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TUESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10168 August 2, 2016 Shawwal 28, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Motorists can use Metrash2 to report YEMEN | Negotiations Govt team agrees to UN peace draft The Yemeni government delegation left peace talks in Kuwait yesterday minor accidents after informing the United Nations of its approval of the draft peace In case of reconciliation between agreement brokered by the UN the parties involved in an accident, to solve the Yemeni conflict. The either of them can take four agreement is aimed at ending a civil photographs of each vehicle and war between the Yemeni government send them via Metrash2 to the and the Houthi rebels and their allies. Traff ic Directorate investigation UN Yemen envoy Ismail Ould Sheikh off ice Ahmed said that the government delegation’s departure from Kuwait otorists who meet with minor was “not a departure from the peace accidents on Qatar’s roads talks”. The talks will continue until Mcan now register the incident the parties agree on the next steps in with the Traffi c Department using the the coming days, the UN envoy said. Metrash2 app of the Ministry of Inte- Page 5 rior (MoI), it was announced yester- day. SYRIA | Violence The latest addition to the e-services provided by the ministry facilitates Kerry calls registering minor road accidents be- for restraint tween two vehicles via Metrash2. The United States yesterday It is expected to reduce the time re- called on Russia and the Syrian quired for obtaining services and sim- government to refrain from plify procedures for the public, a MoI off ensive operations in Syria, as statement said. fighting continued on the day US Speaking at a press conference Secretary of State John Kerry hoped to announce the launch of the new a political transition could begin. service, Brigadier Mohamed Saad al- Asked if he was dismayed August Kharji, director-general of the General 1 had come without a political Directorate of Traffi c, appreciated the transition to help end Syria’s five- eff orts of the General Directorate of year civil war, Kerry said the target Information Systems at the ministry date was set earlier this year when to improve and develop traffi c serv- there were hopes political talks ices through various communication Brigadier Mohamed Saad al-Kharji addressing the press conference in Doha could take hold amid a reduction in channels as well as the Metrash2 app. yesterday. violence. However, a “cessation of “The new service, which is added to hostilities” that began in February The Entertainment City hosts a number of new attractions and thrill rides. the list of MoI e-services in general, new service would help citizens, resi- tems Department, said the new service has now all but unravelled. Page 6 and to the General Directorate of Traf- dents and companies alike and save could be accessed in all six languages fi c Services in particular, aims to sim- their time by sparing them from vis- off ered on Metrash2 - Arabic, English, EGYPT | Measures plify the procedures for motorists, es- iting the traffi c investigation offi ce in French, Spanish, Urdu and Malayalam. pecially in minor accidents that often case of minor accidents. He also said there was no need for Sisi warns about cause traffi c blocks,” he said. “Any one of the two parties involved both parties to register the accident; tough measures Explaining the procedures, Briga- in an accident shall take not more than “instead, only one party should regis- President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi dier al-Kharji said that in case of four photographs of each car with ter the accident”. yesterday warned Egyptians that reconciliation between the parties some of them showing the accident Brigadier al-Kharji later told jour- tough measures would be needed involved in an accident, either party location and the number plates. The nalists that minor accidents targeted to turn the country’s ailing economy could take four photographs of each drivers have then to move the vehi- by this service amounted to around around, as the government vehicle and send them via Metrash2 cles away from the road so that traffi c 90% of all road traffi c accidents regis- negotiates a $12bn loan programme to the Traffi c Directorate investigation is not blocked. Then, the photos and tered at the Traffi c Directorate, noting with the International Monetary offi ce. information can be submitted via the that the new service would be promot- Fund. In a bid to prepare public “The sender will receive a notifi ca- Metrash2 app. Once this is done, in- ed through various visual and audio opinion for a series of measures tion SMS asking him to wait for an- vestigators at the Traffi c Directorate channels as well as social media. that will include subsidy cuts, tax other message on further procedures. will review the accident, specify who With the launch of the new service, reforms, and privatisations of After verifi cation, the party whose ve- has caused the accident and send the the total number of e-services provid- state-owned companies, Sisi told hicle has been damaged due to the fault message accordingly - to go to the in- ed by diff erent departments at the MoI Egyptians the government needed of the other (motorist) will receive a surance company or get the approval has reached 120. their support to weather the storm. text message with instructions to go to for repair printed.” Business Page 2 the insurance company, while the party There are now four options avail- at fault will receive a message, giving able for the parties involved in minor More cameras to detect AMERICA | Elections him approval for vehicle repair. The accidents – registering through Met- traffi c off ences permission can be printed from the MoI rash2, approaching insurance compa- Clinton leads Trump website or at insurance companies.” nies where traffi c investigation offi ces The Traffi c Department has installed by seven points: poll The director added that the new are available, visiting traffi c investi- 52 cameras in key areas around the Hillary Clinton got a four-point service would be evaluated after a gation offi ces in diff erent parts of the country to detect off ences such as bounce in support after the while and extended to accidents in- country and waiting for traffi c patrols overtaking from the right, Brigadier Democratic National Convention volving more than two vehicles in the to come to the site, said Captain Ab- Mohamed Saad al-Kharji, director of the and now leads Donald Trump by future. dullah Misad, head of the Mamoura Traffi c Department, said yesterday. He seven points in the race for the Brigadier Ibrahim Mohamed al- Traffi c Section. said more cameras would be installed to White House, says a poll released Haremi, director of the MoI’s Infor- Captain Ali Ahmed al-Binali, head control risky driving practices. Page 3 yesterday. Page 10 mation Systems Department, said the of e-services at the Information Sys- Young visitors being entertained at the opening of the Entertainment City. Games and rides galore as summer festival opens

By Joey Aguilar welcomed the crowd in the well-lit City variety of dishes in the food court. had a good campaign last year, and this Staff Reporter followed by a series of shows on stage Participating malls and other ven- year we are building on the success and inside the hall. ues such as The Pearl-Qatar also hopefully next year we’ll have more,” “We thought we will not have lots started welcoming visitors with sales she added. he Qatar Summer Festival (QSF) of guests for the opening but we were and shopping promotions, which give These establishments are off ering 2016 kicked off yesterday with surprised in a good way as lots of peo- residents and visitors a chance to win various promotions for residents and Tan array of entertainment activi- ple came to the DECC,” said QTA’s major prizes at weekly draws such as visitors who book using the festival’s ties, games and rides at the Entertain- Festivals and Tourism Events director Jaguar cars and cash. code ‘QSF2016’. ment City, Doha Exhibition and Con- Mashal Shahbik who joined other QTA A shopper gets one raffl e coupon for Guests are entitled to off ers such as vention Centre (DECC), welcoming a offi cials at the festival opening. every purchase worth QR200 at Lagoo- pay for two nights, stay for three at ho- large number of visitors. “I think they are waiting for the En- na, Landmark, Gulf, Ezdan, Al Khor, tels, and pay for fi ve nights, stay for six Mascots wearing unique and col- tertainment City to open and we hope Hyatt Plaza, City Center Doha and Dar at hotel apartments. ourful costumes, as well as groups of they will enjoy and not go out disap- Al Salam malls, as well as The Pearl- Besides free daily breakfast, they can entertainers, greeted the visitors with pointed,” she said. Qatar. also request for a late check-out until traditional performances at the open- Shahbik expects the number of visi- QTA has set up dedicated zones at 5pm and free transport to and from Ha- ing of the Entertainment City. tors to increase from 200,000 last year, malls for children who want to take part mad International Airport. The QTA-organised event brings citing a bigger venue with 11 zones that in art and drawing activities for this Children can eat for free when ac- families and children to the 29,000sq m off er numerous indoor entertainment year’s “Colour Your Summer” theme. companied by parents (maximum of venue in West Bay, nearly twice the size activities until August 31. Shahbik said the number of partici- three children per family). of the previous City last year. The fi rst day of the festival saw several pating hotels and hotel apartments has The annual festival aims to showcase Cultural performances such as the children lining up at water rides, video doubled this year compared to the pre- Qatar as a family destination and boost Qatari sword dance and the sound of games, interactive and life-size games, vious festival. the hospitality and retail sectors during QTA off icials leading a colourful opening of the Entertainment City yesterday. traditional musical instruments also and thrill rides while parents enjoyed a “From the fi gures you will see that we the summer, according to QTA. Page 24 PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 QATAR HMC urges self-checkup Justice Ministry documentation office to detect skin cancer

physician at Hamad saying, “The fi rst signs usu- Dr al-Mannai cautioned, “It a check-up by a family physician Medical Corporation ally include a growing bump, a is advisable to avoid prolonged and in case of any suspicion, the A(HMC) has highlighted changing mole or a scaly, dry exposure to the sun between doctor will refer the patient to the importance of seeking early and rough patch. When detected 11am to 4pm and especially dur- a dermatology department for medical assistance when signs of early, the cancer can be control- ing peak temperatures. When more evaluation.” skin cancer begin to appear. led and treated eff ectively, with people go out, they should try At the Department of Der- “The most common cause of an increased chance for the per- to wear sun protective clothing matology and Venereology in skin cancer is the exposure to the son to be cured.” that covers as much skin as pos- Rumailah Hospital, any patient ultra violet radiation in sunlight. “It is extremely important to sible. Wearing a hat with a broad suspected of having a skin can- Although anyone can be aff ected check all the skin, including the brim that covers the face, head, cer is seen by a dermatologist, by skin cancer, people with fair back, soles of feet, between fi n- neck and ears is also a good way who takes a detailed history of and lighter skin and those with gers and toes and under the nails. to protect oneself from being af- the skin lesion, including the a family history of skin cancer People should also regularly fected.” family history of skin cancer, Dr are at a higher risk of developing check the skin for any changes, “It is also recommended to al-Mannai noted. the disease,” noted Dr Haya al- using a mirror, especially in pa- apply broad spectrum water re- “Following a physical exami- Mannai, dermatology consult- tients who have multiple moles. sistant sun block of SPF 30+ or nation using serial photography, ant, HMC. If any change is noticed the higher at least 20 minutes before and in case of any suspicion, a Skin cancer is an abnormal person should seek medical as- going outdoors and repeat ap- skin biopsy for a detailed micro- growth of skin tissues, which is sistance and get a referral to see plication for every three hours scopic evaluation is performed. most commonly caused due to the doctor,” Dr al-Mannai said, you are exposed to the sun,” she Some patients warrant fur- the skin’s prolonged exposure to adding: “For people who have added. ther investigation, so referral is Qatar’s Ministry of Justice has opened a documentation centre at the Al Arabi Sports Club. The off ice the sun’s rays. existing moles, a new spot or If any unusual spots are ob- sometimes given to another spe- will operate initially for a month on a trial. After that, it will move to a new building to provide its Dr al-Mannai advised the an existing spot that changes in served on the skin, Dr al-Mannai cialty department like oncology services to the public. The off ice is located at gate number six. The working hour in the new off ice public to regularly check for any colour, size or shape, bleeding or said, “The fi rst step should be to or surgery for further diagnosis will be from 7:30am to1.30pm. abnormal growth on their body, itching, is a sign of concern.” visit the nearest health centre for and treatment if needed.”

Ooredoo enhances range Sony’s new home cinema system ‘brings movies to life’

ifty One East and Sony Middle East & Africa have unveiled the of mobile data top-ups new HT-RT3 5.1ch surround sound bar system from Sony. F The new home cinema system will be available at the Fifty One East store located in Al Maha Centre on Salwa Road in addition oredoo has announced tomers to get a quick data boost Ooredoo Data Scratch Card at to all branches of Virgin Megastore as well as major retailers in Qatar. the launch of two new wherever they are at an aff orda- Ooredoo shops and authorised “The new HT-RT3 is set to blow out your ear drums with room- O“low-priced” data re- ble price,” the statement noted. dealers across the country. shaking power as it makes having a home cinema a reality for many charges - QR10 for 100MB and “With the launch, Ooredoo now Ooredoo off ers a full family of homeowners, delivering a phenomenal 600W of power through a QR30 for 500MB. off ers the lowest cost data top- data recharge options, including slim, stylish sound bar plus dedicated subwoofer and rear speakers – This comes as the company ups in Qatar, designed espe- 250MB of data for QR20, 1GB for all in just a few seconds of setting up,” a press statement noted. continues to ensure that the In- cially for people wanting only a QR60, 3GB for QR80, 6GB for Setting up the HT-RT3 is “refreshingly straightforward”, with fewer ternet is accessible to all its cus- small data boost or are on a tight QR100 and 15GB for QR200. boxes and wires to worry about than regular 5.1 systems. Users have The HT-RT3 5.1ch home cinema system with Bluetooth. tomers, Ooredoo has said in a budget.” With no renewal or subscrip- to simply plug it in to a TV via HDMI and wire up the speakers via the press statement. Data purchased with the new tion fees, mobile top-ups from colour-coded connections to be able to watch their favourite movies. the purest sound quality by minimising distortion,” the statement “Due to high demand and the 100MB data recharge will be QR60 onwards are valid for 30 “Expect deep, room-fi lling sound with a 5.1ch sound bar and be en- added. popularity of the data recharge valid for seven days from acti- days once activated, and cus- veloped in real surround sound when you pair it to the subwoofer for a With Bluetooth on board, one can also enjoy music playback range, Ooredoo has launched vation, while the 500MB data tomers can use more than one loud and strong bass, bringing your movies to life. The two rear speak- streamed wirelessly from a smartphone. One-touch connection via the QR10 and QR30 denomi- recharge will be valid for 15 days. recharge method during the 30- ers ensure the delivery of a balanced, wide frequency audio response. NFC technology further removes the need for complex set-up se- nations, which will enable cus- Customers can purchase an day validity period. Equipped with S-Master Digital Amplifi er, the HT-RT3 produces only quences. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 3 QATAR Al Khor Park to be closed for four days Brace for a scorcher, high of 47 forecast

corching conditions are times with some clouds. expected in Qatar today Off shore areas, meanwhile, Salong with strong winds are likely to see hazy to misty in some places by midday, the conditions along with some Met department has said. clouds. The mercury level is likely The mercury level, which to reach a high of 47 degrees C had dropped in Doha and in the Al Khor area and hover other parts of the country of around the 45C-mark in sev- late, has started increasing eral other places, including again. Yesterday, it reached a Al Khor Park will be closed for four days, starting from August 7, in view of regular pest control works, the Ministry of Municipality and Environment has announced in a Doha, according to the fore- high of 46C in Sheehaniyah, tweet. It will be reopened on Thursday, August 11. cast. Batna and Turayna, followed The wind speed may go up to by 45C in the Qatar Univer- 24 knots in some inshore areas sity area, Dukhan, Al Rayyan at times. and Al Khor, among other In brief The forecast for inshore places. areas also says it will be The maximum temperature “hot to very hot” during today will be 47C in Al Khor, the day and slight to blow- 45C in Doha and Dukhan, and More cameras installed ing dust is also expected at 43C in Abu Samra.

Emir sends National Day to catch risky drivers greetings Passenger gets By Ayman Adly to drive through uninterrupted. Staff Reporter “This could be seen clearly on Al HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Waab and Al Corniche streets, Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy for example. However, when an jail for harassing Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad he Traffi c Department has ambulance jumps a red light, the al-Thani and HE the Prime installed 52 cameras in key wave is broken and it takes some Minister and Interior Minister Tareas around the country time until it is restored.” Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin to detect off ences such as over- Ibrahim Mohamed al-Haremi, air-hostess Khalifa al-Thani have sent taking from the right, Brigadier director of the Information Sys- cables of congratulations to Mohamed Saad al-Kharji, direc- tems Department at the MoI’s President of Benin Patrice tor of the Traffi c Department, General Directorate of Informa- Doha Criminal Court vestigators that the man Talon on the anniversary of his said yesterday. tion Systems, said the new serv- has sentenced an Indian held her hand, asked about country’s Independence Day. He said more cameras are Senior off icials of the Traff ic Department addressing the media at the ice allowing drivers to register Atraveller to six months her phone number and HH the Emir, HH the Deputy planned to be installed to control press conference yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam minor accidents through the in jail and directed him to pay spoke to her inappropriate- Emir and HE the Prime such risky driving practices. Metrash2 app was tested ahead a fi ne of QR20,000 for harass- ly. She resisted his advances Minister have also sent cables Speaking on the sidelines of a damaged parts. This has to be come of the investigation or even of its public launch to make sure ing an air-hostess while being but he did not stop and it of congratulations to Swiss press briefi ng called to announce uploaded through his account the insurance company concerned that the system was applicable in in an inebriated state. was clear that the man was President Johann Schneider- the launch of the new e-service, with Metrash2.” is not convinced with the report, real-life situations. According to local Arabic drunk, according to the de- Ammann on his country’s Brigadier al-Kharji stressed that Brigadier al-Kharji stressed the matter will be open for further He pointed out that the de- daily Arrayah, the man was tails of the case. National Day. the Traffi c Department is keen that people involved in such in- review and investigation. partment had conducted an also sentenced to 40 lashes as The woman then called an to improve its services and en- cidents should move the vehicles Asked whether the photo- adequate number of trials with he had consumed alcohol on on-board supervisor, follow- Minister holds hance smooth traffi c fl ow in the away from the road to the near- graphs uploaded through this way dummy accidents to ensure that the fl ight despite being a Mus- ing which the passenger was country while maintaining safer est byroad or emergency parking and the report obtained accord- all the anticipated issues would lim. He is also to be deported given a written warning. He talks in Oman roads. He added that due to such slot to clear the way for the traf- ingly have the required legal sanc- be addressed. However, he did upon serving the sentence. then threatened the air-host- eff orts, there has been a consid- fi c. He reminded that blocking tion in case of the matter going not rule out the possibility of The defendant was travel- ess and pushed her aside, it HE the Minister of Municipality erable fall in the number of ma- the way in such cases is consid- to court, Brigadier al-Kharji said some issues emerging when the ling to Doha from India when was alleged. and Environment Mohamed bin jor accidents and serious injuries ered a traffi c violation that stip- these could serve as proof in court. system is widely used. he got drunk on board. He then When the aircraft landed in Abdullah al-Rumaihi met the resulting from road accidents. ulates a fi ne of QR1,000. Regarding the signals installed “We are set to monitor this and tried to fl irt with an air-host- Doha, the defendant was ar- Omani Undersecretary of the “Also, the number of fatalities in If a motorist is not satisfi ed at shorter distances along busy there is a technical team that will ess while she was serving food rested by security forces and Ministry of Housing Saif bin Amir road accidents has fallen.” with the fi ndings of the investiga- roads, he said in collaboration study any such issue and devise and beverages to the passen- the fl ight attendants gave tes- al-Shaqsi and the Chairman of He said the new service will tion offi cer, he can visit the Traf- with the Public Works Authority the adequate solutions,” he said. gers, the daily said. timony against him during in- Muscat Municipality, Mohsen bin initially target simple accidents, fi c Department to review the issue (Ashghal), there is now a system Brigadier al-Kharji also said the The air-hostess told in- terrogation. Mohamed al-Sheikh, during his which involve two vehicles with the offi cer. Also, if any of the in place where a “green wave” is new service would be assessed and current visit to the Sultanate. without any injuries to the pas- parties is not happy with the out- employed that allows a motorist improved in due course. Talks during the meetings dealt sengers and the damage is lim- with enhancing co-operation ited to the vehicle. “It is a free between Qatar and Oman in service, and to benefi t from it, Training to negotiate roundabouts the area of municipal aff airs. the user should have a mobile 5 food outlets in Al Dayeen HE al-Rumaihi began his visit to phone connected to the Inter- Motorists should be trained to negotiate “Taking a U-turn from the right lane or the middle Oman on Sunday. He also met the net and equipped with working roundabouts safely at the driving schools before lane or suddenly changing lanes while at the Undersecretary of the Ministry GPS, where he has the Minis- they are issued driving licences, a traff ic and roads middle of the roundabout is a very risky and shut for fl outing rules of Regional Municipalities and try of Interior (MoI)’s Metrash2 safety expert at the Traff ic Department yesterday improper practice that often results in crashes.” Water Resources for Regional application installed. When a said. Also, those intending to go to the right of the Municipalities Aff airs, Hamad bin minor road accident (between He said that while imposing fines on violators who roundabout should stay on the right lane until l Daayen Municipal- that fi ve shops were closed Sulaiman al-Gharibi. two vehicles) takes place, on the are caught on surveillance cameras could curb the they get out of the roundabout. The expert further ity conducted 11,652 in- during this period while viola- The Minister also visited Muscat’s consensus of the two involved practice, creating awareness among motorists and stressed the importance of abiding with these Aspections at food out- tions were registered against Qurum Natural Park and the parties, one of them can send a trainees is of utmost importance. rules to maintain both personal and public safety. lets over the last six months, 111 outlets for fl outing regula- Qurum Nature Reserve. The maximum of four clear photo- The expert stressed that a driver who wanted to “Besides, failing to follow this is considered a the Ministry of Municipality tions. meetings were attended by graphs of the vehicle, showing take a U-turn or a left turn at a roundabout must traff ic violation, according to the regulations of and Environment (MME) said Besides, warnings were is- Qatar’s ambassador to Oman, Ali the number plates of both cars, be on the left lane close to the roundabout. the law.” yesterday. sued to 325 shops by the au- bin Fahad al-Hajri. the site of the accident and the In a tweet, the MME noted thorities concerned.

QIB customers can use debit Number plate workshop to be shifted card to make online purchase he vehicle number plate workshop of the Traffi c De- Tpartment will soon be shifted atar Islamic Bank (QIB) has announced to the Ministry of Interior’s services that its customers may now use their debit centre complex in the Doha Indus- Qcards, in addition to their credit cards, for trial Area from its current location secure online purchases and payments anywhere in Madinat Khalifa North, local on the web. Arabic daily Arrayah has reported. For the bank’s debit cardholders, the online Captain Mubarak Mahbub, head shopping experience and payments “has become of the Car Plate Workshop Division easier and more secure” from booking travel ar- at the Traffi c Department, said the rangements and buying luxury goods to paying new workshop has been equipped utility bills or e-Government services. with “smart manufacturing ma- This possibility is provided and verifi ed in asso- chines” made in Germany. ciation with a 3D secure feature that adds additional He explained that the Industrial layers of security to Internet-based credit and debit Area workshop has 10 plate-manu- card purchases. For maximum customer protection, facturing machines while the one in online purchases and payments with debit cards are Madinat Khalifa has eight. allowed only on 3D secure enabled portals. The new facility also has four QIB off ers a Visa Electron Card to all customers, tracks that can handle 10 vehicles with Tamayuz members receiving the Platinum each. The new workshop in the Industrial Area. MasterCard debit card, and Private Banking cus- The time required to complete tomers receiving the World MasterCard debit card. QIB headquarters. the necessary procedures - for get- “As a leading card issuer in Qatar, we are con- ting a new plate number or replac- stantly looking for ways to enhance our products them to enter a one-time password. Customers can ing a damaged one - will be less to provide new and unique services,” said D Anand, generate the one-time password using QIB’s Aman than 10 minutes. general manager for QIB’s Personal Banking Group. app or have it sent by SMS to the mobile phone reg- Besides, there will be no need for “Being able to use their QIB debit cards online istered to their account. the motorist to leave the vehicle, gives our customers more options for managing As part of QIB’s commitment to keeping the bank’s the daily said. their purchases and payments – and the peace of customers’ accounts and personal information safe The new workshop will provide mind that their transactions are always secure.” and secure, a number of useful security tips to avoid number plates for private vehicles Since November 2014, QIB’s Personal Banking any potential identity theft as well as to stay safe and private transportation vehicles, customers have been able to make secure online while using debit and credit cards online or abroad while heavy vehicles and company- card payments using their QIB credit cards. The have been assembled under the “Security Tips” sec- owned vehicles will continue get- bank has now expanded that off ering to include its tion on QIB’s website at www.qib.com.qa ting them from the Fahes centre debit cards. “On the subject of security, all our customers (Woqod) in the Industrial Area. The free, easy-to-use service makes online should be also aware that QIB will never ask them Construction of the new work- credit card and debit card transactions more secure to reply in an e-mail with any personal information shop has been completed, along by employing one-time passwords. Each time QIB such as their ID number, debit card, and account with work to install the necessary customers use their debit or credit card to make a details or any kind of passwords and PINs,” Anand equipment, and it is expected to be purchase online, a new window appears requesting said. operational soon. State-of-the-art equipment has been installed to produce number plates. Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 REGION

Khamenei renews criticism of nuclear deal Riding high! Iranian Supreme Leader world powers agreed to growth and jobs to their Ayatollah Ali Khamenei drop crippling multilateral moribund economy. renewed his criticism of a economic sanctions Khamenei gave his nuclear deal signed with six against Iran in exchange blessing to the deal -- but world powers in a speech for measures designed to his regular criticism of its in Tehran yesterday, and ensure that it cannot develop implementation has allowed accused the United States of nuclear weapons. hardliners to clip Rouhani’s failing to keep its side of the Iran’s moderate president, wings as the president tries to bargain. Hassan Rouhani, promised build on parliamentary gains Under the deal, which Iranians that the end of for his moderate allies and came into force in October, sanctions would bring secure re-election next year.

Boys ride a motorbike on a flooded street in Sanaa, Yemen, following heavy rainfall yesterday. Kuwait to raise petrol prices from September

AFP It also decided to raise the price of Other GCC members -- Bahrain, foreign residents and businesses, but Kuwait City environmentally friendly low-emis- Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the exempted citizens. sion “ultra” petrol by 83% to 165 fi ls a United Arab Emirates -- have either This increase, the fi rst in almost 50 litre (55 cents). (There are 1,000 fi ls in completely liberalised fuel prices or years, will take eff ect from September he Kuwaiti cabinet yesterday one Kuwaiti dinar) raised them substantially because of next year. decided to raise petrol prices by These are the fi rst increases in the sharp fall in oil income since mid- Kuwait has posted a budget defi cit Tmore than 80% from September heavily subsidised petrol prices in the 2014. of $18.3bn in the past fi scal year, ac- 1 as part of economic reforms aimed at Opec member for almost two dec- The Kuwaiti cabinet said a gov- cording to provisional fi gures, fol- countering falling oil revenues. ades. ernment committee will revise lowing 16 years of windfall due to A statement after the weekly cabi- The Gulf state liberalised the prices the new petrol prices every three high oil prices. net meeting said the price of low oc- of diesel and kerosene in January 2015 months depending on international It is projecting a defi cit of $29bn in tane petrol will rise by 41% to 85 fi ls and revises their prices monthly. oil prices. the current 2016/2017 fi scal year. a litre (28 US cents) while super grade Kuwait is the last country among In April, parliament approved a The country is home to 1.3mn na- petrol will increase by 61% to 105 fi ls the Gulf Co-operation Council states government-sponsored bill to raise tive citizens and around 3mn foreign- (35 cents). to increase the price of petrol. electricity and water prices paid by ers. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 5 REGION Yemen govt quits talks until rebels

accept deal The head of the Yemeni government delegation, Foreign Minister Abdulmalek al-Mikhlafi (centre) posing with his team as they wait at the international airport in Kuwait City prior to their departure after they attended the UN-brokered peace talks. The Yemeni delegation to the peace AFP “The ball is now in the rebels’ “This Houthi-Saleh alliance talks left the hosting country Kuwait after the Iran-backed Houthi rebel side rejected a draft peace plan proposed by the UN. Kuwait City court.” will never accept any peace deal The delegation was returning that does not legitimise their to Riyadh, where it is based, af- coup,” Mikhlafi said. emen’s government del- ter informing the UN envoy that The government delegation’s egation to peace talks left it was ready to sign the proposed decision to leave host country YKuwait yesterday after the peace plan, Emrani said. Kuwait came after a meeting with Four killed in Saudi in Iraqi plane makes rebel side rejected a draft peace Ould Cheikh Ahmed said he the UN envoy. plan proposed by the United Na- has received a letter from the gov- The government delegation tions, its representatives said. ernment delegation agreeing to a had been due to quit negotiations cross-border shelling emergency landing “We now leave Kuwait but are “draft peace agreement proposed and leave Kuwait on Saturday but not quitting the consultations and by the United Nations to resolve cancelled the decision after Ould Agencies for a further week of peace QNA tions Saleh al-Faddaghi said. not ending them before August 7,” the confl ict in Yemen”. Cheikh Ahmed presented the Dubai/Riyadh talks in Kuwait. Baghdad The plane, which took off from said the delegation head, Foreign “The departure of the govern- draft peace plan. The rebels have in recent Baghdad airport for New Delhi, Minister Abdulmalek al-Mikhlafi . ment of Yemen delegation from According to the government, days intensifi ed cross-bor- made the emergency landing at UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Kuwait is not a departure from the draft plan calls for the rebels our people were killed der attacks on the kingdom n Iraqi plane carrying 216 Kuwait airport after discover- Ahmed set August 7 as the date for the peace talks,” the envoy said in to withdraw from the capital and three wounded in as peace talks in Kuwait have passengers made an emer- ing a technical failure inside one winding up the talks that began a statement. He said he will hold Sanaa and two major cities, hand FSaudi Arabia when a failed to achieve a break- Agency landing late Sunday of the engines, he told (KUNA) April but have failed to achieve intensive talks with the Houthis over heavy arms and return state shell fi red from inside Yemen through. at Kuwait International Airport, news agency in a statement. any breakthrough towards ending and their allies. institutions they seized in Sep- exploded in a town close to Border clashes left a Saudi head of Directorate General of The plane landed safely and all Yemen’s confl ict. The Iran-backed Houthi rebels tember 2014. the border, Saudi civil de- army offi cer and six soldiers Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) Opera- passengers were safe, he said. “We will return any minute if and their allies, former president The rebels said that fi rst a na- fence said yesterday. dead on Saturday. the other side agrees to sign” the Ali Abdullah Saleh’s loyalists, re- tional unity government must The shell hit Samtah, in On July 25, fi ve Saudi bor- UN proposal, which was accepted jected the peace plan on Sunday, be formed and a new consensus the southwestern Saudi bor- der guards were killed in Strong quake jolts Iran district by the government but rejected by saying it was incomplete. president appointed to oversee der region of Jizan, a tweet by similar clashes. the rebels, Mikhlafi told reporters “The other party now has the the transition. the Saudi civil defence said. Around 100 members of An earthquake measuring 5.2 on University said that the quake was at Kuwait airport. key to make the talks fail or suc- Security deteriorated fur- Seven Saudi soldiers and the Saudi forces and civilians the Richter scale rocked Imishi registered yesterday morning and Government delegation ceed. If they agree to the plan, our ther after the Houthis swept into dozens of Houthi fi ghters have been killed in skirmish- district in bordering region at a depth of 14km, according to spokesman Mohamed al-Emrani delegation will return,” Emrani Sanaa and pushed south, forcing were killed in heavy fi ghting es, by artillery fi re or land- of Azerbaijan Republic and Iran’s (Irna) News Agency. earlier said: “We are leaving today said. President Abd-Rabbu Mansour on the border with Yemen on mines inside the kingdom’s northwestern Iranian province of There has been no report yet of after having completed our part in Mikhlafi lashed out at the Hadi’s government to fl ee into ex- Sunday, as the main combat- borders since the coalition Ardebil yesterday. likely casualties or damage to the talks. rebels for rejecting the peace plan. ile in March last year. ants in Yemen’s war prepared launched its campaign. The Geophysics Institute of Tehran properties. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 ARAB WORLD Russian helicopter shot down in Syria AFP helicopter died, they died heroi- ist and militant forces including Beirut cally, because they were trying to the former Al Nusra Front, now move the aircraft away to mini- known as the Fateh al-Sham mise victims on the ground,” Front after renouncing its status Russian military helicop- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry as Al Qaeda’s Syrian affi liate. ter was shot down over Peskov told journalists. In neighbouring Aleppo prov- ASyria yesterday, killing all Lieutenant General Sergei Rud- ince, the Fateh al-Sham Front fi ve people on board in the single skoy called the downing a “terror- and allied Islamist rebel groups Men inspect the wreckage of a Russian helicopter that had been shot down in the north of Syria’s rebel-held Idlib province, Syria, yesterday. deadliest incident for Moscow ist act” and said the defence min- were fi ghting fi erce battles yes- since it intervened in the war. istry was still trying to confi rm terday against regime troops on people now under siege there. Ramussa yesterday killed four The attack came as Syrian the fate of the Russian servicemen the outskirts of Aleppo city. The primary goal of the rebel people, including three women. opposition fi ghters and their al- “through all possible channels”. The clashes are part of an as- assault is to seize the Ramussa The Observatory put the toll lies battled government forces It was not immediately clear sault launched on Sunday to try neighbourhood on the city’s at six dead. SANA said people outside Aleppo in a bid to ease who was responsible. to ease a government siege of the southern outskirts. were using the route as usual, the regime’s siege of rebel-held The incident was the deadliest rebel-held east of the city. “The road that runs through but residents of western Aleppo parts of the northern city. single attack on Russian forces The Observatory said the Ramussa is the main supply expressed fears that the assault Russia’s defence ministry an- in Syria since Moscow began its rebels had advanced overnight route for regime forces going to could cut them off . nounced the downing of the hel- intervention in support of Presi- south and southwest of Aleppo, the areas they control in western “If the militants break the icopter, which it said was carry- dent Bashar al-Assad’s govern- but reported ongoing fi ghting, Aleppo,” said Observatory head siege, they will besiege us and cut ing three crew and two offi cers. ment last September. as well as government air strikes Rami Abdel Rahman. the Khanasser route, which is the “A Russian Mi-8 military It brought the total number of on the battlefi eld and rebel-held It is also used by civilians to only artery we have,” said Hos- transport helicopter was shot members of the Russian forces eastern neighbourhoods. enter and leave government- sam Qassab, a 32-year-old phar- down from the ground after killed in Syria to 18. Once Syria’s economic pow- controlled districts of Aleppo. macist. delivering humanitarian aid to The Syrian Observatory for erhouse, Aleppo city has been Taking a detour from the A Syrian security source ac- Aleppo,” the defence ministry Human Rights, a Britain-based roughly divided between govern- north would be too dangerous, knowledged the assault but said said in a statement quoted by monitor, said the helicopter had ment control in the west and rebel he added. government forces had repelled it. Russian news agencies. come down along the admin- control in the east since mid-2012. Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham The encirclement of eastern The Kremlin said all fi ve peo- istrative border between Idlib In recent weeks, government said on Twitter it was involved in Aleppo has raised fears of starva- ple on board were assumed dead. province in the northwest and forces have encircled the east, fi erce clashes near Ramussa and tion for remaining residents, who “As far as we know from the neighbouring Aleppo. cutting the sole supply route in advancing towards the route. have reported food shortages and information we’ve had from the Idlib is held almost entirely by and raising fears of a humanitarian State news agency SANA said spiralling prices since the gov- A man rides a bicycle past burning tyres, which activists said are used defence ministry, those in the a powerful coalition of Islam- crisis for the estimated 250,000 rebel rocket and sniper fi re near ernment siege began on July 17. to create smoke cover from warplanes, in Aleppo, Syria, yesterday. From Beirut to Baghdad, ‘useless’ bomb detectors guard against disaster

By Dominic Evans and Saif Hameed/ Scientist Dennis McAuley said he could work based on the concept of an Reuters examined a device of a similar design aerial swivelling in response to traces Beirut/Baghdad to the ADE651 and GT200 when he of explosives it detects. worked at Northern Ireland’s Forensic “Given the state of current technol- Science Laboratory. ogy there is nothing that is in hand- t a checkpoint in central Beirut, He took it apart to see how it worked. held use that remotely detects explo- a guard checks a small truck for “There is no scientifi c basis to it. It’s sives with any degree of accuracy or Aexplosives. a complete fraud,” he said. “If authori- specifi city. He is manning the last security bar- ties are putting any reliance on this to It just does not exist.” rier before Lebanon’s parliament build- detect explosives, it’s ludicrous. McAuley, the forensic scientist, also ONE SMOKER. ing 100m away, and relying on a bomb It’s unbelievable they are still using said any device based on the swivelling detector that experts say is useless. this.” detecting antenna principle – which Holding the device, a swivelling tel- In Egypt, a soldier was seen us- he compared to rods used for water di- escopic antenna mounted on a black ing one of the wand-like devices this vining – was fraudulent. plastic handgrip, the plain-clothes month at a checkpoint in Ras Sidr, Some customers who bought such TWO PATIENTS. guard walks by the side of the truck. checking cars waiting to pass through detectors never used them. It does not respond, and the truck is a tunnel in Sinai. Several years ago, peacekeepers allowed to pass. The equipment was used in con- with the United Nations’ Unifi l mis- At the nearby marina where mil- junction with thorough searches of the sion in southern Lebanon purchased lionaires’ yachts are moored by the vehicles. some ADE651s but quickly found they glistening Mediterranean Sea, and at were a waste of money. entrances to the underground park- “Given the state of current “We had purchased four of these de- ing of an upmarket shopping mall, the technology there is nothing vices and none of them were working. same bomb detectors are used. that is in hand-held use that They were objects with no value,” They have been a familiar sight at remotely detects explosives said Unifi l spokesman Andrea Tenenti. checkpoints across the Middle East with any degree of accuracy or The British businessman whose TOBACCO KILLS for about a decade, acquired for thou- specifi city” company made and sold ADE651 devic- sands of dollars apiece by authorities es, Jim McCormick, was jailed in 2013, desperate to contain deadly waves of Egyptian military spokesman Briga- three years after Britain banned export bomb attacks. dier General Mohamed Samir said any of the devices to Iraq or Afghanistan But the devices — which have even equipment bought by Egypt “is sub- where its soldiers were deployed. been sold to UN peacekeepers — have ject to specifi c standards and is tested The judge sentencing him said his been condemned by forensic special- before the contracts are signed”. device was modelled on “failed Amer- ists as a dangerous waste of money, In the Syrian capital Damascus, fre- ican manufactured golf ball detectors” based on bogus science. quently targeted by rebel and militant and cost less than $50 to make. Marketed under names such as bombings during Syria’s fi ve-year-old McCormick sold 7,000 of the devic- ADE651, GT200 and Alpha, they are confl ict, guards outside a hotel and a es for $2,500-$30,000 each, with one supposed to respond to the presence government complex were seen car- invoice showing sales worth $38mn to of explosives, causing their metal an- rying similar-looking devices in April. Iraq over a period of three years, the tenna to swivel on a hinge towards the In Beirut, where twin suicide bomb- judge said. material. ings killed 44 people in November, of- The judge added McCormick’s Britain imposed export bans on fi cials declined to comment about the fraudulent conduct helped create a ADE651 and GT200 detectors in 2010, detectors, although guards in the city false sense of security and probably warning they were fake, and the Brit- who were using them this week said contributed to deaths of many inno- ish businessmen who made millions of they were eff ective. cent people. pounds by manufacturing and selling One said he discovered a con- The businessman behind the GT200 them around the world were subse- cealed package in a car, but did not say devices, Gary Bolton, was convicted of quently sentenced to jail. whether it contained explosives. fraud and sentenced to jail in 2013. Yet is was only this month that While specifi c devices seen by Reu- Mexico bought hundreds of the de- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ters correspondents in Lebanon, Syria vices. – whose country bought hundreds and Egypt could not be individually After Bolton’s conviction, a Mexi- of ADE651 devices eight years ago – identifi ed, they were of a similar de- can interior ministry offi cial said the ordered his security services to stop sign to the ADE651 and GT200 de- devices were no longer in use. using them, after a huge truck bomb tectors which Britain imposed export In Iraq, even after Abadi’s decree, killed 292 people in Baghdad. bans on. the ADE651 detectors were still in evi- And devices of a similar design were Dan Kaszeta, managing director of dence in Salahuddin and Diyala prov- seen by Reuters correspondents being London-based security consultancy inces, north of Baghdad. used at checkpoints in countries in- Strongpoint Security, and a graduate One police major in Salahuddin said Issued in Public Interest by cluding Lebanon, Syria and Egypt in of the US military’s Explosives Ord- his force had not received written or- GULF TIMES recent weeks or months. nance Disposal school, said no device ders to stop using it. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 7 ARAB WORLD US launches fi rst anti-IS air raids in Libya’s Sirte

AFP One strike yesterday destroyed would be “limited in time and will Tripoli an IS tank that been targeting ci- not go beyond Sirte and its sub- vilians, and a second hit two IS urbs”. vehicles that “posed a threat” to “We asked for this support S warplanes yesterday local forces, Cook said, adding from the international commu- carried out air strikes on that US strikes in Sirte “will con- nity, notably the United States, Upositions of the Islamic tinue”, without elaborating. but we want to point out that State militant group in its Libyan President Barack Obama au- there will be no foreign presence stronghold of Sirte for the fi rst thorised the bombings following on Libyan soil.” time, the country’s unity govern- recommendations from top Pen- Italy, which has supported the ment announced. tagon offi cials, and the strikes are anti-IS off ensive in Sirte by pro- Members of forces loyal to Libya’s unity government taking part in the military operations against the Islamic State group in Dollar neighbourhood in “The fi rst American air strikes “consistent with our approach to viding medical care for seriously the centre of Sirte. US warplanes yesterday carried out air strikes on positions of the Islamic State group in Sirte for the first time. on precise positions of the Daesh combating ISIL by working with wounded GNA forces, said it wel- (IS) organisation were carried out capable and motivated local forc- comed the US strikes. today, causing heavy losses in es”, Cook added. “This took place on the request Sirte,” prime minister Fayez al- “The US stands with the inter- of the Government of National Sarraj said in a televised speech. national community in support- Accord, in support of forces loy- In Washington, the Pentagon ing the GNA as it strives to restore al to the government, with the said the raids were launched in re- stability and security to Libya,” he shared objective of contributing Tripoli ready to resume oil exports sponse to a request from Sarraj’s said. to the reestablishment of peace Government of National Accord. The Tripoli-based GNA and security in Libya,” the foreign AFP Last week, oil installation low the oil company “to boost Nagi al-Maghrabi of the east- “At the request of the Libyan launched an operation in May to ministry said. Tripoli guards announced the reopening production by over 900,000 ern-based NOC said that he re- Government of National Ac- retake the IS bastion of Sirte, the Italy has off ered to lead an in- of two major export terminals af- bpd by the end of the year jected the deal between the GNA cord, the United States military hometown of slain dictator Mua- ternational peacekeeping force in ter an agreement with the Tripo- 2016”. and the oil installation guards, conducted precision air strikes mmar Gaddafi which the militants Libya if the fl edgling unity gov- ibya’s National Oil Com- li-based Government of National Libya’s oil sector, its main however. against ISIL targets in Sirte, Libya, have controlled since June 2015. ernment requests such an inter- pany says it is preparing to Unity (GNA). source of income, is managed by “We will not accept that oil is to support GNA-affi liated forces Sarraj stressed that the US vention. Lresume exports of crude, Ras Lanuf and Al-Sidra ter- the NOC which is split into two exported under these conditions seeking to defeat ISIL in its pri- strikes took place in co-ordina- A US senior administration of- halted for months because of minals, with respective capaci- rival branches. as there will be no guarantees of mary stronghold in Libya,” Pen- tion with the military command fi cial said Monday that US action political diff erences and attacks ties of 200,000 barrels per day The main branch is in the the fair distribution of income, tagon press secretary Peter Cook centre of pro-GNA forces, and would be limited to strikes and by militants. and 500,000 bpd, have been capital and allied to the GNA, or assurances that the funds will said, using another name for IS. that no foreign troops would be information sharing. “Now we will begin work- closed since January after stor- but its rival in the east is close to not fall into the hands of mili- Yesterday’s action came after deployed in Libya. Precision strikes would tar- ing to restart exports from the age tanks were set on fi re during a parallel executive that has the tias,” he said. a US raid targeted an IS training “This has allowed our forces on get key IS military infrastructure ports that were closed and from attacks by the militant Islamic confi dence of parliament which Oil is Libya’s main natural re- camp in a rural area near Sabratha, the ground to take control of stra- such as tanks, high-calibre weap- the fi elds that supply them,” State group. has so far refused to cede power source with reserves estimated outside Tripoli, in February and a tegic positions,” he said, adding ons and command and control the NOC said in a statement on The NOC said the GNA had to the internationally recognised at 48bn barrels, the largest in targeted strike last November. that the American involvement nodes. Sunday. decided to release funds to al- Tripoli government. Africa. Emergency drill

Palestinian rescue workers take part in an emergency simulation excercise in the border city of Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, yesterday.

Palestinian fi nal, second leg to go ahead

AFP city Khan Yunis to enter the West Bank, restrictions on movement between the Ramallah, Palestinian Territories which has been occupied by Israel for two territories. nearly 50 years. Today’s fi rst leg was no exception – The biggest match of the year in the Kifah al-Sharif, the president of Ahly he Palestinian Cup will be decid- territories took place last Tuesday, when al-Khalil, said the Israeli authorities ed tonight in the rescheduled fi - Ahly al-Khalil won the fi rst leg 1-0 in had prevented eight of the club’s players Tnal, second leg between Hebron’s Khan Yunis. from entering Gaza. Ahly al-Khalil and Shabab Khan Yunis, Now the Shabab players will have the That match was only the second time the Palestinian Football Association chance to turn the tie around today in Israel has allowed a West Bank team to (PFA) confi rmed yesterday. the West Bank, with the winners of the play in Gaza since the Islamist Hamas The match had originally been slated fi nal to qualify for next season’s AFC group took power in the coastal enclave to take place on Saturday, but Israel pre- Cup, Asia’s premier club football tour- in 2007. vented it from going ahead, according to nament. The PFA claim that FIFA president Palestinian sports authorities. Palestinian footballers routinely Gianni Infantino has taken a close inter- Israeli authorities did not allow the complain of being unable to attend est in the case. Israeli authorities did not players and coach from Gaza’s second matches because of Israel’s stringent make any comment.

South Sudanese minister resigns

AFP implement in Juba,” Akol said at a press war. The latest in a series of deals de- Addis Ababa conference in the Ethiopian capital, Ad- signed to end the confl ict was signed in dis Ababa. August 2015. “All of us agree that the regime in Juba It was under that agreement that Ma- South Sudanese minister and op- must change,” he added. char attained the position of fi rst vice position fi gure resigned yesterday Akol was the president’s only serious president and that 30 ministerial posts Asaying a peace deal designed to challenger in a regional election held in were distributed between the two and to heal the troubled young nation was dead, 2010, the year before the semi-autono- other parties. while calling for President Salva Kiir’s mous region known as Southern Sudan Machar has not returned to Juba since unity government to leave power. seceded and gained full independence. fi ghting broke in early July, and a week Lam Akol was agriculture minister He has also long opposed rebel leader ago Kiir named another member of his in Kiir’s administration and also an- Riek Machar, whose forces clashed in SPLM/A (IO) party to replace him as nounced he was quitting as longtime recent weeks with government troops fi rst vice president. leader of the opposition Sudan Peo- loyal to Kiir. Yesterday Akol left open the possibil- ple’s Liberation Movement-Democratic In December 2013, a skirmish in Juba ity that he could join forces with Machar Change (SPLM-DC) party. between troops loyal to to Kiir and Ma- in some confi guration after leaving his “There is no more peace agreement to char degenerated into a ruinous civil own party. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 AFRICA Another war veteran Nigerian behind $60mn online arrested in Zimbabwe fraud arrested AFP being unable to address Zimbabwe’s hearing in Harare on Monday, in- Harare problems. cluding former vice president Joice AFP “The network compromised e-mail ac- A new non-partisan opposition Mujuru, now the leader of a new Lagos counts of small to medium businesses movement known as #ThisFlag has opposition party. around the world including in Australia, imbabwean police yesterday also galvanised anti-government Police in anti-riot gear stood Canada, India, Malaysia, Romania, South arrested another senior mem- sentiment in Zimbabwe, where se- guard at the court entrance while Nigerian behind an online fraud Africa, Thailand and the United States,” it Zber of the war veterans’ asso- curity forces have crushed signs of war veterans sang songs protesting network which engineered scams said. ciation in a growing crackdown on dissent for decades. against Mahiya and Matemadanda’s Aworth more than $60mn (54mn eu- The suspect ran a network of at least critics of President Robert Mugabe Victor Matemadanda, secretary arrest. ros) has been arrested in southern oil city 40 people working from Nigeria, Malay- after a series of rare protests. general of the Zimbabwe National Mahiya was granted $300 bail and of Port Harcourt, Interpol said yesterday. sia and South Africa which used malware Mugabe, 92, who has ruled since Liberation War Veterans Associa- Victor Matemadanda is escorted to released. “The 40-year-old Nigerian national, and carried out the fraud, and he also had 1980, has faced a groundswell of tion (ZNLWVA), was taken away by a court hearing yesterday in Harare Last month, a one-day strike shut known as ‘Mike’, is believed to be behind money laundering contacts in China, Eu- opposition in recent months as police at a court hearing of a col- after being arrested. down offi ces, shops, schools and scams totalling more than $60mn involving rope and the US who provided bank ac- the country’s moribund econo- league facing charges of insulting some government departments as hundreds of victims worldwide,” the interna- count details for the illicit cash fl ow. my collapses and the government Mugabe. ferring to unsigned authors of the people protested over an economic tional police organisation said in a statement. “Following his arrest in Port Harcourt struggles to pay its workforce. Matemadanda was put in the back war veterans’ statement. crisis that has delayed salaries for “In one case, a target was conned into in southern Nigeria, a forensic examina- The war veterans, previously seat of a truck fl anked by detectives, The police spokeswoman was not civil servants and the military. paying out $15.4mn,” Interpol said, indi- tion of devices seized by the EFCC showed loyal supporters of the president, and driven off . available to comment on any charg- More than 90% of the population cating that the arrest was carried out with he had been involved in a range of crimi- released a highly critical statement “When we fi nd out who the peo- es against Matemadanda. is not in formal employment after the support of Nigeria’s anti-graft agency nal activities including business e-mail two weeks ago attacking Mugabe as ple were... the punishment will be Scores of sympathisers and rights years of economic decline under the Economic and Financial Crimes Com- compromise and romance scams,” it said. “dictatorial” and accusing him of severe,” Mugabe said last week, re- activists attended Mahiya’s court Mugabe’s rule. mission (EFCC).

Angolan rebels claim killing 17 soldiers

Reuters out on Saturday and Sun- Luanda day near the border with the Democratic Republic of Congo, FLEC said in a wo rebels and 17 An- statement. golan soldiers were FLEC, which wants in- Tkilled in two inci- dependence for a terri- dents in the oil-producing tory that accounts for half province of Cabinda at the of Angola’s oil output, weekend, the separatist has been more vocal since Front for the Liberation the death this year of its of the Enclave of Cabinda 88-year-old founder, Nzita (FLEC) said yesterday. Tiago, in exile in France. Authorities in the south- Men claiming to be rebels ern African, currently Af- boarded an off shore Chev- rica’s biggest oil producer, ron gas platform in late May declined to comment. On and threatened foreign pe- Friday the government also troleum workers in a rare did not respond to a FLEC sign of the simmering in- claim that nine Angolan stability in heavily guarded soldiers had been killed in Cabinda. the region. The incident cast doubt Luanda rarely responds on Luanda’s assertion that to such claims in a region FLEC has fi zzled out since where separatists have a 2007 peace deal. Analysts been waging a low-inten- say the group does not have sity guerrilla campaign for the ability to aff ect oil out- several decades. put in Angola, nearly all of The latest clashes broke which is off shore.

Suspected militants attack pipeline

Reuters day shortly after 1am (0000 Yenagoa GMT). Shell said the line was closed for repairs. Endoro New-world, a uspected militants local, said the blast shook have attacked an oil nearby homes and created a Spipeline operated by a “ball of fi re”. local affi liate of Shell in Ni- “At sunrise, a group geria’s restive southern Ni- from the community in ger Delta region, locals and company of the SPDC sur- a community group said veillance team was able to yesterday. locate the site of the blast,” Militants have attacked he said. oil and gas facilities in the Community leader God- Opec member’s energy hub spower Gbenekama also over the last few months, said residents heard a loud cutting the country’s crude explosion, adding that production –which stood at there had been an oil spill. 2.2mn barrels per day (bpd) Shell issued a statement at the start of the year – by on Monday in which it said around 700,000 bpd. it was “investigating the re- Nobody has claimed re- ported incident”. sponsibility for a blast at “The Trans Ramos Pipe- the Trans Ramos Pipeline line (TRP) transports oil to near Odimodi, operated by Forcados Terminal and has Shell’s joint venture SPDC, been shut since the leak on which locals said happened the Forcados export line on in the early hours of Sun- February 14, 2016,” it said.

Trial of Gbagbo delayed to October

AFP state prosecutor Ali Yeo told Abidjan the court in Abidjan. Gbagbo, 67, has been on trial since May 31 for al- n Ivory Coast court leged crimes against hu- yesterday adjourned manity committed during ASimone Gbagbo’s a post-electoral crisis in trial for crimes against hu- 2010-11 when her husband manity until October 10, Laurent Gbagbo refused to after the former fi rst lady accept defeat at the polls. complained she was too The hearing will resume tired to proceed. on October 10, chief judge “When I sent for the de- Kouadio Bouatchi ruled fendant this morning, she after the prosecutor called made it known that she was for a break during the very tired and she asked us country’s judicial vaca- to take account of her coun- tion. Proceedings were then sel’s request to let her rest,” adjourned. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 9 AMERICAS Hot air balloon fi rm halts operations after crash Reuters 16 people including its owner, chief pilot and owner Alfred In a statement on its Facebook many of our loved ones,” it said The names of the passen- versary with a balloon ride at Austin, Texas said yesterday it was suspend- “Skip” Nichols, hit a power line, page, the company expressed its in a Facebook post. gers killed have not been of- sunrise. ing operations following one of setting its basket on fi re, and condolences to those killed in The company said it has not ficially released but social Aerial television footage the deadliest balloon accidents plummeted into a pasture near the crash. been in contact with the rela- media posts and local media showed fl attened remnants of he company whose hot air on record. Lockhart, about 50km south of “There are simply no words to tives of those killed in the crash reports indicate the victims the red, white and blue balloon, balloon crashed in central The balloon, fl own by Heart the state capital Austin, killing express our profound sadness at as it is being probed by US inves- included a couple celebrat- adorned with a yellow smiley TTexas on Saturday, killing of Texas Hot Air Balloon Rides all aboard. this event that has taken away so tigators. ing their 23rd wedding anni- face wearing sunglasses.

Gloria DeHaven: versatile singer Gloria DeHaven, perky star of 1940s-50s, dies

Reuters stroke a few months ago, Las Vegas the agent said. A versatile singer from a show business family, loria DeHaven, the she thrived in Hollywood perky singing ac- musicals, mostly from the Gtress who starred Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in a parade of breezy Hol- studio, until the genre fell lywood musicals in the out of fashion in the 1950s. 1940s and 1950s, has died DeHaven starred in Two at age 91, her agent said Girls and a Sailor (1944) yesterday. with Van Johnson, June Al- DeHaven, who appeared lyson and Jimmy Durante; in more than two dozen Summer Holiday (1948) fi lms starting as a child in with Mickey Rooney; Yes a bit role in Charlie Chap- Sir That’s My Baby (1949) lin’s last silent movie, died with Donald O’Connor; on Saturday in hospice care Summer Stock (1950) with in Las Vegas, Scott Stander Judy Garland and Gene said. Kelly; and So This Is Paris The actress suff ered a (1955) with Tony Curtis. MORE AMERICA ON PAGE 10 Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 AMERICAS Trump feud with slain soldier’s parents roils White House race

AFP ABC’s This Week, insisting he Iraq in 2004. Unequivocal condemna- Speaking of Captain Khan, Washington had made “a lot of sacrifi ces” Trump’s sustained hostility tion also rained down from Re- Ryan said “his sacrifi ce - and while suggesting that Khan’s toward the Khans - alarming in publican House Armed Serv- that of Khizr and Ghazala Khan wife, who stood silent on the part because criticism of Gold ices Committee chairman Mac - should always be honored. onald Trump’s con- convention stage as her husband Star families of war dead has Thornberry, who said he is “dis- Period.” frontation with the spoke, had not been allowed to traditionally been off limits in mayed at the attacks” on the With the two sides slinging Dparents of a slain Mus- talk. American political discourse - Khans. criticism, Khan on Sunday as- lim American soldier esca- Then yesterday, Trump re- has received bipartisan condem- The top two Republicans in sailed Trump as a “black soul” lated yesterday, shaking the US newed his assault, tweeting: “Mr nation including from Senator Congress released carefully who lacks the moral compass or presidential campaign amid Khan, who does not know me, John McCain, a former prisoner crafted statements denouncing temperament to be president. Republican Party outcries viciously attacked me from the of war once mocked by Trump the remarks, although without Then yesterday, Khan over the real estate tycoon’s stage of the DNC and is now all for being captured in Vietnam. mentioning the name of Trump, criticised Trump’s “igno- comments about the couple. over TV doing the same - Nice!” “I cannot emphasise enough who has urged a ban on Muslims rance” for disparaging him for The feud has become a fl ash Now, the families of 23 other how deeply I disagree with Mr entering the country. speaking out. US Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, top, and US point of the 2016 White House slain US soldiers have called Trump’s statement,” McCain Senate Majority Leader Mitch “He can get up and malign the Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. race that pits Trump against on Trump to apologise for his said in a lengthy statement. McConnell said on Sunday in the entire nation - the religions, the Democrat Hillary Clinton. “repugnant and personally “While our party has be- thick of the feud that “Captain communities, the minorities, day, saying Trump’s insulting A new CBS News poll released It has dominated the news off ensive” remarks. stowed upon him the nomina- Khan was an American hero.” the judges,” Khan said on NBC’s rhetoric was “just beyond my yesterday showed Clinton re- cycle ever since Pakistani immi- “We feel we must speak out tion, it is not accompanied by “And as I have long made Today show. comprehension.” ceived a four-point bounce in grant Khizr Khan galvanised the and demand you apologise to the unfettered license to defame clear, I agree with the Khans and “And yet a private citizen in “He has throughout the course support after her party’s con- Democratic National Conven- Khans, to all Gold Star families, those who are the best among families across the country that this political process, in his can- of his campaign consistently vention and now leads Trump by tion last Thursday with a tribute and to all Americans for your of- us,” he added. a travel ban on all members of didacy for the stewardship of insulted and demeaned indi- seven points, 46% to 39%. to his dead son in which he re- fensive, and frankly anti-Ameri- “I hope Americans under- a religion is simply contrary to this country, I cannot say what viduals, groups of Americans, After the Republican conven- buked the Republican nominee can, comments,” they said in an stand that the remarks do not American values.” I feel? That proves the point he people around the world. And tion, prior to the Democratic for having “sacrifi ced nothing” open letter. represent the views of our Re- House Speaker Paul Ryan also has not read the Constitution of one doesn’t know where the bot- one, Trump got a two-point for the country. Army captain Humayun Khan publican Party, its offi cers, or said he rejects such a religious the country.” tom is,” Clinton told reporters in bump and the race was tied, Trump defended himself on was killed by a suicide bomber in candidates.” test. Clinton weighed in Sun- Ohio. CBS said. US constitution NY Post runs naked pics of Trump’s wife... again

AFP candidate Donald Trump’s wife campaign appeared to shrug off now-defunct French magazine. by the cover photo, read another sales increase New York from her years as a young model. the pictures. The New York Post endorsed tweet, adding: “Misogyny is “Menage a Trump,” ran the Trump adviser Jason Miller Trump for president in mid-April, misogyny.” headline, touting the paper’s told CNN on Sunday that there describing him at the time as “a Several other tweets decried AFP pocket in one of the most de- he New York Post yester- “exclusive photos.” was “nothing to be embarrassed potential superstar of vast prom- the “attempts to shame” Melania. New York fi ning moments of last week’s day ran a front-page pic- The picture shows a nude about with the pictures - she’s a ise, but making rookie mistakes.” Some wondered how con- Democratic National Convention. Tture of potential fi rst lady Melania being hugged by anoth- beautiful woman.” The reaction to the pictures on servative evangelical Chris- The online retailer did not im- Melania Trump naked, prompt- er nude woman as she lies in bed. Both sets of photos were taken Twitter was mixed. tians would react, while others ales of a pocket version of mediately respond to a request ing criticism on social media and On Sunday, the Post ran a in 1995 when the 46-year-old “Shame on you #NewYorkPost wondered if Murdoch, who also the US constitution have for comment. charges of misogyny. front-page picture of a nude Slovenian-born Melania was 25 for slut-shaming Melania Trump. holds conservative views, had Ssoared since the father of a Khan, a Pakistani immigrant, It was the second day in a row Melania, with stars covering and working as a model, before The US needs no more neanderthal turned against Trump. fallen Muslim American soldier last Thursday stood next to his that the Rupert Murdoch-owned her breasts, under the title “The she met Trump. input to this already disgraceful Melania met Trump in 1998, brandished a copy to denounce wife accusing Trump of vilify- tabloid ran a front page nude im- Ogle Offi ce.” The pictures were published election,” read one tweet. and became the real estate Donald Trump, igniting one of ing patriotic American Muslims, age of Republican presidential The Republican’s presidential the following year in Max, a “I am appalled and outraged” tycoon’s third wife in 2005. the biggest backlashes against saying that if the Republican had the Republican nominee. his way his son, Captain Hu- Khizr Khan, whose son died in a mayun Khan, would never have 2004 suicide bombing in Iraq, has been in America. gone head to head with the insult- “You are asking Americans Protest against police brutality dishing White House candidate to trust you with their future, Florida identifi es in a confrontation that has domi- let me ask you - have you even nated the US news cycle for days. read the United States constitu- Yesterday, a pocket edition tion?” he said, waving a copy to of the constitution was second loud cheers at the Democratic 14 Zika cases only to the new Harry Potter and convention in Philadelphia. the Cursed Child script on Ama- “I will gladly lend you my zon’s best seller list, and number copy!” Khan said, demanding AFP elsewhere. The virus can also one best seller in Amazon’s US Trump consult the 14th amend- Miami spread by sexual contact. history category. ment, which guarantees equal The US Centers for Disease The 52-page paperback, on protection before the law. Control and Prevention (CDC) sale for $1 on Amazon, does not As soon as Khan fi nished lorida now has 14 people are expected to issue “a notice appear to be the same edition speaking, “register to vote” who likely contracted to women who are pregnant or that Khan whipped out of his spiked as a Google search. Fthe Zika virus from mos- thinking of becoming pregnant quitoes in the Miami area, and to avoid unnecessary travel to the state needs emergency the impacted area that is just Hit musical ‘Cats’ back to Broadway help from the federal govern- north of downtown Miami,” ment, offi cials said yesterday. Scott added in a statement. “Cats”, composer Andrew Lloyd it’s absolutely the ‘Cats’ you Governor Rick Scott an- Offi cials still believe the Webber’s hit musical based on remember,” said Lloyd Webber, nounced 10 new cases of lo- transmission is confi ned to a poet T S Eliot’s Old Possum’s known for other hit musicals like cally transmitted Zika, in addi- square-mile area north of Mi- Book of Practical Cats, has “The Phantom of the Opera”. tion to four made public by the ami, a popular arts and restau- returned to Broadway after 16 “We’ve condensed a couple of department of health on Friday. rant district known as Wyn- years. things. There’s one...song in the The cases mark the fi rst wood. The revival show, starring show I was never particularly time the Zika virus, which can Scott asked for the CDC to singer Leona Lewis, had its keen on myself and that’s gone cause birth defects and is con- dispatch an emergency team of off icial opening on Sunday at now, which is a great, great sidered particularly dangerous specialists “to augment our re- the Neil Simon Theatre. “Cats” pleasure. We’ve done quite a lot for pregnant women, is known sponse eff orts to confi rmed local debuted in London’s West End of work and I think we’re quite From left: Josmar Trujillo, who lives in Spanish Harlem, and Nicholas Heyward Sr, whose son to be spreading via local mos- transmissions of the Zika virus.” in 1981 and came to Broadway a pleased with it.” Nicholas Heyward Jr was killed by police is 1994 in Brooklyn, rally during a protest against police quitoes in the United States. Two of the 14 cases involve year later, going through 7,485 The award-winning show has brutality at City Hall Park in New York City yesterday. The protest was organised by Millions March Over 1,600 cases of Zika have women and the rest are men. performances before closing in been seen by audiences in more NYC, who are calling on Mayor Bill de Blasio to fire NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton and end ‘bro- been previously reported in the Funding for the Zika re- 2000. than 30 countries and translated ken windows policing.’ US, but most were brought by sponse has been a source of “I think you’ll probably find that into 15 languages. travellers who were infected dispute among US lawmakers.

Cleanup in Maryland town NY bars sex off enders from after deadly floods Man pleads guilty to Cleanup crews were at work yesterday in Ellicott City, Maryland, plotting to attack following dramatic weekend flooding that killed two, swept playing Pokemon Go cars around like driftwood, and Reuters crime will be dismissed at his destroyed 18th century buildings. Cincinnati sentencing on October 31, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said one of his attorneys, Eric AFP ers on parole from download- Cuomo said in a statement. 57 Pokemon characters directly declared a state of emergency for Eckes. Cornell, who mainly New York ing, accessing or taking part in The governor wrote yester- outside 100 homes of registered Howard County - located between n Ohio man yesterday answered the judge’s ques- Pokemon Go as well as other day to software developer Ni- sex off enders on probation or pa- the US capital and the port city pleaded guilty to plot- tions with “yes ma’am” and Internet-enabled games. antic, Inc. asking them to bar role whose crimes involved child of Baltimore - on Sunday after Ating to attack the US “no ma’am” responses, faces t’s the smartphone game sexual predators from playing abuse or possession of child por- powerful thunderstorms ripped Capitol with guns and bombs fi ve years to 30 years in prison electrifying the world but “Protecting New York’s Pokemon. nography in the city of New York. through the region late Saturday. and faces up to 30 years in and a lifetime of supervision. INew York took steps yester- children is priority “The state has taken action There are nearly 3,000 sex At least two people died when prison. Another Cornell attorney, day to ban sex off enders from number one and, as to prohibit sex off enders from off enders currently on parole their vehicles were swept away by Christopher Cornell, 22, Martin Pinales, said after the using the app to potentially technology evolves, using this game, but we need in New York, the fourth most the flood, Howard County Police dressed in black-and-white hearing that the guilty plea was prey on child victims. we must ensure these your assistance to make cer- populous state in the US. chief Gary Gardner told reporters. striped jail clothes and shack- in the best interest of his client. The game, developed by US- advances don’t become tain that sex off enders will not Since 2008, New York sex Nearly six inches (15cm) of rain led, pleaded guilty in US Dis- “At the sentencing hearing, based software company Nian- new avenues for continue to use Pokemon GO off enders have been required fell within a two-hour period trict Court in Cincinnati to all the facts will come out, and tic, a spinoff of Google, has been dangerous predators ...” by technologically barring their to register all e-mail accounts at the height of the storm, the attempted murder of govern- those will be instrumental in downloaded more than 75mn use,” he said in the letter. and Internet identities with the equivalent of a month of normal ment offi cials, possession of a the sentencing,” he said. times across the United States and “Protecting New York’s chil- A report from two New York state criminal justice services. rainfall, the National Weather fi rearm to commit a crime and Cornell, of Green Township, has gone viral across the world. dren is priority number one and, state senators showed that The list is given to more than Service said. attempting to provide material Ohio, near Cincinnati was ar- But Governor Andrew Cuo- as technology evolves, we must children playing Pokemon have two dozen social networking Hardest hit was historic support to the Islamic State rested in January 2015 and ac- mo ordered New York’s de- ensure these advances don’t be- been unwittingly lured into companies on a weekly basis in downtown Ellicott City, founded militant group. cused of plotting an attack us- partment of corrections to ban come new avenues for dangerous proximity of sex off enders. order to purge off enders from in 1772 and located near the A fourth charge of solici- ing pipe bombs and bullets. He nearly 3,000 registered off end- predators to prey on new victims,” Their investigation caught their membership. Patapsco River. tation to commit a violent initially pleaded not guilty. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 11 ASEAN

Yingluck scheme cost $8bn, New security law comes says junta

AFP Bangkok into force in Malaysia AFP “The law will defi nitely put even members of his own ruling seize more than $1bn in assets hailand’s military rulers Kuala Lumpur fear in people planning to par- party, demanding he be removed which it says were purchased said yesterday that a rice ticipate in street protests,” said and investigated. with money stolen from 1MDB, Tsubsidy scheme by the Wan Saiful Wan Jan, head of Najib and investment fund including by a person identifi ed government it ousted cost the ough new security legis- the Institute for Democracy and 1Malaysia Development Berhad only as “Malaysian Offi cial 1” – a state more than $8bn, adding lation came into force in Economic Aff airs, a Malaysian (1MDB) deny wrongdoing. reference to Najib, according to former leader Yingluck Shina- TMalaysia yesterday, with think tank. “The public percep- Amnesty International said media reports. watra should be personally sued critics saying that the “draco- tion in terms of the timing of that the National Security The US move has heightened for the loss. nian” law threatens democracy the draconian law is that Najib Council Act “empowers the Ma- expectations of further anti- Yingluck, Thailand’s fi rst fe- and could be used against op- wants the law in order to stay in laysian authorities to trample Najib protests in Malaysia, but male premier, was booted from ponents of the scandal-tainted offi ce.” over human rights and act with there are concerns the secu- offi ce by a court days before premier. The legislation allows a Na- impunity”. rity law could be used to prevent army chief Prayut Chan-O-Cha The National Security Coun- tional Security Council headed “There is good reason to fear them. seized power in May 2014. cil Act was pushed through par- by the prime minister to es- that the act will be yet another Last August tens of thousands The rice scheme was a major liament in December by the gov- sentially suspend civil liberties tool in the hands of the govern- of people paralysed the capital catalyst in months of debilitat- ernment of Prime Minister Najib in designated “security areas”, ment to crack down on peace- Kuala Lumpur demanding he ing protests that led to the mili- Abdul Razak, who for more than giving security forces sweeping ful protests under the guise of stand down. tary takeover. a year has faced calls to resign powers of search, seizure and national security,” said Josef Najib’s ruling party has tightly She has since been retro- over a huge alleged corruption arrest. Benedict, its deputy director for controlled Malaysia since inde- actively impeached over the scandal. Najib has defended the law as Southeast Asia and the Pacifi c, Najib: has defended the law as necessary to combat terrorism. pendence from Britain in 1957 scheme and is currently under- The legislation gives the gov- necessary to combat terrorism, in a statement. but increasingly faces accusa- going a separate criminal negli- ernment power to declare virtual but its passage came amid the Authorities in several coun- arresting whistleblowers and that ... the act may encourage tions of corruption and repres- gence trial which could see her martial law in areas deemed to ongoing furore over allegations tries are investigating allega- journalists. human rights violations,” Lau- sion. jailed for up to ten years. be under “security threat”. that billions of dollars were sto- tions that 1MDB was looted over The UN’s human rights agen- rent Meillan, acting head of the Najib came into offi ce in 2009 Now the junta says it will push Critics accuse Najib and his len from a state investment fund several years. cy and other rights organisa- UN Human Rights Offi ce for pledging an end to ruling-party a civil damages case against her government of enacting the law, he founded and oversaw. Najib has stifl ed domestic tions have pilloried the National Southeast Asia, said in a state- graft and authoritarianism, but and some key former ministers. and other tough recent legisla- The corruption scandal swirl- pressure by cracking down on Security Council Act as a poten- ment last week. he has dramatically reversed “A fact-fi nding committee tion, to ward off political and ing around Najib has spawned a critics within his ruling party, tially frightening step backward. Last month the US Justice course following a 2013 election panel ... has found that the dam- legal challenges. cross-party alliance, including scuttling domestic probes, and “We are gravely concerned Department launched a move to setback and the 1MDB scandal. age cost of rice pledging scheme was 286.6bn baht ($8.2bn),” Panada Disakul, a minister to the Prime Minister’s Offi ce, told re- porters, the fi rst time a hard fi g- ure has been given for the losses. Treatment Yingluck, whose older brother Authorities charge woman over Thaksin Shinawatra was booted out as premier by a 2006 coup, continues is accused of failing to halt ram- pant corruption in the multi- billion dollar subsidy. one-word ‘insult’ against royals for ailing She is expected to appear in court on Friday to begin laying out her defence in the ongoing Reuters Thai king criminal trial. Bangkok The scheme off ered farmers nearly double the market rate AFP for their crop, pumping billions he mother of a leading Bangkok of dollars into the Shinawatras’ activist against the mili- key support base in the country’s Ttary junta in Thailand northeastern rice bowl. was charged yesterday with in- hailand’s hospital-bound But the programme was sulting the country’s monarchy King Bhumibol Adulyadej panned by critics as fi nancially in a one-word Facebook post. Tis still being treated for ruinous and a naked attempt at Patnaree Chankij was fever and water on the brain, the vote-buying by the Shinawatra brought to a military court in palace said yesterday in the lat- clan. Bangkok after the country’s at- est in a series of updates on the The former premier denies torney general decided to press 88-year-old’s health. wrongdoing and says the scheme charges despite police saying The world’s longest-reigning was a genuine attempt to help earlier that they would not pur- monarch is widely revered and rice farmers, mainly in the poor, sue a case against the 40-year- his frail health is a matter of populous and long-neglected old woman. great public concern. north and northeast. According to her lawyer, Patnaree Chankij, the mother He is confi ned to a wheelchair However, the policy led to a Patnaree was charged with vio- of a prominent pro-democracy and has not been seen or spoken 40% fall in Thai rice exports af- lating Thailand’s royal insult activist, arrives at a military in public for nearly a year. ter the government hoarded rice laws for writing the word “ja” court in Bangkok. She faces up But in recent months the pal- in a bungled attempt to push up – which means “yeah” in Thai to 15 years in prison after being ace has begun releasing regular its global price in order to fund – in response to a private Fa- indicted for lese majeste for updates on his health. the policy. cebook message critical of the acknowledging a private The king’s reign has spanned That led to massive stockpiles royals. message on Facebook that seven tumultuous decades and as markets turned away from the She was released on bail. An elephant distributes a pamphlet to Thais during a campaign ahead of the August 7 referendum in police say insults the Thai most Thais have never known Thai grain, costing the country “The court accepted the case Auytthaya province, north of Bangkok. monarchy. another monarch. its title as the world’s top rice from the attorney general and Analysts say a decade-long exporter. freed Patnaree on bail,” said The police subsequently said to accept a military-backed the military government has toppled in a 2006 coup, the political crisis is in part motivat- Yingluck says the case against Anon Numpa, her lawyer. they would drop the charges. constitution that critics say is taken a hardline stance against other dominated by the royal- ed by elites jostling for primacy her is a politically motivated at- Under Article 112 of the The United States and sev- designed to enshrine military perceived royal insults and has ist and military establishment once his reign ends. tack on her family who are loved criminal code, anyone who eral rights organisations, in- power. handed down record sentences. who accuse Thaksin of corrup- The monarch has spent most among rice farmers. “defames, insults or threatens cluding the New York-based Patnaree’s son, Sirawith Ser- Prime Minister Prayut Chan- tion and nepotism, charges he of the past two years in hospital Fearful of a political come- the king, queen, heir-apparent Human Rights Watch, con- itwat, is a student activist with ocha, who also heads of the denies. in Bangkok for a series of ail- back, the junta has tried to tangle or regent” faces up to 15 years in demned Patnaree’s arrest and the New Democracy Movement junta, has said he would show National anxiety over the ments, including bacterial in- Yingluck in legal rulings. prison. the charges brought against her. and Resistant Citizen, groups zero-tolerance to insults of the frail health of 88-year-old King fections, breathing diffi culties, Economists have also accused The case has drawn inter- The US State Department in that the authorities have regu- monarchy. Bhumibol Adulyadej has com- heart problems and hydrocepha- the junta of adopting some of the national criticism since May, May said it created a “climate of larly targeted because of their For more than a decade, pounded the political tensions. lus – a build-up of cerebrospinal Shinawatras more populist fi scal when police fi rst issued an ar- intimidation”. activities, including handing Thailand has been bitterly di- Thais mostly see the king as fl uid often dubbed water on the policies, including paying above rest warrant for Patnaree and The junta has clamped down out leafl ets urging people to re- vided between rival camps, one a unifying force and celebrated brain. market rates for rubber amid a charged her with defaming the on dissent ahead of a refer- ject the draft constitution. led by former populist premier the 70th year of his reign in In the latest statement by the global price slump. monarchy. endum next week on whether During its two-year rule, Thaksin Shinawatra, who was June. Royal Household Bureau last night, doctors said they contin- ued to use antibiotics to treat the Two Pakistanis fined over mosque sermons in Myanmar infections causing his fever. “After taking antibiotics his A Myanmar court fined two Pakistanis and They were fined 100,000 kyat ($85) each. condition has got better but he Couples publicly caned in Aceh ordered them to leave the country yesterday “They paid the fine, and we escorted them to the still has some fever,” the state- after finding them guilty of breaching their visa airport to leave the country this evening,” local ment said. conditions by preaching at mosques. police off icer Tin Win said. Doctors added that they had DPA Amed Zulfiqar, 63, and his 29-year-old son were The duo arrived in Yangon on July 26 on tourist continued to adjust a catheter Jakarta arrested and charged on Sunday for giving visas, and gave the sermons without obtaining to drain excess spinal fl uid, with sermons at three mosques in Yangon. off icial permission, police said. satisfactory results. Bhumibol is seen by most hree couples were pub- Rhino horn in powdered milk tins seized in Vietnam Thais as a unifying force in a na- licly caned in Indonesia’s tion bitterly divided along po- TShariah-ruled Aceh prov- A Vietnamese national has been arrested trying after he arrived on a flight from Doha on Sunday, litical lines. ince yesterday after being found to smuggle into Vietnam 1.83kg of banned rhino Nguyen Hong Truong, a communication off icer Schoolchildren learn of his guilty of having sex out of wed- horn in tins of powdered milk, a customs off icial at the airport’s customs off ice section told DPA. good works, cinemagoers must lock, an offi cial said. said yesterday. The horns can fetch 4.5bn Vietnamese dong stand for the royal anthem and The couples, aged between 18 Authorities found four horns in the unnamed 42 ($200,000) on the black market in Vietnam, and giant portraits of the monarch and 25, were brought to a pub- year-old’s luggage at Ho Chi Minh City airport were found cut into small pieces. tower over most major roads. lic stage in the provincial capital Banda Aceh and given 20, 14 and 13 lashes respectively by masked offi cers dressed in fl owing robes, said Yusnardi, the head of the Shariah police in Aceh. Indonesia to sink scores of fi shing boats “They were guilty of violating Shariah law on the illicit mixing of the sexes,” he said. AFP to stop foreign vessels fi shing the campaign, said that up to sunk as part of the campaign. Illicit sex is punishable by up A religious off icer canes a woman onstage outside a mosque in Jakarta without permission in its terri- 71 foreign boats caught illegally The boats to be sunk later this to 100 lashes of the cane, or 100 Banda Aceh yesterday. tory, with President Joko Wido- fi shing would be sunk on August month will be scuttled and not months in prison under Aceh’s do claiming it costs the econo- 17, the 71st anniversary of Indo- blown up, Pudjiastuti said. Islamic criminal code, which was beverages, despite the fact that ligious law as part of the central ndonesia will sink up to 71 my billions of dollars annually. nesian Independence. Green groups had complained passed in 2014. the Islamic law does not apply to government’s attempts to ap- impounded foreign boats So far 176 boats captured She said they would be sunk about the environmental impact The law also bans gambling, non-Muslims. pease its desires for independ- Ithis month on its Independ- fi shing illegally have been sunk at various locations across the of blowing up boats. alcohol consumption and being Offi cials said she elected to be ence. ence Day, a minister said yes- – after the crews were removed country, without specifying The plan comes at a time of alone with someone of the oppo- punished under Shariah because Jakarta signed a peace agree- terday, ramping up a campaign – since Widodo took power in which countries they were from. high maritime tensions between site sex while unmarried. she was too old to serve time in ment with separatist rebels in to deter illegal fi shing in its vast 2014, with some blown up in Boats from a number of coun- Beijing and Jakarta after re- In April, a 60-year-old Chris- prison. 2005, ending decades of con- waters. spectacular public displays. tries, including China, Thai- peated clashes in waters around tian woman was caned in pub- Aceh is the only Indonesian fl ict that killed more than 15,000 The world’s biggest archi- Fisheries Minister Susi Pud- land, Vietnam, the Philippines Indonesian islands in the hotly lic in Aceh for selling alcoholic province allowed to impose re- people. pelago nation has been seeking jiastuti, who has been leading and Malaysia, have already been disputed South China Sea. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Seoul says N Korea Typhoon Nida hacked govt heads to China e-mails AFP AFP Hong Kong Seoul

ong Kong and southern eoul prosecutors have ac- China hunkered down cused North Korea of Hyesterday as Typhoon Shacking into the e-mail Nida swirled towards the region, accounts of dozens of South with hundreds of fl ights can- Korean government offi cials celled, schools closed and ferries this year, the latest in the series halted. of suspected cyber attacks by Hong Kong raised a “T8” Pyongyang. storm signal – the third-highest Investigations showed a “sus- – yesterday evening as the storm pected North Korea-operated edged closer to the semi-au- group” attempted to hack into tonomous Chinese city, packing This Nasa satellite image shows typhoon Nida approaching China the e-mails of 90 people – in- winds of 130kph. yesterday. cluding offi cials at the foreign, Guangzhou, the capital of defence and unifi cation min- neighbouring Guangdong prov- Left: A girl watches while a couple poses for their wedding photos istries – from January to June, ince where Nida was expected on a promenade overlooking Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour during a the Supreme Prosecutors’ Offi ce to make landfall today, issued ‘T3’ storm signal raised for Typhoon Nida. said in a statement. its fi rst red storm alert, with “The passwords of 56 ac- schools and outdoor work sus- yellow one – the third most se- the Xinhua agency said. counts were stolen,” the state- pended. vere. Nida brought strong winds ment said. Cathay Pacifi c and its sub- More than 220 fl ights out of and torrential rains to the north- The hackers set up 27 phishing sidiary Dragonair cancelled all of Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhu- ern Philippines over the week- sites in January posing as popu- their fl ights in and out of Hong hai airports would be cancelled end. lar portals like Google and South Kong for 16 hours, from 10pm before the storm passed over to- Southern China has been Korea’s Naver, as well as govern- yesterday until 2pm today. day, the Sohu news portal said. hard-hit by storms this summer. ment and university websites, to That will include more than and the gambling strip of Cotai There may be fl ooding in low- hua news agency reported, cit- Nearly 2,000 workers con- Super Typhoon Nepartak steal the passwords. 100 fl ights, said a spokeswoman in Macau have been suspended. lying areas.” ing the National Commission for structing the Hong Kong-Zhu- brought chaos to Taiwan in July The prosecutors said that the for Cathay, the city’s fl ag carrier. “Local winds are expected to Those living in the storm’s Disaster reduction. hai-Macau Bridge were evacu- and left at least 69 dead once it malicious codes used in the lat- Hong Kong authorities shut strengthen signifi cantly around projected path when it reaches The cities of Zhuhai and ated yesterday morning, and made landfall in the mainland’s est attack were the same as the kindergartens and special needs dusk,” said a weather bulletin. mainland China have been told Shanwei in Guangdong province more than 2,000 others working eastern province of Fujian, de- ones used by North Korea in pre- learning institutions yesterday. “There will be squalls, heavy to prepare three days’ worth of have also issued red alerts, while on an off shore oil platform were spite having been downgraded vious attacks on the South. Ferries between Hong Kong rain and rough seas after sunset. food and other essentials, Xin- nearby Shenzhen has issued a relocated on Sunday evening, to a tropical storm. An investigation is still ongo- ing to see if any confi dential in- formation may have been leaked. The latest cyber attack comes just days after South Korean police said the North stole the False quake alert shakes Tokyo personal data of over 10mn cus- tomers at South Korean online shopping mall Interpark. AFP app operators in time, a spokes- a tsunami barrelling into Japan’s Interpark was unaware about Tokyo man for the agency said. northeastern coast, leaving the attack until July 11, when it “We are now investigating more than 18,000 people dead or was blackmailed with threats how the false information was missing, and sending three reac- to publicise the leaked data un- false warning of a meg- sent out,” he added. tors into meltdown at the Fuku- less the company paid 3bn won aquake about to strike The agency’s website later shima nuclear plant. ($2.7mn). ATokyo was issued by said that it received the quake A nationwide drill is held an- The National Police Agency Japan’s weather agency and data from a seismometer east of nually on September 1, known said that the North’s main spy quickly cancelled yesterday, but Tokyo. in Japan as Disaster Prevention agency – the Reconnaissance not before terrifying users of a “When I saw the Yurekuru app Day, which comes on the anni- General Bureau – had organised smartphone app who received it. screen, I prepared to die,” read a versary of the 1923 Great Kanto the hack in a bid to earn hard Users of the Yurekuru disas- tweet in Japanese from one user. Earthquake that killed more currency. ter warning app were told that “Yeah okay this was fake but than 100,000 people and lev- Tensions on the divided Ko- a magnitude 9.1 earthquake was it scared the hell out of me,” said elled Tokyo. rean peninsula have been run- about to hit the sprawling me- another in English. Japan sits at the junction of ning high since Pyongyang car- tropolis shortly after 5pm (0800 Yurekuru is a popular disas- four tectonic plates, but most ried out its fourth nuclear test in GMT) with an alert reading ter-warning app in quake-prone earthquakes, even moderately January, followed by a series of “Earthquake! Earthquake!” Japan, and its operator says at strong ones, do little major ballistic missile tests. But the expected shaking nev- least 5mn people have down- damage nowadays thanks to rig- The provocations have put er came and the phones of near- loaded it. id building codes. North Korea under the toughest by users of similar early warning Such smartphone apps be- Due to the mistaken warn- sanctions yet from the United apps remained silent. came popular in the aftermath of ing, which was also sent to some This photo illustration shows people with their smartphones showing yesterday an erroneous Nations as well as mounting in- Japan’s Meteorological Agen- a massive undersea earthquake transportation operators, a small mega-earthquake alert with a magnitude of 9.1 on the Richter scale, and an intensity of 7 out of 7 on dividual sanctions by countries cy had sent and immediately that struck the country in March number of subway and com- the Japanese scale, for Tokyo Bay. A false warning of a megaquake about to strike Tokyo was issued by like the US, South Korea and Ja- withdrawn the alert, but the 2011. muter train lines in Tokyo were Japan’s weather agency and quickly cancelled, but not before terrifying users of a smartphone app who pan. cancellation did not reach some The magnitude 9.0 quake sent briefl y stopped. received it.

Australia Aboriginal leader appointed to probe teen prison abuse An Australian Aboriginal leader has weekend calling for justice for the investigation. Taiwan says sorry to indigenous people been appointed to investigate the victims, one of whom was hooded and The Aboriginal community had abuse of teenagers at a detention shackled to a chair for two hours in complained it had not been suff iciently centre after the judge named to scenes compared to the treatment of consulted on the inquiry, which was AFP lead the inquiry resigned, saying terror suspects in Guantanamo Bay. also expected to determine if race was Taipei that he lacked the confidence of the Attorney General George Brandis a factor in the abuse. indigenous community. said that two royal commissioners Martin, formerly the chief justice of The government ordered the inquiry would now head the inquiry – one of the Supreme Court of the Northern earing traditional dress from into the treatment of young off enders them indigenous leader Mick Gooda, Territory, had previously denied his feather headdresses to loin- after video emerged of prison guards the Aboriginal and Torres Strait role in the territory’s justice system Wcloths, members of Taiwan’s assaulting mostly indigenous boys in a Islander social justice commissioner could be seen as a conflict of interest. indigenous community met President Northern Territory detention centre in on the government’s Human Rights He said yesterday that he did not Tsai Ing-wen yesterday as she made a 2014 and 2015. Commission. perceive “that there is any problem landmark apology for centuries of suf- Graphic footage showed teenagers The appointment of Gooda, who with bias, either actual or perception fering including the loss of ancestral being tear-gassed, stripped naked and will co-chair the inquiry with former of bias, but others do”. lands. roughly restrained at the Don Dale Supreme Court of Queensland justice It had become apparent, he said, that Tsai, the island’s fi rst leader with ab- Centre in Darwin, images that shocked Margaret White, comes after judge he did not have “the full confidence original heritage, will personally head a and angered Australians. Brian Martin resigned yesterday, days of sections of the indigenous committee to investigate past injustices Snap protests were held on the after he was appointed to head the community”. as part of government eff orts to ease tensions with the native community. “I apologise to the indigenous people on behalf of the government, off ering our deepest apology for the suff ering and injustice you endured over the past 400 years,” she said in speech. “We need to look at history seriously and speak the truth,” she said, adding This handout photo taken and released by Taiwan’s Presidential Off ice shows that apologising was “another step for- representatives, dressed in traditional clothing, from some of Taiwan’s 16 ward”. recognised indigenous tribes, attending a ceremony inside the Presidential Off ice The indigenous community – which building in Taipei. makes up about 2% of Taiwan’s 23.5mn people – have seen their traditional cul- tion don’t meet our expectations,” said 80-year-old Yami representative wear- ture eroded since immigrants started Mayaw Biho, an indigenous activist ing a loincloth, who spoke after Tsai. arriving from China centuries ago. from the Amis tribe, who had camped “I hope Taiwan’s government and Much of their land is now designated out overnight. the president will truly deliver on the national park, leading to clashes over Since coming to power in May, Tsai’s promises made in this apology.” hunting, fi shing and foraging in areas Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has Tsai and the DPP came to power after where permits are needed. not made legislation promoting indig- winning a landslide victory in January Aboriginals have also complained of enous rights a priority in parliament, he over the Kuomintang (KMT). developments on their ancestral land, said. The Indigenous Peoples Basic Law which campaigners say make up two- “It’s unfair. It’s not being taken seri- was adopted in 2005, during the DPP’s thirds of the island, were approved ously,” he told AFP. last reign, but critics say actions to without seeking their views. Indigenous people remain a margin- amend relevant laws have stalled. Tsai pledged to increase the autono- alised group in Taiwanese society, with This means many aboriginals have my of aboriginal communities, restore wages about 40% below than the na- been arrested or fi ned for “illegal” their lost land rights and protect tribal tional average, as well as a higher rate of hunting or fi shing, which is allowed in languages. unemployment. the basic law. But for dozens of aboriginals protest- Yesterday Tsai listed numerous Earlier yesterday, tribe members who ing outside the presidential offi ce yes- wrongs done to the indigenous popula- had been invited to Tsai’s speech burned terday morning, her promises were not tion, including storing nuclear waste on millet stalks in front of the presidential enough. Yami tribe’s land on Orchid Island. offi ce as part of a traditional ceremony “The apology was well said and very “We have been protesting for over welcoming the ancestral spirits to join touching, but her proposals for ac- 30 years,” said Capen Nganaen, an them. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 13 BRITAIN IS-inspired Tube knifeman jailed for life

Muhaydin Mire, who has Mire pleaded guilty to at- a severe mental health tempting to wound four other disorder, will serve a Tube passengers. He was sen- minimum of eight-and-a-half tenced to two years’ imprison- years before he can possibly ment on each count, to run con- be considered eligible for currently with his life sentence. release Mire’s mobile phone con- tained a graph showing US and AFP coalition air strikes on the Is- London lamic State jihadist group and images of IS hostages before they were executed by having their Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn arriving for a Communication Workers Union press conference in central London paranoid schizophrenic throats cut. yesterday where the union that represents 200,000 people announced it was endorsing Corbyn in the Labour leadership race. knifeman who tried to The out-of-work minicab Abehead a commuter in a driver also had images of Lee London Underground station in Rigby, a British soldier who was an Islamic State-inspired attack A handout custody photograph murdered by Islamic extremists was sentenced to life behind bars released by Britain’s in a beheading attempt in south- yesterday. Metropolitan Police Service east London. Labour embroiled in brutal Somali-born Muhaydin Mire, shows Somali-born Muhaydin Mire has battled mental ill- 30, said during the rampage that Mire who was sentenced at ness for years and suff ered his he was doing it “for my Syr- the Old Baily court in London fi rst psychotic episode in 2006, ian brothers”, while a bystander yesterday to life imprisonment the court heard. shouted at him “You ain’t no after being found guilty of A month before the Leyton- internal struggle over future Muslim, bruv”- a phrase that attempted murder in a knife stone station attack, doctors re- went viral online. attack at Leytonstone tube ferred him to the mental health Mire attacked random station. services, saying he had paranoid By Kylie MacLellan principles. On the other are so the police can fi nd me,” La- ists are going out and doing the stranger Lyle Zimmerman with delusions that he was being fol- and William James most Labour lawmakers, who bour lawmaker Jess Phillips told same to us on Twitter?” a rusty knife as the 56-year-old “Because Muslims were be- lowed by the security services. Reuters/London say he did not do enough to pre- Reuters. With Corbyn the favourite musician walked through Ley- ing bombed in Syria, he was go- His family were due to send vent Brexit and is not a capable “I’ve had people putting my to win when the result is an- tonstone Tube station in east ing to attack civilians here,” said him back to Somalia the day af- leader. face on (a picture of) somebody nounced on September 24, the London on December 5. Hilliard, the recorder of London. ter the attack. eath threats, a brick Corbyn now faces leadership with an arrow through their party faces a struggle to re- Zimmerman suff ered serious Hilliard said he was sure that Mire, wearing a white T-shirt through a window and rival Owen Smith in a contest so heart, a spear in their side. I’ve unite. injuries but recovered well after the “extremely serious violence” and a blue tracksuit top, showed Done lawmaker even in- divisive it could ultimately lead had people wishing that I was Party donor Assem Allam is the attack. was intended “to intimidate at no emotion throughout the sen- stalling a panic room in her to the party splitting if he is re- dead... all to protect Corbyn.” reported to have off ered rebels Last month a jury convicted least a section of the public” in tencing. offi ce; less than a year after elected leader, as the bookmak- Angela Eagle, who triggered funding to defect and form a Mire of attempted murder. order to advance a “religious and “London is a safer place with Britain’s Labour elected social- ers expect. the leadership contest by chal- new party or movement. While He was sent yesterday to begin extremist cause... namely Is- Mire behind bars,” said Com- ist Jeremy Corbyn leader on a The debate has become so lenging Corbyn but has now Labour lawmakers say they are his sentence at the top-security lamic extremism”. mander Dean Haydon, of the promise of ‘kinder politics’ the poisonous that most local party pulled out to boost Smith’s focused on saving the party Broadmoor psychiatric hospital, “This was an attempt to kill an police Counter Terrorism Com- party is mired in civil war. meetings have been suspended chances, has been advised by rather than splitting, they also where he was already being de- innocent member of the public mand. The brutal infi ghting threat- and Labour lawmakers say they police not to hold open drop-in acknowledge it will be diffi cult. tained for treatment. for ideological reasons by cut- “Whilst Mire was not accused ens Labour’s 116-year existence have faced abuse ranging from sessions with her constituents “There are massive wounds Mire will serve a minimum of ting his throat in plain sight for of terrorist off ences it would ap- and risks leaving Britain with- rape threats to vandalised cars. due to safety risks. to heal... Unless something is eight and a half years before he maximum impact,” he said. pear from comments he made out a strong opposition party While most of the abuse hap- A brick was thrown through done, something directly hap- can possibly be considered eligi- Hilliard said had the knife at the time of the attack and for years to come, just as the pens online, the June killing of a window at her offi ce in Wal- pens, then I just can’t see how I ble for release. blade not broken from the han- the content he had downloaded government goes about nego- lawmaker Jo Cox on her way to lasey, north west England, she could stay,” said Phillips. At the Old Bailey Central dle, “it is hard to see that Mr on his phone that he may have tiating the country’s exit from a public meeting in her elec- has said, and police have ar- Sherriff agrees, saying there Criminal Court in London, judge Zimmerman would have sur- been inspired by terrorist propa- the European Union. toral district means colleagues rested and bailed a 44-year-old will need to be mediation. Nicholas Hilliard said he accept- vived the attack”. ganda”. Britain’s June 23 EU referen- are not taking any chances. Her man on suspicion of making “I am not saying we can’t ed that Mire was suff ering from Mire forced Zimmerman He said police were working dum brought simmering ten- murder is not however thought threats to kill after an e-mail come back from this and I paranoid schizophrenia at the to the ground and repeatedly tirelessly at “stopping people sions within Labour to the boil, to be linked to Labour’s internal was sent to the lawmaker. desperately hope there isn’t a time of the attack. kicked his head before trying to getting drawn into terrorism and resulting in a leadership chal- woes. Corbyn, a pacifi st whose split... I want to try and bridge But he said he was also in no cut his throat. He also lashed out violent extremism in all forms as lenge. “I’m upgrading my home se- dissenting colleagues have de- the divide that defi nitely exists. doubt that Mire was motivated at other passers-by before police well as prosecuting, disrupting On one side are hundreds of curity, my offi ce security, there scribed him as a “nice” and It will be really hard,” she said. by the confl ict in Syria. shot him with electric stun guns. and deterring extremists”. thousands of vocal grassroots is going to be a panic room “decent” man, has condemned Corbyn has tapped into an loyalists who are fi ercely pro- in my offi ce. I have to carry the abuse and urged members appetite for change, winning tective of Corbyn’s left-wing around a thing that I can press and supporters to “act with support among disillusioned calm and treat each other with young voters and socialists who respect and dignity”. had drifted away from the party Corbyn calls for law to limit PM’s The 67-year-old says he has during two decades battling for Cameron in cronyism storm powers to deploy special forces also received death threats. the political centre ground. But many of his lawmak- But critics say the leader, CThe prime minister’s ability Corbyn compared missions by ers say they do not think he is who has described Labour as a to send special forces on the SAS in Libya to when the not doing enough to match his social movement, cannot win over resignation honours secret missions without a US sent military advisers to the words with action. Eagle told an election due in 2020. Some parliamentary vote should be south Vietnamese government the Daily Telegraph newspa- say his supporters are not even constrained, Jeremy Corbyn in the 1960s before Congress per that Corbyn had created a interested in doing so. Reuters referendum campaign, accord- “David Cameron has decided has said, reiterating calls for a was invited to vote on whether permissive environment where Leadership contender Smith London ing to the list leaked to the Sun- to reward his political allies US-style war powers act. or not it should be involved in abuse is tolerated. has warned that on its cur- day Times. with honours as if they are con- The Labour leader said David the Vietnam war. “I think the “Jeremy, this is being done in rent path, the party risks being They include cabinet minis- fetti and I think he discredits Cameron had circumvented parallel is a very serious one,” your name,” 44 female Labour “consigned to history”. avid Cameron yester- ters Michael Fallon, Philip Ham- the system,” Labour’s deputy the need for a Commons vote he said. lawmakers wrote in a letter to “I feel horrifi ed that we are day faced accusations of mond, Patrick McLoughlin and leader, Tom Watson, told Sky to send regular British forces He added that the Labour MP Corbyn, asking him to do more such a low ebb, horrifi ed that Dcronyism and rewarding David Lidington, all of whom fa- News. to war by deploying the SAS Graham Allen had produced to tackle the behaviour of those we are where we are, that this failure over a leaked list of names voured remaining in the EU. Nigel Farage, the outgoing instead, and the loophole had “some very interesting involved. “The culture of hatred party could be split,” he told a put forward to receive some of Also listed are Isabel Spear- leader of the anti-EU UK Inde- been used to approve covert proposals on a war powers and division that is being sown rally in London last month. Britain’s highest honours fol- man, a former public relations pendence Party, said on Twitter British military involvement act,” which he believes does not benefi t anybody.” “If we split, the forces of lowing his resignation as prime executive for a handbag designer that the list contained “too many or arms supply in Libya, Iraq parliament should vote Paula Sherriff , the lawmaker darkness, the forces of the minister. who worked for Cameron’s wife rewards for failure”. and Syria. on.“Then it would be up to a who organised the letter, told radical right will flood into Cameron stood down last Samantha as a stylist and assist- Tommy Sheppard, a member “I’m very concerned about this future Labour government Reuters she had seen a sig- the gap that we leave. And month after he lost the referen- ant, and Thea Rogers, an aide of parliament for the Scottish because David Cameron - I to bring it in. I would see it as nifi cant increase in abuse since in many parts of Britain we dum in which Britons voted to credited with smartening up fi - National Party, which backs in- imagine Theresa May would very important. Doctrine must Corbyn’s leadership was chal- would be out of power for a leave the European Union. nance minister George Osborne. dependence for Scotland, said say the same - would say include military involvement, lenged, and the majority of it long, long time.” Now he has drawn up the The list has angered many on the honours system was ridicu- parliamentary convention not regular forces because was coming from people who Historical precedents for a prime minister’s tradition- the Eurosceptic wing of Cam- lous: “We are seeing Tory (Con- requires a parliamentary the special forces argument identifi ed themselves as sup- new party don’t bode well, said al “resignation honours list”, eron’s Conservative Party, who servative) privilege over reward mandate to deploy troops,” (drives) a coach and horse porting him. Steven Fielding, professor of showering politicians, donors, emerged as winners from the for public service”. Corbyn said in an interview through the principle.” “It is just so divisive and they political history at the Univer- co-workers and others with referendum, while the opposi- A spokeswoman for May, with Middle East Eye. “Except, Such an act should be the need to take some responsibil- sity of Nottingham, predicting knighthoods and other titles. tion Labour Party said Prime who succeeded Cameron as and they’ve all used the absolute minimum to come ity for some of the behaviour any split would only involve Some of the most prominent Minister Theresa May should prime minister, said nomina- ‘except’, when special forces out of the Chilcot inquiry, that has come as a result of a small number of lawmakers names are leading fi gures from end a discredited system of tions for honours were at his are involved.” Corbyn said. that,” she said. “Is there any rather than a wholesale walk the government’s unsuccessful awarding honours. discretion. wonder that some of the activ- out.

Cyclist who died during RideLondon event ‘suff ered heart failure’

By Peter Walker the organisers, his wife, Vickie, but I’m not riding a white charg- air ambulances to take cyclists to Guardian News and Media said: “Robin was doing some- er, just a bike 100 miles in and hospital, caused long delays on thing he loved to raise money around London,” he wrote. the course. for Cancer Research UK, a One online tribute read: “Un- One of those hurt was seri- cyclist died from heart cause that was very important cle Robin, so incredibly proud ously injured after hitting a tree. failure while taking part to him after losing his father, of your eff orts in the Pruden- Organisers put in place Ain Sunday’s RideLondon- his mother’s partner and my tial 100 bike ride today in Lon- two detours to try to clear the Surrey 100 event, according to mother to cancer.” don,” the Evening Standard crowds, including a major re- organisers. “I’d like to thank everyone reported.“Sadly, he didn’t make route to miss out the Box Hill Robin Chard, 48, from Bices- who has helped and supported it to the end but he passed away climb in Surrey. ter in Oxfordshire, suff ered a Robin and me, especially the raising money for a charity close Organisers said 33 riders were cardiac arrest about 25 miles into event stewards, the event team to his heart. taken to hospital overall, with the 100-mile course, at King- and the amazing staff at King- If anyone can still donate in seven still there, of whom three ston in west London, RideLon- ston hospital.” his memory I know how much he were seriously injured. don said, adding: “Although he The organisers added: “Eve- would appreciate it.” The event was part of a week- received immediate treatment ryone involved in Prudential Separately, two cyclists were end of cycling activities in and from fellow riders and medical RideLondon would like to ex- seriously hurt in crashes dur- around the capital. personnel at the scene, he died press our sincere condolences to ing the event, in which nearly As part of the 100-mile ride later in Kingston hospital.” Robin’s family and friends.” 27,000 people cycled a closed- cyclists left the Olympic park Chard is the third participant Chard wrote on his JustGiving roads loop out of London, into in Stratford, east London, in three years to die following a page about his personal connec- the Surrey countryside and and headed to Surrey before Belgium’s Tom Boonen raising his arms to celebrate winning the Ride London-Surrey Classic road cycling heart attack during the event. tion with cancer.“So you can see back. returning for a finish on the race at the finish line in central London on Sunday. In a statement released by it’s a bit of a personal crusade, The crashes, which required Mall. Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 EUROPE

Romanian ex-secret Yerevan stand-off ends, police chief to prompts call for change face trial AFP the resignation of Sarkisian, a was killed by a sniper who the AFP Yerevan former communist party leader authorities said was fi ring from Bucharest who came to power in 2008. inside the police compound. Sefi lyan is a fi erce government The gunmen have denied that rmenian President Serzh critic who was arrested along claim our former communist of- Sarkisian has called for with six supporters in June. Sarkisian vowed that the fi cials in Romania, includ- A“radical changes” in the The seven were accused of country would not allow anyone Fing the head of the hated country after a tense stand-off preparing to seize government to “undermine the foundation of secret police and the then inte- with 20 anti-government gun- buildings and telecoms facilities. our state”. rior minister, will go on trial over men holed up in a police station A statement published on “Problems in Armenia will not the 1985 death of a dissident, left two offi cers dead and trig- Sunday by one of the gunmen be solved through violence or prosecutors said yesterday. gered mass protests. inside the police station vowed arms,” he said. “Yerevan is nei- Tudor Postelnicu, 84, who “One thing is clear, the proc- the group would continue its ther Beirut nor Aleppo.” headed the Securitate until dic- ess of the radical changes in Ar- fi ght from prison. Sarkisian also called for a tator Nicolae Ceausescu’s re- menia’s social and political life” More than 1,000 people took “thorough investigation, a com- gime fell in 1989, and George must be sped up, Sarkisian said to the streets in downtown Yer- prehensive and unbiased exami- Homostean, 92, have been at a meeting with civil society evan last night in an anti-gov- nation and an open trial” over charged with crimes against hu- representatives, religious lead- ernment protest calling for le- the incident. manity. ers and government offi cials, his niency toward the armed group, Human Rights Watch (HRW) They are accused of author- offi ce said. according to local media. accused the Armenian police of ising the September 1985 arrest “Yes, it is true that the Arme- The gunmen plunged Ar- using “excessive force against and abuse of poet and engineer nian authorities are not perfect. menia into turmoil when they peaceful protesters” and said it Gheorghe Ursu and covering up Yes, it is true that there are many stormed the police station, kill- had “assaulted journalists re- the real causes of his subsequent problems and complex issues Armenian police and protesters are seen early on Sunday at a blocked street leading to Erebuni police ing an offi cer and taking several porting on the demonstrations” death. in Armenia. Our goal is to give station, which was seized by gunmen in Yerevan. The gunmen finally surrendered late on Sunday. others hostage. on Friday. Ursu, denounced by an in- them a speedy resolution,” the The gunmen eventually let the Giorgi Gogia, South Caucasus former for anti-government president said. Armenia’s capital Yerevan on later, medical personnel hos- scended into violence. offi cers go but then seized four director at HRW, said Armenia’s comments in his private diary, The 20 pro-opposition gun- July 17. tage, triggered demonstrations The gunmen were demanding medical workers before freeing investigation into Friday’s as- died after being beaten and tor- men surrendered on Sunday The crisis, which saw the by supporters of the opposition the release of imprisoned oppo- them too. saults on demonstrators “should tured by investigators and fellow after seizing a police station in gunmen take police offi cers, and in Yerevan that sometimes de- sition leader Zhirair Sefi lyan and On Saturday a second offi cer be swift and thorough”. prisoners on orders of the Secu- ritate. Two former Securitate offi cers will also stand trial, prosecutors said, calling it an “important step” in bringing communist era Man with France ‘shut around 20 mosques since December’ crimes to light. No date has been set for the trial. large axe AFP and incite hatred in prayer Cazeneuve was speaking af- The meeting comes as France Prime Minister Manuel Valls In 2003 two lower-ranking Paris halls or in mosques, and who ter a meeting with the French struggles with an unprecedent- said last week that he would Securitate offi cers were found don’t respect certain republi- Council of the Muslim Religion. ed Islamic militant threat that consider a temporary ban on guilty of murder and sentenced arrested can principles, notably equal- There are some 2,500 has seen a raft of terror attacks, foreign fi nancing of mosques, to 20 years in prison, but Ursu’s rench authorities have ity between men and women,” mosques and prayer halls in most recently a truck massacre urging a “new model” for rela- son has campaigned for years shut down around 20 the minister said. “That is why I France, about 120 of which are in Nice which killed 84, and the tions with Islam. for their superiors to face justice in Venice Fmosques and prayer halls took the decision a few months considered to be preaching rad- murder of a Catholic priest in Cazeneuve confi rmed that too. considered to be preaching ago to close mosques through ical interpretation of Islam. the Normandy village of Saint- authorities were working on The announcement came on radical Islam since December, the state of emergency, legal He said that since 2012, 80 Etienne-du-Rouvray. a French foundation for Islam the same day as researchers said DPA Interior Minister Bernard Ca- measures or administrative people had been expelled from The repeat attacks have which would guarantee total they had found the remains of Rome zeneuve said yesterday. measures. About 20 mosques France, and dozens more expul- raised questions about security transparency in fi nancing of nine more people near the site of “There is no place ... in have been closed, and there will sions were under way, without failures, but also about the for- mosques “with rigorous respect a former camp for political pris- France for those who call for be others.” giving further details. eign funding of many mosques. for secular principles”. oners in Periprava in southeast talian police said yesterday Romania. that they arrested a man This brought to 20 the number Iwho was spotted behaving of skeletons found there since strangely while reciting Muslim Focal point 2013, said archaeologist Gheo- prayers inside Venice’s train sta- rghe Petrov. tion and found him to be in pos- Dutch extend extra More than 600,000 Romani- session of a rucksack containing ans were imprisoned for political a 30cm axe and a sharp stone. reasons under Romania’s com- The suspect was taken in for security measures at munist regime, one of the most questioning early on Sunday. brutal in Soviet-controlled east- He told offi cers he had dual ern and central Europe. German-Turkish nationality Amsterdam airport and showed a Turkish passport with an expired Schengen visa 6,500 rescued belonging to another man and Reuters crease safety for passengers missing authenticity stamps, a Amsterdam and personnel at the airport, since Thursday police statement said. they said. He was charged with making All travellers should count The Italian coastguard said false statements about his iden- utch authorities said on possible delays due to spot the bodies of five migrants tity. yesterday that they will checks on trains and vehicles, were recovered from the Italy’s Polizia di Stato said Dextend extra security they said. Mediterranean on Sunday, while the arrest was infl uenced by the measures around Amsterdam’s Earlier yesterday all traffi c to more than 6,500 people had man’s peculiar profi le: he dis- Schiphol, due to a heightened the airport was halted and po- been rescued off Libya since played “religious zeal pushed threat level at one of Europe’s lice detained a man who spoke Thursday. to the extreme”, claimed to be a largest airports. of a bomb on a bus. In one operation by the Italian Turkish intelligence offi cer, and Police have been searching No explosives were found. navy vessel Vega, “five migrants spoke fi ve languages: English, vehicles on major roads to the The man, who took off his were picked up out of the sea, German, French, Turkish and airport since Saturday. clothes, was held at gunpoint three people were resuscitated Arabic. No details have been provid- by the side of the highway and two were already dead”, the Authorities erred on the side ed about the perceived threat, while the bus was searched. coastguard said on its Twitter of caution also because sensi- but the Netherlands remains After attacks by Islamist This file photo taken on March 22 shows floral tributes, candles, notes and a drawing by French account. tive events were taking place on one notch below the highest militants in France, Belgium cartoonist Plantu, at the Place de la Republique in Paris, in tribute to the victims following a Sunday’s rescue missions off Sunday: Muslims across Italy level of alertness for attacks. and Germany, the Netherlands series of apparently co-ordinated explosions that ripped through Brussels airport and the the Libyan coast brought 1,100 were invited to join Catholics in “The extended security is considered a potential tar- metro train, killing at least 14 people in the airport and 20 people in the metro. The City of Paris migrants and refugees to safety Sunday church prayers, while (measures) will remain in place get, because it supports US- began yesterday a cleaning operation of the statue in the centre of the square of the Republic. overall, bringing the total to 6,530 in Venice, an open-air theatre for the time being,” a statement led military operations against After each terrorist attack in Europe, the pedestal becomes a focal point where people deposit since Thursday, said the Italian show was being staged in the by local authorities said. the Islamic State militia in the flowers, candles or poems in tribute and support. coastguard which co-ordinates Jewish ghetto area. The measures would in- Middle East. the operations.

Real-life ‘Pianist’ family wins case Activists cleared of disrupting Greek mass

AFP charges after the war but con- tion of freedom of speech,” said AFP The protest came after city Warsaw tinued criticism forced her to Andrzej Szpilman, the son, after Thessaloniki, Greece authorities last week forced leave Poland. the 2013 ruling was thrown out. refugees out of three buildings In the original court case, But Tuszynska was aghast. where they had been squatting, he family of the late ghetto survivors who knew “Once again they have closed Greek court has released including an orphanage belong- Jewish-Polish protago- Szpilman testifi ed and rejected Wiera Gran’s mouth. I am re- 26 anarchists who had ing to the diocese. Tnist of Oscar-winning Gran’s claims, as did former ally sorry,” the Gazeta Wyborcza Adisrupted a Sunday Or- An incendiary device was also Holocaust fi lm The Pianist said foreign minister Wladyslaw daily quoted the writer as say- thodox church service to protest set off earlier on Sunday outside yesterday that they had won an Bartoszewski, who helped Jews ing. against refugee evictions, a ju- the company that demolished appeal against defamation over during World War II. Following the appeal court’s dicial source said. the orphanage. claims in a book that he was a Judge Bozena Lasota said the decision on Friday, Tuszynska The activists had ran into the Nobody was hurt. Nazi collaborator. author herself had expressed and her publishers have 15 days Thessaloniki cathedral on Sun- A number of abandoned Wladyslaw Szpilman’s wid- doubts over the allegations to make a public apology to the day, scattering leafl ets that read buildings in Athens and Thes- ow and son brought the case in against Szpilman and “never Szpilman family and remove in- “Solidarity with the refugees”, saloniki in recent months have Warsaw’s appeals court after shared Wiera Gran’s most seri- criminating passages from any before they were taken into cus- been taken over by anarchists losing the initial complaint in ous view”. future editions of the work. tody by anti-riot forces. and groups helping migrants September 2013. But Lasota said a biographer Szpilman inspired Roman Among those arrested were and refugees to fi nd shelter. The family took issue with has the right to quote opinions Polanski’s Oscar-winning fi lm nine foreigners from Austria, Offi cial estimates say more certain quotes by Polish-Jewish based on freedom of speech and about a piano player who uses Britain, Germany, Morocco, than 2,000 refugees are cur- singer Wiera Gran in a 2010 bi- added it would be impossible to his music to survive under Nazi Spain and Switzerland. rently living in such squats, ography of her life, written by pen a biography of the recently rule. The Thessaloniki court threw mostly former schools. Agata Tuszynska. deceased without upsetting Polanski’s poignant 2002 out charges of “disturbing a re- While the left-wing Greek Anti-riot police off icers walk outside of the courthouse of The remarks see Gran ac- anyone. movie about Szpilman won ligious gathering”. government has been quietly Thessaloniki yesterday. The Greek court has released 26 anarchists cuse Szpilman of being part of The appeals court however three Oscars, including one for However, 19 of the activ- tolerant of the squatters, local who had disrupted a Sunday Orthodox church service to protest the Jewish Police in the Warsaw found in favour of Szpilman, actor Adrian Brody, who played ists were handed suspended authorities have taken a harsher against refugee evictions, a judicial source said. ghetto. who died in 2000. him. six-month prison sentences for stance, warning of health and The popular late ghetto song- “This ruling will allow the After leaving Poland, Gran refusing to be fi ngerprinted by safety hazards. Greek government has been further north into Europe. stress was herself suspected of ethical standards in Poland to emigrated to Israel then moved police. Ever since Balkan nations on struggling to cope with a build- Greece is currently hosting collaborating with the Nazis. improve and bring into ques- to France, where she died in The ruling is suspended over the migrant trail closed their up of new arrivals prevented some 57,000 people, mainly A court acquitted her of the tion the poorly-interpreted no- 2007. a three-year period. borders earlier this year, the from continuing their journey Syrian refugees. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 15 EUROPE

Boy dies in Russian anthrax outbreak Turkey admits some AFP The authorities are carrying Moscow out vaccinations of people and reindeer and giving those who visited the quarantine area an- 12-year-old boy has tibacterial medicines. died in an anthrax out- The infection was identi- Abreak in remote far fi ed on June 25 after numerous northern Russia while dozens deaths among reindeer, the ‘unfair’ dismissals have been hospitalised on sus- sanitary medicine service for picion of infection, the region’s the region said yesterday. AFP moned to “strongly express our governor said yesterday. Russia’s chief sanitary doc- Istanbul disappointment” over the ban on The Yamalo-Nenetsky re- tor Anna Popova visited the a popularly elected leader from gion, some 2,000km northeast region last week, saying the addressing the rally and called of Moscow, has been under site of the infection had been urkey has admitted that the German approach “unac- quarantine for a week after “isolated” and the region had there may have been ceptable”. the deadly bacterium infected enough vaccines and antibiot- Tsome “unfair” treatment But Germany, which is home at least nine nomadic reindeer ics. in its post-coup crackdown as to the largest portion of Turkey’s herders and their animals. Popova said that there had it voiced anger at Germany for diaspora, played down the inci- “I’ve been told of the death been no cases of anthrax in the barring President Recep Tayyip dent, saying that such “invita- of a boy in our hospital. I have region among people or ani- Erdogan from addressing a rally tions” were nothing out of the no words to express my feel- mals since 1941 and it had been in Cologne. ordinary. ings,” governor Dmitry Kob- considered formally free of the Retaliating after a failed mili- “In the day-to-day dealings ylkin said. infection since 1968. tary attempt to unseat him, Er- between countries, it is a daily It was the fi rst outbreak The regional authorities dogan has launched a purge that event – normal for a representa- of anthrax since 1941 in the linked the outbreak to unusu- has seen tens of thousands peo- tive of a country to be called in to sparsely populated region, ally hot weather, with more ple suspended from their jobs the foreign ministry of his host which authorities blamed on a than a month of temperatures and almost 19,000 detained. country,” German foreign min- heatwave that melted perma- up to 35° Celsius (95° Fahren- Apparently responding to wid- istry spokesman Martin Schaefer frost and exposed an infected heit) that melted the perma- ening international alarm about told journalists. reindeer corpse. frost and activated the deadly the crackdown, Prime Minister Ties between Germany and “The infection showed its spores. Binali Yildirim admitted that Turkey are already strained over cunning. Returning after 75 “The anthrax spores lay in there may have been some unfair the German parliament’s deci- years, it took away a child’s wait in the permafrost for more treatment in the state sector. sion to brand as genocide the life,” said Kobylkin. than a century,” said the agri- “There must defi nitely be some World War I-era Armenian mas- A total of 72 people, 41 of culture watchdog agency. among them who were subjected sacre by Ottoman forces. them children, have been hos- Anthrax does not spread to unfair procedures,” he said in Turkish offi cials also met with pitalised on suspicion of infec- directly from one infected hu- comments published by state- the top US military commander tion in the main city of Sale- man or animal to another, but run Anadolu news agency. “We in the fi rst direct talks since the Turkish gendarmeries escort khard. is spread through spores. will make a distinction between failed coup, with Washington fugitive commandos who Video shows tourist beaten by Turkish nationalists So far nine have tested posi- Humans can contract an- those who are guilty and those under pressure from Ankara to were involved in a bid to seize tive for anthrax, including the thrax from handling diseased who are not.” extradite the Islamic preacher Erdogan during the failed coup A French tourist was reportedly beaten in Ankara by Turkish nationalists boy who died, the regional au- animals or eating infected Echoing his tone, Deputy Fethullah Gulen. attempt last month, as they who are part of groups of government supporters holding nightly vigils thorities said yesterday. meat. Prime Minister Numan Kurtul- Ankara accuses Gulen of mas- leave a gendarmerie station in against the failed coup attempt, according to a video that surfaced on More than 2,300 reindeer The potentially lethal bacte- mus said: “If there are any mis- terminding the coup and says it is Mugla province, Turkey, early social media. have been killed in the outbreak rium exists naturally in the soil takes, we will correct them.” seeking to remove all trace of his yesterday. The video shows the man, bloodied, forced to hold a Turkish flag and say “I in the region where more than and commonly infects live- Turkey meanwhile summoned infl uence in Turkish institutions. love Turkey” and other nationalist expressions. 250,000 of the animals roam, stock which ingest or inhale its a senior German diplomat, a day General Joseph Dunford, Nato allies have been aggravated The person appears not to understand the Turkish language well, and the the authorities said. spores while grazing. after a rally of tens of thousands chairman of the United States by the foiled putsch, with some attackers identify him as French. of Erdogan supporters in Cologne joint chiefs of staff , met Turk- Turkish offi cials even alleging The video, whose veracity cannot be independently verified, appears to in opposition to the coup. ish chief of staff General Hulusi that Washington could have had have been shot by the attackers. Tajik journalists now face fines for Hours before the demonstra- Akar, after a visit to Incirlik air a hand in the plot. The incident was reported in Turkish media, including by Cumhuriyet tion, Germany’s constitutional base – used by coalition planes The suggestion has been fi rmly newspaper. using ‘incomprehensible’ words court rejected an application to for air raids on the Islamic State denied by top US offi cials. The government of the conservative Justice and Development Party show via video link live speeches (IS) group in Syria. Turkey is now requesting the (AKP) has urged its supporters to take to the streets each night to stage First they banned Russia’s version of Father Christmas, then they from Turkey by politicians in- “He will deliver messages con- extradition of Gulen – who has anti-coup protests, following the failed putsch of July 15, calling them forbade foreign names for babies. cluding Erdogan, over fears that demning in the strongest terms lived in self-imposed exile since “Democracy Guards”. Now Tajikistan, one of Central Asia’s most reclusive states, is going they could work up the crowd. the recent coup attempt and re- 1999 – from his leafy compound The gatherings in the squares are due to end next weekend with large- to start fining journalists caught using “incomprehensible” words, a The decision sparked an- affi rming the importance of our in Pennsylvania. scale events. government off icial said yesterday. ger in Turkey, with presidential enduring partnership for region- “We do not want (the US) to “There are cases when journalists use as many as 10 words in one spokesman Ibrahim Kalin calling al security,” Dunford’s spokes- be in a position that will make us day that the simple reader, viewer or listener cannot comprehend,” the move a “violation of the free- man Greg Hicks said in a state- question our friendship,” Yildir- Last week, Erdogan lashed ing the night of the coup. said Gavhar Sharifzoda, the head of Tajikistan’s state language dom of expression and the right ment ahead of the talks. im said. “If they keep on dragging out at the top US general in the Erdogan was staying in the committee, in comments carried by Russia’s Interfax news service. to free assembly”. Unexpectedly, Dunford also (their) feet on the Gulen issue ... Middle East, General Joseph Vo- western seaside resort of Mar- “This grossly violates the norms of state language.” A spokeswoman for the Ger- visited the Turkish parliament then things will take a diff erent tel, after he expressed concerns maris on July 15 but dashed to Is- Sharifzoda said fines for individuals will range from $75 to $100 man embassy in Ankara told AFP which was extensively damaged course, because the events of July about the future of military re- tanbul just before the hotel came (€67 to €90), while state off icials and organisations will have to pay that the charge d’aff aires had by rebel air strikes on the night 15 are crystal clear.” lations between the two allies in under attack from rebel soldiers up to $200. “been summoned to the Turk- of the coup, seen as a symbolic After a cabinet meeting in An- the wake of the putsch. determined to oust him from It remains unclear when the new regulations will come into force. ish foreign ministry at 1pm (1000 gesture. kara, Kurtulmus said Washington Meanwhile, Turkey said yes- power. Tajik is the sole state language in Tajikistan although Russian GMT)” yesterday over the rally. He was due to meet with the would have to choose between terday that it had arrested 11 sol- Just one soldier from the at- is constitutionally recognised as a language of “inter-ethnic Turkish foreign ministry Turkish premier. support for a “terrorist chief” diers suspected of involvement in tack group now remains at large, communication” and is widely spoken in the ex-Soviet republic. sources said the envoy was sum- Tensions between the two and the citizens of Turkey. an attack on Erdogan’s hotel dur- Kurtulmus said. Air spectacle Shackled remains at ancient Greek site tell tale of intrigue

By Deborah Kyvrikosaios, AFP Athens

t least 80 skeletons lie in a mass grave in an ancient AGreek cemetery, their wrists clamped by iron shackles. They are the victims, say ar- chaeologists, of a mass execu- tion. But who they were, how they got there and why they appear to have been buried with a measure of respect - that all remains a mystery. They were found earlier this year in part of the Falyron Del- ta necropolis – a large ancient cemetery unearthed during the construction of a national op- era house and library between downtown Athens and the port of Piraeus. Few people have been able to get in to have a close look. On a tour of the site, archae- ologists showed Reuters the Skeletal remains, with iron shackles on their wrists, are laid in a row at the ancient Falyron Delta cemetery skeletons, some lying in a long in Athens. neat row in the dug-out sandy ground, others piled on top of But the orderly way they have He managed to escape, but prominent ancient Greeks, these each other, arms and legs twisted been buried suggest these were the people who backed him were appear to be the inhabitants of with their jaws hanging open. more than slaves or common killed. regular neighbourhoods. “They have been executed, all criminals. “Perhaps with the DNA tests The dig is within a 170,000sq in the same manner. The cemetery dates from be- that we will do on these skel- m landscaped park, shadowed by But they have been buried with tween the 8th and 5th century etons we may confi rm or not this the vast new modern library and respect,” Dr Stella Chryssoulaki, BC. hypothesis that these deceased, opera house buildings being built head of excavations, said. “They “It is a period of great unrest these young people could be ... by the Stavros Niarchos philan- are all tied at the hands with for Athenian society, a period part of a coup ... an attempt by thropic foundation. handcuff s and most of them are where aristocrats, nobles, are a noble to take power by force,” High-rise apartments dot the very, very young and in a very battling with each other for pow- said Chryssoulaki. skyline to the north while a noisy good state of health when they er,” said Chryssoulaki. More than 1,500 bodies lie in motorway snakes by the site’s were executed.” One of the strongest theories is the whole cemetery, some infants east side. The experts hope DNA testing that they were supporters of Cy- laid to rest in ceramic pots, other Chryssoulaki wants to see a and research by anthropologists lon, an Athenian noble and Ol- adults burned on funeral pyres or museum built on the spot, as a will uncover exactly how the ympic champion who staged an buried in stone coffi ns. monument to the daily lives of rows of people died. attempted coup in Athens in 632 One casket is made from a Athenians from another era. Whatever happened was vio- BC with the help of his father-in- wooden boat. “A cemetery is a fi rst and last A Eurofighter aircraft performs aerobatics yesterday during the Torre del Mar International Air lent – most had their arms bound law, the tyrant of Megara. Unlike Athens’ renowned photograph in antiquity of those Festival in Torre del Mar, near Malaga, Spain. above their heads, the wrists tied The coup failed and Cylon hid ancient Kerameikos cemetery, people that pass from life to together. in a temple of the Acropolis. the last resting place of many death,” she said. Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 INDIA

Eff orts on to Gujarat CM bring home stranded Anandiben workers AFP New Delhi

ndia said yesterday it is ne- gotiating with authorities off ers to Iin Saudi Arabia to repatriate thousands of migrant workers after they lost their jobs, leav- ing them destitute and with no money to return home. Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj told parliament she was step down sending a junior minister to Ri- yadh after reports that around IANS reservation agitation by the Patels, a 10,000 workers had lost their Ahmedabad caste that has long been a key political jobs and been stranded. constituency of the BJP, her image also Many of the companies em- took a beating during the more recent ploying them have suff ered nding months of speculation, Gu- Dalit uprising after the fl ogging of Dalit from the drop in oil revenues jarat’s fi rst woman Chief Minister youths in Una by cow vigilantes, that A May 22, 2014, file photo of Anandiben Patel taking the oath of off ice at Gandhinagar. from falling prices, prompting EAnandiben Patel yesterday of- has led to widespread condemnation. a downturn in construction and fered to quit in keeping with the BJP’s Over 30 Dalit organisations came He said: “She has been requesting me for State BJP chief Vijay Rupani also con- the BJP is headed for defeat in the 2017 layoff s. “laudable tradition” of leaders vacating under one banner to protest atrocities quite some time and also wrote to me earlier ceded this as he said: “We are proud of Vidhan Sabha elections in Gujarat. The Indian consulate in Jed- their posts as they turn 75. against the community in Gujarat at a to relieve her from her responsibilities. her decision to follow the good tradi- Gurudas Kamat, Congress gen- dah has been providing free food In a letter to national BJP president massive gathering here on Sunday. “But I could not look into her request tions being established by our party. eral secretary incharge of Gujarat, said for its nationals since their plight Amit Shah, the contents of which she Neither Amit Shah nor state Bharati- in view of several other engagements, “Nobody pressured her to quit, this is Anandiben Patel’s resignation was came to light last week, but posted on Facebook in Gujarati, Patel ya Janata Party (BJP) president Vijay like the panchayat elections in Gujarat.” her own decision.” overdue. Swaraj said the situation could says: “I turn 75 in November but I am Rupani expressed any surprise at this “Now, I will pass on this letter to the The buzz that Anandiben, who took The BJP leadership tried to protect not be allowed to continue. requesting the party leadership to re- sudden move. party’s central parliamentary board to charge on May 23, 2014, would be asked her for several months in spite of grow- “This can’t be a permanent lieve me now to allow more time to the Rather they praised “the spirit with take a decision. to resign anytime began right since the ing unrest among Dalits due to the in- solution, we will have to bring new incumbent.” which she has made the off er”. “Possible replacements will be dis- BJP’s shocking debacle during the cru- creasing incidents of atrocities on them them back,” Swaraj told the Patel, whose image had taken several A senior party leader, reacting to the cussed by the board.” cial elections to the local self-govern- and the brutal manner of the handling lower house of the parliament beatings during the past over a year, news, said: “Everybody knew this was While Patel has found a sanctuary in ment bodies in the state in December- of the Patidar reservation stir, he said. yesterday. said the state government’s ambitious to come, it was long overdue.” the fact that she turns 75, the party’s January last. “Corruption had also run riot in the However that is being ham- biennial Vibrant Gujarat global inves- The chief minister, who also read out central leadership would appreciate the However, this was apparently delayed state during her rule and it would be pered by a Saudi requirement tors meet is scheduled for January while her Facebook post to local TV channels, high moral ground she took and thus be because of the BJP’s impressive per- like rubbing salt into sore wounds if she that workers provide a no-ob- the crucial state assembly elections fall said this was her second letter to the spared the trouble of having to remove formance in several states, like Assam, is taken into the union cabinet or ap- jection certifi cate from their in December 2017. leadership to relieve her from the post. her. and then in a few by-elections back pointed as a Governor,” he added. employers before they can leave “If I am relieved now, the new Chief In a tacit confi rmation that he knew A Gujarat leader said, “Had she gone home. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and the country, she said. Minister will have time to prepare for this was coming, Amit Shah said: “It is just like that, it would mean the central Ahmed Patel, Rajya Sabha member Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Junior minister V K Singh will these two important events,” she wrote. quite commendable that she has sought leadership has conceded that she failed.” from Gujarat and political adviser to reacting to the resignation, termed it as travel to Riyadh today to try to Besides criticism for her inept han- to honour this tradition of the party of Born in 1941, Patel turns 75 on No- Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said a victory of his party’s crusade against sort the situation out, she said. dling of the pitched 10-month-old leaders retiring at the age of 75.” vember 21. the resignation only went to prove that corruption in the Gujarat government. Among those stranded are some 2,450 workers laid off by Saudi Oger, the once-mighty construction giant led by Leba- non’s billionaire former prime minister Saad Hariri. 250 animals perish in Kaziranga fl oods, fodder scarcity looms “No jobless Indian will sleep hungry. If they want to come back home, the government will en- By Kushagra Dixit, IANS Of those rescued, many, including many camps there and our guards will sure their safe return...we have a Jorhat, Assam one rhino and 60 Hog Deer, have been continue monitoring to keep poachers collective responsibility towards released back in the wild, offi cials said. away,” an offi cial said. our citizens,” Swaraj said. Over 70 elevated platforms — or Das along with a team of Centre for early 250 animals, including man-made highlands — in the park also Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conserva- at least 20 one-horned rhinos, helped save many animals. tion (CWRC) has been spending sleep- Rajnath heads to Nhave died in heavy fl oods in As- However not all the elevated plat- less nights to save the Kaziranga ani- sam’s Kaziranga National Park even as forms could withstand this year’s mals. Saarc meet foresters rescued over 200 animals, in- fl oods. He said they expect another round of cluding nine rhino calves, offi cials said “We are planning to get more of these fl oods in September. ndia’s federal interior min- yesterday. highlands in the park,” Das said. Das said that while the fl oods do kill ister will travel to Pakistan The death toll in the World Heritage Offi cials said the fl oods had begun to some animals, they are also a “boon” as Ifor a regional gathering but Site, after river Brahmaputra unleashed abate now, but their next fear is “fodder they help keep the park fodder-rich and will not hold bilateral talks at a its fl ood fury, was said to be 242 as of scarcity” that would push the animals charge the water bodies. time when a surge of violence in yesterday. “Among the dead rhinos, to southern Kaziranga in search of food. “Every year, fl oods take over Kaziran- disputed Kashmir has escalated most were calves. Forest teams managed “The fl oods are followed by fodder ga, but this year they have been aggres- rivalry between the nuclear- to rescue at least nine rhinos, 90 Hog A baby rhino roams near a human settlement following floods at the Kaziranga scarcity for some time, then animals sive,” said O P Pandey, former Wildlife armed neighbours, offi cials said Deer, one Jungle Owlet, three Swamp National Park. start moving towards the Karbi-An- Warden of Assam. on Monday. deer, one Fishing Cat and one python,” glong Hills situated at the southern part Kaziranga National Park is regarded Interior Minister Rajnath Subhasis Das, Divisional Forest Offi cer, es. Some tigers have reportedly moved However, offi cials said it was not only of the forest,” Das said. as the abode of the greater one-horned Singh will visit Islamabad on Kaziranga told IANS on phone. towards human habitations,” an offi cial the fl oods that accounted for the death He added that since the southern rhinoceros. Kaziranga has a total of August 3 but will not have a sep- He added that the animals were res- told IANS. The dead animals included 20 of animals. Fourteen Hog Deer died after boundary of the national highway is at a 2,401 rhinos as of 2015. arate meeting with the Pakistani cued using boats, some manually and rhinos, 185 Hog Deer, nine Swamp Deer, being hit by vehicles on National High- height, animals often move to take shel- Other places in India where they are host of the meeting of interior some with the help of tranquillisers. four Wild Buff alo, 12 Wild Boar, two Hog way-37, while eight animals, including ter there during fl oods. found include Uttar Pradesh’s Dudhwa ministers from the South Asian “No tiger deaths have been reported so Badger, a Pelican, six Sambar deer, two four rhinos and a Hog Badger, are said to This also invites poachers. Tiger Reserve (30 rhinos) and West Association for Regional Co- far, nor have we found any tiger carcass- porcupines and a python. have died due to natural causes. “We have our teams there, we have Bengal’s forests (229). operation (Saarc). Harvard economic lessons for Communist Kerala

former chairman of US Federal liament, its president Asadud- once polls were announced. a fraction of what is collected overty and deprivation Reserve, and Kenneth Rogoff , a din Owaisi, two members in the Section 77(1) of the Repre- goes to the party coff ers, rest into are the bedrocks on which former director at the Interna- Maharashtra state assembly and sentation of the People Act, 1951 the candidate’s and his cronies’ Pcommunism is built. The Delhi Diary tional Monetary Fund (IMF). seven in the Telengana assembly makes it mandatory for every pockets. movement could not have existed Gopinath advising a commu- besides several members in sun- candidate to the House of the Former prime minister Atal without these two defi ning fac- nist chief minister? If chalk and dry civic bodies. People or a State Legislative As- Behari Vajpayee once famously tors. Communism ceases to be a cheese come to mind, nobody Although the AIMIM wields sembly to keep a separate and said that “every legislator starts force when poverty is removed. By A K B Krishnan can blame you. For the Marxists considerable infl uence in Hy- correct account of all expendi- his career with the lie of the false So, to remain poor also means America represents everything derabad, from where it has been ture incurred or authorsed by election return he fi les”. The sad to survive as a communist. evil, economically or otherwise. winning the parliamentary seat him/her or by his/her election fact is most of these legislators Extend this to encompass as But, as they say, if you keep go- since 1989, its two victories in agent, between the date on which continue to live that lie through- many people as possible to en- ing towards the east you shall end the 2014 Maharashtra assembly he/she was nominated and the out their political career. sure that the movement remains front of their own. Vijayan said he would want to up in the west. It has happened elections were seen as a precur- date of declaration of the result In 2014-15 the ruling BJP re- intact. The wheel spun once again last lead the state into the market to Vijayan. There is poetic justice sor to its march to strength in of election, both dates inclusive. ported an income of $145mn A rich communist, therefore, May and the communists came economy with private capital and here. northern India. In the “Compendium of In- and showed an expenditure of is an oxymoron. on top. Five years from now it will for this he was willing to talk to The party has announced its structions” to the 2014 Lok $136.2mn. Kerala, though, is not your be the turn of the Congress. anyone, including the “dreaded” intention to put up candidates Sabha elections, ECI Director- The corresponding fi gures for ordinary, run-of-the-mill com- Or, will it? multinationals. The usual sus- Election panel in all 403 seats in next year’s UP General P K Dash wrote: “It is the Congress Party are a balanced munist state. The simple reason History suggests it could well pects within the party and front flexes muscle, elections, a decision that could true that multi-party democracy $114.1mn. being it is not poor. In a way it be, but the communists have, for protested but Vijayan wouldn’t pitch it in direct confl ict with the cannot function without use of As much as 82% of the Con- is indeed an oxymoron. There is once, a helmsman who thinks a care. but will it endure? ruling Samajwadi Party of Mu- money, which is essential for gress Party’s income was from absolutely no industry worth the wholesale change in the outlook Then his Finance Minister layam Singh Yadav which counts election campaigns but it is also “unknown” sources while the name that Kerala can call its own. of the party is required for it to Thomas Issac stunned the party he Election Commission Muslims as its sole preserve. conceded at all hands that the BJP’s $101mn (73%) came from Yet it is by far the most devel- survive through these fi ve years establishment by telling report- of India (ECI) recently is- But the AIMIM is still consid- abuse of ‘Money Power’ entails similar “unknown” sources. It is oped state in the country on al- and, if things go according to his ers in the national capital that Tsued an order that, on the ered a minor regional outfi t, so its certain risks…” anybody’s guess what the quid most every parameter although plan, retain power for the next Kerala was willing to support face of it, seemed quite innocu- disqualifi cation in the local gov- An estimate by the Centre for pro quo could be with such un- the reasons for this are not far to fi ve. the goods and services tax (GST) ous and uninspiring for many of ernment polls in one state did not Media Studies in Delhi puts the known contributors. seek. The Gulf! Chief Minister Pinarayi Vi- amendment bill which has been the mainstream newspapers to attract much attention. total cost of the 2014 Lok Sabha The ECI’s bold step in dis- Because of the high literacy, it jayan is setting about controlling hanging fi re for more than a dec- push the news on to inside pages The signifi cance of the ECI’s and state assembly election cam- qualifying so many parties in one is also the most politically con- the state in a way no communist ade. and the electronic media to ig- decision goes beyond the size of paigns at $4.9bn. According to fell sweep must be seen as an at- scious state in India. Perhaps leader has dared to till this day. When murmurs of dissent nore it but nevertheless had a the parties involved. The Economist that would make tempt to end that lie. This is only due to this reason the electorate With his Left Democratic Front fl oated, Vijayan doused them powerful message if taken to its Many feel that not since the days it the second-most expensive in the fi rst step in a long journey to has rarely allowed any one party (LDF) coalition winning 91 of the saying Issac had his support to logical conclusion. of Chief Election Commissioner T world history, trailing just behind set things right in India’s corrup- to dominate, although it must 140 seats, Vijayan is unassailable, say what he said. The ECI’s Maharashtra of- N Seshan has the ECI taken such a America’s of 2012, which cost tion tainted politics. The big fi sh be said that it was here that the much like Prime Minister Naren- And now the icing of the fi ce disqualifi ed 191 parties from bold and absolute step. $6bn. is out there for all to see. communists made history by dra Modi is in the Lok Sabha. cake, as it were, Gita Gopinath, contesting the civic polls in the Long-time election watchers But the Indian expense fi gure Will the ECI be able to net winning the fi rst ever democratic But unlike Modi, who has to American-educated professor of state because they had not fur- will remember how in the six years is just an estimate whereas the them? The commission has its elections in the world. contend with a hostile opposi- economics at Harvard Univer- nished details of their income starting 1990 Seshan changed the actual number could be much, work cut out because without the Power has more often than not tion-dominated Rajya Sabha, sity will be Vijayan’s adviser on and funding. profi le of the Election Commis- much higher. The reality is that active co-operation of the politi- alternated between the Congress Vijayan has nothing to fear from matters fi nancial concerning the Prominent among the 191 par- sion from just another subservi- a major portion of the funds col- cal parties, the government and, Party, lately in coalition with sev- anyone. He is fully conscious of state. ties was the All India Majlis-e- ent arm of the government to a lected in the name of elections if required, the courts, this will eral others, and the communists this and showing it too. A great votary of liberalisation, Ittihadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) totally independent entity which is in cash and there cannot be remain a work in progress but who have also strung together a Immediately after taking over, she is a protégé of Ben Bernanke, which has one Member of Par- wielded almost limitless powers proper accounting of this as only never completed. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 17 INDIA Government Striking a pose to off er fresh proposals on GST Bill

IANS sate states for the loss of revenue not adversely aff ect the federal New Delhi for fi ve years has already been in- structure and the consumer at corporated in the amended bill. large,” Congress spokesman P L The Bharatiya Janata Party has Punia told reporters. he government is likely to issued a whip to all its Rajya Sab- Noting that the GST is very come up with fresh pro- ha members to be present in the important for the economy, in- Tposals over pending Con- house for the next three days to dustry, business and also for the gress demands on the Goods and get the GST Bill passed. consumers, he said: “We agree Services Tax (GST) Bill to get “The GST Bill is listed for with that objective in mind. Indian artist Korakula Munesh poses for a photograph in the final procession during the Bonalu festival at the Sri Akkanna the opposition party’s support Wednesday. We hope it will be “It is the Congress party which Madanna Mahankali Temple in Hyderabad. for the long-pending legislation passed through consensus,” mooted the idea of GST, which listed to be taken up in the Rajya Parliamentary Aff airs Minister was opposed by the BJP and es- Sabha tomorrow. Ananth Kumar told reporters pecially the present Prime Min- Government sources said that yesterday. ister, Narendra Modi. while a key Congress demand to “The mood is in favour of “We had raised certain valid drop the proposed one per cent passing the bill,” he said, adding issues and the negotiations are additional tax on interstate sale that parleys are being held with still on.” had been met last week as the diff erent political parties as the The GST Bill, fi rst mooted by the previous Congress-led Unit- IndiGo to delay accepting Union Cabinet decided to amend bill concerns all the states. the bill, the government is will- The government had initially ed Progressive Alliance govern- ing to walk some distance on its planned to take up the Goods and ment, envisions a pan-India GST other two demands — a cap of Services Tax Bill today but opted to thoroughly overhaul India’s 18% on the GST rate and an inde- to delay it by a day apparently indirect tax regime. It has been already passed by Airbus A320neo planes pendent dispute redress mecha- because of Congress president nism. Sonia Gandhi’s scheduled pro- the Lok Sabha. The government lacks major- gramme in Varanasi today, which The states will draft their own By Aditi Shah, Reuters InterGlobe president Aditya Ghosh said with slow engine startup times and errone- ity in the Rajya Sabha, where the is likely to be attended by many State GST (SGST) bills based on New Delhi IndiGo still expects to have a total of 24 ous engine software messages in the new Congress is the single-largest party leaders as well Rajya Sabha the draft model law with minor A320neo planes in its fl eet by the end of this engine, already causing a delay in the deliv- party. members. variations, incorporating state- fi scal year ending March 31, 2017, if there are ery of planes to customers. The sources said the dispute The Congress said yesterday specifi c exemptions. udget airline IndiGo might have to no delays in taking delivery due to engine IndiGo, India’s largest airline, received its redress mechanism will be struc- that it was prepared to accept The Centre and the states will delay taking delivery of more Air- problems. fi rst A320neo in March after a three-month tured in a way that the states will every reasonable solution on the also have to approve the integrat- Bbus A320neo planes to allow Pratt & “Pratt & Whitney and Airbus both are delay and has taken delivery of another four have a greater say in the matter. GST Bill but added that the con- ed GST law or iGST, which will Whitney time to sort out engine problems, trying very hard to fi x the issues. Right now since then. They said that the GST rate sultations are still on. deal with inter-state movement the carrier’s owner said yesterday. we just want them to focus on that and meet “Operationally the A320neo continues will also be based on a principle “We are prepared to accept of goods. IndiGo, owned by InterGlobe Aviation, those timelines they have given us,” Ghosh to be a challenge,” Ghosh said, adding that that is fair to both the states and every reasonable solution which The constitution amendment has ordered 430 A320neo narrow-body air- told a call with analysts. problems with the engines on its existing the consumers. does not adversely aff ect busi- bill needs to be ratifi ed by more craft in total, making it one of Airbus’s larg- Pratt & Whitney, a unit of United Tech- A320neo planes were making it diffi cult for The mechanism to compen- ness and industry, and does than half of the states. est customers. nologies Corp, has encountered problems IndiGo to maintain fl ight schedules. Leopard Tearful adieu to Rakesh Siddaramaiah wake-up IANS to pay homage to Rakesh. Many Mysuru were seen grieving for the untimely call for death and loss of a young leader. Among the VIPs who off ered housands of people, includ- fl oral tributes to Rakesh were state this couple ing VIPs and common folks, Governor Vajubhai Vala, Union Tyesterday bid a tearful adieu Minister Sadananda Gowda, Con- to Rakesh Siddaramaiah, elder son gress general secretary Digvijaya DPA of Karnataka Chief Minister Sid- Singh, Congress leader in the Lok New Delhi daramaiah, before his mortal re- Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, former mains were laid to rest in the family BJP Chief Minister B S Yeddyurap- farmhouse at T Katur, about 20km pa, former JD-S Chief Minister H D leopard terrifi ed a couple from here. Kumaraswamy, state cabinet min- holidaying in the town of “The last rites were performed at isters, lawmakers and leaders of ANainital in northern India the farmhouse before sunset as per political parties. after it broke into their hotel room, the ‘Halumatha’ tradition under The cortege was brought here in offi cials said yesterday. the guidance of Niranjananda Puri a special aircraft from Bengaluru Sumit Rathore and his wife swamiji in the presence of seers, after it was fl own in from Brussels Shivani were woken by the sound priests, relatives and family mem- earlier in the day. of breaking glass and discovered a bers of Siddaramaiah amid tight Siddaramaiah, his wife Parvathi, leopard walking around their room security,” an offi cial told IANS here. their daughter-in-law and younger in the early hours of Sunday, Naini- Rakesh, 39, died of multiple-or- son Yathindra accompanied the tal forest ranger Pramod Tiwari said. gan failure on Saturday at Antwerp cortege from Brussels. The big cat that had broken a win- University Hospital in Brussels, Holding back tears and with dow pane to get into the room, en- Belgium. folded hands, an emotional Sid- tered the bathroom moments later. Even before the cortege carrying daramaiah stood by the cortege and “I quickly covered my wife and Rakesh body arrived at the farm- expressed gratitude to all the people myself with a blanket as I saw house from Mysuru in a convoy, who came to the venue for paying the leopard enter the bathroom. I accompanied by the chief minister respects to Rakesh and sharing his rushed to close the bathroom door and his family members, people grief over the personal tragedy. and called the hotel management,” gathered in large numbers around Elaborate security arrangements Sumit Rathore told the Hindustan the farmhouse to have last glimpse were made by the district authori- Times. of the departed soul. ties to regulate the fl ow of mourn- A forest department team was “Public was not allowed inside ers in thousands and prevent any dispatched to trap the leopard but it the farmhouse for security reasons, untoward incident. jumped out through the bathroom privacy and to avoid inconvenience Apart from people from Mysuru, ventilator and escaped into nearby to the family members during the Siddaramaiah’s home city, hun- forest before the team arrived. last rites,” the offi cial said. dreds of others from his Varuna vil- Leopards and other wild animals In the afternoon, it was a sea of lage and Chamundeshwari, which often stray into cities and towns in humanity at the exhibition grounds he represents in the legislative India, sometimes attacking people. in Mysuru where the fl ower-decked assembly as the ruling Congress In February, a leopard that had cortege was kept for paying last re- lawmaker, made a beeline for a last strayed into an empty school near spects by the public. glimpse of Rakesh’s body, which Bangalore, injured three people be- Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah joins mourners at the funeral of his elder son Rakesh Siddaramaiah at the Dasara Expo Thousands of people came from was kept on a raised dais for paying fore it was captured. Grounds in Mysuru yesterday. far and nearby towns and villages homage. ‘Water metro’ set to revolutionise Kochi transport

By Vidhi Doshi “Venice of the east” because of in the region has also brought watercrafts, which will connect jobs, or work as salesmen or do and slow speeds have led to de- The water metro project in- Guardian News Service the large network of canals which pollution and traffi c to the water- 17 of the 20 islands in Kochi. that kind of thing. mand for a revamped public cludes a fl eet of electric mini- connect them, are home to some ways, aff ecting local fi shermen’s A single journey will cost Rs4 “So there is a real demand for transport system. buses to help islanders get to and of Kerala’s poorest people, many livelihoods. and travellers will use prepaid cheap, reliable, public transport. “The old boats only go at about from the 38 new jetties. he city of Kochi in Kerala is of whom have little access to the The lack of jobs and opportu- cards onboard. “If I was living on an island, I’d three knots, which is like the speed The Rs7.47bn project will be to become the fi rst in the urban mainland and earn less nities on the islands has driven The same smart card will also be able to check the time of my of fast walking. They are delayed supported by loans from the Tcountry to get its own wa- than £1 a day. migration to mainland Kochi. allow people to buy basic food boat on my mobile phone, and by hours, and they never follow the KfW, the German government’s ter metro system, in a move that They hope the new form of For those who choose to stay supplies such as sugar or rice. use an app to plan my journey. It’s timetables, so it’s kind of a chicken development bank. authorities say could transform public transportation, scheduled on the islands, few jobs apart A spokesperson from Kochi almost a door-to-door service. and egg situation — nobody wants An ambitious revamp of the the lives of thousands of fi sher- to be fully functional by 2020, from fi shing and rice farming in Metro Rail Limited said: “An “At present, many people to use them because the service is city’s bus and rail links is also men and farmers living on islands will bring them easy access to paddy fi elds are available. average person living on the is- don’t have access to boats at all.” not good, and because nobody is under way, designed to reduce in the local lagoon. jobs, education and services on More than 100,000 island- lands is making around Rs5,000 About 2,400 islanders pres- using them the government has dependence on private vehicles, The islands in the Vembanad the mainland. ers are expected to use the new a month and if they work in the ently use an old state-run boat been withdrawing boats from the which cause huge traffi c jams and lagoon, inevitably known as the The unregulated tourist trade metro, complete with modern city, they usually have clerical service, but unreliable timings fl eet,” said the spokesperson. parking problems. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

Mexico City Venezuela again braces for cleans up ash from answer on Maduro recall volcano AFP AFP 4mn signatures in just three days. Mexico City Caracas To win the ensuing recall referen- dum, Maduro’s opponents would need more votes than he won the presidency he Popocatepetl volcano enezuelan electoral authorities with in 2013 — around 7.5mn. yesterday spewed ash on are to meet to rule on the opposi- Time appears to be on the president’s Tswaths of Mexico City and Vtion’s bid for a referendum on re- side. its suburbs, leaving a thin coat of moving President Nicolas Maduro from His allies have an arsenal of possible dust on streets and cars. power amid an economic implosion. delaying strategies, from more than Ash from the volcano, which The National Electoral Council (CNE) 8,000 legal challenges fi led against the is 55km southeast of the capital, left the opposition hanging last Tues- opposition’s recall petition, to a request dropped on eight southern bor- day, its original deadline to rule on to the electoral authorities to ban MUD oughs of the mega-city and six whether Maduro’s opponents had suc- for alleged fraud. of its suburbs, according to the cessfully gathered 200,000 signatures Venezuela has sunk into crisis as glo- National Disasters Prevention on a petition to make the leftist leader bal prices for its main export, oil, have Center (CENAPRED). face a recall vote. collapsed. “I had cleaned the car yesterday The opposition needs a green light The economy is facing its third year and today it was gray and dirty from the CNE to move on to the next of deep recession this year. when I woke up,” said Luis Carlos stage of the long and winding process The infl ation rate is the highest in the Carranza, a 27-year-old driver for — their strategy for ousting a president world — 180 % last year, and forecast by ride-sharing app Uber, who lives they blame for food shortages, hyper- the IMF to come in at more than 700 % near the international airport. infl ation and mounting chaos gripping this year. Activity at the volcano in Venezuela. The economic tailspin is threatening central Puebla state, popularly Instead of giving them an answer last 17 years of socialist rule under Maduro known as the “Popo” or “Don Tuesday, the electoral authorities tes- and his late predecessor, Hugo Chavez. Goyo,” intensifi ed late Sunday tily said they “will not accept pressure” The opposition’s referendum push before returning to normal at and scheduled a meeting for Monday to comes after it won legislative elections around 3.30am yesterday, CEN- consider their auditors’ report on the in December, only to fi nd its power sty- APRED said in a statement. opposition’s petition. mied by the Supreme Court. The explosions launched It is unclear when they will announce Defying the high court, which it says white-hot rocks as far as one kil- their decision. is also in Maduro’s pocket, MUD rein- ometre (600 yards) on its north- The centre-right coalition behind stalled three of its lawmakers in the Na- eastern slope while emitting ash the referendum push, the Democratic A man wears a headband with an image of Hugo Chavez at a pro-government meeting in Caracas. tional Assembly last Thursday, ignoring and water and gas vapours. Unity Roundtable (MUD), accuses the a court decision to suspend them. Civil protection authorities electoral authority of being in bed with maker Julio Borges, the legislative ma- line for scarce food and basic goods. to Maduro’s hand-picked vice presi- The move — which Maduro’s camp urged residents to remove ash Maduro. jority leader. Human Rights Watch said last week dent. wasted no time appealing — restores from roofs and streets, and put But they are hoping pressure from “The whole country is counting on opposition supporters have been ar- A recent poll found 64 % of Venezue- the opposition’s powerful two-thirds the dust in trash bags to keep it Venezuelans desperate over the col- change.” rested and tortured for protesting. lans would vote to remove Maduro, who majority. from clogging drainage systems. lapsing economy will force the govern- But MUD, a fractious coalition, has Maduro’s opponents are racing to has declared a state of emergency and The Supreme Court barred the three The alert level remained at ment’s hand. struggled to rally mass protests. force a referendum by January 10, the given his military sweeping powers over lawmakers in January over allegations Yellow Phase Two, two steps “There are two options at this point: Security fears and the opposition’s cutoff to trigger new elections. food production and distribution. of electoral fraud. under preventive evacuations of common sense and sanity, or the crisis own internal divisions have likely kept After that date — four years into the But even if electoral authorities vali- The opposition condemns the deci- homes. drags on and the country is going to ex- many Venezuelans away, along with the president’s six-year term — a successful date the initial recall petition, the op- sion as a bald attempt to strip them of The 5,452m volcano, Mexico’s plode at any moment,” said MUD law- fact that many are too busy standing in recall vote would simply transfer power position will still have to collect another their super-majority. second highest summit, regular- ly spews ash but it rarely reaches the metropolitan area of 21mn people. Maria Elena Gonzalez, a Anti-government protest 43-year-old lawyer, was taking Mother-in-law of F1’s her two children to summer school when they noticed the dust. “They were surprised to see Ecclestone rescued the grey layer on the car and they started drawing on the windows with their fi ngers,” she said as from kidnappers she cleaned her car with a wet cloth in front of her house in the borough of Alvaro Obregon. AFP ly Veja, reported that the ransom “I have to hurry to clean it. I Sao Paulo demand was $36.6mn. can’t go to the offi ce like this.” Police did not respond to AFP requests for information. razilian police said on Sun- Kidnappers posing as delivery Tourists killed in day they had rescued the men abducted her from her home Bolivia car crash Bkidnapped mother-in-law in the Jardin Santa Helena area of of British Formula 1 boss Bernie southern Sao Paulo, neighbors Ecclestone unharmed after eight told AFP last week. ive tourists from Belgium, days in captivity. She is the mother of Eccle- Italy and Peru were killed Aparecida Schunck Flosi Pal- stone’s 38-year-old Brazilian Fin a car crash at Bolivia’s meira — the 67-year-old mother wife Fabiana Flosi, who met the famous salt fl ats, the Salar de of Ecclestone’s Brazilian wife 85-year-old billionaire while Uyuni, authorities said Sunday. Fabiana Flosi — had been miss- working for the Interlagos Grand “A tour company vehicle was ing since she was kidnapped on Prix in 2009. in a crash and fl ipped over at the July 22. The couple married in Swit- salt fl at itself, and as a result, fi ve Authorities said in a short state- zerland and now live in London. people were killed and another ment she had been “liberated” and Kidnappings were common in three injured,” said Uyuni police was “unharmed,” adding that they Brazil in the late 1990s and the chief Rodolfo Salazar. had arrested two suspects. early 2000s, but dropped with Four of the deceased were Local Globo TV showed the more intensive policing and the women, he said, but no identi- woman hugging waiting relatives creation of a specialized anti- ties were immediately given. as she arrived at a Sao Paulo po- kidnapping department. The injured were taken to a lice station under police escort. Relatives of footballers were hospital in Potosi, 200km away. A demand for a ransom of particularly targeted, including Early indications were the ve- $188mn was made to the family via the mother of Brazilian interna- hicle was speeding, Salazar said. e-mail, but had not been paid, O tional star Robinho in 2004. Salar de Uyuni is the world’s Protesters take part in a demonstration against interim President Michel Temer in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Estado de Sao Paulo daily reported. She was held for 41 days in the largest salt fl ats area, and Boliv- Another newspaper, the week- outskirts of Sao Paulo. ia’s top tourist attraction. Brazilian restaurants turn waste back into food

By Natalia Ramos, AFP The country recycles about With Danelon’s help, the res- taurant pays 900 reals ($275) a Sao Paulo 3% of its waste, according to taurant now has cherry toma- month for the composting and ABRELPE. toes, lemons and lavender plants gardening service — about the To fi ll the void, Danelon de- growing on its rooftop, a stone’s same as the municipal waste col- here’s not a lot of green cided to put her passion for com- throw from the skyscrapers of lection fee. in the urban jungle of Sao posting and gardening to work the Brazilian economic capital’s “We have to look squarely at our TPaulo, but thanks to Fern- on behalf of restaurants in her fi nancial district. own waste, value it and know that anda Danelon, restaurants in the hometown. Its French chef, 34-year-old Ju- it can be reused,” said Danelon. Brazilian mega-city are turning Her organization collects res- lien Mercier, signed up for Dane- She off ers starter kits for peo- their waste back into food at in- taurants’ food waste at their lon’s program six months ago. ple looking to make their own novative gardens tucked amid doors, turns them into compost “What we grow here isn’t compost at home. the skyscrapers. over the course of three to four enough to supply the whole res- More and more people are Danelon, a 43-year-old jour- months, and delivers the com- taurant. But the important thing contacting her to ask about set- nalist by training, quit her day post back to the restaurants to is to understand that we’re part of ting up communal gardens on the job two years ago to launch the fertilize in-house gardens — a process. These things are grow- roofs of their apartment build- Guandu Institute, which recycles which the institute also helps ing here, and we can also boast ings, she said. restaurants’ food waste and helps them set up and maintain. that we recycle a ton and a half of At Mesa III, a deli in a working- them set up gardens to put all She started with just one res- organic waste every month,” he class neighbourhood, custom- that compost to good use. taurant. told AFP as he inspected his veg- ers are greeted by basil, sage and Cities in Brazil, the economic Today, she has 17, and is in talks etables and herbs. rosemary plants ever since the giant of Latin America, throw with 10 more. The waste is composted at a Guandu Institute trained the staff . out more than 75mn tons of trash “At fi rst, I collected the trash facility about 50km outside the “If we as a society realize how a year, according to the Brazilian myself in my car,” Danelon said city, where it is mixed with earth much trash we’re producing, Association of Public Sanitation with a laugh as she turned over dirt and allowed to biodegrade over we’ll see it’s just atrocious,” said Companies (ABRELPE). About with a shovel in the leafy courtyard the course of months. owner Ana Soares, 63. half of it is organic waste, ac- of her house in Sao Paulo. It is a “traditional compost- Her restaurant has installed cording to the Brazilian environ- “But now we’ve grown, and ing technique,” without enzymes a recycling system for glass and ment ministry. today we recycle 30 to 40 tons of or earthworms to accelerate the switched to cardboard take-out There are no municipal recy- organic waste per month.” process, said Danelon. containers to cut down on plastic. cling or composting programs Her partners include French But with a little patience, all “That’s why we joined this to reduce all that garbage, and restaurant Le Bilboquet, in the that waste turns into rich, nutri- beautiful project,” she said.”We triaging trash is a foreign concept chic downtown neighbourhood ent-packed compost. have to learn to look at things in to most Brazilians. of Jardins. The average 50-table res- a new way.” Fernanda Danelon, founder of Guandu Institute, picks spices from her vegetable garden in Sao Paulo. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 19 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN Sharif chairs Taliban truck bomb high-level rocks hotel in Kabul security meet IANS iant LEAs, unfl inching resolve AFP Islamabad of the entire nation and eff orts Kabul of the federal and provincial governments.” akistan Prime Minister Terming the extremist Taliban truck bomb Nawaz Sharif yesterday ideology a global threat, the blasted a hotel for for- Pexpressed his resolve to prime minister said: “Pakistan Aeigners in Kabul Monday, make the country secure for has confronted the blow of triggering a seven-hour gun and every single citizen irrespec- terrorists for several years be- grenade assault that highlighted tive of ethnicity and religion, ing the front-line state in war growing insecurity in a city still in the wake of frequent attacks on terror.” reeling from its deadliest attack on minority groups. for 15 years. Chairing a top-level meeting “The country has The guests and staff of the to review the current security embarked upon a right Northgate hotel escaped un- situation at the PM House here, track and we will enable harmed, but one policeman was Sharif said, “The country has every citizen to reap killed after the suicide truck embarked upon a right track and the benefits of a secure, bomber paved the way for two we will enable every citizen to stable and prosperous other armed insurgents to enter reap the benefi ts of a secure, sta- Pakistan” the heavily guarded facility near ble and prosperous Pakistan.” Kabul airport. Ever since the October 28, “No other country has suf- The massive explosion re- 2011, attack on a Protestant fered to the extent Pakistan verberated through the Afghan Church in Bahawalpur, Pun- has been aff ected socially and capital, leaving a huge muddy jab, resulted in 16 persons economically while fi ghting crater and piles of scorched de- killed over 2.9mn followers of the scourge of terrorism and bris strewn at the compound, seven diff erent faiths and their extremism,” he added. which was previously attacked places of worship have been The meeting was attended by in July 2013. targeted by terrorists. Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, In- “A truck bomb packed with Sharif lauded the role of the terior Minister Chaurdhy Nisar explosives struck the outer (pe- law enforcement agencies in Ali Khan, National Security Ad- rimeter) wall of the hotel,” said maintaining peace and secu- viser Nasser Khan Janjua, Inter- Kabul police chief Abdul Rah- rity in the country. Services Intelligence Director man Rahimi. “Terrorists and extremists General Lt Gen Rizwan Akhtar, “One policeman lost his life elements are receding from Intelligence Bureau Director and three others were wounded the country due to countless General Aftab Sultan and other but none of the hotel staff or sacrifi ces rendered by our val- senior government offi cials. guests were hurt. Three Tali- ban fi ghters including the truck An Afghan security guard stands at the site of a truck bomb attack in Kabul yesterday. bomber were killed.” The attack came days after the – hunkered down in safe rooms all left the house screaming and holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Afghanistan, saying the group Islamic State group claimed twin throughout the night. shouting as our windows were which ended in early July. has been under heavy pressure bombings that left 80 people It added that Nato special shattered.” The previous attack on the in its eastern strongholds from Panama Papers panel dead in Kabul, the deadliest at- forces had overseen the clear- Taliban spokesman Zabihullah hotel compound in 2013 also in- both US air strikes and a ground tack in the city since the Taliban ance operation at the Northgate, Mujahid said insurgents armed volved a Taliban truck bomb fol- off ensive led by Afghan forces. were ousted from power in 2001. a luxury enclave which had been with rocket-propelled grenades lowed by a gun siege. Nine peo- The latest attacks in Kabul are to meet next week Afghan commandos set up fortifi ed with blast walls, watch- and machine guns blasted their ple were killed, including four a grim reminder of growing inse- a tight security cordon around towers and sniff er dogs. way into the compound housing Nepalese. curity in Afghanistan since most Northgate, which is used by Tremors from the bombing “American invaders” after the The IS twin bombings on July foreign troops withdrew in 2014. Internews probing the PanamaLeaks. military contractors and other rattled windows across the city. truck bomb went off . 23 tore through crowds of mi- The rising violence has resulted Islamabad The government desires to foreigners, as sporadic grenade It also cut a power line that sup- He said the attack was meant nority Shia Hazara protesters as in large civilian casualties. convene a meeting on August explosions and gunfi re shook the plies electricity to half of Kabul, to avenge the killing of former they gathered to demand that The UN last week said civil- 2 or August 22,” he said in a area after the truck bomb struck according to the city’s main utility. Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar a major power line be routed ian casualties rose to a record peaker of Pakistan’s Na- statement. around 1:30am. “The blast was so strong that Mansour in a US drone strike in- through the central province of high in the fi rst half of 2016, tional Assembly Sardar Sadiq said when he con- Local TV station Tolo cited a it startled everybody out of their side Pakistan in May. Bamiyan, one of the most de- with 1,601 civilians killed and SAyaz Safi q yesterday said tacted the Opposition Leader source inside the facility as say- beds,” Abdul Mohib, a resident The militants are intensify- prived areas of Afghanistan. 3,565 wounded – a four percent a meeting of Parliamentary in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan he ing that all the staff and guests of the neighbourhood, said. ing their annual summer off en- But offi cials have denied that increase compared to the same Committee on ToRs would be told him that he was busy till – including at least 11 foreigners “The children were shocked. We sive after a brief lull during the it marked a turning point for IS period last year. convened next week and its August 2. date will be fi xed after con- Sadiq said he had also con- sultation between the govern- tacted the PTI legislator Dr Gunmen kill two people in Baluchistan ment and opposition. Shireen Mazari and asked her Safi q is mediating between to give a new name in place of Gunmen riding a motorcycle a senior police off icer in Quetta, the government and opposi- Shah Mehmood Qureshi, as he killed two members of said. 12 PIA staff held in heroin case tion on the former’s request. was not in the country. Pakistan’s Shia minority Afridi said the pair, from the Sadiq had contacted op- “Finance Minister Sena- yesterday in an apparent Hazara ethnic group, were position leaders in the Na- tor Ishaq Dar told me that he sectarian attack, police said. labourers in a coalmine. Reuters behaviour by the staff of cash- with respect to their jobs, in addi- tional Assembly and the Sen- was departing for Dubai to The killing took place in The rickshaw driver was unhurt Karachi strapped Pakistan Interna- tion to the legal consequences.” ate Syed Khursheed Shah and attend talks with the IMF and the suburbs of Quetta, the in the attack in the Saryab road tional Airlines was uncovered In June last year, the airline Aitzaz Ahsan respectively and requested that the Parlia- provincial capital of the area. after the military-run Anti- sacked fi ve cabin crew who had PTI senior leader Dr Shireen mentary Committee meeting southwestern province of “We are investigating but akistan has arrested at Narcotics Force raided a fl ight been detained in Britain on accu- Mazari urging them to end be convened next week,” he Baluchistan, while the victims apparently it is a sectarian least 12 staff of its na- from Lahore to Dubai fl ight on sations of trying to smuggle mo- the boycott of the committee added. were travelling in a rickshaw. attack,” Afridi said. Ptional carrier following Saturday, Danyal Gilani said. bile phones and foreign currency. meetings. He said the meeting of the “Gunmen on a motorcycle Noor Baloch, a police surgeon the discovery of 6kg of heroin “Around a dozen employees of In 2013, a PIA pilot was jailed “The government has Parliamentary Committee will stopped the rickshaw and then in Quetta civil hospital, told AFP in the toilet of an aircraft bound PIA have been detained and are for nine months in Britain after asked me in written to con- be convened next week and its opened fire on them and fled both victims were shot in the for Dubai, an airline spokesman being interrogated in connection being found to be over three vene a meeting of the Par- date will be fi xed after consul- the scene,” Abdullah Jan Afridi, head. said yesterday. with heroin seizure,” he said.“If times Britain’s legal alcohol liamentary Committee on tation with the government The latest instance of mis- proven guilty, they will face action limit for fl ying. formulation of ToRs for and opposition. Sole Afghan woman governor in a man’s world

AFP diminutive frame and soft de- authority,” the UNDP offi cial said Habibullah Radmanesh, Nili, Afghanistan meanour belies her steely in- later said, referring to Muradi’s Daikundi’s deputy governor. stinct for survival. struggles. For his part, Ghani has ap- The mother-of-two was hand- Muradi, who holds a degree pointed four female ministers urrounded by male advis- picked by Ghani in Kabul to lead in business administration but since he came to power in 2014, ers and condescending Daikundi, a mosaic of rolling hills lacks political clout, stands in risking political capital. S“mansplainers”, Masooma and boulder-strewn ridges in cen- strong contrast to warlords and Last year, for the fi rst time in Muradi holds her own against a tral Afghanistan, hemmed in by strongmen who govern other Afghanistan’s history he nomi- deep underswell of sexism in a insurgency-wracked provinces. provinces amid a deep-rooted nated a woman to the supreme society unaccustomed to women But protests erupted even system of patronage politics. court, but when she was rejected exercising authority. before she arrived in Daikundi, The antipathy towards her, by parliament he appointed a Breaking new ground as Af- with political opponents – al- observers say, highlights not just man instead. ghanistan’s only female gover- most all men – pillorying her sexism but also clashing political He also dismissed the only nor, Muradi’s ascent to the top lack of governance experience. interests. other woman governor, of cen- post in remote Daikundi prov- Muradi has since managed to Daikundi is among the most tral Ghor province, after protests ince is a remarkable feat in Af- hold on to the job, but the re- challenging of Afghanistan’s 34 from religious conservatives. ghanistan, where stubborn pa- sentment was palpable when she provinces to govern. “To genuinely give women triarchal traditions are at odds recently stepped out in Nili with Cut off from the outside a role in governance, Ghani with progressive ideas about a AFP, trailed by Kalashnikov-tot- world by heavy snow for several needs to push forward when he woman’s place in the world. ing guards. months of the year, its meagre encounters opposition,” said But barely a year after Presi- “Useless,” one man barked as almond harvests, mainstay of Heather Barr, a women’s rights dent Ashraf Ghani appointed she passed by. the local economy, are depend- researcher at Human Rights Muradi, her job hangs by a “Maybe she should be a gov- ent on the brutal vagaries of Watch.“This hasn’t been hap- thread, with growing calls for ernor just for women,” another weather. pening.” her ouster from religious con- growled. Rampant joblessness is a tick- There are fears that Muradi servatives and opponents. Women have made giant ing time bomb and most devel- might meet the same fate. It highlights the travails of be- strides since the Taliban regime opment plans are just on paper. But she can count on the un- ing the only woman in an over- was ousted in 2001, but they “There are schools but most bridled support of at least one whelmingly male preserve. are still so absent from public don’t have buildings, there are person – her husband. “People claim to be open- life that the social media hash- Afghan Hazara tribe female governor of Daikundi province Masooma Muradi (C right) speaking with hospitals but many don’t have Late one evening, after Muradi minded but many cannot bear tag #WhereAreTheWomen has shopkeepers at a bazaar in Nili, capital of Daikundi province. doctors,” said Haji Rasouli, a returned home, Khalil Hashem having a woman in this posi- gained traction in Afghanistan. grocery seller in Nili. walked into the room and said tion,” Muradi, 37, told AFP, “The attitudes throughout long been a boys’ club, which When she tried to talk, the A council member interjected “I support women’s empow- something you would seldom sinking into an overstuff ed sofa Afghanistan still are such that was apparent at a recent provin- man chairing the meeting stuck with a smirk. erment but will having a woman hear an Afghan husband, tradi- in her offi ce in the capital Nili, not everyone is ready to be gov- cial council meeting, attended his palm up to make her stop. “Say something about men’s governor solve all these prob- tionally blind to domestic de- decorated with faux sunfl owers erned by a woman,” said Douglas by more than a dozen men but Only when a woman UNDP problems too,” he said, setting lems?” tails, say to his wife: “Dinner has and a large portrait of a pouting Keh, Afghanistan country direc- just one woman. offi cial attending the meeting off a ripple of titters.“We really Ebbing international donor been served.” child. tor at the United Nations Devel- Swaddled in a blue scarf, she asked for her view, was she able are worried about men’s rights.” funding has exacerbated Mu- But he has also been at the re- “I won’t allow men to hush me opment Programme. sat at the edge of the room doo- to speak. “Paying lip service to women’s radi’s struggles. ceiving end of sexist wisecracks. up – society is not used to that “Women leaders need all the dling on the sofa upholstery us- “I recently replaced a man in empowerment is one thing but “Anyone in that position – “People call me her secretary, from a woman,” she added. support they can get,” he added. ing her fi nger as an imaginary the provincial council,” she be- real empowerment comes with man or woman – would strug- her baby sitter,” he said.“But I Barely fi ve feet tall, Muradi’s Daikundi’s administration has pen. gan. deference to a woman leader’s gle with dwindling resources,” am very proud of her.” Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 PHILIPPINES Philippine army resumes operations against NPA

Agencies Visaya said the NPA missed sions, military operations to se- Ronald dela Rosa ordered all resume operations against the NPA saying it could not be forced “Over the course of fi ve days Manila the “golden opportunity to cure our people, to protect our police units nationwide to be NPA in the region, following the into declaring a ceasefi re. that the Duterte ceasefi re dec- manifest commitment to the at- communities and to bring peace on alert following the lifting of presidential directive. The NPA, through its spokes- laration was in eff ect, there was tainment of our citizens’ much throughout the land, so it is not ceasefi re. Eastmincom actually covers man Rigoberto Sanchez, said zero compliance on the part of he Armed Forces of the sought peace throughout the far from the desire of each sol- “All offi ce/units must be on an area where the NPA rebels are they are willing to reciprocate the AFP. Its public expression of Philippines (AFP) yester- land.” dier to want peace because es- high alert and continue to dis- operating, particularly in South- the government’s unilateral support for the ceasefi re decla- Tday resumed operations “This could have been what sentially our soldiers are peace- charge their normal functions and ern Mindanao. ceasefi re but it should be in ac- ration was not refl ected on the against the New People’s Army the Filipino nation had been makers,” Padilla said. mandate to neutralise all threats to Two days after Duterte de- cordance with rules and guide- ground,” the CPP said. (NPA) after President Duterte waiting for – the silencing of Army chief Lt Gen Eduardo national security, protect the citi- clared the truce, the NPA at- lines of the communist leader- The CPP said it refused to or- scuttled the ceasefi re with com- guns that could have hastened Año said the troops will resume zenry, enforce the law and main- tacked a group of militiamen, ship. der the NPA to go on a ceasefi re, munist rebels. development especially in the operations against rebels. tain peace in all areas of responsi- killing one and wounding four Sanchez also said Duterte saying the government troops Duterte also placed the AFP countryside,” he said. “That was our former stance. bility,” Dela Rosa said. others in Kapalong, Davao del should review the military op- showed no plans to cease opera- and the Philippine National Po- AFP spokesman Brig Gen Res- We will implement the AFP’s “In this regard, a lifting/with- Norte. erations against the rebels. tions against the rebels. lice (PNP) under high alert and tituto Padilla said troops would be Internal Peace and Security Plan drawal of Suspension of Off en- Duterte had given the Com- Hours after Duterte lifted the The CPP justifi ed the attack ordered them to sustain off en- mobilised for combat operations. Bayanihan. We will continue sive Police Operations against munist Party of the Philippines- unilateral ceasefi re, the CPP in Davao del Norte, saying the sive operations. “Yes, it’s safe to say that some what we were doing before, to (the communist rebels) is hereby New People’s Army-National came up with a statement say- NPA rebels in the region were on AFP chief Lt. Gen. Ricardo units were deployed already,” he include military operations,” declared nationwide eff ective Democratic Front (CPP-NPA- ing they would issue their own “active defence mode” against Visaya has ordered all military said. Año said. immediately,” he said. NDF) up to Saturday to explain ceasefi re with the government. government troops. It said the units to withdraw from the oper- Padilla said troop deployment “If there is any sector that The military’s Eastern Mind- the attack and reciprocate the In the same statement, the attack was made to disable the ational guidelines issued by the started on Saturday night follow- wants peace, it is us… the mili- anao Command (Eastmincom) unilateral ceasefi re off ered by the CPP also blamed the AFP for its soldiers (militiamen) from car- President in regard to the unilat- ing the orders of the President. tary, “ he stressed. also issued a directive for all government. supposed failure to follow Du- rying out “further off ensive ac- eral ceasefi re with the rebels. “We are doing military mis- PNP chief Director General units to be on high alert and to The deadline lapsed with the terte’s ceasefi re order. tions.” Duterte orders town mayor, son to surrender

Agencies telligence surveillance. tion’s campaign against ille- Manila Senior Supt Raul Supiter, gal drugs. provincial police director, said Last week, a former mayor in the prime targets in the opera- Maguing town in Lanao del Sur hilippine President Ro- tion, a town mayor in adjacent was arrested in Cagayan de Oro drigo Duterte yesterday Maguindanao province and his City, Misamis Oriental, along Pdemanded the surrender trusted aide, have eluded opera- with her Army offi cial husband. of a town mayor and his son tives. The Philippine Drug Enforce- on alleged drug traffi cking and Supiter did not name the sus- ment Agency-Northern Mind- threatened to issue a “shoot- pects to avoid jeopardising fol- anao recently confi rmed the on-sight” order, his spokesman low-up operations. identity of the arrested person said. However, during the raid, as Johaira Abinal alias Mayora Duterte issued the demand joint police operatives arrested Marimar, also known as the during a cabinet meeting that 15 other suspects, relatives of the “Drug Queen of the South,” who discussed updates on his admin- suspected narco politician, and is in Duterte’s list. istration’s crackdown on illegal seized from them packs of shabu Last month, Duterte accused Workers collect floating garbage at Manila baywalk, washed ashore after tropical storm Carina passed through northern Philippines drugs, which has resulted in the with an estimated market value fi ve police generals, two of whom yesterday. killing of more than 300 sus- of P1.2mn. were already retired, of being in- pects in just one month. volved in the illegal drug trade “President Duterte demanded “President Duterte and ordered them investigated. the surrender of Mayor Rolando demanded the surrender The generals have denied the Espinosa Sr of Albuera (town), of Mayor Rolando Espinosa allegations. Leyte (province) and his son Sr of Albuera (town), Leyte The 71-year-old president, who won elections in May on an Storm warnings lifted as Kerwin Espinosa on the grounds (province) and his son of drug traffi cking within 24 Kerwin Espinosa on the anti-crime campaign, has re- hours,” presidential spokesman grounds of drug traffi cking peatedly warned those involved Ernesto Abella said. within 24 hours” in illegal drugs and criminality If the father and son do not that he would kill them because they are destroying the Philip- ‘Carina’ exits Philippines surrender, “an order of shoot on The police fi led charges sight will be given if they resist against the arrested suspects, in- pines and the future of the coun- arrest and endanger the lives cluding the owners of the house try’s youth. Agencies fi sherfolk against rough to very to 105kph near the centre and food packs in Region 8. of arresting police offi cers,” he identifi ed as Makee Tamondong Dozens of targeted killings Manila rough seas over the northern gustiness of up to 135kph. Meanwhile, NDRRMC said added. and Armina Tamondong. have taken place almost daily in seaboard of Luzon, the eastern Weather forecasters said ‘Carina’ yesterday six roads and fi ve In a related development, law Citing reports, the police of- the Philippines, but with drugs seabaord of Central Luzon, and is moving west northwest at 24kph. bridges closed to traffi c in Re- enforcers are tracking down fi cial said the mayor is a well- and crime so deep-rooted, there evere Tropical Storm ‘Ca- the western and southern sea- Presidential Communications gions 1, 2, 5 and 7 will be passable the whereabouts of a municipal known “big-time” drug dealer is barely any public outrage. rina’ (international name: boards of southern Luzon. Sec Martin Andanar said con- within the day. The agency added mayor in Maguindanao, a sus- and also allegedly operating a Some 316 suspected drug SNida) has exited the Phil- The state weather bureau cerned agencies are on standby, P953,000 worth of relief assist- pected drug lord, who eluded shabu laboratory in his town. dealers were killed from July ippine Area of Responsibility said the estimated rainfall spearheaded by the National Dis- ance from DSWD and LGUs have the raid on Saturday where “Follow-up investigation is 1-27, 195 of which were vigilante (PAR) before noon yesterday, amount is from moderate to aster Risk Reduction and Manage- been provided in Region 2. P1.2mn worth of shabu (meth- still ongoing,” Supiter added. killings, according to police. and no longer has any direct ef- heavy within the severe tropical ment Council (NDRMMC) and DSWD Secretary Judy Tagui- amphetamine hydrochloride) It was not immediately Human rights groups estimate fect to any part of the country. storm’s 500km diameter. Department of Social Welfare and walo has also directed the fi eld was seized. known whether the mayor is the body count to be at least However, the Philippine At- At 10am yesterday, PAGASA Development (DSWD). offi ces in the aff ected regions to The raid was conducted with included in the “narco-may- double the offi cial number. mospheric, Geophysical and spotted the centre of Carina Andanar said family food continue monitoring the situa- a search warrant in Barangay ors” listed by President Ro- Duterte has not condemned Astronomical Services Admin- at 330km northwest of Laoag packs have already been prep- tion on the grounds and inten- Kalawag 1, a known lair of drug drigo Duterte as high-valued vigilante killings. He has previ- istration (PAGASA) in its 11am City, Ilocos Norte, with maxi- ositioned, with 30,000 food sify their coordination with the peddlers, after a long-drawn in- targets in the Administra- ously promoted them. weather bulletin still warned mum sustained winds of up packs in Region 1 and 1,900 local government units.

Helping hand House majority leader denies rushing Charter change

Manila Times “There’s no ‘inordinate fast- rental for the venue of the con- Manila tracking.’ It’s simply practical vention would cost at least ten and plain common sense. times more than the election A constitutional assem- costs. ouse majority Leader bly would spend no more than Congress can earmark the Rodolfo Fariñas on Sun- P2bn, while a constitutional estimated billions to be spent Hday denied allegations convention, from P6 to P7bn, for a two-year constitutional that Charter change is being and that fi gure is only for the convention to other produc- fast-tracked by the majority af- election of delegates,” Fariñas tive uses, such as education ter Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez said in a statement. and health, or perhaps even announced that amendments to “The salaries of the del- mitigation of traffic conges- the Constitution will be made egates, the complete person- tion in Metro Manila,” he through constitutional assembly. nel of the convention, and the pointed out.

President turns screws on mining

AFP Manila prices of nickel, a key raw ma- critical component on the terial for manufacturing steel, Philippine economy. Of close to 10-year highs. course it’s income but you resident Rodrigo Duterte “I can do away with 40bn are also making a critical raised the pressure on (pesos, or $840mn annual min- damage.” Pthe Philippines’ mining ing taxes). I will shut all of you There was no immediate re- sector yesterday, saying the down. action from mining industry resources-rich country can live You obey or we will survive as offi cials. without the industry if fi rms a nation without you,” Duterte Natural Resources and Envi- fail to comply with environ- told a rare press conference, re- ronment Secretary Gina Lopez mental laws. ferring to the industry. has suspended the operations Concern over the month-old “You drill and drill, caus- of several nickel mines and A worker helps his colleague push a bicycle cab with various biscuits for a store delivery, in metro Manila, Philippines, yesterday. government’s mining policies ing landslide after landslide. halted approval for all new had earlier helped drive global Then you tell us mining is a mining projects. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL/MALDIVES Maldives rejects pressure over law on defamation Ranil Wickramasinghe AFP tion which limited freedom of power to impose severe penal- “It will allow severe penal- further review before becoming sandy beaches are a popular draw Malé expression. ties on people seeking to exer- ties to be imposed on those who law. for wealthy Western tourists. “The Joint Statement seeks cise basic human rights. wish to exercise their demo- “The government, as it has The Indian Ocean archipela- to advance a notion of freedom cratic rights and freedoms, as consistently reiterated, welcomes go adopted multiparty democ- he Maldives brushed off of expression that is in fact re- “The Joint Statement seeks enshrined in the Universal Dec- the opportunity to engage with racy in 2008 after three decades Lanka PM warnings from West- stricted in four out of the fi ve to advance a notion of laration of Human Rights and its international partners,” it said. of autocratic rule by Yameen’s Tern governments yes- countries which are signatories freedom of expression that the International Covenant on “However, it does expect half-brother, Maumoon Abdul terday that a new defamation to the statement,” the foreign is in fact restricted in four Civil and Political Rights.” those partners to be constructive Gayoom. leaves for bill risked undermining basic ministry said in a statement. out of the fi ve countries The missive was supported and responsible in their actions.” But it has been gripped by freedoms on the troubled hon- “These countries have crimi- which are signatories to by the Sri Lanka-based diplo- Maldivian police arrested 16 turmoil since its fi rst democrat- eymoon islands, accusing its nalised defamation and have the statement” matic missions of Britain, Ger- journalists in April for protest- ically-elected leader Mohamed Indonesia critics of hypocrisy. enacted such statutes. Simi- many, Norway, the Netherlands ing against the bill, which seeks Nasheed was toppled in 2012. After a joint statement from larly, 23 out of the 28 member “The defamation bill that has and the European Union, which to criminalise defamation and Nasheed, whose jailing last Western missions urging Presi- states of the EU also have crimi- been introduced in the Maldiv- have responsibility for the Mal- proposes heavy fi nes and jail year on terror charges has been IANS dent Abdulla Yameen’s admin- nalised defamation.” ian parliament risks being, if dives. Australia too issued a terms for off enders. widely criticised by the West, Colombo istration to “return to the path The reaction came after passed, a serious setback for similar statement. Independent media institu- has since secured political asy- of democracy”, the government the United States led calls on freedom of speech in the Mal- The Maldivian statement said tions fear it could be used to stifl e lum in Britain after travelling countered that the same coun- Yameen to withdraw the bill, dives,” said the statement is- the bill, if approved, would be freedom of speech on the islands, there for medical treatment ri Lankan Prime Minister tries had their own legisla- saying it gave authorities the sued by the US embassy. referred to an all-party panel for whose pristine seas and white while on prison leave. Ranil Wickremesinghe left Sfor Indonesia on Monday to attend the 12th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF). During his visit, Wickremes- inghe will hold discussions with Indonesian President Joko ‘8-9 more Widodo and will meet other leaders on the sidelines of the summit, Xinhua news agency cited from a statement by Prime Minister’s Offi ce. militants This is Wickremesinghe’s fi rst visit to Indonesia after being sworn in as the country’s Prime Minister in August 2015. Prime Minister Wickramas- involved in inghe will make a special address at the inaugural session of the WIEF scheduled to take place from August 2-4 at the Jakarta Convention Centre, in Jakarta. cafe attack’ On the sidelines of the forum, the Sri Lankan prime minister is scheduled to hold bilateral talks IANS However, the offi cial did with Indonesian President Joko Dhaka not mention their links with Widodo, Finance Minister Sri the seven attackers - one of Mulyani Indrawati and Maritime whom was reported to be the Aff airs Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, angladesh police have chef of the cafe. Six of them the statement from the Prime information about eight were killed by Bangladeshi Minister’s Offi ce said. Bto nine more militants army on July 2 morning in The Sri Lankan premier will who were involved in the ter- “Operation Thunderbolt” also meet several state leaders ror attack at a cafe in upscale while a seventh person was including the Malaysian Prime Gulshan area in Dhaka that captured alive. Minister Dato Seri Najith Tun left 22 people, mostly foreign The police earlier arrested Abdul Razak and Tajikistan nationals, dead. four persons for sheltering the President Emomali Rahmon. PM The police claim that the attackers. will also hold discussions with militants were directly or in- Two of the freed hostages Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister directly involved in the attack were also questioned for their Jawad al-Anani. at the Holey Artisan Bakery alleged involvement in the at- The prime minister will be Students and teachers holding placards as they form a human chain to protest against terrorism in Dhaka yesterday. here when at least seven mili- tack. Police have reportedly accompanied by Prof Maithri tants stormed the cafe on the freed them but their families Wickremesinghe, Minister of night of July 1 and took more claim they have not returned Public Enterprises Development than 40 persons hostages. home. Kabir Hashim, State Minister of “We are collecting evidence Raihan Kabir, one of the National Integration and Rec- about them,” bdnews24 quot- suspected militants killed in a onciliation A H M Fouzie and the Bodies of Dhaka attackers ed counter-terrorism police raid on a house on July 26, was State Minister of Development chief Monirul Islam as saying the trainer of the attackers, Strategies and International still in morgue a month on yesterday. police said. Trade Sujeewa Senasinghe.

AFP Yesterday tens of thousands of group who were shot when police ents of the extremists were over- ID card mandatory for Nepal Dhaka university and college students launched a raid on a militant hide- whelmed with guilt. across the country stood in si- out on July 26 are also still being Six of the young men were lence and formed human chains stored at a state hospital. from well-off Dhaka families, nationals to travel to India he bodies of fi ve Islamists in front of their schools. “No relatives came to us or among them 18-year-old Rohan behind a deadly attack on “No terrorism, we want peace. offi cially applied for the bod- Imtiaz. Ta Bangladesh cafe have We want life without fear,” read ies of the 14 extremists,” Dhaka His father Imtiaz Khan Babul IANS ing the border in western Nepal Deputy Superintendent of Po- still not been claimed a month one banner at a women’s college Metropolitan Police spokesman said he was “stunned and Kathmandu ahead of India’s Independence lice Mohan Prasad Pokharel said later, police said yesterday, as in Dhaka. Masudur Rahman said. speechless” to hear of his only Day on August 15. Nepalis heading to India would be tens of thousands took to the Authorities have launched a Sohel Mahmud, a forensic son’s involvement in the carnage Nepali nationals do not re- turned back from border points if streets to protest against ex- nationwide campaign to shame doctor at the Dhaka Medical and apologised to the nation. ndian security agencies have quire visa to visit India and the they do not have identity cards. tremism. those behind the attacks. College Hospital, said several Abdus Salam said his brother made it mandatory for trav- same provision is also imple- Although Nepali nationals Relatives of the men have spo- Clerics at the mainly Muslim families had come to identify the Mohammad Abdullah, one of the Iellers from Nepal to carry mented for Indian nationals. travelling to Indian bordering ken of their shock and horror at country’s more than 300,000 bodies. nine killed in the shootout with valid identity cards, local media According to the Indian Seema markets like Jhulaghat, Dhar- learning of their involvement mosques have been asked to give “But no one wanted to take police, had betrayed the family said yesterday. Surakshya Bal (SSB), security has chula and Pithoragarh do not in the siege in Dhaka’s Gulshan sermons on why Islam forbids them home for burial,” he said. and his country. According to Nepal’s national been tightened at Jhulaghat, the need to carry identity cards, the neighbourhood, in which 20 killing. Police gave no offi cial reason, “That’s why we don’t want to news agency, Rastriya Samachar border area in Baitadi, one the document is necessary for those hostages were killed - many of Police said the bodies of nine but offi cers speaking on condi- take his body,” he told reporters Samiti (RSS), Indian security major entry points between the travelling to diff erent parts of In- them hacked to death. other men allegedly from the same tion of anonymity said the par- last week. agencies have started tighten- two countries. dia, including major cities. WB gives $100mn for Nepal president calls for Lanka’s economic reforms new govt formation IANS A World Bank study, the Sys- the comprehensive approach Colombo tematic Country Diagnostic, and commitment of the gov- has highlighted the need for Sri ernment to tackle diffi cult re- IANS the prime minister on Wednesday, Sharma Lanka to move from “a largely forms aimed at making growth Kathmandu said. he World Bank has ap- inward looking and public sec- sustainable and creating jobs,” A panel to be headed by the secretary gen- proved a $100mn credit tor driven economy” to one said Francoise Clottes, World eral of parliament will conduct the election Tfrom the International that can unleash the potential Bank country director for Sri epal President Bidya Devi Bhandari for the prime minister and, according to par- Development Association of the private sector. Lanka and the Maldives. yesterday called on the political par- liamentary procedure, aspiring candidates (IDA) to support the Sri Lanka’s The Sri Lanka Competitive- “The specifi c actions in this Nties to form a new majority govern- shall have to register their names one day economic reforms programme, ness, Transparency and Fiscal DPF operation will help im- ment after eff orts to install a new govern- before voting. offi cials said Sustainability Development prove fi scal sustainability and ment based on consensus failed on Sunday. CPN (Maoist Centre) chairman Pushpa esterday. Policy Financing (DPF), which create the fi scal space for de- The President’s Offi ce sent a letter to the Kamal Dahal Prachanda - who is supported “Sri Lanka has been is only the second DPF to Sri livery of public services, social Nepal Parliament yesterday, urging it to begin by the Nepali Congress, the largest party ymaking steady progress Lanka in a decade, aims to sup- spending and capital invest- the process for the election of a new Prime in the House - is all set to become the new on economic reforms, with the port the government’s reform ment, which are integral to the Minister on majority basis as the seven-day prime minister. government aiming to create agenda by reducing obstacles country’s competitiveness.” deadline given to the parties for consensus The second largest party CPN-UML is also one million new jobs through to private sector competitive- The Ministry of National expired on Sunday without any headway. fi elding its candidate for the prime minister’s Bidya Devi Bhandari ... concerned over the a reform package focused on ness, establishing transparent Policies and Economic Aff airs Speaker’s press adviser Babin Sharma said post and it is likely that deputy parliamentary deadlock improving the country’s com- and well managed public in- will be responsible for overall the Speaker has received a letter from the party leader Subash Chandra Nembag will petitiveness, transparency and stitutions and improving fi scal implementation and co-ordi- President’s Offi ce regarding the election of contest the election. After Oli tendered his resignation on July macroeconomic stability,” the sustainability. nation of the proposed opera- a new prime minister as per Article 305 and K P Oli, the outgoing PM, who is also the 24, President Bhandari had called on the par- report quoted a statement by “The breadth and depth of tion. Article 299(3) of the constitution. chairman of CPN-UML, is unlikely to ties to form a new government on the basis of the World Bank as saying. the actions implemented signal Parliament is preparing for the election of contest. consensus. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: C P Ravindran International progressive

P.O.Box 2888 movement need of the hour Doha, Qatar [email protected] The only way out of the a crisis of global capitalism in which a stifl ed wage growth throughout the period – united by contempt for liberal Telephone 44350478 (news), political trap facing the fi nancial crash led to a Great Recession West. democracy and the ability to mobilise 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) and then to today’s Great Defl ation. The result of extreme those who would crush it. Fax 44350474 world today is progressive The right is simply repeating its old fi nancialisation was enormous The clash between these two blocs internationalism trick of drawing upon the righteous inequality and profound vulnerability. is both real and misleading. anger and frustrated aspirations of the But at least the West’s working class Clinton vs Trump constitutes By Yanis Varoufakis victims to advance its own repugnant had access to cheap loans and infl ated a genuine battle, for example, as Athens agenda. house prices to off set the impact of does the European Union vs the It all began with the death of the stagnant wages and declining fi scal Brexiteers; but the two combatants are international monetary system transfers. accomplices, not foes, in perpetuating GULF TIMES olitics in the established at Bretton Woods in 1944, Then came the crash of 2008, which an endless loop of mutual advanced which had forged a post-war political in the US and Europe produced a massive reinforcement, with each side defi ned economies consensus based on a “mixed” excess supply of both money and people. by – and mobilising its supporters on Pof the West economy, limits on inequality, and While many lost jobs, homes, and the basis of – what it opposes. is in the throes of strong fi nancial regulation. hopes, trillions of dollars in savings The only way out of this political History made as a political shakeup unseen since That “golden era” ended with the have been sloshing around the trap is progressive internationalism, the 1930s. The Great Defl ation now so-called Nixon shock in 1971, when world’s fi nancial centres ever since, based on solidarity among large gripping both sides of the Atlantic is America lost the surpluses that, on top of more trillions pumped out majorities around the world who reviving political forces that had lain recycled internationally, kept global by desperate central banks eager to are prepared to rekindle democratic fi rst-time winners dormant since the end of World War capitalism stable. replace the fi nanciers’ toxic money. politics on a planetary scale. II. Remarkably, America’s hegemony With companies and institutional If this sounds Utopian, it is worth Passion is returning to politics, but grew in this second post-war phase, players too frightened to invest in emphasising that the raw materials are not in the manner many of us had in parallel with its trade and budget the real economy, share prices have already available. sweep 2016 majors hoped it would. defi cits. boomed, the top 0.1% can’t believe Bernie Sanders’s “political The right has become animated by their luck, and the rest are helplessly revolution” in the US, Jeremy Corbyn’s an anti-establishment fervour that What we are watching as the grapes of wrath are leadership of the UK’s Labour Party, When American Jimmy Walker held off Australian was, until recently, the preserve of the “…fi lling and growing heavy, growing DiEM25 (the Democracy in Europe Jason Day for a thrilling one-shot victory at the left. experiencing heavy for the vintage.” Movement) on the continent: these In the United States, Donald And so it was that large chunks are the harbingers of an international PGA Championship on Sunday, it marked a rare year Trump, the Republican presidential today is the natural of humanity in America and Europe progressive movement that can defi ne when previous major winners who were among the nominee, is taking Hillary Clinton, his became too indebted and too the intellectual terrain upon which Democratic opponent, to task – quite repercussion of the expensive to be anything other than democratic politics must build. favourites found themselves overshadowed by other credibly – for her close ties to Wall discarded – and ready to be lured by But we are at an early stage and face players who had never before landed a big one. Street, eagerness to invade foreign implosion of centrist Trump’s fear-mongering, French a remarkable backlash from the global Five of the six majors played before the 2016 season lands, and readiness to embrace National Front leader Marine Le troika: witness Sanders’ treatment by free-trade agreements that have politics Pen’s xenophobia, or the Brexiteers’ the Democratic National Committee, began were accounted for by the formidable troika of undermined millions of workers’ shimmering vision of a Britannia the run against Corbyn by a former Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy or Jason Day, but they living standards. But to keep fi nancing these defi cits, ruling the waves again. pharmaceutical lobbyist and the In the United Kingdom, Brexit has bankers had to be unleashed from As their number grows, traditional attempt to have me indicted for daring failed to repeat their heroics in 2016 thus ensuring that cast ardent Thatcherites in the role of their New Deal and Bretton Woods political parties are fading into to oppose the EU’s plan for Greece. there was plenty of suspense and novelty. enthusiastic defenders of the National restraints. irrelevance, supplanted by the The Great Defl ation poses a great Health Service. Only then would they encourage emergence of two new political blocs. question: can humanity design and On Sunday, 37-year-old Texan Walker showed he This shift is not unprecedented. and manage the inward capital fl ows One bloc represents the old troika implement a new, technologically had what it takes by holding up over 36 holes over the The populist right has traditionally needed to fi nance America’s twin of liberalisation, globalisation, and advanced, “green” Bretton Woods sopping wet Baltusrol course on the fi nal day for a adopted quasi-leftist rhetoric in times fi scal and current-account defi cits. fi nancialisation. – a system that makes our planet of defl ation. Financialisation of the economy It may still be in power, but its stock ecologically and economically one-shot win over world number one and defending Anyone who can stomach revisiting was the goal, neoliberalism was its is falling fast, as David Cameron, sustainable – without the mass pain champion Day. the speeches of leading fascists and ideological cloak, the Paul Volcker-era Europe’s social democrats, Hillary and destruction preceding the original Nazis of the 1920s and 1930s will fi nd Federal Reserve’s interest-rate hikes Clinton, the European Commission, Bretton Woods? He thus joined Masters winner Danny Willett, US appeals – Benito Mussolini’s paeans were its trigger, and President Bill and even Greece’s post-capitulation If we – progressive internationalists Open champion Dustin Johnson and British Open to social security or Joseph Goebbels’ Clinton was the ultimate closer of the Syriza government can attest. – won’t answer that question, who will? victor Henrik Stenson in the history books as players stinging criticism of the fi nancial Faustian bargain. Trump, Le Pen, Britain’s right-wing Neither of the two political blocs now sector – that seem, at fi rst glance, And the timing couldn’t have Brexiteers, Poland’s and Hungary’s vying for power in the West even wants who broke through this season with a big one in their indistinguishable from progressive been more congenial: the Soviet illiberal governments and Russian it to be posed. - Project Syndicate bags. goals. empire’s collapse and China’s opening President Vladimir Putin are forming What we are experiencing today generated a surge of labour supply for the second bloc. zYanis Varoufakis, a former fi nance “I felt confi dent. I felt confi dent in myself. I felt is the natural repercussion of the global capitalism – a billion additional Theirs is a nationalist international minister of Greece, is professor of confi dent in what I was doing. Felt confi dent in my implosion of centrist politics, owing to workers – that boosted profi ts and – a classic creature of a defl ationary economics at the University of Athens. golf swing, my putting, my chipping,” said Walker, who had missed four cuts from his last eight events but found something “clicked” over the last nine holes of last week’s Canadian Jordan Spieth, Open. “Kind of tried Rory McIlroy to wrap myself around that; that everything and Jason was feeling good, and to Day end year go with that and trust what I was doing. Trust without adding all the stuff that I have to another big been working on, and one to their that’s what I tried to apply out there.” collection The biggest test awaited on the par-fi ve 18th. Australian Day made eagle to cut Walker’s three- shot lead to one, requiring him to make par for victory. Walker may have turned into an unexpected Bernie Sanders speaking at the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, last month. champion but it also came from unorthodox pairings on Sunday, too. Torrential weather on Saturday forced the leading groups to play their third round on Sunday morning. Tournament organisers decided to maintain those Europe must double its energy effi ciency same pairings for the fi nal round to ensure the likely be established in October, need to “save the Earth”. But we do Quintel Intelligence and the Lisbon tournament did not stretch to Monday. By Paul Hofheinz Brussels in a forthcoming revision to the need to save the climate in which Council concluded that Europe The marathon fi nal day meant the duo battled it Commission’s Energy Effi ciency humans have evolved and prospered. already has the technologies available Directive. Energy effi ciency around the world is to double current energy-effi ciency out a hole apart. So instead of watching Walker from t the COP21 conference So, what would be a meaningful increasing at roughly 1.5% per year, levels without sacrifi cing economic the green, Day had to watch from the scorer’s tent as in Paris last December, target? If European leaders are serious which is a welcome development and growth. Walker held his nerve to save par and win his maiden world leaders made a about their COP21 commitment, they a sign that 30 years of forward-leaning These include heat pumps, smart binding pledge to set should embrace a 70% reduction on environmental policies have had some grids, LED lighting and energy- major at 37. A national targets, including energy- 2010 consumption levels by 2030 eff ect. effi cient household equipment. When golfers were gearing up for the year’s fi rst effi ciency benchmarks, for reducing – more than double the European Global energy consumption, however, So why aren’t these technologies greenhouse-gas emissions. Council’s 2014 target. is rising at around 3% per year, implying being implemented already? The major— the Masters in April — nobody would have Now, the European Commission that we’re still digging our hole deeper, reason isn’t that industry is holding envisioned McIlroy, Day or Spieth going without a is nearing a moment of truth: Will it Economically, rather than fi lling it in. Europe back; on the contrary, major title this year. set ambitious but attainable energy Six of the world’s largest economies European industry’s environmental effi ciency targets that will force countries that reduce – China, the United States, Russia, footprint has improved considerably But fi rst-time major winners bring great stories individuals and industry to make real India, Japan and the European Union – in recent years. to the game, and even if they fail to live up to changes? energy consumption remain the biggest polluters. But most Rather, the principal energy Or will it bend to political pressure growth today comes from developing consumer in Europe is individual expectations in the future, they become part of the and set meaningless targets that also increase countries that now participate in the households, where energy effi ciency great collection of golfi ng folklore. The game can only will be reached anyway, with no any global economy. can be tripled in the coming years additional eff ort? productivity Even if these countries make with the right political leadership, be richer for that. The latter approach was taken in signifi cant strides in reducing suffi cient investment and long- 2014, when European leaders agreed A 70% reduction is ambitious, emissions, they will be the polluters of term commitment from Europeans to improve energy effi ciency by 27% but not impossible. There is both the future, at least in the near term. themselves. To Advertise before 2030. The European Council an economic and an environmental Globalisation has increased life This takes us back to the Energy was applauded at the time for its case to be made for it. Economically, expectancy and improved living Effi ciency Directive, where this [email protected] leadership. countries that reduce energy standards in many poor countries. work should begin. The European Display Nobody bothered to mention that consumption also increase But it also poses new environmental Commission should set “moon-shot” Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 global energy effi ciency was already productivity, simply because using problems that will require ambitious standards that push us to higher likely to increase by around 35% on its less energy costs less money. solutions. achievements than we once thought Classified own by 2030. While implementing energy- Seen in this light, a 70% possible. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 The COP21 agreement has given effi ciency measures may require heavy improvement in energy effi ciency If Europe can double its energy Europe a second chance to set an initial investments, these outlays is the minimum Europe – and the effi ciency by 2030, Europeans will Subscription example and become the global will be off set by future productivity world – can aim for to reach real look back and wonder how they ever [email protected] standard-bearer for energy effi ciency. growth, which is the only way sustainability at current levels of lived diff erently. - Project Syndicate Environmentalists, business developed countries can sustainably global growth. leaders and academics are awaiting improve living standards over time. Fortunately, this is all within our zPaul Hofheinz is president of the 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved new targets from the European The environmental argument for grasp. Lisbon Council, a Brussels-based think Commission, which will most an ambitious target is not that we A 2015 study published by Ecofys, tank. Gulf Times Tuesday, August 2, 2016 23 COMMENT Will the polio virus defeat cancer? Many more trials and disappointments may still be on the way

By Dr Cesar Chelala New York

n 1890, an Italian clinician found that sex workers with cancer of the uterine cervix went into Iremission when they were vaccinated against rabies. For several years afterwards, the doctor travelled the Tuscan doctors found a glioblastoma the size will be allowed to skip the third phase countryside injecting women with of a tennis ball on her brain. of the trial and make this innovative saliva from a dog with rabies. Results, She had 98% of the tumour therapy available to all. however, were not recorded. surgically removed, and then she The Duke group has also planned Years later, in 1904, an Italian received intense radiotherapy and future clinical trials in patients with woman went through two unpleasant chemotherapy only to relapse. At that other kinds of cancer. experiences: she was bitten by a dog, point she was willing to try anything. Although some results of this kind presumable with rabies, and she was When she was off ered the of treatment are encouraging, we diagnosed with cancer of the uterine possibility of directly infecting the should be cautious in predicting its cervix. She was given the rabies tumour with the modifi ed polio virus future usefulness. vaccine for the dog bite and afterwards she eagerly accepted. Many more trials and her “enormously large” tumour The doctors explained to her that disappointments may still be on the disappeared - “il tumoure non esisteva genetically-engineered viruses such way. To a few people whose lives have più”. The woman lived cancer-free as polio could potentially infect and been saved, however, the treatment until she died in 1912. destroy human cancers without has given them a new opportunity to Based on these experiences, Nicola appreciably harming healthy tissues. enjoy life. Today, several more viruses De Pace reported in 1910 that several In addition, the polio virus removes are being tested in humans, either other patients with uterine cervical a protective shield of the cancer alone or in combination with existing cancer received the rabies vaccine allowing the immune system to treatments. with a weakened rabies virus, unable further act against the cancer. Stephanie Lipscomb, who was to produce the disease. After three years of infusing the Patient One in the clinical trial that De Pace stated that tumours in some tumour with the modifi ed polio virus began four years ago, has now found patients shrank in size, although all of the tumour disappeared. Not all her call and has become a nurse them had a relapse from their cancer patients who had this treatment were interested in helping children with and died as a result of it. The wild polio virus as seen through a microscope. Right: A patient undergoing CT scanning. equally lucky. However, the results cancer. Among cancer tumours, with Stephanie were so promising that When she was asked by journalist Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), also with the tumour. This is the statistical cancer cells but not normal cells, modifi ed virus is then injected directly the US, Food and Drug Administration Scott Pelley if she thought that she known as glioblastoma, is the most average survival for patients diagnosed since its ability to grow depends into the patient’s tumour, thus ensuring decided to grant this medical had survived her ordeal for a reason common and most aggressive cancer with GBM. on biochemical abnormalities only that the maximum amount of virus is intervention “breakthrough status”. she simply answered: “Oh yes, most that begins within the brain. It is also A group of doctors and scientists present in cancer cells. delivered into it. This means that Phase II of the defi nitely”. one of the most diffi cult cancers to treat. perhaps had these experiences in Dr Matthias Gromeier, a molecular One of the fi rst patients treated with trial (Phase I had been completed) Even Senator Edward Kennedy, who mind when they decided to treat this biologist at Duke University in North the modifi ed polio virus was Stephanie will be expanded to approximately 40 zDr Cesar Chelala carried out research had every economic and scientifi c aggressive and lethal kind of cancer Carolina, re-engineered the polio virus, Lipscomb, a 20-year-old nursing institutions around the country with in molecular genetics at The Public resource available to him, survived with a modifi ed polio virus. removing a key genetic sequence so as student. She had been experiencing hundreds of patients. Health Research Institute of the City of only 15 months after he was diagnosed This modifi ed polio virus kills to render it harmless to the patient. The unremitting headaches when, in 2011, If things proceed successfully, Duke New York. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Water rip-off of them don’t. There are a couple of scanners at the entrance of the staff ers must be instructed to guide High: 45 C exceptions like Spicy Route in Barwa arrival hall, like those installed at housemaids, children and tourists who Low : 36 C Hot to very hot daytime and slight at restaurants village which provide fi ltered tap the Religious Complex in Doha, and are looking to meet their respective dust to blowing dust at times with water. allow those receiving housemaids and parties coming to receive them, to the some clouds Dear Sir, I request the authorities concerned unaccompanied children easy access passenger pick-up area. to look into this matter and make to the arrival hall at the airport. Waiting outside the arrival hall in WEDNESDAY I eat out regularly in Doha, visiting all restaurants give free water to In addition, a high-ranking security the summer heat in the passenger High: 42 C restaurants specialised in Thai, customers, which is a basic human offi cer could be stationed at the arrival pick-up area is tiring and stressful. Low: 34 C Chinese, Indian, Pakistani and right. hall to screen the entry of those waiting I hope the authorities will take Sunny American cuisines. to receive their sponsored individuals as necessary steps at the earliest. From these visits, I have observed Mohamed S well as the near and dear ones. that all the franchise outlets charge (e-mail address supplied) If the above steps are diffi cult to RB THURSDAY a very high amount for bottled water implement, I feel airline and airport (Full name and address supplied) High: 41 C they supply. The retail price of the Low: 34 C bottled water is quite low but many Need for screened M Sunny restaurants are ripping off their access to airport customers. Please send us your letters Last Saturday we visited a Fishermen’s forecast restaurant where the billed amount for Dear Sir, By e-mail OFFSHORE DOHA a small bottle of Highland water was [email protected] Wind: NW-NE 03-12/15 KT QR11. A few weeks ago, I had dinner The enhanced security measures Waves: 1-3/4 Feet at a newly-opened restaurant which restricting entry to the arrival hall Fax 44350474 INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 08-18/24 KT charged us QR35 for three glasses of at Hamad International Airport may Or Post Waves: 1-2 Feet Arwa water, a daylight robbery indeed. be a good precautionary step, but I Letters to the Editor These restaurants make a lot of money would like to make a few suggestions Gulf Times Around the region by selling bottled water, the cost of to reduce worries for both residents Weather Weather which often makes up about 7 to 17% and visitors. The restricted entry to P O Box 2888 today Max/min tomorrow Max/min of the billed amount. It’s a shame. the arrival hall may cause problems Doha, Qatar Abu Dhabi Sunny 45/32 P Cloudy 46/34 At an outlet at a premier mall, a for newly-arriving people like Baghdad Sunny 49/32 Sunny 49/31 Dubai small bottle of water is priced at QR5 housemaids, who speak no Arabic, Sunny 40/33 M Sunny 43/34 All letters, which are subject to editing, should have the Kuwait City Cloudy 50/35 Sunny 48/32 while at another one, just 10m away, it waiting to meet their sponsors as Manama Sunny 43/33 Sunny 43/33 is available for QR2! well as for unaccompanied children/ name of the writer, address and phone number. The writer’s Muscat Sunny 38/32 M Sunny 37/28 In Western countries, restaurants minors coming to join their parents. name and address may be withheld by request. Riyadh Sunny 47/31 Sunny 47/32 provide their customers with free My suggestion to the authorities Tehran Sunny 36/24 M Sunny 35/24 fi ltered tap water but in Doha most concerned is to have security Live issues Sit-down meetings with staff key to smooth start

By Marie G McIntyre To begin making connections, I would like to hear any ideas you may average rating for communication Tribune News Service gather your team for a get-acquainted have.” skills. Why would he praise me to session. Tell them about your work With the one who lost her “best my face and then criticise me on history and your reasons for choosing friend”, you can begin to help her the form? UESTION: this job, then share any personal adjust: “Grace, I know that you In my new details that seem appropriate. Give worked with Mary for many years, A: Your boss clearly took the supervisory them a chance to ask questions and so I’m sure this change is somewhat coward’s way out, delivering the good Qposition, I provide some information about diffi cult. I will probably do some news in person and the bad news in Around the world will be managing two themselves. things diff erently than she did, but I writing. On top of that, he saved up Weather Weather people who may already resent If you’re new to the organisation, wondered if you had any particular his critical comments for the review today Max/min tomorrow Max/min me. “Grace” worked with my you might also ask your staff about concerns?” instead of addressing issues when Athens Sunny 38/24 Sunny 37/26 predecessor for 20 years and says the company culture and the history Of course, these initial they occurred. Performance feedback Beirut Sunny 31/25 Sunny 30/24 T Storms 31/26 they are best friends. “Becky” of this group. Remember that your conversations are only a fi rst step. should always be given in real time. Bangkok 32/26 T Storms Berlin Rain 20/13 Showers 23/17 applied for the job that was given goal is simply to learn, so listen to But investing time in getting to know But despite his mishandling of the Cairo Sunny 38/24 Sunny 38/24 to me. Fortunately, the third their comments without making the staff can go a long way towards process, there are apparently some Cape Town Sunny 19/11 P Cloudy 14/08 employee is a recent hire who judgmental remarks. preventing future problems. issues which you need to address. Colombo S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 30/26 seems perfectly happy. How can Before adjourning, explain that you So put aside your understandable Dhaka S Showers 33/26 S T Storms 33/27 Hong Kong H Rain 31/28 T Storms 31/28 I get off to a good start with this plan to meet with them individually irritation and ask how you might Istanbul Sunny 32/23 Sunny 32/24 group? to learn about their work, ask for Performance improve your communication skills. Jakarta S Showers 31/24 M Sunny 31/24 suggestions and discuss any concerns. reviews To circumvent this appraisal Karachi M Cloudy 33/27 P Cloudy 33/27 ANSWER: Anticipating resistance Then schedule those sessions as manoeuvre in the future, periodically London Showers 21/18 S Showers 23/14 T Storms S T Storms 33/26 is the fi rst step toward reducing it, so quickly as possible. These one-on- request some constructive feedback Manila 32/26 Moscow M Sunny 31/18 S T Storms 21/15 your sensitivity to these issues puts ones will also provide an opportunity Q: My manager likes to discuss from your gutless manager. New Delhi S T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 33/27 you ahead of the game. Many newly- to raise touchy issues without too our performance reviews before New York Cloudy 26/20 M Sunny 26/19 promoted managers immediately dive much fanfare. he fi lls out the offi cial evaluation zMarie G McIntyre is a workplace Paris Showers 24/17 M Cloudy 28/18 into the work without taking time to For example: “Becky, I understand form. During our conversation, coach and the author of Secrets to Sao Paulo S Showers 19/13 P Cloudy 21/14 Seoul S T Storms 31/23 S Showers 33/23 build relationships. However, a few that you were also interested in the his feedback was all very positive, Winning at Offi ce Politics. Send in Singapore P Cloudy 32/26 S T Storms 31/26 hours spent in group and individual supervisory position, so I hope you with no negative comments. questions and get free coaching tips at Sydney Rain 14/12 Showers 15/11 meetings can result in a much aren’t too disappointed. I’m looking However, on my written review, http://www.youroffi cecoach.com, or Tokyo Clear 30/26 Cloudy 31/23 smoother transition. forward to our working together, and I was shocked to fi nd a below- follow her on Twitter @offi cecoach Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, August 2, 2016 QATAR Going to Heaven to be screened at DFI s part of its Hekayat Kha- the fi lmmakers to gain insight Zaabi, Ahmed Ibrahim al-Zaabi, His fi rst feature fi lm, Sun leejiya screening series into their work and process. Fatima al-Taei, Mariam Sultan Dress (2010), screened at the Awhich showcases ‘Sto- A 90-minute fi lm, Going to and Abdullah Masood. Abu Dhabi Film Festival and ries from the Gulf,’ the DFI Cin- Heaven revolves around the Saeed Salmeen graduated won the Special Jury Award in ema will screen Emirati director events in 11-year-old Sultan’s from the New York Film Acad- the Muscat International Film Saeed Salmeen’s captivating life. Seeking to return to the emy in Abu Dhabi. He has Festival. feature fi lm Going to Heaven arms and the tenderness of his won awards for the short fi lm Tickets are priced QR 35; stu- on August 4 - 5, at 7:30pm at long-lost grandmother, Sultan Huboob (2006) at the Emir- dent tickets are priced at QR25 the Museum of Islamic Art embarks on an eventful jour- ates Film Competition (EFC) and must present a valid ID to Auditorium. ney from Abu Dhabi to Fujai- and the Dubai International receive the discount. Tickets can Hekayat Khaleejiya is dedi- rah via Dubai. The fi lm had its Film Festival, and continued be purchased from the Museum cated to showcasing cinematic world premiere at the 2015 Dubai this success with the short Al of Islamic Art DFI Ticket Out- voices from the Gulf region, and International Film Festival. Ghobna (2007), which won let from the MIA Auditorium on presents fi lms followed by ques- Written by Saeed Salmeen, award at the EFC and was Thursday from 12 to 8pm and on tion-and-answer sessions with fi lm stars Jumaa Ibrahim al- screened at Dubai. Friday from 2 to 8pm. A still from Going to Heaven. MINI sales jump by 27%

lfardan Automobiles, the Ihab Allam, general manager offi cial MINI importer in of Alfardan Automobiles, said: AQatar, has recorded a 27% “Our sales fi gures are testament increase in sales for the marque to the growing appetite among for the fi rst half of 2016 . premium car owners in Qatar for This marks the latest mile- the MINI experience.” stone in a period of continuous The new MINI Convertible growth, the company has said in took “open-top driving to the a press statement. next level” when it was launched The MINI 3-Door Hatch, a earlier this year, with its elegant- “consistent bestseller”, saw an ly stretched lines and increased increase of 19% while the MINI sporty fl air. Its features exem- 5-Door variant recorded an up- plify functional design and ap- swing of 15% in sales over the peal to the Qatari market’s focus same period in 2015. on performance and aesthetics. In addition, Qatar’s MINI en- Available in two engine vari- Qatar’s MINI enthusiasts helped Alfardan Automobiles retain its pole thusiasts helped Alfardan Auto- ants of MINI TwinPower Turbo position in the sales of John Cooper Works models regionally. mobiles retain its pole position in Technology – a 3-cylinder pet- the sales of John Cooper Works rol engine with 100kW/136hp a six-speed automatic gearbox. MINI has consistently aug- models regionally by opting for and a 141kW/192hp – the MINI The MINI John Cooper Works mented the drive experience the high-performance range. Convertible uses a six-speed has been instrumental in helping with a variety of equipment and The all-new MINI Convertible, gearbox. MINI owners in Qatar lend dis- accessories bought in by the pre- which was unveiled in the region The MINI 5-Door Hatch and tinction, personality and added mium British brand through its at the Qatar Motor Show, wit- 3-Door Hatch boast of two en- performance to their cars. A MINI Yours programme, off er- nessed an “exceptional start” to gine variants of BMW Group’s 2.0-litre TwinPower Turbo en- ing customers signifi cant scale the year with a 700% rise in sales latest generation in 3- and gine delivering 23 hp and 320Nm in personalising their vehicle since its debut in January 2016, 4-cylinder engines with Twin- of torque, it drives 10% more to suit their unique tastes and the statement noted. Power Turbo Technology using power and 23% more torque. preferences. Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum presenting a set of books to Dr James Reardon-Anderson. Thai ambassador St Regis Doha wins 13 awards in 2016 he St Regis Doha has added to the list of hon- Tours this year by win- visits GU-Q ning two more globally rec- ognised industry awards at the World Luxury Restaurant he ambassador of Thai- is currently studying for her derstanding of Southeast Asia Awards 2016 and World Travel land, Soonthorn Chai- Bachelor of Science in For- among students and academ- Awards 2016. Tyindeepum, recently eign Service at GU-Q where ics in Qatar,” ambassador The news comes on the back visited Georgetown University she is majoring in culture and Chaiyindeepum said, adding, of The St Regis Doha winning in Qatar (GU-Q) and was wel- politics. After completing her “Partnerships with universities the GCC Hotel of the Year Award comed by the dean of the varsi- degree, she will return to Thai- such as Georgetown can help us at the 2016 Food and Travel GCC ty, Dr James Reardon-Anderson. land to work for the Ministry reach this goal in the country Awards in Bahrain. The ambassador discussed of Foreign Aff airs of Thailand and beyond.” The recent accolades take the with the dean the opportuni- which already employs many Topics discussed in the number of awards won by the ties for educational co-oper- Georgetown alumni. meeting included develop- luxury hotel to 13 awards in 2016, Off icials with some of the awards won by the hotel this year. ation between GU-Q and the “Georgetown has a long- ments impacting Thailand po- according to a press statement. Thai embassy in Qatar. He also running relationship with the litically and economically, re- At the World Travel Awards Awards in 2016 for a number of rant emerge as winners under Tareq Derbas, area general gifted the GU-Q with books Kingdom of Thailand and we gional challenges in Southeast held in Peru on July 1, Astor Grill its restaurants and lounges. the Best Lebanese Restaurant, manager of Lebanon, Syria, Pa- about Thai and South East look forward to continued col- Asia, presidential elections was recognised as Qatar’s Best Among the awards won at the Best Afternoon Tea and Best kistan, Iran and Iraq for Star- Asian history and the suffi - laboration in the future,” dean in the United States and the Restaurant. Before that, The St Time Out Doha Awards 2016 Chinese Restaurant categories, wood Hotels & Resorts Middle ciency economy philosophy of Reardon-Anderson said, add- growth of Thailand’s hospital- Regis Doha contested against 38 were Opal by Gordon Ramsay respectively. East and general manager of The King Bhumibol Adulyadej. ing: “Bringing together stu- ity and tourism industries. other hotels at the World Luxury and The St Regis Grand Brunch At the Food and Travel GCC St Regis Doha, said on the two Thailand currently pro- dents from around the world It was Chaiyindeepum’s fi rst Restaurant Awards, held in Swit- winning the Highly Commended Awards 2016, Gordon Ramsay recent accolades: “Every award vides scholarship opportuni- and exposing them to diff erent visit to GU-Q’s campus since zerland in June, with Remède Awards, while Hakkasan Restau- won the title of the Best Medi- makes us all the more motivated ties for the country’s bright- histories and cultures is what being appointed ambassador Spa winning Qatar’s Best Spa rant won two awards in the Best terranean Restaurant while Hak- to serve our guests better, and est students to study abroad contributes to our diverse and earlier this year. He served as Award. Chinese and Best Restaurant kasan once again bagged the Best we are delighted that the World in fi elds of law, economics, dynamic student experience at minister and deputy chief of The St Regis Doha has also categories. Chinese Restaurant title, before Luxury Restaurant Awards and administration, social sci- Georgetown in Qatar.” mission of Thailand in New won fi ve Time Out Doha Awards, The Fact Magazine Awards The St Regis Doha emerged as World Travel Awards have recog- ence and languages. Thai stu- “We are interested in work- Delhi prior to taking up the three Fact Magazine Awards 2016 saw Al Sultan Brahim, Sarab the winner of the Best Hotel of nised our unique off er and level dent Mueanrawee Thaneetho ing together to build an un- position in Qatar. and three Food and Travel GCC Lounge and Hakkasan Restau- the Year 2016 Award. of service.”

Summer Festival at DECC

The QTA is organising the Qatar Summer Festival 2016 at Entertainment City, Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC), in West Bay. In the picture, an inflatable play area for children at the Entertainment City. Performers and mascots welcomed a large number of visitors at QSF yesterday.