BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Qatar to play for pride as INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 16 COMMENT 14, 15 China look REGION 3 BUSINESS 1-6, 9-12 21,932.00 8,800.56 47.41 ARAB WORLD 3 CLASSIFIED 7-9 ‘Infrastructure projects -48.00 -58.34 +0.12 INTERNATIONAL 4-13 SPORTS 1-8 for a miracle -0.22% -0.66% +0.25% to trigger local demand’ Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10567 September 5, 2017 Dhul-Hijja 14, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Residents reiterate support to Emir

In brief

ARAB WORLD | Confl ict Two Russian soldiers killed in east Syria Two Russian soldiers have been killed by artillery fire from the Islamic State group in Syria’s eastern province of Deir Ezzor, where the army is battling militants, Russia’s defence ministry said yesterday. One serviceman was killed instantly and a second died from his wounds in hospital, according to a ministry statement quoted by Russian news agencies. The soldiers were travelling with a convoy that was hit by “mortar fire from IS terrorists”, according to the ministry. Moscow announced earlier yesterday that it was providing support to Syrian government forces in their push to take Deir Ezzor, one of the last remaining cities controlled by the militants. Russia intervened in Syria’s six-year- old civil war in September 2015 on the side of President Bashar al-Assad’s government, and has conducted thousands of air strikes against targets it labels as “terrorists”. A new giant billboard with portraits of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was installed beside Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani Majlis at Gharrafa yesterday. The site was visited among others by prominent Qatari entrepreneur Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim al-Thani and Dr Sheikh Mohamed bin Hamad al-Thani, director of Public Health at the Ministry of Public Health. A AMERICA | Immigration large number of the country’s residents expressed their support for the Emir as well as the nation on the occasion. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam NY vows to sue Trump over deportation move New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state’s attorney general yesterday vowed to sue President Donald Trump if he scraps a programme shielding from deportation Emir to attend immigrants who came to the United States illegally as children. Reuters Qatar hopeful of reported Trump plans to announce today he will end the programme but will give the US Congress six months Hamad Port to craft legislation to replace it, citing sources familiar with the situation said. Cuomo said “the president’s action greater success at would upend the lives of hundreds of thousands of young people who have opening today only ever called America their home.”

ASIA | Tragedy zThe port is located in containers, including 2mn containers 49 children die at hospital Mesaieed and is the largest per year within the port’s fi rst phase of Tokyo Olympics of its kind in the Middle operation. During the fi rst half of this due to lack of oxygen year, Qatar ports received up to 470,000 At least 49 children died at a state-run East tonnes of general cargo, about 407,000 hospital in northern India allegedly QNA selected according to specifi c criteria.” of livestock, 449,000 tonnes of build- due to lack of medicine or oxygen. Doha Sheikh Joaan said the programme is he Hamad Port in the Umm Al ing materials and more than 400,000 Following a preliminary inquiry, open to all federations, provided that Houl area south of Doha will be tonnes of equipment and vehicles. Farrukhabad district magistrate the athlete attains certain level in order Toffi cially offi cial opened today in Qatar Ports Management Company Ravindra Kumar as well two top resident of Qatar Olympic Com- to be included in this programme. the presence of His Highness the Emir (Mwani Qatar) has expanded its mari- hospital doctors were transferred mittee (QOC) HE Sheikh Joaan He added that the programme cur- Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. time network by launching several di- from their positions and a probe Pbin Hamad al-Thani has praised rently includes Mutaz Barshim in ath- It will launch a new phase in the his- rect shipping lines between the Hamad was ordered, the government beIN network TV Channels winning letics, the Qatar equestrian team, and tory of Qatar, the Qatar News Agency Port and a number of ports in the region announced. “A high-level team will the rights to broadcast three upcoming shooting, as Qatar has very distinctive said yesterday. and beyond with competitive transit to be sent to investigate the incident Olympic Games, noting that the net- shooters such as Nasser Saleh al-At- The launching event constitutes an provide fast and secure solutions to ex- so the real cause behind the deaths work deserves this win. tiyah, Rashid al-Athba and “there are advanced step towards boosting the porters and suppliers from around the can be determined,” a government In an interview with the new Olym- young shooters who have great ambi- country’s economic and trade move- world. spokesman said on Twitter. Parents pic beIN network HE Sheikh Joaan said tions in order to reach the same level ment in line with the objectives of Qa- The new routes connect Qatar have complained that their children that since the start of its launch, the reached by Nasser and Rashid. This tar National Vision 2030. ports to Sohar and Salalah ports in died due to suff ocation. More than 60 beIN sports has had great co-operation creates legitimate competition among Hamad Port is Qatar’s largest ac- Oman, Shuwaikh Port in Kuwait, Ka- children died at the Baba Raghav Das with the Qatar Olympic Committee shooters, and legitimate competition cess to the sea and is a gateway to rachi Port in Pakistan, Izmir Port in College in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and there is an active partnership be- HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani within federations creates a good spirit more than 150 destinations around Turkey, and Mundra and Nava Shiva in a much shorter time period — five tween the Qatar Olympic Committee that enables them to achieve results the world, providing the country with ports in India. days — due to complications resulting and the network and this co-operation Sheikh Joaan expressed the hope that and achievements at the global, conti- complete independence in its import Emphasising the economic impor- from premature delivery, various will continue in the future as the net- Qatar’s participation in Tokyo 2020 nental and regional levels.” and export of goods to various conti- tance of Hamad Port, a contract was diseases such as encephalitis and work continues to excel. would be greater than Rio 2016. On the co-operation between the In- nents. It is the newest among the six signed for the design and construction alleged shortage of oxygen. Page 9 He referred to the participation in He said after the end of the Rio 2016 ternational Olympic Committee (IOC) ports extending along the country’s of the premises and food security fa- the 2016 Rio Olympics as good where “we sat down with the federations to and the Qatar Olympic Committee, coasts — Doha, Mesaieed, Haloul, Ras cilities at the port at a cost of QR1.6bn. AFRICA | Politics Qatar sent 38 athletes in various com- assess our participation in 2016. We Sheikh Joaan said: “Co-operation with Laff an and Ruwais. The project will be developed and petitions including swimming, hand- came up with a new idea, the elite pro- the IOC and other committees in the The port is located in the city of Me- constructed on a 53-hectare area Kenya to hold fresh ball, weightlifting, high jump and gramme, which is for the players whom world is an eff ective co-operation.” saieed south of Doha and is the largest (530,000sqm) with facilities for the election on October 17 equestrian, and result was the achieve- the Qatar Olympic Committee sees as An agreement was recently signed of its kind in the Middle East. It has the manufacturing, conversion, and refi n- Kenya will hold a re-run of its ment of Qatari Olympic champion Mu- distinguished and can provide good between the Qatar Olympic Committee capacity to receive all types of ships and ing of rice, raw sugar, and edible oils. presidential election on October 17, taz Barshim winning the silver medal results for the sport with excellent re- and the International Olympic Com- vessels of various sizes and weights. These products will be available for after the result of last month’s poll was in Qatar’s biggest participation in the sults in all competitions. We have de- mittee, which will be announced in The $7.4bn port covers a total area of local, regional, and international use. annulled due to fraud, the electoral Olympic Games and “we look forward veloped methods to support them; the Lima, the capital of Peru, soon, Sheikh 28.5sq km and has a general cargo ter- The project also includes storage si- commission said yesterday. Page 4 to better results in the future.” programme includes fi ve federations Joaan noted. To Page 16 minal with a capacity of 1.7mn tonnes los along with its infrastructure and per year and a grain plant with a capac- transport equipment, in addition to the ity of 1mn tonnes per year. construction of infrastructure that has It has stations to receive livestock the equipment for handling, process- and coastal security vessels, a customs ing, packing, reloading, and transport inspection area, a 110m observation related to the project. Saudi should fund Yemen humanitarian aid: UN tower, a ship inspection platform, mul- HE the Minister of Transport and tiple marine facilities and administra- Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed Reuters Programme, were unusually forthright At least 10,000 people have been Houthi movement, which seized control tive buildings, and a number of other al-Sulaiti said Hamad Port’s food se- Addis Ababa for such a UN offi cial in criticising one killed in the war while widespread hun- of the capital Sanaa in 2015 and contin- facilities such as warehouses, mosques, curity warehouses project will provide party in a confl ict. ger and an unprecedented cholera epi- ues to control the country’s main popu- restrooms and medical facility. a two-year stock of manufactured and Calling for an end to the coalition’s demic have led aid agencies to describe lation centres in the north and west. The port is equipped with the lat- stored goods for 3mn people. top United Nations offi cial said campaign, he accused the Saudi-led Yemen as one of the world’s worst hu- The coalition has launched thousands est equipment and machinery. With an He said the contract is related to the Saudi Arabia alone should fund coalition of hampering provision of aid. manitarian disasters. of air strikes in a so far unsuccessful bid average of 30 containers per hour, the fi rst stage of 26 months. The second Asteps to tackle widespread dis- “Saudi Arabia should fund 100% (of A spokesman for the Saudi-led mili- to dislodge the Houthis from power and loading and handling of trucks is very stage will be the operational phase ease and hunger besetting Yemen, the needs) of the humanitarian crisis in tary coalition fi ghting in Yemen did not have imposed a near blockade on Yem- fast as a container is unloaded and de- through the issuance of tenders for the where the kingdom has been leading a Yemen,” he said, speaking to Reuters in immediately respond to a Reuters request en’s ports, borders and airspace. livered to an importer in only 20 min- private sector and other stages related military campaign for two-and-a-half Ethiopia during a trip to drought-af- for comment on Beasley’s comments. Saudi Arabia and its allies say they utes. to food security. Qatari companies will years. fected areas. The confl ict pits Yemen’s interna- aim to prevent arms shipments to the Customs and other entities provide set up factories in countries including Comments by David Beasley, Ex- “Either stop the war or fund the cri- tionally recognised government backed Houthis, but aid groups say the curbs assistance to importers, while the to- Turkey, Azerbaijan and Pakistan, which ecutive Director of the World Food sis. Option three is, do both of them.” by the coalition against the Iran-aligned have deepened the suff ering of millions. tal capacity of the port is about 7.6mn will lead to greater self-suffi ciency. Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, September 5, 2017 QATAR Hamad ‘Port is able to meet global demand’ By Peter Alagos economy “has brought tremen- of a country’s foreign trade,” the growing demand of Qa- ing materials trading, IT, and Business Reporter dous increase in the exchange of al-Muhannadi said. tar’s construction industry and other sectors,” al-Muhannadi goods across the world.” He also stressed that Hamad to participate in the comple- stressed. As one of the largest ports in Port plays a signifi cant role in tion of major infrastructure Asked if the unjust economic he Hamad Port, which is the region, al-Muhannadi said the operations of Qatar’s major projects in the country. blockade imposed by Saudi Ara- Shaheen al-Muhannadi, chairman, Al Shaheen Aluminium, Glass & being offi cially opened Hamad Port’s world-class fa- industries in terms of cost ef- “For the next 15 years, ma- bia and its allies had aff ected UPVC Factory. Ttoday, has played a signif- cilities “are able to meet global fi ciency, quality, and the speedy jor construction projects in Qatar’s aluminium and steel icant role in increasing Qatar’s demand.” delivery of services. “This will Qatar are focused on meeting industry, Al Shaheen Alumini- able to arrange alternative ways France, Turkey, Belgium, UK, US, foreign trade and in the devel- “A port becomes a wheel of increase our business because the goals of the Qatar National um, UPVC & Glass Factory op- to import aluminium and steel,” China, India, and Singapore. opment of the country’s major the economy when it runs effi - it will help us complete our Vision 2030. The aluminium, erations manager Abd el-Qadar el-Qadar said. “Some of the aluminium pro- industries, an offi cial of a local ciently. Presently, the function projects on time, thus satisfying glass, and steel industry are said with the support of the gov- El-Qadar said Al Shaheen Alu- fi le and glass manufacturers from company has said. of Hamad Port is not limited our customers,” al-Muhannadi among the major industries ernment, local companies were minium Factory is importing, alu- these countries have their big- Al Shaheen Aluminium, and has expanded to a logisti- pointed out. in the construction fi eld. To able to source materials from minium profi le, glass, windows, gest plants in India. To complete Glass & UPVC Factory chair- cal platform. The effi ciency of a He also said Al Shaheen meet growing local demand, other suppliers. doors accessories, steel, and other our projects on time, we are im- man Shaheen al-Muhannadi port is important in internation- Aluminium Factory is eye- we are expanding our business “The blockade had no impact construction-related build- porting from sources across the said globalisation of the world al trade since it is the nerve ing expansion plans to meet in the steel industry, build- on our business, and we were ing materials from Italy, Spain, world,” he noted. WISE summit 2017 Workshop looks at HIA disability to focus on three pillar programme access requirements for World Cup

By Joseph Varghese several discussions on chang- s part of its Accessibility rum, which also comprises of Staff Reporter ing mindsets toward migrants, Forum commitments, the various NGOs, private organi- reimagining higher education ASupreme Committee for sations, government bodies and in the connected world, the Delivery & Legacy (SC) organised people with disabilities, has he World Innovation impact of nudging, connect- a workshop at Hamad Interna- worked closely with HIA. Summit for Education ing private and public actors tional Airport (HIA) to allow an As part of the continued col- T(WISE) will hold this and strategies to build future independent consultation group laboration, members of the year’s conference with a three knowledge societies. to advise on specifi c disabil- group were given a tour of ac- pillar programme of ‘Co-Ex- Challenges in education ity access requirements for 2022 cessibility features inbuilt into ist’, ‘Co-Create’ and ‘Learning also present opportunities to FIFA World Cup Qatar. the airport design such as short- to Live and Work Together’. break down old assumptions Each year more than half-a- term parking facilities near the WISE summit 2017, a pre- and bring forth the new ideas million people with disabilities terminal, customised elevators mier international educa- that are paving the way for use HIA. The airport, which and walkways, passenger and tion conference, will be held positive disruption. in January 2017 was awarded companion washrooms, seat- in Doha from November 14 With the topic of co-exist- a Five-Star rating by Skytrax, ing area at the gates, passenger to 16 with the participation ing in a changing world, de- has gone to great lengths to en- lounge and relief area for guide of a large number of educa- veloping skills, attitudes and sure a smooth passage is avail- dogs accompanying passengers tionists and opinion mak- values to shape tomorrow, the able to all passengers, and invit- who are visually impaired. ers from around the world. conference will explore the ed the delegation to showcase its Offi cials from HIA also ex- WISE is a global initiative of role of innovation in education achievements. plained the various services Qatar Foundation for Educa- to cultivate values, behaviours SC community engagement provided for people with dis- Members of the group were given a tour of accessibility features inbuilt into the airport design. tion, Science and Community and attitudes. It will address manager Khalid al-Jumaily abilities in the airport which, as Development. complex challenges, advance praised HIA for their steadfast well as being awarded the fi ve- fl oor marking in parking slots, alarms, passenger train to and The airport has also recruited Just over two months to go cultural cohesion and nur- commitment towards providing star rating, was also ranked by induction loops in terminal for from gates with support rail- trained attendants, particu- for the biennial conference, ture global citizenship in the accessibility features. “The team Skytrax among the world’s top people with hearing disabilities, ings and easy wheelchair access, larly in the dedicated passenger WISE 2017 will address im- rapidly evolving world. at HIA has worked tirelessly to 10. The services included cus- automatic doors in washrooms, evacuation chairs and passenger lounge. Abdulaziz al-Mass, vice portant education challenges The second pillar of co- provide a fi ve-star service to all tomised check-in desks, painted support railings and emergency buses with easy ramp access. president commercial – HIA, in times of disruption and creating knowledge societies; passengers,” he said. lauded the vision shown by SC economic uncertainty stem- transitioning from knowledge “The airport already serves as towards delivering an inclusive ming from confl ict, mass mi- economies to knowledge soci- a global hub for millions of trav- 2022 FIFA World Cup. gration, growing inequality, eties, will examine strategies, ellers from across the world, and “As one of the best airports on-going, rapid technological policies and practices to em- we have been delighted to see of the world, HIA is committed change and other forces. power individuals to become they have put accessibility at the to ensuring a seamless passen- The 2017 WISE Summit will highly skilful innovators who forefront of all their plans when ger experience for all and hence also be an opportunity to re- can drive economic develop- designing and building it. we take great pride in continu- think and reorganise the way ment, contribute to social “The SC is also dedicated to ally improving the accessibil- learning is delivered in an age good and design our future ensuring every fan who visits ity features of the airport,” said of disruption. world. Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World al-Mass. “The vision of the Ac- Participants will explore The fi nal pillar of the pro- Cup has the same experience cessibility Forum is to provide a and discover several topics gramme is learning to learn: everywhere they go, throughout wonderful tournament experi- that are shaping the future New perspectives and prac- their stay. ence, and we are happy to con- of teaching and learning in- tices in teaching and learn- “Working closely with key tribute towards making the fi rst cluding the impact of arti- ing. It aims to discover new stakeholders such as HIA is es- ever World Cup in the Middle fi cial intelligence on edu- and emerging teaching and sential to ensuring we all reach East a truly inclusive one.” cation, transforming roles learning approaches that help this goal – and the Accessibility The SC delivered the fi rst Ac- of teachers and leveraging learners develop relevant cog- Forum representatives were de- cessibility Forum workshop of social entrepreneurship for nitive, social and emotional lighted to play their part today.” the year in March and Qatar innovation. skills to live and work in an age Since its inception in Novem- The SC organised a workshop at HIA to allow an independent consultation group to advise on specific Tourism Authority the second The summit will also have of disruption. ber 2016, the Accessibility Fo- disability access requirements for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. in May. When holidays become more work Commuters call for change in bus routes here is a renewed de- wailina said he has to attend for people in public service mand from commuters tuition in Al Hilal but there Tfor change of some bus is no direct connectivity be- routes as they feel this would tween the two places. So, he By Ramesh Mathew remained closed even for a day, help improve patronage for has to go to the DBS fi rst to Staff Reporter they would lose many of their these services. catch a bus that will take him customers as there is intense At present, these services to his destination. competition these days. get “only a handful” of pas- The general impression here are many sections of “Not over, we will fi nd it dif- sengers most of the time as among many commuters is workers who are always at fi cult to pay our monthly rent if people fi nd their routes to be that though a number of bus Tthe service of Qatar even we remained closed even for a of little use, they claim. services are available, their when most of the residents are day,” he said, adding that there is While seeking route altera- “unsystematic operations” enjoying holidays. In fact, such a severe competition in business. tions, the commuters point prevent people from making workers need to work more than Delivery staff at eateries out that the existing opera- proper use of them, it is learnt. usual during extended holidays were seen rendering their rou- tions only lead to a “waste While “rerouting and better such as Eid vacations, espe- tine service, especially in the of time and fuel” and do not planning” of services are the cially on the fi rst three days of evenings. serve their intended purpose. main solutions suggested by Eid when almost all establish- A Sri Lankan expatriate, run- “It is true that buses pass commuters, some also feel that ments other than retail shops ning a hair dressing saloon in through the locality where I “mini buses” could be operated stay closed. Najma, said his co-workers are stay but their long, unplanned from every zone in the city to Besides the contingency prepared to work as there is more and unsystematic routes force “interlinking onward points” workers of various municipali- rush at saloons during holidays. passengers to rely on alterna- from where they could reach ties, who help to keep the public However, many of such outlets tive options to reach their des- their respective destinations. areas clean, workers at groceries either start late or close early tinations,” said an expatriate For example, even if no di- and cafeterias, staff at small and these days, it has been found. living in the Al Mamoura area. rect services could be provided medium restaurants, hair dress- Cabbies too are active on du- The resident said he has to directly from Al Mamoura to ing saloons, drivers of public ties as they expect more custom- travel from his accommoda- the eastern or southern side transport buses and cabbies are ers during the holidays. Public tion to the Al Hilal area as there of Al Hilal, passengers should among those delivering duties transport buses on a number of is no direct service between at least be able to reach an in- during such holidays. routes were seen with more pas- those places. As a result, he is ter-linking point close to their Inquiries made by Gulf Times sengers, especially on the fi rst forced to spend a lot of time destination. They could be found workers at most of the While public transport buses and taxis plied as usual, the staff at restaurants and cafeterias put in extra two days. travelling fi rst to the Doha Bus transported using “mini feeder smaller groceries and super- eff orts to meet the requirements of the residents during the holidays. Staff at most hair dressing saloons Staff at security agencies too Station (DBS) before catching buses” from such a point. markets were at work even on were at work. PICTURES: Sheemer Rasheed render their services in shifts another bus to his workplace. Passengers have also ques- the very fi rst day of the Eid cel- when the country is on a holi- Similar complaints have tioned the operation of four ebrations. Some of the small su- operations after the prayers. were seen working as they had to whom are bachelors or ‘singles’. day. Similar services were also come from passengers living in pairs of circular services (301 to permarkets remained closed in Similarly, workers at cafeterias satisfy the food requirements of When contacted, the manager done by vendors, delivering other parts of Doha as well. 304) as they say “these are of the morning but they resumed and many small restaurants too their regular customers, many of of a city restaurant said if they newspapers at homes. A teenager from Umm Ghu- little value to most commuters”. Gulf Times Tuesday, September 5, 2017 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD Syrian army thrusts east to break siege of Deir al-Zor

Army and allies advance shelling and injured, things are towards city near Iraqi running in the city. The institu- border; Besieged enclave has tions are running, the bakeries. 93,000 civilians; Islamic State Water is also pumped twice a week “in confusion”, commander to our residents, aid is distributed says daily,” governor Samra said. For Assad, the weekend’s Reuters lightning advance caps months Beirut of steady progress after govern- ment forces turned from their victory over rebels in Aleppo A Syrian pro-government forces helicopter flies above Bir Qabaqib. ith a sudden lunge last December to push eastwards through opposition against Islamic State. Meanwhile, as the army and its Islamic State fi ghters and their Wlines, the Syrian mili- “The army has been advanc- allies have forced other militant families evacuated from that tary and its allies are close to re- ing in a rapid and calculated way pockets to surrender, including enclave as part of a surrender lieving the Euphrates city of Deir from all directions,” a Syrian mil- an Islamic State enclave on Syr- deal were escorted by the Syr- al-Zor, where Islamic State has itary source said, referring to the ia’s border with Lebanon a week ian army to east Syria, but have besieged an army garrison and months-long campaign across ago, it has been able to transfer been stopped by a US-led coali- 93,000 civilians for years. the desert. more troops to the desert cam- tion from reaching Deir al-Zor. The advance on the eastern Aided by Russian jets, the Syr- paign. “It helped a lot to switch Ten of the original 17 buses are city marks another stinging set- ian army has captured swathes of the military eff ort of the Syrian now stuck in no-man’s land be- back for the once-triumphant the central and eastern deserts in army and the resistance to the tween pro-government forces Islamic State, fast retreating in parallel off ensives from Palmyra eastern Syrian desert,” the com- and Islamic State territory and both Iraq and Syria as its self-de- and al-Resafa. Those off ensives mander said, adding that thou- six buses retreated back into gov- clared caliphate crumbles. Deir have accelerated since linking sands of troops had arrived from ernment areas, the commander al-Zor’s provincial governor said up last month, enclosing two big the battle on the Lebanon border. added. he expected the army to reach the Syrian pro-government forces gather on a road in Bir Qabaqib, after taking control of the area on their Islamic State pockets and over- city by Tuesday night. A military way to Kobajjep in the ongoing battle against Islamic State (IS) group yesterday. running all but a small portion media unit run by the govern- of one of them, near the town of ment’s ally Hezbollah said late on ritory – defeated in Iraq’s Mosul 2013, after rebel groups rose up stepped up eff orts this year to seize al-Salamiya. Sunday that the army was only and yielding street after street against Assad during the fi rst the enclave before the army could As the army and its allies have about 10km away. in its de facto Syrian capital of fl ush of Syria’s six-year war. Is- arrive. In January, they managed to advanced on Deir al-Zor, Is- “Islamic State is in confusion. Raqqa – the ultra-hardline group lamic State then overran rebel sever it from the military airbase in lamic State has pulled reinforce- There is no leadership or central- has still been able to launch at- positions and surrounded the the city and take over a nearby hill, ments from al-Mayadin and ised control,” said a commander tacks in the West and maintain army’s enclave in the city in 2014. further straining its links to the used its usual tactics of booby in the military alliance supporting a threat in other centres such as It was a major prize. Deir al- outside. During the long siege, the traps, mines and sudden raids, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Libya. Zor is the centre of Syria’s oil in- city has been supplied via high- the commander in the pro-Assad Hemmed in on all sides, Is- In IS-encircled Deir al-Zor, dustry, a source of wealth to the altitude air drops. The United Na- military alliance said. The very lamic State is falling back on a news of the army’s approach group and a serious loss to Da- tions said in August it estimated rapid advance in recent days was last Euphrates stronghold down- prompted people to take to the mascus. As the army has pushed there were 93,000 civilians in the the result of heavy preparatory stream of Deir al-Zor in the streets to celebrate, governor east in recent months, oil and gas government’s Deir al-Zor pocket, bombardment, a multi-pronged towns of al-Mayadin and al-Bu- Mohammed Ibrahim Samra said fi elds have once more fallen to where conditions were “extremely assault and gains in high ground kamal near the border with Iraq. by phone. the government. diffi cult”. commanding the surrounding But as it has lost its core ter- The city has been cut off since Islamic State fi ghters have “Despite all this and despite the area, the commander said. A Syrian pro-government forces plane is seen in Bir Qabaqib.

5.5mn Iraqis eligible to vote in Kurdistan’s referendum

Around 5.5mn people are eligible to vote in 25, on independence from Iraq, a decision that a planned referendum on independence in Baghdad has criticised. northern Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region this Kirkuk – which is not part of the Kurdistan region, month, the election commission said yesterday. but has a large Kurdish population – plans to take French foreign minister in The spokesman for the Independent High part in the independence vote. Elections and Referendum Commission, Shirwan The province is one of the disputed areas between Zirar, said these are eligible voters inside the Erbil and Baghdad. Campaigning will start on Kurdish region as well as Kirkuk province and Tuesday and will continue for 18 days until Friday, other areas in the northern Iraqi province of September 22, the commission said. The Iraqi Libya to push peace deal Nineveh. Kurdish region was created in 1992 and calls for The commission invited international bodies to independence have gained impetus following a oversee the referendum, which the autonomous 2003 US-led invasion, which toppled former Iraqi Reuters region of Kurdistan plans to hold on September president Saddam Hussein. Tripoli

rench Foreign Minister Jean In the spotlight Yves Le Drian met Libyan Foffi cials in Tripoli yester- day to off er support for a deal between political rivals signed in Paris aimed at stabilising the North African country. Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Seraj and the divided na- tion’s eastern commander Kha- lifa Haftar in July committed to a conditional ceasefi re and to work towards elections, but the agreement did not include other key factions. Western govern- ments, worried about militants and smugglers thriving in Libya’s chaos, are pushing a broader UN-backed deal to unify Libya and end the instability that has weakened the country since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi . In Tripoli, Le Drian met Seraj and planned talks with Abdul- rahman Swehli, a politician con- nected to some of Haftar’s ri- vals who heads a parliamentary council in the capital, Libyan of- fi cials said. Le Drian is also to visit Mis- rata, Swehli’s home city and a base of opposition to Haftar, be- fore heading to Benghazi to meet Haftar and to Tobruk to meet the French Foreign Aff airs Minister Jean Yves Le Drian speaks during a news conference at the headquarters head of an eastern-based parlia- of the prime minister’s off ice in Tripoli, Libya, yesterday. ment that backs him. The French minister’s visit is tion of Libya in the interests of meant to support the UN-backed Opec oil producer. in line with President Emmanuel the Libyans themselves,” Le Dri- accord for a government of na- Seraj’s government has strug- Macron’s push for a deeper an said in a statement in Tripoli. tional unity. gled to impose control and its French role in bringing Libyan “A united Libya, equipped with Past Western attempts to bro- presidential council is divided. factions together in the hope of functioning institutions, is the ker agreements have often fallen Haftar has refused to accept its Iranian screenwriter and director Anahita Ghazvinizadeh poses during a photo call for the film countering militant violence and condition for avoiding the ter- victim to political infi ghting legitimacy. He has been gaining They at the 43rd Deauville US Film Festival in the northwestern sea resort of Deauville yesterday. easing Europe’s migrant crisis. rorist threat in the long term.” among rival factions and armed ground, backed by allies Egypt “Our objective is the stabilisa- He said the Paris deal was brigades vying for power in the and United Arab Emirates. Netanyahu under fi re after call logs with newspaper editor exposed

DPA TV news station who fi led the has undercut the advertising rev- based on a huge contributions with the two weeks before the elec- Tel Aviv information request, show that enue of other Israeli media. political goals,” Stav Shaffi r of the tions,” Segal said on Twitter on Netanyahu spoke with Amos Netanyahu also frequently centre-left Zionist Union party Sunday, “Every candidate and Regev, the editor-in-chief of the spoke with Sheldon Adelson, said in a statement yesterday. every election.” sraeli Premier Benjamin Israel Hayom newspaper, 15 times the conservative US casino mo- However, David Bitan of On Thursday, following an ex- Netanyahu’s relationship within the 19 days leading up to gul who owns the paper and is a Netanyahu’s conservative Likud tensive court battle, Netanyahu Iwith a newspaper editor and Israel’s 2013 elections. supporter of the prime minister. party said that conversations provided the number of phone the US billionaire who owns the According to the Channel 10 Critics of Netanyahu argue that it with editors are a regular part conversations between 2012 paper came under increased fi re report, which aired Sunday night, could amount to an illegal cam- of any prime minister’s job. and 2015 he had with Regev (234 yesterday after a freedom of in- Israel Hayom’s headlines refl ect- paign contribution if the premier Amit Segal a prominent politi- times) and Adelson (117 times), formation request exposed the ed pro-Netanyahu positions in is shown to have infl uenced the cal journalist for Channel 2 TV but the dates of the calls were premier’s frequent calls with the the days after the prime minister headlines. “(Israel Hayom) is an mirrored Bitan’s comments. “I only later provided to Channel two men. spoke with Regev. The newspa- entire project to promote Netan- do not want to spoil the party, 10. “All the politicians in Israel The call logs, provided by the per has often been accused of yahu, which on its way has caused but I do not know any candidate speak to publishers, editors-in- prime minister to Raviv Drucker, trumpeting a pro-Netanyahu unprecedented economic dam- for prime minister who spoke chief and journalists,” Netanyahu a journalist with the Channel 10 line; It’s free distribution model age to real newspapers that are not with me less than once a day in said in Facebook post defending theBenjamin conversations. Netanyahu Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, September 5, 2017 AFRICA Burundi accused

Members of the UN Commission of Inquiry on Burundi, Francoise Hampson of Britain, Commission president Fatsah Ouguergouz of France, and Reine Alapini-Gansou of Benin at the news conference on the of crimes against commission’s report in Geneva. Between 500 and 2,000 peo- serious human rights violations”, remained deeply concerned by ple have been killed in clashes in it said. ethnically-loaded comments the country, according to UN and Armed opposition groups were made by state and ruling party NGO sources. also responsible for rights viola- offi cials. More than 400,000 people tions in Burundi, the report said, Opposition leaders in Burundi have fl ed and dozens of opposi- noting that these abuses had welcomed the report. humanity by UN tion activists have been forced been more diffi cult to document. “This opens a new era of hope into exile. The investigators were never to end impunity for crimes com- AFP “mercenaries” in a Western plot “would have no eff ect”. the investigators asked “the In- The commission stressed that permitted to enter Burundi, forc- mitted in April 2015,” Charles Geneva to “enslave African states”. The three investigators, ap- ternational Criminal Court to the total number of violations is ing them to conduct their probe Nditije, head of opposition group “They are not investigators but pointed by the Human Rights open an investigation ... as soon nearly impossible to estimate, from neighbouring countries, CNARED, told AFP. mercenaries paid to reinforce a Council last September, de- as possible”. but chairman Ouguergouz said where they interviewed more Human rights activist Paci- N investigators have ac- narrative already in circulation scribed a “climate of fear” fuelled The ICC would need to move the cases of torture and extraju- than 500 victims and witnesses. fi que Nininahazwe urged the ICC cused Burundi’s govern- in certain Western reports and by violations including execu- quickly if it followed investiga- dicial killings ran into the hun- They said that they were draft- to open an investigation “with- Ument of crimes against pave the way for the ICC, this tions, torture and sexual vio- tors’ advice to open an investiga- dreds at least. ing a confi dential list of suspect- out delay” into crimes commit- humanity, including executions instrument in the hands of the lence. tion: last year, Burundi formally About 40 women interviewed ed perpetrators of crimes against ted in Burundi, saying that the and torture, and urged the Inter- West to enslave African states,” Commission chair Fatsah announced it was withdrawing for the report recounted being humanity, along with detailed court cannot shirk its mission to national Criminal Court (ICC) to presidential spokesman Willy Ouguergouz told reporters in Ge- from the court, with the move set victims of sexual violence, he information about the acts they judge these types of crimes. open a case “as soon as possible”. Nyamitwe told AFP. neva that the abuses were part of to take eff ect on October 27. added. are accused of committing or or- Burundi suff ered a civil war The United Nations Commis- He went further in a tweet, a “general or systematic attack After that date, the ICC can The perpetrators included dering. from 1993 until 2006 between sion of Inquiry on Burundi said saying that investigators were against the civilian population” only open a case if asked to do so members of Burundi’s National The UN is prepared to share majority Hutus and minority it had “reasonable grounds to “paid to reach conclusions that that could be considered “state by the Security Council. Intelligence Service, the police, the list with any credible judicial Tutsis, which claimed an esti- believe that crimes against hu- were politically motivated and policy”. Burundi plunged into a politi- military offi cials and members of body, the report said. mated 300,000 lives. manity have been committed and sponsored by the EU”. “We are struck by the scale and cal crisis in April 2015 when Nku- the ruling party’s youth league, Yesterday’s report meanwhile The current unrest has also continue to be committed in Bu- The presidential spokesman the brutality of the violations,” runziza decided to run for a third the Imbonerakure, investigators said that despite a range of abus- sparked fear of a wider crisis in rundi”, pointing a fi nger at “the also dismissed the charges, say- Ouguergouz said in a statement. term that his opponents said was said. es against the Tutsi minority, Africa’s volatile Great Lakes re- highest level of the state”. ing they targeted President Pierre Given Burundi’s record of im- unconstitutional. Nkurunziza himself, sur- there was currently no evidence gion, with the 1994 genocide in The Burundi government fi rm- Nkurunziza because “he disturbs punity and the “strong likelihood He won elections in July that rounded by a close-knit circle of of genocide in Burundi, as widely neighbouring Rwanda having ly rejected the allegations, accus- the hidden interests of Western- that the perpetrators of these year which were boycotted by the “generals”, was behind “big deci- feared. been fuelled by similar ethnic ing the UN investigators of being ers” and predicted the allegations crimes will remain unpunished”, opposition. sions, including ones that led to But the commission said it tensions. Kenya to hold fresh vote on October 17

AFP overturned the result of last month’s Supreme Court decision annulling the in the transmission of results from Nairobi poll won by President Uhuru Kenyatta. presidential election held on 8th Au- polling stations to the national tally “A fresh presidential election will be gust 2017.” centre. held on the 17th of October 2017,” said Chebukati said only Kenyatta and However, a full explanation of the enya will hold a fresh presiden- a statement signed by Wafula Chebu- opposition leader Raila Odinga, who court’s reasoning has yet to be pub- tial vote on October 17, the elec- kati, chairperson of the Independent brought the court challenge, would be lished. Ktion commission said yesterday, Electoral and Boundaries Commission on the ballot paper, along with their “It is imperative that a detailed Kenyatta: incumbent after the country’s Supreme Court (IEBC). “This is in conformity with the running mates. judgment ... is released in order to al- On Friday, Chief Justice David Ma- low the Commission to identify areas raga cancelled the results of the August that require improvement,” Chebukati poll saying the election commission said. had failed to hold a legitimate elec- Kenyatta has committed to cam- tion and that the results were therefore paigning hard to win the new elec- “invalid, null and void”. tion while Odinga has called for IEBC He added that the IEBC had com- personnel to be replaced in light of the mitted “irregularities and illegalities” court ruling. Odinga: wants IEBC staff replaced. AU chief: ruling does Africa honour

AFP “This is behaviour that does hon- Kenyatta accepted it but railed at Conakry our to Africa and proves that democ- the judiciary and refused opposition racy is now installed on the continent,” demands to replace the electoral com- Conde said. mission, widely seen as tarnished. he decision of Kenya’s Supreme The AU “appreciates the spirit of When the poll body declared Keny- Court to annul the re-election maturity and responsibility shown atta victorious with 54.27% of the Tof outgoing president Uhuru by all parties to the process, who pre- votes, protests and riots broke out Kenyatta and order a rerun “does ferred legal channels to violence”, and were harshly put down by police, honour to Africa”, African Union (AU) added Conde, who is also president of claiming at least 21 lives. chief Alpha Conde said yesterday. Guinea. “Africa will be what we want it Citing serious irregularities in the The groundbreaking ruling on Fri- to be.” electronic transmission of results, day annulling the August 8 presiden- Veteran Kenyan opposition leader the court declared Kenyatta’s victory tial election was a fi rst on the conti- Raila Odinga, who challenged the re- “invalid, null and void”. nent, where elections have often been sult in court, hailed the “historic” rul- The judges ordered a rerun to take tainted by intimidation and fraud. ing. place before October 31.

Kenyan school that killed Angola nine was arson: minister poll body

Reuters he said in a televised press conference. rejects Nairobi “We cannot resolve a confl ict on the headship of the school by burning a school.” claims enya’s education minister said Kenya Red Cross said on its Twitter yesterday that arson was to feed that there had been three other in- Kblame for a weekend fi re that cidents of school fi res reported in vari- AFP killed nine pupils at a girls’ boarding ous parts of the country yesterday. Luanda school and that there had been similar Kenya is East Africa’s largest econo- attacks on other schools around the my but unemployment is high and cor- country. ruption is rife, making life diffi cult for ngola’s election commis- More than 120 schools around the many ordinary people. sion has rejected accusa- country were set on fi re last year, ac- Control of a school can mean not just Ations of irregularities in cording to research by a Canadian pro- a stable government salary but an op- last month’s vote which saw the fessor. portunity to extort extra money from MPLA party, which has ruled Almost none of the cases has been students and parents in fees or other since 1975, retain power. successfully prosecuted. charges. Four defeated opposition par- Minister Fred Matiang’i said some But many of the fi res are set by stu- ties complained that the August arson attacks had been related to fi ghts dents protesting harsh discipline, poor 23 election was conducted in- over staff appointments in schools, teaching and corruption, according to correctly, with ballot boxes and where senior positions can bring fi nan- Canadian Elizabeth Cooper, assistant voter forms disappearing. cial rewards. professor of International Studies at Election commission chief “It was not an accident, it was ar- Simon Fraser University. Andre da Silva Neto told report- son,” Matiang’i said of the blaze on “Boarding school life is often expe- ers that the body “categorically Saturday at Moi Girls School in the rienced by students as excessively rigid rejected the criticism”, which he capital in which nine girls were killed and authoritarian,” she wrote in an ar- said was a deliberate “attempt to and 10 injured. ticle about the trend last year. discredit the Angolan electoral Matiang’i said there had been a spate Students she interviewed com- process”. of arson attacks on schools around the plained about poor food, scarce teach- “All the electronic tools used country, including in the coastal city of ing materials, harsh teachers and man- in the electoral process were Mombasa and the western city of Kis- agement that ignored their concerns. checked,” he said, adding that umu. Many compared their schools to the conduct of the election was He did not give the total number of prison. entirely “legal”. attacks. “The destruction of their dorms The MPLA of outgoing Presi- “Some of the fi res we have faced be- means that they will be sent home and dent Jose Eduardo dos Santos fore in the sector are related to that kind given some respite from their intensive won just over 61% of the vote, of thing, politicisation of school head- boarding school lifestyles,” she wrote. according to a provisional count. ship, politicisation of responsibility in “We can likely expect more fi res next The commission is due to re- the education sector. It is not right,” year.” lease offi cial results tomorrow. Gulf Times Tuesday, September 5, 2017 5 AMERICA

LA ‘turns corner’ on wildfi re Trump moves to scrap

Reuters Los Angeles

smattering of rain and ‘Dreamer’ protections easing temperatures Ahelped more than 1,000 Reuters cans and business leaders asked As a candidate, Trump fended the Dreamers, including fi refi ghters battling the largest Washington Trump to keep the programme. pledged to immediately scrap Microsoft chief executive Satya wildfi re in Los Angeles history DACA, an Obama adminis- the programme but he ran into Nadella and Facebook chief ex- gain the upper hand on the blaze tration policy, protects nearly stiff opposition. ecutive Mark Zuckerberg, who on Sunday, but offi cials warned resident Donald Trump 800,000 young men and women House of Representatives signed a letter to the president that danger remains. has decided to scrap a pro- often called “Dreamers” from Speaker Paul Ryan urged Trump outlining the economic contri- “We’ve turned the corner, but Pgramme shielding from deportation and allows them to on Friday not to rescind the pro- bution of Dreamers. this is not over,” Los Angeles deportation immigrants who work legally. gramme and was joined by Sena- Prior to the news of Trump’s Mayor Eric Garcetti told report- came to the United States il- Dreamers are a fraction of the tor Orrin Hatch, also a Republi- action, Apple chief executive ers. “With winds this strong, legally as children, but will give estimated 11mn illegal immi- can. Tim Cook tweeted: “250 of my anything can happen.” Congress six months to craft grants in the United States, most Representative Ileana Ros- Apple coworkers are #Dreamers. Shifting winds could cause legislation to replace it, sources of them Hispanic. Lehtinen, a Cuban-American I stand with them.” burning embers to spread the fi re familiar with the situation said. Trump as a candidate prom- Republican from Florida, tweet- But US Treasury Secretary once more through the rugged The president decided to de- ised to deport all of them, but ed her dismay with the decision Steven Mnuchin downplayed northern edge of Los Angeles, lay enforcement of his decision many Americans have rallied to to scrap DACA: “After teasing those warnings on Sunday, tell- said Garcetti. to end the Deferred Action for support the young adults who #Dreamers for months with A map of Mexico as it was in 1794 is displayed during a rally on Fri- ing Fox News Sunday that he was The nearly 5,900-acre Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, have spent large parts of their talk of his ‘great heart’, @PO- day by young immigrants and their supporters in support of DACA “less concerned about the eco- (2,400-hectare) La Tuna Fire, the two sources said on Sunday. lives in the United States. TUS slams door on them. Some in Los Angeles. nomic impact”. named after the canyon area One source cautioned that The decision, to be announced ‘heart’.” Most of the Dreamers came where it erupted on Friday, has the president could change his today, will seek to placate both That said, Trump’s base will tion to the plan on Sunday night. Nancy Pelosi, the top House from Mexico and elsewhere in destroyed three homes and mind. sides in the immigration debate likely be far from happy about Democrats, like Senator Al Democrat, last week asked Latin America. damaged one. The decision to give Congress at a time when the president is the president’s decision to leave Franken of Minnesota, also House Speaker Ryan to meet More than 200,000 live in More than 700 homes were half a year to come up with a also grappling with North Ko- open the option of a fi x. wanted the programme to con- with Democratic lawmakers to California, while 100,000 are in evacuated as the blaze tore an alternative, fi rst reported by rea’s nuclear programme and Representative Steve King, a tinue. discuss a “comprehensive legis- Texas. through thick brush that has not Politico, represents a compro- Houston’s recovery from Hurri- hawk on immigration and Iowa Franken called the reported lative solution”. New York, Illinois and Florida burned in decades. mise of sorts after top Republi- cane Harvey. Republican, tweeted his opposi- decision a “disgrace”. Leading business fi gures de- also have large numbers. Of the 1,400 people evacuated from their homes, 90% had re- turned by Sunday afternoon and Garcetti said nearly all would be back before the day was over. The wildfi re is the largest in Pipeline reopens, evacuation order lifted as storm-hit Texas recovers terms of acreage in the city’s his- tory, Garcetti said. It was considered 30% con- Reuters (125cm) of rain on the low-lying Thursday after power outages plant, allowing neighbours to Harvey also walloped the The gasoline pipeline is due tained by late Sunday night, up Houston Gulf coastal region after com- cut off cooling systems. return to their homes, and that most important energy hub in to resume operations today, the from 10% on Sunday morning. ing ashore on August 25, killing The US Environmental Pro- the company had opened an as- the United States, taking up to company said. “We do not have this fi re con- about 50 people and causing tection Agency (EPA) and the sistance centre to assist those one-fourth of the country’s oil Another fuel system, Explor- tained,” Garcetti said, “but we uthorities lifted an evac- what the Texas governor said Texas Commission on Envi- aff ected to fi nd temporary hous- refi ning capacity offl ine and er Pipeline, said a link running do have a good sense of, in the uation order for the area could be up to $180bn in dam- ronmental Quality performed a ing. driving up fuel prices. from Texas to Oklahoma re- next day or two, how we can Asurrounding a once- age. controlled burn of the organic The EPA has said its testing But Colonial Pipeline, the started on Sunday, with a second bring this fi re to rest.” burning chemical plant and a Flooding led to a series of fi res peroxides on Sunday in order to methods have not found toxic largest American fuel system, pipeline from Oklahoma into the On Sunday California Gover- major fuel pipeline reopened at the Arkema SA chemical plant eliminate any vestiges and re- concentration levels in smoke said yesterday that it would re- Midwest resumed yesterday. nor Jerry Brown declared a state yesterday in signs that Texas was in Crosby, about 25 miles (40km) duce the danger. from the plant, although 15 Har- start a segment of its pipeline in Meanwhile, port operations of emergency for Los Angeles edging toward recovery from the northeast of Houston. Yesterday the company said ris County Sheriff ’s deputies Texas that had been cut off , ena- across the US Gulf Coast’s oil County, which will ease the path devastation left by Hurricane Containers of the chemicals, that the Crosby Fire Department were briefl y taken to a hospital bling it to restore the fl ow dis- and gas industry were slowly for state and federal help to fi ght Harvey. which are unstable if not kept had lifted a 1.5-mile (2.4km) last week after inhaling smoke tillates such as diesel fuel from coming back, according to the the fi re. The storm dumped some 50” refrigerated, started igniting on evacuation zone around the from the fi res. Texas to New Jersey. US Coast Guard. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, September 5, 2017 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA NZ election average puts Labour in strong position

Reuters Crucially, the result suggests to forming a coalition with it, it in New Zealand’s German-style at Victoria University in Welling- But a controversy over mis- to 8%, down from 9.1% on Friday. Wellington that Labour, now running neck- has not said which major party it proportional representation ton. taken overpayment of superan- “Certainly New Zealand First, and-neck with the National Par- will back. system. “Labour, by contrast, is mov- nuation to Peters has hurt sup- if they are somewhere in the 5% ty, may be in a position to form Labour’s average rose to The averages suggest Labour ing up, and if it gains another port, while voters have also been to 7% range, there will be a good ew Zealand’s opposition the government after September 39.8% and the Greens’ aver- and the Green Party would garner couple of percentage points in drawn to the Labour party after chance of them no longer being Labour party is gaining 23 elections without having to age was 6.2%, yesterday’s fi g- 57 seats, compared to National’s the polls, will have multiple coa- it switched leaders on August 1. a kingmaker after the election,” Nmomentum that could rely on the controversial nation- ures showed, putting the two 51. lition options,” he added. Only Although the average of polls Edwards added. allow it to form a coalition gov- alist party. parties, which share a working “If National happen to drop a weeks ago, the New Zealand shows New Zealand First remains Support for the party fell to ernment with partners of its National, however, would agreement, comfortably ahead bit further, they won’t have any First Party, led by the outspoken decisive in the formation of the 6.65 in a poll released on Sunday, choice, an average of political still be heavily reliant on the of National’s 41.6%. A party, or chance of forming a government Winston Peters, was expected next government, the situation following a drop to 8% in another polls showed yesterday, with a nationalist New Zealand First, combination of parties, needs because they don’t have as many to be the kingmaker in the for- could change if its loss of mo- poll last week. Both polls were key nationalist party at risk of whose support is also waning. 61 of Parliament’s 120 members coalition options as Labour,” said mation of government after the mentum continues, analysts say. used to calculate yesterday’s av- losing its kingmaker role. Although both parties are open in order to form a government Bryce Edwards, a political analyst vote. New Zealand First’s average fell erage. North may launch ICBM after nuclear test, warns S Korea

Reuters Jang Kyoung-soo, acting deputy mental assessment by the gov- Despite the tough talk, the im- A North Korean woman stands on the bank of the Yalu river near the North Korean town of Sinuiju, Seoul minister of national defence pol- ernment. mediate focus of the international opposite the Chinese border city of Dandong, in China’s northeast Liaoning province. The five-nation Brics icy, told a parliament hearing on The rollout of the controver- response was expected to be on grouping meeting in China said it “strongly deplores” North Korea’s latest nuclear test, adding to global Monday. sial Terminal High Altitude Area tougher economic sanctions. condemnation of Pyongyang. outh Korea said yesterday North Korea tested two ICBMs Defense (THAAD) system at a Diplomats have said the UN Secu- it was talking to the United in July that could fl y about site south of the South Korean rity Council could now consider interests are being sanctioned or the worst on the Korean penin- powerful than the one picked up SStates about deploying air- 10,000km (6,200 miles), putting capital, Seoul, is vehemently op- banning North Korean textile ex- harmed. This is both not objec- sula has not proven to be a win- after North Korea’s previous nu- craft carriers and strategic bomb- many parts of the US mainland posed by neighbouring China and ports and its national airline, stop tive and not fair,” he told a regular ning trading strategy this year,” clear test a year ago. ers to the Korean peninsula after within range and prompting a Russia, had been delayed since supplies of oil to the government briefi ng. said Sean Callow, a senior foreign China’s National Nuclear signs North Korea might launch new round of tough international June. North Korea said it tested and military, prevent North Kore- On possible new UN sanctions, exchange strategist at Westpac Safety Administration said data more missiles in the wake of its sanctions. South Korea’s air force an advanced hydrogen bomb for ans from working abroad and add and whether China would sup- Bank. from radiation monitoring sta- sixth and largest nuclear test. and army conducted exercises in- a long-range missile on Sunday, top offi cials to a blacklist to sub- port cutting off oil, Geng said it “Investors seem reluctant to tions near the North Korean bor- The UN Security Council was volving long-range air-to-surface prompting a warning of a “mas- ject them to an asset freeze and would depend on the outcome of price in anything more severe der showed no impact on “China’s set to meet later yesterday to dis- and ballistic missiles yesterday sive” military response from the travel ban. Security Council discussions. than trade sanctions, and the ab- environment or populace”. cuss new sanctions against the following the North’s nuclear test United States if it or its allies were Asked about Trump’s threat to Chinese state-run Xinhua news sence of another ‘fi re and fury’ Australian Prime Minister isolated regime. US President on Sunday, its joint chiefs of staff threatened. “We are not looking to punish countries that trade with agency said in an editorial North Trump tweet has helped encour- Malcolm Turnbull said that, Donald Trump had also asked to said in a statement. the total annihilation of a country, North Korea, Chinese Foreign Korea was “playing a danger- age markets to respond warily.” while North Korea was not a pup- be briefed on all available mili- In addition to the drill, South namely North Korea,” US. Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Sh- ous game of brinkmanship” and South Korea’s fi nance minister pet state of China, Beijing needed tary options, according to his de- Korea will co-operate with the Secretary Jim Mattis said after uang said China has dedicated it- it should wake up to the fact that vowed to support fi nancial mar- to do more to pressure its neigh- fence chief. Offi cials said activity United States and seek to deploy meeting Trump and his national self to resolving the North Korean such a tactic “can never bring se- kets if instability showed signs of bour. “The Chinese are frus- around missile launch sites sug- “strategic assets like aircraft car- security team. “But as I said, we issue via talks, and China’s eff orts curity it pursues”. spreading to the real economy. trated and dismayed by North gested North Korea planned more riers and strategic bombers”, Jang have many options to do so.” had been recognised. “What we Japanese and South Korean Sunday’s test had registered Korea’s conduct, but China has missile tests. “We have continued said. South Korea’s defence min- Trump has previously vowed to absolutely cannot accept is that stock markets both closed down with international seismic agen- the greatest leverage, and with to see signs of possibly more bal- istry also said it would deploy the stop North Korea developing nu- on the one hand (we are) mak- about 1% yesterday, while safe cies as a man-made earthquake the greatest leverage comes the listic missile launches. We also four remaining launchers of a new clear weapons and said he would ing arduous eff orts to peacefully haven assets including gold and near a test site. Japanese and greatest responsibility,” he told forecast North Korea could fi re an US missile defence system after unleash “fi re and fury” if it threat- resolve the North Korean nuclear sovereign bonds ticked higher, but South Korean offi cials said the the Australian Broadcasting Corp intercontinental ballistic missile,” the completion of an environ- ened US territory issue, and on the other hand (our) trade was cautious. “Assuming tremor was about 10 times more yesterday.

Cambodia publishers banned from leaving country over tax

Twelve hurt as Australia race car sprays fl ames The Cambodian department Cambodia Daily owner Deborah of taxation issued a notice Kircher Steele and managing AFP taken by spectators showing fuel Chris Dess described “a massive “We all stood there in a bit of siasts to central Australia for a yesterday forbidding the editor Douglas Eric Steele. The Sydney igniting and fl ames being thrown fi reball” coming from the back of shock, and then we all kicked in weekend of racing and entertain- publishers of Cambodia Daily, announcement came hours over fans from a car skidding in the car. trying to help the poor gentleman ment. Organisers shut down the the main English-language after the Cambodia Daily circles. He told the Australian Broad- who was on the ground.” event after the incident, with newspaper, from leaving the published its last issue with a ne person was in a critical “Twelve patients are currently casting Corporation one man was Paramedic Warren Purse told police and fi re authorities inves- country until they settle an daring headline, “Descent Into condition yesterday and 11 being treated at Alice Springs “just standing there in shock, he the Northern Territory News one tigating. Northern Territory Chief outstanding $6.3-mn tax bill, Outright Dictatorship.” Oothers were battling seri- Hospital. One patient is in a criti- was charred, and then fell to the victim was still alight when emer- Minister Michael Gunner said local media reported. The Daily, which has been a ous injuries after a car at a drag cal condition and the remaining 11 ground and you could see skin gency crews arrived. “The crowd that despite the tragedy, he hoped In the statement published training ground for Cambodian racing event in Australia sprayed are in a serious but stable condi- melting off him”. was phenomenal,” he said. “I said, the event would take place again on government-aligned Fresh and international journalists burning fuel over the shocked tion,” organisers said in a state- “We watched another lady ‘I need some water’ and bottles next year. “We will be doing eve- News, the department of since its establishment in 1993, crowd. ment. who’d come running out of the were coming in from everywhere.” rything we can to ensure we learn taxation requests assistance announced it would cease The incident happened at the “This is a distressing situation, fi reball and her hair was all melted Billed as the “Ultimate Festi- from what had occurred and next from the immigration operations yesterday after a Red CentreNATS event in Alice however all patients are receiv- and she was standing there pat- val of Wheels”, the event attracts year’s event is conducted as safely authorities in collecting the row with the government over Springs on Sunday, with footage ing the care they need.” Witness ting it all down,” he added. thousands of motoring enthu- as possible,” he told reporters. outstanding funds from tax. Suu Kyi, Myanmar face chorus of anger over Rohingya crisis

AFP ber when a small Rohingya group Retno Marsudi met Suu Kyi as yesterday, where armed police Yangon ambushed border posts, is the well as Myanmar’s army chief were deployed and the mission worst Rakhine has witnessed in General Min Aung Hlaing in cordoned off behind barbed wire. years with the UN saying Myan- Naypyidaw yesterday in a bid Pakistan’s foreign ministry akistani activist Yousafzai mar’s army may have committed to pressure the government to said it was “deeply concerned and Muslim countries in ethnic cleansing in its response. do more to alleviate the crisis. over reports of growing number PAsia led a growing chorus De facto leader Suu Kyi, a “Once again, violence, this hu- of deaths and forced displace- of criticism yesterday aimed at former political prisoner of My- manitarian crisis has to stop im- ment of Rohingya Muslims” and Myanmar and its civilian leader anmar’s junta, has come under mediately,” Indonesian President urged Myanmar to investigate Aung San Suu Kyi over the plight increasing fi re over her per- Joko Widodo told reporters on reports of atrocities against the of its Rohingya Muslim minority. ceived unwillingness to speak Sunday as he announced Retno’s community. Nearly 90,000 Rohingya have out against the treatment of the mission. Iranian foreign minister Javad fl ooded into Bangladesh in the Rohingya or chastise the military. Hours before Widodo spoke, a Zarif added in a recent tweet: past 10 days following an uptick She has made no public com- petrol bomb was thrown at My- “Global silence on continu- in fi ghting between militants and ment since the latest fi ghting anmar’s embassy in Jakarta while ing violence against #Rohingya Myanmar’s military in strife- broke out. “Every time I see the police there have previously dis- Muslims. Int’l action crucial to torn western Rakhine state. news, my heart breaks at the suf- Malala Yousafzai mantled two attempts to bomb prevent further ethnic cleansing The impoverished region bor- fering of the Rohingya Muslims the compound. Dozens demon- – UN must rally.” dering Bangladesh has been a in Myanmar,” Pakistani activist I am still waiting for my fellow strated in front of the embassy Muslim-majority Malay- crucible of communal tensions Yousafzai, who famously sur- Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi between Muslims and Buddhists vived being shot in the head by to do the same,” she added. for years, with the Rohingya the Taliban, said in a statement The growing crisis threatens Erdogan presses world leaders forced to live under apartheid- on Twitter. Myanmar’s diplomatic relations, like restrictions on movement “Over the last several years I particularly with Muslim-ma- Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan of a Turkish soldier. “You saw and citizenship. The recent vio- have repeatedly condemned this jority countries in Southeast Asia said yesterday he was pressing how villages have been burnt... Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi (left) with Myanmar lence, which kicked off last Octo- tragic and shameful treatment. where there is profound public world leaders to do more to help Humanity remained silent to the leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Naypyidaw. anger over the treatment of the Myanmar’s Rohingya Muslims, massacre in Myanmar.” He said Twin explosions rock Myanmar border area Rohingya. who face what he has described as Turkey would raise the issue at the sia has also seen public protests toriously abusive military, which The Maldives announced genocide. United Nations General Assembly since the latest round of violence under Myanmar’s junta-era con- Two blasts rocked a Myanmar ters reporters heard explosions yesterday that it was severing Nearly 400 people have been in New York later this month. As began. stitution is eff ectively independ- area near the Bangladeshi border and saw a black smoke rising near all trade ties with the country killed in northwest Myanmar over current head of the Organisation “We urge for calm and re- ent of any civilian oversight. yesterday, accompanied by the a Myanmar village. The latest vio- “until the government of Myan- the past week in insurgent attacks for Islamic Co-operation, Erdogan straint,” Prime Minister Najib The Rohingya are also widely sound of gunfire and thick black lence in Myanmar’s northwestern mar takes measures to prevent on security posts and an army had discussed the violence with Razak tweeted. “The dire situa- dismissed in Myanmar as Bang- smoke, as violence that has sent Rakhine state began on August the atrocities being committed crackdown. Aid agencies estimate around 20 world leaders. tion facing our Rohingya broth- ladeshi interlopers despite many nearly 90,000 Muslim Rohingya 25, when Rohingya insurgents against Rohingya Muslims”, the that 73,000 Rohingya have fled “There are some leaders we can ers and sisters must be alleviated tracing their lineage back genera- fleeing to Bangladesh showed no attacked dozens of police posts foreign ministry said in a state- to neighbouring Bangladesh from achieve results with and some that for good of Myanmar and region.” tions, making supporting them sign of easing. Bangladeshi bor- and an army base. The ensuing ment. It did not say say how Myanmar since violence erupted. we cannot. Not everyone has the Analysts have long warned hugely unpopular. der guards said a woman lost a clashes and a military counter- much trade took place between “You watched the situation that same sensitivity,” he said. “We will that Myanmar’s treatment of the But detractors say Suu Kyi is leg from a blast about 50m inside off ensive have killed at least 400 the two countries but it could Myanmar and Muslims are in,” do our duty,” Erdogan said, adding Rohingya would lead to home- one of the few people with the Myanmar and was carried into people and triggered the exodus prompt other Muslim nations to Erdogan said in Istanbul, where that Turkey was continuing to grown militancy. Defenders of mass appeal and moral authority Bangladesh to get treatment. Reu- of villagers to Bangladesh. follow suit. he was attending the funeral deliver aid to the region. Suu Kyi say she is limited in her to swim against the tide on the Indonesia’s foreign minister ability to control Myanmar’s no- issue. Gulf Times Tuesday, September 5, 2017 7 BRITAIN/IRELAND

PEOPLE PROPOSAL ANGER REPORT TRAVEL TV presenter gets two-year Nurses could be first to Tory MEP obtains Irish Electric vehicle owners Uber rival Taxify ban for drink-driving benefit from pay cap easing passport in Brexit protest warned of ‘charge rage’ starts in London

Television presenter Kirsty Gallacher has admitted Ministers are considering putting London’s A pro-EU Tory politician has secured an London could face “charge rage” as drivers of A Chinese-backed European rival to Uber will drink-driving after being caught at more than three army of nurses first in the queue for higher pay Irish passport over his disgust about Brexit, electric cars struggle to find charging points, launch in London today, the Standard revealed. times the legal limit. The Sky Sports presenter, when the cap on public sector awards is eased, saying he is “ashamed to be British in many it was claimed yesterday. A report by City Hall Taxify, which operates in 19 countries across 41, was arrested in Eton, Berkshire, the day after sources revealed yesterday. They are looking into ways”. Conservative MEP Charles Tannock Tories reveals a potential dramatic shortage of Europe, Africa and the Middle East, runs via she had been drinking, Slough magistrates heard. whether a regional pay boost would help major has confirmed he obtained the Irish passport charging points — with just one available for an app in a similar way to Uber but claims it She was on her way to meet her children to visit hospitals and other public bodies that cannot fill because his grandmother was born in every 15 cars by 2031. A Tory spokesman said: off ers cheaper fares and charges drivers less. Its Windsor Castle on August 12. She received a two- posts because of the higher costs of living in the Dublin. The representative for London in the “Drivers in London could face bouts of ‘charge founder, 23-year-old Markus Villig, created the year driving ban and was ordered to carry out 100 region. Decisions have not yet been taken but the European parliament is one of thousands of rage’ if the predicted demand for electric car app from his parents’ home in Tallinn, Estonia, hours of unpaid community work. Gallacher, who regional implications are being discussed with the British people who have been applying for charging points is not met. Drivers in the US because he was tired of having to wait a long is divorced from former rugby union player Paul Treasury ahead of moves this autumn to relax the Irish passports since the UK voted to leave have already been involved in heated disputes time for ordinary cabs. He said the market was Sampson, was seen driving her BMW X4 erratically seven-year cap on public sector salaries. A report the EU last year. He said his interest in his as they compete over a shortage of points.” The ripe for a competitor, and claimed Taxify is 10% before police tracked her down using CCTV. Her yesterday said the Treasury could announce new Irish heritage “has been awakened by Brexit report, Clearing The Air, urges Mayor Sadiq Khan cheaper for passengers than Uber and that alcohol level was found to be 106mg per 100ml of pay rules later this month allowing pay rises in line because, to be honest, I am quite ashamed to to invest £30mn in rapid-charging points which thousands of his rival’s drivers are shifting to his breath. The legal limit is 35mg per 100ml of breath. with inflation, currently 2.6%. be British in many ways”. can provide an 80% top-up in 30 minutes. firm.

Queen opens new Queensferry Crossing Third baby on way for royal couple

London Evening Standard having another baby after Char- London lotte. By having more than two off - spring, William and Kate are fol- he Duke and Duchess of lowing in the footsteps of the Cambridge are expecting Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Ta third child, Kensington who had four children — although Palace announced yesterday. there was a gap of 10 years be- The Queen is said to be “de- tween their second child, Anne, lighted” by the news of the im- and third, Andrew. pending arrival of her latest great- The couple’s third child will grandchild, who will be fi fth in be born fi fth in line to the throne, line to the throne. The palace bumping Prince Harry out of the confi rmed that Kate is once again top fi ve and into sixth place. The suff ering the extreme form of Prince of Wales, 68, is fi rst in line, morning sickness, known as hy- followed by William, George and peremesis gravidarum, that she Charlotte. endured during her fi rst two preg- It is rare for a third-born royal nancies. The statement said: “The child to end up as monarch and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge there has been no instance so far are very pleased to announce in the House of Windsor. How- that the Duchess of Cambridge ever, William IV, a Hanoverian is expecting their third child. The king who ruled from 1830 to 1837, Queen Elizabeth cuts the ribbon during the off icial opening ceremony for the Queensferry Crossing, a new road bridge spanning the Firth of Forth from Queensferry to Queen and members of both fami- was a third child, of George III and North Queensferry, in Queensferry, west of Edinburgh, yesterday. The new crossing is the longest three-tower, cable-stayed bridge in the world, and unlike the existing lies are delighted with the news.” Queen Charlotte. bridge, is expected to remain open in all weathers. The baby will be a sibling to He acceded to the throne when George, born in 2013, and his sister his older brother, George IV, died Charlotte, who was born in 2015. without an heir. William IV be- Kate is expected to return to the came heir apparent at the age of private delivery suite at the Lindo 62 when his other older brother, wing of St Mary’s Hospital, Pad- George III’s second child, Freder- dington, where George and Char- ick, Duke of York, died. lotte were born. With Kate’s previous two preg- Yesterday’s announcement nancies, the couple announced comes during the fi nal prepa- them before 12 weeks because of rations for George’s fi rst day at the Duchess being unwell with Last-ditch talks to restore school in Battersea on Thursday. It hyperemesis gravidarum. also follows the 20th anniversary She is being cared for at Ken- of the death of Prince William’s sington Palace, today’s statement mother, Diana. said. The announcement was The Duchess, 35, dropped a hint made after the couple were forced that the couple were planning a to abandon a visit to the Hornsey Stormont govt set to begin third child during a visit to Poland Road Children’s Centre in Isling- in July, when she may already ton. Reuters ment on reforming the devolved want to go back into government return of devolution and O’Neill by a support agreement with the have been pregnant. After A spokeswoman from Family Belfast administration since its collapse again,” DUP leader Arlene Foster said there were two small win- DUP. being given a cuddly toy, she Action, which runs the nurs- in January. said yesterday. dows in September and October The British and Irish govern- turned to William and said: ery, said the team were “ab- Formal talks broke down in July. Sinn Fein’s Northern Ireland to reach a deal. ments, who are facilitating the “We will just have to have solutely thrilled” at the news. orthern Ireland’s two Each has blamed the other for leader Michelle O’Neill reiter- Sinn Fein has said they would talks, have warned that failing to more babies.” Kate is today due to join main political parties missing repeated deadlines. ated that it needed a full imple- not stand for direct rule from reach an agreement would have In contrast, William, her husband and Prince Nwill resume talks this Continued failure would force mentation of earlier agreements London, while the DUP have said “profound and serious” implica- also 35, was asked on a trip Harry in a visit to the week to try to restore the prov- the British government to bypass between the parties — improved they believe local lawmakers are tions and limit Northern Ireland’s to Singapore in 2012 how newly established ince’s power-sharing govern- the regional assembly and revert rights for Irish language speakers best placed to govern the region. infl uence in Brexit negotiations. many children he would like Royal Foundation ment and avoid a return to direct to direct rule from London for the and the legalisation of same-sex Britain’s Northern Ireland However no one predicts a re- to have. He replied he was Support4Grenfell rule from London. fi rst time in a decade, a move that marriage — before considering minister James Brokenshire also turn to the sectarian violence in “thinking about having two”. Community Hub, Both sides admitted there was could destabilise the political bal- returning to the local executive. has the option of calling an elec- which 3,600 died over three dec- Some had predicted that which provides little time left before Britain’s ance in the province. Both leaders agreed that time tion, the second this year, as a ades before a 1998 peace deal that the couple would have three mental health resources government would have to step “We do not believe there is was limited. means to try and break the dead- mandated the compulsory coali- children, although others said for the children, young in, something neither wants. a need to prolong these set of Foster said the British govern- lock. tion between pro-British protes- that the Duchess’s hyperem- people and families af- Irish nationalists Sinn Fein and talks. We think we should be able ment’s Northern Ireland minis- An added complication is that tants and nationalists who want esis gravidarum, a gruelling fected by the Grenfell the Democratic Unionist Party to come a determination pretty ter would have to take action in Britain’s minority Conservative Northern Ireland to join a united condition, could stop her fi re. (DUP) have failed to reach agree- quickly as to whether Sinn Fein October if there was no sign of a government is being propped up Ireland. McDonald’s workers Labour centrists warn of Corbyn ‘power grab’ stage fi rst ever UK strike September 24 to 27 include ex- London Evening Standard London pediting deselections, plans for Guardian News and Media ployment conditions. And yet ance procedures. a second deputy leader to un- London at the same time they’ve had the The company, which employs dermine Tom Watson, and extra courage to come on strike. They’ve about 85,000 staff in the UK and eremy Corbyn has been places on the party’s ruling na- said: ‘We’ve had enough and we 1mn worldwide, announced in accused of attempting a tional executive committee. p to 200 people rallied need to negotiate.’ April that workers would be of- J“factional power grab” of Richard Angell, chairman of outside the Houses of “If I was McDonald’s manage- fered a choice of fl exible or fi xed Labour as another bitter split the pressure group Progress, UParliament in London ment I’d be listening very carefully contracts with minimum guaran- emerged between the Left and said: “What this conference will yesterday to protest against poor today. I’d contact the union and I’d teed hours, saying that 86% have Right wings of the party ahead show is whether Corbyn is seri- pay and conditions at McDon- get round that table.” chosen to stay on fl exible con- of its conference. ous about becoming prime min- ald’s as workers at the restaurant The Bakers, Food and Allied tracts. Centrist members hoping to ister and changing the country or staged their fi rst UK strike. Workers Union (BFAWU) said the “We’ve had that promise be- derail Corbyn’s plans for party focused on changing the Labour Employees, union workers and strike was being well supported. Its fore,” McDonnell said yesterday, reform are to stage rallies across Party. members of parliament, includ- general secretary, Ronnie Draper, “but it hasn’t been realised. The the country to galvanise support “Somebody who believes there ing the shadow chancellor, John told the rally they were the “heroes best security we can have is them against hard-Left activists. will be a general election before McDonnell, gathered on College and heroines” of their generation. recognising trade unions so griev- Sweeping reforms are set to Christmas or Brexit, or after- Green as part of an international Labour MP John Spellar said: ances can get resolved rather than include an attempt to pass the wards, could use this opportu- day of action yesterday. “It’s not a one-off issue. It’s not strike action.” “McDonnell amendment”, which nity to have one strong message About 40 staff from McDon- just about wages … it’s about being Other speakers included a choir would lower the number of MPs for the British public being ready ald’s restaurants in Cambridge treated with respect and not being dressed up as the McDonald’s and MEPs needed to get a candi- for power, and have a blistering and Crayford, south-east London, bullied.” mascot Ronald McDonald, who date on the ballot paper in lead- attack on the Tory government. walked out over the multi-billion Members of other trade unions called themselves the Evil Ron- ership elections. “Instead they might focus on dollar company’s use of zero-hour joined early-morning picket lines alds. Lorna McKinnon, 24, and Currently 15% of MPs and changing the party and use it as a contracts and lack of union recog- outside the two restaurants, while Toni Bruce, 26, both workers in the MEPs are needed to nominate factional power grab. And that’s nition. the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, services industry in Glasgow, per- a candidate. Shadow chancel- what’s going to become clear in Addressing the crowd, McDon- off ered his backing. formed a spoken word piece and lor John McDonnell has long the coming weeks.” nell paid tribute to everyone who The workers are calling for a commended fast food worker’s pushed for it to be reduced to 5%, A source close to Corbyn said: had come out in action or solidar- wage of at least £10 an hour and ability to organise themselves. because hard-Left candidates “Some of the language and ap- ity, calling them an “absolute in- more secure working hours. “We think what the guys in struggle to get on the nomina- proach of these groups can be, spiration”. McDonald’s said those taking Cambridge and Crayford are do- tion paper. at times, unfortunate, but there He told the Guardian: “These action represented 0.01% of its ing is utterly inspiring,” McKinnon Other topics that centrist is nothing wrong with diff erent are workers who are extremely workforce, adding that the dispute said. “Not just for fast food work- Protesters demonstrate in support of workers at British McDonald’s MPs fear will be put to a vote at parts of our party putting for- vulnerable in terms of their em- was related to its internal griev- ers but for every worker.” near the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday. the conference in Brighton from ward their ideas”. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, September 5, 2017 EUROPE

Poland wants Turkey: Europe heading talks with Germany for fascism and violence on WWII DPA/AFP Cavusoglu said in televised re- “Germany should not have kara during the refugee crisis of Relations are also tense over “discrimination and racism”. payout Istanbul marks from Slovenia, where he come to this line,” Cavusoglu 2015. the imprisonment of German Germany’s problems were ig- attended a meeting. “What are said. “I hope they will turn back Cavusoglu was among a wave citizens in Turkey, including two nored and Turkey was attacked they? Brutality, as well as fas- from the path they have taken.” of Turkish offi cials to criticise journalists and a human rights instead during the debate, Kalin AFP urope is reverting to the cism and violence, intolerance On Twitter, Cavusoglu said: Germany following the debate worker. said, adding this was a sign of Warsaw values it had before World and wiping out each other.” “The elections are being held in between Merkel and Schulz, Berlin is demanding their re- European short-sightedness. EWar II, Turkish Foreign With less than three weeks Germany, not in Turkey. German during which Merkel said she lease along with others who the He accused Berlin of support- Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said to go until Germany’s national politicians seem to have forgot- was in favour of suspending pre- German government says are ing “putschists and terrorists”. oland and Germany should yesterday, one day after the main elections on September 24, ten this fact.” accession fi nancial assistance to being held for political reasons. Kalin said it did not matter hold “serious talks” about candidates for German chancel- Chancellor Angela Merkel and Turkey’s foreign ministry is- Turkey. Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesman who won the election in Ger- PWorld War II reparations, lor took hardline stances against her main rival Martin Schulz sued a statement that German The aid amounts to some for Turkish President Recep many this month because it was the Polish foreign minister said EU membership for Turkey dur- clashed during a debate on Sun- and Austrian leaders were at the €600mn ($713mn) per year, and Tayyip Erdogan, posted nine “clear which mentality will win”. yesterday. ing a televised debate. day over the issue of Turkey and forefront of eff orts to exclude ending it would eff ectively end messages on Twitter saying Erdogan has previously called “We should sit down to seri- “At the moment, Europe is refugees, with both politicians Turkey from the European Un- membership talks. that German political currents on people of Turkish origin in ous talks with the Germans and returning to the values it had calling for an end to Turkey’s EU ion, saying European leaders Schulz outright called for ac- are rife with populism and poli- Germany not to vote for the together think about how to deal before the second World War,” membership negotiations. “chased” after offi cials in An- cession talks to be stopped. cies of marginalisation, fuelling main three parties. with the issue” of reparations, Witold Waszczykowski told the local commercial RMF radio sta- tion. “How can we deal with the fact that Germany’s 1939 at- Merkel pledges to double tack (on Poland) and unresolved post-war issues still cast a shadow on Polish-German rela- tions?” he said. funds to clean up city air Warsaw was “preparing” its formal position on WWII repa- rations, Waszczykowski said, Reuters at which car bosses agreed to coming from the federal govern- without specifying when it Berlin overhaul 5.3mn diesel cars to cut ment, although she said the auto would be made public. emissions, and set up a fund of industry could also be asked to “The fact is that Poland was €500mn to help cities limit pol- increase the €250mn it pledged destroyed during the war, terri- erman Chancellor Angela lution. last month. ble crimes were committed here, Merkel announced plans Merkel, who was on holiday “We should do everything and we have received no com- Gyesterday to double to when the summit took place, possible to avoid driving bans. pensation for that,” he said. €1bn ($1.19bn) a fund aimed at had faced criticism for not tak- We are all agreed we need an On Saturday Polish Interior cleaning up urban transport, in ing the lead in eff orts to cut pol- enormous eff ort,” Merkel told Minister Mariusz Blaszczak said an eff ort to avert bans of diesel lution in major cities in Germa- a joint news conference with Warsaw could claim $1tn from vehicles in some cities. ny, where courts are threatening mayors of major cities. Germany. With an election due later this to ban diesel cars if emissions do Another meeting with the Poland’s right-wing govern- month, Merkel has come under not fall. auto industry will be held after ment disputes the validity of fi re for her close ties to Ger- As the election campaign the election, she said. a 1953 resolution by Warsaw’s many’s powerful auto industry heats up, Merkel has toughened The prospect of diesel bans A demonstrator wearing a mask featuring a likeness of Chancellor Merkel distributes masks during a then communist authorities, and for failing to crack down on her stance, lashing out at auto has unnerved drivers in Germa- protest outside the chancellery in Berlin yesterday, before Merkel was due to meet with the heads of who dropped claims against vehicle pollution after Volkswa- executives and urging them to do ny and prompted a slide in sales. German municipalities to discuss improving electric car infrastructure and reducing air pollution. Germany, insisting the deal was gen admitted to cheating on US more to win back trust lost since Registrations of new diesel struck under the diktat of the emissions tests. the emissions scandal. cars fell 13.8% in August to a ments would be able to tap into electric cars, traffi c control sys- and Stuttgart warned that the Soviet Union. Yesterday she met city may- Merkel said yesterday that share of 37.7%, the KBA motor the fund to pay for a range of tems and more effi cient delivery authorities would have to move Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the pow- ors and regional leaders in a fol- the fund would now be doubled vehicle authority said yesterday. projects, including better public networks. fast to cut emissions or risk erful leader of Poland’s govern- low-up to a summit last month to €1bn, with the extra €500mn Merkel said local govern- transport, charging stations for However, mayors for Berlin courts imposing driving bans. ing conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party, has accused Germa- ny of shirking its responsibility Four arrested over for the massive war-time dam- age it infl icted on his country. double rape attack Six million Polish citizens, French schools cut class sizes for deprived areas including around 3mn of Jewish Four migrants – three minors and origin, were killed under Nazi a 20-year-old refugee – have been German occupation between arrested in Italy in connection AFP In Corbeil-Essonnes near 1939 and 1945. to a double rape attack on the Paris Paris, an AFP reporter found The capital Warsaw was virtu- beachside resort of Rimini. pupils and teachers mostly ally razed to the ground. The group is accused of having happy with the new measures According to a survey by the assaulted, in the early hours undreds of French at the Quatre Vents school independent Ibris pollsters pub- of August 26, a Polish couple, schools in deprived ar- which sits near high-rise hous- lished late last month, 51% of beating the man and raping Heas began implement- ing blocks. Poles oppose any reparations the woman, and then raping a ing yesterday one of the key “The messing around is fi n- claims against Germany, while Peruvian transgender prostitute. campaign promises of Presi- ished now,” joked Djamel Ab- 24% believe claims ought to be Italian police said in a Sunday dent Emmanuel Macron: cut- bas, a 44-year-old Algerian made. Twitter message that they ting class sizes to only 12 pupils who dropped his son off yes- The talk of reparations comes apprehended “the presumed in a bid to raise standards. terday morning. “The slightest as the PiS government faces leader of the gang” at Rimini’s Schools in designated “pri- noise and the teacher will hear heavy fi re both at home and train station. ority” areas around the coun- it.” abroad since taking offi ce in 2015 “He was trying to escape via try, where educational achieve- The smaller class sizes are for a slew of reforms that critics train,” they added. ment is historically low and also expected to help teachers say erode democratic standards Italian media named him as poverty high, have slashed their handle the challenge of teach- and the rule of law. 20-year-old Guerlin Butungo from class sizes for pupils between ing foreign-born pupils for French President Emmanuel the Congo. aged fi ve to six. whom French is a second lan- Macron said last month that The first two suspects, two A total of 2,500 classes have guage. Poland was going “against Eu- brothers from Morocco aged 15 been reduced to a maximum of Education Minister Jean- ropean interests”, while German and 16, turned themselves in on 12 pupils instead of a current 25, Michel Blanquer has promised Chancellor Angela Merkel called Saturday. as promised by Macron during that the reduced class sizes Poland a “serious issue”. They were previously known to his election campaign to help model will be rolled out to cover The EU launched legal action police for theft and drug dealing tackle inequality in the system. two school years in all desig- in July against the government off ences. Macron, a 39-year-old cen- nated “priority” areas for pu- over reforms that it fears will They helped police arrest the trist elected in May, spent a Macron speaks with pupils during his visit yesterday to a school in Forbach, eastern France, at the pils aged fi ve to eight. limit judicial independence. others, including a 17-year- few hours yesterday in class in start of the new school year. Polls show voters already Polish Prime Minister Beata old from Nigeria caught on eastern France for the fi rst day becoming disenchanted with Szydlo also rejected claims that Saturday, the Il Resto del Carlino of the new school year after the (OECD), France is 27th, below meracy among 15-year-olds, are in a worrying situation and their new leader. her government’s actions were newspaper and other media said. summer holidays. Germany at 16th and far behind shows that the French system they are mostly children from A YouGov France survey gradually pushing Poland out of The two brothers “could no According to a global ranking Estonia, which is the highest- produced highly unequal re- disadvantaged backgrounds,” published yesterday showed his the EU, calling the allegations longer bear the weight [...] of their of education levels carried out ranked European country at sults, serving high-achieving an education expert from the approval rating falling to 30% “the greatest of lies, a horrible dramatic and violent actions”, by the Paris-based think-tank third. students well while failing to OECD, Eric Charbonnier, told in August, down from 36% a manipulation” and insisting that Rimini police chief Maurizio Organisation for Economic Co- The research by the OECD, prepare those at the bottom. Le Parisien newspaper yester- month earlier and 43% in late “we want to be in the EU, we Improta told reporters. operation and Development which tests literacy and nu- “Twenty per cent of pupils day. June. value it”.

Another charity stops migrant rescues Suspect admits missing child ‘got into car’

Reuters no longer work safely because of overcrowded warehouses with AFP dashboard of the vehicle, which DNA trace came to be on the son, who lives with his parents a Rome the hostile stance of the Libyan little food, no healthcare and no Lyon was parked next to the venue and dashboard, saying it could have few kilometres from Pont-de- authorities. idea of when they will be freed, was cleaned the day after the cel- been “transferred” there by Beauvoisin, was innocent. That leaves Proactiva Open Catrambone said. ebrations. someone who had contact with “He’s a good boy who wouldn’t Malta-based humani- Arms, Sea Watch and SOS Med- “It’s all too confused right he man charged with kid- The suspect has denied any the child. hurt a soul,” said the wom- tarian group that has iterranee still running rescue now, and this confusion is not napping a nine-year-old wrongdoing, saying that Maelys The disappearance of Maelys, an, who was not identifi ed by Abeen rescuing migrants operations. good for those people who pay TFrench girl who went briefl y got into the car with an- who was wearing a white dress name, accusing the authorities in the Mediterranean for three Yesterday the Aquarius, op- the price with their lives,” she missing during a wedding in the other child and later returned to and carrying a toy on the night of “hounding him because they years said yesterday that it was erated by SOS Mediterranee said. “We no longer have a defi - Alps has admitted that she got the party. of the wedding, has caused shock have to fi nd a culprit”. suspending operations after with MSF medical staff , was the nite knowledge that they will into his car but denies abducting “The little girl and a little boy in the Isere, a tranquil region of Bernard, a retired neighbour months of rising tensions with only rescue ship in the Mediter- be taken to a safe port, and we her, his lawyer said yesterday. approached the car, next to which mountains, woods and lakes. who gave only his fi rst name, told Italian and Libyan authorities. ranean. don’t want to rescue migrants Maelys de Araujo vanished on he (the suspect) was smoking Sniff er dogs lost her scent in AFP that he often met the sus- The Migrant Off shore Aid MOAS’s Phoenix rescue ship and then be forced to return Sunday, August 27, in the south- a cigarette. Given there been a the car park outside the wedding pect out walking his dogs and had Station (MOAS), the fi rst pri- was ready yesterday to depart them to Libya, giving them a eastern village of Pont-de-Beau- conversation during the evening venue, raising fears she was kid- “very good relations” with him. vately-funded rescue ship in for the Bay of Bengal, where it false hope.” voisin, where she was attending a about his dogs, the two children napped and whisked away by car. France Info radio reported that the Mediterranean, is the fourth will conduct sea rescues of Ro- Since 2014, MOAS has res- wedding with her parents. asked to see whether they were in Scores of police search and he was a former soldier. group to stop patrols along the hingya, the Muslim minority cued or assisted 40,000 mi- A 34-year-old local man, who the car,” his lawyer Bernard Mer- rescue teams, divers and cavers The suspect was taken into world’s deadliest border for mi- fl eeing Myanmar, Regina Cat- grants in the Mediterranean. was among the guests, was re- aud told AFP. spent last week combing the area custody last week along with grants in the past month. rambone, who founded MOAS This year, NGOs have also manded in custody on Sunday on The children climbed into the for her while offi cers questioned a friend over inconsistencies Last month, Doctors Without with her husband, Chris, told faced accusations in Sicily that charges of “kidnapping, illegal back seat, peeked into the boot, all the wedding guests. in their account of the night’s Borders (MSF, Medecins sans Reuters by telephone. they were colluding with people confi nement or arbitrary deten- and then seeing there were no Several hundred residents or- events. Frontieres) followed by Save the MOAS does not want to risk smugglers, fuelling a political tion” after her DNA was found in dogs, “got out again and every- ganised another search at the The pair were later released. Children and Germany’s Sea having to take migrants back fi restorm over Italy’s immigra- his car. one returned to the community weekend, to no avail. On Sunday, he was re-arrested Eye all suspended operations. to Libya, where they are locked tion policy before a national The DNA was found mixed hall”, Meraud said. Speaking to France’s RTL radio, after the police uncovered more They said their crews could up for months or even years in election early next year. in with that of the driver on the He did not explain how the the suspect’s mother insisted her evidence. Gulf Times Tuesday, September 5, 2017 9

INDIA

Tamil Nadu Mamata slams CBI aft er Trinamool lawmaker dies of cardiac arrest

Roundup West Bengal Chief Minister Rs100,000 to Rs150,000... he “The ruling party at the Centre of one of her colleague? Such said before putting the blame claimed. By Umaima Shafiq Mamata Banerjee alleged that was under extreme stress... it was not able to compete behaviour from a chief minister on the CBI, Banerjee should “Thousands of opposition party her party MP Sultan Ahmed, who was not his age to die... we are all politically. In the name of an is extremely unfortunate and consider the situation of activists have been jailed here in died yesterday, had been “under very saddened,” Banerjee said investigation, he was put under condemnable. It does not suit “thousands of prisoners who false cases under the leadership extreme stress” as he was being at the State Secretariat after an pressure for the last seven-10 someone in her position,” said have been put behind bars of Banerjee. If she can hold the Minister’s probed by the Central Bureau administrative review. months,” Bakshi claimed. BJP national secretary Rahul for supporting the opposition CBI interrogation responsible of Investigation in the Narada Ahmed, a sitting Lok Sabha However, condemning Sinha. parties”. for Ahmed’s death, what can she daughter forced scam. The chief minister also member of the Trinamool Banerjee’s statement, the “Ahmed’s death is unfortunate. “I was an old friend of Ahmed say about the torture of those to quit key post accused the agency of slapping Congress, died yesterday Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Our party neither supports and felt extremely sorry at the people?” he asked. a notice even after Ahmed’s following a massive cardiac leadership alleged the state nor indulges in such politics news of his demise. However, Left Front legislative party death. arrest. He was 64. chief minister was doing politics over someone’s dead body,” he the statement made by the chief leader Sujan Chakraborty R Suganya, the daughter of ex-min- “I got information that when his Trinamool leader Subrata Bakshi over the death of a colleague. added. minister is baseless. In 1996, termed Ahmed’s death as ister K P Raju of the ruling AIADMK dead body was being taken, a said Ahmed was put under “How can someone sitting in State Congress president Adhir Banerjee herself termed Ahmed “unfortunate” but he refused (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra CBI notice was served. There pressure in the “name of an the position of a chief minister, Chowdhury termed Banerjee’s as an anti-social and did a lot of to make any comments on Kazhagam) political party, has was some Narada case of investigation”. do politics with the dead body allegations as “baseless” and propaganda against him,” he Banerjee’s allegations. resigned her post as CEO of the government-operated Coimbatore Smart City Projects Ltd, within a month of her appointment. Suganya claimed she was quitting due to personal reasons. However Rahul attacks Modi several politicians, local business- men and social activists had accused her of nepotism. They submitted petitions to the district collector that she was not suitable Probe opens as for the post and had been chosen over more qualified candidates, ow- ing to her father’s influence. The Smart Cities project is a federal government initiative to refurbish about 100 Indian cities with im- 30 infants die proved infrastructure, education, medical and culture and tourism facilities. The project will be part- funded by the federal government, while the remaining will be financed from state exchequers and through crowd funding. in hospital ‘for Online game ‘claims another student’s life’ lack of oxygen’

A 19-year-old college student Agencies A district magistrate on P Nadda and his ministry “who hanged himself at his house in New Delhi Wednesday ordered the inquiry have been criminally complicit in Vilacheri, Madurai. It was claimed into the deaths of the infants, ignoring the entire episode”. the youth was influenced by online after media reports linked some He also asked if Modi will take game Blue Whale Challenge. Police olice are investigating deaths to oxygen shortages. “decisive action” against chief found Vignesh had carved the whether 30 infants died He also ordered action against ministers and health ministers shape of a whale on his left arm Pfor lack of oxygen in a all the doctors involved in the of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and using a sharp object and written northern state-run hospital, the deaths. other Bhartiya Janata Party-ruled blue whale beneath it in blue ink. He second case within a month in The district’s chief medi- states, where people were dying also left a suicide note saying it was which medical supply shortages cal superintendent, Dr Akhilesh due to H1N1. a dangerous game and one cannot have been blamed for the deaths Agarwal, denied there had been “Criminal negligence of the come out of it. of dozens of children. any lack of oxygen. BJP governments has completely The game, allegedly of Russian ori- An underfunded, poorly man- The hospital saved 121 of the decimated the health structure in gin, challenges players to nearly 50 aged public health system is in 145 infants admitted in critical India. tasks like listening to weird music, the spotlight after more than condition following their birth “Every day deaths of children waking up at odd hours, watching 60 children died in August in a elsewhere, he added. and elders that are taking place horror movies, inflicting self-injuries public hospital in Uttar Pradesh, “The rest died since their con- has exposed the lacklustre at- and finally committing suicide. amid accusations that oxygen ditions were critical,” he said. titude and criminal neglect of Vignesh’s parents have demanded supplies ran out because of un- Nineteen more babies were health of children by BJP gov- justice. The Tamil Nadu police have paid bills. born dead in the government hos- ernments,” he said, adding that issued a state wide notice against Police launched an investi- pital, and the six remaining, from the latest example is the pain- the game, warning parents and gation yesterday in the latest the tally of 49 in the government ful deaths of 49 children in Ut- teachers to monitor children’s on- case after a government report report, died of unspecifi ed causes, tar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad, while line activities and social behaviour. blamed the chief medical offi cer he added, without elaborating. deaths in Gorakhpur have reached Police are also investigating how and doctors at another institu- The government spends about 357. the game is downloaded. tion in the state, Ram Manohar 1% of its GDP on public health, “Only in the last 24 hours, 13 Lohia hospital, for the deaths of among the lowest in the world. more children have died in Gora- 30 children. Successive governments have khpur,” he added. Man kills wife in The infants died of “perinatal faced criticism for not reforming Noting that in Rajasthan’s child name row asphyxia” at the newborn care the overburdened public health Banswara, 86 children have died unit of the hospital in the state’s system which is still plagued with in the past 53 days and 236 chil- A-25-year-old woman was beaten to Farrukhabad district between a shortage of doctors and dilapi- dren so far this year, while in death at Podanur, Coimbatore, by July 21 and August dated infrastructure. Jharkhand, 133 children died in her husband for naming their baby 20, police said. In recent years, Prime Minister the last 28 days, Surjewala de- against his wishes. “The probe offi cer was told by Narendra Modi’s government has manded to know who should be Edwina, a postgraduate English mothers that the hospital did not increased health spending and held responsible for “this utter teacher at a local academy, had insert oxygen pipes (into infants’ vowed to make healthcare more negligence and criminal neglect married D Murali at Gandhipuram. windpipes) after birth, and prop- aff ordable. of health of our children?” However, the couple soon began er medication was also not giv- Meanwhile, alleging criminal “In Farrukhabad, children are to quarrel over their diff erent en,” police said in the complaint, negligence by the BJP state gov- stated to have died again on ac- faiths. The couple recently became quoting the government report. ernments, the Congress yester- count of lack of oxygen and medi- parents of a baby girl. Murali was The investigation suggested day demanded a statement from cation. Will the prime minister angry with Edwina over the baby’s that 30 of a total of 49 children Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the health ministry wake up Christian name and after one of died of perinatal asphyxia, police over the deaths of children and from their slumber?” he asked. many quarrels he strangled Edwina Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi yesterday accused the Modi government of promoting added in the complaint. urged him to take action on the The party also raised the issue to death. He alerted the police the crony capitalism at a heavy cost to the small and medium industry, as he kicked off the Gujarat This condition is caused by a issue. of children dying due to H1N1 in next day, claiming Edwina had died election campaign with a dialogue with the party rank and file. “The debt of farmers in Gujarat is reduced level of oxygen in infants Party spokesperson Randeep diff erent parts of the country, while nursing the baby. However, he to the tune of Rs360bn but Tata Nano has been given Rs600bn loan at 0.01%,” Gandhi told a huge just before, during or after deliv- Singh Surjewala asked if the saying it has reached epidemic confessed to the crime after police gathering of party activists at the Sabarmati riverfront in Ahmedabad yesterday. ery, depriving them of the ability prime minister will take action proportions as 1,260 people have interrogated him. to breathe freely. against Union Health Minister J lost their lives till August.

New ministers assume Onam celebrations Brit held for abusing charge, spell out priorities three blind children IANS Cottage at Ampney Crusis in the IANS Puri, the minister of state (in- we have been able to lay down the New Delhi United Kingdom, had worked New Delhi dependent charge) for housing foundation for skill development with a Gurgugram-based MNC and urban aff airs, said he would in the country. We will now work till April 2017. give his best to meet the targets. towards bringing scale and speed 54-year-old British na- His mobile phone contained day after the Union Cabi- “The urban housing and de- to this programme by bringing tional working as a vol- objectionable video clippings fea- net’s expansion and re- velopment challenges are daunt- convergence and co-ordination Aunteer with an NGO for turing minors, which were under Ashuffl e, new ministers as ing and transformative. I intend with states, departments and visually impaired children was investigation, the offi cer added. well as old ones elevated or re- to give my best to meet the tar- private institutions,” he said. arrested on the charge of sexu- “Ward was sent by a Patiala shuffl ed assumed charge of their gets under various new urban Hegde, who assumed charge ally abusing three minors in south House court to two-day police new responsibilities yesterday missions,” Puri said. as the junior minister in the min- Delhi, police said yesterday. custody. We are questioning him and spelled out their priorities He said the priorities for the istry, said they will draw a proper Booked under the Protection of as to how long he had been abus- ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha urban sector had already been road map to bring effi ciency in Children Against Sexual Off ences ing the blind minors,” he added. elections. outlined by Prime Minister the skill ecosystem. (POCSO) Act, Murray Denis Ward Ward had suff ered a paralytic Those who assumed charge of Narendra Modi and he would K J Alphons, who took charge was later sent to two-day police attack in February 2017 and was their new responsibilities were work on them. as minister of state for tourism custody by a local court. under treatment since then, the Piyush Goyal, Uma Bharti, Ra- He said there were two sets of (independent charge) said the The police said Ward was a fre- police offi cer added. jyavardhan Singh Rathore, K J targets – some to be achieved by Bharatiya Janata Party had no quent visitor to the National Asso- According to an NGO offi cial, Alphons, Santosh Kumar Gang- 2019 and others by 2022. plans to impose a food code or ciation for Blind (NAB) premises in who did not wish to be named, the war, Giriraj Singh, Mahesh Shar- “If challenges are not met food emergency in any state, in- R K Puram for the past 8-9 years. crime came to light around 5pm on ma, Sudarshan Bhagat, Anant- in two years, they can’t be met cluding his native state Kerala. He used to teach English and help Saturday when a security guard kumar Hegde, Virendra Kumar, even in six years. Going by the “It is absolutely untrue. Kerala students in sports activities. spied Ward behaving inappropri- Satya Pal Singh, Mukhtar Ab- progress on ground, they can be is a beef-eating state. It is not “We received a complaint from ately with three visually impaired bas Naqvi, Gajendra Singh and met,” he said. going to stop eating beef. It will the NAB management on Sun- children in a room. The guard in- Krishna Raj. Puri later reviewed the Prad- continue to eat beef. The BJP day regarding sexual harassment formed senior NGO offi cials. Petroleum Minister Dhar- han Mantri Awas Yo jana (urban). doesn’t have a problem,” Al- of minor children on the NAB “The NGO management took mendra Pradhan, who got a pro- Pradhan, who assumed charge phons told NDTV. premises in Sector 5 of R K Puram. the children into confi dence to motion and additional respon- as skill development minister, The only Christian to be part He was arrested from his fl at in verify facts and decided to ter- sibility of the skill development told the media that his respon- of the National Democratic Alli- south Delhi’s Vasant Enclave area. minate Ward’s services imme- ministry, laid emphasis on scale sibility was to steer India’s skill ance government, the former In- Investigation revealed that he diately. Ward was asked to leave and speed while former diplomat mission and he would seek to de- dian Administrative Service of- People watch an event during Onam festivities at Thrikkakara in had abused three minor blind in- the NGO premises. The manage- and new Minister of State Hard- liver to Modi’s expectations. fi cer said he would act as a bridge Kochi yesterday. Onam is the annual harvest festival celebrated mates,” deputy commissioner of ment also registered a First In- eep Singh Puri spoke of targets to “This is a policy-driven min- between the prime minister and by people from Kerala. police Ishwar Singh said. formation Report against Ward achieve housing for all by 2022. istry and in the last three years the Christian community. Ward, a resident of Henely on Sunday,” the NAB offi cial said. Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, September 5, 2017 LATIN AMERICA 3-tonne guacamole creates new record

Reuters from Mexico’s growing expanse of orchards. Jalisco Concepcion De Buenos Aires, Mexico has become the second biggest producer of the Hass variety in Mexico behind Michoacan state, accord- ing to producers. he recipe for a record-breaking guacamole? More than 600 student chefs and 400 people 25,000 avocados and 1,000 people to mash from the rural town of Concepcion de Buenos Aires Tthem. prepared the traditional dish for thousands people, That is what avocado growers in Mexico’s Jalisco many of whom came from the Jalisco state capital state mobilised on Sunday to break the world record of Guadalajara. for the biggest guacamole, a whopping 3 tonnes of The state’s governor was on hand to receive rec- delicious dip made from “green gold”. The mass ognition from a representative of the Guinness mash-up was part entertainment and part poli- Book of World Records. ticking, as growers and Mexico make the point that US negotiators have said they want to include they — and the guacamole loving Americans — provisions to make it easier for US seasonal pro- have benefi ted from the North American Free Trade duce growers to be able to fi le anti-dumping cases Agreement that is now under threat from US Presi- against Mexico. That idea has been criticised by US dent Donald Trump. restaurants and retailers, who say it would drive up Negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the Unit- prices. Mexican growers of the fruit say US produc- ed States were meeting in the Mexican capital this tion of avocado could not meet demand. weekend to revamp the 23-year-old Nafta accord “The imports of avocados from Mexico have not that Trump has threatened to end if he does not get cost one single job to the domestic industry [in the concessions to curb a trade defi cit with Mexico. United States],” said Ramon Paz, the spokesman for Volunteers from a culinary school mash avocados as they attempt to set a new Guinness World Record for the largest serving of guacamole in Some 80% of US avocado consumption comes Michoacan’s growers. Concepcion de Buenos Aires, Jalisco, Mexico. Venezuela lawmaker Colombia, ELN rebels seeks help in Europe agree truce Venezuela’s opposition is Tomorrow, Borges, who leads Police last week found 205mn order to resist opposition pressure were killed this year in four months seeking the assistance of the opposition-dominated assem- bolivars — $61,000 at the offi cial for him to quit, amid an economic of anti-government protests. Ma- Reuters pipelines and other hostilities Europe’s elected leaders bly that President Nicolas Maduro exchange rate and $11,000 at the crisis that has caused shortages of duro says the crisis is a US-backed Bogota against the civilian population has eff ectively shut down, meets in black market rate — in a vehicle she food and medicine. conspiracy. will cease,” he added. AFP Berlin with Chancellor Angela Mer- owns. “I was ready to report that there Maduro will address the open- The two sides have long said Caracas kel, ahead of a stop in London for a The assembly’s number two offi - are human rights violations in Ven- ing day of a three-week UN Human olombia and the Marx- the Pope’s visit would be a good private meeting with Prime Minis- cial, Freddy Guevara said on Twitter ezuela; that it is a dictatorship, that Rights Council session on Septem- ist ELN rebel group said opportunity to call a ceasefi re. ter Theresa May. that he was with Borges on the trip there are 590 political prisoners; ber 11, a United Nations spokesman Cyesterday they have The government said details ne of Venezuela’s leading On Saturday, Lilian Tintori, an and brought along Tintori’s con- and that 53% of our children are said yesterday. agreed a bilateral ceasefi re that and verifi cation methods were opposition fi gures, national activist and wife of opposition cerns. malnourished,” she stressed Satur- Maduro’s government has been will run through mid-January still being fi nalised and that Oassembly leader Julio Borg- leader Leopoldo Lopez, said on Tintori, who has been sum- day. criticised by Washington, the Unit- 2018, just two days before Pope was why the ceasefi re did not es, was in Europe yesterday ahead Twitter that Venezuelan immigra- moned to appear in court today, has Tintori’s husband was sentenced ed Nations and major Latin Ameri- Francis arrives for a visit to the begin immediately. of meetings with European leaders tion offi cials confi scated her pass- denounced the investigation as an in 2015 to nearly 14 years in prison can nations for overriding Ven- Andean country. Despite the Quito-based for talks on Venezuela’s deadly po- port on orders from the chief pros- attempt to prevent her from speak- on charges of inciting deadly vio- ezuela’s opposition-led Congress, The National Liberation peace talks, which began in litical crisis, he said. Borges was due ecutor’s offi ce. ing out about the humanitarian cri- lence in street protests. cracking down on protests, jailing Army (ELN) rebel group, which February, the ELN has refused to meet with the leaders of France, The Venezuelan government, sis in Venezuela. In July, Lopez was moved to his hundreds of foes and failing to allow regularly bombs oil installa- to stop taking hostages for ran- Germany, Spain and Britain. which has denounced concerns She has said the money was for home and placed under house ar- the entry of foreign humanitarian tions and kidnaps for ransom, som, launching bomb attacks “The fi rst meeting Borges has is raised by Britain and other family emergencies, including the rest after spending nearly 3.5 years aid to ease a severe economic crisis. was founded by radical Cath- and extorting foreign oil and with French President Emmanuel countries over the action, says hospitalisation of an uninsured in a military prison. “We received a ‘note verbale’ to- olic priests in 1964 and cur- mining companies. Macron on Monday; then on Tues- she was barred from leaving the 100-year-old aunt. Venezuela is suff ering an eco- day that he is coming,” UN human rently is in peace talks with the A Russian-Armenian hos- day he will go to Madrid for a meeting country because she is under in- International powers accuse nomic crisis that has caused epic rights spokesman Rolando Gomez government to end 53 years of tage held by the group was with Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano vestigation for alleged corrup- Maduro of dismantling democracy food and medicine shortages. said. “He will be speaking at the war. killed in April while trying to Rajoy,” according to a statement. tion. by taking over state institutions in Prosecutors say some 130 people opening of the council session.” The ceasefi re will begin Oc- escape, a rebel commander tober 1 and fi nish January 12, in the country’s northwest- will the possibility for exten- ern jungle region told Reuters sions if it is respected, Presi- last week. The rebels regularly dent Juan Manuel Santos said halt pumping on the country’s Asylum for Moai statues in a televised speech. Cano-Limon oil pipeline with “The priority is to protect bomb attacks, often spilling citizens, so during this period, crude into nearby water sourc- kidnappings, attacks on oil es.

Brazil breaks up cocaine ring: police

Brazilian police fanned out across five states and the capital early yesterday to smash an international drugs traff icking ring that allegedly shipped six tonnes of cocaine to Europe in the last year alone. More than 800 off icers deployed to serve 127 arrest warrants and 190 search warrants in the operation centred on Latin America’s biggest city, Sao Paulo, police said in a statement. According to police, Sao Paulo served as the warehouse for cocaine from producing countries before the drug was sent by ship from the city’s port, Santos, to markets in Europe. Arrests were also being made in Minas Gerais, Santa Catarina, Parana, Rio Grande do Sul and the Federal District where the capital Brasilia is located. The investigation began in August 2016 after Brazilian law enforcement and the US Drug Enforcement Agency began looking into five drug seizures made over the previous year in Santos and at a shipment from Santos to a Russian port, police said. That probe led to the uncovering of a criminal web in Brazil and Europe that used Sao Paulo as its main hub. In the course of the next 12 months, Brazilian police say they made 14 cocaine seizures and were able to tip off A view of Moai statues at “Tongariki” bay at Easter Island, Chile. Members of the Papanui ethnic group approved the creation of a 700,000 square kilometres protected authorities in Belgium, Britain, Italy and Spain where shipments marine area for the protection of their ecosystem, according to the Chilean government. were being sent. In total, those seizures amounted to 5.9 tonnes of cocaine. Pope visits Colombia to boost peace process

Reuters Whether the rebels will secure sup- religious education at Boston College’s “The cool thing about rap is that it Vatican City port from Colombians, many of who School of Theology and Ministry, said sticks in your head easily.” revile them, remains to be seen. The the country was ready to begin a new The petite nun, 28, performs a rap peace accord, which was brokered by phase. interlude among the cheerful Latin ope Francis travels to Colombia Cuba and Norway, was initially rejected “The bishops of Colombia need to beats of the song Let’s Take The First this week to encourage a fl edg- by a less than 1% margin in a referen- play a new role in the peace process so Step. Pling peace process that ended half dum before being modifi ed and en- as to help create a political conscience,” The ensemble headhunted her after a century of war between a succession acted. he told Reuters. “I think the pope needs she won a reality-show competition of governments and the guerrilla group Like the rest of the country, Colom- to encourage the Church to be an active on television called Another Level. Farc but has left the country deeply di- bia’s Roman Catholic bishops were di- player in those conversations, in the re- The United Catholic Musicians vided. vided on their support of the deal, with construction of the social order.” hailed the naturalness of her rapping Francis, making his 20th foreign trip some saying it was too lenient to the Reconciliation is the main theme of and invited her to compose and per- as pontiff and his fi fth to his native Lat- guerrillas. The pope is expected to urge the trip and will be the emphasis for form the rap interlude. in America, will spend fi ve days in the them to put aside their diff erences dur- events on Friday in the city of Villavi- “Colombia welcomes you with open country, visiting the capital Bogota and ing his trip on September 6-10 and help cencio, south of Bogota. arms,” goes Maria Valentina’s rap. The the cities of Villavicencio, Medellin and the country move forward. A Colombian nun-turned-rapper in nun says she likes the rebellious spirit Cartagena. “The greatest task of the Church in sports sneakers will perform for Pope of rap. The Argentine pope had delayed ac- Colombia now is to help stem the po- Francis when he visits her country this For her, it chimes with Francis’s own cepting a government and Church in- larisation around the peace process week. call to the young to “make trouble”. vitation to visit Colombia, where about between the government and the guer- Maria Valentina de los Angeles is Maria Valentina also strums the 80% of the population is Catholic, until Nun Maria Valentina de los Angeles (L) during the recording of a music video in rillas,” said Archbishop Octavio Ruiz, a one of a group who will sing the offi cial ukelele and played rock guitar in her a viable peace process was under way. Cali, Colombia. She will sing a rap song to Pope Francis. Vatican offi cial and Colombian. “This is song for the Argentine pontiff ’s visit as youth. “My dream is to be a good nun. “He had wanted to go for a long time. a time for us to accept the grandeur of he greets the crowds. Making music is a second dream,” she Now the moment has come,” Vatican political party last week, a major step Under its 2016 peace deal with the forgiveness, to leave behind us this dark It is “an opportunity to show him says. spokesman Greg Burke said. in its transition into a civilian organi- government, most Farc fi ghters were period of war and blood. our love the way that we know, which “I want to make more recordings, Leftist Farc, by far Colombia’s big- sation after more than 50 years of war granted amnesty and allowed to par- Hosff man Ospino, a Colombian who is through music,” Maria Valentina, 28, but more than making people fall in gest rebel group, introduced its new that killed 220,000 people. ticipate in politics. is professor of pastoral theology and told AFP. love with my voice.” Gulf Times Tuesday, September 5, 2017 11 PAKISTAN

Conference of selected envoys begins today A three-day conference of selected Pakistani envoys will Brics nations name militant begin in Islamabad today for brainstorming on the important foreign policy issues, a media report said. According to details, the participants will discuss potential strengths of the foreign policy groups as regional concern and options available in view of the current geopolitical and By Michael Martina, Reuters which it has been a target. “We, in this regard, express Lashkar-e-Taiba is a militant and said it is itself a victim of would say that what has come regional situation. The concluding Xiamen, China Brazil, Russia, India, China concern on the security group based in Pakistan which attacks. of today acknowledges the fact session of the conference would and South Africa make up the situation in the region and India blames for cross-border Indian foreign ministry offi - that we must work collectively be chaired by Prime Minister Brics grouping. China has gen- violence caused by the attacks including the 2008 as- cial Preeti Saran told reporters in handling this.” Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Pakistan he leaders of the fi ve erally been supportive of its ally Taliban, (IS)..., Al Qaeda sault in its fi nancial capital on the sidelines of the summit China is a close ally of Pa- Today reported. emerging market Brics Pakistan in the past. and its affi liates including Mumbai in which 166 people that wording in the commu- kistan and has in the past In wake of the strain in diplomatic Tpowers have for the fi rst The group called for an im- Eastern Turkistan Islamic were killed. niqué was a “very important sprung to its defence, especially relations between Pakistan and time named militant groups mediate end to violence in Movement, Islamic Jaish-e-Mohammad, an- development” and that there when India tried to isolate its the United States following the based in Pakistan as a regional Afghanistan. Movement of Uzbekistan, other anti-India group based in was recognition that the world arch-rival in international fora. strong-worded speech by US security concern and called “We, in this regard, express the Haqqani network, Pakistan, was blamed for a 2001 cannot have double standards There was no immediate President Donald Trump, the for their patrons to be held to concern on the security situa- Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e- attack on parliament. when dealing with militant comment from Pakistan on the federal government had decided account. tion in the region and violence Mohammad, TTP and Hizb India has long demand- attacks. Brics resolution. to hold envoys’ conference to India welcomed the move – caused by the Taliban, (Islamic ut-Tahrir” ed that Pakistan take action “You cannot have good and China, though, has repeated- review the country’s foreign which came at a summit in the State)..., Al Qaeda and its affi li- Haqqani network, Lashkar-e- against these groups. Islama- bad terrorists, and it is a col- ly blocked India’s attempt to get policy. Chinese city of Xiamen – as an ates including Eastern Turkistan Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, bad denies any involvement lective action. Members of the the head of Jaish-e-Moham- According to details, there would important step forward in the Islamic Movement, Islamic TTP and Hizb ut-Tahrir,” the in attacks in India including in Brics countries have themselves mad added to a UN blacklist of be briefings by various diplomats fi ght against militant attacks, of Movement of Uzbekistan, the leaders said in the declaration. the disputed region of Kashmir been victims of terrorism, and I groups linked to Al Qaeda. and other off icials from related departments/ministries during the conference. Among the possible attendees would be the country’s envoys in the US, China, Boat ride India, Russia, Turkey and some western countries. Commission The off icial had also brushed aside the notion of panic in the government circles following the US policy announcement on South Asia, saying that the warns against conference was a permanent feature which also was held last year in August. “Don’t be strayed with the timing of the US policy review. It’s a delay in poll permanent feature and we do it almost every year in August,” the off icial had asserted. Asked what led to the widening gulf between Pakistan and US, another reforms off icial in the ministry said the misunderstandings grew with the US assertion to help settle Internews missioner, in letter has stated Afghanistan as per their plan. Islamabad that the process of electoral The off icial had said that it was reforms has been in its fi nal wrong to claim that Pakistan stages. took the US policy review as rustrated over inordi- Parliamentary Committee a shocker, saying we knew it nate delay in passing on electoral Reforms and its was coming. “We knew how Fthe electoral reforms sub-committee are working things were developing in package by parliament, Chief since August 2014 to bring Washington and this is why we Election Commissioner (CEC) reforms in election system. have been engaging the US has approached heads of all The penal at its inception was off icials at diff erent levels to mainstream political parties originally mandated to com- convey Pakistan’s concerns and warning them that further plete its work within three viewpoints,” the source said. delay would make conduct months. The off icial also added that the of the next general elections US had taken critical decisions under reformed system a “Meeting was told that without consulting Pakistan, challenging task. ECP has not received any which was unfair on their part as The Election Commission funds for next general Islamabad kept Washington in of Pakistan (ECP) has also elections. We needed the loop. publicly complained it has not funds for polling staff ’s The conference comes amid released any funds for the gen- training, procurement a growing diplomatic crisis eral elections due next year, to of CCTV cameras, result following Donald Trump’s start mandatory preparations. management system, anti-Pakistan diatribe, accusing Before making public CEC’s biometric machines and Pakistan of harbouring terrorists correspondence to heads of other election material” People enjoy boat ride on the last day of Eid al-Adha holiday in Peshawar yesterday. and calling for increased Indian 15 mainstream political par- involvement in Afghanistan. ties that have representation The recommendations fi - in parliament recently, ECP nalised by the panel, but yet after a meeting of its planning to be introduced in legisla- committee said it has only tion, once passed would re- been allocated funds for sala- quire election commission to ries of staff and not a single overhaul its mechanism ac- penny has been released for cordingly well before the con- duct of forthcoming general Fear and sweating in hottest cities the preparation of upcoming general polls. elections. “Meeting was told that ECP In this connection, ECP had By Maaz Khan, AFP humans can survive without Regional Meteorological Centre. degrees and hospitals were del- taken that could protect lives.” has not received any funds already requested Speaker Sibi protection”. If the air was the slightest bit uged with nearly 80,000 people Others said the metropolis also for next general elections. National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq About 30% of the population more humid, Khan admits the treated for the eff ects of heat- lacked the critical green spaces We needed funds for polling to ask the said committee to across the region would be ex- city would be an uninhabitable stroke and dehydration, needed to help absorb the blis- staff ’s training, procurement fi nalise its recommendations fter hours toiling at con- posed to the scalding tempera- living “hell”. according to medical offi cials. tering summer heat. of CCTV cameras, result man- and lay the bill before the struction sites in 50 de- tures, up from zero percent at Further east in the swampy Two years later residents said “We should plant as many agement system, biometric Parliament for making neces- Agree-plus heat, Lakhmir present, the report added. port of Karachi, the sprawling the city’s authorities are failing trees as possible,” resident Imran machines and other election sary legislation and enact the Brahmani fi nds little relief from The densely populated, rural megacity of over 20mn also re- to do enough to combat another Hussaini said. material,” an offi cial handout Election Act-2017 as early as the sun other than a donkey- farming regions of the subcon- mains at risk of being decimated scourge. Back in the abandoned streets issued after ECP’s planning possible so that the electoral powered fan during the dog days tinent could be hit the hardest, by rising temperatures. “The masses must be educat- of Sibi’s bazaar, tea seller Zafar penal said. body can start and complete of summer in one of Pakistan’s where workers are exposed to In 2015, a heatwave killed 1,200 ed,” says Shahid Habib, adding Ali waits for the sun to retreat, ECP had requested Rs8.2bn its work in time according to hottest cities. heat with little or no chance to people in the city, nearly two- simple tips about what clothes watching over the occasional in the annual budget for the the new act. Scientists have warned that retreat to air-conditioning. thirds of whom were homeless to wear and how much water customer slurping a steaming ongoing fi nancial year in order However, the bill has still swathes of South Asia may be “Deadly heat waves could residents unable to fi nd sanctu- to drink during the hot season glass of tea. to keep pace with preparations not been laid down before the uninhabitable due to rising begin within as little as a few ary indoors or access to reliable were vital. Ali swears by the hot drink as for the next general elections. Parliament despite the lapse of temperatures by 2100 – and in decades to strike regions of In- drinking water. “These things must be done an eff ective means to combat the However, in the budg- more than three months. the desert community of Sibi in dia, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, During the height of the heat- in view of the intense heat. Such searing temperature. et passed last month, only CEC, in his letter addressed southwest Balochistan province, including the fertile Indus and wave temperatures spiked to 45 preventive measures should be “Heat beats heat,” he says. Rs2.34bn were sanctioned for separately to all heads of these where the mercury hit 52.4 de- Ganges river basins that produce ECP an amount of Rs1.29bn political parties, candidly grees Celsius (126 Fahrenheit) much of the region’s food sup- would go to salaries of its mentioned list of the vital this summer, it feels like they ply,” said the report. employees. tasks that are being aff ected could be right. Pakistan continues to be one Top poll organising body due to delay in passing of At night donkeys slowly crank of the world’s most vulnerable is not only suff ering fi nan- legislation. giant hand-made fans to cool countries to the eff ects of cli- cial impediments, but delay The tasks include making sleeping families – an indige- mate change, with its northern in passing much talked elec- necessary arrangements for nous remedy for the region’s ex- glaciers melting and population toral reforms package has al- printing of new forms, enve- cruciating weather where elec- surging along with fast ready jeopardised many of its lopes and other related mate- tricity is in short supply. diminishing water supplies. plans related to next elections rials, procuring election ma- “I have no house or personal “Every year we say the heat among them was start of vital terials, preparing design and land... we have no electricity,” is unbearable, but the next year training of hundreds of thou- printing new training mate- explained Brahmani, saying he when we face more heat, we sands of government serv- rial, training election offi cials, hopes to relocate his family to forget the previous year’s heat,” ants ECP would be hiring for revising electoral rolls, delim- cooler climates but lacks the says Mir Mohammad Luni, a election duties. iting or re-describing con- money to do so. farmer who lives near Sibi. ECP wanted to start this stituencies, enlisting political “How could I go to (provin- To escape the sun, Luni says he training that included around parties, making appointments cial capital) Quetta or other ar- tries to fi nish most of his farm- 25,000 sessions all together of District Returning Offi cers, eas where the cost of a truck or ing duties in the early morning from July 1, as per new laws Returning Offi cers, AROs and tractor ride one way is Rs10,000 before retreating to a hut made proposed by electoral re- appointing other polling staff . ($95), which I hardly earn in a of scrub bushes that he douses forms committee but yet to be It also mentions develop- whole month?” with water every half hour or so adopted by Parliament. ing material for the use of new The subcontinent – home to keep cool. In his letter to heads of po- technologies including RMS to one-fi fth of the global At high noon the city’s mar- litical parties that have rep- for preparation of results and population – could see hu- ket is transformed into a virtual resentation in parliament as communication. mid heat rise to unliveable ghost town, with shops shutter- well as parliamentary com- “CEC has expressed appre- levels by the century’s end if ing and people crowding into any mittee on electoral reforms, hension that, in case of de- little is done to put the brakes available shade or mud-soaked CEC urged them to expedite layed enactment of new Elec- on climate change, according stream to beat the midday tem- the enactment of the Election tion Act by the Parliament, to a study released earlier this peratures. Act 2017 at the earliest so that timely completion of afore- month. Luckily for the residents of the election commission could mentioned activities could Researchers outlined their Sibi the relatively dry, desert be able to make arrangement become a huge challenge for fi ndings in the journal of Science climate keeps the area on the for the forthcoming general the commission,” media offi ce Advances warning of “summer fringes of liveability, accord- elections accordingly. of ECP quoted CEC writing to heat waves with levels of heat ing to Mohammad Tahir Khan, Men cool themselves off in a stream during a hot day in Sibi, in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan The Chief Election Com- political parties’ heads. and humidity that exceed what the director of the Balochistan province. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, September 5, 2017 PHILIPPINES Duterte son, Carpio to face Senate investigation

By Bernadette E Tamayo committee to attend a hearing on of P6.4-bn worth of shabu into summoned to the public hear- in the so-called “Davao Group” there and when you are asked he added. Taguba, the Customs Manila Times Thursday, September 7. the country on September 7. ing after Customs fi xer Mark that supposedly facilitated ship- questions, just tell them, I will fi xer, had testifi ed that a certain “We duly recognise the coer- The committee, led by Sen Ri- Taguba dragged their names into ments at Customs. not answer you, I am invoking “Tita Nani,” with whom he sup- cive powers of the Senate of the chard Gordon, is also expected to the smuggling controversy. “I “We will invite them so that my right of silence because since posedly transacted with for the avao City Vice Mayor Philippines as part of the legis- tackle the reported “tara” or pay- will prepare for their appearance it gets done as soon as possible dating back to the elections, you Davao Group, told him they were Paolo Duterte and his lative branch of government and off system at Customs exposed by whether they will co-operate or because I’m leaving, I have meet- (Senator Trillanes) have been backed by a “vice mayor,” allud- Dbrother-in-law Manases their authority to conduct an Sen Panfi lo Lacson in a privilege not. I will fi nd ways to extract in- ings abroad. We’ll invite them training your guns on us (Duterte ing to Vice Mayor Duterte. Carpio have accepted the invita- inquiry in aid of legislation. We speech on August 23. formation,” said Trillanes amid on September 7,” Gordon said in family),” Duterte said in an inter- This week, Taguba, in a state- tion of the Senate Blue Ribbon commit to respect the invitation “I expect them to be (present). the advice of President Rodrigo an interview with GMA News view late Saturday in Davao City. ment, cleared the brothers-in- Committee to attend its probe and attend the hearing,” they If they are my sons, if they are my Duterte, Paolo’s father, to attend yesterday. Gordon’s statement “So for the next batches (of law and apologised for dropping into smuggling at the Bureau of said. family I expect them to be on a the probe but ignore the senator’s came a day after President Du- people) whom Trillanes wants to their names during the inquiry. Customs (BoC). The blue ribbon panel, or the higher plane than any ordinary queries. terte advised his son to attend the be issued a subpoena, all you have On Saturday, Abella said there In a joint statement released by Senate Committee on Account- citizen,” Gordon said. Gordon, in a television inter- Senate investigation but invoke to do is to send a letter (to the was no reason to invite Duterte the Davao City Information Of- ability of Public Offi cers and In- It was Sen Antonio Trillanes view, said the younger Duterte his “right to silence” if Trillanes Senate telling them), ‘We are not and Carpio since self-confessed fi ce, Duterte and Carpio said they vestigations, will conduct its sev- 4th who requested on August and Carpio would be asked to ex- asked him a question. answering your questions. I will broker Mark Taguba had already received an invitation from the enth public hearing on the entry 31 that Duterte and Carpio be plain their alleged participation “My advice to Pulong? Go not submit to an investigation,’” cleared them. Army says Marawi could be retaken in three weeks

Reuters Marawi City Damaged buildings and houses are seen as government troops continue their operations.

hilippine troops fi ght- ing Islamic State-linked Prebels in a southern city have encountered armed resist- ance from women and children, the military said yesterday, as troops make a fi nal push to end a confl ict that has raged for more than 100 days. Ground forces were braced for higher casualties amid fi erce fi ghting in Marawi City on the island of Mindanao, where the fi eld of battle has shrank to a small area in a commercial heart infested with snipers, and lit- tered with booby traps. “We are now in the fi nal phase of our operations and we are ex- Government soldiers stand on guard Marawi City. pecting more intense and bloody fi ghting. We may suff er heavier Helicopters circled above to sume he died already,” he said. casualties as the enemy becomes provide air cover for ground The military has contradic- more desperate,” Lieutenant troops as fi ghting raged, with tory statements about the status General Carlito Galvez, who bursts of smoke rising above the of the rebel leaders over the past heads the military in Western skyline as bombs landed on rebel few months. Mindanao, told reporters. positions. Abdullah Maute and brother He said the number of fi ght- Galvez said intelligence Omarkhayam are the leaders ers was diminishing and a small A military vehicle drives past damaged buildings and houses in Marawi City, Philippines. showed the rebels’ military com- of a militant clan known as the number of women and children, mander, Abdullah Maute, may Maute group that has gained no- most likely family members of large parts of the predominantly silience of the rebels has fanned caped from the rebels, Galvez average 35 buildings a day and at have been killed last month in an toriety in the past two years due the rebels, were now engaged in Muslim town. The battle is the fears that Philippine groups loyal said there were some 56 Chris- that rate, it could be three weeks air strike. Postings on Facebook to its ability to engage the army combat. “Our troops in the fi eld biggest security challenge in to Islamic State, and with ties to tian hostages – most of them before the city was under gov- and chatter over the past two for long periods. are seeing women and children years for the mostly Catholic Indonesian and Malaysian mili- women – and about 80 male ernment control. days on Telegram, a messaging The Maute group has formed shooting at our troops so that’s Philippines, even though it has tants, have formed an alliance residents may have been forced Fighting in Marawi was in- application used by Islamic State an alliance with Isnilon Hapi- why it seems they are not run- a long history of Muslim sepa- that is well-organised, funded to take up arms and fi ght the tense yesterday, with heavy gun- and its sympathisers, had carried lon, a leader of a pro-Islamic ning out of fi ghters.” ratist rebellion in Mindanao, an and armed, and serious about military. The fi ghting was con- fi re and explosions ringing out tributes to Abdullah, referring to State faction of another group, More than 800 people have island of 22mn people that has carving out its own territory in centrated in an area around a across the picturesque, lakeside him by one of his pseudonyms, Abu Sayyaf. Galvez said the ar- been killed in the battle, most been placed under martial law Mindanao. mosque about a quarter of a town, the heart of which has he said. “There is no 100 percent my’s intelligence indicated both of them insurgents, since May until the end of the year. Citing information provided square kilometre. He said sol- been devastated by near-daily confi rmation until we see his ca- Omarkhayam and Hapilon, were 23 when the militants occupied The protracted clashes and re- by four hostages who had es- diers were taking control of an government air strikes. daver but this is enough to pre- still in the Marawi battle. Govt to probe police Caught napping killing of 19-year-old

AFP A forensic examination by a Delos Santos’ killing led Manila government agency which pro- to rare street protests against vides legal services to the poor Duterte’s war on drugs. Police found that Arnaiz was tortured have killed more than 3,800 hilippine authorities said and shot dead while hand- drug suspects since he began yesterday they would cuff ed. “He was beaten up, his his presidency in July last year. Pinvestigate allegations body was full of welts, he had Thousands of others have died police tortured and murdered a black eye, gashes as well as in unexplained circumstances a second teenager following handcuff marks,” Public Attor- over the same period. Rights an earlier killing that sparked ney’s Offi ce chief pathologist groups have expressed alarm at the largest street protests so far Erwin Erfe told reporters, add- what they say are a wave of ex- against President Rodrigo Du- ing that bullet trajectories sug- trajudicial murders, a claim the terte’s war on drugs. gested Arnaiz was shot while Duterte government rejects. Police said they shot and kneeling. Persida Acosta, head of the killed Carl Angelo Arnaiz, 19, Arnaiz was killed the night Public Attorneys’ Offi ce, told as he robbed a taxi driver with a after local police allegedly reporters that Arnaiz and a handgun in northern Manila on murdered 17-year-old Kian 14-year-old neighbour who August 17. Delos Santos, in the same dis- remains missing had disap- The young man’s parents trict during a major anti-drug peared from their homes in an dispute the police account. raid on August 16. Justice min- eastern Manila suburb 10 days Yesterday, the justice ministry istry investigators last week before Arnaiz’s remains ended Workers sleep on top of vegetables on a wooden cart in Divisoria market in Manila. ordered an offi cial investiga- recommended murder charges up in the morgue. Arnaiz had tion, said Justice Secretary against four Manila police of- dropped out of the country’s Vitaliano Aguirre. “The au- fi cers. The National Bureau of most prestigious university be- topsy result appears contrary Investigation (NBI) found they cause he had become depressed Return of Marcos loot needs Congress’ nod, says Abella to the police allegation that he intentionally killed Delos San- over the absence of his mother, (Arnaiz) had allegedly fought tos and fabricated evidence who worked in the Middle East, back,” Aguirre told reporters. against him. Acosta added. Malacanang yesterday urged with transparency, with a full wealth without a clear procedure. informed him that the family Congress to allow President accounting to the people, “The return of the Marcos wealth of the former dictator is willing Rodrigo Duterte to negotiate and especially, authority from could not be done without proper to return some of their wealth, for the return of the ill-gotten the Congress. We therefore procedure and the process including some gold bars. wealth of the Marcos family as urge Congress to authorise could be agreed upon through a Ilocos Norte Gov Imee Marcos former Senate president Aquilino the President to proceed with legislative act. A process has to be did not confirm or deny the “Nene” Pimentel stressed the negotiations and set parameters followed by the Marcos family and President’s revelation, but said need for lawmakers to pass a law taking into account concerns the government,” said Pimentel, their family is hopeful that that will govern the return of the raised by critics and the citizenry,” who was once the chairman of the Duterte will put a closure to the Marcoses’ assets. Abella said. “The final word would Senate Blue Ribbon Committee cases filed against them. Presidential spokesperson have to come from Congress. This which also investigated the Meanwhile, Etta Rosales, former Ernesto Abella said the is a new ground. It necessitates Marcos hidden wealth. “We need head of the Commission on President will not proceed setting the proper parameters to determine where are these Human Rights, said the return with the negotiations without regarding the matter. We need loot, how much money, verify of the loot will not save the congressional approval. guidance (from Congress),” he them, including gold deposits in Marcoses. “They should be jailed. “We don’t have specifics, but added. Pimentel, a victim of the United States treasury,” he It is not enough to return them,” as the President has promised, Martial Law atrocities, agreed added. she told a forum held at Manila this entire negotiation will that the Marcos family cannot In August, Duterte said a Hotel. — By Llanesca T Panti/ Relatives mourn over the casket of 19-year-old Carl Angelo Arnaiz. be done professionally and just return the alleged ill-gotten spokesman of the Marcoses Manila Times Gulf Times Tuesday, September 5, 2017 13 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL 87,000 Rohingya refugees arrive in Bangladesh: UN

AFP “The sheer number of Rakhine has been a crucible Cox’s Bazar people desperate to of religious violence since 2012, enter the country from when riots erupted. Scores of Myanmar’s western Rohingya were killed and tens of total of 87,000 mostly state of Rakhine had thousands of people – most of Rohingya refugees have made it impossible to them from the Muslim minority Aarrived in Bangladesh keep them out” – were forced into displacement since violence erupted in neigh- camps. bouring Myanmar on August 25, mar’s western state of Rakhine But the current round of the United Nations said yester- had made it impossible to keep fi ghting, which broke out when day, amid growing international them out. Rohingya militants ambushed criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi. “It is bigger than the last security installations, is the Thousands of the state- time,” said the guard, who asked worst yet. less Rohingya have fl ed mainly not to be named, referring to the Myanmar’s army has said Myanmar and poured over the infl ux of refugees that followed nearly 400 people have died in the border since the latest round of an outbreak of violence last fi ghting that ensued, including Rohingya refugees sit as they are temporarily held by the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) in an open area after crossing the border, in Teknaf, fi ghting broke out. October. 370 Rohingya militants. near the border yesterday. Their arrival has piled yet “If it continues then we will Yesterday, the offi ce of My- more pressure on already over- face serious problems. But it’s anmar’s de facto leader Suu Kyi who are viewed as interlopers in Retno Marsudi met Suu Kyi as Yesterday, offi cials on the “They (Rohingya) said, where crowded camps in Bangladesh impossible to stop the fl ow: said the military had fought 90 Myanmar. well as Myanmar’s army chief small island of St Martin’s 9km should we go? They (Myanmar and raised fears of a humanitar- these people are everywhere.” separate clashes with Rohingya The Nobel peace laureate, General Min Aung Hlaing in (around 6 miles) off Bangladesh’s forces) were killing us there. Our ian crisis as aid agencies struggle Many of the new arrivals militants since the ambushes. a former political prisoner of Naypyidaw yesterday to press coast said authorities had forced houses were burnt. They were to cope with the infl ux of mainly lacked shelter from the heavy In a statement it said more Myanmar’s junta, has made no for greater eff orts to alleviate 2,011 Rohingya seeking refuge fi ring at us.” women and children. monsoon rains, and an AFP re- than 2,600 homes had been de- public comment since the latest the crisis. there to leave. Scores of people have Around 20,000 more were porter said hundreds of new stroyed in Rohingya villages and fi ghting broke out. Bangladesh, already home to Elected offi cial Farid Ahmed drowned while attempting to massed on the border waiting to makeshift shelters had sprung 138 houses had been destroyed The crisis threatens Myan- an estimated 400,000 Rohingya said children were among the fl ee the violence, which also enter, the UN said in a report. up on the outskirts of the in non-Muslim villages – blam- mar’s diplomatic relations, par- before the latest infl ux, has also refugees who were rounded up killed or displaced ethnic Ra- Dhaka stepped up border con- existing camps in recent days. ing the fi res and other damage ticularly with Muslim-major- come in for international criti- on Sunday evening before being khine Buddhists and other trib- trols after the latest round of “It has been raining frequent- entirely on the militants. ity countries in Southeast Asia cism for pushing people back to taken back to Myanmar by boat. al groups allegedly targeted by violence, but one Bangladeshi ly since last week. We have to Suu Kyi is under increasing where there is profound public Myanmar. “Rohingya children were cry- Rohingya militants. border guard said the sheer keep our children safe from be- fi re over her perceived unwill- anger at the treatment of the Rights groups say this is a con- ing. But it is the government or- The refugees say that many number of people desperate to ing sick,” said Amena Begum, a ingness to speak out against Rohingya. travention of its international der. What can we do?” Ahmed young Rohingya men have stayed enter the country from Myan- newly arrived mother of fi ve. the treatment of the Rohingya, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister obligations. said. behind to fi ght.

Nepal festival Dhaka sends team to Manila to push for heist money recovery

Reuters Foreign exchange up Commercial Banking Corp (RCBC). Dhaka Many of the transfer orders Bangladesh’s foreign exchange initiated by the hackers were reserves hit a record high of blocked or reversed by interme- angladesh’s central bank $33.60bn at the end of August, diary banks, but $81mn made will send a team of of- the central bank said yesterday, it to accounts in fake names at Bfi cials to the Philippines up $690mn from the previous RCBC. Most of the funds then today to push for the recovery of month. disappeared into Manila’s loosely more of the $81mn stolen from The reserves are suff icient to regulated casino industry. its account at the New York Fed- cover about 10 months’ worth The Philippines’ Anti-Money eral Reserve last year and routed of imports for the country of Laundering Council has accused through a bank in Manila. 160mn people, and are $3.55bn several RCBC offi cials of money- Bangladesh Bank has been higher than a year ago. laundering in a complaint fi led at able to retrieve only about $15mn Steady garment exports and its Justice Department, though of the money stolen in one of the remittances from Bangladeshis the bank has blamed only a cou- world’s biggest cyber heists. working overseas, the key driv- ple of rogue offi cials. A Bangladesh Bank lawyer, ers of the country’s more than Bangladesh Bank and RCBC Ajmalul Hossain, said yesterday $200bn economy, have helped have exchanged accusations of the bank was working on “vari- foreign exchange reserves grow responsibility for the crime. ous ways” to get back the rest of steadily in recent years. RCBC was fi ned a record 1bn the money from institutions in pesos ($19.54mn) by the Philip- the Philippines. pine central bank for its failure Hossain said two offi cials Hossain declined to give de- to prevent the movement of the from Bangladesh Financial In- tails of the strategy to recov- stolen money through its bank, telligence Unit, controlled by the er the money from the heist, while a top Bangladeshi investi- central bank, would meet repre- which according to the US Fed- gator has said he suspected some sentatives of the Philippine De- eral Bureau of Investigation was IT technicians from the Dhaka- partment of Justice, Anti-Mon- state-sponsored. based bank helped the hackers ey Laundering Council and a On the evening of Febru- carry out the heist. presidential commission, among ary 4 last year, the yet-to-be- The $15mn that Bangladesh others. identifi ed hackers initiated fake has been able to recover is part of “All the money that was lost transfer orders which sought to $35mn that Manila casino boss has been frozen... we’re trying move nearly $1bn from Bang- Kim Wong had told a Philippines to expedite the process of recov- ladesh Bank’s New York Fed Senate inquiry he received from Young girls dressed as Kumari participate in the Kumari Puja festival in Kathmandu yesterday. ery,” Hossain told Reuters by tel- account mostly to accounts two Chinese gamblers without ephone from London. at the Manila-based Rizal knowing it was stolen.

Over 147,000 88kg of smuggled dengue cases gold seized detected Authorities in Nepal yesterday Nepal board signs deal with Chinese seized 88kg of gold smuggled over The number of dengue cases the border from China, the biggest reported so far this year in Sri ever precious metal haul in the Lanka exceeds 147,700, with country’s history, police said. more than 300 deaths, although The bullion, worth $4.2mn, of the spread of the epidemic company for mega cement project 88 bars weighing 1kg each was has receded in recent weeks, found inside the boot of a jeep medical sources reported parked in a busy Kathmandu yesterday. IANS ment of $359.18mn to set up a of the factory has employed big investment from China has as committed in the annual neighbourhood, the Nepalese According to data published on its Kathmandu cement factory in southwest- more than 1,000 local work- sent a positive message regard- budget,” said Karki. police said in a statement website, the epidemiology unit of ern district of Nawalparasi. ers during its construction ing overall business climate in Adhikari said the agreement yesterday. the ministry of health explained This is the largest Chinese period, according to the com- Nepal. proved that Nepal has truly “We carried out the raid after a that in August, 19,983 cases were nvestment Board Nepal investment in Nepal’s cement pany. “The Nepali government will become an attractive invest- tip-off about smugglers using the recorded, in contrast to the 40,781 (IBN) and Hongshi-Shivam industry. Speaking on the occasion, provide necessary infrastruc- ment destination for foreign border check-post at Keyrung detected in July. ICement, a Nepal-China The joint venture industry Karki said the realisation of the ture facilities to the company investors. (on Nepal’s northern border with In the capital city Colombo alone, joint venture company, signed aims to start production by China) to ship it into Nepal,” the 29,421 cases of dengue have been project investment agreement 2018 with initial production police said in the statement. reported since January. (PIA) yesterday to set up a mega of 6,000 tonnes of cement per The police raided the jeep at 2am Facing the dramatic spread of cement factory in Nepal. day. yesterday (2015 GMT Sunday) the disease this year, Sri Lankan The agreement is the fi rst of The company has planned to and arrested a 24-year-old driver authorities launched several its kind in the country for pri- penetrate into domestic mar- in connection with the case, the campaigns to face the epidemic vate sector investments. The ket fi rstly and then it planned police said. and destroy mosquitoes. contract provides protection to to export cement to India, Chi- “The driver will be charged Dengue is endemic Sri Lanka, the fi rm investment. na and other countries by in- with organised crime. We are but one reason for the dramatic IBN’s chief executive offi cer creasing the factory’s capacity searching for others involved in increase in cases is that the virus Maha Prasad Adhikari and di- to 12,000 tonnes a day in the this,” police said in the statement. has evolved and people lack the rector and general manager near future. Yesterday’s seizure came less immunity to fight the new strain, of Hongshi-Shivam Cement The project is expected to than a week after police arrested explained Novil Wijesekara, Lai Weipeng signed the PIA provide high quality cement seven people and seized 15kg of president, the Red Cross in Sri in Kathmandu at the pres- to meet the local market’s de- gold in Kathmandu and Janakpur, Lanka. ence of Nepali Finance Minis- mand and improve the qual- a town near the Indian border. The disease is endemic in ter Gyanendra Bahadur Karki ity of cement production so as Police say smugglers have a hundred nations and is and Chinese ambassador to to bring in competition in the used Nepal as a major route for considered among the fastest Nepal Yu Hong. industry in the country. smuggling the precious metal growing in the world, according As per the agreement, the The company which has into neighbouring India, the to the World Health Organisation. company will make an invest- already started construction Maha Prasad Adhikari and Lai Weipeng exchange documents after signing a deal. world’s largest consumer of gold. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, September 5, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Trump facing pair of

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] double-barrelled crises Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Trump’s presidency has threatening a free trade agreement Fax 44350474 with South Korea, the ally most at risk been defi ned largely by from the North’s belligerence. political crises of his own Republicans on Sunday were supportive of the president but making mindful of the limitations of his presidency. Several referred to the By Cathleen Decker competency of his national security GULF TIMES team, seen as a bulwark against the Los Angeles Times president himself. Sen Bob Corker of Tennessee, s a candidate, Donald chairman of the Foreign Relations Trump boasted of his lack Committee, spoke in words both Hamilton steals of government experience carefully crafted and suggestive of a Aand argued his business lack of certainty about the president’s background qualifi ed him to handle a next moves. president’s most august responsibility “We stand ready to work with Ferrari’s thunder at – handling the nuclear arsenal. the administration to support a On Sunday, hours after North Korea comprehensive strategy that not only claimed it had tested its fi rst hydrogen places an emphasis on deterrence but bomb, far more powerful than its also empowers our allies and partners Italian Grand Prix previous nuclear tests, Defence in the region, who must do far more to Secretary James N Mattis emerged confront this threat,” Corker said in a from a meeting that Trump had just statement. The booing began as Lewis Hamilton stepped out on held with his top national security More blunt was Arizona Sen Jeff to the Italian Grand Prix podium, high above the red advisers, and raised the spectre of Trump is facing multiple crises as he languishes at the low end of polling for most Flake, like Corker a Republican who nuclear war. presidents, a fact that limits both his opportunities for persuasion and his ability has earned the president’s enmity tide of Ferrari fans surging down the straight, but not Standing in the White House to threaten. for recent remarks critical of his for a moment did the triumphant Mercedes driver stop driveway with General Joseph F presidency. smiling. Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs for the victims of Hurricane Harvey’s As September dawned, relations Asked by CNN anchor Dana of Staff , Mattis warned Pyongyang devastation. between the Republican-led White Bash about his confi dence in the He understood their pain but that was also part of the that aggression against the US or its Undergirding all these is special House and Congress remained raw administration, he repeatedly cited pleasure. allies would trigger a unifi ed world counsel Robert S Mueller III’s from fallout of the failed eff ort to Trump’s national security team. response and what he termed the investigation of whether Trump’s repeal and replace Obamacare, which “I’m confi dent that the people If winning at Monza, Italy’s venerable ‘Temple of “total annihilation of a country, aides co-operated with Russian Trump still would like to add to the fall around the president are giving him Speed’, is an unforgettable experience for a Ferrari driver, namely North Korea.” meddling in the 2016 presidential agenda. good advice, and I believe that he it is pretty sweet for anyone else to beat the sport’s “Any threat to the US or its territory, election. That probe has steadily The multiple crises hit Trump as he will follow it,” Flake said. “I sure including Guam, or our allies, will be gathered steam, even if pushed out of languishes at the low end of polling for hope he does. Obviously, you like a oldest and most glamorous team in their own backyard. met with a massive military response, view in recent weeks. most presidents, a fact that limits both leader that’s measured and sober and Hamilton has now done that three times in the last a response both eff ective and The combination would tax any his opportunities for persuasion and consistent. Our allies want to hear four years and Sunday’s victory, if dull for the worldwide overwhelming,” Mattis said. president, but particularly Trump, his ability to threaten. that. I think our adversaries need to The warning was all the more severe who has proved to be a tempestuous In a recent Fox News poll, 41% of hear that.” audience and many of the 93,000-strong crowd at because it came from Mattis, a retired and unpredictable chief executive. Americans approved of the way he was Asked directly whether he was the former royal park outside Milan, was even more Marine Corps general who had sought And Sunday’s events showed again his conducting his presidency; about the concerned about Trump himself, Flake rewarding. to tamp down so many of Trump’s diffi culty in gaining traction for his same number, 43%, backed how he replied: “I have had my concerns.” bellicose comments and tweets in presidency. had handled the North Korea threat. Texas senator Ted Cruz similarly It took the championship lead from Ferrari’s Sebastian recent weeks that he was forced to Early this year, Trump’s well-received Were Trump to help engineer a disagreed with Trump’s tenor – Vettel, who fi nished a distant third, and handed it to deny a split with the president. address to Congress was buried within smooth recovery from Harvey, his specifi cally his threat of “fi re and fury” Sunday’s drama represented a new a day by negative developments in the image could certainly benefi t. But against North Korea. But he spun that Hamilton for the fi rst time in a year. All on a weekend reality for Trump. His presidency has Russian investigation. On Sunday, when North Korea presents few good as a positive. when the Maranello-based team were celebrating the been defi ned largely by political crises he might have been basking in praise options for any president, and “The president speaks in ways 70th anniversary of late founder Enzo Ferrari’s fi rst car of his own making, from his decision from Harvey victims he visited Saturday Trump’s all-over-the-mat response that I wouldn’t speak but that is his to fi re FBI director James B Comey in Texas and Louisiana, he was instead so far has only fuelled concerns that he prerogative,” he said. “I do think it in 1947. to his comments after racial violence overtaken by actions half a world away. is not up to the task. helps for North Korea and for China to “Inevitably you are going to be the villain here if you in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was The abrupt change of focus from Last month, he took two very understand that we have a president are the one that’s stopping the Ferraris,” Hamilton, who inevitable that circumstances outside domestic recovery to international diff erent positions based largely on the who is strong.” his reach would complicate his tenure. fear over North Korean leader Kim same facts. In early August, he warned The question is whether a led team mate Valtteri Bottas in an absolutely dominant And now they have, raising the Jong-un’s growing military might Kim against “any more threats” to performance evincing strength – or one-two, told reporters. question of how he will handle a was clear Sunday morning in raw the US. Were any to occur, he warned, other attributes – will be necessary in double-barrelled pair of crises – the juxtaposition. “they will be met with fi re and fury the battles ahead. Hamilton, now three points clear of Vettel, said he had growing threat from North Korea Trump and his wife, Melania, like the world has never seen.” The North Korea crisis calls had “a real nice song” playing in his head as he stood and the recovery and relief eff orts for attended services in St John’s Church, Two weeks later, at a campaign for nuance and deliberateness. on the podium and so the crowd’s reception had gone hundreds of thousands of Americans across Lafayette Park from the White rally in Phoenix, he praised Kim. “I The Harvey recovery eff ort will caught in epic fl oods in Texas and House, to underscore his call for a day respect the fact that I believe he is be measured in years, requiring a over his head. Even Louisiana. of prayer for the benefi t of Harvey starting to respect us. I respect that willingness to dig in for the long haul. so, former racer and To add to his challenges, the White victims. fact very much. Respect that fact,” he Trump’s announcement today on the The Briton podium interviewer House has said Trump will today As he left, reporters shouted a said. “And maybe – probably not – but fate of children brought to this country disclose whether he will authorise question: Did he plan to attack North maybe something positive can come without proper papers will require overtook Vettel Martin Brundle the deportation of 800,000 so-called Korea? “We’ll see,” he said, and about.” top-notch political instincts. suggested he ‘punch Dreamers, immigrants brought here returned to the White House to meet On Sunday, less than two weeks The host of issues looming on with his victory in illegally as children – a decision that with his top national security advisers. later, he was back to suggesting that Capitol Hill will require mutual respect through’ the noise. will be political combustible no matter The confl uence of crises hit the only solution was a military attack. and policy acumen and a deft hand at Italy “It is to be expected what he decides. Washington at the opening of a month “South Korea is fi nding, as I managing competing power groups. here in Italy. Over Off in the wings are high-stakes already overwhelmed with challenges. have told them, that their talk of So far, Trump largely has favoured battles that will begin today on After Congress returns from appeasement with North Korea will displays of strength and revelled in the last 10 years it’s been common to have that if a Capitol Hill, including funding the vacation today, lawmakers and the not work, they only understand one unilateral decision-making. The Ferrari driver’s not on top,” Hamilton said, with plenty government to avoid a shutdown by White House face a series of must-do thing!” he tweeted Sunday morning. attributes he will now need remain of experience having also won for McLaren in 2012. September 30, raising the federal debt items that have proved volatile and Trump has added to the uncertainty sheathed, if they exist at all. – ceiling, and approving billions in aid divisive in the past. over his approach by simultaneously Tribune News Service Hamilton now appears to have the edge over four-time champions Vettel, but that could change in Singapore in two weeks on a circuit which is expected to favour the Ferraris or Red Bulls. Team principal Toto Wolff said Singapore would be “more like a case of damage What’s on the menu for future cities? limitation for us” and that Mercedes will approach the race with “healthy scepticism.” By Sophie Hares calories and animal protein in the diets can store and transport easily,” said consumers to try radically new foods, Mercedes did win last year on the Marina Bay Street Tepic, Mexico of the rich, making agriculture more Ido Savir, chief executive of Israeli fi rm particularly as they fi nd it harder to effi cient, and reducing the one-third SuperMeat, whose cultured chicken ignore the ethical and environmental Circuit through Nico Rosberg, and Hamilton was a of food that is wasted. will be kosher and halal. impact of their purchases. winner in 2014. But Vettel has enjoyed four victories uicy lab-grown steaks and About 80% of all agricultural land The technology will help feed “It’s always money; it’s availability,” including two years ago for Ferrari after three with Red burgers made of plant-based is dedicated to grazing or growing feed people in developing countries who said Morgaine Gaye, a food meat could soon be tempting for animals, the FAO says. now consume almost no meat or have futurologist. Bull. Jhardened carnivores scanning In addition, the livestock industry a poor-quality diet, he added. “We’d like to think it’s about how Hamilton is now three points ahead of Vettel after restaurant menus in the world’s consumes 10% of the world’s Big producers in the $750bn meat good it tastes, but that’s actually biggest cities, as food producers freshwater, while generating methane market are also looking at alternatives. pretty far down the line as you’ve trailing by seven, and has bounced back from a 14-point explore fresh ways to feed booming and other planet-warming emissions, Top US meat processor Tyson Foods got to get someone to pick it off the defi cit following the Hungarian Grand Prix when he populations. and causing large-scale deforestation. has set up a $150mn fund to develop shelf.” made way for team-mate Valtteri Bottas at the end to With people pouring into cities A handful of companies are racing cheap, alternative protein sources The “celebrity cool factor” can across the developing world, rocketing to develop technology that could and invested in plant-based meat make a big diff erence to sales, if fi nish fourth. demand for meat and dairy products drastically reduce the price of so- company Beyond Meat. companies can get stars to endorse Vettel, meanwhile, enjoyed the adulation of the Ferrari will make it essential to fi nd high- called “cultured” or “clean” meat, Meanwhile, Bill Gates, Richard brands, she added. fans on their home circuit and was not too put out by protein alternatives that have a lower grown from starter cells taken from Branson and commodities giant Despite the buzz around future environmental impact, some experts live animals. Cargill have sunk money into foods, countries could still manage his third-place fi nish after starting eighth on the grid say. They say it could eventually be California’s Memphis Meats which is to meet growing demand and following a rain-hit qualifying. “The food of the future, as we produced in urban “breweries”, would developing “clean” poultry and beef. environmental targets using what we become more and more urban, will cost less than real meat, and use 99% Other entrepreneurs are eyeing eat today if they make key changes “Leading the championship is not important as much continue to be meat but it won’t be less land. protein-rich bugs, already eaten by to the food system, said Lorenzo as winning the championship, it’s where you are at the meat from industrialised animal “Meat-eaters in a few years will be billions, which could easily be bred in Giovanni Bellù, a senior economist last race that counts,” he said. agriculture,” said Bruce Friedrich, able to choose between traditional cities on urban farms that don’t take with the FAO. executive director of the Washington- meat that includes animal suff ering up large slabs of pricey real estate. Methods like precision agriculture, It’s a challenge Hamilton would relish. based Good Food Institute. and non-animal suff ering meat that New York’s Terreform ONE has tailored to the exact requirements of “It will be meat made from plants, is 100% meat and resembles meat’s developed a futuristic modular shelter crops, could make production more and it will be meat grown in factories texture, taste and look,” said Yaron and cricket farm, crowned with spiky effi cient, while using more renewable To Advertise without farmers and slaughterhouses,” Bogin, CEO of the Israel-based quills, ideal for cultivating high- energy would cut carbon emissions, said Friedrich, who calculates that Modern Agriculture Foundation. protein crickets that can be ground said Bellù. [email protected] traditional meat will be eliminated in Elsewhere, start-ups are using into fl our. Diets also need to become better Display high-income countries by 2050. “cellular agriculture” to develop “You can see protein changing balanced to cut over-eating, especially Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Others predict bugs or high-protein animal-free eggs, milk and fi sh. because it can be produced inside of meat, while increasing the amount algae such as spirulina will be high on San Francisco-based Hampton cities,” said Mitchell Joachim, of animal protein available to the poor, Classified the list of future foods, along with fi sh Creek wants to get the fi rst clean Terreform co-founder. he added. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 produced in deep-sea farms or vast meat product to consumers next “It makes a lot of sense to do it in Many simple solutions exist that urban warehouses. year, but industry watchers and other the case of insects – pound for pound can harness what the world already Subscription But with a 50% jump in agricultural companies say huge technological it’s a crushing diff erence. It’s almost knows, he emphasised, including [email protected] production needed to support nearly and regulatory hurdles mean it will 1,000 times less water, 300 times less adapting existing technologies for 10bn people by 2050 as climate change take fi ve years for the food to arrive in carbon. It’s incredibly cheap to make poorer countries. bites, according to the UN Food and high-end restaurants and a decade to bugs in cities,” he added. “We have a lot of things to do before 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Agriculture Organisation (FAO), more reach mass-market consumers. Aff ordable pricing and astute eating insects,” he said. – Thomson obvious solutions may lie in cutting “You’ll be able to create food you marketing are key to convincing Reuters Foundation Gulf Times Tuesday, September 5, 2017 15 COMMENT Combating hatred with history

It is time for Europeans United Kingdom, hate speech and institutions in those countries should crimes against ethnic minorities be evidence enough that we cannot who would prefer to and foreign nationals have started to take freedom, liberty, and the rule of dismiss white supremacy become normalised in many Western law for granted. countries. It took many years to build as an American Most worryingly, intolerance may democratic institutions in Central and phenomenon to mind be on the rise among young people. Eastern Europe, but it has taken just a The British magazine TES reports few parliamentary elections to reverse their own backyards that “hate crimes and hate incidents that progress. in British schools” increased by 48% For the sake of European By Guy Verhofstadt in the summer and fall terms of 2016, democracy, the other members of Brussels compared to the same period of the the EU must take collective action previous year. now to sanction these increasingly As the report notes, this coincides authoritarian governments for their fter a white-supremacist precisely with the Brexit referendum transgressions. rally in Charlottesville, and Trump’s election. After an increase in anti-Semitic Virginia, in which anti- In today’s information landscape, incidents in 2004, when I was the Afascist campaigner Heather social media have become the primary prime minister of Belgium, I launched Heyer was killed, and many others means for spreading hatred. an initiative to remind young people of injured, US President Donald Trump The largest social media platforms the costs of World War II. notoriously blamed “both sides” for are now host to countless fake and During their history lessons, the violence. anonymous accounts that spew Belgian students would learn about By equating neo-Nazis with those xenophobic, nationalistic, and racist the implications and negative who stood against them, Trump messages. consequences of certain ideologies. (further) sullied his presidency. These accounts are polluting a With hatred on the march And by describing some of the medium that many young people again today, we must remember participants in the Charlottesville rally enjoy, and exposing impressionable that education is crucial in the as “very fi ne people,” he gave a nod to minds to dangerous falsehoods and fight against authoritarianism, far-right bigots worldwide. conspiracy theories. which can thrive on generational A few weeks thereafter, just as And more often than not, they complacency. Hurricane Harvey was bearing down are being operated with impunity To ensure that democratic values on Texas, Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio, by Russian-sponsored trolls in prevail, we must encourage all the former sheriff of Maricopa County Macedonia or elsewhere in Eastern people to refl ect on the lessons of the in Arizona. Europe. past, when grotesque abuses were Arpaio had been convicted of But it is not just online trolls who perpetrated against millions. contempt of court in July for defying are empowering people to be racist, We owe it to all of those who a federal judge’s order to stop racially anti-Semitic, and homophobic. suff ered under past authoritarian profi ling Latinos. Intolerance may be on the rise among young people. Many world leaders and prominent regimes to stand up now for But the way Trump sees it, Arpaio opinion makers are doing it, too. democratic values. was “convicted for doing his job.” supremacists and nativists worldwide. This is a shocking fi nding. That is higher than the 48% Although mainstream European We can start by pushing back, Arpaio once boasted that Sadly, many of Trump’s allies in the But it is not limited to the United of Americans who, in February, leaders off ered a clear rebuke to the as Heather Heyer did, against the the outdoor jail where he held Republican Party have barely raised States. supported Trump’s executive Charlottesville violence and Trump’s right-wing populists who are openly undocumented immigrants was akin an eyebrow in response to his latest Europe, too, is witnessing a order barring travel from seven reaction to it, they need to go further. fomenting hatred across the West. to a concentration camp. words and actions. worrying surge of racism, nationalism, predominantly Muslim countries. Now more than ever, the European -Project Syndicate And he is now a leading exponent And according to a recent ABC anti-Semitism, and xenophobia. It is time for Europeans who would Union must demonstrate its of the Tea Party and other xenophobic News-Washington Post poll, 9% of In a recent poll conducted for prefer to dismiss white supremacy as commitment to upholding core values zGuy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian right-wing movements that rallied respondents – “equivalent to about Chatham House, 55% of European an American phenomenon to mind of equality and tolerance. prime minister, is President of the behind Trump in last year’s election. 22mn Americans” – fi nd it “acceptable respondents agreed that “all further their own backyards. The fact that the current Hungarian Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for By pardoning Arpaio, Trump was, to hold neo-Nazi or white supremacist migration from mainly Muslim Since Trump’s election in the US and Polish governments are Europe Group (ALDE) in the European once again, implicitly embracing white views.” countries” should be stopped. and the Brexit referendum in the intentionally undermining democratic Parliament. Weather report A ‘China fi rst’ strategy for N Korea Three-day forecast TODAY High: 40 C Mao Zedong used to say that his Korean People’s Army would be high. simply accept Chinese terms and Low : 31 C By Bill Emmott Inshore: Hazy to misty/ foggy at places country and North Korea were “as Whereas a nuclear exchange with surrender. at first becomes hot daytime with weak London chance of local rainy clouds at places close as lips and teeth” – a fi tting the US would mean devastation, What we can say with near certainty by afternoon and humid by night. description, given Chinese troops’ role submission to China would promise is that a Chinese land and sea invasion, ost pundits agree that in averting an American victory in the survival, and presumably a degree of rather than an American one, would WEDNESDAY the least bad way to Korean War. continued autonomy. stand a better chance of avoiding High: 39 C deal with North Korea’s But while Japan and South For all except those closest to Kim, Kim’s likely response: an artillery Low: 32 C Mnuclear saber rattling Korea have remained close allies the choice would not be a diffi cult one. attack on the South Korean capital, Sunny is a continued combination of of the United States during the six China’s strategic gains from a Seoul, which lies just a few dozen tight containment and aggressive decades since then, hosting US bases successful military intervention would miles south of the demilitarised zone. diplomacy. and sheltering under US nuclear include not only control of what Why would North Korea slaughter THURSDAY Fewer, however, have recognised protection, China and North Korea happens on the Korean Peninsula, its southern brothers and sisters in High: 39 C that the least bad military option have drifted ever further apart. where it presumably would be able retaliation for a Chinese invasion that Low: 32 C – the one implied by US President As a result, China has little control to establish military bases, but came with a promise of continued Sunny Donald Trump’s insistence that China over its neighbour and purported ally, also regional gratitude for having security, if not autonomy? take responsibility for its dangerous and probably scant knowledge of what prevented a catastrophic war. Moreover, while the Kim regime’s neighbour – is a Chinese invasion, or is going on there. No other action holds as much nuclear restraint could hardly be taken Fishermen’s forecast regime change forced through China’s It could, it is true, tighten the potential to make Chinese leadership for granted, China would be a less OFFSHORE DOHA threat to launch one. existing siege on North Korea by within Asia seem both credible, and likely target than the US for North Wind: NE-SE 03-10 KT This outcome, which would sharply cutting trade further and blocking desirable, especially if the alternative Korean missiles. Waves: 1-3 Feet shift East Asia’s strategic balance in energy supplies. is a reckless, poorly planned US-led Were a Chinese military option INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-SE 05-15 KT China’s favour, is not as unlikely as But this might achieve little beyond war. to be contemplated seriously, some Waves: 1-2 Feet most people think. pushing Kim Jong-un’s cloistered What China needs, above all, is intelligence and missile-defence In fact, its very plausibility is regime to look for support from its legitimacy, and intervention in North collaboration with the US might be Around the region one reason why it needs to be taken other neighbour, Russia. Korea would provide it. worth exploring. Weather Weather seriously, including by Chinese If, as is commonly assumed, North Successful use of hard power would Given the risks, it would be hard for today Max/min tomorrow Max/min military planners. Korea wants some sort of credible bring China, to borrow the distinction the US to refuse. Abu Dhabi Sunny 40/32 Sunny 41/32 In Trumpian terms, this is a “China security guarantee in exchange for coined by Harvard’s Joseph S Nye, This scenario may well never Baghdad Sunny 47/27 Sunny 47/28 Dubai Sunny curtailing its nuclear programme, the huge reserves of soft power. happen. Sunny 42/31 42/31 First” option that could help “Make Kuwait City Sunny 44/29 Sunny 41/28 China Great Again.” only country capable of providing it is But now to the 64bn renminbi But it is so logical that the possibility Manama Sunny 41/32 Sunny 41/32 Any military intervention, Chinese China. question: Could it work? We can’t of it should be taken seriously. Muscat P Cloudy 34/28 M Sunny 34/28 or otherwise, would carry huge risks. No American promise would know the answer for sure, and any It is, after all, China’s best Riyadh Sunny 43/28 M Sunny 43/26 But before dwelling on them, remain credible beyond the term of military intervention carries great opportunity to achieve greater Tehran Sunny 34/22 Sunny 35/23 consider what a successful Chinese the president who gave it, if even that risks. strategic parity with the US in the intervention would achieve. long. The Chinese armed forces are now region, while removing a source of For starters, it would put North So if China were to combine well equipped, but lack comparable instability that threatens them both. Korea right where the country’s threats of invasion with a promise battlefi eld experience. -Project Syndicate post-Korean War history suggests of security and nuclear protection, Their inferior opponents have it belongs: under a Chinese nuclear in exchange for co-operation and leaders who might be prepared to use zBill Emmott, a former editor-in-chief umbrella, benefi ting from a credible possible regime change, its chances nuclear weapons or other weapons of The Economist, is the author of The security guarantee. of winning over large parts of the of mass destruction, if they did not Fate of the West. Live issues Low-fat diet could kill you: study

Agencies Researcher Dr Andrew Mente, And last year Public Health England London from McMaster University, said: suggested increasing the proportion of Around the world “Our data suggests that low fat diets starchy carbohydrates in the diet. Weather Weather put populations at increased risk for Lead researcher Dr Mahshid today Max/min tomorrow Max/min ow-fat diets could actually cardiovascular disease. Dehghan, said: “A high carbohydrate Athens Sunny 31/20 M Sunny 29/19 raise your risk of early death “Loosening the restriction on total diet – greater than 60% of energy Beirut Sunny 31/26 Sunny 29/25 Bangkok P Cloudy 33/27 S T Storms 33/27 by a quarter, a major study has fat and saturated fat and imposing – is associated with higher risk of Berlin Sunny 22/14 Rain 20/12 indicated. limits on carbohydrates when high to mortality. Cairo P Cloudy 37/22 Sunny 36/23 L Cape Town Showers P Cloudy 15/12 The Lancet looked at 135,000 adults reduce intake to moderate levels would “Higher intake of fats, including 15/11 and discovered that those who cut be optimal.” saturated fats, are associated with Colombo T Storms 28/26 Rain 28/26 T Storms T Storms 32/27 back on fats had far shorter lives than too much saturated fat, on the grounds He said getting the balance of fats lower risk of mortality.” Dhaka 33/27 Hong Kong S T Storms 31/27 I T Storms 31/27 those who ate butter, cheese and meats it raises cholesterol levels, increasing and carbohydrates right was about But diet had little impact on heart Istanbul Sunny 26/18 M Sunny 26/18 Researchers said the study was at the risk of heart disease. achieving a “sweet spot” which was death risk, suggesting it had a greater Jakarta S T Storms 33/25 P Cloudy 33/24 odds with repeated health advice to cut But the latest research, presented best for health – meaning around 35% impact on other killers such as cancer, Karachi P Cloudy 30/27 P Cloudy 30/27 down on fats. Those doing so tended to at the European Society of Cardiology of calories should come from fats. dementia, and respiratory disease. London Showers 21/12 M Cloudy 18/11 Manila T Storms 31/25 P Cloudy 32/26 eat far too much stodgy food like bread, Congress, in Barcelona found those Although this is in line with NHS Consultant cardiologist Dr Moscow Rain 15/12 Showers 17/11 pasta and rice, the experts said, while with low intake of saturated fat guidance, health offi cials still warn Aseem Malhotra said it was time New Delhi I T Storms 34/26 M Sunny 34/26 missing out on vital nutrients. raised chances of early death by 13% Brits to cut down on their saturated fat “for a complete U-turn” in Britain’s New York M Sunny 31/21 T Storms 24/17 Participants eating the highest compared to those eating plenty. consumption to protect their heart. approach to diet, and demonisation Paris Cloudy 23/14 Cloudy 19/13 Sao Paulo Sunny Sunny 26/14 levels of carbohydrates – particularly And consuming high levels of all fats Guidance states men should eat no of fat. 29/14 Seoul Cloudy 26/19 Rain 23/18 refi ned sugars found in fi zzy drinks cut mortality by up to 23%. more than 30g daily and women 20g. “The sooner we do that the sooner Singapore S T Storms 29/26 I T Storms 30/26 and processed meals – faced a 28% The Canadian study tracked eating Saturated fat is typically found in we reverse the epidemic in obesity Sydney M Sunny 17/09 Cloudy 17/08 higher risk of early death. patterns and death rates across 18 animal products such as butter, cheese and diabetes and the sooner start Tokyo Clear 29/20 Cloudy 25/22 The NHS cautions against having countries. and red meat. improving health.” Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, September 5, 2017 QATAR

Hamad al-Amari performs on stage during Doha Comedy Festival. A character from Baraem TV greets spectators. An acrobatic show at MoQ. (Supplied picture) QSF and Eid al-Adha events across Doha a huge hit By Joey Aguilar Festival drew a capacity crowd at the Qatar Staff Reporter National Convention Centre on Sunday. QTA said the audience enjoyed the stand up routines of renowned inter- ntertainment shows, interac- national comedians Mo Amer, Maz Jo- tive games and sports events at brani, Nemr Nemr, Vir Das and Qatar’s Ethe Summer Entertainment City very own stand-up comedy pioneer, (SEC) and major malls proved to be a Hamad al-Ammari. big hit, attracting a large number of QTA urged residents and visitors to holiday-goers on the fourth day of the watch the grand fi nale of QSF today, Eid al-Adha celebrations yesterday. which will showcase an array of ac- These unique and diverse off erings, tivities such as parades throughout the organised by Qatar Tourism Authority mall, and the mega raffl e draw. (QTA) and its partners, also mark the Some 11 winners will take away cash fi nal week of the Qatar Summer Festi- prizes amounting to QR300,000 and a val 2017, which started on June 25 and luxury car, according to QTA. concludes today at the Mall of Qatar The day’s events will fi nally culmi- (MoQ). nate in a public concert. Speaking to Gulf Times, QSports vice “Over the past few days we have seen chairman Ghanim al-Mohannadi said throngs of people of all ages head to the international performances, featur- country’s most popular sites to enjoy ing talented musicians, artistes and various activities and celebrate the joy athletes, highlighted this year’s edi- of Eid al-Adha,” QTA’s public relations tion of SEC, the centrepiece and fam- and communications director Saif al- ily favourite of the annual festival in the Kuwari said in a statement. country. He thanked their partners in the re- “Our slant towards sport-related tail, entertainment and hospitality performances proved very eff ective, sectors for closely and extensively col- underscoring the popularity of sports laborating with QTA in organising the in Qatar. This also fi t nicely with the longest-running nationwide festivity. mission of SEC’s main organiser, Apart from these shows and activi- QSports,” he stressed. ties, the celebrations also provided a Among the most popular of these platform for home-based entrepre- performances were the Dunking Devils, neurs in Qatar to showcase and promote who visited Qatar from Slovenia, and Performers on stage. PICTURES: Joey Aguilar. their products at the ‘Made in Qatar enthralled crowds; the ‘3x3 Mall Jam Food Market’. basketball tournament and subsequent largest infl atable obstacle course, also welcomed and entertained visitors Qatar’s customs and traditions with the At MoQ, the popular Baraem TV The exhibition, which will conclude women’s basketball tournaments; and awarded the winners of the Obstacle from the fi rst day of Eid and will con- staging of Arabic play Khoshesha (Hide characters regaled young visitors with on September 10, aims to show its sup- an array of interactive games and com- Challenge yesterday. tinue today also. and Seek) between 7.45pm and 8.45am their ‘Eid Happiness’ show on the Oasis port to Qatar and His Highness the Emir petitions for all ages. Stage shows and roaming parades Meanwhile, families and children at SEC today, the last day of QSF and Stage at 3pm and 5pm. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani SEC, which features the world’s such as the Drummix and Cowboys still have the chance to learn more about Eid al-Adha celebrations. QSF’s third edition of Doha Comedy amid the ongoing economic blockade.

Katara light show Qatar hopeful of greater success at Tokyo Olympics

From Page 1 several successes achieved through 27,000 students at the level of the The agreement concerns refu- the handball team. state’s schools. gees in an initiative to support “Women are part of the Qatari The programme has achieved refugee athletes who have been dis- sports community and their pres- many goals, including talented stu- placed from their countries with a ence in international forums is im- dents joining the state’s clubs in all view to supporting them in the Ol- portant for us,” Sheikh Joaan said. sports and has the support of the ympic Games. He added that Qatar has 30 com- state’s leadership. It was activated in Rio in 2016 munity programmes, the most It is a joint eff ort between the Qa- for the fi rst time and Qatar was prominent of which is the “be tar School Sports Federation and the one of the fi rst initiators and will Sports person” programme, which Ministry of Education and Higher be among the partners who sup- is being co-ordinated with the Education, Sheikh Joaan said. port the Olympic movement in the Ministry of Education and Higher On Qatar’s hosting the Olympic world and athletes who have no Education and will be launched Games in the future, Sheikh Joaan support from their countries be- next month. said: “I think that Qatar’s hosting cause of the problems they suff er, It aims to spread the culture of of an Olympic Games is a legiti- Sheikh Joaan added. sports in all sectors of society. mate right. Earlier, no one expected On the development of women’s On the Olympic School Pro- Qatar to host the 2022 FIFA World sport, Sheikh Joaan said women’s gramme, Sheikh Joaan said this Cup, now we are only fi ve years sport in Qatar started in 2001 and aims at spreading sports awareness away from that and Qatar is now Qatari teams participated in many in schools, an idea adopted by His full of world-class facilities.” tournaments, and even at the Ol- Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim He said Qatar has become a ven- ympic level there was participation bin Hamad al-Thani, when he was ue to host any world championship of Qatari women in the Olympics in President of the Qatar Olympic and recently hosted numerous in- A light show at the beachfront of Katara – The Cultural Village, concluding the festivities for Eid al-Adha yesterday. Organisers 2012 in London where the Qatar fl ag Committee. ternational handball and gymnas- of this year’s Eid festivities spared no eff ort to ensure that activities were an eclectic blend of tradition and technology, holder was the shooter Bahia al-Ha- The programme began in 2007 tics championships and will host ensuring that they appealed to all age groups. The latest array of activities mirror the ceaseless eff orts of the Cultural Village mad, and Sarah Masood who won sil- with only eight sports and now the 2019 World Athletics Champi- to provide a world-class venue where the residents of Qatar can experience the best and finest in entertainment, art, culture, ver medal in the 2016 Rio Olympics. it has reached 11 sports and the onship, and Swimming Champion- and heritage. At the Asian level, there were number of participants reached ship in 2023.