. to development cooperation players whose approach is sim- ca Growth Corridor (AAGC) The AAGC is designed to en- and international partnerships ilar in this regard.” Gulf Times 10 Saturday, August 26, 2017 LATIN AMERICA Maduro calls for military loyalty AFP with doubts should leave the “be prepared to fi ght fi ercely ... re-casting ... we have to prepare Caracas armed forces immediately,” Ma- in the face of an eventual” US in- ourselves”. duro said. vasion. He pointed out that Del Pino, “You are with Trump and the “They treat us as a dictator- who has been at the helm of PD- enezuelan President imperialists, or you are with the ship,” said the embattled presi- VSA since 2014, was the architect Nicolas Maduro has Bolivarian national armed forces dent. of agreements between Opec and Vwarned the armed forces and the homeland,” the president Since Trump’s threat, Vice- non-Opec countries to boost in his crisis-hit country against added. “Never before has Ven- President Mike Pence sought to fl agging crude prices. “fi ssures” in their ranks, ahead ezuela been threatened in such a soften the message, saying dur- As for Martinez, who took over of war games seen as a show of way.” ing a visit to Latin America that the oil ministry in January, Ma- strength after US President Don- Maduro has faced months of he was sure democracy could be duro said he would work to in- Cubans and Venezuelans living in Cuba take part in a march in solidarity with President Nicolas Maduro, ald Trump’s threat of military ac- deadly mass protests by oppo- restored in Venezuela through crease Chinese, Russian, Indian yesterday in Havana. tion. nents who blame him for an eco- economic and diplomatic pres- and Malaysian investments in Maduro launched the warn- nomic crisis and are demanding sure. PDVSA’s various projects. stifl e oil exports, which account enues for 2016, as compared with Clashes between anti-govern- ing in a speech to his top military elections to replace him. In another move made with an “We are in a moment of fl ex- for nearly all of Venezuela’s hard the previous year. ment protesters and police this leadership, including General His main source of support is eye on Washington, Maduro an- ibility to face the economic war,” currency reserves. The average price of a barrel year have left 125 people dead, Vladimir Padrino, his defence the military. nounced that he had moved his said Maduro. The fall in world crude prices of Venezuelan crude declined according to prosecutors. minister, and General Remigio Venezuela’s opposition has oil minister Nelson Martinez over So far, the United States has has left Venezuela – which has 21% to $35.15 in 2016, down from Also on Thursday, Venezuela Ceballos, commander of opera- repeatedly urged the military to to run the state oil giant PDVSA – applied economic sanctions di- the largest proven oil reserves in $44.65 in 2015, it said. took two Colombian television tional strategy, days before the abandon Maduro, so far to no and brought the company’s boss rectly targeting Maduro, who the world – short of dollars for The opposition blames Ma- networks off the air – Caracol drills begin today. avail. Eulogio Del Pino over to be his oil says the economic collapse that vital imports. duro’s economic management Television and RCN. “We must be clear, especially He has only faced low-level minister. has dragged his country into cri- The country is suff ering from for the crisis, and his critics ac- Caracas is angry at Bogota for for the youth in the military, that dissent, such as from the two Maduro told the military lead- sis is a US-backed conspiracy. shortages of basic goods and cuse him of clinging to power by off ering protection to Maduro’s we must close ranks within the rebel offi cers who staged a raid on ers that in the face of possible He has accused Washington of medicines. hijacking state institutions, such one-time attorney general Luisa homeland – that this is no time an army base this month. future added US sanctions on preparing fresh economic sanc- Earlier this month, PDVSA re- as by installing a new constituent Ortega, who is now a fi erce critic for any fi ssures and that those Maduro urged the military to Venezuela, “I decided to do some tions and a “naval blockade” to ported a sharp 33.5% drop in rev- assembly packed with loyalists. of his government. Mystery embassy attacks ‘hurt’ 16 staff Colombia rebels list By Dave Clark, AFP began to feel the eff ects of what Havana is being treated for hear- Washington Secretary of State Rex Tillerson ing loss. called a “health attack”. In May, the US ordered two assets US offi cials have said those Cuban diplomats to leave their o fewer than 16 Ameri- hurt appeared to have been tar- recently reopened embassy in cans were hurt in what geted by some form of previous- Washington and return to Ha- worth Nhas previously been ly unknown acoustic assault, but vana, without publicly saying dubbed an acoustic attack on the have not blamed Cuba directly. why. US mission in Cuba, the State Cuba has insisted it has no It is now known that Wash- $324mn Department said on Thursday. knowledge of any attack and is ington had alerted the Cuban Offi cials are probing a series working to “clarify the facts of government to what its foreign of incidents dating back to Sep- the situation”. ministry dubbed the “alleged Reuters tember last year in which diplo- No details of the injuries have incidents” as far back as Febru- Bogota mats are thought to have been been released, but a CBS News ary 17. hit with a mystery sonic weapon. report suggested at least one But US offi cials made no The “unprecedented” attacks victim suff ered what amounted public complaint until just last olombia’s now-demo- came to light last month when to “brain damage”. month when Tillerson warned bilised Farc rebel group Washington warned Cuba that “We take the situation ex- that Cuba must help investigate Csaid yesterday that its as- it would be held responsible for tremely seriously,” Nauert said, and prevent further attacks. sets, earmarked for victim com- the safety of US personnel in after revealing the new casualty Nauert said on Thursday that pensation, total $324mn, plus Havana. toll. the incidents do now appear to hundreds of kilograms of gold, But on Thursday, State De- Nauert confi rmed that the 16 have ended, but that investiga- and rejected government accu- partment spokeswoman Heath- cases she was referring to were tions are ongoing to fi nd the cul- An exterior view of the US embassy in Havana. sations it has failed to list all its er Nauert gave the fi rst indica- all US citizens connected to the prits. possessions. tion of the scale of the incident, mission, but was not sure if any Relations between the United In June, Trump tightened ton and Fidel Castro’s revolu- Anti-US propaganda was dis- Farc included footwear and which has threatened slowly im- were family members of staff . States and Cuba were restored by rules for Americans travel- tionary regime. played around the compound, orange juicers in the list of as- proving ties. Some were evacuated to Mi- then-president Barack Obama ling to Cuba, banned ties with a The mission reopened as a which Cuba saw as a base for fo- sets it will hand over, drawing ire “We can confi rm that at least ami for treatment in US hos- and his counterpart Raul Castro military-run tourism fi rm and “special interests section” rath- menting opposition sedition. from offi cials who maintain the 16 US government employees, pitals, others were cared for by in 2015 after a half-century. reaffi rmed the existing US trade er than a full embassy under an American diplomats in Ha- guerrillas have extensive crimi- members of our embassy com- American doctors who travelled But tensions mounted again embargo. agreement between Castro and vana and their Cuban rivals in nal wealth and sparking the gov- munity, have experienced some to Havana to work at the em- after Obama’s successor Donald The US embassy was closed United States President Jimmy Washington both regularly com- ernment to create a special com- kind of symptoms,” she said. bassy. Trump, who won many Cuban in 1961 at the height of the Cold Carter. plained of harassment or heavy- mission to look into the list. Late last year US embassy Separately, Canada has said American votes by promising a War when diplomatic relations But the US diplomats were handed surveillance – but never The Revolutionary Armed staff and at least one Canadian one of its diplomats posted to tough line, rolled back detente. broke down between Washing- hardly made welcome. of sonic attack. Forces of Colombia (Farc) agreed under a 2016 peace deal to hand over funds and property to pay reparations to victims of forced disappearance, rape, displace- ment, kidnapping and land Cuba’s Elian Gonzalez hopes for family reconciliation mines. The group has for decades ex- torted landowners and business AFP examines his story, he said that that federal agents seize the boy. Had he stayed in Miami, he people, earned ransoms from Miami he’d like to put the bitter past Iconic news photos of the refl ects, “I think I would have hostage taking and sold coca, behind him. April 2000 raid showing the ter- become the poster boy for that the base ingredient in cocaine, to “We are separated by laws, by rifi ed child being taken at gun- group of Cubans in Miami that drug traffi ckers. lian Gonzalez, who was the blockade, by the sea. We do point were beamed around the tries to destroy the revolution, The real estate, cash in mul- once at the centre of an not have to continue separat- world. that try to make Cuba look bad”, tiple currencies, equipment and Einternational custody bat- ing ourselves as a family,” said Upon his return, he was rarely he said. other assets listed total 963.2bn tle between his Cuban father and Gonzalez, who now holds a de- heard from other than when his “I would have been used in pesos ($324.4mn), Farc leaders relatives in Miami, has held out gree in industrial engineering image was occasionally beamed that way. Maybe I would have told reporters yesterday. an olive branch to his family liv- and is working as a technology on Cuban television as a model become an actor on TV or maybe The attorney general and the ing in the United States. specialist. member of the communist par- I would have more money than justice, interior and post-con- The 23-year-old was just six His father, Juan Miguel, ech- ty’s youth wing. I have here with more comforts, fl ict ministers all criticised the when the vessel carrying his oed the sentiment and said he But he told American broad- but I wouldn’t have my family. I list on Thursday, saying it made mother and others capsized off hoped the family could over- caster ABC in a 2015 interview wouldn’t have the tranquillity I a mockery of victims and in- the coast of Florida in November come its political diff erences. “I that he hoped to someday return have in Cuba.” cluded many items with little to 1999, leaving Elian – who was have the best intentions to for- to the US to personally thank “My two feet, my body, my no monetary value. able to grab onto a car inner tube give them so that it can continue A screenshot of the interview on CNN’s website. those who had helped him. mind are in Cuba,” Gonzalez “With the inventory of assets – the sole survivor. to be a relationship of families, It’s a wish that he still holds said, adding: “But there are and funds the Farc has continued Speaking in an interview they with their ideals and we American community in Miami tion and political oppression on to, even though he insists, as times when I think about the to strictly comply with what we with CNN that was broadcast with ours.” – insisted that they would not there. a true believer of Fidel Castro’s United States. I wouldn’t be who agreed,” rebel secretariat mem- on Thursday ahead of a docu- Following his rescue, Elian’s allow him to return to Cuba, Eventually, US courts sided communist revolution, it would I am had I not been in the United ber Pastor Alape said, adding mentary by CNN Films that re- relatives – and the larger Cuban- fearing he faced a life of priva- with Elian’s father and ordered only be for a short while. States.” the list was diffi cult to compile because guerrilla assets were not centralised and many records, where they had existed, were de- stroyed in fi ghting. “We took the decision to ac- Brazil’s opening of Amazon to mining sets off alarm cept as ours assets identifi ed by the state, principally by the at- torney general, that are not in By Carola Solé, AFP a 17,800sq mile (46,000sq km) Temer’s aim with the decree on the powerful agro-industrial can cause deforestation, con- are going under hashtags like our inventory, because we our- Rio de Janeiro area since 1984, when Brazil was is not just to boost the industry lobby for his political survival tamination of rivers and ramp up “SOS Amazonia” and Bundchen selves lack information about still run by a military dictator- but to bring control over activity amid swirling corruption scan- activities like illegal mining. It’s has given glamorous weight to them,” Alape added. ship. that is already being performed dals. about going back to an old vi- the resistance. The list includes nearly 600 hen most of the world The Reserva Nacional del Co- by illegal miners who use de- “The measure is meant to sion of the Amazon as a source “What a disgrace. They’re horses, 327.5kg of gold and 196bn talks about the riches bre y Asociados is bigger than structive methods that poison bring economic expansion, but of natural resources.” selling off our Amazon!” she pesos the Farc says it spent on Wof the Amazon, they Denmark and home to virgin the rivers with mercury. it could bring a huge impact. Voivodic pointed to the disas- tweeted. road construction. mean the unique rainforest and forest, as well as indigenous ter- In addition, Temer promises What price will be paid in such ter at the Samarco iron ore mine Bundchen gets listened to in Colombian offi cials have pre- so-called lungs of the planet. ritories of the Aparai, Wayana that the mining will not take a sensitive area as the Amazon?” in the Minas Gerais region in her native Brazil. viously accused the Farc of pos- But Brazilian President and Wajapi tribes. place in special conservation ar- asked Ely Paiva, an expert at the 2015 that killed 19 and sent huge In June, Temer told her in a sessing large amounts of cash, as Michel Temer has given the nod But it also contains important eas, only outside. Getulio Vargas Foundation in quantities of toxic mud fl ooding tweet that he was promising well as ranches, businesses and to a more literal sense of riches reserves of gold, manganese, “Our promise is to bring sus- Rio. into a major river system. to veto legislation that would luxury homes, including some – mineral extraction – leaving iron and copper – and Temer tainable development in the The World Wildlife Fund “This decree is the biggest at- reduce protected areas in the located abroad. environmentalists and activists believes cash-strapped Brazil Amazon, uniting environmental (WWF) says private mining ex- tack on the Amazon in the last Amazon. Alape denied the group has including Gisele Bundchen up in should start digging. protection with revenue gener- pansion will risk irreversible 50 years. Even the military dic- But only days later Temer was any foreign assets. arms. Until now, state-owned com- ating for the local population,” damage both to the environment tatorship didn’t dare,” said left- told by Norway, a huge funder of The rebels fi nished handing Temer’s decision issued on panies had a right to exploit the he said. and the indigenous peoples. ist Senator Randolfe Rodrigues, measures to protect the Amazon, over more than 8,000 weap- Wednesday scrapped a national resources, but rarely did. But analysts are sceptical that “It’s a tragedy waiting to hap- who is planning to challenge the that it was halving payments in ons to the UN, which oversaw reserve in the northern Para and Temer’s measure will open the much good can come from a pen,” said WWF’s director in decree in court. response to Brazil’s failure to act their demobilisation, earlier this Amapa states that had protected door to private business. president who leans increasingly Brazil, Mauricio Voivodic. “This Campaigns on social media against deforestation. month. Gulf Times Saturday, August 26, 2017 11 PAKISTAN

DIPLOMACY DIRECTIVE COMMERCE DEVELOPMENT TRADE Govt employees to get Chinese firm to set up Eff orts on to build 4 Indonesia to increase fruit salaries before Eid animal farms in Pakistan dams in Baluchistan import quota for Pakistan

Federal government of Pakistan’s employees The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In view of water shortage in Baluchistan, the Indonesia has agreed to expand the quota and would receive salaries on August 28 ahead of province of Pakistan and Zhejiang Dowish Water and Power Development Authority period for import of fruits from Pakistan under Eid al-Adha, the finance ministry announced Import and Export Company Limited, China, (Wapda) is making all-out eff orts to initiate the preferential trade agreement, an off icial yesterday. According to the announcement, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) construction work on the Naulong, Hingol, said yesterday. Pakistan’s exports to Indonesia Finance Minister Ishaq Dar issued directives yesterday for export of animals to China and Badinzai and Sukliji dams in the province, Wapda have dropped by almost $100mn ever since the for the disbursement of salaries to facilitate the establishment of animal farms in the province. chairman retired Lt Gen Muzammil Hussain said implementation of preferential trade agreement employees to undertake the religious obligation A statement said that under the agreement the at a meeting yesterday. At the meeting held to (PTA), whereas, Indonesia’s exports have almost of off ering sacrifice and enjoy Eid festivities. KP government would export animals to China review progress made on various projects, the doubled during the post preferential treaty. Earlier on Tuesday, the Central Ruet-i-Hilal and in return China would assist in establishing Wapda chief was informed that the Naulong dam Both sides have held three rounds to review the Pakistani Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif shakes Committee announced the beginning of the modern animal farms in diff erent districts of the was ready for construction and that funding implementation of the PTA. At the conclusion hands with French ambassador to Pakistan month of Zilhaj from August 24 and said Eid al- province. The agreement would also be helpful options for it were being discussed with the of the third round held recently, Indonesia has Martine Dorance during a meeting at the Foreign Adha would be celebrated across the country on in enhancing the business of small traders of Asian Development Bank through the Economic agreed to allow imports of Pakistani kinno Ministry in Islamabad yesterday. September 2. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Aff airs Division. (mandarin oranges) from December until April. Pakistan, US in back-channel bid to resolve rifts Internews Islamabad Supporters of Defence of Pakistan Council, a coalition of around 40 religious and political parties, carry banners during a protest against US President Donald Trump in Karachi yesterday. Angry and of- fended Pakistanis fired back against Donald Trump’s accusations that their country harbours militants, hile formally diploma- highlighting the heavy toll they have paid fighting extremism and slamming his embrace of arch-rival cy between Pakistan India. Wand the United States is struggling, especially after President Trump’s highly criti- cal speech, the two countries have established back-channel Opposition seeks parliament contacts to resolve their diff er- ences over key issues. Earlier this month, a group of former diplomats, military of- session over Trump’s threats fi cials and security experts from the two countries held their Internews PPP’s Vice-President Senator age and hope among the people,” third off -the-record meeting in Islamabad Sherry Rehman said the gov- she added. Washington to discuss thorny ernment should convene a joint Sherry said the parliamentar- issues including Pakistan’s sup- sitting of parliament within the ians must use parliament to raise port for Afghan peace, increas- pposition parties, in- next 10 days so that the parlia- their voices. “When you have ing US ties with Pakistan’s arch- cluding the Pakistan mentarians could be involved power, then everyone notices rival India, New Delhi’s role in O People’s Party (PPP), earlier on to form a consolidated you. The people will take note Afghanistan and Islamabad’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf reply. that this is the voice of not just drift toward Beijing after initia- (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami “This is necessary for the one person but an entire nation,” tion of China Pakistan Economic (JI) have demanded the gov- country’s benefi t as we cannot she added. Corridor (CPEC). In this handout photograph released by Pakistan’s Press Information Department Pakistan’s Prime ernment to summon a joint be run on an autopilot or snooze The PPP leader said that other After attending the talks, Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi heads a meeting of the National Security Committee in Islamabad. sitting of both the houses mode,” she said. countries such as China, Russia former Pakistan ambassador to of parliament to prepare a Sherry said there should be and Saudi Arabia immediately the United States Jalil Abbas Ji- Donald Trump lashed out at discussed some new potential stability in Afghanistan as peace joint strategy over US Presi- an in-camera briefi ng to parlia- responded to the statements. lani said the two sides are having Pakistan urging it to stop giving areas of co-operation, including in Kabul is good for the entire re- dent Donald Trump’s threats ment by the Foreign Offi ce and “It is important to note how frank discussion on issues and sanctuary to “agents of chaos, in the fi eld of economics. “In es- gion. against Pakistan. Defence Ministry and the policy the Chinese government con- will prepare recommendations violence and terror.” sence, the dialogue clarifi ed the But Pakistani diplomat “The government should im- be carved out on the suggestion demned the statement before for the government for future of “We can no longer be silent potential and limits of the rela- stressed that after 16 years of mediately convene a joint sitting of parliament. our government. The Chinese ties. about Pakistan’s safe havens for tionship. That’s a useful thing at confl ict, it is clear that lasting of parliament to take it into con- She said the government’s re- offi cial also contacted the US He said the informal interac- terrorist organisations, the Tali- a moment when the future of the peace in Afghanistan can only be fi dence over Pakistan’s stance on sponse to Trump’s statement has government to fi nd a solution tion, also called the “Track II di- ban and other groups that pose a US-Pakistan relationship is so achieved through a comprehen- the statement of Trump,” said been unsatisfactory as there was for the situation. Russia has also plomacy”, aims at bringing pri- threat to the region and beyond,” unsettled,” he said. sive political process. Opposition Leader in the Na- no proper reply. “We need to give condemned the statements,” she vate individuals and groups from he said. Richard Boucher praised Paki- “Pakistan stands ready to tional Assembly Syed Khursheed a strong message to instil cour- said. the two countries to promote Pakistan angrily reacted to stan for its eff orts in war against work with Afghanistan and the Shah while talking to media per- better understanding of issues Trump’s speech expressing dis- terror and supported Islama- United States to that end,” he sons here. and suggest solutions. appointment over lack of ac- bad’s proposal for the border said. Khursheed Shah demanded India cannot champion regional peace Pakistan’s current ambassa- knowledgement by the president management with Afghanistan. This objective is not served the foreign minister to issue a dor to the US, Aizaz Chaudhry of Pakistan’s sacrifi ces in war “Pakistan has expanded its when one country indulges in policy statement over the mat- A country like India that is Afghan stability”, Zakaria said welcomed the interaction. against terror. control of its territory, espe- a vicious blame game against ter. involved in state-sponsored that extremists have found “Track II is not a substitute Islamabad is also not happy cially into the tribal areas, but the other, the ambassador said. The opposition leader said the terrorism cannot be an their way into India’s governing for offi cial contacts but cialsoffi with US support for its arch- still needs to control its border “Incidentally, it is Pakistan not government and the opposition effective partner in bringing bodies. can benefi t from the ideas gener- rival India’s role in Afghanistan. to prevent fi ghters and supplies Afghanistan that has institut- jointly formulated Pakistan’s peace to the region, said “The extremist Rashtriya ated,” he said. Michael Kugelman, Deputy from moving across in both di- ed strict border management policy on it as it was not an is- Foreign Office spokesperson Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Representatives from Paki- Director of Asia Programme at rections. We should support that measures to control cross-bor- sue of the government but a na- Nafees Zakaria in his weekly other such organisations are stani side also included former The Wilson Centre, says the eff ort,” he says. der movement. tional issue of the sovereignty of briefing yesterday. already influencing the Indian head of Military Intelligence Lt Track II dialogue is meant to Boucher believes Pakistan It is time we recognise that,” 220mn people. He was speaking in reference judiciary’s decisions at this time Gen (R) Ishfaq Nadeem Ahmad convene former government and Afghanistan will have to be he said. Meanwhile, JI chief Sira- to US President Donald Trump’s while the Indian army is lending and former ambassador to Af- and military offi cials in a closed, able to control their borders to He said terrorism incidents jul Haq said that US President speech on the Afghan war, its support to the RSS as well,” ghanistan Mohamed Sadiq while off -the-record environment to achieve lasting peace in each are on decline in Pakistan at a Trump’s statement is tanta- in which he directed India to Zakaria said. US side included former US as- discuss possible pathways for country. time when these incidents are on mount to war; however, Pakistan provide more assistance and “There are unresolved issues sistant secretary of state Richard co-operation. The talks are being hosted the rise in the rest of the world. will not come under his threats. development to Afghanistan. on a wide range of matters Boucher, former ambassador “In that sense, the most sig- by two think tanks, Washing- “Pakistan would not have Demanding the joint session While expressing Pakistan’s that India has with various Robin Raphel and security ex- nifi cant aspect of this interac- ton DC-based Wilson Centre achieved such success without of parliament, he said that the reservations regarding the US’s countries, which is why it perts Dr Tricia Bacon and David tion was the fact that it took and Islamabad-based Regional conducting counterterrorism US wanted to sabotage Paki- acknowledgement of “India’s cannot be expected to maintain Smith. place at all,” he says. Peace Institute. operations that were compre- stan’s eff ort to establish peace in important contributions to peace in the region.” In his policy speech on Af- He said apart from terrorism Ambassador Aizaz Chaudhry hensive and indiscriminate in the region. ghanistan on Monday, President and Afghanistan both sides also said Pakistan desires peace and scope,” he added.

Pakistan’s population surges to 208mn SC moved to remove words ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ from law Reuters 130mn in 1998, the last time a Islamabad census was conducted. Nearly 118,000 government Internews of Prophet Muhammad. officials escorted by tens of Islamabad Saleemullah said that in the akistan’s population has thousands of troops and po- history of Islam, these words risen to nearly 208mn lice started the 70-day data- have never been attributed to Ppeople with an average gathering drive in March on he Supreme Court was any other, except the personal- annual growth of 2.4%, the Pa- the orders of the Supreme requested yesterday to ity of Prophet Muhammad. kistan Bureau of Statistics said Court. Tissue order for deletion yesterday, after the South Asian Electoral seats in Pakistan’s of words ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ Saleemullah Advocate nation conducted its fi rst census parliament are assigned using from section 99-F of the said that in the history of in 19 years. population density data. Representation of People Act Islam, these words have The total population is made The census found a nearly 4% (ROPA) 1976. never been attributed up of more than 106mn males, increase in the urban popula- Filing an application in the to any other, except the more than 101mn females and tion, with 36.38% of the total Supreme Court, Saleemullah personality of Prophet 10,418 transgender people, who population living in urban areas. Khan Advocate submitted that Muhammad (PBUH). have been counted in a census The southern province of words ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ have for the fi rst time, the bureau Sindh is the most urbanised been used in Section 99-F of He further submitted that said. with 52.02% of people there in ROPA,which is unjustifi ed, as a common man cannot attain “Provisional results show cities. these words can only be at- the highest standards, which the total population of Paki- The most prosperous province tributed to the personality of have been bestowed by the Al- stan as 207.774mn, with an of Punjab, which is considered Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be mighty Allah to the personal- average annual growth rate of the political heartland and bread Upon Him). ity of Prophet Muhammad. The 2.4% over a period of 1998- basket, maintains its status as He contended that no one applicant prayed the court to 2017,” the bureau said in a the most populous province can fulfi l the standard, criteria order that the words ‘Sadiq and statement. with more than half of all Paki- FILE PHOTO: A census enumerator notes details from a resident during Pakistan’s 6th population census and spirit of words ‘Sadiq and Ameen’ may be replaced with The population was just over stanis — 110mn people. in Karachi, Pakistan March 15, 2017. Ameen’ except the personality other suitable words. Gulf Times 12 Saturday, August 26, 2017 PHILIPPINES IS must be Locked and loaded defeated in Philippines: Turnbull

DPA Australian Foreign Minis- Sydney ter Julie Bishop said at the Bali Process meeting of regional leaders in Perth that Australia slamic State must be de- took the confl ict in the south- feated in the southern ern Philippines “very seri- IPhilippines city of Marawi, ously.” otherwise the city could be- “Some years ago, the leaders come the group’s capital for of ISIS, declared they want- South-East Asia, Australian ed to establish a caliphate of Prime Minister Malcolm Turn- headquarters in the southern bull said yesterday. Philippines,” she said, using Turnbull declined to re- a former acronym for Islamic spond to a new video released State, broadcaster SBS report- by Islamic State that labels ed. Australia a guard dog for the “We have been working United States in the region, but with the Philippines for some said it was “vitally important” time to prevent such an oc- the group was defeated in the currence. Philippines, as it is drawing in “As we are more successful foreign fi ghters. in the coalition against ISIS “That potentially is a threat in Syria and Iraq, then we will to the stability of the region see foreign terrorist fighters and hence a threat to Aus- who survived that conflict Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte with troops fighting the extremist Maute group in Marawi, Philippines, yesterday. tralia,” Turnbull said on Mel- making their way home,” she bourne radio station 3AW. said. Turnbull said Australia “In South-East Asia, they’ll would continue to provide aid be coming back to the Philip- to the Philippine government, pines, Malaysia, Australia and including two P3 Orion recon- other places. naissance aircraft which are “So it’s going to take a very working with the Philippine close and deep level of coop- military. eration to continue to support But, while Australia was each other in the fi ght against supporting the Philippine terrorism.” Police who shot Kian government in its fi ght with The Philippines defence Islamic State, Turnbull added force has been fi ghting Islamic he “deplored the extrajudicial State militants in Marawi since killings” in the crackdown on May, and foreign fi ghters re- drug dealers ordered by the turning from Iraq and Syria are president of the Philippines. being drawn to the city. mum in Senate probe One of the policemen named has said Both went out. The entry was on the he would like his lawyer present left. The exit was on the right,” said Mon- zon in a news conference. Alert over spread of Manila Times “The fi rst gunshot wound was slightly Makati downward. The second was also down- ward,” Monzon said on the trajectory of bird fl u in humans the bullets. he ballistic examination conducted She said the teen’s body had been em- on the fi rearms used by three po- balmed when the PNP Crime Laboratory DPA showed that the outbreak was Tlicemen in the killing of Grade 11 conducted an autopsy. Manila caused by the H5N6 strain of student Kian Loyd de los Santos during a “Kian was already embalmed. We did the virus, which was transmis- Caloocan City drug raid showed that the not get his urine sample,” she said. sible to humans but has a low slug recovered from the body of the vic- Monzon said it was “impossible” for de he Philippines has mortality rate. tim belonged to Police Offi cer (PO) 3 Arnel los Santos to have been executed because stepped up monitor- Ubial said the health de- Oares. there was no “stifl ing” in his body, which Ting of bird fl u infections partment has alerted dis- Oares, with Police Offi cers Jeremias would indicate that he was shot in this among humans after 34 farm ease surveillance officers and Pereda and Jerwin Cruz, on Thursday at- manner. workers from two areas aff ect- health workers “to investigate tended the Senate investigation into last Citing a report by Jocelyn Cruz, another ed by the avian infl uenza de- and report suspected human week’s killing of de los Santos, 17, amid medico-legal offi cer of the PNP, Monzon veloped symptoms, the Health cases within 24 hour to 48 allegations they summarily executed the said Kian was shot twice both on the head. Department said yesterday. hours.” senior high student who they claimed was Saldy and Lorenza Delos Santos, parents of 17-year-old high school student Kian Delos “He was shot in the left ear then it came Acting Health Secretary “Further I have directed a drug courier. Santos take oath as they file murder charges against three anti-narcotics policemen at out in the right,” Monzon said, refuting the Paulyn Ubial said the workers the pre-emptive positioning The Senate Committee on Public Or- the Department of Justice in metro Manila. PAO’s fi ndings that de los Santos was shot were exposed to fowl infect- of necessary commodities to der and Dangerous Drugs, led by Senator twice in the left and right ear. ed by the bird fl u virus in the protect against bird fl u trans- Panfi lo Lacson, conducted the probe in phone that showed de los Santos’ sup- cue. So, we just continue since Day 1 of the Monzon also said de los Santos was shot northern provinces of Pam- mission to humans, such as response to the request of Senators Paolo posed drug dealings. administration’s campaign against drugs,” from “afar”, with the distance between the panga and Nueva Ecija, where personal protective equipment Benigno Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Joel De los Santos had two gunshot wounds he said. top of the barrel of the gun and de los San- the outbreak was detected. and anti-viral medicines,” she Villanueva to investigate the killing amid in the head, according to forensic expert De la Rosa also expressed support for tos’ body being “more than 60 centim- “They developed either added. the spate of extrajudicial killings (EJKs) of Erwin Erfe, hired by the Public Attorney’s Poe’s proposal to require policemen to eters,” equivalent to two rulers. Monzon fever, cough and cold, and More than 660,000 chick- suspected drug suspects. Offi ce, and Jocelyn Cruz, medical offi cer of wear body cameras during drug raids.“I said this was no longer “close range.” body malaise,” she said. “All ens, ducks, pigeons and other The victim’s parents, Saldy and Loren- the Philippine National Police (PNP) Pere- would like to stress that we agree with President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his of them had direct exposure birds have been culled in the za, also attended the public hearing. Chief da and Cruz declined to identify who killed body cam. It will be benefi cial to our op- condolences to the family of de los Santos. to infected fowls and they de- town of San Luis in Pampanga Inspector Amor Cerillo, Caloocan Police de los Santos, invoking their right against erations to justify our actions.” In remarks before the Philippine Air Force veloped common symptoms as well as the towns of Jaen and Community Precinct 7 commander, said self-incrimination. The Philippine National Police (PNP) Dragon Boat Team at Malacanang, Duterte of influenza.” San Isidro in Nueva Ecija. that “based on the ballistic examination, However, they claimed that the person Crime Laboratory said on Wednesday admitted there could be “mistakes” when “They were already given The fi rst outbreak was de- it was PO3 Oares who has the fi rearm, in the CCTV (closed circuit television) senior high school student Kian Loyd de policemen carry out legitimate operations medicines, but we are now tected in San Luis and the matched with the slug found in the body footage that they were dragging away was los Santos tested negative for gunpowder against drug personalities. monitoring their conditions,” government announced it on of Kian”. not de los Santos but their “alpha” or “as- residue, belying earlier claims by Caloocan He reiterated, however, that errant po- she added. August 11. Nearly 500 soldiers Oares declined to answer Senator Grace set”. City police that the 17-year-old fi red at au- licemen would have to “face consequenc- The Department of Agricul- have been deployed to the af- Poe when she asked if he was the one who “He did not want to blow his cover. thorities in a drug raid that claimed his life. es,” if there was really foul play in the anti- ture said tests from Australia fected towns. shot de los Santos.“May I answer in the We’re protecting him. He did not want President Rodrigo Duterte Paraffi n tests drug operations, particularly in the arrest next hearing,” he told the committee, say- anybody to learn that he was with po- conducted on de los Santos showed an ab- of de los Santos that resulted in his death. ing he did not have a lawyer with him. licemen,” Cruz said when Poe asked him sence of gunpowder residue on his hands, “We can commit mistakes. That’s why This prompted Lacson to say: “This kind why they were dragging a person away as offi cials said. there are so many incidents. This thing of demeanour will aff ect our view of you.” shown in the CCTV footage. “Both hands of the cadaver do not con- about drugs, there’s a ruckus now on de los Info from social media The police But village offi cials and some witnesses tain gunpowder nitrates,” stated a report Santos,” Duterte said. ‘Mandatory heels’ in claimed de los Santos was not the primary said it was de los Santos in the video. Lat- by the crime laboratory. “I have expressed my condolences. If target of their operation, saying they were er on Thursday, Hontiveros turned over Jane Monzon, PNP medico-legal offi cer, the family accepts it, good. If they don’t looking for a certain “alias Negro”. to the Senate three witnesses who had contested claims by the Public Attorney’s accept it, fi ne with me,” he added. Duterte workplace banned But they enraged senators when they re- claimed de los Santos was killed by the Offi ce (PAO) that Kian was shot thrice in reiterated his decision not to go to Kian’s vealed that they were able to validate only police. last week’s raid at Barangay 160 in Ca- wake. through “social media” the alleged ties of PNP Chief Ronald de la Rosa told law- loocan. “The thing is, I will not go there. Be- DPA lions of Filipino (workers)... de los Santos to drugs. makers he had “no order” to intensify il- “There are two gunshot wounds in the cause even if it is true, it is under investi- Manila will now be freed from the Relieved Caloocan police chief Chito legal drug operations. head, one in the ear, and one in the back of gation. Because if I go there, I put down the bondage of unsafe and dan- Bersaluna claimed they recovered a cell- “But the operating units were taking the the ear. police,” the president said. gerous working conditions,” he Philippines’ labour he added. department yesterday Labour Secretary Silvestre Tissued an order ban- Bello said the guidelines would ning private companies from take eff ect next month and was requiring female employees based on a study by a task force Marcos: Comelec should shoulder storage fees to wear high-heeled shoes at created following ALU-TUCP’s work. proposal. The order makes the Philip- “We noticed how sales la- Manila Times ian of the sanctity of the ballots and other of the elections. Hence, he said, it is the conduct of manual count and judicial revi- pines the fi rst country in Asia dies, for example, look very Makati paraphernalia in the exercise of its funda- function of the Comelec to safeguard the sion, while in the remaining 2,756 he prays to ban the mandatory wearing tired after standing all day in mental duty to enforce and administer all integrity of the ballots and election mate- for the annulment of election results. of high heels in the workplace, heels,” he said. “You can tell laws and regulations in the conduct of the rials. Based on data, the 39,221 cluster pre- according to a labour group there is a feeling of inconven- he camp of former senator Ferdi- elections”. “This is precisely why the Precaution- cincts are composed of 132,446 precincts. that proposed the new direc- ience or they are uncomfort- nand Marcos Jr has asked the Presi- Marcos’ appeal came in view of a letter ary Protection Order [PPO] issued by the The supreme court recently ordered the tive. able.” Tdential Electoral Tribunal (PET) sent by Maria Lea Alarkon, Director III, honorable tribunal in this case was direct- preservation of the “automated election “We hope that the regula- Bello said the department to order the Commission on Elections Offi ce for Overseas Voting (OFOV) of the ed to the Comelec and its concerned offi - equipment and records such as the Vote tion will also be copied and has not received any negative (Comelec) to shoulder storage fees and Comelec. cials and employees,” Marcos noted. Counting Machines (VCM), Consolida- applied for the benefit of feedback about the order dur- other expenses it incurred in connection Alarkon sought payment from Marcos “Consequently, all the costs and ex- tion and Canvass System (CCS) units, Se- workers in the entire Asia re- ing consultations. with the preservation and safekeeping of of their expenses for safekeeping, among penses necessary and incidental to the cure Digital (SD) cards (main and back-up) gion,” said Alan Tanjusay, a Under the department’s various election materials and parapher- others, the ballots cast overseas. safekeeping of the ballot boxes and their and the other data storage devices in all of spokesman for the Associated guidelines, companies can no nalia used in the May 9, 2016 polls. According to the former senator, he re- contents and other election paraphernalia the ninety two thousand fi ve hundred nine Labor Unions-Trade Union longer require women to wear In his comment, Marcos through his le- ceived the tribunal’s resolution requiring should be assumed by the Comelec.” (92,509) clustered precincts used in the Congress of the Philippines shoes with heels more than 1 gal counsel, George Erwin Garcia, pointed him to pay the same. In his protest, Marcos assailed the May 2016 elections, eff ective immediately (ALU-TUCP). inch in height as part of the out that “the Comelec is mandated by the But Marcos claimed that an election election results in 39,221 clustered pre- and continuing until further orders from “With this regulation, mil- dress code at work. Constitution to act as the primary guard- protest is a mere incident of the conduct cincts—36,465 of which he paid for the the tribunal.” Gulf Times Saturday, August 26, 2017 13 BANGLADESH/NEPAL/MALDIVES Last man Festival in Kathmandu standing in Male is jailed

AFP nal justice system,” it said in a Colombo statement. “Like all other leaders of the opposition now sentenced he Maldives’ last re- to jail, the JP leader has been maining opposition punished for challenging Pres- Tleader in the country ident Yameen’s tyranny.” was handed a prison sentence Ibrahim had collapsed in yesterday as President Abdulla court Thursday during hear- Yameen stepped up a crack- ings and was rushed to hos- down on political dissent in pital, where he is under treat- South Asia’s troubled tropical ment for a heart condition. paradise. Offi cial sources said the Qasim Ibrahim, who heads authorities have granted him the Jumhooree Party (JP) and permission to go abroad for ur- lost his bid for president in gent treatment. It was not im- 2013, was accused of leading a mediately clear when he would Nepalese police personnel take part in festival activities in Kathmandu. failed bid in March to impeach travel. Speaker Abdulla Maseeh, a The verdict came a day after close ally of Yameen. chaotic scenes at the national He was convicted on Friday parliament where lawmakers of bribing lawmakers to im- fl ung eggs at each other while peach the speaker and given 38 troops in plain clothing pro- months in jail. vided a ring of protection for The guilty verdict also dis- the speaker inside the parlia- qualifi es Ibrahim, 65, from ment chamber. holding a seat in parliament. Since coming to power, The JP is one of four parties President Yameen has led a in the archipelago’s opposition crackdown on political dissent Text alerts prove life coalition that wants to defeat in the Indian Ocean nation of Yameen at elections next year 340,000, raising fears over the and sees the impeachment of country’s stability and denting the speaker as a fi rst step to its image as an upmarket hon- taking control of parliament to eymoon destination. ensure free and fair polls. Former leader Nasheed be- The coalition, led by former came the country’s fi rst demo- president Mohamed Nasheed cratically elected president in saver during fl oods who also heads the main oppo- 2008, but was narrowly de- sition Maldivian Democratic feated by Yameen in a contro- Technology has been used eff ectively took her to a nearby school just hours be- working at the department, explained “But after 24 hours, the fl ood swamped Party from London where he versial 2013 election run-off . to save lives fore the fl ood reached her home, having that “a water gauge station set up in all of the houses in the village,” she add- lives in exile, condemned the In 2015, he was sentenced to received a text message alerting them to Chepang, a nearby village, reads water ed. “So if we had stayed, we all would court decision yesterday. 13 years in prison on terrorism Thomson Reuters Foundation the impending disaster. levels and sends real-time data to the de- have died.” “The sentencing of MP charges that were widely seen Taduwa, Nepal “The Babai fl ood water level is con- partment’s fl ood forecasting team, who Chand said that although “fl oods still Qasim Ibrahim once again as politically motivated. stantly rising above the danger level — so use it as a basis for issuing alerts”. regularly wreak havoc across the coun- confi rms the lack of trans- He has lived in exile after please leave the area and fi nd another “When the Babai riverbank started to try, we have become much better at in- parency and independence of Maldives authorities gave him t was a simple text message that safe place nearby,” read the text from the overfl ow on August 12, we assessed that forming communities — through text Maldives’ judiciary, and the leave to travel to London for saved Shreejana Pariyar from being Nepalese government. the water would take about three hours alerts or fl ood sirens — about weather breakdown of the entire crimi- medical treatment. Iwashed to oblivion along with all her Heavy monsoon rains in Nepal have to reach Taduwa from Chepang, so we shocks and convincing them to evacuate worldly goods when fl ash fl oods devas- killed at least 141 people since they hit on sent text alerts to 50,000 users living in their homes.” tated western Nepal last week. August 12, according to the government, the area,” he added. While the government has been issu- A day after the Babai river fl ooded her with many still reported missing. The messages were sent through tele- ing text alerts ahead of fl oods since 2015, home in Taduwa village — carrying off With fl ood waters receding, aid work- com operators Nepal Telecom and Ncell, more people are now taking action and PM provides succour everything but the beds and leaving a ers voice rising concerns about food both of which had agreed to lend their leaving their homes, thanks to local ef- muddy mess in its wake — Pariyar deliv- shortages and water-borne diseases. messaging service to fl ood-hit areas for forts to raise awareness of potential dis- ered a baby son. Twenty seven of the country’s 75 dis- free, Chand explained. asters, he added. “I feel luck to be alive,” she told the tricts — including Bardiya district, where When Pariyar went home after the However, Bhandari from Practical Ac- Thomson Reuters Foundation, cradling Taduwa is located — were either sub- fl ood, the ground fl oor of her house was tion says the government needs to work her newborn on the porch of her home. merged or hit by landslides, leaving vil- covered with mud and “completely un- more with local authorities and NGOs “The water swept away food, clothes, lages and communities stranded without inhabitable”. to help people become more resilient to kitchen utensils and everything I kept food, water and electricity. It could all “So I spend day and night on my front such disasters in the long run. inside, apart from the beds,” she added. have been much worse. porch while I use the money my husband “Over the past years, thousands of Local charities say hundreds of lives More than 4,000 people were evacu- sends to hire workers to renovate the people have died due to fl oods or land- were saved, possibly thousands, thanks ated after a series of text alerts were sent house,” she said. slides but they could have been saved if to the mass government text alerts, by the Department of Hydrology and Chhetri said that Taduwa village was there were better coordination and time- which enabled people to fl ee before the Meteorology to 50,000 people living in “muddy everywhere”. “Maize and paddy ly communication between local and na- worst rains hit. the fl ood-prone Babai river area, said fi elds around the area were badly dam- tional authorities,” he said. Dinanath Bhandari, a programme co- Practical Action, a charity working in the aged and the fl ood swept away every- For now, families such as Putali Su- ordinator at Practical Action, said the area. thing people had kept inside.” nar’s who lost their home to the fl oods alerts had led to the evacuation of more Mangal Budha Chhetri, a local com- Sumitra Budhathoki, a mother of still worry about their future. than 4,700 people from their homes in munity leader who coordinated early three from Taduwa who also received the “I do not know how long we can sur- the Babai river basin. warning eff orts in Taduwa, said the text alerts, said her family initially hesitated vive from dry food — the only thing left With her husband away on a seasonal alerts saved 450 lives in his village alone. to leave “because the fl ood did not seem to eat,” she said. job in Saudi Arabia, Pariyar’s neighbours Bir Bahadur Chand, a hydrologist so bad in the beginning”. “We may be alive but we are afraid.”

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with a relative of one of the victims of the 2014 arson attacks. Strong Dhaka-Myanmar ties key to Rohingya issue: Annan

By Mizan Rahman eration that would benefi t both countries, to work together with Myanmar on these accordance with international standards Dhaka said the report. issues should be taken up urgently. and with assistance from international The Commission in its report said last “Myanmar and Bangladesh have dif- partners, it said. year has seen some eff orts to strengthen ferent narratives on the challenges along The commission noted that substantial 2.5mn Bangladesh n international commission on Ra- bilateral engagement. their shared border. Despite the large progress has been made since the interim khine State has said strong bilateral In September 2016, State Counsellor numbers who have fl ed from Myanmar report on security co-operation and bor- Arelations between Bangladesh and Aung San Suu Kyi and Bangladesh Prime to Bangladesh, the popular perception in der issues, including a clear willingness households ‘live in Myanmar are required in addressing the Minister Sheikh Hasina met at the UN Myanmar is that the problem is illegal im- to fi nalise the three MoUs, which will for- challenges being faced by Rohingya Mus- General Assembly in New York. migration into Myanmar,” said the report. malise a deepening of Myanmar-Bangla- lims. In June 2016, the Bangladesh Prime There are also diff erent historical narra- deshi security co-operation. extreme poverty’ The Commission, led by former UN Minister sent her Foreign Secretary Sha- tives about the origin of communities and The commission is of the opinion that chief Kofi Annan, made this observation in hidul Haque as her envoy to meet with their population growth. These diff erenc- this eff ort should be continued and in- its 63-page fi nal report made available in Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar capital es can only be narrowed by dialogue that tensifi ed, and the implementation of the By Mizan Rahman access to basic services and lim- Dhaka yesterday. Naypyitaw. promotes better mutual understanding, MoUs started as soon as possible. Dhaka ited economic opportunities. The governments of Myanmar and In January 2017, the Myanmar Minister both at the level of the country’s leaders The commission took note of the work “We’re working towards Bangladesh could actively encourage more of State for Foreign Aff airs U Kyaw Tin and people-to-people ties, it said. of the Joint Trade Commission and en- eliminating extreme poverty exchanges between civil society, think visited Dhaka, and in July 2017, Myanmar’s “Both countries have a clear mutual in- courages both governments to rapidly in- ome 2.5mn households completely from Bangladesh by tanks, academics and the private sector to National Security Adviser U Thaung Tun terest in cooperation. There are economic crease their bilateral trade. in Bangladesh live in ex- 2030 through a powerful com- promote mutual understanding and coop- also visited Bangladesh. opportunities from increased trade. The Members of Border Guard Bangladesh Streme poverty, according bination of direct and compli- eration, it said. “There is signifi cant scope to strength- fl ow of drugs needs to be stemmed. And, (BGB) sent back 146 Rohingyas on Thurs- to a non-government develop- mentary eff orts,” Brac said in its After one year of consultations held en the relationship through more regular, most crucially, joint action is required on day and yesterday as they attempted to ment organisation. Annual Report. across Rakhine State and in other parts of structured and substantive bilateral ex- security management of the border,” the enter Bangladesh amid the escalating ten- Bangladesh has reduced its The report in its ‘eliminating the country and the region, the Advisory changes,” said the commission in its re- report mentioned. sion in Myanmar’s Rakhine state following poverty level to 27% but the extreme poverty’ section said Commission submitted its fi nal report to port. The commission welcomed the ex- an attack by insurgents on 24 police posts challenge of extreme poverty people living in extreme pov- the President and State Counsellor of My- The report said the span of issues that pressed intention of the Myanmar govern- and an army base. still remains and women are erty are forced to make impos- anmar. both countries can cooperate on is wide ment to establish a joint commission with Over 87,000 Rohingyas have so far en- disproportionately aff ected, sible choices every single day It said events in one country have a pro- - infrastructure projects, trade promo- Bangladesh, as recommended in the com- tered Bangladesh following an outbreak of the Bangladeshj Rural Ad- about basic necessities such as found eff ect on the other, as demonstrated tion, the management of illegal migration, mission’s interim report, to discuss bilat- violence on October 9 last year in the Ra- vancement Committee (Brac) food, medicine, housing and by the thousands of Muslims from north- documentation of refugees and, volun- eral relations, challenges, and opportuni- khine State of Myanmar. said in its Annual Report 2016. education. “Extreme poverty ern Rakhine State who sought refuge in tary return of refugees, preventing human ties of mutual interest. Though the infl ux slowed down in late Pockets of extreme poverty is more than numbers. It’s the Bangladesh after the violence in late 2016. traffi cking and drug smuggling, climate The governments of Myanmar and February 2017, fresh arrivals from Myan- are particularly prevalent in the denial of dignity,” the report There are profound developmental and change, and security co-operation to Bangladesh should facilitate the volun- mar were reported in July this year, ac- hard-to- reach regions where said highlighting the challenges humanitarian needs on both sides of the combat violent extremism. tary return of refugees from Bangladesh cording to an assessment made by the In- often entire communities lack ahead. border, but also opportunities for co-op- It said existing off ers from Bangladesh to Myanmar through joint verifi cation, in ternational Organisation for Migration Gulf Times 14 Saturday, August 26, 2017 COMMENT

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

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] begins to crack Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Fax 44350474 To be shocked by the elimination of racial discrimination America has been “outed”. There is a foundations were there and continued (Cerd) over fears of ethnic or religious burgeoning self-awareness that the to be laid even during Obama’s warning is to have thought confl ict. country is now tarred with the brush leadership. of the US as a superior In the past decade, the committee of intolerance as indelibly as Africa is It is no coincidence that the rights has only issued six warnings. Those with that of ethnic warfare. most easily dislodged and taken back civilisation in the fi rst admonishments went to Burundi, Iraq, Those countries that receive – whether it is those of transgender place. The Trump-era Ivory Coast, Kyrgyzstan and Nigeria. rebukes from the UN over human members of the military or Muslim GULF TIMES Civilisations are undone in many rights – as you can see from the list US citizens of certain origins – are bigotry is not a blip ways, not all of them obvious. We of those warned before the US – those of minorities. Even in the UK, tend to think of decline along military don’t tend to be ones that developed it is no coincidence that the fi rst By Nesrine Malik or economic lines but it is actually problems overnight. What the jubilant spasm after the Brexit vote ‘Wind of change’? Guardian News & Media a nation’s culture, particularly in Trump era is graphically exposing is was manifested in a rise in hate crime. terms of equality, that determines its that America’s very public meltdown It is no coincidence that making civilisational credentials. America’s is an unravelling of issues that were America great again, or taking back here is a certain expectation, descent into what looks like a full on suppressed, deflected or denied for control, inevitably involves wanting European Union eyes a certain image that comes race crisis is graphically dragging it many years. This didn’t all happen to claw back whatever little space to mind of the country that down the “development” scale. in the eight months since Trump was ceded to diversity and equality. Treceives a rebuke from the became president. The pertinent This reclamation lies at the very heart Germany’s elections United Nations on human rights. One Countries that fact here is that it took only eight of the US and UK’s modern nation- in the south or the east, with a military months. building. dictatorship perhaps – a country that receive rebukes It took only eight months to go The UN cautioned that the Trump European Union offi cials off on their vacation this summer has a large oppressed religious or from a nation that voted for a black administration “should take the might be truly relaxing and unwinding for the fi rst time in ethnic minority, or has a poor record from the UN over president two terms in a row to one Cerd’s early warning very seriously the last few years partially because they seem set to enjoy of treating women as second-class that is suff ering from race riots and and rescind its decision to eviscerate citizens. Earlier this week, the US human rights don’t killings, with offi cials having to the mandates and budgets of US civil some welcome continuity when Germans go to the polls next joined those countries; that publicly send troops out on to the streets and rights institutions; end its attempt month. shamed stable of those that have tend to be ones declare a state of emergency. The to exclude white nationalism from That compares to August 2015, when Greece was on the incurred the wrath of the global speed with which it happened is the the federal government’s Countering brink of leaving the monetary union. human rights ombudsman. Inevitably, that developed clue that it was in fact happening all Violent Extremism programmes; it was due to race. along, unseen. And the fact that it was and end immigration and refugee Or last summer, which slammed Brussels with the bruising A UN committee charged with problems overnight lying in wait is an indicator of how policies based on anti-Muslim, anti- news of Brexit. tackling racism has issued an little racial equality is prized in the immigrant sentiment.” Trump’s tirades against free trade and the EU followed, and “early warning” over conditions Reality is closing in on the country’s United States’ DNA. But even that will not be enough. this spring was marked by nail-biting election campaigns in the US and urged the Trump exceptionalist self-perception. But to There is a reason why ostensibly The UN’s message is a good start administration to “unequivocally be shocked by this is to have thought developed countries, once faced with in formulating the language and in France and The Netherlands, where eurosceptic populists and unconditionally” reject of the US as a superior civilisation in adversity, a vacuum of authority or paradigm that sees discrimination seemed within a whisker of victory. discrimination. the fi rst place. questionable leadership, tend to fall not as an isolated phenomenon but But it seems that the tide has turned for the bloc. The warning specifi cally refers to Having picked the brief window in apart along the lines of race, LBGTQ fundamental to the infrastructure of Disaster was averted in The Hague and a europhile events in Charlottesville, Virginia, between Trump’s travel ban appeals – and women’s rights. It is because the country, in the same way as the where the civil rights activist Heather while the ban itself was still suspended in times of stability, when there is nation’s other inequalities. Race hate president has moved into the Elysee palace. Heyer was killed when a car crashed pending a court decision – I managed prosperity and rational leadership, is not a temporary blip or hysteria that The EU economy has been steadily growing and into a group of people protesting to secure a visa to the US and travelled the promotion and enshrining of has come to pass because of a freak unemployment is falling. against a white nationalist rally. to the east and west coasts. Even the rights of the more vulnerable election or referendum. The only way More importantly for eurocrat nerves though: German Such statements are usually among some Trump supporters, it was is cosmetic at best, undermined forward is to remember that when the issued by the UN committee on the clear to me that there is a sense that and papered over at worst. The good are in power. Chancellor Angela Merkel and her Christian Democrats are leading in the polls, and look likely to secure a fourth term, meaning no recalibration of German policy is likely anytime soon. Even if there was a surprise upset, her main contender, Martin Schulz, the head of Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) and former president of the European parliament, is considered a friend, not a foe, of the EU. But, even amid that continuity, there is speculation. Will the next German government emulate the new French President Emmanuel Macron, who is championing No recalibration change at EU institutions, or will it keep on with the of German Angela Merkel’s reactive, rather than proactive, policy is likely leadership style? anytime soon Mustafa Rahman, who analyses European politics and political economy for the Eurasia group, says that Merkel’s choice of junior coalition partner could determine the speed and choice of reforms in Brussels, especially if the Finance Ministry were ceded to another party. If Merkel was set on tackling legacy projects at EU level and do more in Europe, “a grand coalition with the SPD would allow her to straddle the centre ground and get legislation through with a comfortable majority,” says Rahman. But he says Merkel might not be able to resist a coalition with “more ideological coherence,” such as the Liberal Democrats (FDP).Rahman says a “repurposing” of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM), the EU’s rescue fund, could be feasible after the Civilisations are undone in many ways, not all of them obvious. Flowers, candles and other items are placed in memory of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville. election. Questions as to whether the ESM should acquire the ability to undertake debt management, fi scal surveillance and take on an IMF-like role will be at the heart of the discussion, he says. Germany has been hesitant to go this route so far, but How large is alt-right’s audience? Macron has hinted it is something he would push for. But when it comes to calls from the US, France and the By Thomas J Main Mike Enoch of the Right Stuff , Brad the nine-month period I studied. visits, 2.4mn unique visitors), the New Los Angeles Times Griffi n (also known as Hunter Wallace) The total audience for alt-right Republic (3.8mn visits, 2.2mn unique commission for Germany to tackle its trade surplus and of Occidental Dissent, Jared Taylor political sites is much smaller than visitors), and National Review (nearly hike investment spending in order to support a more robust of American Renaissance and James the audiences for mainstream left 10mn visits, 4.2mn unique visitors), recovery in the entire eurozone, hopes for change after nquiring minds want to know: Kirkpatrick of VDARE (named after and right sites. The nine alt-right all well-established magazines, were September might be misplaced, cautions Guntram Wolff , the What exactly is the “alt-right,” Virginia Dare, the fi rst white child sites combined received nearly 3mn far larger than that of the combined and how large is the audience for born in America). visits and 839,000 unique visitors, alt-right. director of Bruegel, a think tank focusing on economic policy. the movement? The exact size of the alt-right is compared with 236mn visits and The picture changes substantially, “The experience of the last years shows that Germany has I The essence of the alt-right can perhaps not of the utmost importance. 102mn unique visitors for the however, if we stretch the defi nition been cautious to change the status quo,” he says. be distilled to this catchphrase: All As an ideological movement, the mainstream left, and 264mn visits of an alt-right site to include Breitbart “That is the natural instinct, and overcoming that logic people are not created equal. That’s alt-right seeks not immediate policy and 111mn unique visitors for the News. My sources did not classify even more extreme than it may sound. or electoral victories, but longer-term mainstream right. it as such and the site does not will be diffi cult, even if Merkel was committed to going in Prominent alt-right thinkers don’t infl uence on how others think about But these numbers are less explicitly reject political equality Macron’s direction.” only believe that some are naturally politics. Still, it’s possible to get a comforting than they may seem. as the alt-right does. But former And while Schulz has been trying to seize the Macron taller, stronger or smarter than others, sense of the scope of this netherworld The coarsely racist Daily Stormer Breitbart editor Stephen K Bannon moment by pledging to increase public spending, Wolff but also that some groups are more through web traffi c. received 997,000 visits and 284,000 once declared that his publication was deserving of political status than From September 2016 to May 2017, unique visitors. In so doing, it drew a “the platform for the alt-right” and reckons the proposed hikes are not signifi cantly diff erent others. They reject the concept of I analysed visits and unique visitors larger audience than the sites for such its incendiary populism is very much from what the Christian Democrats are suggesting. equality before the law. to scores of political web magazines longstanding mainstream magazines in the movement’s style. At 85.4mn Andrew Anglin is editor of the most of various political orientations. as the Washington Monthly (766,000 visits and 24mn unique visitors, it popular alt-right web magazine, the (One person accessing a site fi ve visits, 259 thousand unique visitors) operates in a diff erent league not only To Advertise Daily Stormer. He has written that times in a month represents fi ve and Commentary (594,000 visits, from the Daily Stormer, but from most “The Alt-Right does not accept the visits but only one unique visitor.) 268,000 unique visitors). tradition left- and right-wing political [email protected] pseudo-scientifi c claims that ‘all Through interviews and using the American Renaissance (497,000 publications. Display races are equal.’” He also supports site Media Bias / Fact Check, I visits, 158,000 unique visitors) and The anti-democratic alt-right has Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 repatriation of American blacks to identifi ed nine alt-right sites, 53 VDARE (427,000 visits, 132,000 arrived and established a toehold in Africa or “autonomous territory” sites associated with the mainstream unique visitors) both had larger our political discourse. That is the real Classified within the US. right, and 63 with the mainstream audiences than the sites of the matter of concern. - Tribune News Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 Not all alt-right thinkers are so left. I excluded left- or right-leaning familiar leftist magazines Dissent Service radical in their aims, but they all general-interest publications, such (193,000 visits, 82,000 unique Subscription believe in some form of race-based as BuzzFeed, the New York Times or visitors monthly) and the Progressive zThomas J Main is a professor at the [email protected] political inegalitarianism. The unequal the Wall Street Journal. Data were (142,000 visits, 64,000 unique Austin W. Marxe School of Public and brigade includes in its ranks editors obtained from SimilarWeb, a well- visitors). International Aff airs of Baruch College, of and regular contributors to many known provider of web-marketing Of course, traditional intellectual City University of New York. His 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved alt-right web magazines, including information. All audience fi gures elites have not been overthrown. book The Rise of the Alt-Right will be Richard Spencer of Radix Journal, given here are monthly averages for The audiences for the Nation (4.3mn published in the spring of 2018. Gulf Times Saturday, August 26, 2017 15 COMMENT Driverless cars vs rules written for drivers

By Ryan Beene the Rand report said. In addition Bloomberg News to technical challenges, the Rand report said that reaching a consensus on new rules will be diffi cult with hen the US government so many companies, consumer fi nally got around to groups and private citizens who will regulating auto safety be aff ected by autonomous cars. Win 1967, it insisted that NHTSA recently updated its new every car have seatbelts and that the car safety ratings to show if a vehicle steering column be engineered to is equipped with crash prevention absorb impact so it wouldn’t spear the systems such as automatic braking. driver. But the performance of those systems The safety rulebook has since is not evaluated, in part because of swelled to nearly 900 pages and disagreements about how that should encompasses everything from be done, the report said. electronic stability control to rear- NHTSA plans to release updated view backup cameras. Through all guidance for safe deployment the updates, however, the regulations of highly automated vehicles in remain premised on an assumption September. The nonbinding guidance that may soon be obsolete: that a was initially released by the Obama human would be at the wheel. administration last September and That’s about to change. US was the federal government’s fi rst regulators could soon undertake one attempt to provide some basic safety of the biggest overhauls of the Federal guidelines for autonomous vehicles Motor Vehicle Safety Standards ever, without prescribing new regulations one that would apply to cars that drive that could stifl e innovation. themselves. Tech and auto companies Safety advocate and former NHTSA are pouring billions of dollars into a Administrator Joan Claybrook agrees race to develop self-driving vehicles, that the task will be very complicated. which carmakers from Tesla Inc to The agency could opt to amend each Volvo Cars say could be deployed A Google self-driving car travels eastbound on San Antonio Road in Mountain View, California, in an October 2015 file image. problematic standard through the in less than 10 years - assuming the notice-and-comment rulemaking regulations can be put in place that in place. Car companies would also while the formal regulations take for autonomous vehicles that stuck But it pointed out some intractable process that can take years. It quickly. like to have some reassurance that shape. to conventional designs. Indeed, obstacles, such as a requirement could also amend groups of related “The basic problem here is one what they’re doing is approved by The bill sends the signal that Alphabet Inc’s Waymo LLC self- that cars have brakes that “shall be standards at once, or craft separate we’ve seen in a lot of industries: the National Highway Traffi c Safety “NHTSA needs to start planning and driving car unit is already off ering activated by means of foot control.” standards for so-called Level 4 and the technology moves a lot quicker Administration before venturing too take stock of what needs to be done,” rides to residents of Phoenix in its Moreover, rules governing vehicle 5 highly automated vehicles that can than the regulation,” said Elliot far into the unknown. said Tim Goodman, an attorney at fl eet of self-driving Chrysler Pacifi ca testing will have to be modifi ed. A drive themselves without human Katz, a partner at McGuireWoods A group of automakers and other law fi rm Babst, Calland, Clements minivans, with company testers in the 2016 report by the Rand Corp found intervention of any kind. LLP who chairs the fi rm’s connected groups called the Coalition for Future and Zomnir PC in Washington and a driver seat. that autonomous safety will need to Claybrook also said the NHTSA and automated vehicle practice. Mobility issued a statement on July 13 former NHTSA attorney. Yet the report found more than be evaluated based on how the array lacks the budget and technical staff “Unfortunately, the rulemaking urging Congress to direct NHTSA to NHTSA didn’t provide a comment. 30 standards that could present of sensors and artifi cial intelligence to craft new rules for autonomous process is not a short one, not a cheap begin work on writing the driver out of Nearly half of the 73 safety a compliance problem for fully- computers safely responds to the cars in anything less than fi ve years. one and is nothing short of labour new car designs. standards on the books now make autonomous vehicles with no human environment surrounding a car. Goodman and others estimated it intensive.” Legislation advanced by a House an explicit or implied reference controls or with novel seating Testing that spans the full range could take as long as seven years to a That’s why automakers have been committee weeks later would direct to a human driver, according to a arrangements. of conditions drivers encounter decade to establish safety standards pressing the agency to get the process the NHTSA to update its auto safety 2016 study by the Volpe National For example, NHTSA sent a letter on the road will be necessary and for fully self-driving cars. underway as soon as possible. While standards. The bill would also allow Transportation Systems Center, a last year to the head of Google’s “extremely challenging and likely to “I don’t think that’s even been limited road testing is permitted today, automakers to roll out more self- research arm of the US Transportation self-driving car project saying the be a signifi cant barrier to deploying” thought through at NHTSA,” she mass production of the vehicles will driving vehicles under expanded Department. agency would consider the company’s autonomous vehicles without fi rst said. “It’s still technically very require the new regulations to be exemptions from some safety rules The report found few barriers artifi cial intelligence to be a driver. gaining additional experience, complicated.” - Tribune News Service

LEGAL HELPLINE Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY High: 39 C Shareholder has right to attend general assembly Low : 32 C Inshore: Hazy to misty at places at first becomes hot daytime and humid by night. Dr Nizar Kochery otherwise withholds testimony performance of their work. According the rule, the lease deed is to be Doha without any valid reason for such to Article 100 of Qatar Labour Law, the registered for fi ling a case for refusal shall be punished with employer shall take all precautionary non-payment of rent and eviction SUNDAY imprisonment for a term not exceeding measures for protecting the workers of tenant. So, if the premises is sub- High: 38 C uestion: I hold 2% shares six months or a fi ne not exceeding during the work from any injury or leased then how the registration Low: 32 C in a company and most QR3,000 or both. Such witness shall disease that may result from the work to be made? Is it possible through Sunny of the decisions are taken be exempted from punishment, if he/ performed in his establishment or from registering the sub-lease contract? without considering my she appear prior to the issuance of any accident, defect or breakdown in Please advise Q MONDAY opinions by the working partners. judgment in subject matter. the machinery and equipment therein YI, Doha Even in the general assembly, I or from fi re. The employer shall not High: 39 C have no right to discuss matters. burden the worker with or deduct A: Lease agreements should be Low: 33 C Does the company law specify Safety measures from his wage any sum in return for his registered by the landlord at the Sunny any minimum shareholding for for workers providing precautionary safety means. Offi ce for Registration of Lease attending the general assembly and If the employer failed to take the Contracts at the Ministry of to discuss the issues related to the Q: Who is responsible for the precautionary measures in case of Municipal Aff airs and Agriculture. Fishermen’s forecast company? Please advise. safety measures as per the Labour imminent dangers threatening the The lease contract must be registered OFFSHORE DOHA UJ, Doha Law? Can the employer deduct the health or safety of the workers, the in order for the landlord to be able to Wind: SE-NE 03-12/15 KT expenses for the safety equipment ministry may issue a decision for bring a claim in respect of the lease Waves: 1-3/4 Feet Answer: Each shareholder shall have as it is not mentioned in the the partial or total closure of the agreement before the Rental Dispute INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 05-15 KT votes proportionate to shares held employment contract? What place of work or stoppage of one or Settlement Committee or court. The Waves: 1-2/3 Feet or represented by them and have the will be the eff ect if the company more machines from work pending registration offi ce shall charge an right to attend the general assembly refused to take care of the safety the elimination of the causes of the annual registration fee of 1% of the Around the region irrespective of the number of shares precautions as per the law? Please danger. In such case, the employer annual rental value of the premises, Weather Weather held. As per Article 132 of the company advise. shall undertake to pay the wages of to be paid by the landlord. As the today Max/min tomorrow Max/min law, every shareholder has the right to IN, Doha the workers in full during the period of contract with the tenant is sub- Abu Dhabi Sunny 39/32 Sunny 41/33 discuss the issues listed in the general closure or suspension. lease of the premises, the main lease Baghdad Sunny 46/27 Sunny 45/27 Dubai assembly’s agenda and to submit A: The employer or his representative contract registration is mandatory Sunny 39/32 Sunny 43/32 Kuwait City Sunny 44/31 Sunny 42/28 questions to the members of the board shall, on the commencement of every Registration of for the registration of the sub-lease Manama Sunny 39/33 Sunny 40/33 of directors, and the members of the worker’s engagement, inform him agreement. Muscat Sunny 34/28 Sunny 34/27 board of directors should answer the of the hazards of the work and shall lease contract Riyadh Sunny 43/28 Sunny 43/28 questions as long as this does not inform him of the safety measures zPlease send your questions by Tehran Sunny 33/21 Sunny 32/21 infl ict any damage to the company’s to be taken for the protection during Q: It was advised that as per e-mail to: [email protected] interests. The shareholder has the right to appeal to the general assembly if he sees that the response to his question LEGAL SYSTEM IN QATAR was insuffi cient, and the execution of the general assembly’s decision is According to Article 256 of the with imprisonment for a term not obligatory. Penal laws, whoever commits the exceeding one year and a fi ne not following acts shall be punished exceeding QR1,000. The same with imprisonment for a term penalty shall be imposed on any Witness attending not exceeding seven years: (1) person who uses disks, computer court hearing insulting Allah through writing, programs or magnetised tapes drawing, gesturing or in any other to off end Islam or other divine Q: I am facing a criminal action in way or through any other means; religions according to the dictates a matter where I am completely (2) off ending, misinterpreting of Islamic law. innocent. To prove my innocence, or violating the Holy Qur’an; (3) Whoever infringes or violates I have witnesses. How do I get off ending the Islamic religion or the sanctity and sacredness of the the witnesses to the court? If any of its rites and dictates; (4) dead or the remains of a corpse, or the witnesses refuse to stand as cursing any of the divine religions the place destined for burying the witness in the court, what is legal according to the regulations of dead, preserving their remains or procedure for me to get relief? Islamic law; (5) insulting any of exceeding fi ve years. 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Beirut Sunny 31/27 Sunny 31/26 S T Storms 32/26 hearing without an announcement, at perform religious rites for one of indirectly, from a person or an According to Article 267, any Bangkok 33/26 T Storms Berlin Cloudy 23/16 P Cloudy 23/13 the request of the parties. According to the divine religions according to association, whether inside or person who publicly eats or drinks Cairo Sunny 38/25 P Cloudy 37/25 Article 200 of the criminal procedure the regulations of Islamic law. outside the state, with the aim during a day of Ramadan shall be Cape Town Sunny 19/14 Sunny 24/14 code, if the witness fails to appear Whoever opposes or doubts of committing any of the acts punished with imprisonment for a Colombo S T Storms 29/26 Showers 29/26 before the court, after summoning him any of the basics or principles of mentioned above in article shall be term not exceeding three months Dhaka T Storms 32/26 Showers 32/26 Hong Kong P Cloudy 33/28 H Rain 30/28 in accordance with the law, the court Islam, or calls upon, or favours punished with imprisonment for a or with a fi ne not exceeding Istanbul P Cloudy 27/22 Cloudy 28/21 may postpone the case to reissue the or promotes another religion, term not exceeding three years. QR3,000 or with both penalties. Jakarta P Cloudy 35/24 P Cloudy 35/25 summon, or order to arrest and bring cult or concept shall be punished According to Article 263, anyone Any person who abducts a Karachi Cloudy 31/27 M Sunny 32/27 him before the court. If the witness with imprisonment for a term not who produces, sells, exposes for newborn child from his legitimate London P Cloudy 24/13 P Cloudy 25/14 Manila T Storms S T Storms 33/26 fails to attend for the second time or exceeding fi ve years. sale or circulation, or possesses guardian, conceals him or 31/25 Moscow Showers 21/09 M Cloudy 18/08 to take the oath or testify without an As per Article 260, any products, merchandise, prints substitutes another for him, or New Delhi S T Storms 32/27 S T Storms 32/26 admissible reason, the court may, after person who holds a meeting or tapes, including drawings, falsely attributes him to other New York Sunny 26/17 M Sunny 25/17 hearing the statements of the Public for the purpose of opposing or slogans, words, symbols, signals than his legitimate parent, shall Paris P Cloudy 30/18 P Cloudy 29/17 Prosecution, make him subject to the challenging the principles of or anything else that may off end be punished with imprisonment Sao Paulo P Cloudy 24/12 Sunny 25/12 Seoul M Sunny 28/17 P Cloudy 27/19 provision of Article 179 of the Penal Islam or promoting another the Islamic religion or other divine for a term not exceeding three Singapore S T Storms 31/26 S T Storms 29/26 Code. religion shall be punished with religions according to the dictates years or with a fi ne not exceeding Sydney Sunny 19/08 S Showers 17/06 As per Article 179, if the witness imprisonment for a term not of Islamic law, shall be punished QR10,000 or with both penalties. Tokyo Clear 33/27 Cloudy 30/23 refused to appear, take oath or Gulf Times 16 Saturday, August 26, 2017 QATAR Saudi blacklisted by UN for Yemen civilian crisis

By the Editorial Board Saudis privately campaigning to keep its coalition The New York Times off the UN list of armies that kill and maim children Blockade by the Saudi-led coalition since 2015 has he Saudi-led coali- tion waging a bombing reduced humanitarian aid to a trickle in Yemen Tcampaign in Yemen has once again been named in a United Arab Emirates) did be- United Nations draft report as long on the list. the major culprit in the deaths That should have put Saudi and injuries of children in Arabia on notice. But leaked that war-ravaged Arab state. drafts of a report for 2016 by The Saudis are already said to the special representative be privately campaigning to for children and armed con- change the report and keep its flict, Virginia Gamba, who coalition off the list of armies was named by Ban’s succes- that kill and maim children. sor, António Guterres, said Last year they succeeded. the coalition was responsible That should not be allowed to for more than half of child happen again. casualties and three-quarters The civil war that has en- of the attacks on schools and gulfed Yemen, one of the Arab hospitals in Yemen last year. world’s poorest countries, for The rebels, Al Qaeda and ISIS, almost three years has created which are also embroiled in one of the worst humanitari- the conflict, were held re- an crises on the globe. Almost sponsible for the rest. 3mn Yemenis are internally The civil war, which osten- displaced; the numbers of sibly pits the government of Yemenis stand in the rubble of a house destroyed in an air strike in the residential Faj Attan district. acutely malnourished chil- President Abd-Rabbu Man- dren and people in dire need sour Hadi against Houthi of food assistance are the rebels, is a tangle of religious highest in the world; health and tribal rivalries, in which services have been devas- no side is innocent of atroci- tated; and a cholera epidemic ties. Saudi Arabia’s main mo- has killed nearly 2,000 people tive for joining the fighting and infected more than half a was to prop up a Sunni gov- million in just three months. ernment against what it saw Yet a blockade by the Saudi- as an Iran-backed assault by led coalition since 2015 has Shia rebels. reduced humanitarian aid to But the war is at a stalemate, a trickle. and the Saudi coalition — and And there’s the bombing. its American enablers, who Since the Saudi coalition en- provide military equipment, tered the fray in March 2015 A Yemeni boy reacts as he sits on the debris of a house hit in by aerial refuelling and targeting to push back Houthi rebels air strike in Sanaa. — simply cannot be allowed and restore the internationally to continue killing civilians recognised government, more the United Nations reported nancing from major humani- and destroying what little is than 7,600 people have been that at least 30 civilians had tarian operations, and Ban Ki- left of Yemen. That is why it is killed and 42,000 wounded, been killed in Saudi bombing moon, then secretary-general, imperative to publicly identify most of them in coalition air runs around Sanaa. reluctantly struck the coali- the unconscionable slaughter strikes. Saudi Arabia insists Last year, threatened with tion off the list. But he made of innocents for what it is, and its planes avoid civilian tar- inclusion on the United Na- the episode public, effectively to hope that this will shame gets, but hospitals, schools tions blacklist of forces that acknowledging that the coali- Saudi Arabia and its American and other civilian sites have harm children, Saudi Arabia tion (which includes Bahrain, backers to search for a humane been struck. On Wednesday, threatened to withhold fi- Egypt, Kuwait, Sudan and the end to Yemen’s hell. People carry the body of a woman killed by a Saudi-led air strike in Sanaa.

Nepalese expats host event Qatar’s home-based to pledge support for Qatar enterprises get a boost

By Usha Wagle Gautam Nepalese community in Qatar. Doha School students Sandhya from summer market Sharma and Kamala Chaulagain recited poems on Qatar. n behalf of the nearly Nepalese community leader By Joey Aguilar 450,000-strong Nepa- Sagar Nepal reiterated that the Staff Reporter Olese expatriate com- sanctions imposed on Qatar are munity in the country, a well- unjust and said the programme attended event was hosted in was organised to exhort the ome-based businesses Doha to express solidarity with blockading countries to lift the in the country are get- Qatar. The event, under the slo- sanctions. He thanked Qatar for Hting a further boost with gan “We love Qatar, We support providing secure and rewarding the ‘Made in Qatar Food Market,’ Qatar, We are in Qatar, and Qatar jobs to Nepalese brothers and which provides a platform to is our Second Home,” was held sisters who support their fami- promote and showcase locally- on Thursday. lies and the country. produced food items, it is learnt. Rashid al-Dehaimi, assistant Entrepreneur R K Sharma The exhibition highlights the director of Asian Department praised the contribution made products of 10 Qatari-owned at Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign by the Qatari state towards the enterprises at stalls installed at Aff airs was the chief guest and Nepalese workers, and stated the Mall of Qatar (MoQ). Speak- Fahad Saleem al-Marri, from that Non Resident Nepalese As- ing to Gulf Times, a number of the Asian Department, was the sociation (NRNA) — a global employees who witnessed how A baker teaches children how to make and decorate cakes. guest of honour. Representatives organisation of non-resident these businesses started their PICTURES: Joey Aguilar from Bangladeshi, Indian, Pa- Nepalis — stands with Qatar in operations, said exhibitions such kistani, Sri Lankan and Filipino the ongoing Gulf crisis. Entre- as the food market have sig- tional Airport, The Pearl Qatar, give customers a chance to ex- communities also participated preneur Raj Regmi said the de- nifi cantly helped in establishing and Souq Waqif in Doha. press their solidarity with Qatar in the programme chaired by Dr Fahad Saleem al-Marri speaking at the community get-together. mands put forward by blockad- rapport with potential and new The employee said they im- and its wise leadership by writ- Dev Kaji Dangol, chairman of ing countries were unjustifi ed customers. port some of the raw ingredients ing messages of love, loyalty, and Nepalese Community in Doha. and the Nepalese community “If earlier our products could from Kuwait and produce a wide patriotism. At the outset, the participants stands by the Qatari govern- only be seen on Instagram and range of fl avoured popcorns The exhibition, which also said they do not tolerate any ment. other social media channels, in Qatar, including caramel, forms part of the mall’s summer encroachment on Qatar’s sov- Community leader Narendra now they have become more ap- cheese, strawberry ice nutela, festival activities, was organised ereignty by the blockading na- Bhatt praised Qatar for being the pealing to customers as they are and oreo, among others. Some of to show its support to Qatar and tions. The participants signed fi rst Arab country to be hosting on display at our stall,” said an the outlets at the summer food His Highness the Emir Sheikh on a banner with a portrait of the prestigious FIFA World Cup. employee of Gâteaux de Can- market include ND Choco Color, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani His Highness the Emir Sheikh Community leader Binesh nelle in Qatar. Goody Maker, Aldar Café, La- amid the ongoing economic Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to Tamang said that the Nepalese The outlet sells a variety of zaza, and Ninety-Four. blockade. The event which start- declare their solidarity with Qa- people will always be on the home-made food such as cinna- A stall, which sells an array of ed in early July will conclude on tar. side of Qatar. Another leader mon rolls and breads, and cakes, authentic Arabic food and prod- September 10. The programme began with T B Karki praised Qatar for its among others. After taking part ucts, has been attracting many a recitation of the Holy Qur’an, beauty and peace-loving nature. in a number of exhibitions, she customers, mostly visitors from and the playing of national an- Delegates from Bangladeshi, In- noted that they started getting Oman and Kuwait. thems of Qatar and Nepal. Art- dian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and an increasing number of orders “The presentation is very ist Ramesh Shrestha, a council Filipino communities called Qa- both from regular and new cus- much appealing to me and the member of Nepal Academy of tar their “second home”. tomers. An employee of another food looks so authentic and de- Fine Arts and head of Depart- Fahad al-Marri thanked the stall, Let’s Popcorn, shared the licious, it is much diff erent from ment of Painting, live painted Nepalese community for host- same view saying that people the rest,” said a customer from a portrait of His Highness the ing the programme to show their in Qatar are keen in patronising Oman, adding that he is looking Emir, which was later handed support to Qatar. He said Qatar home-made Qatari products. forward to see similar events and over to al-Dehaimi. A section of the audience at the event. and Nepal have a very strong re- Citing the advantages of par- more stalls in the future. On his fi rst visit to Qatar, lationship and the event made it ticipating in such exhibitions and ND Choco Color off ers sweets Shrestha expressed his hap- environment. Another worker, ed by Shiba Raj Gautam. The even stronger. “The Qatari gov- events like the food market, she made of marshmallows topped piness to join the Nepali com- Ragunath Sharma, came on production featured visuals of ernment is always there to sup- said displaying their products at with chocolates and other ingre- munity of Qatar. In a live per- stage with an apron and a bucket offi cial meetings and high-level port Nepalese and other com- locations such as MoQ reinforces dients. It also serves chips with formance, construction worker of paint to thank Qatar for pro- visits made by representatives munities,” the offi cial added. their promotion on social media. cheese. Iswor Raj Adhikari praised Qa- moting him to a managerial post. of the both countries and the The programme was hosted by From a small enterprise, Let’s Organisers also set up a mu- Let’s Popcorn showcases some tar, which provided him with a A short documentary on Nepal- social service and philanthrop- Bijaya Raj Adhikari, a journalist, Popcorn now has three branches rals of the famous ‘Tamim Al of its products at MoQ’s food secure and rewarding working Qatar relationship was present- ic activities carried out by the writer and anchor. in Qatar: at the Hamad Interna- Majd’ image at the exhibition to market.