NEWS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2015

People leave the water of Havel river before sunset at the end of a hot and sunny late summer day in Berlin yesterday. _ AP Lights out for modernist masterpiece... Atlas in $136m default, owner... Continued from Page 1 that would prove Japan was once again a good member of the world,” Yamane said. Continued from Page 1 dictions, is treated as a criminal offence in the UAE. When a James Bond was spotted at the Okura in Ian Fleming’s The 510-room new hotel will be set in twin towers - the wave of defaults hit UAE companies at the turn of the novel “You Only Live Twice” and the hotel - just across from highest a 41 storey glass building - to open in spring 2019, This is the second scandal involving jewellery decade, most banks chose to extend debt maturities the US embassy - has put up a string of foreign leaders and ahead of Tokyo’s Olympic Games the following year. businesses since the city’s rise to prominence as a signifi- rather than initiate proceedings through the courts. US presidents, from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama. It is also Commercial tenants will occupy the upper floors of the cant trading centre. In March 2010 the Dubai Atlas Jewellery, founded by Ramachandran in popular with Japan’s political and cultural elite who were property whose lead architect Yoshio Taniguchi is the son of Financial Services Authority sanctioned three brothers in 1981 but forced to relocate to Dubai after its trading drawn to the Okura’s restaurants and bars, traditional tea the original hotel’s designer. “It is difficult for us now to pro- behind Damas International over unauthorized with- was suspended by the first Gulf War, also has interests in ceremonies and tense competitions of the board game “Go”. vide a top Japanese hotel due to the building’s age,” an drawals from the company of 194 kg of gold and cash real estate and healthcare. It owns and manages two Recognizable by its unique “sea cucumber” tile exterior Okura spokeswoman told AFP. “We will conserve traditional worth about 365 million dirhams. hospitals in ’s capital, Muscat. As a last resort, and elegant patterns and latticework inside, the hotel’s Japanese aesthetics but give clients the highest quality The sources said that banks affected by the Atlas allega- banks are hoping they may be able to recover their main lobby is known for its “Okura lanterns” and red lacquer rooms and facilities,” she added. tions - mostly local lenders but also including at least two dues by taking control of Atlas’ healthcare business, a tables surrounded by modernist chairs. “It is a destruction of Petitions to stop the demolition were launched inside Indian banks - met last week to discuss the matter, with second banker who attended the meeting said. “Banks culture - this building is a one and only, which truly inte- and outside Japan, including one by Tomas Maier, creative some banks pushing for a hard line but others willing to are in talks with other senior officials of the group to grates Japanese aesthetics with a Western-style hotel,” said director of Italian luxury goods firm Bottega Veneta. write off the debt. “At the next meeting of banks, a com- find a viable solution,” he said. Tadashi Yamane, professor of urban design at Tokyo City London-based lifestyle magazine Monocle created a “Save mon line of action to recover the money will be decided,” The matter is complicated by the arrest of University. But with its ancient infrastructure and outdated the Okura hotel” campaign soon after the reconstruction one banker who attended the meeting told Reuters, indi- Ramachandran, a popular figure in Dubai’s gold trade and trappings - including a weathered world time clock - the plan was announced last year. “It will be a heartbreaking owners say they need to update the property to keep with and irreparable loss,” Monocle said of the closure. “Of cating that they would meet again in early September. in the south Indian state of Kerala, from where he hails. its five-star reputation - and prices. The cheapest rooms course, redeveloping the Okura makes sense in purely eco- The lack of consensus on how to proceed stems from Dubai police said Ramachandran was arrested on Aug 23 start at about $370 a night with suites going for over nomic terms... And here’s the problem: the vested interests ’ insolvency laws that make it chal- by order of the prosecutor. “He is arrested and is in our cus- $1,000. of construction and property are too powerful to resist.” lenging for lenders to seek legal redress against defaulters. tody,” a spokesman said, adding that investigations are A closing ceremony was held yesterday. The Okura’s Tokyo City University’s Yamane said that mindset high- Loan default, which is a civil matter in most Western juris- ongoing. — Reuters main building will be torn down next month, although an lights a broader issue with destroying heritage buildings in annex building next door it to remain open. The Okura, a city of around 30 million people. Other properties includ- which was considered an architectural jewel in post-war ing the Palace Hotel and upscale Grand Prince Hotel Japan, opened in 1962, just two years before the Tokyo Akasaka have undergone transformations in recent years, Olympics. “I see the tenacity of the Japanese people more partly due to the need to install updated earthquake tech- than 50 years ago, who were determined to create a hotel nology in the seismically active country. — AFP Whale deaths in Kuwaiti waters not... Continued from Page 1 life in Kuwait and the Gulf region are abandoned fish- ing nets, which can be considered cemeteries for sea KT: Have there been other unusual deaths of sea creatures, especially sharks and turtles. These nets mammals recently in Kuwait’s territorial waters? are usually underwater, so nobody removes them, Egab: A similar incident took place last year when and if the sea creatures get stuck in them, they a whale of another breed died on Failaka Island. It drown. There are also other problems such as acci- was a small female juvenile 14 meters long, and even dents with passing boats. Then there are negative this whale is a juvenile as it is only 11 meters long. behaviors such as abusing or torturing these animals The Failaka whale suffered from parasites in its diges- by beating or harming them in various ways. tive system which may have been the reason behind But there are some positive aspects of these prob- its death and this was mentioned in the previous lems. For instance, we get to know the abilities of the report. participating authorities, till we complete and clear technique to deal with dead whales, especially since KT: What is the situation of Kuwaiti and the Gulf this has only happened twice, which cannot be called territorial waters? a phenomenon. Yet we consider it as a useful and Egab: The territorial waters of Kuwait and GCC valuable experience that shows the preparation of countries in general are narrow and the only gateway the institutions in charge in dealing with these is from the Strait of Hormuz, so the water renews very events. slowly, which makes the water circulation slow. Its An experience, however minor, is useful. We need negative effects are strong, especially since there are to document these experiences, ideas and solutions about eight countries on this gulf and all energy pro- provided by all institutions, so we can have an agen- ducing stations and water desalination plants are by da in the way of dealing with dead whales in the this water body, which as a result is under many envi- future. As a team we are missing a ‘resource manual’, ronmental pressures. which is basic and important for directing any crisis as it makes it easy for a decision maker to choose the KT: What are the most common problems that sea right person and correct authority in doing the work creatures face here? that suit their abilities and resources. It also makes Egab: The most common problems facing marine the work faster and more effective.