BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Samba raises hopes of another gold ‘Growing trend’ seen medal for in app development in Qatar, says expert Qatar published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10926 August 30, 2018 Dhul-Hijja 19, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Gaza pupils return to school Qatar banks In brief

QATAR | Offi cial ‘very stable Amir sends greetings to Slovak president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His and on solid Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent yesterday cables of congratulations to Slovak President Andrej Kiska on his country’s National Day. HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister footing’ Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani sent a similar cable to Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini. By Pratap John Chief Business Reporter QATAR | Reaction

Bomb blasts in Iraq and atar’s banking sector is now Philippines condemned very stable and on a solid foot- Qatar has condemned the bombing Qing thanks to QCB’s prudent at a checkpoint in Al Qa’im district of policies, said prominent Qatari banker western Iraq, which led to the deaths Palestinian schoolgirls participate in the morning exercise at an UNRWA-run school, on the first day of a new school year, in and CEO of Qatar International Islamic and injuries. Qatar has also strongly Gaza City yesterday. Tens of thousands of Palestinian children returned to United Nations-run schools yesterday after the Bank Dr Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei. condemned the explosion during a summer holidays, though major aid cuts have thrown their funding into jeopardy beyond next month. Page 4 “Whenever the dollar rates go up, the celebration in southern Philippines, QCB will have to consider increasing which left one dead and scores their rates, because the riyal is pegged injured. In separate statements to the dollar. Qatar Central Bank is en- yesterday, the Foreign Ministry suring there is no big gap between dol- reiterated Qatar’s firm position on lar and riyal rates and is properly track- QIIB chief executive off icer rejecting violence and terrorism ing the dollar rates,” Dr al-Shaibei said Dr Abdulbasit Ahmad al-Shaibei. regardless of motives and reasons. Hamad Hospital visitors to in an interview with Gulf Times. Dr al-Shaibei said a careful look at the relax when it comes to the provisioning QATAR | Initiative balance sheet of Qatari banks will show of NPLs.” Registration for that the costs of the funds are going up Asked whether Qatari banks are have better parking access because of the increasing dollar rates. highly averse to risks, especially in real camping market “But in Qatar, QCB is managing the estate, the QIIB chief executive offi cer The Ministry of Economy and situation very well. And that’s why we said, “Qatari banks have been a major Commerce (MEC) has announced ew temporary parking ar- ment is to be used by staff . This park- from the Ministry of Interior’s Traffi c fi nd stability in our banking market,” player in the development of our real that registration for participation rangements at Hamad Gen- ing facility is also available to patients Department. al-Shaibei said. estate. The rules and conditions set by in the second seasonal market Neral Hospital (HGH) are being and visitors as overfl ow parking if hos- “Every day thousands of patients, Overall, he said: “There is an increas- the QCB in respect of real estate fi nanc- for camping will begin today. The introduced from Sunday, September pital parking is full. visitors, and staff use the parking ar- ing confi dence in our economy, because ing are meant to safeguard the interests market, which will off er a wide 2, as part of Hamad Medical Corpora- The parking areas at HGH that are eas at Hamad General Hospital. We are of our stability, and the well-managed of both banks and the developers.” variety of camping supplies in one tion’s (HMC) commitment to ensure designated for HMC clinicians can always looking at new ways to ensure economy. Post-blockade, the Qatar He said: “In many places including place, will be held at Al Rifaa Street patients and visitors have access to only be accessed by pass holders and our patients and visitors have access Central Bank has taken several measures Europe, banks are now less aggressive from October 24 to December 1. The convenient parking. will only be available to clinical staff to convenient parking at all of our fa- to ensure that our banking sector is not when it comes to real estate. Remem- MEC has asked aspiring participants From September 2, the parking area between 5am and 2pm. After 2pm cilities,” said Nagi Khamis al-Mannai, adversely aff ected. Collectively, various ber, the 2008 fi nancial crisis started to send their applications, along directly in front of the main entrance each day, these areas will be unlocked executive director for Real Estate De- ministries, departments and govern- with real estate.” with a copy of the valid commercial to HGH will be reserved for the ex- and open for patient and visitor park- velopment at HMC. ment agencies worked together to en- Referring to the recent export – im- registration, contact details and an clusive use of patients and visitors. A ing, where appropriate. At 5am each “These changes mean our patients sure that our economy functions well.” port fi gures released by the Ministry of aff idavit pledging to keep the venue small area will be designated for valet day these areas will again be locked will be able to park more conveniently. In its latest report the International Development Planning & Statistics, he clean, to [email protected]. For parking. and open only to pass holders. Cars We would like to thank our patients Monetary Fund (IMF) said Qatar’s said: “These show our economy is dy- details call 5595115. The multi-storey parking facility remaining in these parking areas after and the community for their support.” banking sector remains healthy overall, namic; diff erent sectors are positively next to the HGH Outpatient Depart- 5am without a pass will receive a fi ne Page 16 refl ecting high asset quality and strong responding to the national economy.” REGION | Diplomacy capitalisation. On logistics, he said the government The IMF said at end-September 2017, ensured that the supply channels re- Khamenei warns of banks had high capitalisation (CAR of mained intact. abandoning N-deal 15.4%), high profi tability despite recent “Post-blockade, we were able to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Government forces preparing for phased off ensive in Idlib moderation (return on assets of 1.6%), make alternative arrangements in no said yesterday that the nuclear low NPLs (1.5%) and reasonable provi- time. The country was so quick to di- agreement is a means to protect yrian government forces are pre- Russia, President Bashar al-Assad’s The offensive would initially tar- sioning ratio of NPLs (85%). versify its import and export business- Iran’s national interests and that paring for a phased off ensive in main backer from outside the region, get southern and western parts of the On Qatar’s low non-performing es; and sourced essential commodities it can be abandoned if it does not Sthe northwestern province of said yesterday that militants there insurgent territory, but not yet Idlib loans to total loans ratio, al-Shaibei from other countries. Hamad Port, Ha- achieve those interests desired. Idlib and surrounding areas, the last must be liquidated and Foreign Minis- city, said the source, an official in said: “The credit goes to the Qatar mad International Airport and Qatar The agreement is not a goal, but a big rebel enclave, a source close to Da- ter Sergei Lavrov described them as “a the regional alliance backing Assad. Central Bank. They have always been Airways have all done a remarkable job means, Khamenei said. Page 4 mascus said yesterday. festering abscess”. Page 4 a bit fi rm on those things…and never on this,” al-Shaibei noted. Patrols ensure smooth traffi c fl ow as schools reopen

easures taken by the Traffi c this month, helping link students living on newly opened schools and had an the coming days as the school day was Department ensured that ve- in the suburbs of Doha and facilitat- enhanced presence around them, espe- short. Also, it is possible that not all Mhicular fl ow remained smooth ing better traffi c movement within the cially those located in residential local- students attended school on the open- on key roads in Doha and other places capital as well through giving motorists ities, in order to help parents reach the ing day, he added. yesterday, when students returned to more options (roads) to choose from. spot quickly and easily and guarantee The Traffi c Department and Ministry school in large numbers following the In addition, several roundabouts that the safe movement of students. of Interior had earlier issued safety ad- end of the summer vacation. used to witness traffi c congestion regu- The offi cial, however, noted that the visories for students and their parents The department had put in place a larly have been converted into intersec- traffi c fl ow yesterday might not be an as part of the preparations for the new plan to enhance the presence of traffi c tions, helping improved vehicular fl ow accurate indicator of the situation in academic year. patrols across vital locations and roads signifi cantly. in the country to ensure unhindered The offi cial said an important fac- traffi c fl ow, especially in areas (and at tor responsible for the smooth traf- Improving educational process top priority: minister times) where high traffi c density was fi c circulation yesterday was the large anticipated. presence of traffi c and security patrols HE the Minister of Education and ceremony held by the ministry Major Jaber Mohamed Odhaiba, as- across main streets and intersections Higher Education Dr Mohamed yesterday to welcome new Qatari sistant director of the traffi c aware- in the country. The personnel deployed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi teachers who begin their first year of ness department, said the traffi c situ- were duly prepared to prevent any con- has stressed that improving the teaching in the 2018/2019 academic ation was normal yesterday around the gestion and maintain free-fl owing traf- eff iciency of the educational process year. There are a total of 84 such country, including on main roads and fi c, particularly during the busy periods is the top priority of the ministry, teachers. intersections, and there were no reports early in the morning and in the after- which is seeking to achieve the He congratulated the new Qatari of traffi c snarls throughout the day. noon. same through a number of policies, teachers on their career, noting that He attributed this to various factors, Besides, the authorities also inten- programmes and strategies, QNA they are helping the ministry build including the opening of new roads by sifi ed the presence of traffi c patrols at reports. national capabilities after completing the Public Works Authority (Ashghal). key intersection and streets where road The observation was made during HE extensive national qualification The authority has accomplished works were under way and traffi c was the Minister’s speech at a reception programmes. around 500km of expressways until heavy. The patrols also concentrated Students receiving their books at a school yesterday. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, August 30, 2018 QATAR Qatar-Turkey defence ties reviewed Coercive measures by siege countries ‘violate UN charter’

he unilateral coercive resenting more than 0.7% of its measures by the siege national income. Tcountries against Qatar Qatar, he said, recognises the contravene the Charter of the importance of fi nancing human- United Nations, ambassador Ali itarian assistance activities, not- HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatar Armed Forces Major General (Pilot) Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem received Colonel Mohamed Tulga, Khalfan al-Mansouri, Perma- ing that it has provided support deputy Turkish military attaché to Qatar, at his off ice yesterday morning on the occasion of the conclusion of the latter’s tenure in the nent Representative of Qatar to to United Nations agencies and country. HE the Chief of Staff thanked the Turkish off icial for his eff orts to enhance and support bilateral ties between the two countries the United Nations Offi ce and has strengthened co-operation in the defence and military fields, and wished him success in his future assignment. other international organisa- and co-ordination in its human- tions in Geneva, has said. itarian eff orts. In an interview with Diva In- Qatar recently pledged ternational Diplomat magazine US$40mn to be paid over several ambassador al-Mansouri said years, to the core resources of that since June 5, 2017, Qatar the United Nations Offi ce for the has been subjected to an unjust Co-ordination of Humanitarian QRCS launches Lombok relief campaign blockade by Saudi Arabia, the Ambassador Ali Khalfan Aff airs (OCHA), thus becoming UAE, Bahrain and Egypt that al-Mansouri the largest donor to the Offi ce for violates the charter of the United the Co-ordination of Humani- atar Red Crescent So- of $200,000. Nations, international law, and “We will continue to pay at- tarian Aff airs, he added. ciety (QRCS) launched They called on the Qatari so- the norms of peaceful relations tention to the issue of the Syrian He pointed out that the Qa- Qyesterday a campaign to ciety and offi cial institutions to between countries. people and their plight and we tari humanitarian work was not raise QR10mn for the victims of donate to help fi nd homes for He stressed that Qatar attach- will work to ensure that the Hu- limited to relief and assistance, an earthquake that hit Indone- those in need of shelter. es great importance to the work man Rights Council has an active but extended creative initiatives sian island Lombok. For his part, Executive Direc- of the Human Rights Council role in highlighting violations of aimed at preserving the future Secretary-General of QRCS, tor of Relief and International and considers it a central and human rights inside Syria, and coming generations. Ali bin Hassan al-Hammadi, Development Division Dr Mo- important mechanism in the stressing the need to hold ac- He praised the important role said during a press conference hamed Salah Ibrahim described international eff orts to promote countable all those responsible.”, played by Qatari charity organi- held yesterday that the cam- conditions in the island as tragic, and protect human rights, not- ambassador al-Mansouri noted. sations in providing humanitar- paign aims to bring to relief the adding that their team con- ing that the permanent delega- On the Qatari role in facing ian and development assistance. island, hit by earthquakes that fi rmed that the death toll has tion of Qatar in Geneva is work- crises and challenges, ambas- Qatar, despite the blockade, caused a large number of casual- reached 515 and that 7,000 oth- ing to draw the attention of the sador al-Mansouri said that would continue to meet all its ties and damage. ers were injured. Human Rights Council and its Qatar’s foreign policy is based commitments as an active part- The QRCS that their team There were also 417,000 peo- mechanisms and the High Com- on the principle of co-operation ner in the international com- have begun working on deter- ple displaced by the earthquake, QRCS off icials announcing the campaign to bring relief to the missioner to the continuous vio- and partnership to face common munity to address the challenges mining the needs of those af- with 72,000 homes destroyed. quake-hit Lombok island in Indonesia, at a press conference in Doha lations of human rights that have challenges. and diffi culties of humanitarian fected with an initial amount – QNA yesterday. accompanied these measures “The State of Qatar has been and development action and to since last June and urged them keen to strengthen its regional advance the implementation of all to act to stop them and com- and international partnerships the 2030 Sustainable Develop- pensate those aff ected and hold and has played a pioneering and ment Plan. those responsible accountable. distinctive role as an internation- On the preparations for the However, “this issue will re- al partner that can be relied upon FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, am- Qatar chairs main our main concern until in humanitarian response eff orts, bassador al-Mansouri said: “Qa- Indian forums off er Keralites such measures are fi nally and promoting sustainable develop- tar’s success in winning the World permanently removed”. ment and building international Cup in 2022 is a success for Qatar’s Arab customs On the other hand, ambas- peace and security by launching policy and diplomacy, which con- sador al-Mansouri stressed the initiatives and providing devel- siders sports as an essential option help to return to Qatar continued eff orts of the Perma- opment and humanitarian as- for developing and strengthening directors’ meet nent Delegation to put forward sistance to the countries facing relations with the countries of the a number of priority issues for them including economic and world, and refl ecting Qatar’s roles everal Indian community sistance for them. Relatives, from Kochi. They are also given Qatar, focusing on the right of humanitarian crises and natural and activities in the international QNA forums and organisations friends or colleagues of such assistance of an NGO named the Palestinian people to regain disasters, and through playing arena,” he said. Cairo Shave assured support for stranded people can approach Serve People Foundation in their full State and end the Is- the roles of mediation to reach He added that “Qatar’s host- Keralite expatriates aff ected by ICBF and we will provide all case they need any other help,” raeli occupation of Palestine and peaceful settlements to a number ing the World Cup 2022, is re- the devastating fl oods, in case assistance,” said P N Baburaj, he explained. other Arab territories and the of crises and confl icts.” ceiving great attention from atar presided over the they need any assistance to re- vice-president, ICBF. Dr Thomas, who recently need to keep the item on the hu- He revealed that Qatar had His Highness the Amir Sheikh 38th Session of the Di- turn to Qatar. “So far, there has been only visited Kerala to hand over INR man rights situation in Palestine provided humanitarian assist- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, as- Qrectors-General Meeting There are many who have one request for assistance for a 2.5mn as initial assistance to and the occupied Arab territo- ance to more than 100 countries, serting that Qatar seeks to make of Customs in the Arab States, lost not only their property and ticket from Kerala and we have the Chief Minister, said that he ries within the framework of the mostly developing countries, World Cup 2022 to be the best in held yesterday in Cairo. other belongings while there arranged it. But more than that, had also met several other high Council’s agenda. amounting to $2bn a year, rep- the history. - QNA Chairman of the General Au- are others who have lost many if people have lost their docu- level offi cials and off ered all thority of Customs Ahmed bin of their precious documents ments or other records such as possible help from the Indian Abdullah al-Jamal, represented and records including pass- Resident Permit card or other community in Qatar. He also Qatar at the meetings. Assistant ports, travel documents among records, we can help them,” promised that Keralites work- Secretary-General for Economic others. As it was the annual va- continued Baburaj. ing in Qatar and aff ected by Aff airs at the Arab League am- cation time, a large number of Dr Mohan Thomas, founder the fl ood can contact the com- bassador Kamal Hassan Ali at- Keralites had fl own home and chairman of Birla Public School, munity leaders including him- Doha-Kochi fl ights resume tended the meeting. it is feared that some of them said that the institution is tak- self for assistance, in case they Ahmed bin Abdullah al-Jamal might have lost their docu- ing care of some of the teachers need it. said in his speech that the two- ments. who have been aff ected by the In addition there are a large lights to Kochi from Doha All airlines, both domestic Thousands of Qatar residents day meeting will discuss seven As the school holidays are fl oods. “As I understand, about number of Kerala socio-cul- started following the Kera- and international, will follow the from central Kerala have been items, foremost of which is the coming to an end, most Keralite 16 teachers of our school and tural organisations that are Fla airport resuming opera- current schedule for operations, relying on Nedumbassery airport follow-up to the implementa- expatriates have started to re- their families are aff ected. Most active in Qatar and all of them tions yesterday. CIAL said. to fl y to Doha. tion of the customs issues that turn and an Indian Community are from places including Kut- are extending support for their According to the airport Qatar Airways and Indian Doha, which also provides ex- will be dealt with during the Benevolent Forum (ICBF) offi - tanadu, Aluva, Aranmula, Mu- friends back in Qatar. While owner CIAL (Cochin Interna- carriers – Air India Express, Jet cellent connectivity to the three regular meetings of customs di- cial told Gulf Times that the or- vattupuzha, Chengannur, and many of them are assisting the tional Airport Limited), Indian Airways and IndiGo operate di- international airports in Kerala rectors in the Arab countries, in ganisation is ready to help such Thrissur,” noted Dr Thomas. aff ected fi nancially, they have carrier IndiGo’s Doha service rect fl ights between Doha and – Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi addition to the customs issues of people, stranded in the aff ected “Birla Public School has also promised more help. Most was among the first interna- Kochi. and Kozhikode, has been a popu- the unifi ed Arab customs union. areas. opened a control room in Kochi of the organisations Gulf Times tional flights to land at the Ker- Following the closure of the lar transit point for thousands of “We are ready to help any- and a staff member is placed spoke to noted that so far they ala’s largest airport yesterday Kerala’s largest airport at Ned- Malayalis living in North Ameri- one if they need any assist- there to provide support to the have not got any request from evening. umbassery near Kochi Qatar Air- ca and Europe besides the Mid- Ministry recalls ance to return to Qatar. Those aff ected teachers for resched- anyone back home for assist- CIAL said in a statement that ways rerouted its fl ights – QR516 dle East. aff ected can contact ICBF and uling their fl ights and other ance to return to Qatar and in Qatar Airways, Air India Express and QR517 between Doha and Kochi airport was shut down Porsche Cayenne through co-ordination with needs. We also provide free case of such cases, they are and Jet Airways have all con- Kochi (Nedumbassery) to Thiru- on August 15 due to heavy rain 2018-19 models the offi cials concerned, we will accommodation and transport ready to extend all the help pos- fi rmed to land at Kochi Interna- vananthapuram International and fl oods in the south Indian be able to chalk out such as- for transiting the employees sible. tional Airport today. Airport. state. Page 11 The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collaboration with Porsche Centre Doha Al Boraq Automobiles Co, has announced the recall of Porsche Cayenne Malabar Group contributes Safari Group extends helping hand models of 2018-2019 over a defect in the rear seat-belt buckle durability. Rs70mn for Kerala fl ood relief atar-based Safari Group The MEC has urged all customers of Companies has to report any violations to its Qhanded over a cheque Consumer Protection and Anti- alabar Group has an- of Rs5mn to the Kerala Chief Commercial Fraud Department nounced a contribu- Minister’s Distress Relief Fund through the following channels: Mtion of total Rs70mn to “provide a helping hand to Call centre: 16001, e-mail: info@ to the Kerala fl ood relief, ac- rebuild” the fl ood-hit southern mec.gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, cording to a statement issued Indian state of Kerala. Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC yesterday. Safari Group managing di- mobile app for Android and IOS: “The fl ood that swept away rector Aboobacker Madappat MEC_Qatar almost half of Kerala has cost and Group director and general many life and property. The manager Zainul Abideen jointly Mercedes-Benz overall loss is yet to be esti- handed over the cheque to Kerala mated, however Chief Minister Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan bus recalled Pinarayi Vijayan and govern- in the presence of Assembly The Ministry of Economy ment are leading a very com- Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan. and Commerce (MEC), in mendable rehabilitation work,” “Kerala has faced the most collaboration with Nasser Malabar Group chairman M P massive natural disaster ever in Bin Khaled Automobiles, Ahammed said. its history. Millions of people has announced the recall of He handed over a cheque of Malabar Group chairman M P Ahammed handing over a cheque faced misery and devastation, Mercedes Benz Setra Bus model Rs20mn yesterday to Vijayan and commitment letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan many lives were lost. It is our of 2007 over the possibility of at Thiruvananthapuram, Ker- as Minister for Industries and Sports E P Jayarajan, Malabar Gold duty to unite to rebuilding a new a defect in the anti-trap strip of ala. Ahammed also commit- and Diamonds international operations managing director M P and better Kerala,” Safari Group pneumatic outwards opening ted a fi nancial help of Rs5crore Shamlal Ahamed look on. said in a press statement yester- Safari Group managing director Aboobacker Madappat and Group door sensor. (Rs50mn) for rebuilding and day. director and general manager Zainul Abideen jointly handed over The MEC said the recall repairing houses lost and dam- “Malabar Gold & Diamonds dertake social welfare activities Accordingly, the management the cheque to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the presence campaign comes within the aged in the fl ood. This includes is always at forefront when it all year long, focusing on fi ve and staff of Safari Group of Com- of Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan. framework of its ongoing eff orts Rs10mn collected from the em- comes to CSR activities. The priority areas such medical, ed- panies contributed one day’s to protect consumers and ployees of Malabar Group. The group sets aside a fi xed percent- ucational sector, environment salary to the Chief Minister’s “The chief minister of Kerala with this request, the manage- ensure that automobile dealers entire relief activities will be age of its net profi t for the bene- as well as housing and women Distress Relief Fund to “provide has appealed to all Malayalis ment and staff of Safari Group follow up on vehicles’ defects routed through Malabar Hous- fi t of the needy in the respective empowerment,” the statement a helping hand to rebuild Kerala”, to contribute one month’s sal- has initiated this project,” the and repair them. ing Charitable Trust. markets it operates in. We un- added. the statement noted. ary for rebuilding Kerala. In line company added. Gulf Times Thursday, August 30, 2018 3 QATAR Qatari SME announces platform for healthcare

houra Business Group, a Qatari tech- Najat AbdulRaheem, founder and CEO, nology & innovation driven SME, has Shoura Business Group said, “Information Sannounced the launch of its innovative technology that was intended to improve and patented, automation platform, Smart care (electronic medical records, healthcare Communications and Analytics Learning information exchanges) has often been more Engine (Scale). of a burden to providers than a solution. Completely innovated in Qatar and patent Healthcare authorities have struggled to fi lled, Scale was launched yesterday at Med- engage patients as stakeholders. Scale is po- ical Fair Asia 2018 in Singapore as part of the sitioned to achieve this as a cornerstone by The Samsung Galaxy Tab S4. Qatar Pavilion in the exhibition provided innovatively redesigning already adopted by Qatar Development Bank, according to a and proven platforms like IVR and Telecon- statement issued in Doha. sultations and addressing technology adop- According to the group offi cials, Scale will tion and cybersecurity.” enable population health strategies for vari- Patient-centric care is the norm of the Samsung launches new ous governments using low-cost and easy to day in healthcare and various initiatives in adopt innovation. This brings together the many countries including Qatar are trying convergence of IVR (Interactive Voice Re- to address it using easy to adopt and sustain sponse), TeleConsultation and Analytics on strategies. Galaxy Tab S4 in Qatar a single platform. This shift in focus has enabled players Scale is described as the missing link be- across the healthcare landscape to bet- tween EMR and mHealth for out-of-hospi- Najat Abdul Raheem ter meet patients’ needs by respecting amsung Gulf Electronics sung is bringing Samsung DeX to platform, customers and com- tal care workfl ows like medication remind- their time, informing them, understand- has announced the launch the tablet for the fi rst time. When panies can ensure that critical ers, healthcare renewal, medication refi lls, increases access to patients using IVR with ing them as individuals, answering their Sof the Samsung Galaxy Tab connected to the optional Book information is protected at mul- discharge support and readmission avoid- its platform that pulls data and writes back questions, connecting them with their S4 in Qatar. Cover Keyboard (sold separate- tiple levels of the device. With ance among others. to the electronic medical record in Health data — and their ecosystem — and allow- This new 2-in-1 Android tab- ly) or launched from the Quick Samsung’s S Pen, users can take Scale platform is user-friendly, cost ef- Level-7 (HL7) format. ing caregivers to actively participate in pa- let is “designed for people who Panel, the Galaxy Tab S4 pow- notes on the fl y through the fective and aims to bridge the technology HL7 refers to a set of international stand- tient well-being. want to do more on the go--from ers on Samsung DeX, giving us- Screen-Off Memo feature, as divide, helps in patient education and en- ards for transfer of clinical and administra- Shoura Business Group, founded in 2012, home to the offi ce and every- ers the option to switch from the well as navigate, translate and sures data security. It is a single platform tive data between software applications is supported by QDB with the vision of being where in between,” the company Android interface to a desktop organise notes through Samsung for the health organisations to contact their used by various healthcare providers. Part- the one-stop-solution to partners seeking has said in a press statement. experience. With Samsung DeX, Notes, and even send personal- patients and get responses from them with- ners like Malomatia, have collaborated to advice in the domains of Healthcare, Smart- “Paired with a polished mod- one can open multiple desktop- ised texts through Samsung Live out much human supervision. The solution explore Scale for Qatar market. Nation and Technology. ern design, an immersive display, style windows for Android apps, Message. four speakers and enhanced en- including the Microsoft Offi ce While similar in size to the tertainment features, the Sam- suite, directly on the Galaxy Tab Galaxy Tab S3, the Galaxy Tab sung Galaxy Tab S4 is the perfect S4 and re-size them when need- S4 sports narrower bezels to fi t device for those who need some- ed. a large 10.5-inch display with thing portable like a tablet and If more screen is needed, there Super AMOLED technology, as Doha Bank unveils Back-to-School campaign capable like a PC,” the statement is an option to extend Samsung well as a 16:10 screen ratio with notes.The Galaxy Tab S4 is avail- DeX to an external monitor with 2,560x1,600, 287 pixels per inch able across major retailers and a compatible HDMI to USB-C resolution for vivid picture de- oha Bank has announced bank’s credit card with easy and the school fee payment of up to plifying customer’s lives, Doha Samsung Brand Stores in Qatar, multi-port adapter (not includ- tail and true-to-life visuals. The its Back-to-School pro- fl exible repayment plans. They QR25,000 or more using Doha Bank is committed to provid- at QR2,629 for the Tab S4, Wi-Fi ed). When connected, the Galaxy Galaxy Tab S4 also comes with Dmotion to help parents can convert education-related Bank credit cards. ing our cardholders with con- version, and QR2,849 for the Tab Tab S4 can serve as a track pad or four speakers tuned by AKG and with the challenges of steep new payments of a minimum of “We understand that for par- venient and hassle-free school S4, LTE version. a sketch pad, and new this year, Dolby Atmos immersive sound academic year costs at schools. QR1,000 per transaction made ents, their children’s education fee payment solutions and our “This new addition to our eco- it can continue to work as a fully technology. During the two-month cam- between September 1, 2018 and is paramount and they wish to ‘Back to School’ promotion is a system of devices is packed with functional Android tablet, giving Samsung Flow allows users to paign, parents can make the October 31, 2018, into an inter- off er them the best schooling natural outcome of this vision,” features that will take the con- users two screens to accomplish manage all their devices easily by payments of their child’s school est-free six-month payment available locally or internation- said Doha Bank Group CEO Dr R sumer from work in the day and tasks. connecting and transferring fi les, fees “stress-free” and can also plan with no processing fee. ally. Seetharaman. keep them entertained through The Galaxy Tab S4 keeps one tasks and notifi cations seam- earn the bank’s Doha Miles re- Furthermore, parents can However, the back-to-school Doha Bank credit cardhold- the night,” said Tarek Sabbagh, going with a 7,300mAh battery lessly. Plus, the Galaxy Tab S4’s wards. earn guaranteed returns against period is a stressful time for ers can call 4445-6000 after head of the IT and Mobile (IM) that provides up to 16 hours of Daily Board3 allows the user to With the Back-to-School their spend at schools. The many parents and can create making school fee payments to Division at Samsung Electronics video playback. Additionally, view favourite photos and every- promotion, Doha Bank custom- bank’s customers take home up signifi cant fi nancial strain. convert their transactions into Gulf. with Samsung Knox, Samsung’s day information in one, easy-to- ers can pay tuition fees using the to 20,000 Doha Miles against “As a bank focused on sim- six-month equal installments. With the Galaxy Tab S4, Sam- defence-grade mobile security access place. Blue Salon off ers Davosa watches

lue Salon has ing appearance is generated launched Davosa Mil- primarily via the scratch- Bitary Vintage watches proof, domed sapphire in Qatar. Military watches crystal, the large, grip crown tread a fi ne line between and, last but not least, the camoufl age and good read- dial, which recalls a cockpit ability. instrument,” the statement While they should be as added. The hands, outsize invisible as possible to oth- hour markers and date dis- ers in the dark, they must play in ‘triple date’ format nonetheless display the are all particularly reminis- time clearly to the wearer. cent of aircraft altimeter. As a result, many of these The watch is powered watches feature black cases automatically via the tried- and dials with striking digits and-tested Swiss quality and hour markers. The Davosa Military Vintage. movement ETA 2824-2, and This year, Swiss watch- features water resistance up maker Davosa has once of a correspondingly vin- strap with pin buckle,” a to 200m thanks to a screwed again devoted design capac- tage look. “Its most strik- press statement noted. steel base and double- ity to the military watch. ing characteristics are the As with the fi rst military sealed crown. Luminous The result is a new ver- black dial with markers and models, Davosa selected a digits and markers in ‘old sion of the Davosa Military digits with ‘old radium’ su- stainless steel case with a radium’ guarantee “excel- Automatic – the Military perluminova coating and a diameter of 40mm for the lent readability, making the Vintage, which is reminis- black-coated case. The Da- Military Vintage, which Davosa suitable for all op- cent of pilot watches from vosa Military Vintage comes can be termed a “classic erations, whether by night, bygone decades and boasts with a fi ne vintage leather choice”. “The watch’s strik- below or above water”.

‘The Amazing World of Gumball’ to bring families and loved ones together. Festival City hosts Gumball show

oha Festival City’s (DHFC) tions, including an interactive gaming Available from 2pm to 9pm for two partnership with Cartoon Net- station, a dodge ball game, blind folded weeks, DHFC is the perfect destination Dwork gives the chance for chil- games, photo opportunities with their to spend the last few weeks of summer. dren in Qatar to enjoy an entire range favourite Gumball characters and an Families will also have the chance to of fun-fi lled activities with the main arts and crafts section. dine in the numerous outlets available characters of the iconic show. The activation will also feature in- at the mall, while also obtaining their Dubbed as ‘The Amazing World of teractive PlayStation gaming sessions, essentials for the new academic year. Gumball’, this off ering brings families Dodge Ball games where children can For this back-to-school season, and loved ones together to mark the throw dodge balls through the char- Festival City Kids Club members will back-to-school season from Septem- acter cut outs and score points to win. enjoy their membership benefi ts, in- ber 1-14. Children have a chance to be blind- cluding exclusive access privileges. Located at the Centre Court, First folded and are asked to pin the remote Families can sign up their children for Floor, Gumball fans will enjoy the to Richard Watterson, as well as pose free to become Kids Club members and unique activity zone, where children with their favourite Gumball charac- gain exclusive benefi ts, activities, and can carouse around numerous activa- ters. retail off ers throughout the year. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, August 30, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD

DIPLOMACY REFUGEES CONFLICT JUSTICE RIGHTS Iran foreign minister Hundreds trapped in Houthis say missile fired at Iraqi court clears woman Over 100 groups urge in surprise Erdogan talks Libya detention centres Saudi Arabia’s Najran region of ties with militant group Bahrain to free activist

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif was Hundreds of migrants have been abandoned Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired a ballistic missile An Iraqi judge yesterday cleared a German- More than 100 rights groups urged Bahrain yesterday holding previously unannounced talks without food or water in government-run detention just over the border into Saudi Arabia, causing Turkish woman of having ties to the Islamic State yesterday to “immediately release” high-profile with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara, the centres in the Libyan capital after guards fled from no apparent casualties, amid growing interna- group, a judicial source said, more than a year activist Nabeel Rajab who is serving two sepa- Turkish presidency said. Zarif went into the talks at the clashes between rival armed groups in the past few tional concern about civilian casualties from after she was detained. Hadya Abdel Qader had rate jail sentences for alleged anti-government headquarters of Erdogan’s ruling party, as expectations days, aid workers said yesterday. Tripoli has been a Saudi-led air campaign. A Badr-1 missile tar- been held without charge since her arrest by Iraqi statements. The call by 127 non-governmental grow of an off ensive in the Idlib province of northwest shaken since the weekend by fighting between rival geted “a new military camp” in Najran, Houthi- security forces in Mosul, in a part of the northern organisations came after the United Nations Syria bordering Turkey by Tehran’s ally President groups vying for power and state funds, a recurring controlled al-Masirah TV said yesterday, without city held by IS. The militant group was ousted denounced the opposition leader’s deten- Bashar al-Assad. Turkey has been keeping a wary eye theme in the North African country since the messy indicating when the missile was launched.Saudi from Mosul in July last year after a months-long tion as “arbitrary” and “discriminatory” earlier on the possibility of the off ensive, as it seeks to bring overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in a 2011 Nato- air defences intercepted a missile fired towards battle, during which suspected members of the this month. Yesterday’s signatories including peace to Syria. Ankara has throughout the seven year backed uprising. Some 400 people were aban- the southern city of Najran on Tuesday but militant group were rounded up. But a judge Human Rights Watch said they “welcome this civil war in Syria supported rebels seeking to oust As- doned in the Ain Zara detention centre run by the there were no casualties. The Houthis control at Baghdad’s central criminal court found no landmark opinion...recognising the role played sad but has put diff erences aside to form a three way UN-backed government, one aid worker said, asking most of the west of Yemen, including its Red evidence to link Qader to IS, a judicial source said by human rights defenders in society and the alliance with Tehran and Moscow. not to be identified. Sea coast. yesterday. need to protect them”.

Syria’s Idlib province at risk of ‘humanitarian catastrophe’: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned yesterday that UN schools for Palestinians full-scale military operations in Syria’s Idlib province could lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe” and cautioned against the use of chemical weapons. Guterres’ warning came amid fears the Syr- ian government is mobilising for reopen despite funding cut a military off ensive to retake Idlib, the last province still held by the AFP country’s beleaguered rebels. Gaza City “The Secretary-General is deeply concerned about the growing risks of a humanitarian catastro- ens of thousands of Pal- phe in the event of a full-scale mil- estinian children re- itary operation in Idlib province in Tturned to United Na- Syria,” a UN statement said. tions-run schools yesterday “The Secretary-General once after the summer holidays, again reaff irms that any use of though major US cuts have chemical weapons is totally unac- thrown their funding into jeop- ceptable.” He appealed urgently ardy beyond next month. to the Syrian government and all Children wearing cheq- other parties “to exercise restraint uered uniforms and backpacks and to prioritise the protection of thronged schools across the civilians.” Guterres also urged the Palestinian territories for the guarantors of a so-called Astana fi rst classes of the new school peace initiative led by Turkey, Iran year, AFP correspondents re- and Russia to step up their eff orts ported. “to find a peaceful solution to the The UN Relief and Works situation in Idlib, the last remain- Agency for Palestine Refugees ing de-escalation zone.” (UNRWA) said all 711 schools it According to Western estimates, runs for 526,000 pupils in Gaza some 3mn people are at risk and the West Bank, Jordan, Leb- in the province, which borders anon and Syria would reopen in Turkey. An off ensive by the Syrian the next few days despite the government, which wants to re- $300mn US funding cut. take the province with the back- Fears raised by UN chief An- ing of Moscow, would have explo- tonio Guterres that the schools sive repercussions for civilians as might not be able to reopen at well as for moderate rebels and all have failed to materialise, but radicals. During closed-door talks UNRWA warned it might still be at the UN on Tuesday that were forced to close them again in a requested by Russia, Moscow month if additional new fund- claimed, without evidence, that ing is not found. “white helmet” rescue workers “At the moment, we do not Palestinian schoolchildren participate in the morning exercise at an UNRWA-run school, on the first day of a new school year, in Gaza City, yesterday. were preparing a chemical have enough money to keep the attack in Idlib, according to schools open after the end of Parents expressed deep con- port 750,000 Palestinians who further $200mn in aid projects their rights. On Tuesday, Nikki back at partnering them.” diplomats, who called the al- September,” UNRWA spokes- cern about the uncertainty fl ed or were expelled from their for Palestinians not funded Haley, US ambassador to the Palestinian president Mah- legations “very bizarre.” Western man Chris Gunness said. hanging over their children’s homes during the 1948 war that through UNRWA. United Nations, said her coun- moud Abbas said yesterday powers view those claims as “At the end of September, education. accompanied the creation of Senior Palestinian offi cial try would want to “look at right that the US embassy move and an attempt to deflect attention UNRWA will be running on “We are afraid of the schools Israel. With their descendants, Hanan Ashrawi accused the US of return”. She cited reports that pressure over the right of return from preparations for a Syrian empty for all its services, in- closing,” Soha Abu Hasara said they now number more than president of “cheap blackmail”. UNRWA’s school curriculum in- were having a “devastating ef- military offensive. cluding schools and medical in Gaza City as she dropped her 5mn across the Middle East. Israel and the United States cluded unjust criticism of Israel fect” on the peace process. According to the diplomats, facilities.” children off for their fi rst day The United States has sought accuse UNRWA of perpetuat- and the United States, charges Gunness pointed out that the Western powers have given In 2017, the United States, back in the classroom. to use its aid to pressure the ing the Israel-Palestinian crisis which the agency rejects. US could not force the agency the UN Security Council the which is traditionally the largest Pupil Hala Muhanna, 11, said Palestinian government into by maintaining the idea of the “UNRWA can stay there, to change its mandate, as that names of Syrian commanders single donor to UNRWA, con- her “message to the world is resuming dealing with it after a right of return — that Palestin- and we will be a donor if it re- would need a vote at the United and regiments involved in the tributed more than $360mn. that no-one has the right to nearly nine-month rupture. ians will be able to return to the forms what it does. If it goes Nations General Assembly. preparations for an offensive in But so far this year, it has giv- close schools”. The Palestinians have boy- homes from which they fl ed. and makes sure that they’re not “If one member state de- Idlib, who could be held respon- en just $60mn following Presi- “Even if they take away our cotted the US administration Palestinians see the US doing those teachings in text- cides to reduce our funds, that sible in the event of attacks on dent Donald Trump’s decision schools we will bring them since it recognised Jerusalem as embassy move and eff orts to books, if they actually change doesn’t change our mandate, it civilians. to withhold aid to the Palestin- back,” she said. Israel’s capital last December. change the mandate of UNRWA the number of refugees to an just means we have less money ians. UNRWA was formed to sup- Last week, Trump cancelled a as attempts to strip them of accurate account, we will look to do it,” he said.

Khamenei says Europe cannot save nuclear deal

Reuters on European support as he came un- Rouhani and his cabinet yesterday: deal. Speaking at the same meeting London der increased pressure at home over “There is no problem with nego- yesterday, Khamenei said Tehran his handling of the economy in the tiations and keeping contact with the would not negotiate with “indecent face of US sanctions, with key minis- Europeans, but you should give up and confrontational” US offi cials to ran’s Supreme Leader Ayatol- ters under attack by parliament. hope on them over economic issues or reach a new agreement on its nu- lah Ali Khamenei yesterday cast Following US President Donald the nuclear deal.” clear programme because Wash- Idoubt on the ability of European Trump’s exit from an international “The nuclear deal is a means, not ington “wants to boast they man- countries to save Iran’s 2015 nuclear accord that would curb Iran’s nuclear the goal, and if we come to this con- aged to bring Iran to the negotiation accord with world powers, now under ambitions, European powers have clusion that it does not serve our na- table”. Khamenei told Rouhani and threat following a US withdrawal, and been scrambling to ensure Iran con- tional interests, we can abandon it,” his cabinet to work “day and night” said Tehran might abandon the agree- tinues to get the economic benefi ts Khamenei was quoted as saying. to solve the mounting economic ment. needed to keep it in the nuclear deal. Khamenei set out a series of con- problems which include the collapse Khamenei cautioned President But in his comments published on ditions in May for European powers of the rial currency and surging Hassan Rouhani not to rely too much his offi cial website Khamenei told if they wanted to keep Tehran in the unemployment. Gulf Times Thursday, August 30, 2018 5 ARAB WORLD Car bomb kills 11 in Iraq

AFP out the attack, which it claimed had opened fi re. The latest bombing is in- Ramadi left 50 people dead or wounded. tended by IS to send a message that Al-Qaim, around 340 kilometres “we can act quickly and strike wherev- from Baghdad, was retaken from IS in er we want”, said Hisham al-Hashemi, suicide bomber killed at least November last year. an expert on radical groups. 11 people in Iraq yesterday in One month later, Prime Minister He said the militants had chosen the Aan attack that underscored the Haider al-Abadi declared victory over area because of its strategic location on threat still posed by the Islamic State the militants. But since then, the secu- the border and the presence of US and group despite a string of defeats. rity forces have announced a number French forces belonging to the interna- The assailant blew up a vehicle at of campaigns to fl ush out holdout IS tional coalition against IS. a checkpoint on the outskirts of Al- fi ghters from sparsely populated ar- The vast desert that straddles the Qaim, one of the last towns in Iraq to eas from which they have continued to frontier with Syria on either side of be recaptured from IS, near the Syrian mount attacks. the Euphrates valley town of Al-Qaim border. Iraq’s security services said the ve- has been one of the militants’ principal Five members of the security forc- hicle used in the attack had been rigged hideouts. es were among 11 people killed in the with explosives in a desert area on the Hashemi said about 2,000 IS mili- blast, which also wounded 16 other edge of Syria. tants are still active in Iraq including people, mostly civilians, police Cap- The attacker drove past two road- around 100 foreigners whose objective tain Mahmud Jassem said. blocks before detonating the bomb at is “to take revenge on those who have IS said in a statement that it carried a third checkpoint after security forces driven them out”. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, August 30, 2018 AFRICA

Malls reopen after bomb threats

Trading resumed at two Sandton district both closed both malls said shopping had of South Africa’s biggest after reporting bomb threats. resumed. Shiny malls have shopping malls yesterday “Police searched and nothing sprung up throughout South following bomb threats, after was found and it was handed Africa, creating thousands of Corruption trial of senior police found no explosive to the management,” police jobs. Mall of Africa is set in the devices at either location. spokesman Lieutenant Colonel sprawling Midrand suburb The Mall of Africa, located Lungelo Dlamini said of the housing many of South Africa’s between Johannesburg and Mall of Africa. A similar search newly middle-class black Pretoria, and the Sandton failed to turn up any bomb at consumers, about 20km away Kenyan judge suspended City mall in Johannesburg’s Sandton City. Management of from its rival Sandton City.

Agencies Nairobi

he corruption trial of Ken- ya’s deputy chief justice, the Tcountry’s second-highest judge, was suspended yesterday amid a barrage of legal petitions at various courts. Philomena Mwilu, one of seven members of the Supreme Court, was arrested on Tuesday after Kenya’s director of public pros- ecutions, Noordin Haji, accused her of abusing her office for per- sonal gain. Mwilu was among the judges who annulled President Uhuru Kenyatta’s initial election win in August 2017, leading to the contro- versial holding of a fresh vote. She was due to be formally charged at a Nairobi magistrates’ court yesterday but High Court judge Chacha Mwita suspended the case until October 9 to hear a con- stitutional challenge brought by her lawyers. Mwilu’s lead lawyer James Oren- go, a prominent opposition fi gure and elected senator who played a key role in overturning last year’s election result, said the move against her was “an attack on the judiciary”. Philomena Mwilu (centre) speaks with her lawyer Kalonzo Musyoka (right), Kenya’s opposition deputy leader, as “These charges have been she appears at the Milimani Law Court in Nairobi yesterday. brought not to secure justice but to secure the removal of the deputy Court was to hear a petition to ous circumstances, failing to pay wracked Kenya whose citizens chief justice from offi ce,” he said postpone the re-run. taxes and using false pretences to rarely see justice done. before launching his legal chal- As a result, Mwilu did not attend carry out a transaction involving “We are an independent institu- lenge. the hearing and the lack of a quo- an asset belonging to the Imperial tion and we are not being directed “There is no factual foundation rum meant the election went ahead Bank, which collapsed in 2015. by anyone,” he said. for instituting these proceedings,” unchallenged. Mwilu appeared in court later “This decision has not been he said, insisting on her innocence. “This is an intensifi ed war on the that day and was released on bail of taken lightly. The dignity and inde- After his initial victory was an- Supreme Court,” Orengo said yes- 5mn shillings ($50,000). pendence of the judiciary is dear to nulled, Kenyatta publicly warned terday. But Haji denied accusations the us.” that he would “fi x the judiciary” Mwilu was appointed to the Su- arrest was politically-motivated. He said he believed evidence and some judges subsequently preme Court in 2016 and shot into He said Mwilu was targeted against her was sufficient for “a faced threats and intimidation. the limelight for her role in annul- as part of an ongoing crackdown reasonable prospect of convic- In October 2017, Mwilu’s body- ling Kenyatta’s fi rst poll win. against corruption, which has tion” and it was in the public in- guard was shot and seriously in- She was accused on Tuesday of seen several high-ranking offi cials terest for criminal proceedings to jured the day before the Supreme accepting money as a gift in dubi- hauled into court, a rarity in graft- be brought. War crimes suspect rejects ‘Terminator’ label

AFP crimes trial at the International Crimi- “They are the members of the army The Hague nal Court. and military commanders take care of Bourgon blamed what he called un- their ‘children’.” founded online rumours for Ntagan- Now aged about 44, Ntaganda had a he lawyer for a Congolese ex- da’s bloody reputation. reputation as a charismatic command- warlord accused of recruiting He said the defence would make ar- er with a penchant for cowboy hats and Tchild soldiers told judges yes- guments “based on the evidence and fi ne dining. terday his client was like a father to his not the Internet.” He faces 13 counts of war crimes troops and that his nickname “Termi- “We heard that Bosco Ntaganda was and five counts of crimes against hu- nator” was undeserved. nicknamed The Terminator because he manity as commander of the Patriot- Bosco Ntaganda is accused of over- was a notorious violent killer. This is ic Forces for the Liberation of Congo seeing massacres of civilians by his entirely wrong,” Bourgon told the court (FPLC). rebel army in the Ituri region of north- in The Hague. The alleged crimes include murder, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo He addressed evidence that Ntagan- rape, sexual slavery and recruiting in 2002 and 2003. da himself had referred to “children” in children under the age of 15. After two days of closing arguments his forces. Prosecutors have told the trial that by the prosecution, Ntaganda’s lawyer “The army was a family. The ‘children’ Ntaganda’s fi ghters slaughtered civil- Stephane Bourgon took the fl oor yes- in the family does not mean that they are ians with machetes and disembowelled terday at the former commander’s war children,” Bourgon told the court. pregnant women.

Zimbabwe names team to probe election killings Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday appointed former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe to lead an inquiry into post-election violence when the army opened fire and six people were killed. The seven-member commission has been tasked with investigating events around anti-fraud protests on August 1 when the military used live rounds on the streets of the capital Harare. The election was meant to relaunch the country and attract foreign investment after the end of Robert Mugabe’s 37-year rule last year, but was marred by the army shooting and allegations of electoral fraud. Mnangagwa, a former close ally of Mugabe, told reporters that the commission would “identify the actors and their leaders, their motive and strategies employed in the protests.” He said the commission would also investigate the “circumstances which necessitated the involvement of the military.” Mnangagwa, who narrowly won the July 30 election, has previously blamed the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party for the violence. Gulf Times Thursday, August 30, 2018 7 AMERICAS

UN accuses Florida to see Nicaragua of rights intriguing duel violations Reuters Geneva

icaragua’s government for governor turned a blind eye while Narmed mobs rounded up AFP “Has my total and complete Trump slogan “Make America protesters, some of whom were Washington Endorsement.” Great Again” outfi t. later raped with rifl es and tor- McSally will take on Democrat Gillum, who has called for tured in detention, the United Kyrsten Sinema, a three-term Trump’s impeachment, is the Nations said yesterday in a re- liberal African-Ameri- member of the House of Repre- fi rst African-American to win A woman shouts during a retirees’ protest for their pension in Caracas, Venezuela, yesterday. port rejected as biased by Mana- can Democrat backed by sentatives, as Republicans seek Florida’s Democratic nomina- gua. ABernie Sanders will take to hold on to their slim 51-49 tion for governor and his surprise In a 33-page rebuttal, Nic- on a Trump-idolising Republi- majority in the Senate in No- win came against better-funded, aragua said the UN Human can in an intriguing duel in No- vember. more mainstream opponents. Rights Office report issued vember for governor of Florida, Democrats had been hop- “We were counted out every in Geneva had ignored vio- America’s third-largest state. ing for a victory by one of the step of the way,” Gillum said. Brazil may put cap on lence aimed at overthrowing The upset victory by Demo- extreme right-wing candidates “My four opponents collec- a democratically elected gov- crat Andrew Gillum, 39, the - Ward or Arpaio - in a bid to in- tively spent over $90mn. I think ernment. mayor of Tallahassee, Florida, crease their chances of capturing our total spending may have The report documented hu- was the most notable of a slate of the Arizona Senate seat. been six.” Venezuelans crossing man rights violations between party primary results on Tues- A replacement for the other If elected, Gillum promised April 18 and August 18, including day to decide candidates for the senator from Arizona, the late to work for universal healthcare the disproportionate use of force midterm election. John McCain, is to be named in the and “common sense” gun laws and extrajudicial killings by the In other races, a former air next few days by the southwestern in a state where there has been a Nicaraguan police, disappear- force fi ghter pilot, Representa- state’s Republican governor and spate of mass shootings. border, says president ances, widespread arbitrary de- tive Martha McSally, won the will be up for election in 2020. Sanders, who represents the tentions and instances of torture Republican primary in Arizona In Florida, Gillum will be pit- leftwing of the party and came Reuters meltdown and political tur- “It is inadmissible what is and sexual violence in detention to replace the retiring Repub- ted against Representative Ron up short in his 2016 challenge to Brasilia moil in Venezuela, where happening there. It is plung- centres. lican Senator Jeff Flake, a vo- DeSantis, also 39, an enthusias- Hillary Clinton for the Demo- people scrounge for food and ing the continent into dis- “Repression and retaliation cal critic of President Donald tic Trump backer who surged in cratic presidential nomination, other necessities of daily life. cord,” Temer said. against demonstrators continue Trump. the polls after earning the en- welcomed his victory. he Brazilian govern- The exodus is threatening Residents of Pacaraima ran in Nicaragua as the world looks With 52% of the vote, McSally dorsement of the president. “Floridians joined Andrew in ment may restrict to overwhelm neighbouring riot this month and drove away,” UN human rights chief easily defeated arch conservative “Not only did Congressman standing up and demanding real Tentry of Venezuelans countries. out Venezuelan immigrants Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein said in a Kelli Ward, a former state senator, Ron DeSantis easily win the Re- change and showed our nation at the border in the remote Most of those head to other after a restaurant owner was statement. and Sheriff Joe Arpaio, an immi- publican Primary, but his oppo- what is possible when we stand northwestern state of Rorai- Spanish-speaking countries stabbed and beaten. He later said he feared Nica- gration hardliner who was con- nent in November is his biggest together,” the Vermont senator ma, President Michel Temer in South America, but a ris- The demonstrations forced ragua was going down the same victed of criminal contempt and dream a failed Socialist Mayor tweeted. said yesterday, after a fl ood ing number are heading to many immigrants to fl ee back path as Venezuela and hoped it pardoned by Trump last year. named Andrew Gillum who has Also in Florida, current gover- of migrants has strained local Brazil via Venezuela’s remote across the frontier to their could be persuaded to stop re- Trump had mostly stayed out allowed crime & many other nor Rick Scott won the Republi- services and sparked violence southern frontier. crisis-stricken country. sponding to protests with “an of the Arizona Senate race but problems to fl ourish in his city,” can Senate nomination and is set with residents. Temer said an estimated Temer said the decree to re- iron fi st”. he gave his full endorsement to Trump tweeted yesterday morn- to take on Democratic Senator Speaking in a radio inter- 700 to 800 Venezuelans cross establish law and order in Ro- The report said the UN Hu- the 52-year-old McSally yester- ing. Bill Nelson in November. view, Temer said it could be the border at the town of Pac- raima will be in eff ect for 15 days. man Rights Council should day, saying she was “strong on “This is not what Florida “He will be a great Senator,” necessary to put a daily cap on araima every day. The exodus of Venezue- consider setting up an inter- crime” and “the border.” wants or needs!” Trump tweeted of Scott. the number of Venezuelans Brazil may limit that lans to other South American national inquiry or truth com- “Martha McSally is an ex- DeSantis’s campaign fea- Nelson, 75, has represented allowed to cross the border number to between 100 and countries is building towards mission to prevent the situa- traordinary woman. She was tured an ad in which he encour- Florida in the Senate since 2001 into Roraima as local authori- 200 people per day, the presi- a “crisis moment” compara- tion getting worse, although a very talented fi ghter jet pilot ages his toddler to use blocks to but the latest polls show Scott ties were being overwhelmed dent said, just hours after his ble to events involving refu- “the chilling effect of repres- and is now a highly respected “build the wall” - a reference to with a slight lead in what is ex- by a migration crisis. government vowed to send gees in the Mediterranean, sion” and a “a climate of wide- member of Congress,” Trump Trump’s border wall with Mex- pected to be one of the most ex- Hundreds of thousands of armed forces to maintain or- the United Nations said this spread terror” had already si- tweeted. ico - and dresses his baby in a pensive congressional races. people are fl eeing economic der in the area. week. lenced many protesters Gulf Times 8 Thursday, August 30, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Bimstec: Senior offi cials’ meeting begins in Nepal

IANS Bairagi, foreign secretaries P Sharma Oli is expected lying in the littoral and adja- The heads of government by Oli. He will then hold Kathmandu from the members coun- to hold talks with him, the cent areas of the Bay of Ben- starts arriving in Kathman- talks with the leaders in the tries held talks on trade and Kathmandu Post reported. gal – Bangladesh, Bhutan, du. evening. investment, transport and On Tuesday, the foreign sec- India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Before the opening session Bangladeshi Prime Min- meeting of senior of- communications, technol- retaries were also expected Lanka and Thailand. of the summit, Nepali Presi- ister Sheikh Hasina, Bhuta- fi cials of the Bay of ogy, counter-terrorism and to prepare the agenda for the Nepali offi cials said dent Bidya Devi Bhandari nese Chief of interim gov- ABengal Initiative for transnational crime, agri- main summit. Bimstec For- preparations for the main will meet Bimstec leaders ernment Lyongpo Tshering Multi-Sectoral Technical culture, poverty alleviation eign Ministers was to meet summit were complete. and will host a luncheon in Wangchuk, Myanmar’s and Economic Co-operation and public health. yesterday to discuss the According to the itinerary, honour of the visiting del- President Win Minta, Sri (Bimstec) member states Indian Prime Minister Kathmandu Declaration. after two back-to-back egates. Lankan President Maitripala kicked off in Kathmandu Narendra Modi will attend Nepal serves as the cur- meetings of the senior offi - Later, all the heads of Sirisena, and Thai Prime on Tuesday. In the meet- the fourth Bimstec sum- rent chair of the sub regional cials and foreign ministers, state/government will make Minister Prayut Chan O ing chaired by Nepali For- mit today. During his visit, body formed in June 1997. It formal opening of the sum- their opening remarks dur- Chale will take part in the eign Secretary Shankar Das his Nepali counterpart K comprises seven countries mit will take place today. ing a programme chaired summit. Thousands displaced by Myanmar dam overfl ow

AFP shelter in about 30 tempo- The deluge comes just weeks Bago, Myanmar rary camps, Ministry of So- after heavy monsoon rains cial Welfare director Phyu pummelled Myanmar, caus- Lae Lae Tun told AFP. ing widespread fl ash fl oods major eff ort was “There are more than that forced some 150,000 under way to reach 14,000 households and some people to fl ee their homes. Athousands of people 63,000 people aff ected by the Southeast Asia’s annual trapped in their homes after waters,” she said. The torrent monsoon season runs from a dam swollen by monsoon also fractured part of a bridge around June to November. rain overfl owed early yes- on the Yangon-Mandalay Regional neighbour Laos terday in central Myanmar, highway linking Myanmar’s was hit badly last month offi cials said. two biggest cities. when heavy rainfall caused A surge of water inun- Deputy Minister for Con- the collapse of a dam. At dated the rural fl atland in struction Kyaw Linn told re- least 35 people were killed, Bago region after the Swar porters the bridge’s support- scores went missing and Chaung dam spillway, which ing towers were sinking. “We thousands more languished regulates the release of wa- will get divers to go down and in shelters. ter, collapsed due to heavy check after the water levels The $1.2bn Xe-Namnoy seasonal rain. recede,” he said. dam — a joint venture be- AFP reporters in Kayin Army chief Min Aung tween South Korean, Thai village described how some Hlaing, under mounting in- and Laotian fi rms — collapsed people waded through ternational pressure to face on July 23 after heavy rains, chest-deep water to get to international justice follow- unleashing a barrage of water higher ground. Many others ing a damning UN report this that swept away entire vil- remained trapped in their week on the Rohingya crisis, lages in the country’s south. half-submerged homes as was quick to arrive at the The communist country has rescuers worked into the scene yesterday morning. since suspended its hydro- night to try to ferry residents “We have to work together,” power strategy to become the out. No casualties have yet he said. “The spillway will “battery of Asia” by damming been reported but more than not be able to be controlled rivers and selling electricity to 12,600 people have taken until the water fl ow stops.” its neighbours. People are evacuated after flooding in Swar township, Myanmar.

Myanmar rejects UN probe fi ndings of Rohingya genocide Suu Kyi won’t be stripped of Nobel Peace Prize: committee

Myanmar yesterday rejected the findings profile to date to address the crisis and The Nobel Peace Prize to democracy, has been criticised mittee consists of a panel of of a UN investigation alleging genocide featured graphic testimony from actress Aung San Suu Kyi will not be for failing to speak out against five Norwegians, mostly former by its military against the Rohingya, after Cate Blanchett, who visited the refugee withdrawn in the light of a the army crackdown in Rakhine politicians and academics, that the US and other countries joined grow- camps in May as a goodwill ambassador. United Nations report that said state. “It’s important to remem- reflect the different forces in ing calls for them to face justice. Mainly “I am a mother and I saw my own chil- Myanmar’s military carried ber that a Nobel Prize, whether the Norwegian Parliament. The Buddhist Myanmar has come under dren in the eyes of every single refugee out mass killings of Muslim in Physics, Literature or Peace, other Nobel prizes are awarded immense pressure this week over last child that I met. I saw myself in every Rohingya, the Norwegian Nobel is awarded for some prize-wor- in Sweden. Last year, the head year’s military crackdown that pushed parent,” she told the Security Council. Committee said yesterday. On thy effort or achievement of of the Committee, Berit Reiss- more than 700,000 of the Muslim minor- “How can any mother endure seeing her Monday, UN investigators said the past,” said Olav Njoelstad, Andersen, also said it would not ity into Bangladesh. On Monday the UN child thrown into a fire? Their experi- Myanmar’s military carried out the secretary of the Norwegian strip the award after previous probe detailed evidence of genocide and ences will never leave me.” Myanmar mass killings and gang rapes Nobel Committee. “Aung San criticism of Aung San Suu Kyi’s crimes against humanity “perpetrated on rejected the UN mission’s findings in a typi- with “genocidal intent”, and the Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace role in the Rohingya crisis. a massive scale” against the Rohingya, cally defiant response to a crisis that has commander-in-chief and five Prize for her fight for democ- “We don’t do it. It’s not our task including acts of rape, sexual violence heaped international opprobrium on both generals should be prosecuted racy and freedom up until 1991, to oversee or censor what a and mass killings. In a UN Security Coun- its military and civilian leadership. “We for the gravest crimes under the year she was awarded the laureate does after the prize cil session a day later, several countries didn’t allow the FFM (the UN Fact-Finding international law. prize,” he said. has been won,” she said in a – including the US, Britain, France and Mission) to enter into Myanmar, that’s why Aung San Suu Kyi, who leads And the rules regulating the television interview. “The prize Sweden – called for Myanmar’s military we don’t agree and accept any resolutions the Myanmar government and Nobel Prizes do not allow for a winners themselves have to leaders to be held accountable. made by the Human Rights Council,” said won the Nobel Peace Prize prize to be withdrawn, he add- safeguard their own reputa- The meeting was one of the most high- government spokesman Zaw Htay. in 1991 for campaigning for ed. The Norwegian Nobel Com- tions.”

Pacific islands unscathed after Colombo court orders arrest of tsunami scare Small tsunami waves lapped New Caledonia, Fiji and Vanuatu yesterday after a strong earthquake in the Pacific Ocean, country’s top military offi cer but the threat passed without any damage reported. After the 7.1 magnitude quake struck AFP 11 young men between 2008 and bail. Police have told the court that tioned two weeks ago in relation to off the eastern coast of New Colombo 2009 during the fi nal stages of the Hettiarachchi was also wanted in the abduction and torture of a news- Caledonia, the Pacific Tsunami war. They are believed to have been connection with the 2006 murder of paper journalist in 2008. Warning Center said “waves murdered while being illegally held Tamil lawmaker Nadarajah Raviraj. The former strongman, and sev- reaching 0.3 to 1 metre above court yesterday ordered the by the navy. Their bodies were never There have been persistent allega- eral members of his family, are also the tide level” were possible. arrest of Sri Lanka’s top mili- found. Hettiarachchi was arrested tions that senior military personnel being investigated for large-scale But only minor sea level Atary offi cer in connection earlier this month in Colombo after and regime fi gures loyal to then- fi nancial fraud and murder dur- fluctuations were recorded with the abduction and murder of a months-long manhunt that saw an president Mahinda Rajapakse were ing his decade as president. Troops and the warning was soon 11 people during the island’s civil alert issued worldwide. responsible for a number of high- crushed Tamil separatists known called off . Despite this coastal war. Colombo Fort magistrate Lanka “There is evidence against Admi- profi le murders. as the Tamil Tigers in 2009, end- populations were urged Jayaratne directed police to detain ral Wijegunaratne’s role in allowing Several military intelligence of- ing the decades-long civil war. But to “stay alert” and follow Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, the accused to evade arrest,” Sri Lan- fi cers are facing prosecution in con- the fi nal days of the government of- instructions from local Chief of the Defence Staff , for alleg- ka’s Criminal Investigations Depart- nection with the assassination of fensive, spearheaded by Rajapakse, authorities. The tremor hit at edly helping the main person accused ment told the magistrate. a prominent newspaper editor and were marked by allegations of a depth of 27km (17 miles) in in the killings escape prosecution. DKP Dissanayake, at the time a for orchestrating attacks on other major rights violations. A former the southern Pacific Ocean, Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi, a spokesman for the navy, is also sus- journalists and dissidents during Ra- UN offi cial has claimed that up to some 231km from the nearest navy intelligence offi cer, was accused pected of involvement. He was ar- japakse’s rule that ended in January 40,000 civilians may have been town, Tadine, in the lightly- of leading a hit squad that kidnapped rested last year and is currently on 2015. Rajapakse himself was ques- killed in the fi nal stages of the war. populated Loyalty Islands, the US Geological Survey said. Geoscience Australia said shaking would have been felt throughout New Caledonia, but it put the damage radius Sri Lanka arrests two Indians on suspicion of match-fi xing at 103km – well away from land. Jonathan Hanson, duty seismologist at New Zealand’s AFP hended after offi cials spotted them Cricket (SLC) offi cial told AFP. The lucrative Indian Premier League and GNS Science, said the Colombo behaving suspiciously and making arrest comes a day after SLC issued a attract foreign stars to Sri Lanka fell epicentre was some distance repeated calls on their mobile phones new match-fi xing alert after a group through. Authorities say the scaled- from inhabited islands and the during the match between Galle and of spectators were asked to leave an- down competition is still attracting tsunami wave warnings were ri Lankan cricket’s anti-cor- Dambulla at Pallekele, in the island’s other venue after offi cials suspected match-fi xers, and have increased the modest. “The tsunami wave ruption unit detained two In- central hills. “We saw suspicious them of involvement in attempted deployment of offi cials at games and sizes we’ve seen reported are Sdian spectators on suspicion behaviour of the two Indians and match-fi xing. team hotels, while players have been 16-17cm (6.3-6.7 inches) at two of match-fi xing during a domestic ACU (anti-corruption unit) offi cials The ongoing T20 tournament warned to inform the authorities of New Caledonia stations. At Twenty20 league game, offi cials handed them over to the police for features solely Sri Lankan cricketers any attempt to approach them to fi x those sizes we wouldn’t expect said yesterday. The men were appre- further investigations,” a Sri Lanka after plans to emulate the massively matches. any damage,” he told AFP. Gulf Times Thursday, August 30, 2018 9 BRITAIN May takes post-Brexit

trade tour to Nigeria EU’s top negotiator Michel Barnier (left) and German Foreign Aff airs Minister Heiko Maas shake hands after addressing a AFP pledging to prioritise investment press conference prior to talks in Berlin. Abuja in Africa — although it was her diffi dent dance moves rather than diplomacy that captured the head- heresa May yesterday held lines. talks with Nigerian Presi- The three-day tour, which will Barnier: EU ready Tdent Muhammadu Buhari also take her to Kenya, is part of a on the second leg of her maiden campaign to promote Britain’s glo- Africa tour aimed at drumming up bal ambitions. for unprecedented post-Brexit trade deals outside the With just seven months until European Union. Britain formally leaves the EU, May Buhari said Brexit off ers an op- is under pressure to forge post- deal with Britain portunity to strengthen historic Brexit trade deals. ties with London which ruled Ni- British offi cials are eyeing a dou- AFP geria as a colony to 1960. bling of bilateral trade with Nigeria Berlin “We are nervously watching by 2030 from the £4.2bn ($5.42bn) the development about Brexit in 2017. China is currently Niger- because we know that the rela- ia’s biggest trading partner with he EU is willing to strike an “ambitious” deal with tionship had been on for a long Abuja importing some $7bn in post-Brexit Britain far beyond any agreements the time,” he told May. “I assure you goods from Beijing. Tbloc has made with other countries in the past, the that I am prepared to strengthen After Abuja, May headed to La- European Union’s top negotiator reiterated yesterday. the relationship between our two gos, the economic capital, for talks “We are ready...to propose a partnership like there has nev- countries.” on eff orts to stem the migrant flow er been before with any other third country,” Michel Barnier Both leaders oversaw the sign- to Europe and meet victims of told a Berlin press conference alongside German Foreign ing of agreements on a security modern slavery. Minister Heiko Maas. partnership and an economic de- “Modern slavery is one of the Such a deal could include “an ambitious free trade agree- velopment forum after meeting in greatest human rights abuses of ment” as well as co-operation in the areas of aviation, secu- the capital Abuja. our time and the UK is a world rity and foreign policy. “This clearly highlights the two leader in making it an international But he warned that any agreement had to respect “the four priority areas in our relationship Prime Minister Theresa May inspects a guard of honour on her arrival in Abuja yesterday. mission to end this heinous crime,” pillars” of the EU’s cherished single market — the free move- at the moment,” Foreign Minister she said in a Commonwealth state- ment of people, goods, services and capital. Geoff rey Onyeama told reporters. London is and the investment op- lateral level and build up trade re- Buhari welcomed British sup- ment. “Single market means single market,” Barnier said. He said a defence and security portunities in our country, to build lations with those countries. port to strengthen democratic in- “Today we are stepping up our With just seven months to go until Britain formally quits pact was to help tackle Nigeria’s that up with the private sector as “For us this also fi ts into our stitutions. partnership with Nigerian author- the EU, talks between Brussels and London on the exit terms challenges such as military train- well as at the government level,” economic recovery and growth “I assure you that I’m all out for ities to fi nd traffi ckers and bring have stalled. ing, policing and human rights. Onyeama said. plan...and so this partnership will free, fair and credible elections,” them to justice,” May added. Last week, British fi nance minister Philip Hammond The economic forum sought “This is in the context of the be a framework that will achieve the president told May ahead of a A £10.5mn ($13.5mn) aid pack- warned that a no-deal Brexit could have “large fi scal conse- “to leverage areas where we have, UK’s Brexit, coming out of the Eu- very much in our economic recov- vote due next year. age would target human and drug quences” on productivity and borrowing. as countries, competitive advan- ropean Union. They feel freer now ery and growth plan,” the minister She kicked off her three-nation traffi ckers and help repatriate Prime Minister Theresa May later sought to downplay the tages: the fi nancial centre that to engage with countries on a bi- said. visit in Cape Town on Tuesday 1,700 Nigerian slavery victims. worst-case outcome, saying that a no-deal Brexit wouldn’t be “a walk in the park but it wouldn’t be the end of the world”. British lawmakers are split on May’s proposals to keep Britain close to the EU on trade — parts of which have already been rejected by Brussels. London and Brussels hope to strike an agreement by Octo- ber, to allow its ratifi cation by the European and British par- Scallop war goes deeper than Brexit with nets liaments before the March 29, 2019 divorce date.

By John Lichfield In the this dispute, British boats UK-registered boats depend on such agreement has been reached says the Seine Bay dispute reveals Britain plans own satellite system Guardian News and Media are asserting their right to fi sh in access to “European waters”. this year. French “hypocrisy”. French waters even when they are The scallop grounds off the Nor- Worse, from the French point European fi shermen have been after post-Brexit Galileo exclusion closed to French trawlers. man coast are among the richest in of view, the relatively small Brit- pillaging “60%” of the fi sh in Brit- orty French fi shing boats at- This right depends on EU rules, the world. ish boats that used to come over ish waters for the last three dec- ritain will invest in the possible creation of its own tack fi ve British boats in the but pre-dates the EU fi shing poli- The scallops — or coquilles from Newlyn and Brixham in the ades, Fishing for Leave claims. satellite-navigation system, the UK government an- FChannel. Stones and smoke cy. Saint-Jacques — dredged by UK West Country have been joined by Why should they object to a few Bnounced yesterday, after being excluded from the EU’s bombs are thrown. Rude words are In any case, the row is not just boats are mostly sold back to the mega-boats from Scotland. British boats entering French wa- Galileo programme because of Brexit. exchanged in two languages. The about France vs Britain. continental market. One of the vessels attacked on ters? At the same time, London said it was continuing to negoti- British retreat. It is also about Big Boats vs Under the terms of the common Tuesday night was the Honey- In truth, the Seine Bay war is a ate with the European Union about remaining in the Galileo Similar incidents have been Small Boats, and the ecological fi sheries policy, British boats do bourne III from Peterhead, a Scot- storm warning. programme. happening for 15 years — or argu- damage caused by modern meth- have a right to dredge scallops up tish vessel belonging to a Canadi- It shows what may happen on a Britain will invest £92mn ($119mn), taken from its £3bn ably for the last 900 years. ods of industrial-scale fi shing. to 20km from the French shoreline. an-owned company. wider scale if a hard Brexit removes Brexit fund, for an 18 months-long study into an alternative The rights and wrong are com- First, some facts. The French fi shermen have nev- The French fi shermen complain all common rules for management UK programme, the government said in a statement. plicated. The clashes took place in er disputed that right. that the large boats, with heav- of fi sheries in European seas. “We are investing in an alternative option to Galileo to en- On Tuesday evening, the French “French waters” — that is to say They do, however, accuse some ier dredging tackle and freezing It is also a useful reminder that sure our future security needs are met using the UK’s world- boats were undoubtedly the ag- about 24km from the French coast British boats of fi shing inside the equipment, are capable of hoover- some British boats rely on Euro- leading space sector,” said Business Secretary Greg Clark. gressors. at a point where the Channel is French 20km limit. ing up enough scallops in one day pean rules for access to their prey Britain in June revealed that it had been formally excluded They put to sea not in order to about 160km wide, well beyond They are also furious that Brit- to keep local fi shermen in work for — and the European single market from future contracts for the Galileo programme that is in- fi sh, but to harass the English and any possible legal defi nition of ish boats don’t have to observe a month. to sell their produce. tended for commercial uses such as logistics as well as for Scottish boats that had entered British waters. the summer closure of the scallop They also claim — and this is Above all, as one leading Brit- armed forces and emergency services. “their waters”. There were 40 French boats and fi shery (from 15 May to 1 October) disputed — that the large ships ish voice pointed out: “It shows Brussels has said it will deny London access to Galileo’s It was foolhardy of the French fi ve British — but the French boats imposed 15 years ago by French au- leave the seabed like a “ploughed how complicated fi sheries policy encrypted signals after Britain’s EU departure next year, cit- fi shermen, but they do have rea- were tiny and the British boats thorities to conserve stocks. fi eld”. is. We have access to those waters ing legal issues about sharing sensitive security information sons to be exasperated. were large. Since this is a national regula- One British crew leader says, off because of historic rights that go with a non-member state. The latest outbreak of the Baie The French are furious that Brit- tion, independent of the common the record: “Dredging is an awful back well before the common fi sh- Britain played a major role in developing Galileo, an alter- de la Seine scallop war should be ish boats don’t observe the sum- fi sheries policy, British and Irish kind of fi shing. Not all fi shermen eries policy. The same applies to native to the US’s GPS. seen in the context of Brexit and mer closure of the scallop fi shery boats do not have to respect it. want to be dredgers. It leaves the French and other fi shermen in our Galileo is expected to be fully operational in 2026, while the deep uncertainties and exag- to conserve stocks. In recent years the British and marine environment in a terrible waters. Those rights will not dis- according to reports Britain may demand some £1bn in com- gerated expectations encouraged Since so much has been said French governments have negoti- mess.” appear with Brexit, whatever some pensation for its investment in the programme to date. by simplistic and vague UK plans about European boats “pillaging” ated a bilateral agreement. The aggressively pro-Brexit politicians and fi shermen’s leaders to reclaim “our seas” and “our British fi shing grounds, it is worth Small British boats could enter Fishing for Leave organisation, may say.” fi sh”. dwelling on the fact that this was the “closed” French waters for a which represents a relatively small zJohn Lichfi eld is a former EU cor- Ironies abound. one of the many cases in which limited number of “days at sea”. No number of British fi shermen, respondent based in France

Crowning glory Cliff Richard to release fi rst album of new material in 14 years

Reuters London

eteran British singer Cliff Richard, who won substantial damages in a privacy case ruling against the BBC last Vmonth, said yesterday he would release his fi rst album of new material in 14 years, called Rise Up. Making the announcement on the 60th anniversary of when he released his debut single Move It, the 77-year-old said the record would come out in November and the title referenced “the bad period” he had recently endured. Last month, London’s High Court ruled the BBC had breached his privacy by televising a police raid on his house in August 2014 which the singer said had left him feeling violated. A judged awarded Richard £210,000 ($272,475) in damages. The search was part of an investigation into allegations of historical child sex off ences but prosecutors later said the sing- er, who maintained his innocence throughout, would face no charges due to lack of evidence. “I chose ‘Rise Up’ as the title track because after the bad pe- riod I went through in my life, I’ve managed to ‘Rise Up’ out of what seemed like a quagmire,” Richard said in a statement. “I love the lyric ‘They’re never gonna break me down, they’re never gonna take me down, they know I’m gonna rise up feeling stronger’. It is always great to sing lyrics you can ‘feel’ and I re- ally felt those words.” A fan has her photograph taken next to a ‘Giant Crown’ installed yesterday to celebrate the birthday of Michael Richard, known for songs such as Summer Holiday, Living Jackson, on the South Bank in London. Doll and Devil Woman, has also recorded a duet with Olivia Newton-John for the album. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, August 30, 2018 EUROPE

EASY RIDERS ACCIDENT OUTBREAK PAINTING THE TOWN RED MECHANICAL MULE Greek ferry limps back to West Nile virus claims 37 Thousands hurl tomatoes in Smugglers use drone to fly port after fire on board lives in Serbia and Greece annual Spanish food fight drugs over Cyprus frontier

Hundreds of passengers were safely evacuated The West Nile virus has claimed six lives in Serbia Thousands of revellers yesterday hurled some Smugglers attempted to use a drone to fly early yesterday from a Greek ferry after a fire in the past week alone, pushing the number 145 tonnes of tomatoes at each other, celebrating illegal drugs over the frontier separating Turkish broke out in the car deck, off icials said. The of confirmed deaths in the European country the messy annual Tomatina festival in the eastern Cypriot northern Cyprus with the rest of the Eleftherios Venizelos, originally bound for Hania, worst hit by the disease to 21, health off icials said Spanish town of Bunol. A fire cracker signal marked island, one of the most heavily guarded areas Crete, returned to the port of Piraeus shortly yesterday. That puts the number of confirmed the start of the massive food fight at 11am and in Europe, Turkish Cypriot media has reported. after 0100 GMT, the Greek coastguard said. The infections in Serbia at 213, most of them in the during the next hour, six trucks loaded with over- Police in Northern Cyprus were questioning ship had nearly 900 people on board in addition capital, Belgrade, according to the national ripe tomatoes drove through the small town’s main a suspect alleged to have taken delivery of to a crew of around 140. The passengers spent public health institute Greece is the next worst- street providing ammunition for festival-goers. narcotics from a drone which had taken off from the night on deck, and left the boat using a fire aff ected country, with five dead in the past week Some wore sunglasses or goggles as protection the Greek Cypriot south of Cyprus’s divided A Danish Prime Minister’s off ice handout photo brigade ladder, the coastguard said. No injuries for a death toll of 16, and 130 cases registered. In for their eyes as they covered each other in red capital Nicosia, the Turkish Cypriot Kibris of French President Emmanuel Macron (second were immediately reported. Early information Greece, the disease has focused on three areas: pulp. The Tomatina is said to have originated from newspaper and private DHA agency reported. right) and Denmark’s Prime Minister Lars Lokke suggests the fire broke out on a truck. The ship the Peloponnese Peninsula; around Athens; and a spontaneous bust-up amongst villagers in 1945. The reports did not disclose the type of drug that Rasmussen (second left) ride bicycles during a limped back to port at slow speed, escorted by around Thessaloniki in the north, the Greek news It was banned for a while during the 1950s at the was seized. Police on the Greek Cypriot side said tour of the city of Copenhagen yesterday. coastguard, tug boats and two other ferries. agency ANA-MPA reported. height of General Francisco Franco’s dictatorship. they had no information about the incident. Berlin probes leak of warrant after Chemnitz stabbing

By Andrea Shalal, Reuters investigation, said the circle of those Berlin who had access to the document was not small. Neither the Iraqi, nor a second ermany has launched a probe suspect arrested in the stabbing, a into the leak to far-right groups 23-year-old Syrian man, had engaged Gof an arrest warrant against an an attorney, making it unlikely the leak Iraqi suspect in a stabbing case that came from them, experts said. (From left) Turkish Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and Interior Minister triggered two days of violent anti-im- Saxon police last week apologised Suleyman Soylu give a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs in Ankara yesterday. migrant protests. for a separate incident involving an off - Interior Minister Horst Seehofer duty police employee at an anti-Islam said judicial authorities should use all rally. means at their disposal to respond to The AfD and PEGIDA, a far-right the leak of the warrant for the arrest of group that is under observation by Turkey vows to accelerate EU reforms, expects results the 22-year-old Iraqi suspect over the intelligence agencies, say they will fatal stabbing of a 35-year-old German march again in Chemnitz on Saturday man. to “mourn Daniel H (the stabbing vic- DPA ment Party) government. Under the return for our eff orts, including visa ing to soothe tensions, particularly The death sparked violent anti-for- tim) and the others killed by Germany’s Ankara new (presidential) system, reforms liberalisation,” Cavusoglu said, also since Ankara ended the nearly two- eigner protests in the eastern city of forced multiculturalisation.” will continue to be a priority for Tur- adding that Turkey and the EU must year state of emergency in July. Chemnitz. PEGIDA co-founder Lutz Bachmann key,” Cavusoglu told a joint press con- restart talks on a modernised customs Ankara does not expect new chap- The leak of the warrant was a highly was among the fi rst to publish the ar- urkey has pledged to speed ference following a Reform Action union agreement. ters to be opened under Austria’s EU unusual occurrence that drew sharp rest warrant on Tuesday evening, along up political reforms linked to Group meeting, also attended by three Turkey and the EU began accession presidency, but wants to work more criticism across Germany, which has with a group called “Pro Chemnitz” TEuropean Union accession in other ministers. talks in 2005; however, negotiations have closely with the Council of Europe, strict privacy guidelines for judicial and a local AfD politician. return for movement on lingering is- The reform group also vowed to im- largely stalled, with no new negotiating Cavusoglu said. proceedings, and raised concerns of About 57% of Germans view the sues with the bloc, including visa-free prove basic freedoms and the judiciary chapters opened since June 2016. Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul possible links between police and anti- anti-migrant riots, during which at travel, foreign minister Mevlut Cavu- as it convened for the fi rst time since Relations soured after a failed July yesterday pledged “even more human migrant parties. least 10 people raised their arms in the soglu said in Ankara yesterday. Turkey switched to an executive presi- 2016 coup attempt and a subsequent rights and freedoms” and vowed to Critics said the warrant, which con- banned “Hitler salute”, as a danger to “Reforms have always been a prior- dential system after June 24 elections. state of emergency. improve cooperation with the Euro- tained details of the number of stab democracy, a new Civey poll showed. ity for the AKP (Justice and Develop- “We would like to achieve results in Both sides, however, have been try- pean Court of Human Rights. wounds, may have been leaked to fur- In all, 90% of AfD backers did not see ther infl ame anger against migrants. the protests as a threat to democracy, it The stabbing and subsequent pro- showed. tests have exposed deep divisions in AfD leader Alexander Gauland jus- German society over Chancellor Angela tifi ed the anti-migrant riots as self- Merkel’s 2015 decision to open the door defence in an interview with Die Welt Italy to push EU to rotate ports for migrant arrivals to more than 1mn migrants, mostly newspaper. Muslims fl eeing Middle East confl icts. “When a homicide like this occurs, The incident has also laid bare close it’s normal that people fl ip out. Self- AFP The proposal calls for a revision “The proposal aims for a rotation back as Italy grapples with seemingly links between a range of anti-migrant defence is certainly not vigilante jus- Rome of the EU’s military operation code- of landing ports...our goal is to ensure endless migrant arrivals. groups, including soccer hooligans and tice.” named Sophia — currently com- that Italy is not the only one taking In the latest incident, nearly 140 the Alternative for Germany (AfD) par- Merkel and her cabinet discussed manded by Italy — and under which charge of the problem, but also other migrants who had been stranded on ty, and their ability to quickly mobilise the situation during a cabinet meeting ome will today ask the European all migrants rescued disembark at an member states,” a defence ministry the Diciotti coast guard ship at a port thousands of demonstrators. yesterday and underscored their oppo- Union to rotate the ports where Italian port. source told AFP. in Sicily were allowed to disembark Prosecutors said yesterday they had sition to any form of vigilance justice, Rmigrants rescued at sea dis- “We consider this principle unac- According to La Stampa newspa- on Sunday after Ireland and non-EU launched an investigation into the leak Seehofer told reporters. embark, Defence Minister Elisabetta ceptable and want it to be reviewed,” per, Italy’s idea is to rotate landings member Albania agreed to take some and had taken steps to protect two wit- Such actions were “completely un- Trenta said, with France and Spain ex- Trenta added. “Tomorrow the ball will between Mediterranean ports, with of them in. nesses named in the document. acceptable.” pected to top the list. be in the EU camp: by accepting our a particular emphasis on France and However tensions spilled over yes- The deputy premier of the state, But UN human rights chief Zeid Trenta will put the plan to her Euro- proposal it will have the opportunity Spain, and with Greece and Malta also terday outside a church centre hous- Martin Dulig, a Social Democrat, sug- Ra’ad al-Hussein called for more wide- pean counterparts during an informal to show it is a real community of val- sharing the load. ing some 100 Eritreans from the Dici- gested in two German media interviews spread denunciation of what he called meeting in Vienna. ues and intentions; by refusing it will Italy has been turning away ships otti at Rocca di Papa near Rome. that the leak had likely come from po- “shocking” images from Chemnitz. “Tomorrow...I will carry in the deny its own fundamental principles.” with migrants rescued at sea in a cam- Dozens of far right protestors and lice or judicial authorities. “We really need a concentration of name of the Italian government a pro- Sophia was launched in June 2015 paign to make EU countries take their anti-fascist counter-demonstrators “We have a bigger problem to deal voices now to say that when we have posal to modify the rules of the Sophia following a series of deadly ship- share. yelled insults and had to be kept apart with there,” he told broadcaster MDR. incitement to hatred this is prohibited mission concerning the port of dis- wrecks involving migrants and has Last week, it threatened to stop bil- by riot police. A spokesman for the Dresden pros- under international human rights law,” embarkation,” she wrote on Facebook since picked up thousands of migrants lions of euros of EU funding over the The migrants were to be moved on ecutor’s offi ce, which is handling the he told reporters. yesterday. fl oundering in the Mediterranean. issue, accusing Europe of turning its to other areas within days. Putin off ers women a better pensions deal after popularity hit

Reuters Russia shows off new luxury sedan, Putin limousine erage monthly pension will be Moscow 14,414 roubles ($212) by the end Russia yesterday unveiled a outing in May when Putin used it unveiling, said contracts for com- of the year. new luxury sedan at a Moscow instead of his usual Mercedes at his mercial orders of Aurus cars would Putin said the draft legislation, resident Vladimir Putin motor show and also showed off inauguration for a new presidential be signed from next month, the RIA which is going through the State said yesterday he was cut- the Russian-built limousine that term, sending a patriotic message news agency reported. Duma, the lower house of par- Pting a proposed retire- President Vladimir Putin took for a of Russian self-suff iciency. He said about 120 Aurus vehicles liament, would be amended to ment age for women from 63 televised drive during his swearing- Russia has been trying reduce would be produced next year, add- refl ect his own ideas in the near to 60 years as he watered down in ceremony in May. its dependence on imported goods ing that the off -road vehicle was future. draft legislation to reform the The Aurus Senat four-seater and technology, a drive that has expected to enter serial produc- He listed several ways of rais- pensions system which has hurt sedan was presented to reporters gathered speed since Russia was tion by the beginning of 2020, RIA ing money to fund the current his popularity and stirred pro- as the latest addition to the nascent hit by Western sanctions. reported. pension system in order to delay tests. Cortege range of Russian-made The Aurus series is produced by Manturov said an electric Aurus reform, but said all of them would In a TV address, Putin, who vehicles championed by Putin. a Russian research institute known motorbike would enter serial pro- only work in the short term. once promised to never raise the The series is also expected to by the acronym NAMI in partner- duction no sooner than 2020. Further out, they would end up retirement age, took responsibil- include a minivan, off road vehicle ship with Russian carmaker The limousine is intended to destroying the economy, which ity for the fi rst time for the re- and motorcycle. Sollers. become the heir to the Russian- has been battered by years of forms which he said were needed The limousine, also built under Industry Minister Denis Man- made ZIL sedans that for decades The Aurus Senat is presented at the 2018 Moscow International Western sanctions. to protect state fi nances, ensure the Aurus brand, had its first public turov, who took part in yesterday’s transported Soviet leaders. Auto Salon in Moscow. “In the long term, if we hesi- stability in society and safeguard tate now, it could threaten stabil- national security. ity in society and hence national Proposed reforms put for- around 90% of the population cluding cutting the proposed re- much as possible. We have a spe- pensions, Putin outlined other if Putin’s intervention would be security,” said Putin. ward by Prime Minister Dmitry oppose the government’s original tirement age for women by three cial, caring attitude to women in specifi c change proposals to the enough to defuse public anger. Putin’s political opponents, Medvedev’s government had proposals. years to 60. our country,” he added, explain- pension system related to the dif- But state television, the main including opposition leader envisaged raising the retirement The issue contributed to driv- “The demographic develop- ing his move to soften the blow ferent groups of Russians, such source of news for most Rus- Alexei Navalny, have tried to tap age to 65 from 60 for men and to ing Putin’s popularity rating ment and labour market trends for women. as women with several children, sians, presented his intervention into public anger over the pro- 63 from 55 for women. down to 67% from 80% earlier and an objective analysis of the Putin’s spokesman has said the and others. in a positive light, as did politi- posed changes by organising The issue has proved politi- this year, according to the Levada situation show that we can’t put Russian leader is unfazed by fl uc- Adjustments to the pension cians from the ruling United Rus- protests. cally sensitive for Putin, who Centre pollster, its lowest since this off any longer,” said Putin. tuations in his popularity but had reform proposed by Putin would sia party. A court sentenced Navalny to was re-elected in March, and before Russia’s 2014 annexation “But our decisions must be decided to act on the pensions cost the state budget a around Raising the retirement age 30 days in jail on Monday after prompted protests across Russia of Crimea. fair, balanced and absolutely take question because of its impor- 500bn roubles over the next six would allow the government to convicting him of breaking pub- after it was announced on June In his TV address Putin put into account people’s interests. tance. years and would “require adjust- pay out bigger pensions, whose lic protest laws, a move he said 14, the day Russia played the fi rst his name to changes to the pen- That’s why I am proposing a raft Having highlighted that Rus- ments to...budget plans,” Finance current size he described as was illegal and aimed at stopping match of its soccer World Cup. sions system, but he said he was of measures that will allow us sia currently spends 20bn rou- Minister Anton Siluanov said. modest. him leading a rally against pen- Opinion polls show that softening parts of the reform, in- to soften the decisions taken as bles ($293.13mn) a day to pay It was not immediately clear The government says the av- sion reform next month. Gulf Times Thursday, August 30, 2018 11

INDIA

EXHIBITION POLITICS BANKING TOURISM JUDICIARY Book fair sees good AAP student arm, AISA Post off ices to be linked Shimla’s history to be Court again censures footfall despite rains to contest polls together to Payments Bank system showcased, says CM CBI in Muzaff arpur case

The Delhi Book Fair is witnessing a daily The Aam Aadmi Party’s student wing and the All the 155,000 post off ices in the country would The Himachal Pradesh government will showcase The Patna High Court yesterday again pulled footfall of 8,000 to 10,000 despite heavy left-wing All India Students Association (AISA) be linked to the India Post Payments Bank the history of Shimla over the years as the up the Central Bureau of Investigation for rains, its organisers said yesterday. Naveen will contest the Delhi University Students (IPPB) system by December 31, Communications once tiny village metamorphosed to become giving an unsatisfactory explanation for Gupta, executive council member of the Union (DUSU) elections together this year, Minister Manoj Sinha said yesterday. The bank the summer capital of the British Raj in India, the transfer of a CBI off icer probing the Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP), one of AAP leader Gopal Rai said yesterday. Rai said will be launched nationwide on September 1. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said yesterday. Muzaff arpur shelter home rape case. The court the organisers, said the visitors were unfazed the AAP had decided to form a joint panel “On the day of the launch, IPPB would have The government will showcase Shimla’s history has also asked the probe agency to set up a though the Pragati Maidan venue was flooded. of its Chatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti (CYSS) 650 branches and 3,250 access points spread spanning many decades through a laser light-and- special investigation team (SIT) for the case. A “Even the drawing competition organised for with AISA because it wanted to “eliminate across the country,” the minister said. By the sound show for the benefit of tourists, said Thakur, division bench of Chief Justice M R Shah has school children saw at least 400 participating negative politics” from higher education. end of 2018, the number of access points would who also holds the tourism portfolio. Known as asked the CBI director to monitor the case. energetically, right in the morning when it “The negative politics which involves colossal increase to 155,000, of which 130,000 branches the ‘Queen of Hills’, Shimla was the summer capital The court also asked the agency to speed up was pouring heavily,” he said. “We are hoping amounts of money and muscle power by would be in rural areas, Sinha said. Further, of the British rulers between 1864 and 1939. “A the probe. Last week, the court had expressed to cross our last year’s footfall of 80,000 ABVP (Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad of account holders of the Post Off ice Savings Bank similar show at the Cellular Jail (at Port Blair) in unhappiness over the CBI’s failure to submit a to 90,000, and touch the one lakh mark. “A the Bharatiya Janata Party) and NSUI (National would also be able to use IPPB services by the Andaman and Nicobar islands, which I once progress report in connection with the mass security guard said he noted little change in Students Union of India – the students’ sing of linking their accounts, he added. The account witnessed, makes a huge impact on the audience rapes at the Muzaff arpur shelter home and the number of visitors, due to its shuttle service the Congress) has irked the Delhi University holders in the payments bank would be provided and is a tourist attraction. On similar lines, we will explain the sudden transfer of the CBI off icial. and free entry.” The fair’s fifth day had a literary students and staff to an extent that they are a QR card and they can authorise transactions showcase Shimla’s history and culture through the Among those arrested and jailed for the event for children. fed up,” Rai said. with the card and their biometrics, he said. light-and-sound show,” Thakur said. multiple rapes is journalist Brajesh Thakur.

BJP govt will be Court places thrown out, says detained rights Pawar

IANS New Delhi activists under

ationalist Congress Par- ty president Sharad Pa- Nwar yesterday launched a strident attack on the govern- ment and said the country was house arrest gearing up to “overthrow com- munal” forces in next year’s Agencies and Arun Ferreira from Mumbai of eastern and southern India, general elections. New Delhi and civil liberties activist Gau- dubbed “the Red Corridor”. “I am deeply concerned with tam Navlakha from New Delhi. The police offi cer said the fi ve the NDA government’s policies Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Par- activists gave intellectual force and actions that are nothing but he Supreme Court yes- ty-led government has faced to an insurgency in which thou- a divisive, destructive and dis- terday ordered police to mounting criticism from activ- sands of people have been killed ruptive propaganda and a loom- Tput fi ve prominent rights ists and academics, who accuse over the years. ing threat to the integrity of the campaigners suspected of links it of undermining the secular and Modi faces an election next nation,” Pawar said, referring to to Maoist guerrillas under house pluralistic principles of India’s year and opposition parties are the Bharatiya Janata Party-led arrest as outrage grew over their constitution. trying to forge an alliance to stop National Democratic Alliance. detention. The BJP denies these allega- his party from coming back to The country was in the grip of Critics of Prime Minister tions but says it is opposed to power. communal politics, Pawar said, Narendra Modi’s government appeasement of any community Congress president Rahul adding the rightwing saw no have dismissed the allegations and has long advocated tough ac- Gandhi led political condem- contradiction between commu- against the activists, who were tion to protect national security. nation of the arrests, saying the nalism and development. detained a day earlier, and said “These fi ve are no threat to BJP government wants to “jail “We are in a year when the the crackdown was part of ongo- anyone,” said Prashant Bhushan, all activists and shoot those that country is gearing up to over- ing attempts to stifl e all dissent. a lawyer for a group of leading complain.” throw the communal forces that Police detained the campaign- academics that has petitioned Man Booker Prize-winning have come to power at the Cen- ers, seized their laptops and the Supreme Court to release the author Arundhati Roy, an out- tre,” he said, declaring that NCP mobile phones, in raids on their activists. spoken critic of Modi, said the had always remained commit- homes in diff erent cities, trigger- “The charges against them arrests were an attempt to muz- ted to a just, secular and mod- ing protests and a petition in the on the face of it appear indis- zle freedoms ahead of elections ern India. Supreme Court challenging the criminate, unwarranted, part of next year. Pawar said: “All the prom- action. a malicious campaign to threaten BJP spokesman Sambit Patra ises the BJP made in its election Sudha Bharadwaj, who has human rights defenders, inde- said some of the activists had manifesto remain unfulfi lled. been fi ghting for the rights of pendent journalists, writers and known links with Maoist guer- People are disillusioned with workers in parts of India such thinkers in the country from cri- rillas. their false promises. The recent as Chhattisgarh where leftwing tiquing the government and its “Democracy is about dissent by-elections held in diff erent guerrilla groups operate, said the policies, and an attempt to muz- and the government is all for dis- parts of the country have shown action against her was part of zle dissent,” the petition said. sent, but it is not for disintegra- the people’s verdict against the a broader crackdown on oppo- Police have also accused the tion of the country,” Patra said, government.” nents of the government. fi ve of infl ammatory speeches at adding that even former prime Meanwhile, Rashtriya Janata “The eff ort is whatever is a rally in Maharashtra last year minister Manmohan Singh had Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav ac- the opposition to this regime, which led to violent clashes be- described the Maoists as the grav- cused Prime Minister Narendra whether it is workers rights, tween Dalits and rightwing or- est security threat to the country. Modi of pushing the country tribal rights, everybody who in ganisations. A small demonstration was towards emergency, and al- the opposition is being rounded A police offi cer said the main staged in central New Delhi leged that the government had up,” she told reporters outside case relates to speeches made ahead of yesterday’s court hear- a plan to jail all non-BJP lead- her home in Faridabad, a short during a rally held in Pune on De- ing. ers before the next Lok Sabha distance from New Delhi. cember 31, 2017 commemorating The Supreme Court headed by election. The arrests follow months of the valour of Dalits. Chief Justice Dipak Misra said Arriving in Ranchi by a pri- tensions between rightwing na- The following day, violent it would hear the petition chal- vate plane to surrender before tionalist groups and advocates of clashes broke out between mem- lenging the arrests of the activ- a court, the former Bihar chief free speech that has played out bers of the lower caste and hard- ists next week and until then they minister came down heavily on in college campuses and spilled line Hindu groups. would be placed under house ar- the Modi government. over into the streets. The police offi cer, who could rest, and not police custody. “Narendra Modi is pushing Critics also say several top not be named because he was not Judge D Y Chandrachud, one the country towards emergency. journalists have been forced out authorised to speak to reporters, of the judges on the bench said The opposition leaders are being of their jobs for their critical re- said police had seized documents the right to criticise was crucial targeted and implicated in false porting of the government. relating to the long-running for democracy. cases and sent to jail. There is a The others detained on Tues- Maoist insurgency affl icting “Dissent is the safety valve of game plan to jail the non- BJP day included were Varavara Rao, parts of the country. democracy. If dissent is disal- leaders before election,” he told Activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) New Democracy shout slogans during a a prominent poet from Hydera- The guerrillas are fi ghting for lowed, then the pressure cooker reporters. protest against the arrest of poet and activist Varavara Rao in Hyderabad yesterday. bad, activists Vernon Gonsalves the rights of the landless in parts may burst,” he said. Kochi airport, most schools NTR’s son dies reopen after two weeks in road accident IANS Two others accompanying By Ashraf Padanna in order, cleaning and repair- emotional counselling as a good Hyderabad him escaped with minor injuries. Thiruvananthapuram ing systems which became non- number of these young minds They said Harikrishna lost con- functional after fl ood waters en- have suff ered on account of the trol of the car after it hit a stone. tered the complex. rains and fl oods,” Education Min- ate Andhra Pradesh chief Harikrishna was on his way to he Cochin International “The landings and takeoff s are ister C Raveendranath said. minister and Telugu Desam Nellore district to attend a wed- Airport, which remained going on smoothly as scheduled,” “I have lost everything and this LParty founder N T Rama ding. He is survived by two wives Tshut for two weeks due to said P S Jayan, the airport com- uniform I am wearing was given Rao’s son and actor-politician Lakshmi and Shalini, two sons fl oods, yesterday started normal pany’s corporate communica- to me on Tuesday by authorities. Nandamuri Harikrishna died in a Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram, both operations. tions manager. All my books and certifi cates road accident in Telangana’s Nal- actors, and daughter Suhasini. Schools, which need safety “The offi ces of airlines, ground were washed away,” complained gonda district early yesterday. He His eldest son Janki Ram was clearance or were functioning as handling, customs and immi- a Class 9 student. was 61. also killed in a road accident in shelter camps for the displaced gration were functioning since At a primary school in Chen- Harikrishna, a former Ra- 2014 in the same district. In 2009, families, too reopened yesterday. Monday afternoon.” gannur, the headmistress said jya Sabha member and a former Junior NTR escaped with injuries The fi rst aircraft, an IndiGo’s With the reopening of Kerala’s the school was still under water. Andhra Pradesh minister, sus- in a road accident, also in Nalgo- fl ight from Ahmedabad, touched biggest airport the Southern Na- “All the students have lost their tained critical head injuries when nda district. down at the airport at 2.06pm val Command closed its airport text books.” the car he was driving overturned Harikrishna’s death shocked yesterday ending the travel woes to civilian commercial fl ights. In Wayanad and Kannur too, near Anneparthi. the ruling party in Andhra of thousands of people. Meanwhile, all but 211 schools schools began functioning again The SUV was fl ung in the air Pradesh and the Telugu fi lm in- On the fi rst fl ight that took off reopened after more than two but attendances was thin in some. after hitting a divider and crashed dustry. Chief Minister Chan- at 3.25pm for Bengaluru, there weeks. Of the 12,981 schools in Debashish Panda, an addi- into another car coming from the drababu Naidu, other members of was a VIP passenger – Congress Kerala, 650 were severely hit by the tional secretary at the fi nance opposite direction. the NTR family, fi lm personalities president Rahul Gandhi who fl oods, and attendance was thin in ministry, said while ensuring Harikrishna, who was not and TDP leaders rushed to Nar- spent two days in Kerala. the worst-hit Idukki, Wayanad transparency in assessing dam- wearing the seat belt, was thrown ketpally. An airport offi cial said more and Alappuzha districts where life ages and settling claims, people out of the car and sustained head Harikrishna was known for his than 2,000 people worked is yet to get back to normal. should not be put under pressure An IndiGo plane is seen at the taxiway after landing at Kochi injuries. He was taken to Kamine- driving skills, and became famous round-the-clock on shifts for “Today there will be no class- or tortured. airport yesterday. Authorities on August 15 suspended all flights ni Hospital at Narketpally, where as the charioteer of his father’s eight days to put the airport back es. Instead it will be more of an after the airport was flooded. he died. ‘Chaitanya Ratham’. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, August 30, 2018 PAKISTAN Austerity kicks up copter storm for PTI government

Internews Khan to skip UN meet to focus on economy saying there was nothing wrong defend his party on the use of of- The information minister main- Minister Khan, he added, each Lahore with the practice. fi cial helicopter. tained that the use of the chopper and every minister would do his Pakistan’s new Prime Minister stay home as part of his austerity Punjab Information Minister Responding to a question about was a cost-eff ective option and utmost to provide good govern- Imran Khan will skip next month’s drive and focus on economic Faiyazul Hasan Chohan said the why Khan was using the offi cial claimed that the three-minute ance to the province. he Pakistan Tehreek-i- United Nations General Assembly issues. chief minister’s use of helicopter chopper for travelling the distance fl ight between Banigala and PM Giving the example of bad Insaf (PTI) government session to focus his attention “The prime minister of Pakistan for travel did not go against the of a few kilometres (between his House cost as low as Rs55 per km. governance by the previous gov- Thas played down the use on the country’s economy, his thinks that the present situation spirit of the austerity drive. private residence and the PMH), “I have seen this on Google,” he ernment, he said over 44,000 of helicopters by government of- foreign minister has said. in country needs attention,” He was of the view that it was the minister said the prime min- claimed while replying to a query policemen were performing pro- fi cials for travel, terming it ‘of- Foreign Minister Shah Me- Qureshi told the media. a ‘routine’ matter and using these ister used the offi cial helicopter to in this regard. tocol duties, who had now been fi cial prerogative’ that does not hmood Qureshi will head the He said Khan wants to focus modes of travel was chief minis- avoid a traffi c jam on the roads of Meanwhile, Punjab Informa- released for routine duties. go against the watchword of the Pakistani delegation at 73rd UN on his new government, sworn in terial prerogative and there was the federal capital. tion Minister Faiyazul Hasan The provincial minister for in- austerity campaign it has initi- General Assembly session set to earlier this month, and a looming nothing wrong with it. “We have two options for trav- Chohan said yesterday that formation also promised to en- ated amid much fanfare. open on September 18. currency crisis which threatens to Coming to his party chief elling of the prime minister — by neither the chief minister nor sure implementation of the right The air travel of the new rulers “No, the prime minister is not derail the fast-growing economy. and prime minister’s defence, motorcade of the prime minister, Banigala had a role in the trans- to information law. hit the headlines yesterday after going. I will lead Pakistani del- Pakistan’s economy expanded PTI’s leader from Khyber Pa- that can cause traffi c blockades fer of the district police offi cer “The law would be fully imple- photos of Punjab Chief Minis- egation,” Foreign Minister Shah at 5.8% in the last fiscal year, its khtunkhwa Mohamed Ali Khan or by helicopter,” he said. (DPO) of Pakpattan, saying that mented at least in the province ter Usman Buzdar along with Mehmood Qureshi told reporters quickest pace in 13 years, but the tweeted: “Those unduly criti- “There is a diff erence between the transfer was ordered by the and transparency would be en- his family members on a private on Tuesday evening. rupee currency has been deval- cising PM @ImranKhanPTI for VIP culture and security proto- inspector general police due to sured at all costs,” he pledged. plane surfaced on social media. There was a debate in Pakistan ued four times since December. the use of Helicopter from PM col,” Fawad said after rejecting public complaints against the of- “Putting former prime minis- On Monday, the chief minister whether the new prime minister Interest rates have been raised house2 Banygala must know that an allegation that frequent use of fi cer. ter Nawaz Sharif and his daugh- had used an offi cial helicopter for would attend the UN session or three times. 1.Using Heli for 3min Fly is more the offi cial chopper by the prime In his maiden press conference, ter Maryam Nawaz on the ECL his private tour to Mian Channu CHEAPER fuel consumption minister constituted VIP culture. Chohan claimed that the IG offi ce was a matter of supremacy of law, in Khanewal district to condole wise considering at least 5 to 7 “In fact the prime minister had been receiving public com- not political victimisation,” he a friend on the demise of the lat- are using an offi cial helicopter Prime Minister Khan’s claims of vehicles of necessary Security to uses offi cial helicopter on week- plaints against the DPO and his said, adding that the PTI govern- ter’s father. He also travelled to for travel between their private taking ‘austerity’ measures and be used instead 2.” ends and reaches his residence transfer was an internal matter. ment was there to end corruption Islamabad from Lahore by heli- Banigala residence and the Prime living a simple life. Information Minister Fawad in four minutes,” he said, adding The Punjab government, he and stop fl ow of money abroad. copter. Minister House. While the public questioned Chaudhry in a press conference that former prime minister Na- said, would be working on three “Over Rs1,000bn is laundered Meanwhile, it also came to As the news about the use the contradictions in the pre- held at the main hall of the Press waz Sharif’s food was transport- cardinal principles — honesty, every year. Preventing that is the light that Prime Minister Imran of helicopters spread, a debate mier’s words and deeds, his party Information Department (PID) in ed from Islamabad to Murree on merit and responsibility. major priority of our govern- Khan and his wife Bushra Imran triggered on social media about leaders defl ected the criticism, Islamabad yesterday also tried to an offi cial helicopter. As per instructions by Prime ance,” said the minister.

Include youth in climate change policymaking, says seminar

Internews Islamabad

oung people need to be included at the very be- Yginning of climate change policy and in the planning proc- ess, speakers at a seminar on ‘Youth Driven Climate Action’ said yesterday. They said young people, as agents of change, are one of the key stakeholders in the process of developing climate change policies and plans because they are energetic, motivated and in- novative, but at the moment are not being taken on board. They said that as a nation Pa- kistanis, and the youth in par- ticular, must change their eating habits and learn sustainable food production and consumption. Climate change policy expert Dr Pervaiz Amir said young peo- ple are a signifi cant portion of society that can bring positive Supporters of the Tehrik-e-Labbaik Pakistan political party listen to the speech during a protest in Lahore yesterday. change in the near future. “To cope with dire conse- quences of climate change, our youth must understand and bring fundamental changes in their daily lifestyle,” he said. Dr Amir remarked that the country may need to plant more Protesters call for Dutch envoy’s than a tn trees to tackle the future challenges of climate change. “We need to build fi ve new cli- mate smart and sustainable cit- ies to accommodate the growing youth bulge and population,” he expulsion over off ensive cartoons said, adding that mass participa- tion and ownership of the youth By Mubasher Bukhari, Reuters Party leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi set out from of the Netherlands and issued him a Demarche’ to tively,” an offi cial involved on the talks told Reu- can materialise the dream of a safer, Lahore Lahore’s historic centre at the head of a protest he record a protest,” the Pakistani prime minister’s ters, adding that Labbaik representatives insisted greener and sustainable Pakistan. aims to take through the towns of Punjab prov- offi ce said in a statement yesterday. the protest would only end once the Dutch envoy Romina Khursheed Alam, a ince to the capital Islamabad, where protesters Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood was expelled. PML-N MNA, the youth could n Islamist party in Pakistan yesterday called will stage a sit-in to pressure Pakistan’s new Prime Qureshi said he planned to take up the issue with Last year, in a stand-off with the previous gov- be instrumental in raising for the expulsion of the Dutch ambassador Minister Imran Khan to cut diplomatic ties with the United Nations and several world leaders. ernment, Labbaik shut down a main highway lead- awareness of urban forestation Aas it launched a protest against a far-right the Netherlands. “They don’t understand how much they hurt ing into Islamabad for nearly three weeks over a to counter headways in met- Dutch politician’s plan for a cartoon competi- “The Dutch ambassador should be immediately us when they do such acts,” Khan, a cricketer- small change in wording to an electoral law chang- ropolitan cities. “We should tion featuring caricatures of the Prophet (peace be deported,” Labbaik spokesman Ejaz Ashrafi told turned-politician, said on Tuesday, a day after the ing a religious oath to a simple declaration. Labbaik go for water pricing and water upon him). Reuters. “We will only stop when the government upper house of parliament condemned the pro- said the change amounted to blasphemy. consumption meters to regulate Several thousand activists gathered in the eastern meets this demand.” posed competition. The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz the use of water and ensure wa- city of Lahore for the demonstration organised by Pakistan has already complained to the Dutch Offi cials from the Punjab provincial government was forced to accept the resignation of law min- ter governance and water waste Tehreek-e-Labbaik, a party that amassed the fi fth government about far-right parliamentarian Geert met with Labbaik leaders in Lahore in a vain at- ister Zahid Hamid, who Labbaik held responsible management,” she added. largest number of votes in a general election last Wilders’ plans for a cartoon contest that will upset tempt to persuade them to call off their protest. for the change, after seven people were killed and Executive director of the Sus- month having campaigned as a defender of the laws and provoke Muslims. “We told them to stop the protests because the nearly 200 wounded in a failed attempt by police to tainable Development Policy and punishments for crimes of blasphemy. “The Foreign Offi ce called the charge d’aff aires Pakistan government is taking up the issue eff ec- disperse protesters. Institute which organised the seminar Dr Abid Qaiyum Sul- eri said that in his fi rst speech as Prime Minister Imran Khan spoke about social sector devel- opment by addressing malnutri- Pakistan, India hold talks tion, illiteracy, climate change, corruption and inequality. He said it was a good sign that on sharing river waters the prime minister was conscious of the problems facing the coun- try, adding that in order to end in- DPA The Indus Waters Treaty entitled India equality and end disparities prefer- Islamabad to waters of the eastern rivers — Sutlej, ence has to be given to sustainable Beas and Ravi — and gave Pakistan control food production and consumption of the western rivers — the Indus, Jhelum and a sustainable economy. akistan and India are holding a fresh and Chenab. “Demand-driven policy round of talks to sort out disputes However, the 1960 accord allowed In- change is important to attain Pover water resources from rivers that dia to use water from rivers allocated to economic and environment sus- fl ow across their borders. Pakistan in a way that did not block or tainable,” he said. The two-day talks began yesterday in reduce their fl ow, like certain hydropower It is the youth who bear the the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, days projects. brunt of climate change, as its after a new government in Islamabad But Islamabad has accused India of impact will be even more ex- vowed to revive peace talk with India that building dams at western rivers that cur- treme in the near future, Arif have stalled since 2008. tail the fl ow of water into Pakistan, in vio- Goheer, the head of the agricul- The offi cials from the Pakistan-India lation of the treaty. ture and coordination section of Indus Commission, a body that deals with “That’s the issue we are going to raise at the Global Change Impact Stud- water issues between the two countries talks,” said an offi cial of the Pakistani Min- ies Centre said. under a 1960 World Bank-backed treaty, istry for Water Resources, on condition of Yasir Dil Nawaz, former presi- are participating. anonymity. dent of the SDPI’s Pakistan Youth “We are hopeful of a positive outcome,” “We cannot let India deprive us of our Climate Network said that al- Pakistan lead negotiator Mehr Shah said right.” though the younger generation is ahead of talks. The latest round takes place as the energetic and motivated, their ca- “Water is a lifeline to our agrarian econ- entire South Asian region faces severe Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Mohamed Mehar Ali Shah (centre left) talks with Indian Indus Water pacity must be built on the tech- omies and we will look for solutions.” droughts and fl oods as a result of climate Commissioner Pradeep Kumar Saxena (centre right) during a first day of a meeting in Lahore to discuss the Indus nical front around environmental Six rivers fl ows from India into Pakistan. change. Waters Treaty and other issues. and climate change issues. Gulf Times Thursday, August 30, 2018 13 PHILIPPINES Food agency chief urged to quit over rice shortage

By Llanesca T Panti to P70 per kilo amid the record “for eight months now,” they Manila Times 5.7% infl ation in July, even with noted. the arrival of 250,000 MT of im- Citing PSA fi gures, the sena- ported rice in June. tors noted the following year- eaders of the House mi- Pinol said the arrival of a total on-year increases on: average nority bloc yesterday of 805,000 MT of rice imports wholesale price of well-milled Lcalled on Agriculture Sec- by September should stabilise rice at P43.18 per kilo, or 10% retary Emmanuel Pinol, Na- rice prices. higher; average retail price tional Food Authority (NFA) The NFA Council yesterday of well-milled rice at P45.71 administrator Jason Aquino and approved the special importa- per kilo, or 9% higher; aver- offi cials of the NFA Council to tion of 132,000 MT of rice to age wholesale price of regular- A police investigator (left) gathers evidence at the site of a bomb blast in Isulan town on the southern island of Mindanao, yesterday. resign, citing their failure to ad- address “very limited” supply milled rice at P40.08 per kilo, dress the rice shortage that has of the staple on the country’s or 13% higher; and average retail jacked up retail prices. southern provinces. price of regular-milled rice at House Minority leader Danilo Pinol also said the NFA Coun- P42.26 per kilo, or 11% higher. Suarez and his deputies Alfre- cil approved his department’s The seven-member Makabay- do Garbin of Ako Bicol party- proposal for a special importa- an bloc also called for a probe Government launches probe list and Jose Atienza of Buhay tion intended for consumers in into the 330,000 bags of im- party-list, made the call a day the Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu- ported rice with weevils and the after Pinol announced that the Tawi-Tawi (Zambasulta) area agriculture department’s plan to country’s rice inventory stood at who have been hurting due to import 17,000 metric tonnes of 1,320,927 metric tonnes (MT) or sky-high prices. galunggong (round scad). into deadly festival blast good for only 40 days, less than “The fi rst 32,000 MT will be Agriculture group Sama- half of the required 90-day na- delivered after its procurement hang Industriya ng Agrikultura tional buff er stock. process is completed in 15-20 or Sinag yesterday fi led a graft AFP store as crowds gathered to cel- samoro Islamic Freedom ing island of Basilan on July Pinol had drawn criticism af- days that will be good for two complaint against two NFA of- Sultan Kudarat ebrate the town’s founding an- Fighters (BIFF) plotted the 31, killing 10 people. ter rice imported from Thailand months,” Pinol told reporters. fi cials for allegedly diverting the niversary but he and an accom- bombing. IS claimed responsibility was found to have been infested “The remaining 100,000 MT agency’s funds to other purpos- plice escaped, the military said. A military spokesman said for that bombing as well and with weevils, and he vowed to will given out by the NFA using es, which led to failure to ensure hilippine authorities “One (man) did the em- the blast could have been authorities believe the man eat Thai rice after fumigation. its usual bidding process,” he stabilised supply and prices of were hunting yesterday placement while the other one in retaliation for offensives behind the wheel of the ex- The Cabinet offi cial again drew added. staple. Ptwo men believed to have (drove) the getaway motorcy- against the BIFF, adding the plosives-laden van may have fl ak for proposing to legalise He clarifi ed, however, that The complaint fi led before planted the explosives that cle,” Brigadier General Cirilito group had planned bomb at- intended to target a nearby smuggling in the Zamboanga the call for the importation of the Offi ce of the Ombudsman killed two people, including a Sobejana said, adding a man- tacks in parts of the southern children’s parade. peninsula, where the price of 132,000 MT rice was not a “new accused the NFA administra- young girl, at a festival in the hunt was underway. region of Mindanao. President Rodrigo Duterte rice has reached as high as P70 importation,” as the volume was tor, Aquino, and NFA account- nation’s south. The attack, claimed by the “They want to create and put Mindanao under martial per kilo. only the “unutilised allocation ing manager Gerry Ambrosio of The blast late Tuesday in the Islamic State group, is the sow terror in the area,” re- rule until the end of this year “That (statements made by under the minimum access vol- misusing some P5.1bn intended town of Isulan, which wounded latest violence in the south gional military spokesman after pro-IS militants seized Pinol) is a conduct unbecoming ume (MAV) scheme subject to to reduce the agency’s debts. 35 others, is the second deadly of the mainly Catholic archi- Captain Arvin Encinas said, the southern city of Marawi of a Cabinet offi cial. If I make lower tariff s. Based on the Commission on bombing in less than a month pelago where a long-running adding two soldiers were last year. him eat infested rice every day, Also yesterday, Senators Fran- Audit’s (CoA) review, P3.01bn in the region where militants insurgency has left more than among the wounded. Yesterday, Duterte’s aides how would he feel?,” Suarez said cis Pangilinan and Paolo Be- of the fund was deposited to the have waged a decades-long in- 100,000 people dead by gov- The attack comes less than condemned the bombing say- in a news conference. nigno Aquino pressed for an in- Bureau of the Treasury as pay- surgency. ernment count. a month after a van bomb ing it could prompt the presi- Atienza said the Department vestigation into the rice crisis in ment for debts, while the re- A man left the improvised Sobejana said it was “highly ripped through a military dent to extend martial law in of Agriculture was not doing an- Zamboanga City and the contin- maining was deposited to the bomb in a bag near a grocery likely” that the pro-IS Bang- checkpoint on the neighbour- the area. ything about the rice shortage, ued increase in the price of the NFA’s rice collection savings ac- while the NFA and the policy- staple for the past eight months. count (RCSA). making NFA Council have been They fi led on Tuesday Reso- The RCSA was then used to blaming each other over the de- lution 868 calling for a probe, pay NFA’s P1.046bn loan from Audit reveals only 26% of donation for Marawi evacuees used in 2017 layed delivery of rice imports. saying the NFA “must be held the Landbank of the Philippines “Clearly, we can’t depend on accountable and must see to it and another P1.044bn from the Only P10.26mn of the P39.69mn in cash donations from local the low rate of utilisation of the donations defeated its purpose,” it these people. They have given that cheap and quality rice is Development Bank of the Phil- sources for evacuees in Marawi City was used in 2017, according said. The IS-linked Maute group, led by Omar Maute and Isnilon Ha- up. They should resign and give available in the market.” ippines, Sinag said. to the Commission on Audit’s (CoA) annual audit report. “Records pilon, Abu Sayyaf commander, attacked Marawi City on May 23, 2017. other people a chance to solve Aside from Zamboanga City, This, Sinag said, partly caused show that the City Government received cash donations from vari- After Hapilon and Maute died, President Rodrigo Duterte declared in the problem,” he added. Isabela City in Basilan was also the NFA’s inability to procure ous local sources aggregating P39.7mn. It was noted, however, that October 2017 that Marawi has been liberated from terrorists. According Garbin said Pinol was ped- placed under a state of calamity enough palay from the lo- only an amount of P10.2mn or 26% of the total amount received to the audit report, the city government “explained that the donations dling stupidity by calling for le- for 60 days also due to rice scar- cal farmers in 2017, noting the was disbursed during the period, leaving an unutilised amount of were used mostly for the provision of relief goods for the evacuees galisation of smuggling rice. city, they noted. agency had a shortfall of about P29.4mn or 74% as of December 31, 2017,” CoA said, Manila Times and the remaining amounts were programmed for rehabilitation and “It is so wrong,” Garbin, a The Philippine Statistics Au- 124,969 MT of palay during the reported. “Considering the purpose of the cash donation which is recovery programmes and other forms of assistance to address the lawyer, added. thority (PSA) has reported “an period. intended for aid, relief and respond services to Marawi evacuees, needs of those who were greatly aff ected by the calamity.” Rice prices increased to P41 upward streak” for rice prices Air Force promotes gold Govt keen to empower village medal-winning lifter offi cials to fi ght crime: Go By Catherine S Valente “If they won’t help the na- captains are the ones who know Manila Times tional government, President what’s going on in their neigh- By Demsey Reyes Duterte will have a hard time bourhoods, especially when it Manila Times (implementing his campaign comes to drugs. They know who resident Rodrigo Duterte’s against drugs, corruption and the drug addicts are, who the administration is keen on criminality),” Go said. thieves are, who the pushers are, eightlifter Hidilyn Diaz was Pgranting extra powers to “They should be good exam- who the criminals are in their promoted from Airwoman barangay (village) offi cials to ples in their barangays. I believe areas,” he said. Duterte earlier WFirst Class to sergeant of help the government in its cam- most of them have been good ex- tagged several barangay offi cials the Philippine Air Force (PAF) after paign against illegal drugs, cor- amples in their areas,” he added. in the drug trade, with the gov- bagging the gold medal in the Asian ruption and criminality, accord- The president’s top aide said ernment releasing a “narco- Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. ing to his top aide. the villages were important in list” containing the names of Diaz, along with two other weight- In his speech during the Liga implementing reforms. several village offi cials ahead of lifters, Jeff rey Garcia and Nestor Co- ng mga Barangay Convention “The barangays may be the the barangay elections. He also lonia, who are also enlisted personnel at the Manila Hotel on Tues- smallest political unit in the warned barangay chiefs who tol- of the Air Force, were honoured with day, Special Assistant to the country, but we can’t deny that erate the proliferation of illegal a heroes’ welcome at the Villamor Air President Christopher Lawrence they are the most important of drugs in their respective com- Base in Pasay City hosted by Lt. Gen. “Bong” Go said Duterte’s cam- all,” Go said. Go urged the public munities of harsh consequences. Galileo Gerard Kintanar Jr, PAF chief paign against drugs, corrup- to co-operate with the baran- The president has proposed and Defence Secretary Delfi n Loren- tion, and criminality would be gay chairmen in their respective arming barangay chairmen to zana. successful with the help of the areas. “Let’s all help the gov- ensure their protection in the Maj. Aristides Galang Jr, Air Force barangay offi cials. ernment because the barangay war on drugs and criminality. spokesman, said Diaz was promoted pursuant to a special order signed by Kintanar. The three Filipino athletes partici- pated in the weightlifting competi- tion in the Asian Games. Handcuff ed man found shot dead Diaz won the Philippines’ fi rst gold medal as she captured the women’s 53 kilograms event while Colonia and By Kimberly Malait showed the victim riding in a motorcycle with two Garcia each brought home bronze Manila Times other men onboard around 3am. The two men low- medals. ered the victim, who seemed to be unconscious, Diaz’s promotion, Galang said, was along the sidewalk. a recognition of her giving “lasting handcuff ed man was found dead after being After a few seconds, the two men fi red multiple honour not only for herself but also shot by two unidentifi ed gunmen in Manila gunshots at the victim. They immediately escaped for the Armed Forces of the Philip- Aearly yesterday. Residents discovered the aboard the motorcycle. According to a barangay pines.” man’s lifeless body along a sidewalk on San Lazaro kagawad (village councillor), Chai Salavador, the Apart from her promotion, Diaz and Mendoza streets in Santa Cruz, Manila. victim was not a resident of the area and the resi- also received the Outstanding According to one resident who chose to remain dents do not know him. The Manila Police District Achievement Medal with the fi rst anonymous, the victim still had handcuff s on and Scene of the Crime Operatives took over investiga- bronze Anahaw leaf, all bestowed by Asian Games gold medallist Hidilyn Diaz is seen during the medal ceremony at the Asian Games was lying bloodied on the sidewalk. tion of the crime and are verifying the identity of Lorenzana. in Jakarta, Indonesia. Surveillance footage from Barangay 338 Zone 34 the victim. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, August 30, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES US toughens stance as N Korea talks stumble

With US-South Korean military drills back on the table and the cancellation of a top-level summit in Pyongyang, Washington is toughening its stance as it negotiates with North Korea. Discussions have grown prickly after a historic summit in June between President Donald Trump and Pyongyang strongman Kim Jong-un, where the leaders embraced and pledged to work toward the “complete denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula.” Secular stagnation an excuse But despite the bonhomie of the occasion, Pyongyang has taken few concrete steps toward that stated goal and signs of frustration abound. Last week, Trump nixed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s planned trip to North Korea, reportedly because he received for fl awed economic policies what US offi cials deemed to be a “belligerent” letter from Kim Yong-chol, vice-chairman of North Korea’s ruling party. And on Tuesday, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said the By Joseph E. Stiglitz a poorly designed regressive tax bill transitions well on their own. strong as they were in the past? That, Pentagon is not planning to suspend any more military drills on New York and a bipartisan expenditure increase, What was needed was more than a of course, depends on the pace of the Korean peninsula. has boosted growth to around 4% and massive bank bailout. The US needed technological change. Investments in Still, Pompeo said Washington remains ready to engage with brought unemployment down to a a fundamental reform of its financial research and development, especially n the aftermath of the 2008 18-year low. These measures may be system. The 2010 Dodd-Frank in basic research, are an important North Korea. fi nancial crisis, some economists ill-conceived, but they show that with legislation went some way, though determinant, though with long lags; It will do so “when it is clear that Chairman Kim stands ready argued that the United States, and enough fi scal support, full employment not far enough, in preventing banks cutbacks proposed by the Trump to deliver on the commitments that he made at the Singapore Iperhaps the global economy, was can be attained, even as interest rates from doing harm to the rest of us; but administration do not bode well. summit to President Trump to completely denuclearise North suff ering from “secular stagnation,” an rise well above zero. it did little to ensure that the banks But even then, there is a lot of Korea,” he said in a statement read aloud by his spokeswoman. idea fi rst conceived in the aftermath of The Obama administration made a actually do what they are supposed uncertainty. Growth rates per capita Following his summit with Kim, Trump scrapped this the Great Depression. crucial mistake in 2009 in not pursuing to do, focusing more, for example, have varied greatly over the past 50 summer’s massive Ulchi Freedom Guardian joint exercise with Economies had always a larger, longer, better-structured, and on lending to small and medium-size years, from between 2 and 3% a year recovered from downturns. But more fl exible fi scal stimulus. Had it enterprises. in the decade(s) after World War II to South Korea. the Great Depression had lasted an done so, the economy’s rebound would More government spending was 0.7% in the last decade. But perhaps “There is Carefully calibrating his unprecedented length of time. Many have been stronger, and there would necessary, but so, too, were more active there’s been too much growth fetishism words, Mattis would not say believed that the economy recovered have been no talk of secular stagnation. redistribution and pre-distribution – especially when we think of the no longer a when exercises would resume, only because of government spending As it was, only those in the top 1% saw programmes – addressing the environmental costs, and even more apparently leaving some on World War II, and many feared that their incomes grow during the fi rst weakening of workers’ bargaining so if that growth fails to bring much nuclear threat wiggle room for North Korea. with the end of the war, the economy three years of the so-called recovery. power, the agglomeration of market benefi t to the vast majority of citizens. “We are going to see how the would return to its doldrums. Some of us warned at the time that power by large corporations, and There are many lessons to be learned from North Something, it was believed, had the downturn was likely to be deep corporate and fi nancial abuses. as we refl ect on the 2008 crisis, but the negotiations go, and then we happened, such that even with low and long, and that what was needed Likewise, active labour-market most important is that the challenge Korea” will calculate the future, how or zero interest rates, the economy was stronger and diff erent from what and industrial policies might have was – and remains – political, not we go forward,” Mattis told would languish. For reasons now well Obama proposed. I suspect that the helped those areas suff ering from the economic: there is nothing that Pentagon reporters. understood, these dire predictions main obstacle was the belief that the consequences of deindustrialisation. inherently prevents our economy from The next large-scale US-South Korean drills, known as Key fortunately turned out to be wrong. economy had just experienced a little Instead, policymakers failed to being run in a way that ensures full Resolve/Foal Eagle, are set for next spring. Those responsible for managing the “bump,” from which it would quickly do enough even to prevent poor employment and shared prosperity. While North Korea views the exercises as a “provocation,” 2008 recovery (the same individuals recover. Put the banks in the hospital, households from losing their homes. Secular stagnation was just an excuse bearing culpability for the under- give them loving care (in other words, The political consequences of these for fl awed economic policies. Unless they are loathed by China too. regulation of the economy in its hold none of the bankers accountable or economic failures were predictable and until the selfi shness and myopia Trump last week berated Beijing, saying it was not helping pre-crisis days, to whom president even scold them, but rather boost their and predicted: it was clear that there that defi ne our politics – especially enough with denuclearisation. Barack Obama inexplicably turned to fi x morale by inviting them to consult on was a risk that those who were so badly in the US – is overcome, an economy Trump has staked a lot on his talks with North Korea. what they had helped break) found the the way forward), and, most important, treated would turn to a demagogue. that serves the many, rather than the He prides himself on his being able to make deals and after idea of secular stagnation attractive, shower them with money, and soon all A fi scal stimulus as large as that of few, will remain an impossible dream. the summit, he famously declared: “There is no longer a nuclear because it explained their failures to would be well. December 2017 and January 2018 (and Even if GDP increases, the incomes of threat from North Korea.” achieve a quick, robust recovery. So, as But the economy’s travails were which the economy didn’t really need the majority of citizens will stagnate. – the economy languished, the idea was deeper than this diagnosis suggested. at the time) would have been all the Project Syndicate Vipin Narang, a professor in security studies at Massachusetts revived: Don’t blame us, its promoters The fallout from the fi nancial crisis was more powerful a decade earlier when Institute of Technology, said recent developments are the fi rst implied, we’re doing what we can. more severe, and massive redistribution unemployment was so high. The weak zJoseph E. Stiglitz is the winner of public acknowledgement that Trump is frustrated with the pace The events of the past year have of income and wealth toward the top recovery was thus not the result of the 2001 Nobel Memorial Prize in of talks. put the lie to this idea, which never had weakened aggregate demand. The “secular stagnation”; the problem was Economic Sciences. His most recent book But North Korea holds important cards in the talks, he said, seemed very plausible. The sudden economy was experiencing a transition inadequate government policies. is Globalization and its Discontents noting Pyongyang’s moratorium on missile and nuclear testing increase in the US defi cit, from around from manufacturing to services, and Here, a central question arises: Will Revisited: Anti-Globalization in the Era could be conditional on negotiations continuing in good faith. 3% to almost 6% of GDP, owing to market economies don’t manage such growth rates in coming years be as of Trump. Last month, offi cials told the Washington Post that Pyongyang seems to be developing at least one or two liquid- fuelled intercontinental ballistic missiles. When asked if the Pentagon agrees with Trump’s assertion the North Korea nuclear threat is over, Mattis pointed to the calming of tensions that spiked last year when the US president and Kim traded personal attacks amid apocalyptic rhetoric. “The whole world saw that progress when the two leaders sat down,” he said. “We also knew very clearly this was going to be a long and challenging eff ort.” Still, several observers say American diplomats believe Kim has no intention of ever giving up his atomic bombs and is leveraging his relationship with Trump for more concessions. The North Koreans are “confi dent they can get what they want from another Kim-Trump summit,” noted Daniel Sneider, a lecturer in East Asian Studies at Stanford University.

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© 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved There are many lessons to be learned from the 2008 crisis. Gulf Times Thursday, August 30, 2018 15 COMMENT How cities are saving China

By Andrew Sheng and Xiao Geng concentration of dynamic private transform – using cutting-edge Hong Kong businesses, such as Tencent, Midea, technology – dusty plains in Hebei and Huawei. It is also China’s most near Beijing and Tianjin into a dynamic innovative urban cluster, generating green model city. he world has a demand more than 50% of the country’s In fact, China is currently creating 19 problem, and it is dealing international patent applications. And, “supercity clusters,” by strengthening with it all wrong. Rather than according to HSBC, the GBA is the the links among cities. By 2030, HSBC Tallowing itself to be harmed least burdened by ineffi cient state- projects, those clusters will account for by other countries’ problematic owned enterprises and excess capacity. about 80% of the country’s GDP. policies, China must work to create its The reason is simple: the GBA China should also work to foster own demand by making full use of its is far more market-oriented than even faster growth in urban clusters capacity for policy experimentation, its counterparts, with Hong Kong that are already successful. Within long-term planning, and pragmatic and Macau much more open to the the GBA, Hong Kong, home to several decision-making. outside world than any other Chinese of the world’s top 100 universities, In the decade since the 2008 global cities. Both cities not only permit the has a clear comparative advantage economic crisis, advanced economies freer fl ow of goods, services, capital, in basic research. Meanwhile, have leaned heavily on easy monetary technology, talent, and resources, but Shenzhen, Dongguan, Foshan, policy, hoping that large amounts of also meet global standards in terms of and other GBA cities have a strong liquidity and ultra-low interest rates regulations, business practices, soft capacity for innovative market- would generate enough demand to infrastructure, and even lifestyles. oriented research and development eliminate excess capacity. But this has Of course, China’s leaders are not as well as manufacturing. Improving undermined productivity, encouraged content simply to rest on the laurels connectivity within the GBA will thus speculative activity, fuelled asset of their successful urban clusters; on support innovation in each segment bubbles, and exacerbated income and the contrary, they are working to apply of the supply chain, which can lead to wealth inequality. their lessons across the country. For products that can be sold to China’s As developed-country citizens example, beginning in 2013, China’s 1.4bn consumers and adapted to global have become increasingly frustrated National Development and Reform markets. with this state of aff airs, politicians Commission studied in-depth lessons The threat of a trade war may have attempted to appease them from Foshan, one of the GBA’s most not be good news for China, but it with immigration restrictions and The Greater Bay Area, covering nine Chinese cities, is home to a high concentration of dynamic private businesses, such as dynamic cities, in order to plan the will not bring down the economy. protectionist trade measures. But Tencent, Midea, and Huawei. further development of the cluster The real challenge China faces is to while this might temporarily satisfy with better and more innovative take advantage of dynamic urban some segments of these countries’ hinge on China’s continued use of what little guidance on how to achieve the nine cities around the PRD in Southern strategies. clusters like the GBA not only to populations, it will ultimately make we call the “BREEP methodology,” virtuous circle of rising income and Guangdong, plus Hong Kong and The NDRC browsed studies on generate growth, but also to address matters worse, by curbing global whereby policymakers browse, rising productivity that is vital to Macau. smart urbanisation by the World structural challenges like inequality demand, exacerbating structural research, experiment, evaluate, and dynamic and prosperous cities. But, As a recent HSBC report notes, each Bank, McKinsey, and others, in order and excess capacity in fi nancially and imbalances (including trade push forward what works, continually using its BREEP methodology, China of China’s top three urban clusters to gain insight into how clustering environmentally sustainable ways. – imbalances), and eventually leading to refi ning and adapting their tools and has learned that rejecting one-size- has a GDP greater than that of Spain; could support economic growth and Project Syndicate recession for all. tactics. fi ts-all approaches and promoting together, they will account for 45% of innovation. To augment their research, All of this has signifi cant Since 2000, China’s long-term competition among cities is a valuable China’s total GDP by 2025. Of these, NDRC planners worked directly with zAndrew Sheng is Distinguished implications for China, which has plan for boosting incomes, reducing means of achieving breakthroughs in the GBA is the smallest by population, local offi cials, investors, and foreign Fellow of the Asia Global Institute at become the primary target of the inequality, and protecting the development strategies. with 70 million inhabitants, compared experts. the University of Hong Kong and a Trump administration’s tariff s, amid environment has depended on the In 2010, China’s State Council with 120mn in the YRD and 112mn Then the experimentation phase member of the UNEP Advisory Council accusations that it is responsible for harmonious progression of innovation identifi ed three major urban clusters as in the BTH. Yet the GBA contributes began, with the establishment of the on Sustainable Finance. Xiao Geng, global excess production capacity. In and urbanisation. Specifi cally, launch-pads for smart urbanisation: $1.5tn to China’s GDP – a total of Shanghai Free-Trade Zone and the President of the Hong Kong Institution this context, it is more urgent than China hopes to create green and the Yangtze River Delta (YRD), the 12% – and accounts for 37% of the Qianhai-Shekou Pilot Free-Trade for International Finance, is a professor ever that China curbs its reliance on effi cient urban clusters populated by Pearl River Delta (PRD), and the country’s total exports. And the Zone. Evaluations of those experiences at Peking University HSBC Business foreign demand and high levels of increasingly educated workers who can Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei cluster (BTH). cluster’s GDP growth is signifi cantly led to last year’s announcement of School and at the University of Hong investment, by fostering sustainable consume in a sustainable manner. By 2014, the PRD had morphed into higher than the rest of China. more FTZs, as well as the Xiong’an Kong’s Faculty of Business and domestic consumption. Success will Current economic theory gives the Greater Bay Area (GBA), covering The GBA is home to a high New Area, an ambitious plan to Economics. Pro-growth education for Japan Three-day forecast term growth strategy underpinned by reading or math, to improve labour- group singing without adherence to TODAY By Koichi Hamada Maximum Temperature : 400c Tokyo structural reforms, that Abenomics market productivity, because they particular written notes, in order to has performed insuffi ciently, because enhance the capacity to take initiative foster interactions within the group Minimum Temperature : 330c so much work remains to be done. and assert eff ective leadership. The Kodály method bears some FRIDAY ince Prime Minister Shinzo And the current excess-demand Yet, in Japan, schools continue to similarities to the Suzuki method, Maximum Temperature : 430c Abe initiated his “Abenomics” situation makes that work all the more emphasise rote learning, with students created by the Japanese violinist Minimum Temperature : 330c reform program in 2012, urgent. memorising facts and formulas, rather Shinichi Suzuki, whose curriculum SATURDAY Japan’s economy has received A critical element of an eff ective than practising critical thinking, emulates the process of natural Maximum Temperature : 390c S Minimum Temperature : 320c a remarkable boost. long-term growth strategy will be to problem solving, and confl ict language acquisition. address the barrier to growth posed by resolution. In both cases, the way children But the job is not yet fi nished. Fisherman's forecast I once argued that the three Japan’s rapidly ageing and shrinking This undermines innovation and actually think and develop musical sense “arrows” of Abenomics – monetary population. productivity in the best of times. – rather than rigid rules and structures WARNING But it is all the more harmful at a – guides the learning process. Inshore : Poor visibility expected easing, fi scal expansion, and a That means ensuring not only that to the north at first. long-term growth strategy – should the country’s young people have jobs, moment when automation is taking In Japan, where cognitive, academic be given grades of A, B, and E, but also that they are educated and over a growing number of roles. scores are overly emphasised above Offshore : Nil respectively. productive enough to carry the weight As part of a new long-term growth holistic human development, this WEATHER Monetary easing gets an “A,” even of the economy on their shoulders. strategy, Japan must rethink its style of engagement with the arts, Inshore : Misty to foggy to the though, as critics love to point out, the 2% To that end, Japan needs to invest approach to education. including music, can foster not only north at first becomes infl ation target is far from being achieved. more in education. For some clues as to how that can an appreciation of beauty, but also hot daytime with some clouds,humid by night . The reason is that the infl ation This proposition is not unheard of be done, it is worth examining the imagination, co-operation, initiative, Offshore : Misty at times with target is only a means to an end: full in Japan. ideas of the composer Zoltán Kodály, leadership, empathy, and compassion. some clouds. employment. On the contrary, the Abe whose widow I met on a recent trip And the child-development WIND Inshore : Northeasterly-North- Here, Japan has been tremendously government currently places a high to Hungary, where I was invited not approach to learning can be applied westerly 05-13 KT successful, creating more than 2.7mn priority on preschool education – just as an economist, but also as an to other subjects as well, enabling Offshrore : Mainly Northeasterly- jobs since the fi rst arrow of Abenomics an approach supported by research aspiring musician. (After my lecture at children to spend more time engaging Southeasterly 03-12 KT was launched. conducted by the Nobel laureate the central bank, my own composition with the material and one another. Visibility : 4-8/2 KM The job vacancy-to-applicant ratio economist James Heckman, who has echoed in the lecture hall.) An eff ective long-term growth now stands above parity, though it found that investment in preschool The Kodály method of music strategy – in Japan and elsewhere – Offshore : 1-3 FT does remain low – even below 50% education brings large returns. education does not simply teach a child must recognise that no human can which motions it takes to read or play a out-memorise a machine. – in jobs such as clerical work, where But there is one aspect of Around the region automation is replacing workers and Heckman’s work that Japan may fail to song. Instead, such a strategy must make Weather suppressing wages. embrace. Instead, it allows children, from the most of what humans, and only Weather tomorrow Max/min Fiscal policy gets a “B,” because – According to Heckman (writing a very young age, to develop a humans, do best. – Project Syndicate today Max/min Sunny 48/29 along with monetary expansion – it with co-authors Jora Stixrud and relationship with the music by, say, Baghdad Sunny 46/29 Sunny 46/32 has shifted the economy from excess Sergio Urzua), non-cognitive skills singing or moving to it. zKoichi Hamada is professor emeritus Kuwait City M Sunny 45/31 M Sunny 42/31 supply to excess demand. such as co-operation are just as And even that process is not rigid: at Yale University and a special adviser Manama Sunny 41/31 M Sunny 33/27 It is only on the third arrow, a long- important as cognitive skills, like for example, his method encourages to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Muscat M Sunny 32/28 Tehran Sunny 36/23 Sunny 35/23 Live issues Benefi ts of fi sh oil, aspirin questioned in diabetics

By Gene Emery close to 7.5 years, on average. During the University of Oxford, said, “There known to have heart disease are well Reuters Health that time, 9.2% of people taking the are ongoing trials which are looking established. placebo died of heart disease, suff ered at the eff ects of higher doses, and so As for people without heart disease, a non-fatal heart attack or stroke, or it remains to be seen whether a higher “There is already good evidence that if new large study of fi sh oil experienced a mini-stroke known as dose would be eff ective in preventing you are healthy and not had any heart Around the world and aspirin in people with a transient ischemic attack or TIA. vascular events.” attacks, strokes or circulatory problems, Weather Weather diabetes has found that The rate among fi sh oil recipients But, she said, “a higher dose may the increased risk of bleeding from today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athe oil supplements don’t was 8.9%, a statistically insignifi cant not be so well-tolerated by patients.” aspirin outweighs the small benefi t from Athens Sunny 34/23 Sunny 34/23 prevent fi rst-time heart attacks or diff erence. In the aspirin study, people preventing heart attacks and strokes,” Beirut M Sunny 30/26 M Sunny 30/26 strokes, yet aspirin does, although the Similarly, fi sh oil didn’t lower the who took 100mg daily had a lower Dr Armitage said. “We have now Bangkok S T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 32/26 benefi t of aspirin therapy is cancelled risk of needing to have a blocked artery rate of cardiovascular events. The shown that the same applies to people Berlin Rain 21/11 P Cloudy 21/10 out by a higher risk of unwanted reopened. That procedure was done rates were 8.5% with aspirin and with diabetes who have not had any Cairo Sunny 36/25 Sunny 37/25 bleeding. in 11.5% in the placebo group and 11.4 9.6% with matching placebo – in circulatory problems.” Cape Town M Sunny 19/12 S Showers 16/11 Nearly 15,500 volunteers were percent in the fi sh oil group. this case a statistically significant In general, the aspirin result “is Colombo S T Storms 29/26 T Storm 29/25 tested to see if either treatment made When all causes of death were difference. good news for patients that they don’t Dhaka T Storm 32/27 S T Storms 33/27 a diff erence. None of them had heart examined, the story was the same, But the odds of bleeding – including have to take an extra tablet,” said Dr Hong Kong T Storm 27/25 S T Storms 28/25 disease at the start of the study but all with 9.7% in the fi sh oil group dying brain, stomach, eye or other serious Armitage. “This may allow some Istanbul Sunny 31/23 Sunny 31/23 had diabetes, which typically increases during the study compared with bleeding – were higher as well: 4.1% patients to stop aspirin and avoid the Jakarta M Sunny 34/25 S T Storms 33/25 the risk of cardiovascular problems 10.2% with olive oil placebo, another with aspirin versus 3.2% with placebo. on-going risk of bleeding.” Karachi Cloudy 29/26 Cloudy 29/26 two- to three-fold. insignifi cant diff erence. Thus, while aspirin lowered the Dr Bowman said the ASCEND London P Cloudy 20/12 P Cloudy 20/12 The results from the ASCEND study “The study provides much-needed odds of serious cardiovascular events study is unique because it “ is one of Manila S T Storms 32/25 T Storm 32/25 were reported recently at the European clarity regarding the benefi ts of fi sh oil by 12%, it upped the risk of major the largest ever trials in diabetes and Moscow S T Storms 27/13 S Showers 24/12 Society of Cardiology’s Annual supplements for people with diabetes bleeding by 29%. provides important information about New Delhi S T Storms 34/27 P Cloudy 34/27 Congress in Munich and online in The but no history of cardiovascular “The absolute benefi ts were largely two medical treatments, aspirin and New York M Sunny 33/22 S Showers 25/21 New England Journal of Medicine. disease,” said coauthor Dr Louise counterbalanced by the bleeding fi sh oils. However, it was designed Paris M Cloudy 23/13 P Cloudy 23/12 In the fi sh oil portion of the study, Bowman in an e-mail to Reuters hazard,” said the team, led by Dr Jane to be run extremely cost-eff ectively, Sao Paulo Sunny 28/16 Sunny 29/16 half the patients took a daily 1-gram Health. “The fi sh oil supplements were Armitage, professor of Clinical Trials using mail-based approaches, and so Seoul S T Storms 28/21 S Showers 26/19 capsule of n-3 fatty acids and the rest safe, but off ered no added benefi t.” and Epidemiology at Nuffi eld. provided reliable information, relevant Singapore P Cloudy 31/26 S T Storms 31/25 took a capsule containing olive oil as a Dr Bowman, a professor of medicine The risk of fatal bleeding was the to the 400 million people in the world Sydney M Sunny 16/06 P Cloudy 19/11 placebo. and clinical trials in the Nuffi eld same in both groups. with diabetes, at a fraction of the cost Tokyo Clear 34/25 Clear 35/26 Participants were tracked for Department of Population Health at The benefi ts of aspirin for people of most large-scale clinical trials.” Gulf Times 16 Thursday, August 30, 2018 QATAR Venice Film Fest to screen 10 fi lms supported by DFI s many as 10 fi lms, all re- central to our commitment to Kaadan, about Sana, a young of a country in political turmoil, cipients of the Doha Film nurturing emerging talents, and mother struggling to raise her which premiered at last year’s AInstitute (DFI) Grants we are delighted that the works of child in war-torn Syria in 2012; IDFA, where it won the IDFA Programme, have been selected 10 fi lmmakers in diff erent stages and Unremember (Brazil, France, Award for Best Feature-Length to screen to an audience of fi lm of production are heading to Ven- Qatar) by Flavia Castro, about documentary. critics, industry professionals ice. We will continue to focus on Joana, a 15-year-old who feeds Underlining the strong inter- Still Recording (Syria, Lebanon, France, Qatar) is a 2017 Qumra project and feature documentary by Saeed and visitors at the prestigious strengthening the capability of her soul with literature and rock. national inroads being made by al-Batal and Ghiath Ayoub. Venice International Film Festival aspiring talents locally and across In Venice Days is Screwdriver fi lms supported by the DFI, the (VIFF) and parallel sections; the the region,” she added. (Palestine, US, Qatar) by Bassam selection includes three fi lms to cording (Syria, Lebanon, France, tory (Lebanon, France, Germany, ezia, is offi cially recognised by International Critics’ Week and Two fi lms are in the Orizzonti Jarbawi, which presents the life be screened in the International Qatar), a 2017 Qumra project and Qatar) by Ahmad Ghossein; and the International Federation of the Giornate degli Autori which segment, an international com- of Ziad, the star of the Jalazon Critics’ Week segment, which feature documentary by Saeed al- the 2017 Qumra project The Un- Film Producers Association. The opened yesterday. petition dedicated to fi lms that Refugee Camp basketball team in features a series of debut-works Batal and Ghiath Ayoub; and You known Saint (Morocco, France, aim of the festival, running until “Ten bold fi lms with powerful represent the latest aesthetic and Palestine. that are independently organised Have the Night (Montenegro, Ser- Qatar) by Alaa Eddine Aljem. September 8, is to raise aware- themes that refl ect gritty sto- expressive trends in global cine- For the fi rst time in 10 years, by a commission appointed by bia, Qatar) by Ivan Salatic, about Haifa Street (Iraq, Qatar) by ness and promote international ries of the region, and supported ma, and two in Venice Days, a se- one documentary is among the the National Syndicate of Italian Sanja. Mohanad Hayal has been cho- cinema in all its forms as art, en- by our Grants programme, have ries of fi lms independently pro- three fi nalists competing for the Film Critics. Three fi lms are in the Venice sen to the Final Cut category that tertainment and as an industry, in headed to Venice, where they moted by the Italian Filmmakers Lux Film Prize. Directed by Mila The fi lms chosen to the In- Production Bridge, which focuses aims to provide concrete assist- a spirit of freedom and dialogue. have the opportunity to gain in- Association (ANC) and by the 100 Turajlic, The Other Side of Eve- ternational Critics’ Week are: on the presentation and exchange ance in the completion of fi lms The festival also organises ret- ternational interest and recogni- Autori Association. rything (Serbia, France, Qatar), is A Kasha (Sudan, South Africa, of original projects for fi lms and from all African nations and rospectives and tributes to major tion,” DFI CEO Fatma al-Remaihi In the Orizzonti category are: a feature documentary about an Germany, Qatar) by Hajooj Kuka, works in progress. from Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Pal- fi gures as a contribution towards said. The Day I Lost My Shadow (Syr- apartment in Belgrade that turns nurtured at DFI’s annual industry Selected at the Venice Gap Fi- estine and Syria. The 75th VIFF, a better understanding of the his- “Our Grants programme is ia, Lebanon, Qatar) by Soudade a family chronicle into a portrait event Qumra in 2018; Still Re- nancing Market are: All This Vic- organised by La Biennale di Ven- tory of cinema. Qatar Airways collaborates with chef Ooredoo extends Qatarna Calombaris again for new infl ight menu Roaming Data promotion

atar Airways has ex- oredoo has extended its to 30GB per month, Qatarna 600 ances, all Qatarna packs benefi t panded collaboration ‘Qatarna Roaming Data’ packs will enjoy 50GB per month from Ooredoo’s Endless Internet Qwith renowned Aus- Opromotion for another (usually 14GB), and Qatarna 850 service, meaning once a cus- tralian chef and restauranteur, fi ve weeks due to high customer pack users can roam with 100GB, tomer’s local data allowance runs George Calombaris, who will demand, it was announced yes- an 80GB increase in the usual out, they can continue to use the create a new edition of Greek- terday. 20GB allowance. Supernet at a lower speed at no inspired in-fl ight dining options With the promotion, existing The promotion, which was extra charge until their pack is for the airline, starting Septem- Qatarna 350, 600, and 850 pack first launched in July, has seen renewed. ber 1. customers and new customers tremendous demand from cus- Qatarna subscribers also enjoy The new menus will be avail- who subscribe to Qatarna un- tomers due to the summer trav- a special rate of QR1 for all roam- able to First and Business Class til October 17, 2018 will enjoy elling period. Ooredoo designed ing activities, including calling, passengers travelling from Qa- boosted roaming data at no extra the offer to ensure everyone can SMS, and data (after Qatarna tar Airways’ four gateways in cost. enjoy the Internet while over- pack roaming data allowance Australia (Adelaide, Melbourne, Qatarna 350 roaming data al- seas. is used). To fi nd out more, visit Perth, Sydney) to Doha, Qatar. lowance will be raised from 10GB As well as roaming allow- www.ooredoo.qa. The award-winning airline is also working with chef Calom- baris to feature his signature أﻳﻦ ﺗﻘﻒ ﺳﻴﺎرﺗﻚ ﻓﻲ ﻣﺆﺳﺴﺔ ﺣﻤﺪ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﺔ touch in the Economy Class menu, due to debut in the fi rst quarter of 2019. This marks Where to park at HMC the second time Qatar Airways Every quarter, passengers can look forward to George Calombaris’s new signature dishes that will be partnered with Calombaris to introduced and integrated with Qatar Airways’ in-flight menus. present his signature dishes at 30,000ft feet. sengers this time around with our look forward to Calombaris’s bourne from October 1. In 2017, Qatar Airways and year-long partnership, and are new signature dishes that will be A multiple award-winning ٩٩٩ ﻣﻄﺎﻓﺊ 999 Fire Station ﺗﻘﺎﻃﻊ Calombaris jointly presented certain his fl air for creating dishes introduced and integrated with airline, Qatar Airways was Junction اﻟﻤﺮﺿﻰ و اﻟﺰوار an exclusive in-fl ight menu to showcasing classic Greek fl a- Qatar Airways’ in-fl ight menus. named ‘World’s Best Business Patients & Visitors

اﻟﻤﻮﻇﻔﻴﻦ celebrate the introduction of the vours accompanied by fresh local Among the dishes making their Class’ by the 2018 World Air- Staff

اﻟﻤﻮﻇﻔﻴﻦ ، اﻟﻤﺮﺿﻰ و اﻟﺰوار -A380 service on the Melbourne- produce will once again be a hit debut on Qatar Airways fl ights line Awards, managed by in Patients, Visitors & Staff

اﻟﻤﻮﻇﻔﻴﻦ ، اﻟﻤﺮﺿﻰ و اﻟﺰوار Doha route last year. with our passengers,” he added. is one of Calombaris’s personal ternational air transport rating From 2 pm till 5 am this parking could be used by patients & visitors Any patient car parked in this area after 5 am will be ticketed by the “At Qatar Airways, we are Calombaris said: “I am thrilled favourites, Avgolemono (a clas- organisation Skytrax. It was Police traffic department اﻟﻤﻮﻇﻔﻴﻦ ، اﻟﻤﺮﺿﻰ و اﻟﺰوار committed to off ering our pas- to work with Qatar Airways for sic Greek egg and lemon soup). also named ‘Best Business Class To be used by patients & visitors in case of overflow sengers the fi nest cuisine in the the second consecutive year and For the main courses, First Seat,’ ‘Best Airline in the Mid-

ﻣﺮﻛﺰ ﺻﺤﺔ اﻟﻤﻮارد اﻟﻤﺮأة و اﺑﺤﺎث اﻟﻤﺮﻛﺰ اﻟﺘﻌﻠﻴﻤﻲ sky. We are delighted to work make my cuisine available to even and Business Class cabin pas- dle East,’ and ‘World’s Best First ﻣﺮﻛﺰ اﻟﺮﻋﺎﻳﺔ اﻟﺒﺸﺮﻳﺔ اﻟﻄﺒﻴﺔ اﻟﻴﻮﻣﻴﺔ Women's Human ﻣﺮﻛﺰ ﻗﻄﺮ Wellness and Ambulatory Resources ﻋﺎدة اﻟﺘﺄﻫﻴﻞ with one of Australia’s best- more Australian passengers trav- sengers can choose between the Class Airline Lounge.’ Research Center Care Center Qatar Rehabilitation loved chefs, George Calomba- elling with the airline. Bastourma Beef shortrib with Earlier this year, Qatar Air- Institute ris, for the second time follow- “It is a privilege to work with onions and Potato a la greque, or ways revealed a host of upcom- ing the success of the limited a brand that is so committed to the lighter but no less fl avourful ing new global destinations, in- run menu to commemorate the excellence, and I am honoured Fraser Island Crab with lemon cluding the announcement that launch of our A380 service in that our partnership is continu- marmalade and tabbouleh. The it will be the fi rst Gulf carrier to Communicable Disease Center ﻓﻨﺪق وﻳﻨﺪام ﺟﺮاﻧﺪ رﻳﺠﻨﺴﻲ Melbourne last year,” Qatar Air- ing into 2018,” he noted. “We classic Greek mousakka will begin direct service to Luxem- Wyndham Grand ﻣﺒﻨﻰ اﻟﺸﻴﺨﺔ ﻧﻮت Regency Hotel ways Group chief executive Ak- look forward to continuously also feature in the new Greek- bourg. Other exciting new des- Sheikha Nout Building

أﺑﺮاج ﺑﺮوة bar al-Baker said. surprise and delight passengers inspired menu. tinations to be launched by the Barwa Towers “We are excited to be able to onboard with these delicious The new menu debuts in Ad- airline include Tallinn, Estonia; bring Calombaris’ signature Greek-inspired dishes.” elaide, Sydney and Perth from Valletta, Malta and Da Nang, Vi- dishes to more Australian pas- Every quarter, passengers can September 1, followed by Mel- etnam. A map showing the changes to patient and visitor parking access at Hamad General Hospital.

MME hosts field trip on drying dates

The Agricultural Research trip was aimed at introducing Department at the Ministry of farmers to the techniques of Huawei P20 Pro ‘leading innovation Municipality and Environment drying dates and marked a (MME) has conducted a field continuation of the Local Dates trip on how to dry dates. Festival organised recently by The participants visited the the ministry. He said the activity Agricultural Research Station also aimed to preserve and agenda in the smartphone industry’ in Rawdat Al Faras as part of increase the quantity of dates the State’s interest in palm produced in the country and trees, dates and in support of maximise the benefits. uawei has stressed that has been leading the development prise that the P20 Pro has secured its production. The session Hassan Ibrahim al-Asmakh, its P20 Pro is “leading and use of Artifi cial Intelligence several accolades globally and included a detailed explanation head of the plant research Hinnovation agenda in the (AI) in its devices. The brand is defi nitely in the run for being of the mechanism of drying department, said the main smartphone industry”. took the smartphone industry by one of the best phones launched dates since the beginning of the aim of organising such an “With Android smartphone storm with the launch of Huawei this year, with one of the recent harvest (season), in addition to activity was to reduce imports makers dominating the industry, P20 Pro earlier this year. While it achievements being named ‘EISA training on the correct drying and increase national dates the battle for best smartphone is a known fact that most smart- Best Smartphone 2018-2019’ – an procedures. It also introduced production (and thereby camera is currently being led by phone makers face challenges award from the European Image farmers and owners of national support the country’s the Huawei P20 Pro. It is one of when it comes to off ering low and Sound Association, a group farms that produce dates to the economy) and introduce the fi rst smartphones with cam- light or night mode photography comprising 55 of the world’s most latest drying methods. farmers and farm owners eras that surpass the 100-mark as a feature, the Huawei P20 Pro respected consumer electronics Director of the Agricultural to the unique techniques of threshold on the DxOMark lead- has made this a thing of the past,” magazines. Research Department Hamad drying dates through the use of erboard, an independent indus- the statement notes. Global shipments of the Hua- Sakit al-Shammari said the specialised chambers. try benchmark that scientifi cally The innovative device is pow- The Huawei P20 Pro. wei P20 series have surpassed assesses image quality of smart- ered by the world’s fi rst Leica tri- 9mn in the fi rst half of 2018, a tes- phones, lenses and cameras,” ac- ple camera that has unparalleled pictures in any setting, some- a smartphone camera. And, with tament of its success among users cording a press statement issued low-light photography capability. times capturing scenes that even Huawei’s AI capabilities, quality globally, the company has said. in Doha yesterday. The path-breaking smartphone the naked eye cannot see. loss in pictures is absolutely mini- While being an award-winning Huawei recently grabbed head- is enabled with AI Image Stabili- Enabled with AI scene recogni- mal. smartphone for its features, the lines when it climbed up to be- sation that allows one to capture tion, the device can automatically “Without a doubt, a camera is P20 Pro’s design and colour is also come the second smartphone incredible blur-free, handheld recognise 500 scenarios in 19 cat- one of the most important fea- a testament of Huawei’s contin- vendor globally. As reported by shots in low-light using Night egories of scenes and then adjusts tures we all look for in a phone ued commitment to innovation. IDC, Huawei’s Q2 2018 global Mode, without the need for a tri- the camera settings automatically and with such state-of-the-art The smartphone’s stunning and smartphone market share in- pod. to deliver incredible, profession- features, the Huawei P20 Pro will unique gradient twilight colours creased to 15.8%, solidifying the Moreover, its night mode also al-looking images. Huawei’s P20 turn any user into a professional are set to up the style quotient of brand’s new ranking. balances high-contrast scenes for Pro also off ers 5x Hybrid Zoom – photographer,” the statement any fashionista, while adding to “Huawei, driven by innovation, eff ortlessly clear, light-balanced one of the most powerful ever on adds. It comes without a sur- their personal style statement.