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SATURDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10599 October 7, 2017 Muharram 17, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals SC chief says In brief blockade ‘no QATAR | Offi cial Emir holds phone talk with S Africa’s leader His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim risk’ to 2022 bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday held a telephone talk with South African President Jacob Zuma. During the phone call, they reviewed bilateral relations and means of boosting them, besides discussing the latest regional World Cup and international developments of interest to both countries. Meanwhile, HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali (third from left) inaugurates the ASPIRE4SPORT Congress Agencies HE the Prime Minister and Interior & Exhibition at Stamford Bridge in London yesterday. Also seen in the picture (from left) are Aspire Zone Foundation CEO Mohamed London Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Khalifa al-Suwaidi, former Italy football coach Arrigo Sacchi, Chelsea FC Chairman Bruce Buck, Qatar’s ambassador to the UK Yousef bin Khalifa al-Thani yesterday held a bin Ali al-Khater, former England footballer and manager Kevin Keegan, and world high jump champion Mutaz Barshim. telephone conversation with Tunisian upreme Committee for Delivery Prime Minister Youssef Chahed. and Legacy (SC) secretary general They reviewed relations between SHassan al-Thawadi yesterday in- the two fraternal countries and sisted the Saudi Arabia-led blockade of ways to develop them in all fields, Qatar poses “no risk” to the 2022 World besides discussing issues of common Cup. concern. Sports minister praises “We have come under criticism and attack over the years, but we have al- QATAR | Diplomacy ways faced our critics,” al-Thawadi told Hassan al-Thawadi the Associated Press. Doha hails lift ing of “Our projects are going ahead as crease in terms of establishing alterna- US sanctions on Sudan Aspire event in London scheduled. This [blockade] is no risk in tive supply chains but these have been Qatar has welcomed the US decision relation to the hosting of the World Cup.” absorbed very, very quickly and been to lift economic sanctions on Sudan. QNA proud of the great Qatari participa- face of the State of Qatar and the great “Every project has contingency plans normalised as these supply chains have In a statement yesterday, the London tion and this level of organisation and development witnessed by the country and we have had contingency plans in been put in place.” Foreign Ministry expressed the hope attendance which refl ects Qatar’s ac- in various aspects. place from the very start,” al-Thawadi Qatar’s competition venues execu- that this decision would promote cumulated experience in the organisa- The minister praised local and inter- said in an interview during a visit to tive director Ghanim Ali al-Kuwari said development, peace and stability in E the Minister of Culture and tional fi eld”, referring to the remarkable national participation, and said that the London to attend an exhibition by the the country is still on track to be ready Sudan. The US has announced that Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin participation of international sports Congress and the Exhibition had be- Doha-based Aspire sports academy. for the tournament in fi ve years. it will lift the sanctions following HNasser al-Ali has affi rmed that stars and prominent fi gures in football come an annual global event with a na- “Once the blockade came into play “One stadium is ready and the other “sustained positive action” by the the ASPIRE4SPORT Conference and and sports in general. tional identity, stressing that the event we contacted the main contractors, we seven are on schedule,” he said. “The government in Khartoum. The Exhibition in London has become one HE the Minister of Culture and injects added value to global sports. put in place alternative supply chains, blockade has actually been a benefi t, I actions include maintaining a of the global stations in sport-related Sports toured the exhibition’s various He attended a number of events we sourced alternative materials from would say. We have diff erent resources cessation of hostilities in conflict business, as Qatar prepares to host the pavilions at the London Chelsea Club held on the fi rst day, the most impor- alternate suppliers. I’m very happy to now, diff erent support from diff erent areas and improving humanitarian world’s largest sporting event, the 2022 in Stamford Bridge and expressed his tant of which was the main session say that our project scale is on time and countries. access throughout Sudan, the State World Cup. delight at the remarkable presence of of the famous Italian coach A Sacchi there is no signifi cant impact on our “Now we are using diff erent tech- Department said. Page 3 Speaking on the sidelines of the Qatari institutions from both the pub- to the members of Aspire’s commu- projects. nology, diff erent prices and diff erent inaugural ceremony of the ASPIRE- lic and private sectors. nity around the world, a community of “As of today we haven’t seen a sig- quality, from countries like Turkey, Eu- QATAR | Reaction 4SPORT Congress and Exhibition 2017 He stressed the importance of such more than 80 football associations and nifi cant impact on the cost. There rope, England, France, Germany, China Iraq congratulated on in London, the minister said: “He is global events in highlighting the real clubs. Sport Page 1 might have been some minimal in- and the USA.” liberation of Hawija Qatar has congratulated Iraq on the liberation of the city of Hawija from the hands of terrorist organisations. In a statement yesterday, the Baladna starts marketing fresh Foreign Ministry aff irmed that the State of Qatar stands by Iraq in the Qatar committed to fi ghting milk from newly-arrived cows face of terrorism and extremism. It reiterated Qatar’s firm stance By Joseph Varghese milk products in the country. against terrorism as well as its Staff Reporter “Pure milk from the newly-arrived rejection and condemnation of organised crime, terrorism cows has been available at all major re- all its forms and manifestations, tail outlets for almost a week. It is avail- regardless of causes and motivation. QNA The delegation was headed by Dr donates to the implementation of the aladna, the Qatari dairy company able in leading hypermarkets across the New York al-Mal, and included HE the Secre- recommendations of the conference which drew global attention by country and priced initially at QR10 EUROPE | Disarmament tary General of the Foreign Ministry Dr and, for the fi rst time, one state provides Bannouncing it will be “fl ying cows” per litre,” Mohamed Alkhani, accounts Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi. The funding of this magnitude and compre- from diff erent countries in Europe, Aus- manager, Baladna, told Gulf Times. Anti-nuclear campaign E the Adviser to the Minister of meeting was also attended by Qatar’s hensiveness. tralia and the US, has started marketing “We expect to reduce the price to wins Nobel Peace Prize Interior, Major General Dr Ab- Permanent Representative to the UN He stressed Qatar’s fi rm approach to milk from the newly arrived cows. around QR7 per litre when we start Nuclear disarmament campaign Hdullah Yousuf al-Mal, said that HE ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed promoting world development and its The unjust siege on Qatar by some large-scale production. We have got group ICAN won the Nobel Peace Qatar will continue its commitment to bin Saif al-Thani, and Qatar’s Perma- continued support for the lofty mes- of the neighbouring countries since about 2,500 cows so far. Full scale Prize yesterday for its eff orts to combat transnational organised crime nent Representative to the UN Offi ce sage of the United Nations in maintain- June 5 this year, had forced Baladna to production will start once the rest of rid the world of the atomic bomb, and associated crimes such as terrorism, at Geneva HE ambassador Ali al-Man- ing international peace and security and launch plans to fl y in about 4,000 cows the cows are brought to the farm very warning that Donald Trump’s violent extremism, drugs, corruption, souri. achieving international co-operation to to augment the production of milk and soon,” explained Alkhani. presidency showed how dangerous money laundering and others. Dr al-Mal referred to the agreement resolve issues of economic, social, cul- the weapons of mass destruction This came in a statement delivered by reached by Qatar with the UN Offi ce to tural and humanitarian signifi cance. US halts exercises with ‘Gulf states’ truly are. More than 70 years since Dr al-Mal at a meeting held on Thursday launch the World Programme for the He commended the Doha Congress, atomic bombs were used on the at the UN headquarters in New York by Implementation of the Doha Declara- which adopted the principle of “inte- The US military’s Central Command Press, Air Force Col. John Thomas, a Japanese cities of Hiroshima and the UN Offi ce on Drugs and Crime to tion, noting the contribution of Qatar to grating crime prevention into the wider has announced the suspension of its Central Command spokesman, said: Nagasaki, the Nobel committee implement the Doha Declaration adopt- fi nance the implementation of the pro- agenda of the United Nations” as its participation in military exercises with “We are opting out of some military sought to highlight ICAN’s tireless ed at the 13th UN Congress on Crime, gramme which amounted to $49mn for logo and programme of action, thereby “Gulf countries” over the ongoing crisis exercises out of respect for the concept non-proliferation eff orts as nuclear- Prevention and Criminal Justice. the period 2016-2020. giving a comprehensive and multidisci- with the State of Qatar. of inclusiveness and shared regional related crises swirl around North The meeting was held on the sidelines He said it was the fi rst time in the his- plinary nature to crime prevention and In a statement to the Associated interests.” Korea and Iran. Page 8 of the the UN General Assembly session. tory of the UN Offi ce that the host state criminal justice issues. 70% of local farms gearing towards organic production

By Joey Aguilar the Saudi-led bloc on Qatar prompted in 2011 with the aim of helping Qatar He cited the support given by higher Staff Reporter farm owners to expand their cultivation achieve food security. authorities, government agencies and areas to meet the growing demand for Due to the huge demand for agri- the people in Qatar in achieving their fresh produce. cultural products in the country in objectives and goals, particularly in etween 60% and 70% of local “At Agrico we are planting all year the wake of the blockade, al-Khalaf food security. farms in Qatar are gearing towards long, we are ready all the time. For the lo- pointed out that they built “something The farm owner also expects the Borganic production, a move that cal farms, they are ready for the new sea- simple and easy to install” greenhouses commercial farms in the country to in- will make farming in the country unique, son,” he said, expressing confi dence that this season to produce more. crease from 25 to at least 50 this season. pioneering Qatari organic farmer Nasser local production in Qatar from October “Later on we will slowly convert these With the use of a modern technology Ahmed al-Khalaf has said. to April will further increase compared to lands into year-long production areas, developed in Qatar, he expressed confi - “Most of the local farms are looking for the same period in previous years. but this will be gradual,” he added. dence that they will witness a substan- quality more than the quantity,” the man- Agrico fi nished setting up season- He noted that most of the farms in tial increase in agricultural production aging director of Agrico told Gulf Times. al greenhouses in a 120,000sq m (12 Qatar are now preparing for the new in the near future. While many of these farms are small, hectare) area to increase its produc- season as the temperature and humid- “The technology that we have here he noted that an increasing number are tion this winter, apart from its current ity have begun to drop. today in Qatar is not available anywhere opting for organic method to produce 120,000sq m area used for organic hy- Al-Khalaf, who spoke to a couple else in the world. We have a technology vegetables and fruits. droponic farming in Al Khor. of farm owners recently, said his col- that can produce all year long under a According to al-Khalaf, the ongo- The private local Qatari agricultural Nasser Ahmed al-Khalaf shows tanks holding the organic fertiliser used at his farm. leagues are also expanding their opera- very severe environment like in Qatar,” ing economic blockade imposed by development company was established PICTURE: Joey Aguilar tions like Agrico. he stressed. Gulf Times 2 Saturday, October 7, 2017 QATAR

Ooredoo, Ansar Gallery Umm Slal workers seek launches promotion oredoo and Ansar Gal- lery have launched a Onew promotion, for Nojoom members who shop at participating Ansar Gallery better transport service branches. Gallery branches and then fi ll Nojoom members who the draw ticket received at the By Ramesh Mathew prove bus services to and from tial units, especially workers’ mand. More direct bus services from residents for a workers’ spend over QR100 at Ansar cashier, and drop it in the raf- Staff Reporter the area. camps, and more are coming up are required,” a resident said. clinic in the neighbourhood. Gallery Barwa, Ansar Gallery fl e boxes available at any of the Similar pleas have been in some places,” said a source Umm Slal is also home to In the absence of such a facil- City Center, Ansar Gallery participating outlets before made earlier, too, and while familiar with developments in the new central fi sh market, ity, workers have to go to health Al Rawdha, Ansar Gallery Al October 15. xpatriate residents of the the residents acknowledge Umm Slal Mohamed and Umm and this has made it even more facilities in the Industrial Area Mansoura, Ansar Gallery Al This is the latest dedicated Umm Slal area have called that some improvements have Slal Ali. “Providing more buses important for the area to have or Al Khor. However, that is not Khor, Ansar Gallery Al Rayyan, promotion aimed for Nojoom Efor better public transport taken place over the years, the to, from and through the area better public transport con- an easy task due to the dearth of Ansar City, and Ansar Doha Members in 2017, as the loy- facilities to reach the Indus- demand is far greater than the will not only off er convenient nectivity, the source points direct bus services to and from City, will be eligible to enter a alty programme continues to trial Area, Al Khor and diff er- supply. travel options to the residents, out. A number of workers are the Industrial Area, according to raffl e draw. expand its range of rewards for ent places in and around Doha, An earlier report published but also present an opportu- employed in the market and some residents. A total of 100 winners will members. particularly on weekends. in Gulf Times showed that the nity to run commercially viable they mostly stay in the vicinity. New residential units con- be picked from the draw, which For more information on all With the Umm Slal munici- demand was particularly high services.” “Besides a section of visitors to tinue to come up in the area ends on October 15, 2017, Nojoom promotions and how pal area witnessing a steady rise for more bus services on week- A large number of workers liv- the fi sh market, more bus serv- to house workers engaged in and each winner will receive to enrol into Nojoom, cus- in the number of residential ends, when workers go to diff er- ing there travel to Asian Town, ices will also help cater to the major infrastructure devel- 10,000 Nojoom Points and a tomers can visit the Nojoom units, especially those occu- ent places to spend their leisure on the fringes of the Industrial demand generated by the pres- opment projects, and this tablet device. page of the Ooredoo website pied by “single workers”, peo- time. Area, during weekends. “The ence of so many workers there,” will only add to the demand To enter the raffl e, No- at www.ooredoo.qa/nojoom, ple living there have requested “The Umm Slal area houses existing bus services are not the source adds. for more public transport joom Members need to spend download the Ooredoo App or authorities concerned to im- a large number of residen- enough to cater to this huge de- There have also been requests facilities, it is learnt. QR100 in participating Ansar stop by any Ooredoo shop. Four projects Blockade stymies release of fi ve selected for WISE Indian fi shermen in Abu Dhabi Five Indian fishermen from Based on an earlier statement to pay a fine of QR4,000 Qatar are stranded in Abu from SAFF, Gulf Times had and undergo one month Dhabi as the blockade reported last month that imprisonment. Accelerator 2017-18 is preventing the Qatari the five fishermen, who “Though the fishermen sponsor from paying a fine sailed from Wakrah in their have already served the jail of QR4,000 for their release, mechanised launch on term, the Qatari sponsor is South Asian Fishermen August 25, were arrested unable to transfer QR4,000 programme Fraternity (SAFF), based while engaged in fishing on to Abu Dhabi due to the in Kanyakumari district of August 27, by Abu Dhabi blockade against Qatar Tamil Nadu state, said in a Coast Guard. by other Gulf countries he World Innovation platform delivering individual- CamBioScience, one of the selected projects from the 2017-18 WISE statement yesterday. “On August 29, one of the (Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Summit for Education ised online courses in life science Accelerator programme. The fishermen are Jerald detained fishermen, Karol Bahrain),” he said. T(WISE), a leading inter- technologies for professionals in Reegan (31), Karol Jahin Jahin informed Probin, “The families of the national initiative driving inno- academia and industry. Its aim forming career guidance. Pixis four promising initiatives of- (26), John Prabhahar (40), another Indian fisherman fishermen cannot aff ord to vation and collaboration in edu- is to respond to the demands of helps students explore and identify fer smart solutions to pressing Reegan Jeo Gladwin (35) in Qatar, over phone, about pay the fine in Abu Dhabi cation, has selected four projects the rapidly advancing fi elds of meaningful degrees and jobs. education challenges including and Jose Stalin (32), all their arrest and detention in court. Therefore SAFF, along to benefi t from the 2017-18 science and technology, and an Tabshoura in a Box is an ini- the need for 21st century skills to natives of Kadiyapatanam Abu Dhabi.” with the families of the WISE Accelerator programme. ever-increasing share of jobs re- tiative of Lebanese Alternative prepare for an uncertain future of coastal village in In yesterday’s statement Fr fishermen, has requested The selected projects are: quiring a background in STEM. Learning that deploys an offl ine work, the rapidly advancing fi eld Kanyakumari district, Churchil said that after 65 the Indian government and CamBioScience (UK); Doc Doc Academy is an education server fi lled with digital resourc- of STEM, and the global refugee SAFF general secretary Fr days of imprisonment, the the Tamil Nadu state to pay Academy (UK); Pixis (France) programme aiming to develop es. Aligned with the Lebanese crisis.” Churchil, who signed the five fishermen were ordered the fine for their release,” and Tabshoura in a Box critical and independent think- school curriculum, the content The WISE Accelerator projects statement, said. by a court in Abu Dhabi Churchil added. (Lebanon). ing in young people. Using the is designed to fi ll learning gaps will be invited to take part in spe- Each year, the WISE Accel- power of documentary fi lm as and avoid school dropouts in cifi c working sessions and will erator programme supports the a stimulus for learning and de- deprived areas of Lebanon and be off ered unique networking development of young, innova- bate, Doc Academy is designed refugee communities. opportunities. Representatives tive EdTech projects with high to help teachers and students WISE Accelerator also serves from each project will also attend potential for scalability and think about the world, society, as an intermediary to connect the upcoming WISE Summit in positive impact in the fi eld of and their place in it. these projects with an interna- Doha from November 14–16. education. The chosen projects Pixis is an online platform aim- tional network that creates op- WISE, an initiative of Qa- UCQ welcomes new will benefi t from a year-long ing to become the college counsel- portunities to share knowledge tar Foundation for Education, mentorship programme to lor of the future through the use and fi nd support from donors Science and Community De- address their specifi c needs. of artifi cial intelligence and data and investors. Stavros N. Yian- velopment launched the WISE CamBioScience is a cloud science, with the goal of trans- nouka, CEO, WISE, said. “These Accelerator programme in 2014. and returning students

he University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) offi cially HMC blood transfer campaign focuses on safety Twelcomed new and re- turning nursing students at its annual welcome event re- amad Medical Cor- transfusion chain, primarily cently. poration’s (HMC) focusing on safety.” Enrolment at UCQ remains Hcommittee for blood A blood transfusion chain is steady this term with 115 new transfusion announced a new a system for storing and trans- undergraduate and 13 new programme that monitors porting blood and blood prod- graduate students, bringing blood transfer procedures in ucts from the point of collection the total to 447. the country. The centralised from a blood donor to the point Qatari students are showing haemovigilance programme of transfusion to a patient. increasingly strong interest in improves the quality of the The new programme im- the UCQ’s Master of Nursing blood transfusion chain, pri- proves the overall quality of programme where they make marily focusing on safety. the collection, storage, testing up 34% of the student body. Dr Aisha Ibrahim al-Malki, and distribution of blood and The event included wel- assistant executive director, its components, reporting any coming remarks from UCQ Medical Services and chair, complications or errors in blood dean and CEO, Dr Deborah UCQ welcomes back the students. Blood Transfusion Committee transfer. White, along with Dr Joanne and Centralised Haemovigi- Dr al-Malki said the pro- MacDonald, UCQ’s new asso- another academic year and care system of Qatar, and we are lance Programme, described it gramme will be initially imple- ciate dean of academics, and off ering their assistance and very proud of our students and as a fi rst for Qatar and the Arab mented at HMC and then widely Craig Wood, director of encouragement. will continue to work with them region. introduced across all healthcare student services. “We are honoured to wel- to achieve their academic and “The aim is to improve the facilities in Qatar that collect, Dr Aisha al-Malki speaking during the workshop. Members of the student come such an impressive group professional goals.” blood transfusion system by use or store blood and blood organisation, Nursing Stu- of new students to the Univer- UCQ’s nursing students and providing an extra level of safety components. ing, and Emergency Depart- Transfer Centre attended an dents Society of Qatar also sity of Calgary in Qatar,” said Dr graduates practise in the com- for donors and recipients. It im- Earlier this month, 20 mem- ment, along with staff from the education session about the new brought remarks, welcom- Deborah White. “Nurses per- munity, in primary health cen- proves the quality of the blood bers of HMC’s Quality, Nurs- Blood Donor Unit and Blood programme. ing their fellow students to form a vital role in the health- tres, and in acute care hospitals. Sidra hosts workshops QU holds student orientation day on cultural intelligence he Offi ce of Graduate ate Student Aff airs has worked Studies at Qatar Univer- extensively to provide access idra Medical and Research learning and development pro- Tsity (QU) recently held to these policies in both Arabic Center (Sidra) has hosted grammes at Sidra, said: “With over the 2017 Graduate Student Ori- and English.” Sa series of workshops on 80 diff erent nationalities, it is crit- Dr David Livermore entation Day for new students Elaborating on graduate aca- cultural intelligence for more ical that we have an open dialogue to familiarise them on the aca- demic support, Dr El-Mereedi than 200 clinical and non-clin- and awareness about our cultural job performance, and increased demic policies and procedures said, “The Graduate Academic ical leaders of the organisation. diff erences in the workplace. profi tability and cost savings. as well as the offi ce’s services. Support Unit (GASU) under The workshops were led by “As a diverse healthcare or- “The cultural intelligence Around 250 graduate stu- Dr Ahmed El-Zatahry Ghada al-Kuwari the Offi ce of Graduate Studies international thought leader ganisation in Qatar, we are tak- model is based on four capabili- dents attended the event. They provides a variety of academic and author Dr David Livermore, ing active measures to ensure ties – drive, knowledge, strat- got insight into the major poli- aff airs, Ghada al-Kuwari, QU ments. It is an opportunity for support services to graduate president of the Cultural Intel- that we have training and career egy and action. The workshop cies that are crucial for new stu- Offi ce of Graduate Studies sen- you to become instrumental in students, particularly relat- ligence Center. development programmes that was a great exercise in getting a dents such as class attendance, ior programme development identifying solutions for several ing to thesis and dissertation Cultural intelligence is a glo- cultivate a culture of respect, deeper understanding of one’s academic load, withdrawal, and and co-ordination specialist, national challenges, thus con- writing. These services include bally recognised way of assess- workplace effi ciency and safety, personal culture versus other probation or dismissal. They Dr Mary El-Mereedi, and QU tributing to the Qatar National TAD writing groups, graduate ing and improving eff ectiveness which will benefi t both staff and cultures within a team and how also had the opportunity to Research and Graduate Stud- Vision 2030.” writing workshops, and one- for culturally diverse situations. our patients.” can we align expectations. I am meet and interact with the staff ies Offi ce senior student aff airs Al-Kuwari said, “Our gradu- on-one tutoring sessions by According to Dr Livermore, Dr Livermore, who conducts incredibly inspired by an em- members of the Offi ce of specialist (Registration), Amna ate policies and procedures appointment.” Sidra is the fi rst organisation in cultural intelligence workshops ployee community like Sidra, Graduate Studies. al-Suliti, as well as associate have been developed to ensure She also noted that GASU Qatar to adopt his cultural intel- across the globe, referred to em- with more than 2,500 employ- Attending the event were QU deans of Graduate Studies at our programmes’ consistency organises a number of profes- ligence model into its corporate pirical research reports on or- ees from over 80 diff erent na- vice president for research and QU colleges. as well as to simplify student sional development sessions learning and employee engage- ganisations that improve their tionalities and how they can graduate studies Prof Mari- Dr El-Zatahry said, “Your life on campus by providing a for graduate students and fa- ment programmes. cultural intelligence benefi t utilise those diff erences to drive am al-Maadeed, QU dean of interest in QU research pro- clear means for addressing po- cilitates graduate faculty men- Dr Kholode al-Obaidli, chief from eff ective communication innovation and quality care for Graduate Studies, Dr Ahmed grammes will help in generat- tential problems. All university toring workshops designed to learning offi cer who has cham- across cultures, improved crea- patients and their families,” said El-Zatahry, QU assistant dean ing new concepts, innovations, policies are vitally important to enhance the graduate student- pioned innovative and engaging tivity and innovation, enhanced Dr Livermore. of graduate studies for student collaborations and develop- student success and the Gradu- mentor relationship. Gulf Times Saturday, October 7, 2017 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD US lifts Sudan sanctions over progress in fi ghting terror

Reuters Obama and which was opposed by hu- US assessment that Sudan has made cured a commitment from Sudan that with Pyongyang and that was not ex- alties against the east African nation. Washington man rights groups, President Donald progress in meeting Washington’s de- it would “not pursue arms deals” with pected to change. Sudan also has re- In July, the Trump postponed for Trump removed a US trade embargo mands, including co-operation on North Korea, and Washington will ap- cently distanced itself diplomatically three months a decision on whether to and other penalties that had eff ectively counter-terrorism, working to resolve ply “zero tolerance” in ensuring Khar- from Iran. US offi cials have said that remove the sanctions completely, set- he United States lifted long- cut Sudan off from much of the global internal confl icts and allowing more toum’s compliance, one of the offi cials sanctions relief, which will unfreeze ting up an Oct 12 deadline. standing sanctions against Su- fi nancial system. humanitarian aid into Darfur and other said. Sudanese government assets, could Rights groups see the sanctions Tdan yesterday, saying it had The US decision marked a major rebellious border areas, the offi cials said. But they said Khartoum’s assurances benefi t a range of businesses in Sudan, removal as premature.“It sends the made progress fi ghting terrorism and turnaround for the government of State Department spokeswoman on North Korea were not a condition including its key energy sector. wrong message to lift these sanctions easing humanitarian distress, and also President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Heather Nauert said the sanctions re- for lifting sanctions, some of which The economy has been reeling since permanently when Sudan has made so secured Khartoum’s commitment not However, Sudan will stay on a US lief was in recognition of Sudan’s “sus- had been in place for 20 years and have South Sudan, which contains three- little progress on human rights,” said to pursue arms deals with North Korea. ban on weapons sales and restrictions tained positive actions” but that more hobbled the Sudanese economy. But quarters of former Sudan’s oil wells, Andrea Prasow, deputy director of the In a move that completes a proc- on aid, offi cials said. improvement was needed. the offi cial said Khartoum was not seceded in 2011. Shortly before leaving Washington offi ce of Human Rights ess begun by former president Barack The lifting of sanctions refl ects a The Trump administration also se- believed to have diplomatic relations offi ce, Obama temporarily eased pen- Watch. Syria army enters eastern Trump may town in ‘severe blow’ to IS ‘decertify’ AFP landmark Beirut

egime forces yesterday broke into the eastern Iran N-deal Rtown of Mayadeen, one of the Islamic State group’s last bastions in Syria, backed by AFP stand. Trump on Thursday Russian air raids taking a deadly Washington criticised Iran’s behaviour with toll on civilians. regard to the 2015 pact. “They Mayadeen in the oil-rich east- have not lived up to the spirit of ern province of Deir Ezzor is seen resident Donald Trump the agreement,” said Trump, as as the militant group’s “security is planning to decertify he huddled with military lead- and military capital” in Syria, Pthe landmark Iran nu- ers ahead of perhaps the big- and its loss would deal “a severe clear pact negotiated by his gest foreign policy decision of blow” to the militants, according predecessor Barack Obama, his young presidency. to a Syrian military source. paving the way for potential- “You will be hearing about Over the course of months of ly reopening sanctions, two Iran very shortly.” successive defeats, Mayadeen leading US dailies said yester- Trump must tell Congress and nearby Albu Kamal on the day. by October 15 whether he be- Iraqi border have taken in IS Trump will argue that the lieves Iran is in compliance fi ghters fl eeing the battle to the agreement is not in the inter- with the agreement. north for Raqqa city in the face est of the United States, the He may well fl y in the face of of an off ensive launched by US- Washington Post reported, advice from some of his clos- backed forces. quoting four people close to est advisers, declaring Iran is “With support from Russian the president. not in compliance and leaving aviation, regime forces entered The New York Times also the pact’s fate in the hands of Mayadeen and took control of said Trump plans to decer- the Republican-controlled several buildings in the west of tify the accord but leave it Congress. Ahead of that dead- the town,” Rami Abdel Rahman, in force and make Congress line, several offi cials familiar head of the Britain-based Syrian decide whether to reimpose with White House delibera- Observatory for Human Rights, punitive sanctions, quoting tions said Trump has made it said. people briefed on the matter. clear he does not want to cer- Mayadeen, which the mili- Resumed sanctions could de- tify Iran’s compliance. tants have controlled since rail the accord negotiated with But a formal decision has 2014, sits on the western bank Tehran by Obama and other yet to be made. of the Euphrates River, between major world powers. Nuclear disarmament group provincial capital Deir Ezzor, Decertifi cation would al- ICAN won the Nobel Peace Prize where the militants still hold low Trump to argue that he has yesterday for its decade-long several districts, and the border rejected the accord as pledged campaign to rid the world of the with Iraq. IS remains in control but not completely ignored atomic bomb as nuclear-fuelled of half of Deir Ezzor province, senior advisers and lawmak- crises swirl over North Korea despite advances by President ers who say the accord should and Iran. Bashar al-Assad’s forces and a separate off ensive against the A boy stands at a damage site after an air strike on the rebel-held besieged city of Douma. militants by the Kurdish-Arab UNREST alliance. vilian death toll from Russian IS has seen its self-declared planes carry out raids accord- biased. On Thursday, the Red Four Yemeni soldiers killed in attack The Observatory said the tar- and coalition air raids. The Ob- “caliphate” straddling Syria and ing to type, location, fl ight pat- Cross said Syria was experienc- get of the regime advance was to servatory said Russian air strikes Iraq shrink steadily over the past terns and munitions used. It has ing its worst levels of violence Four Yemeni soldiers were killed and seven others wounded yesterday recapture Al-Omar oilfi eld held on Thursday night killed 14 peo- two years and has lost all but a reported hundreds of civilians since the battle for the coun- in a suspected Al Qaeda suicide car bombing in the southern province by IS to the northeast of Maya- ple, including three children, few of its main hubs in both Arab killed in anti-IS operations in try’s second city Aleppo late of Abyan, a security source said. The attack targeted a commander deen that was destroyed in US- fl eeing across the Euphrates on states. Deir Ezzor and Raqa. last year. of the UAE-backed Yemeni government forces in Khanfar area, Abu led coalition air strikes in 2015. rafts near Mayadeen. On Wednesday, another Rus- On Tuesday, it said a US-led “For the past two weeks, we Abdullah al-Shaneeni, who suff ered wounds, the source said. A militant The militants had been draw- Moscow has been carrying out sian air strike killed 38 civilians coalition strike in Raqqa killed at have seen an increasingly wor- from Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula drove the car into the forces ing oil sale revenues from the relentless air strikes in support trying to fl ee the fi ghting in Deir least 18 civilians. rying spike in military opera- who have been fighting the militant group in southern Yemen, the fi eld of between $1.7mn and of its ally Damascus targeting Ezzor province, according to the Russia has not acknowl- tions that correlates with high source added. Government troops have recently scored key victories $5.1mn a month, according to both IS in Deir Ezzor province Observatory. edged any civilian deaths from levels of civilian casualties,” said against Al Qaeda militants in Aden, Abyan and Lahaj provinces which the coalition. and rival militants led by Al- The Observatory relies on a its strikes since it intervened Marianne Gasser, the head of the prompted the group to launch counterattacks. Al Qaeda has flourished The advances against IS in Qaeda’s former Syria affi liate in network of sources inside Syria, in Syria in 2015, and dismisses International Committee of the in Yemen exploiting the country’s civil conflict between the govern- Deir Ezzor have cost a heavy ci- Idlib province in the northwest. and says it determines whose the Observatory’s reporting as Red Cross delegation in Syria. ment of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and the Houthi militants.

CONFLICT Libya pro-GNA force drives rival out of Sabratha Tens of thousands attend Talabani’s funeral A security force loyal to Libya’s internationally recognised govern- AFP Foreign Minister Mohamed Ja- dad University and doing a stint ment announced yesterday that it Sulaimaniyah vad Zarif and Kurdish repre- in the army, Talabani took to the has driven a rival militia out of the sentatives from Iran, Syria and hills in a fi rst uprising against city of Sabratha, after three weeks Turkey. Barzani and Massum the Iraqi government in 1961. of deadly fighting. The clashes ens of thousands of peo- each placed a large wreath of But he famously fell out with between a security force loyal to ple gathered yesterday white fl owers near Talabani’s Barzani after the latter sued for the UN-backed Government of Tfor the funeral of Iraqi coffi n, which was draped in the peace with Baghdad — the start National Accord (GNA) and the former president Jalal Talabani, red, white, green and yellow of a long and costly internecine militia of the head of a former in an emotional send-off for colours of the Kurdish fl ag. feud among Iraqi Kurds. people smuggling network, the veteran of the struggle for The Iraqi national anthem Decades later, he won plau- Ahmad Dabbashi, have killed 39 Kurdish self-rule. and then the Kurdish anthem dits for his eff orts as head of people and wounded 300 since Talabani died in Germany on were played, before the coffi n state to build bridges between September 17. Sabratha has been Tuesday aged 83, barely a week was taken to the city’s grand Iraq’s warring factions at the “liberated and...the destructive after an Iraqi Kurdish vote for mosque. Earlier this week, Bar- height of sectarian bloodletting militias have been defeated”, independence which has deep- zani said he had lost “a friend between the communities. the leader of the pro-GNA force, ened divisions between Iraq’s and a brother” and announced a Talabani’s death came af- General Omar Abdeljalil, said in a autonomous Kurdish region and week of mourning during which ter Iraq’s Kurds voted 92.7% in video posted on Facebook. The Baghdad. Kurdish fl ags would be fl own at favour of independence in the GNA, which had originally set Central government fi gures half-mast. September 25 referendum. up the security force to fight the and Iraqi Kurdish leaders in- Prime Minister Haider al- The vote was rejected as il- Islamic State group during its brief cluding longtime Kurdish rival Abadi, a fi erce opponent of last legal by the federal government occupation of central Sabratha in Massoud Barzani attended a fu- week’s referendum, hailed Ta- in Baghdad as well as by Iraq’s February 2016, welcomed the an- neral ceremony at the airport of labani for his role in “building a neighbours. nouncement. It expressed “great Sulaimaniyah, Talabani’s long- federal Iraq”. Baghdad retaliated last week satisfaction with the positive time fi efdom in Iraq’s autono- Talabani had “described Iraq by banning all international developments at Sabratha”, in a mous Kurdish region. Kurdish mourners surround the car carrying the coffin of former Iraqi president Jalal Talabani in as a bouquet made up of several fl ights in and out of the Kurdish statement posted on Facebook. After the ceremony, a vast Sulaimaniyah, Iraq yesterday. fl owers,” he said, referring to the autonomous region except for Both the GNA and the secu- crowd carrying portraits of the country’s diff erent communi- humanitarian cases. rity force urged the people of leader and the green fl ags of his his offi ce and his home. federal president of Kurdish or- A red carpet and a guard of ties. In Sulaimaniyah, Talabani But Prime Minister Abadi Sabratha to refrain from carrying Patriotic Union of Kurdistan It is the fi rst time since the igin, serving from 2005 to 2014. honour stood on the tarmac as was known aff ectionately as said Thursday he did not want out revenge attacks. “Those who (PUK) blocked the funeral pro- fall of royalty in 1958 that the Barzani, president of the au- his widow Hero and two sons Mam (Uncle) Jalal. an armed confl ict with Iraqi have complaints must resort to cession as it headed from the burial of a president in Iraq has tonomous Kurdish region, and alighted from the plane. Born in 1933 in the rustic vil- Kurds, adding that “federal au- justice and refrain from harm- airport to the great mosque of aroused such fervour, as many his prime minister Nechirvan Iraqi President Fuad Massum, lage of Kalkan in the mountains, thority must prevail”. ing the lives and property of the Sulaimaniyah. of Talabani’s predecessors were Barzani waited at the airport also a Kurd, Interior Minister as a young man he was quickly He appealed to Kurdish pesh- defeated,” said General Abdeljalil. Many wept and some tried to executed or forced into exile. as Talabani’s coffi n arrived on Qassem al-Araji, and parlia- seduced by the Kurdish struggle merga forces to work with the The violence began with an ex- kiss the car carrying his coffi n, During a decades-long po- a fl ight from Germany despite ment speaker Salim al-Juburi, for a homeland to unite a people Iraqi army “as we have worked change of gunfire at a checkpoint which took three hours to reach litical career, Talabani was a key a Baghdad-imposed ban on represented the Baghdad gov- scattered across Iraq, Iran, Tur- together against Daesh (the Is- manned by the security force in the mosque. fi gure in Iraqi Kurdish politics. international fl ights into the ernment. key and Syria. lamic State group), to guarantee which a militiaman was killed. Talabani was later buried near He later became Iraq’s fi rst Kurdish region. They were joined by Iranian After studying law at Bagh- citizens’ safety.” Gulf Times 4 Saturday, October 7, 2017 AFRICA

Supporters of the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition run as riot policemen fire tear gas to disperse them Supporters of the opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition carry banners during a protest in Nairobi, Kenya. during a protest in Nairobi, Kenya. Protests erupt in Kenyan cities, police fi re tear gas

Reuters increases political tension.” “The United States Govern- Nairobi It said all sides have under- ment is deeply concerned by the mined the electoral board in re- deterioration in the political en- cent weeks and “stoked tensions.” vironment in Kenya,” State De- olice fi red tear gas yester- Earlier yesterday, the Nairobi partment spokeswoman Heather day at opposition protest- county police commander said Nauert said. “Unfortunately, in Pers in Kenya’s capital who people would be allowed to pro- recent weeks actors on all sides were demanding that offi cials test, but anyone who tried to de- have undermined the electoral involved in August’s cancelled stroy property would “be dealt commission and stoked ten- presidential election be sacked. with fi rmly”. The United States sions,” she said. “While we sup- Crowds had gathered in Nairobi, warned Kenya’s rival political port freedom of speech, baseless the port of Mombasa and Kis- camps to reject violence and re- attacks and unreasonable de- umu, the western stronghold of spect electoral law yesterday, as mands on the electoral commis- the opposition, for the second protesters took to the streets. sion are divisive,” she said, in a time this week. Kenya is due to vote on October rebuke to Odinga’s campaign. Last month, Kenya’s Supreme 26 in a re-run of an August presi- But she also warned against Court voided the August 8 presi- dential election that was marred overreaction by the security forces. dential election, citing irregu- by widespread irregularities, “Kenyan leaders and citizens must larities, but did not criticise any and tensions are mounting. Op- reject violence and call on others specifi c individual at the elec- Protesters carry a mock coffin during a rally in Kisumu, Kenya. Policemen arrest a protester during a rally in Nairobi, Kenya. position leader Raila Odinga has to do the same,” she said. “Secu- tion board. called for protests to force Presi- rity services should use the utmost President Uhuru Kenyatta, their ire on the election board for hub for East Africa. The oppo- annulling the results on proce- United States, a major donor to dent Uhuru Kenyatta’s govern- restraint in handling demonstra- who offi cially won by 1.4mn its role in the cancelled poll. sition is threatening to boycott dural grounds again. the Kenyan government and its ment to overhaul the east African tions, and any response must be votes, only to have his victory With three weeks to go un- the October 26 re-run if election Parliamentarians return from security forces, said in a sharply nation’s electoral commission. proportionate and appropriate.” annulled, has accused the Su- til a scheduled new election, board offi cials are not removed recess next week and may pass worded statement yesterday: The majority Jubilee Party has Meanwhile, police fi red tear preme Court of bringing the politicians from both sides have and if parliament passes a pro- the bill then, an action likely to “Changing electoral laws with- rejected this demand and, amid gas to disperse protests yester- country close to “judicial chaos”. traded insults and accusations, posed amendment to the elec- spark further protests from the out broad agreement just prior threats of boycotts, observers day as opposition supporters Opposition leader Raila Odinga raising fears of further turmoil in tion law. The amendment could opposition. In reaction to the to a poll is not consistent with are worried about a possible out- took to the streets in three main and his supporters have turned Kenya, a transport and economic prevent the Supreme Court from expected vote next week, the international best practice (and) break of political violence. Kenyan cities. ‘Congo poised to see poll pushed back to 2018’ Grace Mugabe in

Reuters ton on condition of anonymity spokesman Lambert Mende them can cast more than one more than 3,000 since August ‘poison ice cream’ row Washington ahead of an offi cial announce- said the electoral commission ballot. Some 42mn people have 2016. A rebel spokesman in ment. Even that 2018 date pre- was independent of the admin- been registered so far.Once reg- eastern Congo said on Septem- sumes that there will be signifi - istration and had sole respon- istration is complete, Congo’s ber 29 that his forces intended with vice president he Democratic Repub- cant domestic and international sibility for setting the election parliament must approve a law to march across the country to lic of Congo’s electoral support for the election, which calendar. The stakes are high. on distribution of parliamen- the capital Kinshasa to depose Tcommission is expected is expected to cost $526mn to Resource-rich Congo, which tary seats that will also be up Kabila.”No security, no election DPA to announce in the coming days carry out, excluding expenses gained independence from co- for election. Then the country’s in that area,” the fi rst source Harare that a vote to replace President for registering voters. lonial power Belgium in 1960, hundreds of political parties said. Joseph Kabila cannot take place Without suffi cient support, has never had a peaceful transi- need to nominate candidates for US President Donald Trump until the end of 2018 at the ear- preparations for the election tion of power. the posts, the fi rst source said. said last month that the United imbabwe’s fi rst lady has liest, people familiar with the could take even longer, push- Kabila’s opponents have long As a result, voters are likely States was deeply disturbed by hit back at claims by the process said. ing the vote to May or July of suspected he intends to re- to have to choose from tens of violence in South Sudan and Zvice president — her main If confi rmed, the decision 2019, the fi rst source said. One peatedly delay elections until thousands of candidates for Democratic Republic of Congo rival to succeed ageing leader could anger Congo’s political of the big challenges is a lack he can organise a referendum hundreds of parliamentary and and that he would send UN Robert opposition, which had struck a of trust within Congo about to let himself stand for a third provincial government seats on ambassador Nikki Haley to Mugabe — that his ice cream deal with Kabila for a ballot by the political process itself, the term, as his counterparts in the the presidential ballot. Africa to discuss conflict pre- was poisoned at a ruling party the end of 2017. sources said. Securing interna- neighbouring Congo Republic Millions of newspaper-sized vention. event. Vice President Emmerson Kabila’s refusal to step down tional support for the new date and Rwanda have done. packets of ballot paper need to Kabila took power in 2001 Mnangagwa — better known by at the end of his second elected will also be vital, since a global Kabila denies those accusa- be printed, probably in China or after the assassination of his his nickname “The Crocodile” – Grace Mugabe term in December 2016 sparked backlash could trigger more in- tions, saying the election de- South Africa, and distributed, father, Laurent Kabila, an ex- made the allegations earlier this protests that killed dozens of fi ghting in Congo. lays stemmed from budgetary the sources said. Congo will rebel who had forced out Presi- week but did not name the fi rst ber. Grace Mugabe lashed out at people and raised fears that the “There is mistrust between constraints and the challenge need logistics support as well, dent Mobutu Sese Seko. Joseph lady, Grace Mugabe. Mnangagwa, describing him as chronically unstable country actors, especially political ac- of registering millions of voters. including leased aircraft from Kabila won elections in 2006 “The medical doctors who a “nobody.” “I can’t prepare one could slide back into civil war. tors,” the fi rst source said. “No Congo is moving toward “cred- the United Nations. The nation and 2011, but both were marred attended to me ruled out food cup of an ice cream to kill Mnan- Term limits preclude him from one trusts nobody. And this ible, transparent and peaceful must also guarantee security for by violence. poisoning but confi rmed that gagwa. Who is he? I’m the wife running again. mistrust is ... also even towards elections,” he told the United voters, which is no small task. People are also restless over indeed poisoning had occurred,” of a president,” she said at an The independent commis- the electoral process.” Nations last month. In the central Congo Kasai the state of the economy. Al- Mnangagwa said at a press con- event in the capital Harare. “I’m sion believes it cannot com- For example, any US deci- The fi rst source also cited provinces, an insurrection by though it has big reserves of ference late Thursday, according the fi rst lady and Mnangagwa is a plete preparations to ensure a sion to contest the new date several hurdles to preparing the Kamuina Nsapu militia, gold, cobalt, diamonds, tin and to local media. nobody. He was employed by my secure, transparent election could “put in motion contesta- for the next election, including which demands the withdrawal coltan, which is used in laptops Mnangagwa had fi rst indi- husband. Why would I kill him?” until December 2018, said the tions of the calendar and delay, completing a $400mn eff ort of Congolese forces from the and mobile phones, the vast cated that he was poisoned last she said. two sources from Congo, who again, the elections,” the sec- to register Congo’s 45 million area, has driven 1.4mn people country has been hit by the fall week and said it happened at a Mugabe, 93, has ruled Zimba- spoke to Reuters in Washing- ond source said. Government voters and ensure that none of from their homes and killed in global commodity prices. Zanu-PF party event in Septem- bwe for more than three decades.

Toll rises to 36 in Madagascar’s deadly plague outbreak Liberian women hold mass fast for peaceful elections At least 36 people have died of the disease that is spread person- the plague in Madagascar, with to-person is fatal unless treated more than half of the fatalities within 24 hours. AFP of their non-violent protests propelled a music video to raise awareness of their of confl ict still looms as President Ellen in densely populated areas, the Air Seychelles said that all its Monrovia the bloodied West African state into work, to the delight and bemusement of Johnson Sirleaf, also a co-winner of the Health Ministry said yesterday. flights to Madagascar would the world headlines and earned a Nobel passing traffi c. Twirling and sashaying, 2011 Nobel, steps down after 12 years in Outbreaks of bubonic plague are be suspended from tomorrow. Peace Prize for one of its leaders. members sported T-shirts reading “Re- power. common in Madagascar, which A basketball coach from the ressed in identical printed skirts, “We led the process in 2002 and 2003 member our past” and “Rape is a crime” “We foresee electoral violence,” said lies off Africa’s south-eastern Seychelles who had been visiting a hundred Liberian women knelt for the Liberian women’s mass action as convoys promoting the main candi- Morris, eyeing an armoured police vehi- coast, but the most recent Madagascar died from plague. Din prayer after another long day for peace. We are still assisting in main- dates passed by, beeping their horns at cle passing by. outbreak has included cases of Meanwhile, the World Health in three weeks of fasting, appealing once taining this peace that we have,” Del- full volume. The women’s peace move- “It’s not strange to Liberia. In the 2011 the more serious pneumonic Organisation said it had delivered more that their country be spared of vio- phine Morris, national co-ordinator for ment led sit-ins and pray-ins demanding election when the result was announced, form of plague. 1.2mn doses of antibiotics and lence. Ahead of elections next Tuesday, the Women in Peacebuilding Network peace talks and reconciliation during the we had violence break out a little, and The ministry has said 155 people released $1.5mn in emergency women of all ages are gathering from (WIPNET), said on Wednesday. “For this civil war, and its founder Leymah Gbow- one or two people died. We don’t want it were sickened by pneumonic funds to fight plague in dawn to sunset on a roadside close to the electoral period, they thought it wise to ee went on to jointly win the 2011 Nobel again.” plague and 75 by bubonic plague. Madagascar. party headquarters of several presiden- come together again, to join their faiths Prize for her work. In 2011 the losing candidate in a run- About 400 cases of plague are “Plague is curable if detected tial candidates. and ensure that there be free and trans- “During the war we were praying and off with Sirleaf, Winston Tubman, had reported in Madagascar every in time... The faster we move, Their daily injunction for peace ech- parent elections,” she added. fasting and the war ended,” recalls Jas- called on his supporters to boycott the year, most of them bubonic, the more lives we save,” said oes the female activism that helped end At their small encampment, the WIP- sah Ganyan, an elderly lady resting under second round of voting. Two people were which is transmitted by fleas. The Charlotte Ndiaye, the agency’s Liberia’s civil wars, which ran back-to- NET women regularly break out into the tarpaulin roof. “We don’t want more shot dead outside his headquarters the much rarer pneumonic strain of representative in Madagascar. back from 1989 to 2003. The success song, and on Wednesday were shooting war.” But many here believe the spectre day before the vote. Gulf Times Saturday, October 7, 2017 5 AMERICAS

Fearless Girl statue fi rm in Canada to compensate equal pay settlement ‘Sixties Scoop’ victims AFP AFP ments that it resulted in psychi- Nova Scotia province, more than Christian churches – including rate of killings and disappear- child welfare system as it is right New York Ottawa atric disorders, substance abuse, 6,000km (3,725 miles) away. the Catholic church – on behalf ances of indigenous women and now”. unemployment, violence, and “Their stories are heartbreak- of the federal government in an girls in Canada. “Too many children are still suicides. ing,” Bennett said, describ- eff ort to integrate them into so- Indigenous women represent being taken from their families,” efi antly facing off against n estimated 20,000 in- “People aff ected by the Sixties ing fi rsthand accounts of their ciety. 4% of Canada’s population but the minister said. Wall Street’s iconic digenous children taken Scoop have told us that the loss “identity being stolen” and Many survivors alleged abuse 16% of homicide victims. The settlement, which still DCharging Bull, the popu- Afrom their families start- of their culture and language are “about not really feeling that by headmasters and teachers, More than 1,200 were mur- requires court approval, will be lar bronze sculpture of a Fearless ing in the 1960s and placed for among the worst kinds of harm you belong anywhere”. who stripped them of their cul- dered or have gone missing over split between Scoop survivors Girl was meant to symbolise the adoption or fostering will share that they suff ered,” Indigenous “I have great hope,” said lead ture and language. the past three decades. and a reconciliation foundation power of female leadership in the in a C$800mn ($640mn) pay- Relations Minister Carolyn Ben- plaintiff and Beaverhouse First At least 3,200 students never Bennett was at a loss to ex- that will help them to reacquire male-dominated world of high out, the government announced nett told a press conference. Nations chief Marcia Brown returned home. plain Canada’s past assimilation their language and culture, with fi nance. yesterday. “That is why our government is Martel, “that this will never, The experience has been policies. C$750mn going directly to the But the investment fi rm which The so-called “Sixties Scoop” responding directly to remedy ever happen in Canada again.” blamed for gross poverty and “I don’t know what people survivors. commissioned the statue on saw them placed with primarily the ill-advised (policies) of the The Sixties Scoop, which ac- desperation in native communi- were thinking,” said the former A small number of lawsuits Thursday agreed to a $5mn pay- white middle-class families in past.” tually continued into the 1980s, ties that bred abuse, suicide and paediatrician. “I don’t know launched by other survivors re- out to more than 300 female and Canada, the United States and A visibly moved Bennett in- is just the latest historical wrong crime. how governments thought they main outstanding and are not black employees who were paid overseas. troduced six Scoop survivors: suff ered by Canada’s indigenous Ottawa formally apologised in could do a better job (at rais- included in the settlement, but less than their white, male coun- In recent years, as the children four who were raised in the peoples that Ottawa has sought 2008 for the “cultural genocide” ing children) than their parents, Bennett said she would “work terparts, according to an audit grew into adults and became United States, another who to redress. as part of a C$1.9bn ($1.5bn) set- their village, their community.” with them” toward a resolution. by the US Offi ce of Federal Con- aware of their past, several law- now speaks with a Scottish ac- Starting in 1874, 150,000 In- tlement with former students. Bennett said an offi cial apol- Those individuals who were tract Compliance Programmes suits and class actions have been cent, and a sixth who had been dian, Inuit, and Metis children The government also ogy would be forthcoming. sent abroad to live with foreign (OFCCP). fi led over their loss of aboriginal taken from her home in the Arc- in Canada were forcibly enrolled launched an inquiry last year She also said there may still be families will also be invited to According to a fi ling seen by identity, claiming in court docu- tic and placed with a family in in 139 boarding schools run by into the disproportionately high a need to “totally overhaul the return to Canada, if they wish. AFP, the investigation found that the company “since at least December 1, 2010” paid 305 women in senior roles such as senior vice-president, manag- Latin stars ing director, and vice-president positions less than similarly situated men, with similar dis- gather to crimination against 15 black vice-presidents. State Street denied both alle- sing for gations but agreed to the settle- ment nonetheless. “State Street is committed to Puerto equal pay practices and evalu- ates on an ongoing basis our internal processes to be sure Rico relief our compensation, hiring and promotions programmes are AFP non-discriminatory,” the fund New York said in a statement. “While we disagreed with the OFCCP’s Veronica Hartfield, the widow of slain Las Vegas off icer analysis and fi ndings, we have Charleston Hartfield, and their son Ayzayah, 15, are seen at the amilton writer Lin- co-operated fully with them, vigil for Hartfield. Manuel Miranda led and made a decision to bring this Hyesterday a who’s who of six year-old matter to resolution Right: Las Vegas police off icers salute at a memorial service for Latin stars in a new song to raise and move forward.” Hartfield. money for hurricane-ravaged Standing at just over four feet Puerto Rico. tall, the statue of a girl with her Set to a joyous dance beat, Al- hands on her hips and chin jut- most Like Praying over three and ting out created a stir when it a half minutes features shout- was installed in March this year. Vigil held for only Vegas cop killed in massacre outs to all 78 towns on the US Created by US artist Kristen Caribbean territory, where Hur- Visbal, the work became a defi - ricane Maria destroyed the elec- ant symbol of women’s rights AFP 34 and a married father of two, He had just published a book goodbye to Charlie so soon,” when Hartfi eld failed to an- trical and telecommunications under President Donald Trump, Las Vegas was off duty and attending the about his life in the police force, said Steve Grammas of the local swer phone text messages, col- grids. who won election last year de- big country music festival that which he joined in 2011. police union. leagues thought it was because Miranda, whose genre-merg- spite the emergence of a video became a shooting range for re- Hartfi eld was a military vet- Jake Grunwald, who gradu- he was helping wounded peo- ing Hamilton musical was one of of him bragging about groping undreds of Las Vegas tired accountant Stephen Pad- eran, who also coached foot- ated from the police academy ple. Broadway’s biggest hits in recent women. police and their fami- dock as he attacked with high- ball. with Hartfi eld, choked back Then they learned he was times, said that proceeds from “Know the power of women in Hlies paid an emotional, power rifl es from a 32nd-fl oor Several colleagues took to the tears as he said the late offi cer among the dead. the song would go to relief ef- leadership. SHE makes a diff er- candle-lit farewell on Thursday hotel room. podium at the memorial cere- “made us strong, our platoon” Nearly 500 people were forts by the Hispanic Federation ence,” reads a plaque underneath night to the only offi cer among As a cop, Hartfi eld had been mony held beside a monument when it came to enduring the wounded in Paddock’s shoot- group. it, referring to the fund’s Nasdaq the 58 people killed in last assigned to a confl ict preven- to fallen offi cers at the city’s tough training regime at the ing rampage. Jennifer Lopez, like Miranda ticker symbol. weekend’s shooting rampage. tion task force in the southeast police academy. academy. His motive remains un- a New Yorker of Puerto Rican But the Italian-American art- Charleston Hartfi eld, aged of the city. “No one really planned to say The night of the shooting, known. origin who has been active in the ist who created Charging Bull, hurricane response, sings lines which has stood south of Wall on the song. Street for nearly 30 years, al- The song also marks a rare re- leged that Fearless Girl breached turn to recording by Gloria Este- his copyright and distorted his fan, the Cuban American singer artistic message, vowing to sue. Trump undermines birth control coverage mandate who helped bring Latin pop into Erected initially for a week, the US mainstream with her New York Mayor Bill de Blasio group Miami Sound Machine. later announced it would remain Reuters but religious houses of worship ception insurance coverage to Other contributing vocalists in place until at least March next Washington/New York were exempted. comply with the law without include Luis Fonsi, the Puerto year. Some private businesses actually paying for the required Rican singer behind global vi- sued regarding their rights to coverage. ral hit Despacito, Panamanian resident Donald Trump’s circumvent such coverage, and California Attorney Gen- legend Ruben Blades, rapper Fat AIM shuts down administration has un- the Supreme Court ruled in eral Xavier Becerra said he was Joe, and the salsa chart-top- Pdermined requirements 2014 that they could object on “prepared to take whatever per Marc Anthony, who is also on December 15 under the Obamacare law that religious grounds. action it takes” to defend the Lopez’s ex-husband. employers provide insurance Case Western Reserve Uni- mandate that health insurers The lyrical refrain of Almost AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), to cover women’s birth control, versity School of Law professor provide birth control. Like Praying is an allusion to a one of the pioneering chat keeping a campaign pledge that Jonathan Adler said that it was The Justice Department re- line in Maria from West Side applications of the Internet’s pleased his conservative Chris- unlikely publicly-traded com- leased two memos that will Story, Broadway’s memorable early days, will be shut down on tian supporters. panies would seek exemptions. serve as the government’s legal take on Romeo and Juliet that December 15, the company said. Administration offi cials said “Why would a publicly- basis for justifying the rule and dramatises the Puerto Rican ex- The shutdown comes 20 years that eff ective immediately two traded company risk alienating laying out a framework for how perience in New York. after the launch of AIM, which new federal rules will let any potential shareholders by tak- apply religious liberty issues in Miranda made headlines last became a wildly popular feature non-profi t or for-profi t entity ing such a step?” Adler said. legal opinions, federal rules and weekend when he savaged Presi- of AOL, the largest Internet make religious or moral objec- According to one estimate, grant making. dent Donald Trump, who had provider at the time. tions to obtain an exemption only 3% of non-profi t groups One memo instructs Justice written on Twitter that Puerto Verizon, which acquired AOL from the law’s contraception This picture taken on February 16, 2012 shows religious activists off ering health benefi ts have Department employees to in- Rican leaders were ungrateful in 2015 and merged it into a mandate. displaying placards during a pro-life demonstration in front of the objected to contraceptives cov- corporate its legal arguments and “want everything to be done unit called Oath this year, said The changes also let public- White House in Washington. US President Donald Trump’s erage. on religious freedom into liti- for them” after San Juan’s mayor it is looking at new services to ly-traded companies obtain a administration annulled yesterday an Obamacare provision that “All Americans should have gation strategies and how they appealed for more assistance. replace the instant messenger. religious exemption. obliged employer health plans to pay for contraception. the freedom to peacefully live review rules. Miranda replied on Twitter: “AIM tapped into new digital It was not clear how many and work consistent with their A second memo used a “You’re going straight to hell, @ technologies and ignited a employers would actually drop Trump, who criticised the is known, but could not get faith without fear of govern- similar directive to govern- realDonaldTrump. No long lines cultural shift, but the way in birth control coverage on reli- birth control mandate in last enough votes to repeal it as they ment punishment,” the con- ment agencies to be used in the for you.” which we communicate with gious grounds. year’s election campaign, won promised. servative Christian legal activ- course of “employment, con- The artist stood by his com- each other has profoundly The move drew praise from strong support from conserva- “The Trump administration ist group Alliance Defending tracting and programming”. ment in an appearance yester- changed,” said Michael Albers, conservative Christian activists tive Christian voters. just took direct aim at birth Freedom said in a statement In another decision popular day to debut the single on NBC’s vice-president at Oath. “As a and congressional Republicans. The Republican president control coverage for 62mn praising the administration’s with Trump’s evangelical sup- Today show, saying that it was result we’ve made the decision It was criticised by repro- signed an executive order in women,” Planned Parenthood action. porters, the Justice Department “unprecedented” for a president that we will be discontinuing AIM ductive rights advocates and May asking for rules that would Federation of America presi- “HHS has issued a balanced on Wednesday reversed federal to “attack the victims of a natu- eff ective December 15, 2017. Democrats. allow faith-based groups to dent Cecile Richards said in a rule that respects all sides – it policy and declared that federal ral disaster”. “We are more excited than ever Some states and groups in- deny their employees insurance statement. “With this rule in keeps the contraceptive man- law banning sex discrimination “Those were the only words I to continue building the next cluding the American Civil coverage for services they op- place, any employer could de- date in place for most employ- in the workplace does not pro- had left, and I’m a guy who puts generation of iconic brands and Liberties Union (ACLU) vowed pose on religious grounds. cide that their employees no ers and now provides a religious tect transgender employees. words together for a living,” Mi- life-changing products for users to sue to block the move. “We will not allow people of longer have health insurance exemption,” said Mark Rienzi, Trump also has removed randa said. around the world.” “This is a landmark day faith to be targeted, bullied or coverage for birth control.” one of the lawyers for the Little protections for transgender AIM has been overtaken by other for religious liberty. Under silenced anymore,” Trump said The US Department of Sisters of the Poor. students and moved to ban messaging applications and the Obama administration, at the time. Health and Human Services The order of Roman Catholic transgender people from the social media amid a growing this constitutional right was The contraception mandate (HHS) broadened narrow reli- nuns, which runs care homes military. move to smartphones. seriously eroded,” Republi- was one provision of the 2010 gious exemptions to include an for the elderly, had challenged Trump’s support among Facebook-owned WhatsApp and can House of Representatives Aff ordable Care Act, Demo- exception “on the basis of mor- the mandate in court. evangelical voters, a major force Facebook Messenger each have Speaker Paul Ryan said. cratic former president Barack al conviction” for non-profi t The Little Sisters and other in his 2016 election victory, re- more than 1bn users. “This administration’s con- Obama’s signature legislative and for-profi t companies. Christian non-profi t employers mains strong, but has been AOL has provided no specific tempt for women reaches a achievement. Federal rules implemented objected to a 2013 compromise slipping in line with his overall user numbers but one report said new low with this appalling Trump and Republicans under Obamacare required em- off ered by the Obama admin- approval ratings, according to fewer than 10mn people were decision,” top House Democrat in Congress campaigned ployers to provide health insur- istration that allowed entities recent Reuters/Ipsos poll re- regular AIM users. Nancy Pelosi said. against Obamacare, as the law ance that covers birth control, opposed to providing contra- sults. Lin-Manuel Miranda Gulf Times 6 Saturday, October 7, 2017 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

State leaders attend royal banquet in Brunei

Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, his wife Queen Saleha, Indonesia’s Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesia’s Joko Widodo and Philippines’ President Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha arrives for the royal banquet President Joko Widodo and his wife Iriana at the royal banquet in Rodrigo Duterte arrive for the royal banquet at Nurul Iman Palace in Bandar Seri Begawan. of Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Nurul Iman Palace. Nurul Iman Palace.

Vietnam sacks top Tokyo governor says communist offi cial

AFP along with the leaders of Rus- Hanoi sia, China and Japan, among others. Xuan Anh’s takedown follows a series of high-profi le he communist party anti-corruption cases. wouldn’t visit Yasukuni chief of one of Viet- In May, serving member of Tnam’s largest cities the politburo Dinh La Thang was fi red yesterday for violat- was fi red over his previous ing party rules, the govern- stewardship of the massive ment said, part of the coun- state energy fi rm PetroViet- try’s massive anti-corruption nam (PVN). sweep targeting political Thang was party chief of Shrine if she became PM heavyweights and executives. the southern fi nancial hub Ho Dozens of bankers, busi- Chi Minh City when he was Reuters fi ve years ago, visited Yasukuni defl ation. But I think there is no nessmen and current and abruptly dismissed for mis- Tokyo Shrine, seen by China and South need for a big change in direc- former offi cials have been management at PVN. Offi cials Korea as a symbol of Japan’s past tion.” toppled in recent months as had also sought his former militarism, in December 2013. Asked about desirable policy the notoriously corrupt one- colleague, Trinh Xuan Thanh, okyo Governor Yuriko The visit sparked an outcry from under the next BOJ governor, party state vows to punish the former head of PVN’s Koike, whose new con- Beijing and Seoul and an expres- she said, “There will probably wrongdoing and polish its construction unit accused of Tservative party is chal- sion of disappointment from ally be parts that are an extension public image. losses worth $150mn, who fl ed lenging Japan’s ruling bloc in an Washington and he has not gone of current policy. If there were Analysts say the campaign Vietnam last year. October 22 election, said yes- in person since then. a sudden change, I think that is about political infi ghting as He was kidnapped from a terday she would not visit the Koike, 65, who has visited the would have an impact on the much as tackling corruption. Berlin park in August by Vi- controversial Yasukuni Shrine shrine herself, said paying re- stock market.” Danang party chief Nguyen etnamese security agents, ac- for war dead if she ever became spects to war dead was common BOJ Governor Haruhiko Xuan Anh, 41, was sacked for cording to German offi cials prime minister. in other countries but added she has been the main architect of violating party rules, tarnish- who decried the Cold-War Koike, often fl oated as a pos- would not go if she were premier monetary policy under Abe, ing the party’s reputation and style abduction as a “scandal- sible fi rst female Japanese pre- based on a “comprehensive de- and his five-year term expires sparking anger among his ous violation” of international mier, reiterated, however, that cision” balancing personal be- in April. colleagues and the public, ac- law. Thanh later appeared on she did not intend to run in the liefs and diplomacy. Koike also said, however, cording to the party’s supervi- state television in Hanoi where election and said nothing would “I would refrain from that,” that there was need for bolder, sion commission. offi cials said he had voluntar- change her mind. Speculation she said. speedier reforms than those car- “Nguyen Xuan Anh’s vio- ily handed himself in. has persisted despite her repeat- A former LDP member and ried out by the prime minister. lations and mistakes are seri- Last week, 51 bankers and ed denials. defence minister, Koike also said “In a fast-changing world, Ja- ous,” the commission said on businessmen were convicted Asked if she hoped to become Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, head of Japan’s Party of Hope, speaks there was no need for a major pan’s progress is way too slow,” its website yesterday. in a massive fraud case, in- prime minister, Koike told Reu- during an interview in Tokyo, Japan. change in the Bank of Japan’s said Koike, who fi rst entered He is accused of setting a cluding ex-banker Nguyen ters: “My strong intention is to hyper-easy monetary policy and parliament from a small reform- poor example for receiving a Xuan Son — who later chaired do my best as the governor of keep its majority in the cham- servative party”, and many of its there should not be any sudden ist party in 1992 and later joined car from a company and for PVN — who was sentenced to Tokyo, so I have not thought ber, where it now has a two- security and diplomatic poli- change under the next central the LDP. She defi ed the LDP to holding a doctorate degree death for causing losses worth about that.” thirds “super” majority, but cies echo those of Abe’s equally bank chief. Noting that the BOJ run for governor last year and from a US university not rec- millions of dollars. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Koike’s fl edgling Party of Hope conservative Liberal Democratic had adopted a hyper-easy mon- her novice local party won a July ognised by Vietnam’s Ministry Analysts have said that called the lower house election has clouded the outlook. Koike Party (LDP). etary policy, she added: “Un- Tokyo assembly poll by a land- of Education and Training. while previous administra- in hopes his ruling bloc would calls her party a “reformist, con- Abe, who took offi ce nearly fortunately, this has not cured slide. The party committee also tions have waged anti-cor- raised questions about his use ruption drives, the current of two diff erent homes owned campaign is unique in its scope by companies. and speed. Vietnam’s ranking Xuan Anh has been Danang on Transparency Internation- party chief since 2015, presid- al’s Corruption Perceptions ing over the fast-developing Index improved in 2016 for the coastal city that will host the fi rst time since 2012, to 113 out Cambodian govt asks court to Asia-Pacifi c Economic Co- of 176. operation (APEC) leaders’ But it remains behind Thai- summit in November. land, Philippines, Indonesia US President Donald and Malaysia and TI said ear- Trump is expected to attend lier this year Vietnam “has dissolve main opposition party the meeting in his fi rst Asia yet to show for a real break- jaunt since he was elected, through”. AFP line the opposition’s leadership nation, so we must prevent it,” its independence,” Cambodian build a pro-democracy move- Phnom Penh and drive out more than half he added. political analyst Meas Ny told ment inside Cambodia. of its MPs in fear. The exodus, His team accused the CNRP AFP. Hun Sen alleges this is proof 13 dead after Chinese prompted by the surprise ar- of breaching legislation that “If you look at past experi- that Kem Sokha was conspiring ambodia’s government rest of the party’s president Kem prohibits parties from threat- ences ... everything will go ahead in a “secret plan” with Washing- boat, HK tanker collide yesterday asked the Sokha last month, has raised se- ening national security, tak- smoothly (with the lawsuit),” he ton to oust the government. Ccountry’s top court to rious doubts about the party’s ing orders from a foreign entity said. In a message sent through his The Japanese coastguard said 400km north of the Oki Islands dissolve the main opposition ability to contest next year’s or conspiring with individuals The legal move comes several lawyers on Monday, Kem Sokha yesterday it had discovered a in the Sea of Japan, also known party, which is hanging on by a election. whose activities are “against the weeks after Hun Sen threatened blasted the treason charge as dozen bodies inside a Chinese as the East Sea. The Chinese thread after its leader was ar- Its future was further im- interest of Cambodia”, among to dissolve the party if its MP “total slander”, a view echoed fishing boat that capsized after vessel, the 290-tonne “Lurong rested on treason charges, send- perilled yesterday when lawyers other off ences. continued to “protect” Kem by the US and other democratic a collision with a Hong Kong Yuanyu 378”, had 16 Chinese- ing scores of MPs into self-exile. from the Ministry of Interior When the law was passed Sokha, the CNRP president who countries which have called for oil tanker off Japan’s western national crew members in total. The Cambodia National Res- lodged a complaint urging the earlier this year, rights groups was charged with treason last his immediate release. coast the previous day. “Our The Hong Kong-flagged ship cue Party (CNRP) has been bat- Supreme Court to disband the warned it was a brazen attempt month. Supporters of Hun Sen say he divers found all the bodies of was identified as “Brightoil tered by a government crack- CNRP for allegedly violating a by Hun Sen to checkmate an op- The politician was detained has brought stability and growth the missing 12 crew members Lucky”, a 63,294-tonne tanker down that is clearing out rivals controversial political parties position that had been making by hundreds of offi cers in a dra- to a nation once plagued by war. inside the ship,” a coastguard carrying 21 crew members. of strongman premier Hun Sen law. “There is strong and suffi - steady gains at the polls. matic arrest on September 3 and Detractors say corruption and off icial told AFP. The tanker’s crew were ahead of a 2018 election that cient evidence for the Supreme Analysts say there is little thrown into a remote border inequality have become rampant Japanese authorities later said believed to be safe. could have tested his 32-year Court to dissolve the CNRP,” Ky doubt the Supreme Court will prison. under his rule, fuelling support one of four crew members who Japan had deployed three grip on power. Tech, one of the lawyers, told re- take up the case in a justice sys- The main evidence cited for for the opposition and a yearn- had been rescued from the patrol boats to search for the The government has used a porters outside the court house. tem warped by Hun Sen’s med- his case is a publicly available ing for change, especially among fishing boat subsequently died, missing crew, after responding mix of court cases, legal ma- “If we keep (CNRP), it will dling. speech from 2013 in which he Cambodia’s large youth popula- bringing the death toll to 13. to a plea for help from their noeuvres and threats to side- lead to the destruction of the “The judicial system has lost said he had received US help to tion. Thursday’s collision occurred Chinese counterparts. Australians give up 51,000 illegal guns as amnesty ends

Reuters a fi fth of illegal fi rearms, was year’s amnesty will be destroyed. not be able to acquire in Austral- restrictions are seen to have outlawed, and a national licens- the University of Sydney, add- Sydney collected during Australia’s sec- Those who still own such guns ia,” he added. worked. In Tasmania in 1996, ing system required gun sellers ing that potential purchasers ond amnesty since its worst ever face jail time, and the govern- Turnbull was referring to the Martin Bryant killed 35 people and buyers to register, and spec- faced a full background check massacre, when a lone gunman ment is pushing for harsher pen- deadliest mass shooting in mod- at the former prison colony of ify reasons — such as gun club by police. ustralians turned in killed 35 people in the island alties for gun traffi ckers. ern US history, when Stephen Port Arthur, using military-style membership — why they needed “They will ask you for a genu- 51,000 illegal fi rearms, state of Tasmania in 1996. “Every single one of those Paddock, 64, armed with nu- weapons bought without back- weapons. ine reason for owning a fi rearm,” Aranging from 19th-cen- There has not been a mass 51,000 guns could be used, could merous assault rifl es, fi red this ground checks. The measures provoked op- he added. “If you can’t (provide tury weapons to a rocket launch- shooting since the then con- have been used in a crime where week on an outdoor country In response, conservative position from gun owners, in one), you won’t get the gun.” er, during a three-month am- servative government banned all Australians could be killed — music festival in Las Vegas, kill- Prime Minister John Howard particular farmers, but has Australia’s few gun stores are nesty that ended yesterday, and semi-automatic rifl es and semi- now they can’t,” Turnbull told ing 58 people and himself. convinced Australia’s eight pro- since mostly vanished, because heavily regulated, in contrast which Prime Minister Malcolm automatic shotguns that year, reporters in Sydney. “The killer The attack has focused atten- vincial governments to toughen Australia’s rules are seen to with the United States, where Turnbull said had helped avert and introduced tougher back- there had a collection of semi- tion on gun ownership rules in their laws, despite opposition have worked. “You can’t just ammunition and weapons are Las Vegas-style mass shootings. ground checks on gun purchas- automatic weapons which a per- the United States, and in Aus- from his own side of the politi- buy a gun,” said Phillip Alpers, sold at chain stores, such as Wal- The cache, representing about es. The fi rearms gathered in this son in his position would simply tralia, where gun ownership cal divide. Rapid-fi re guns were a fi rearms injury researcher at mart. Gulf Times Saturday, October 7, 2017 7 BRITAIN/IRELAND Irish voters oppose fully liberalising abortion: poll

Survey reveals just 24% back Gael government prepare to Irish Republic’s constitution, forced to give birth by caesarean in danger if she goes full term, or for full abortion reform to bring The prime minister said that legalised terminations in all frame an abortion reform refer- which gives equal rights to a foe- section in an Irish hospital after in cases where she is suicidal in Ireland’s law in line with the UK Ireland was “not ready for abor- cases up to 22 weeks, ahead endum scheduled for next year, tus and a pregnant woman. being refused an abortion. such instances as rape and incest. – the main destination for thou- tion on demand”. of planned referendum next it has emerged that only 24% of Pro-choice campaigners say The young woman had tried Critics say that in this instance sands of Irish women who have to He also indicated that within year voters are in favour of legalising the eighth amendment creates a to obtain a termination on the the law proved no practical value travel abroad to terminate preg- his own Fine Gael party he would terminations in nearly all cases. “chill factor” for medical teams grounds that she was at risk of to the woman concerned. nancies. allow a free vote, given the range By Henry McDonald According to an Irish Times/ who might otherwise carry out suicide if the pregnancy contin- Tens of thousands of pro- However, the latest polling fi g- of views held by MPs. Guardian News & Media Ipsos MRBI poll published yes- terminations under the current ued. choice campaigners marched ures suggest that the government Many of his MPs, particularly terday, 57% of the Irish electorate law, which allows for termina- The case was the fi rst proper through Dublin city centre at the would have very little chance of from rural, more conservative would favour allowing abortion tions where there is a direct test of the country’s 2013 Pro- weekend demanding the aboli- success with a referendum that constituencies, are opposed to rish voters would reject any in cases of rape, fatal foetal ab- threat to a mother’s life or there tection of Life During Pregnancy tion of the eighth amendment, off ered full liberalisation of the widespread abortion reform. move to legalise abortion in normalities and when there is a are indications that a woman Act, which was supposed to al- which was voted into the consti- law. The foreign minister, Simon Iall circumstances up to 22 real risk to a woman’s life. would kill herself if the pregnan- low for limited abortions in Irish tution in 1983 after lobbying by Last month, Varadkar told par- Coveney, has said that he would weeks, an opinion poll has found. A clear majority – about 70% cy continues. hospitals. powerful religious-based anti- liament that a referendum on the be “surprised” if Irish voters As the prime minister, Leo – would vote in favour of repeal- In 2014 a woman who was The law provides for cases abortion groups. eighth amendment would be held agreed to a liberal abortion sys- Varadkar, and his minority Fine ing the eighth amendment to the raped in her home country was where the woman’s life would be Many of the protesters called by next summer. tem as it exists in Britain.

Pharmacist jailed for attempts to PM May vows to carry on radicalise children with full cabinet support

By Josh Halliday PM shrugs off backbench given real momentum to the they were on the “payroll”. was, she replied: “My mes- Guardian News & Media plot to oust her, led by Grant Brexit talks. The environment secretary, sage to Grant is, really, shut Shapps, saying she will “I will also be introducing a Michael Gove, appeared on the up. If there’s one thing Grant continue to provide ‘calm bill to cap energy prices, which programme to lend his sup- has done, if there’s one posi- pharmacist who showed leadership’ will stop ordinary working port to May, saying that she tive that’s come out of this, it’s an Islamic State (IS) be- families from being ripped off .” had “shown grace and grit” this that he has united the party and Aheading video to a pri- By Peter Walker and Asked about the eff orts led week and a leadership election large sections of the public be- mary school pupil has been jailed Jamie Grierson by Shapps to gather suffi cient was not the correct way for- hind Theresa May. for six years for a “determined Guardian News & Media support among Tory MPs to ward. “It’s time for politicians to eff ort” to radicalise children. force a leadership contest fol- Charles Walker, the vice- put their personal interests to Zameer Ghumra was found lowing a disastrous party con- chairman of the infl uential Tory one side and get on with the job guilty of disseminating terrorist heresa May has dis- ference, May reiterated her backbench 1922 Committee, the public has elected us to do.” propaganda as he tried to brain- missed the idea that she point. slapped down Shapps, saying: But Shapps said “a growing wash two young brothers into Tmight be ousted by dis- She said: “What I think is “No 10 must be delighted that number” of MPs backed his becoming IS fi ghters. gruntled Conservative MPs, necessary for the country now, it’s Grant Shapps leading this cause. The 38-year-old taught the saying she will carrying on what the country needs, is calm alleged coup. Grant has many He said: “I believe Theresa children how to survive a bomb providing “calm leadership” leadership. That’s exactly what talents but one thing he doesn’t May is very decent person attack and fi ght with knives, as prime minister and that she I’m providing, and I’m provid- have is a following in the party, and unfortunately fought an rewarding them with sweets to has the complete support of her ing that with the full support of so really I think this is going to election that didn’t work out. keep them around. cabinet. my cabinet.” fi zzle out to be perfectly hon- We’ve not really managed to see He was sentenced at Notting- Speaking to reporters in her Shapps, who served as Tory est. that relaunch. ham crown court yesterday for Maidenhead constituency af- chair for nearly three years, has “What you’re seeing here is “There’s that sort of lack of what the judge, Gregory Dickin- ter Grant Shapps, the former emerged as the ringleader of a the coalition of disappointed discipline in the cabinet and son QC, described as a particu- Tory party chairman, said that backbench plot. people who think their brilliant party conference this week and Shapps: The reality is most people are looking at this and saying, ‘Hold larly serious attempt to turn the even some of her ministers say He told BBC Radio 4’s Today political talents have not been I think a growing number of my on a minute, let’s not bury our heads in the hands’. children into terrorists. privately she should step aside, programme that the solution to fully recognised. colleagues realise the solution “These were shocking crimes May insisted she planned to the leadership crisis was not “to “It doesn’t refl ect well on isn’t to bury our heads in the “But people who are dispas- which damaged the children and carry on with business as usual. bury our heads in the sand”. them and it doesn’t refl ect well sand and hope things will get sionate and look at this realise Off icer gets five caused off ence to the vast ma- “Now, what the country Shapps said that he had the on Grant Shapps.” better. probably the time is to have a jority of law-abiding Muslims,” needs is calm leadership, and support of about 30 MPs, in- Shapps’ predecessor as party “It never got better for [Gor- leadership election.” years for selling he said, noting that there had that’s what I’m providing, with cluding fi ve former cabinet chairman, Baroness Sayeeda don] Brown and [John] Major Asked if cabinet ministers car crash data been an “absence of remorse” the full support of my cabinet,” ministers, and suggested that Warsi, also had strong words and I don’t think it’s going to were loyal to the prime minis- from Ghumra. she said. “And next week I’m some cabinet ministers pri- about his actions. work out here either.” ter, he said: “In private not all A British police off icer was Jurors heard how Ghumra fol- going to be updating MPs on vately agreed but would be re- Asked by BBC Radio 4’s The group of Tory rebels have of them.” sentenced to five years in prison lowed various IS-linked social my Florence speech, which has luctant to back him because World at One what her message long been critical of May but Before Gove’s appearance yesterday for selling data about media accounts and made the have been spurred into action on the programme, Shapps car crashes to insurance claims two unidentifi ed children follow after her conference speech predicted that the environ- firms – in one case even before a similar accounts. on Wednesday was marred by ment secretary would “very police patrol had arrived on the Though he worked as a phar- mishaps. eloquently tell you why it’s all scene of an accident. macist in Oundle, Northamp- A prankster handed her a fake fi ne and we should push on and The fraud consisted of extracting tonshire, Ghumra was said to P45, she struggled to deliver it will all be OK, and I’m sim- names and contact details have been setting up a madrassa. her remarks because of an in- ply saying the history says you for people involved in car The jury was told how Ghumra cessant cough, and there were can’t just carry on”. crashes from a police database, had online conversations with problems with the backdrop. Gove said on the show: “No prosecutors said in a statement. Anjem Choudary, the jailed radi- Shapps said he had hoped to one is burying their heads in The information was then sold to cal preacher, describing him as a speak to the prime minister pri- the sand. What we’re doing is claims firms which then off ered good man to the children. vately but the Tory party whips concentrating on delivering various types of compensation. Giving evidence in court, one had unmasked him in the Times and governing eff ectively. The The police off icer, Nigel Mungur, of the boys said Ghumra had newspaper. critical thing is the PM has been even set up his own company shown him a lot of beheading He revealed that No 10 was doing a fantastic job. to handle the data transfers and videos. aware of his discontent and had “She showed an amazing made £363,000 (€405,000, “[Ghumra] had IS training urged him not to go public. degree of resilience and cour- $473,000) over seven years. videos and people being behead- Shapps said the group of MPs age this week, of a piece with He was found out when car crash ed,” he said. “There was talking supporting him included Brex- the fantastic leadership she’s victims complained that they and then the American soldier iters and those who supported shown throughout the time she were receiving calls even though was beheaded. It made me feel remaining in the European Un- has been prime minister. they had given their contact disgusting. I told him I get a hor- ion. “The truth is the overwhelm- details only to the police. rid feeling when I see this.” “The reality is most people ing majority of Conservative One man said that he had been The boy told the court: “He are looking at this and saying, MPs, the truth is the entirety contacted by an insurance believes in a very, very, very ex- ‘Hold on a minute, let’s not of the cabinet, the truth is the company even before police had treme Islam. He believes if any- bury our heads in the hands’ … I overwhelming majority of peo- arrived to assist him. one’s non-Muslim and they say say most, it’s not most because ple, want the prime minister to Two accomplices, including anything bad about Islam, you you’ve got a very large payroll of concentrate on doing the job Mungur’s wife Nicola, also kill them. And you can’t make May: Now, what the country needs is calm leadership, and that’s what I’m providing, with the full people who are essentially paid that 14mn people elected her to a police off icer, were also friends with any non-Muslim.” support of my cabinet. to be in the cabinet. do earlier this year.” convicted. The boys’ mother told the court that she had grown in- creasingly concerned about the Ex-PM Cameron man’s infl uence on the children, who she said were “waking up lands new job in the night because they think Murdoch’s UK paper arm admits computer hacking someone is killing them”. Former British prime minister She said: “My kids have been David Cameron, who stepped forced to watch IS training vid- Reuters British teenager admits trying to hack US spy chief Brennan pened, accepts that it should down abruptly last year after eos. He told them: ‘We will have London never have happened, and has failing to convince British voters to do this one day.’ He told them A teenager admitted in a British court yesterday to to secure unauthorised access, and two charges of undertaken to the court that it to remain in the EU, has been all kafi rs [non-believers] go to trying to hack into the computers of top US off icials, unauthorised acts with intent to impair operation of will never happen again.” appointed to his first high-profile hell, even if they’re good people.” upert Murdoch’s British including former CIA chief John Brennan, from his a computer. Opponents of Murdoch’s commercial role. The court heard that after newspaper group said home in the East Midlands region of England. He was released on conditional bail ahead of sen- takeover said the case was evi- Cameron will take on an Ghumra’s arrest at Birming- Ryesterday that one of its Kane Gamble, 18, pleaded guilty to 10 charges relat- tencing on December 15. dence that the deal should not advisory post with the US-based ham airport in September 2015, titles had hacked the computer ed to the attempted intrusions in late 2015 and early British judges have sentenced defendants in other be allowed to go through and First Data Corporation, which a computer was seized showing of a former intelligence offi cer, 2016, which targeted the US Department of Justice hacking cases in recent years to up to two years in they would send a dossier to the handles credit- and debit-card 1,600 search results for terms an admission which critics said and an array of senior American security off icials. prison. Competition & Markets Au- transactions for around 6mn including “survival knives”. showed why his takeover of Eu- These included James Clapper, the director of Media reports at the time of the attempted breaches thority (CMA) which is exam- merchants worldwide, the Speaking after he was found ropean broadcaster Sky should National Intelligence under President Obama; Jeh said they were part of a wider “hacktivist” group ining the proposed deal. company said in a statement guilty on Thursday, Sue Hem- be blocked. Johnson, the former US secretary of Homeland known as “Crackas With Attitude”, which targeted “It’s vital that the CMA is yesterday. ming, of the Crown Prosecution In a hearing at London’s High Security; and a deputy director of the Federal Bureau the US off icials and their families between October able to take this new evidence of In this role, the former Service (CPS), said: “Zameer Court, Murdoch’s News Group of Investigation (FBI). 2015 and February 2016. criminality and corporate fail- prime minister will focus on Ghumra tried to brainwash im- Newspapers admitted “vicari- Gamble, from Coalville, Leicester – a small town 110 The US Justice Department arrested two men in ure into account as it assesses consolidating First Data’s base pressionable children with this ous liability” for the hacking miles (177km) northwest of London – pleaded guilty September 2016 in North Carolina on suspicion of the Murdochs’ bid to take over in its key markets as well as violent ideology by making one of computers belonging to Ian to eight charges of performing a function with intent belonging to the network. Sky,” said Tom Watson, deputy promoting the company’s watch beheading videos and Hurst, who worked for British leader of the Labour Party. expansion into new regions of urging them both to adopt a military intelligence. Murdoch shut the News of the world, the statement said. hardline religious outlook. The case comes a month af- the Irish edition of the News top spy in the Irish Republican Newspapers ... accepts vicari- the World in 2011 after its jour- “The payments industry is “The CPS case was that he in- ter Britain’s media minister said of the World newspaper had Army (IRA), Alfredo Scappat- ous liability for the wrongful nalists were found to have been evolving rapidly in this era of tended to radicalise them in the regulators should scrutinise hired a private investigator to icci, known by the codename acts of computer interception,” involved in phone-hacking. dramatic change, and as we hope that they would go on to be Murdoch’s planned $15bn take- intercept his client’s e-mails in “Stakeknife”. said Anthony Hudson, the law- His original attempt to buy work to strengthen and grow our involved in terrorism. The chil- over of Sky over concerns about 2006. Reed said it was likely he was yer for the newspaper group, full control of Sky was ditched presence in key markets, David dren were brave to give evidence broadcasting standards and its Hurst had served in North- targeted because an employee adding it had paid “substantial” in the wake of the scandal. Cameron’s experience and advice and we would like to thank them impact on media plurality. ern Ireland and later wrote a of the newspaper wanted to damages to Hurst and his fam- Since then the company will be invaluable, First Data chief for helping to secure this convic- Hurst’s lawyer Jeremy Reed book about his experiences, trace Scappaticci. ily. “News Group Newspapers has been split in two to help to executive and chairman Frank tion of a dangerous man.” said in a court statement that including details of Britain’s “I confi rm that News Group accepts that such activity hap- smooth the deal’s passage. Bisignano said. Gulf Times 8 Saturday, October 7, 2017 EUROPE

Germany cleans up Nobel Peace Prize goes as Poland reports to anti-nuke campaign two dead AFP supporters and celebrities alike The North Atlantic Treaty yesterday, potentially paving the after storm Oslo in its cause. Organisation (Nato), which has way for renewed sanctions on It was a key player in the three of the world’s nuclear Tehran. adoption of a historic nuclear powers in its ranks and which Tensions have also soared be- DPA uclear disarmament weapons ban treaty, signed by opposed the weapons ban treaty, tween the US and North Korea, Berlin campaign group ICAN 122 countries at the UN in July. welcomed “the attention given which has test-fi red two mis- Nwon the Nobel Peace But the accord was largely to the issue” by ICAN’s win. siles over Japan and conducted a Prize yesterday for its eff orts symbolic because none of the But the alliance’s secretary string of apparent underground mass clean-up was un- to consign the atomic bomb to nine countries known or sus- general Jens Stoltenberg said in nuclear tests. derway across Germany history, fi ring off a warning that pected of having nuclear weap- a statement that “the conditions “This is a time of great glo- Ayesterday after a violent Donald Trump’s presidency ons put their names down. for achieving nuclear disarma- bal tension, when fi ery rhetoric storm with hurricane-force showed the true extent of the It also still needs to be ratifi ed ment are not favourable today”. could all too easily lead us, in- winds killed seven people, risk posed by weapons of mass before entering into force. The survivors of the bomb- exorably, to unspeakable horror,” caused chaos at airports and destruction. The United States, Russia, ing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, ICAN said. resulted in parts of the pub- More than 70 years since Britain, France, China, India, however, congratulated ICAN. The Nobel committee has re- lic transport system being shut atomic bombs were used on the Pakistan, Israel, and North Ko- “We want to work together so warded anti-nuclear weapons down. Japanese cities of Hiroshima and rea are all thought to possess nu- that the nuclear disarmament drives on several previous oc- The storm, referred to as Nagasaki, the Nobel committee clear weapons. treaty can be signed as soon as casions, honouring Soviet dis- Xavier, with wind gusts at times praised ICAN’s non-prolifera- Speaking to reporters in Ge- possible,” said Shigemitsu Tana- sident Andrei Sakharov in 1975, hitting 180kph, swept across tion eff orts as nuclear-related neva, ICAN’s head Beatrice ka, head of the Nagasaki Atomic the international non-prolifer- northern Germany and Poland, crises swirl around North Korea Fihn said that Trump’s move- Bomb Survivors Council. ation group IPPNW in 1985, and uprooting trees, knocking over and Iran. ments over North Korea and Iran Yesterday’s award comes as a Mohamed ElBaradei, then the cranes and hitting large urban The decision sent a clear mes- showed the clear danger posed global nuclear deal with Iran is head of the International Atomic areas. sage at a time when Trump has by nuclear arms. under increasing pressure from Energy Agency, 20 years later. Two deaths were reported threatened to tear up a 2015 deal “The election of President Trump. UN chief Antonio Guterres in Poland yesterday by Interior curbing Iran’s nuclear abilities. Donald Trump has made a lot The agreement struck in 2015 praised ICAN’s win, tweeting: Minister Mariusz Blaszczak. And the US president alarmed of people feel very uncomfort- between Iran and world powers “Now more than ever we need One death occurred when a delegates at the UN General As- able with the fact that he alone drastically curbed Tehran’s nu- a world without nuclear weap- man fell while trying to secure sembly last month by warning can authorise the use of nuclear clear enrichment capability in ons.” his roof from the winds, and he might be forced to “totally weapons,” she said, adding that return for a lifting of punishing But Russia, which according woman died when struck by a destroy” North Korea because of the US leader had a track record economic sanctions. to some counts has the world’s falling branch. its atomic weapons programme. of “not listening to expertise”. Iran denies ever pursuing a largest atomic stockpile, said At least 39 others were in- “We live in a world where Days before the Nobel an- bomb, insisting that its nuclear there was no alternative to “nu- jured. the risk of nuclear weapons be- nouncement, Fihn had tweeted programme is for peaceful en- clear parity” in guaranteeing Polish authorities stated that ing used is greater than it has simply: “Donald Trump is a mo- ergy production only. world peace. rescue services were called to been for a long time,” Norwe- ron”, a remark she said yesterday But Trump has threatened to More than 300 people and some 10,000 emergency situa- gian Nobel committee president that she regretted. bin the accord, and on Thursday organisations were thought to tions. Berit Reiss-Andersen said in an- Although global atomic criticised Iran’s behaviour, tell- have been nominated for this ICAN executive director Fihn gestures during the news conference The storm was particularly nouncing the prize in Oslo. stockpiles have reduced – from ing military leaders in Washing- year’s Peace Prize, including the in Geneva. violent in the country’s west and Founded in Vienna in 2007, 64,000 weapons in 1986 at the ton that Tehran has “not lived up UN’s refugee agency UNHCR, south. the International Campaign height of the Cold War to 9,000 to the spirit of the agreement”. Syria’s White Helmets rescue comes with a gold medal and a 10, the anniversary of the death Gusts damaged a number of to Abolish Nuclear Weapons in 2017, according to the Bul- Trump is planning to decerti- service, and Congolese doctor cheque for 9mn Swedish kro- of its founder, Swedish philan- houses and tore trees from the (ICAN) comprises more than letin of Atomic Scientists (BAS) fy the deal, the Washington Post Denis Mukwege. nor (€943,000, $1.1mn), will be thropist and dynamite inventor ground and around 800,000 400 NGOs and has mobilised – they remain a global concern. and the New York Times reported The Peace Prize, which presented in Oslo on December Alfred Nobel. people were left without power, according to the Polish Govern- ment Centre for Security. Woman jailed 10 About 10,000 people re- mained without power in the years for joining IS northeastern German state of fighter son in Syria At least 16 die as train crashes into bus in Russia Mecklenburg-Vorpommern yes- terday, with energy companies A court has sentenced a saying they were using all avail- radicalised Frenchwoman to 10 AFP nationals who were killed in the able resources to restore power. years in prison after travelling to Moscow crash were doing in the country. At the height of the storm, Syria where her son was fighting The foreign ministry of about 35,000 people were with- alongside Islamic State (IS) neighbouring Kazakhstan con- out power. militants. t least 16 people were fi rmed that the two bus drivers, Public transport services were Christine Riviere, 51, dubbed by killed yesterday when a one of whom was killed, were also slowly returning to normal investigators as “Jihadi Gran”, Atrain slammed into a bus Kazakh nationals. in the wake of the storm, which was arrested in 2014 after three that had broken down on a level The train continued on its left large numbers of rail passen- trips to Syria, which she said were crossing east of Moscow, au- route around 11am local time. gers stranded in train carriages. aimed at spending time with her thorities said. The train-bus collision ap- About 470 train passengers son in case he was killed. The collision occurred before pears to be Russia’s deadliest were forced to spend the night Announcing the decision, dawn yesterday near the town accident involving a train since at a train station in western Ger- the judge said Riviere of Pokrov, some 110km (70 2006 when 22 people were many as a result of the storm had demonstrated “a firm miles) from the Russian capital. killed when a train struck a bus with the nation’s rail company commitment” to IS and had “According to preliminary at an unprotected crossing in cancelling multiple train serv- contributed to strengthening the information, 16 people, includ- the southern Krasnodar region. ices. group logistically. ing a child, have been killed,” In 1996, a train hit a school At the same time, 370 peo- France, like other European Russia’s Investigative Commit- bus in the area of the southern ple became stranded when two nations, is wrestling with how to tee said. city of Rostov-on-Don, killing long-distance trains had to take deal with those returning from “Other passengers, includ- 21 children and injuring 19 oth- shelter at the station in the west- the Syrian conflict. ing minors, have been taken to ers. ern German town of Minden. A presidency off icial said last hospital with various injuries. The driver was unable to see About another 100 were week that half of the 500 The number of dead and injured the bus early enough to brake trapped when their regional children were born there, and is being ascertained,” the com- because of a heavy fog. trains ceased operations. in total about 2,000 French mittee said, confi rming it had In a separate accident later Offi cials said the people were nationals or residents had gone opened an investigation. yesterday, at least six people stuck for about eight hours and to the country, The regional interior minis- died and about 15 were injured that staff at the station made “Instead of trying to disengage try said the bus broke down on when a bus overturned in a sure they were cared for. your son, it seems on the the level crossing. A handout picture released by Vladimir region branch of the Russian interior ministry shows the site ditch in the Moscow region, Meanwhile, a zoo in Berlin said contrary that you encouraged Uzbekistan’s foreign minis- of a collision, after a train slammed into a passenger bus that had broken down on a level crossing, a regional interior ministry 18 of its fl amingos were killed by him,” the judge said. try said in a statement that 19 near the city of Vladimir, some 110km east of the Russian capital. spokesman told AFP. falling branches. Investigators believe that Uzbek nationals had died in the Russia’s road accident mor- There were, however, happy Riviere’s son, Tyler Vilus, climbed crash, despite the Investigative driver slammed on emergency “There are no victims among scene along with other staff tality rate is extremely high, moments. the IS hierarchy to lead a Committee reporting a lower brakes and sounded a warn- the train passengers,” the inte- from the embassy, it said. although it has been declining A young seal has been named Francophile group. fi gure. ing alarm, but it was not able rior ministry said. The interior ministry was over the past few years. “Stormy” by Hamburg residents Arrested in July 2015 in Turkey The train, travelling at to stop before it hit the vehicle, Images from the scene sending a team of experts to the Some 20,000 people died in after he was rescued from waters and now imprisoned in France, 90kph from the second city Russian Railways said. showed the white Mercedes bus region to off er assistance. car crashes in the country in near the northern German port Vilus is suspected of having of Saint Petersburg to Nizhny All of those killed were on had been almost completely Millions of migrants from 2016. city on Thursday as a violent known members of the network Novgorod, east of Moscow, the bus, which was carrying 58 torn apart with most of its roof poverty-stricken ex-Soviet Seventeen people were killed storm swept the region. that organised and carried out slammed into the bus at 3.29am people, 56 of them Uzbek na- ripped off and debris scattered countries such as Uzbekistan in August when a bus carrying The six-month-old seal had the November 2015 attacks in (0029 GMT) yesterday. tionals. across the tracks. come to work in Russia. construction workers veered sought safety from the turbulent Paris in which 130 people were The train was 400m away The remaining two were The Uzbek ambassador to None of the offi cial state- off a pier and plunged into the sea by making his way into area killed. from the crossing when the drivers from Kazakhstan. Russia was on his way to the ments specifi ed what the Uzbek Black Sea. of dikes south of the city. Spanish government apologises to injured Catalans

AFP ter Santi Vila, a close of ally of people hurt in last Sunday’s ref- cusations of sedition. Monday in the Catalan parlia- Madrid regional president Carles Puig- erendum disturbances. The court summons raised ment at which some leaders have demont, meanwhile told broad- “I can do nothing but regret tensions, but despite the gravity called for an independence dec- caster Rac1 that his side could it, apologise on behalf of the of- of the accusations, the court did laration. Spanish government of- consider a “ceasefi re” in the fi cers who intervened,” said the not issue a custodial order that If Catalonia declares inde- fi cial has off ered the first dispute, to avoid a further crack- government’s representative in could have further escalated the pendence, Spain could respond Aapology to Catalans in- down by Madrid. Catalonia, Enric Millo. “I am very dispute. by suspending the region’s exist- jured by police during their out- Businesses and the govern- sad, very sorry, we deeply regret Jordi Cuixart and Jordi ing autonomous status and im- lawed independence vote as the ment kept up economic pressure that we have arrived at this situ- Sanchez, leaders of Catalonia’s posing direct rule from Madrid. sides showed tentative signs of on Catalonia however, with sev- ation.” two biggest pro-independence On another front, the govern- seeking to defuse the crisis. eral big companies announcing Central government spokes- civil groups, and regional police ment in Madrid pushed ahead Catalan leaders had threatened moves to shift their legal domi- man Ignacio Mendez de Vigo also chief Josep Lluis Trapero walked with a measure to pressure Cata- to declare independence unilat- ciles to other parts of Spain. said later he “regretted” the in- free from the preliminary hearing lonia economically. erally and Prime Minister Mari- A T-shirt depicting an Estelada (the Catalan separatist flag) is seen at Puigdemont postponed an ap- juries. at the National Court in Madrid. It passed a decree to make it ano Rajoy vowed to stop them, a shop in Barcelona. pearance in the regional parlia- “It would be good to start The two civil leaders were ac- quicker for businesses to shift rejecting calls for mediation in a ment at which some leaders were mending this fracture ... through cused of sedition for their role in their legal domiciles away from dispute that has drawn cries of 7.5mn people that accounts for After days of ill-tempered hoping for a declaration of inde- regional elections,” he told a unrest during protests in Barce- one region to another. concern even from Barcelona and one-fi fth of Spain’s economy. rhetoric, the central government pendence, a spokesman said – news conference. lona last month. With its own language and Real Madrid footballers. Yesterday saw the fi rst signs said it regretted the injuries and gaining time and easing tensions. In Madrid meanwhile, Catalo- Trapero’s force was accused of cultural traditions, demands for Spain’s deepest political crisis that the sides may be willing to suggested Catalonia should hold It was unclear what he planned nia’s police chief and two promi- failing to rein in the protesters. independence in Catalonia date in decades has raised fears of fur- step back from the brink in a po- a regional election to settle the to say at the session. nent separatist leaders avoided Spain’s Constitutional Court back centuries but have surged ther unrest in the northeastern litical confl ict that risks destabil- crisis. Spain’s central government being remanded in custody at a on Thursday ordered the suspen- during recent years of economic region, a tourist-friendly land of ising Europe. Catalan government minis- apologised on behalf of police to court hearing yesterday over ac- sion of a session scheduled for crisis. Gulf Times Saturday, October 7, 2017 9 INDIA

MARITIME JUSTICE PEOPLE INVESTIGATION OFFBEAT Naval ship thwarts piracy Sasikala gets parole to Shourie says made mistake CBI questions Lalu’s son for Leopard caught after 36 attempt in Gulf of Aden meet ailing husband by supporting Modi as PM seven hours in contract case hours on prowl in factory

Indian naval ship Trishul yesterday thwarted a piracy Jailed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala was yester- BJP leader and former minister Arun Shourie yes- The CBI questioned RJD chief Lalu Prasad’s son A leopard on the loose inside India’s largest car attempt on an Indian merchant ship in the Gulf of day granted five-day parole to meet her ailing terday said he had made a “mistake” by support- Tejashwi Yadav for over seven hours yesterday factory was caught and tranquillised yesterday Aden, off icial sources in New Delhi said. “INS Trishul husband M Natarajan in Chennai. She has been ing Narendra Modi to be the prime minister. This, in connection with its ongoing probe into alleged after sparking a frantic 36-hour search by 200 thwarts piracy attempt on Indian ship MV Jag Amar directed to keep away from all political activity he said, was his second mistake after supporting irregularities in the 2006 IRCTC hotels mainte- police and wildlife off icials. The big cat was spot- at 1230hrs in the Gulf of Aden,” Navy’s spokesperson during the parole period. Sasikala, 60, left for V P Singh who led a Janata Dal government sup- nance contract case, IANS reported from New ted on Thursday on CCTV by guards at Maruti Captain D K Sharma said in a tweet. The details of Chennai in a private car along with her nephew ported by the BJP and Left parties from outside. Delhi. Tejashwi Yadav, a former Deputy Chief Suzuki’s manufacturing plant in the town of the anti-piracy operation were awaited. In May, INS and sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dinakaran He was addressing the sixth Khushwant Singh Minister of Bihar, reached the Central Bureau of Manesar, just 24 miles from the capital New Delhi. Sharda, deployed for anti-piracy operations in the from the jail at Parapanna Agrahara on the city’s Literary Festival at Kasauli. Shourie was speaking Investigation (CBI) headquarters on Lodhi Road in After workers were evacuated from the plant, Gulf of Aden, rescued a Liberian merchant vessel southern outskirts. “She (Sasikala) has been given on “How to recognise rulers for what they are”. south Delhi around 11.15am and was questioned police kicked off an hours-long operation to catch Lord Mountbatten from a pirate attack. In April, parole for five days until October 11 to meet her “Actually don’t even go by what they are saying, until 6.30pm. “Tejashwi was questioned for over the animal, even using live goats and raw meat to INS Mumbai, Tarkash, Trishul and Aditya, which ailing husband in the hospital in Chennai,” Ben- but go by what they have been doing and what seven hours by CBI investigators. He faced more lure it out of hiding. But the leopard was unmoved were passing through the Gulf of Aden, had saved galuru Central Jail Superintendent G Somashekar they have condoned in other people. So, that is than 100 questions in connection with the IRCTC and remained out of sight until it returned to the another merchant ship MV OS 35 from pirates. told IANS. very important for the future.” case,” CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said. same location where it was first spotted. Kerala rejects Getting ready for Diwali Centre’s plea to cut fuel tax

By Ashraf Padanna on welfare schemes its prede- Thiruvananthapuram cessor introduced, they allege. The similar is the case with the state government also, erala’s coalition gov- which had increased the value ernment led by the added tax on petrol from 26% KCommunist Party of in 2014 to 31.8% now and die- India (Marxist) has rejected sel from 20% to 26.7%. The the federal request to reduce states also receive 42% share taxes on petrol and diesel. from the central taxes. The federal government had “We were reluctant to de- appealed to the states to fol- clare the shutdown, but peo- low suit after reducing central ple want such a protest this excise duty by two rupees this time as they are in distress,” week. It also proposed to bring senior Congress leader and both under the newly-intro- former chief minister Oom- duced Goods and Services Tax men Chandy said. (GST) regime abolishing dou- “Both are plundering peo- ble taxation. ple without doing anything “They raised the taxes 14 for them. They are not spend- times (since Prime Minister ing on improving conditions Narendra Modi assumed offi ce of roads or strengthening the in 2014),” Kerala fi nance min- public distribution system to ister Thomas Isaac said. control price rise. We cannot “Now they have cut a pal- keep silent.” Workers make firecrackers at a factory ahead of Diwali, the festival of lights, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad, yesterday. try Rs2 and ask us to do so. When the crude oil price There’s no logic in it after rais- was $150 per barrel in 2012, ing taxes at will. Let them cut they say, the petrol price was it substantially, and then we Rs75 a litre in India, and now will look into it.” the crude cost has fallen to $57, The Congress party-led op- but the retail prices remain position is observing a day- the same. They say the cur- long shutdown in the state on rent petrol price in the neigh- October 16 protesting what bouring Pakistan is only Rs40, they describe as misrule by Sri Lanka Rs50 and in Nepal, both the federal and state gov- which imports petroleum ernments. products from India, it’s just Govt says ‘no new’ The United Democratic Rs52. In Kerala, it is Rs73.52, Front (UDF) accuses them of while in the neighbouring plundering citizens while im- Karnataka state a litre of petrol port of petroleum products costs Rs4 less. had become much cheaper The diesel price also shot globally, resulting in a sharp up from Rs34 to Rs63.16. Now, rise in prices of essential com- after the cut by Rs2 this week, modities. The federal excise on each litre of petrol an indi- activity in Doklam duty on diesel had increased vidual buys, Rs21.48 goes as by over 387% and petrol by central excise duty and Rs17.94 IANS leading to the Opposition ques- 120% since 2014 while the as the state’s VAT (Rs17.33 and New Delhi tioning the government over the crude oil prices nosedived to Rs12.45 respectively in the situation. Seven killed as military chopper crashes the one-third of what pre- case of diesel). They say that Government sources said that vailed before that. It came as the Oommen Chandy dispen- ndia yesterday said there the current construction is well An Indian military helicopter ferrying kerosene to its ageing fleet. More than 170 pilots have lost a bonanza for the Bharatiya sation in Kerala had foregone are “no new developments” within Chinese territory and not cans burst into flames yesterday near the border their lives over the last three decades. Janata Party (BJP) dispensa- additional tax revenue from Iat the face-off site and its on any disputed land, and India with China, killing seven troops, the army said. Most of the accidents involve Soviet-era MIG tion as the tax revenue from the price increase thrice, and vicinity in Doklam along the need not interfere in it. The Russian-made Mi-17 V5 helicopter was carry- planes, earning them the sobriquet “flying cof- it more than tripled, but the his successor Pinarayi Vijayan India-China border and status India and China were involved ing supplies to a border post in the mountainous fins”. government was spending less also follow that example. quo continues, after reports that in an over 70-day standoff in the district of Tawang near the border with Tibet In July an IAF chopper crashed in the same China is engaged in construction Doklam area, close to the India- when it caught fire at an altitude of 17,000 feet state, killing three crew members and a soldier. activity around 10km away from Bhutan-China tri-junction (5,200 metres). That advanced light helicopter was on a rescue the site. from June 16 to August 28 after Five Indian Air Force (IAF) crew members and mission during devastating floods when it CPI-M to hold nationwide protests against BJP “We have seen recent press a construction party of China’s two army personnel were killed in the accident, crashed due to inclement weather. reports on Doklam. There are no People’s Liberation Army was a spokesman said. “A court of inquiry has been Last year, a Russian-built AN-32 military transport The CPI-M will stage countrywide protests against the BJP on new developments at the face- stopped by the Indian Army ordered to ascertain the cause of the accident,” plane went missing over the Bay of Bengal with October 9, to expose the latter’s real agenda behind political off site and its vicinity since the from building a road in the area. he said. 29 people on board. violence in CPI-M-ruled Kerala, party leader Sitaram Yechuri August 28 disengagement,” the While India and Bhutan main- Tawang is in the northeast Indian state of Aru- And in 2013, all 20 people on board an army said yesterday, IANS reported from Patna. “The CPI-M will pro- External Aff airs Ministry said in tained that China had violated nachal Pradesh, which is also claimed by China. helicopter were killed when it crashed in test across the country against the BJP to expose its violence a statement. status quo at the tri-junction It is a strategically important border district and northern India. India, the world’s largest arms agenda in Kerala. We will fight the BJP with the support of “The status quo prevails in area, Beijing claimed that it was came briefly under Chinese control during the importer, has been trying to revamp its ageing people democratically,” Yechuri told the media here. He said the this area. Any suggestions to the Chinese territory. 1962 war between the neighbours. and outdated military aircraft, with some of the BJP had been trying to create communal polarisation in Kerala contrary is incorrect,” it said. The imbroglio ended just The Mi-17 V5, which is mainly used for military fleet virtually on its last legs. The country has like in West Bengal. “BJP President Amit Shah launched his Fresh construction activities ahead of Prime Minister Naren- transport, is produced by Kazan Helicopters, a been trying to develop its own warplanes but march in Kerala early this week to play communal politics but by China, around 10 to dra Modi’s visit to China in the subsidiary of Russian Helicopters. delays and technical shortcomings have marred people understand the BJP well.” 12km away from the face-off fi rst week of September for the India’s air force has a high rate of crashes owing progress. site in Doklam were reported, Brics Summit. Rahul wants support One-man band blows, strums for SMEs to create jobs and sings against smoking IANS as long as it has focus, but this fi ne. You can support big busi- New Delhi government “is lacking focus” nesses but don’t neglect these AFP his lungs. Peter feared that he would never and not accepting that there is sectors.” Gandhi accused the Mumbai play wind instruments again. Doctors said a problem. government of “attacking” the the disease could be exacerbated by passive he government should “They are talking about all medium and small businesses smoking. support small and me- sorts of things like Swachh through steps like demoneti- ndian musician Gladson Peter strums the So last year he decided he would form a one Tdium businesses and the Bharat, Make in India, Stand sation and Goods and Services ukulele while blowing into a harmonica man band, playing 11 instruments, as part of informal sector to create jobs Up India except for the job Tax (GST). Iand smashing a cymbal using his foot as his own anti-smoking awareness campaign. instead of unleashing taxmen problem. “These are brutal attacks children from one of Asia’s biggest slums “We built the equipment in a week, rather on them, Congress vice presi- “India’s strength is small and on these sectors which will clap and cheer. miraculously, and I kickstarted my perform- dent Rahul Gandhi has said. medium scale businesses and wipe them out. And without Peter, who can play 45 instruments, claims ances,” said Peter, who has since played In a video released by the the informal sector. You sup- respecting these sectors you to be India’s only one-man band and enjoys around 200 concerts across India. Congress yesterday, Gandhi port these sectors, take me- cannot get jobs,” he said, add- something of a fan following for his rendi- The instruments in his repertoire include said the central issue is 30,000 dium and small businesses and ing that those running medium tions of popular songs, including Ed Sheeran guitar, melodica, bass drum, slide whistle youngsters coming to the job convert them into large busi- and small businesses are the hits. File photo shows Indian singer and and tambourine. market every day and “us giv- nesses and you will create jobs,” “people who can transform the The 24-year-old, a keen musician since songwriter Gladson Peter performing in a He now plays 13 at once using a kit that ing 450 of them a job, thereby Gandhi said. country”. the age of three, performs to raise awareness church in Mumbai. weighs around 25 kilogrammes, no mean feat creating an army of the unem- However, he claimed the “Don’t impose inspector raj, about the dangers of passive smoking after he given his weakened lungs. ployed at the rate of one million government has a completely don’t unleash the Income Tax lost part of a lung as a teenager. and apologised for tobacco consumption and “Though I cannot even run half a mile, my a month”. diff erent view. “The govern- department on these people. “My shows are the hook through which I have quit smoking,” Peter said. faith keeps me going and when I wear all the He said India is always capa- ment is spending all its ener- You will destroy their value,” share my messages that can change some- At college in his late teens two holes instruments and become the one-man band I ble of solving problems it faces gies on big businesses, which is he said. one’s life.Many people have come up to me caused by tuberculosis were found in one of feel empowered,” he said. Gulf Times 10 Saturday, October 7, 2017 LATIN AMERICA Tropical storm leaves 22 dead

AFP ble “hurricane conditions” over- for boats not to venture to sea. and 14 communities were isolat- Dominica and Puerto Rico. Tegucigalpa night on Mexico’s Yucatan Pe- On Thursday, intense rains ed because of rains that had been Central America, the Carib- ninsula, where Cancun and other from the storm forced thousands falling for days. bean, Mexico, and the southern Caribbean resorts are located. from their homes, uprooted More than 5,000 people were United States suff er an Atlantic ropical Storm Nate gained By late today, those fearsome trees, knocked out bridges and put up in shelters in Costa Rica hurricane season every year that strength yesterday as it winds could drive a “life-threat- turned roads into rivers in Costa after having to abandon their runs from June to November. Theaded toward popular ening storm surge” onto south- Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras. homes because of fl ooding and The unstable weather brings Mexican beach resorts and ul- ern US states along the Gulf of Nicaragua bore 11 of the the risk of unstable ground giv- heightened risk of fl ooding and timately the US Gulf coast after Mexico. deaths, according to Vice-Pres- ing way. mudslides in many poor Central dumping heavy rains in Central “Nate is expected to make ident Rosario Murillo. In the Gulf of Mexico, some American nations. America that left at least 22 peo- landfall ... as a hurricane,” the In Costa Rica, where a national off shore oil and gas rigs were This year’s season has been in- ple dead. NHC said. emergency was declared, eight evacuated ahead of the storm’s tense, with some areas in Central Nate, which currently has As of early yesterday, the people died, including a three- advance, the US government Bu- America getting up to 50% more 50mph (85kph) winds, is fore- storm was located directly off - year-old girl, after they were hit reau of Safety and Environmen- rain than average for September cast to reach hurricane strength shore from Belize, just south by falling trees and mudslides. tal Enforcement said in a state- and October. by the time it makes landfall in of the Yucatan Peninsula, with An alert was issued for peo- ment. Costa Rica declared three days the United States late today on winds of 50mph (85kph) that ple to be wary of crocodiles that The United States is recover- of mourning for those killed the north coast of the Gulf of were expected to strengthen. might be roaming after rivers ing from two major hurricanes: by Tropical Storm Nate, and Mexico. “The main threat to Belize is and estuaries fl ooded. Hurricane Harvey that tore President Luis Guillermo Solis New Orleans, where levees expected to be mostly thunder- Three other people were killed through Texas in August, and warned that although the storm were breached during Hurricane storms and heavy rain which are in Honduras. Hurricane Irma in September. had passed, it was too early to say Katrina in 2005, and other cities causing localised fl ooding,” the More than 30 people are listed Another powerful storm, Hur- the danger had gone. on the US Gulf coast were under country’s government said in a as missing in the three countries. ricane Maria, ripped through “This situation is deceptive This image provided yesterday by the US National Oceanic and hurricane watch. statement. Nicaragua’s Murillo said that the Caribbean in late Septem- because it will rain this weekend Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows Storm Nate in the The US National Hurricane It warned people in low-lying 800 people had been evacuated, ber, wreaking destruction on and the ground is saturated, so northwestern Caribbean Sea. Centre (NHC) warned of possi- areas to go to higher ground, and nearly 600 homes were fl ooded a number of islands, including landslides are possible,” he said. All-male panel on feminism under fi re Nursery guard burns Reuters scendingly tell women about topics was sense of humour,” she added. Tepic, Mexico that they do not need explained. Lamas said she had not chosen the “Because there’s nobody better to panellists for the National Autono- talk about feminism than a man,” said mous University of Mexico (UNAM) six children to death debate about feminism with an one Twitter user. event and was taken aback by the ve- all-male panel at Mexico’s big- “What next?” asked another on hement reaction on social media. Agest university is under fi re on Twitter. “A conference of atheists One panellist, journalist Jenaro Vil- AFP social media for its lack of women, al- talking about religion? Carnivores lamil, said on Twitter that he was pull- Rio de Janeiro though the panel moderator says it was talking about veganism? Communists ing out: “I’m not interested in contin- an attempt at portraying men’s roles. talking about capitalism?” uing this game of hate.” The panel led by feminist and an- Lamas said the event was misin- Feminist activist Veronica Vidal De- Brazilian nursery school guard thropologist Marta Lamas and featur- terpreted and meant as homage to her giorgis said the outcry showed diff er- burned six small children and a ing 11 men discussing feminism, rights work on her 70th birthday while rec- ences over whether to involve men in Ateacher to death after spraying and the market has been criticised on- ognising the role of men in improving talk of improving the lives of women. them with alcohol and setting them line as “feminism for dummies” and the position of women. “If something good comes out of alight on Thursday in an attack which prompted one participant to drop out. “Since I’ve been having conferences this, it’s how we can have more engage- has horrifi ed the nation. Set for October 11, the event is en- and meetings with women for about ment on moving the agenda forward,” Dozens of people were also hurt in titled “Marta Lamas in Dialogue with 48 years, I said, ‘Well, it’s really some- Degiorgis told the Foundation. “(Men) the blaze while the guard, who was XY”, a reference to male chromosomes. thing fresh and diff erent’,” she told the also have the right to be involved in reported to be mentally ill, died after Online, critics called it a case of Thomson Reuters Foundation. some point in how to dismantle the succumbing to his own burn injuries. “mansplaining”, when men conde- “The idea to put ‘XY’ instead of men patriarchy, as they’re part of it.” The tragedy occurred in a modest quarter of Janauba, a city of 70,000 about 600km (370 miles) north of Belo Horizonte city. The nursery school was called “In- nocent People”. The initial death toll of four rose to six when two badly-burned children died, according to news reports which quoted fi re offi cials. View inside the municipal daycare centre in Janauba, Minas Gerais state, where Janauba’s mayor has decreed seven a watchman sprayed children with alcohol and set them on fire. days of mourning. About 50 people were hospitalised mother of Juan Miguel Soares. “This could have been worse be- with injuries, said Bruno Ataide San- “I was thinking of changing nurs- cause the babies’ room was in the hall tos, director of the local hospital. ery schools because we are preparing next door. Evacuation would have Hours later, 10 people remained to move. I woke him up early to bring been more diffi cult. As the children hospitalised in serious condition. him here and when I saw him again he were bigger, many of them were able to The guard, who was aged about 50 was dead in the hospital,” Kelly said escape,” the mayor explained. and identifi ed as Damiao Soares, died between sobs. Police searched the guard’s home in hospital several hours after the in- The dead children were aged four, and found many jugs of alcohol. cident, which left him with burns all the G1 news site reported. He reportedly told his family this over his body, Santos told AFP. Police visited the home of the sus- week – which includes the anniversary About 80 children were in the nurs- pect and his family members to try to of the death of his father – that he was ery school when the attack occurred, determine a motive. going to give a “gift” to them and that prompting terrifi ed parents to rush But police superintendent Renato he would die. to the school, where they found one Nunes told the website of the Hoje Brazil’s President Michel Temer ex- classroom reduced to ashes. em Dia newspaper that the guard had pressed his condolences on Twitter. “As the crèche is near our house, we mental health problems since 2014. “I am deeply saddened by this trag- heard noise and rushed over,” Nelson The guard had worked nights for at edy involving children in Janauba, and de Jesus Silva, the father of one victim, least eight years at the nursery school, I want to express my solidarity with told Globonews TV. where he was not directly in contact the families,” Temer wrote. “My little girl was so good, so with the children. As the father of a school-age child, smart,” he said of his dead daughter Janauba’s mayor Carlos Isaildon the president said that he understood Ana Clara Ferreira. Mendes said an even greater tragedy “this must be an extremely painful Grief also struck Jane Kelly, the was narrowly averted. loss” for the parents.

UN mission to Brazil Congress okays monitor truce law to curb online

AFP criticism of candidates United Nations

Reuters sign the broader set of rules for he Security Council has tasked the UN Sao Paulo 2018 elections by today. mission in Colombia with monitoring “That piece of legislation will Ta days-old ceasefi re between the Bo- transform candidates and par- gota government and the country’s last guer- he Brazilian Congress has ties into electoral judges, with rilla group, the ELN. approved legislation al- powers to take out of the web any Reached last month, the truce with the Tlowing parties and can- content they consider off ensive National Liberation Army (ELN) went into didates to force social media to them,” said Carlos Aff onso force on Sunday, building on the historic outlets to immediately withdraw Souza, a director at the Institute peace deal with the Farc rebels, Colombia’s off ensive or defamatory content of Technology and Society (ITS), oldest guerrilla group. by anonymous authors. an organisation defending a freer The council unanimously adopted a Brit- The law was included in a late online environment. ish-drafted resolution that welcomed the vote in Congress of a set of rules Three associations represent- ceasefi re and agreed to a request from the for next year’s general election, ing newspapers, magazines, government for UN observers to take part in and was met with harsh criti- radio and television stations in monitoring, alongside ELN representatives cism from groups defending civil Brazil released a joint statement and the Catholic church. rights and online freedom of ex- on Thursday calling the law a “We know that this is just the start,” Brit- pression. form of censorship. ish ambassador Matthew Rycroft told the Social media would have to “Brazil’s Internet legal frame- council after the vote, who stressed that the provide the full name, identifi ca- work clearly states that only top UN body had moved quickly to shore up tion and social security number through a judicial order it is pos- the truce. “Let us do all we can to support the of the author to keep the com- sible to force the withdrawal of government of Colombia and the ELN in that ment online, although it was not online content,” the entities said. eff ort.” clear where they would need to Congressman Áureo, from Issued in Public Interest by The Farc and ELN were formed in 1964 to send that information. Brazil’s Solidariedade party, the fi ght for land rights and to protect rural com- The legislation, which does author of the restrictive legisla- munities. not require a judicial order for tion, defended the rule, saying The confl ict drew in leftist guerrillas, candidates or parties to request that it would give transparency right-wing paramilitary groups and state the withdrawal of content from to online content. forces and has left 260,000 people dead, websites and apps, could be “Freedom of expression is more than 60,000 missing and 7mn dis- blocked by Brazil’s President guaranteed, but it cannot be placed. Michel Temer, who is expected to anonymous,” he told Reuters. Gulf Times Saturday, October 7, 2017 11 PAKISTAN

PTI Offi cial blames US for failure names three for NAB to curb money laundering chief’s Internews sponsorship of two members of FIUs’ single-stage agreement, Minister terms US offi cials’ comments ‘hollow allegations’ Islamabad the Egmont Group and the US the FMU was following a two- and Japan had given their con- tier system for sharing infor- Pakistan’s foreign minister Pakistan’s main spy agency, John McCain, chairman of post sent to Pakistan’s application. mation. Pakistan addressed this has described as “hollow the Inter-Services Intelligence the Senate Armed Service akistan has put the blame Ali said both the US and Ja- legal objection in December allegations” comments (ISI) directorate, had ties to the Committee, saying the of its failure to crack down pan’s FIUs had visited Pakistan 2015 by amending the AML law by senior US off icials and militant group. senator was “playing to Internews Pon money laundering and in November 2012 for observing and adopting the single-stage lawmakers during his visit to “You want us to sniff them out, we his constituents” when he Islamabad terror fi nancing on the United the FMU’s facilities and systems. agreement with the coun- Washington this week that will do that. You want us to take criticised Pakistan. States and said Washington was The Financial Action Task terparts for the exchange of questioned Islamabad’s resolve action against them, whatever “We are not saying we are not actively supporting its bid for Force an inter-governmental information. in fighting militancy. action you propose, we will do that... saints. Perhaps in the past, we he Pakistan Tehreek-e- membership of a global alliance. body working to combat money Pakistan had shared the latest President Donald Trump’s (but) these hollow allegations are made some mistakes. But since Insaf (PTI), which had In its capacity as co-sponsor, laundering recommends that its status with both Japan and the administration is seeking not acceptable,” Pakistan’s Foreign the last three, four years, we Tearlier distanced itself the US was not actively support- members seek the membership US, requesting them to resume to implement its regional Minister Khawaja Asif told a group are wholeheartedly, single- from the process of appointment ing Pakistan’s request for mem- of Egmont Group also. the process of its membership, strategy, Reuters reports from of reporters. mindedly, we are targeting of the National Accountability bership of the Egmont Group In September 2011, the fed- he said. “But the US is not ac- Washington. In August, Trump outlined a these terrorists,” Asif said. Bureau’s (NAB) chairman, yes- - a club of fi nancial intelligence eral cabinet permitted the ini- tively taking up our request and Earlier this week, US Defence new strategy for the war in Asif said that Pakistan had less terday announced three names units (FIU) of 156 nations, said tiation of the process of seeking we do not know the reasons,” Secretary Jim Mattis said Afghanistan. influence over the Taliban than for the post. Syed Mansoor Ali, director the Egmont Group’s member- said Ali. the United States would try Reuters first reported that in previous years, which could However, instead of present- general, Pakistan’s Financial ship. It also approved allowing The FMU and the law en- “one more time” to work with possible Trump administration impact any eff orts for peace ing the three names to the leader Monitoring Unit (FMU). the US Financial Crimes En- forcement agencies are not able Pakistan in Afghanistan before responses being discussed talks to bring an end to the war of the opposition in National As- Ali made the statement in a forcement Network (FINCEN) to completely analyse or inves- Trump would “take whatever include expanding US drone in Afghanistan. sembly, Syed Khursheed Shah, meeting of the Senate Standing and Japan’s Financial Intelli- tigate money laundering and steps are necessary” to change strikes and perhaps eventually He added that US Secretary the party announced them Committee on Finance that had gence Centre (JAFIC) to sponsor terrorism fi nancing cases wher- Pakistan’s behaviour. downgrading Pakistan’s status of State Rex Tillerson would through media. called offi cials of the State Bank Pakistan’s membership. ever foreign jurisdictions are On Tuesday, the top US as a major non-Nato ally. be visiting Pakistan later this Following are the names that and the fi nance ministry to get Pakistan applied for the involved, according to the unit’s military off icer said he believed Asif singled out Senator month. the PTI announced: former in- an update on Pakistan’s request group’s membership in 2012 and written statement shared with spector general of Sindh police for the group’s membership. the FINCEN and JAFIC conduct- the standing committee. Shoaib Suddle, former judge of The Egmont Group pro- ed the onsite visits of the FMU. It added that mostly illicit to exchange fi nancial intelli- sets across member countries chairman. He asked the fi nance the Supreme Court Justice Falak vides a platform for the secure On the basis of their report, the money emanating from Pa- gence with other FIUs leaves by following the trail, thereby ministry to actively pursue Sher and former chief secretary exchange of expertise and fi - Operation Working Group of Eg- kistan due to corruption and us devoid of the opportunity to helping the FMU and LEAs in the case and report back to the of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Arbab nancial intelligence to combat mont technically cleared Paki- organised and other serious trace back the suspicious trans- successfully combating the committee next month. Shahzad. money laundering and terrorist stan’s membership, said Ali. crimes went out of the country. actions having international menace of money laundering Mansoor Ali said the group’s Prime Minister Shahid Ab- fi nancing. However, the Legal Work- The assets acquired in Pakistan dimensions,” according to the and terrorist fi nancing,” it said. membership was very impor- basi and opposition leader Shah The offi cial said in reply to a ing Group of the organisation or abroad through illicit proceeds FMU statement. “I have got an impression tant for Pakistan and expressed have met for several times over question that he did not know found some defi ciencies in Pa- could be traced on the receipt “The platform of the Egmont during my interactions with the hope that the country might the past two weeks for fi nalis- the reason behind the lacklus- kistan’s Anti-Money Launder- of intelligence from the foreign would help the FMU in analys- foreign dignitaries that Paki- be able to get it next year. He ing the name of the next NAB tre US support for Pakistan’s ing (AML) Act and rejected the FIUs or sharing of information ing the suspicious transactions stan was resisting to be part of said that despite engagements chairman, which post would membership. It is mandatory application, he added. with them, it added. and tracing the proceeds of Egmont Group,” said Saleem with the US, there had been no fall vacant after the retirement for an applicant state to seek the Ali said that unlike foreign “Absence of any mechanism crime, uncovering criminal as- Mandviwalla, the committee’s productive results so far. of the incumbent chairman, Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, on October 10. Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) has On track claimed that it has given three Provinces decide to names to the opposition leader for NAB chairman’s offi ce and not one as reportedly claimed by levy tax on oil tankers Shah. MQM’s Rabita Commit- of tax issues among the masses tee member Ameenul Haq said Internews along with expanding the tax net. that besides Justice Mahmood Lahore The most signifi cant landmark Rizvi, the party had proposed was the addition of a chapter the names of retired Justice Mu- on taxation issues in the eighth hammad Ghaus and former ECP unjab Revenue Author- grade textbooks, he highlighted. secretary Kanwar Dilshad for the ity (PRA) chairman Rahil “This move will show re- offi ce. PSiddique said yesterday sults in the long run since the The government has already that all four provincial tax bodies next generation will be well proposed three names - that of were on board to tax the power- aware of the importance of Intelligence Bureau chief Af- ful oil tanker operators and chalk paying taxes for development tab Sultan and retired justices out a strategy in that regard. of the country,” he added. Rehman Hussain Jafri and Ijaz “They blackmail the federal Siddique said the PRA had Chaudhry. government through strikes started tax clinics for specifi c The only nominee of Jamaat- which brings the entire coun- businesses where owners and i-Islami for the post is former try to a standstill,” he said while employees were informed about ECP secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed talking to the Lahore Economic effi cient ways of fi ling tax returns. Khan. Journalists Association. They were also informed With the addition of PTI’s Such tactics would not work about adoption of technology three names, a total of 12 nomi- in the future, he emphasised and development of IT infra- nees are now in the run for the and said a unanimous deci- structure to facilitate tax pay- NAB chairman’s offi ce. sion had been made to bring ments and return fi ling. The appointment of NAB them under the tax net. “If the The PRA chairman pointed out chairman is being made at a time federal government protects that majority of people wanted to when a NAB court is hearing cor- them, then it will have to pay pay taxes, but they became vic- ruption references against mem- revenue to provincial govern- tims of unintentional tax avoid- bers of the Sharif family in line Engineers walk past an engine of “Orange Line Metro Train” (OLMT), in Lahore. The first consignment of OLMT, including three coaches ments,” he claimed. ance and were unable to fi le re- with the Supreme Court’s July and two engines, has arrived in Lahore, local media reported. Siddique said the PRA was turns due to lack of information 28 verdict in the Panama Papers striving to increase awareness about the formalities involved. case. Digital immunisation Special courts for cases of registry launched crime against women soon

Internews programme’s development and are under-vaccinated in Sindh. Internews Punjab province would take measures to remove control of Punjab Women’s Islamabad execution include Dr Abdul Bari The Zindagi Mehfooz- Dig- Lahore Chief Minister any red-tapism hampering quick Protection Authority. Khan (CEO, Indus Health Net- ital Immunisation Registry will Shahbaz Sharif justice to women. It also approved diff erent steps work), Ali Habib (CEO, Inter- change the landscape of child orders that the Meanwhile, the dedicated post to further improve performance he expanded programme active Health Solutions), Saira health by engaging parents for he Punjab Women’s Pro- special courts be created in the Punjab police for of the Violence Against Women for immunisation (EPI) Khowaja (Deputy Executive timely immunisations, sys- tection Authority in its established by the elimination of gender crime, Centre, Multan. It was stated Tand the health depart- Director, Global Health Direc- temising vaccinator’s jobs by Tmaiden meeting yester- Women’s Protection additional inspector general; of that divisional centres would be ment of the government of Sindh torate- Indus Health Network), creating centralised immuni- day decided to establish special Authority in its gender crimes, is going to be op- set up in Lahore, Gujranwala, launched Zindagi Mehfooz (ZM) Dr Vijay Kumar, Danya Arif and sation records, reducing time courts for hearing cases of crime centres all over the erational in one week. Created Faisalabad and Rawalpindi in the digital immunisation registry in Dr Mubarak Shah (Senior Pro- spent on paper-based report- against women in all districts in province for the fi rst time in the country, fi rst instance. Sindh - an Android-based ap- gramme Managers, Child Health ing and creating more time and the province. this grade 19 post would be given Authority director general plication developed by Interac- and Vaccines Programme, IRD) opportunities for vaccinators The meeting which was pre- The cases of violence against to a woman police offi cer. Salman Sufi briefed the meet- tive Research and Development among others. to immunise children,” said Dr sided over by Chief Minister women required to be decided A handout said the meeting ing about the performance of the (IRD) with Indus Health Network “Out of every 1000 live Subhash Chandir. Shahbaz Sharif approved an quickly so as to provide justice approved the proposal of bring- centre in Multan. He said that (IHN) supporting implementa- births, 82 children die before The ZM Immunisation Reg- amendment to the Punjab Pro- to the victim women. That was ing all the district-level Darul out of the 1,088 cases received, tion across the province to re- their fi rst birthday in Sindh ac- istry enables mobile-based tection of Women Against Vio- why it was considered to estab- Amman institutions under the 802 had been disposed of. duce child mortality from vac- cording to Multiple Indicator data entry of the child’s name, lence Act of 2017 so as to allow lish special courts for them, an cine-preventable diseases. Cluster Survey (MICS) 2014. bio-data and immunisation establishment of the dedicated offi cial said. The provincial scale-up is Most of these deaths are due to history which is linked to a courts for cases of crime against These courts would be pre- funded by the World Health vaccine-preventable diseases. web-based monitoring dash- women. Such courts would be sided over by women judges and Organisation (WHO) with sup- In children aged 12-23 months board. established in the centres for prosecutors, specifi cally trained Women’s varsity planned port from the Global Alliance in Sindh, only 35 per cent chil- At the time of the child’s visit protection for women in all in the subject, and they would be for Vaccines and Immunisation dren received EPI recommended to the EPI centre, the vaccina- districts. stationed in the centres across Capital Administration to the establishment of (GAVI). The registry was ini- vaccines during the fi rst year of tor will enrol the child in the According to offi cials, the the province. and Development Division University. tially funded by UN Foundation life. Some contributing factors to Registry by assigning him/her chief minister ordered that the The chief minister allowed (CADD) has initiated the Initially, the university will Innovation Working Group and suboptimal immunisation cov- a unique ID in the form of a special courts be established the Punjab Women Protection process of establishment start educational activities was later supported by WHO erage are overburdened immu- Quick Response (QR) Code and by the authority in its centres Authority to open satellite of- of university for women in in F-7/2 college, which will for limited pilots and scale-up. nisation staff , inadequate health submitting the data to the web all over the province. The fi rst fi ces in smaller cities to provide Islamabad in collaboration be shifted to a purpose-built The core team working on the infrastructure, lack of awareness dashboard in real time. would be established in the cen- eff ective aid to women victims with the Higher Education campus. IRD vaccination programme is and wrong perceptions regard- The Registry also enables auto- tre in Multan which has been of violence. Commission (HEC). Mukhtar told the minister led by Dr Subhash Chandir, IRD’s ing immunisation among par- mated SMS reminders for parents operational since March 25. Police and secretaries of the Minister of State for CADD that funds for the university Director of Child Health and ents, and paper-based systems to remind them of their child’s They said the need to estab- prosecution and home depart- Tariq Fazal Chaudhry held are available with the HEC Vaccines Programme and Fac- that make it diffi cult to track and upcoming vaccination, a decision lish special courts for women’s ment agreed to voluntarily facil- meeting with HEC chairman and will be transferred to the ulty at Harvard Medical School, monitor a child’s immunization support system for routine and cases arose because of lengthy itate functions of the authority Mukhtar Ahmad and University after the approval of and IRD’s Founder Dr Aamir coverage,” said Dr Abdul Bari catch-up immunisations and a procedures and slow pace of and undertake steps that could discussed the administrative its charter and appointment of Khan. Other instrumental mem- Khan. real time tracking and monitoring proceedings in civil and family eliminate crime against women. and legal issues pertaining vice chancellor. bers directly contributing to the “About 3 out of 4 children system for vaccinators. courts. They further assured that they Gulf Times 12 Saturday, October 7, 2017 PHILIPPINES Malacanang to challenge investigation in Supreme Court

By Catherine S Valente Ombudsman Conchita Carpio But he said some ombuds- Manila Times Morales, had announced a probe man offi cials had shown their into Duterte’s wealth. political colours by being part of Carandang said documents a supposed destabilisation plot alacanang will question turned over to the offi ce by the against the Duterte administra- before the Supreme Anti-Money Laundering Coun- tion. MCourt, the Offi ce of the cil (AMLC) showing the Du- On Thursday, Duterte signed Ombudsman’s move to investi- tertes’ bank transaction records Executive Order 43 forming the gate President Rodrigo Duterte were similar to those obtained by Presidential Anti-Corruption for ill-gotten wealth. Senator Antonio Trillanes last Commission. Speaking to reporters, Chief year. The order was issued a week Presidential Legal Counsel Sal- The AMLC however later de- after Duterte vowed to form a A man walks amongst debris of damaged houses after a water tank exploded in Bulacan, east of Manila, yesterday. vador Panelo said the investi- nied giving information on the body that would investigate al- gation by the ombudsman on Dutertes’ fi nances to Trillanes or leged corruption at the Offi ce of Duterte’s wealth was “unconsti- the ombudsman. the Ombudsman. tutional.” President Duterte had said Panelo said the commission “My theory now is that the that he would not submit to the would have a chairman and four ombudsman’s investigation cur- jurisdiction of the Offi ce of the members. It will not investigate Four dead and 45 injured as rently of the president is uncon- Ombudsman. impeachable offi cials such as the stitutional even if there is a pro- The probe stemmed from the ombudsman, he said. vision in the ombudsman’s law plunder complaint fi led before A solidarity Mass in support that it has investigatory power, the Offi ce of the Ombudsman by of the Offi ce of the Ombudsman because to my mind, it will cir- Trillanes against Duterte on May was held yesterday outside the water tank bursts in Bulacan cumvent the doctrine of immu- 5, 2016, a few days before the anti-graft body’s offi ce in Que- nity of a sitting president from elections. zon City. suits,” Panelo said in a news con- On Monday, the president said Former education secretary DPA ference. Morales should resign as her of- Bro. Armin Luistro, who helped Manila He also said Duterte could not fi ce was corrupt, and claimed organised the Mass, told re- be investigated for crimes he al- fi eld investigators had accepted porters: “What we heard in the legedly committed when he was bribes from politicians to dis- news that the Office of the Om- our people were killed and mayor of Davao City. miss their cases. budsman is really being perse- 45 injured yesterday when “Apart from that, the acts be- On Wednesday, Duterte cuted worried many of us.” Fa water tank burst, dam- ing subject of investigation are backed impeachment com- “We just thought that the aging about 60 houses in a city alleged acts committed by the plaints against Morales and support we could do at the north of the Philippine capital, president when he was still a Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Ser- most is to pray,” he said. local offi cials said. mayor, which cannot be the sub- eno over supposed corruption. Members of the Prayer Bat- The 13-metre tank, with a ject of an investigation for pur- Morales, who has approv- talion for Truth and Justice, capacity of 2,000 cubic metres, poses of fi ling an impeachment ing authority on the Offi ce of Tindig Pilipinas, and the Silent burst before dawn while peo- complaint, assuming that it has the Ombudsman’s rulings aside No More Organisation Inc. at- ple were asleep in their homes the power to do so, which to my from deputy ombudsmen, had tended the Mass. in San Jose Del Monte City in mind it doesn’t have, even if inhibited herself from probing Magdalo representative Gary Bulacan province, north of Ma- there is a law,” Panelo explained. complaints against the Dutertes. Alejano, former Commission nila. “We’re studying the circum- Morales is an aunt-in-law of on Human Rights chief Lo- The victims included a stances. We might question the president’s daughter, Davao retta Ann Rosales, and former 50-year-old man and a one- that particular provision giving City Mayor Sara Duterte-Car- social welfare secretary Cora- year-old who drowned from the the ombudsman the investiga- pio. The Palace also cried foul zon “Dinky” Soliman were also surge of the water, said Mayor tory power to investigate an im- over the ombudsman’s “selec- present. The Office of the Om- Arthur Robles. A mother looks at debris of damaged houses after a water tank exploded in Bulacan, east of Manila. peachable offi cial for purposes tive justice and partiality” in budsman said in a statement it Two other victims died af- of fi ling an impeachment com- handling graft cases. was grateful for the “expres- ter being hit by debris from the while motorcycles, twisted cor- cident, Robles said. A local water district offi cer plaint,” he added. Palace spokesman Ernesto sion of solidarity in support of exploded steel water tank, he rugated galvanised iron sheets “We cannot rule out foul play said the seven-year-old tank The Offi ce of the Ombuds- Abella earlier told reporters Du- the institution and its steadfast added. and other debris littered the yet,” he said. “The tank had no had been regularly inspected man, led by overall Deputy terte would disclose his bank ac- commitment to uphold the rule Footage and photos from streets. rust and it’s very smooth. If it for any problems, adding that Ombudsman Melchor Arthur counts “if necessary and at the of law and perform its consti- the scene showed some houses Investigators were still de- suddenly got a hole in it, would water pressure was one possible Carandang, as authorised by right time.” tutional mandate.” were fl attened in the accident, termining the cause of the ac- it really explode like that?” cause of the accident.

Mayor surrenders aft er drug lab Duterte dismisses two More religious offi cials volunteer found in his resort offi cials over corruption A town mayor in Sarangari province was turned over to sanctuary to drug killing witnesses authorities yesterday, hours after By Catherine S Valente a raid found illegal drugs and a Manila Times By Ashley Jose Dagupan Archbishop Socra- upon their request, Cruz point- “We welcome the eff orts of mini-shabu laboratory in his rest Manila Times tes “Soc” Villegas said several ed out. “These people come to the Church to help these cops house, Manila Times reported. conscience-stricken policemen the Church fi rst, before they mend their ways. However, Senator Emmanuel Pacquaio resident Rodrigo Du- behind drug-related killings turn themselves over to the we hope the Church exercises brought Maasim Mayor Anecito terte said he had fi red he bishops of San Jose, had sought the Church’s pro- state because they fear for their due diligence as there are drug Lopez Jr, to operatives of the Ptwo Malacanang offi cials Nueva Ecija and Balanga, tection. lives. Providing sanctuary is not protectors, kidnappers, kotong Philippine Drug Enforcement over alleged corruption. TBataan have joined the “I am with him and we are forever,” Cruz explained. (police offi cials into extortion) Agency (PDEA).Lopez suppos- The president made the rev- president of the Catholic Bish- opening our doors as sanctu- The CBCP’s move has been and ninja (corrupt) cops who edly called the senator to seek elation in remarks at the World ops’ Conference of the Philip- ary to those who want to stand criticised by the Philippine want to destroy the ongoing help. Lopez surrendered to Pac- Trade Center in Pasay City, pines (CBCP) in off ering pro- for the truth,” Mallari said on National Police (PNP) and the campaign against illegal drugs,” quiao in the lawmaker’s home in without going into details. tection to policemen and others Thursday. Volunteers Against Crime and presidential spokesman Ernes- General Santos City at 12.30pm, “I promised you corruption, willing to testify on extra-judi- Bishop Ruperto Santos of Corruption. The latter accused to Abella said in a statement. authorities said. I will stop it. I will stop it. I just cial killings linked to the war on Balanga likewise said: “We sup- the bishops of sowing distrust “We urge a certain objectivity “He sent a feeler that he wanted fi red two employees from Ma- drugs. port and we are in solidarity against authorities. to avoid being used by the said to surrender peacefully. It was lacanang,” Duterte said, with- Bishop Roberto Mallari of with Archbishop Soc.” Malacanang echoed the PNP aberrations,” Abella added. better than something bad hap- out disclosing names. San Jose, chairman of the CBCP Providing sanctuary has been and said leaders of the Catho- Solicitor General Jose Calida pening to him,” Pacquiao said “I (have) fi red Cabinet mem- Commission on Catechesis and a long-time Church practice, lic Church should be more dis- also claimed that communist in a statement. PDEA Director bers this early. Either you really Catholic Education, said his said retired Lingayen-Dagupan cerning in providing refuge for groups, “yellows” or members General Aaron Aquino said his stay clean, or you have to have diocese was willing to provide archbishop Oscar Cruz. policemen who claim to be wit- of the Liberal Party, and the men were outside the house a clean house here. No corrup- refuge to those who fear for The Church only provides nesses to extra-judicial killings Catholic Church were conspir- of Pacquiao when Lopez sur- tion over there,” he added. their lives. sanctuary and protection to under the government’s anti- ing to oust President Rodrigo rendered following the raid in This was not the fi rst time On Monday, Lingayen- refugees and persecuted people drug campaign. Duterte from offi ce. the mayor’s seaside rest house Duterte had bared fi ring of Duterte: war on corruption Military spokesman Brig. in Lumasal village, Maasim, early government offi cials in public. Gen. Restituto Padilla Jr did not yesterday. Agents discovered a In March, Peter Lavina, Du- posedly contradicting the tag the Church’s eff orts as part mini-shabu laboratory and some terte’s campaign spokesman, government’s official data of a destabilisation plot but P5mn worth of suspected shabu. was sacked as administrator on drug addicts.Recently, the called on the bishops to scru- They also found a green book of the National Irrigation Ad- president fired Sugar Regu- tinise the people they provide believed to contain information ministration (NIA) amid accu- latory Administration chief refuge to. on drug transactions. Anti-drug sations he demanded commis- Anna Rosario Paner for hiring “We are just pointing out operatives were unable to arrest sions from contractors. consultants for as much as that not all those who seek the Lopez who sneaked out of the Lavina’s exit was followed P200,000 monthly. help of the Church all want to property before the raid. by Duterte’s decision to re- Duterte won the presiden- renew their faith, but are just The PDEA tagged Lopez as move Interior Secretary Is- cy on a platform of eradicat- trying to escape liability for head of the “El Patron Drug mael Sueno because of cor- ing corruption in government their old ways. We welcome the Group” that allegedly supported ruption allegations over the and ending the country’s ille- eff orts of the Church as part of the Islamic State-linked Ansar purchase of fire trucks from gal drug problem. the community, but they should Khalifa Philippines, and the New an Austrian firm. Sueno He has repeatedly said also be discerning,” Padilla said. People’s Army. The agency said claimed he was not corrupt that he would fire govern- “Not everyone is sincere in it would file charges against and said the president could ment officials even with just mending their ways,” he added. Lopez for multiple cases of have been fed wrong infor- a “whiff” of corruption. Hundreds of drug suspects illegal possession of drugs mation. The president himself is and others have been killed in and firearms. According to the The president later sacked facing an ombudsman inves- the government’s brutal war statement issued by Pacquiao’s Cabinet Undersecretary Maia tigation over his and his fam- on drugs, including 54 children office, the senator convinced Chiara Halmen Reina Valdez ily’s wealth, but insists he did and the three teenagers—Kian Lopez to surrender to the au- for overruling National Food not hide his assets from the de los Santos, Carl Arnaiz and thorities to avoid complicating Authority administrator Ja- public. Reynaldo de Guzman. the situation. “When he called son Aquino’s decision to sus- Duterte this week formed A Social Weather Stations up, I advised him to surrender. He pend rice importations. an anti-corruption commis- survey released on Thursday has to face whatever cases will In May, Duterte fired Dan- sion with broad powers to go showed that seven out of 10 be filed against him,” Pacquiao gerous Drugs Board Chair- after his appointees and other Members of various groups lie down in front of the Caloocan Police District off ice in protest over the Filipinos feared getting killed in said in his statement. man Benjamin Reyes for sup- erring government officials. killing of drug suspects. anti-drug operations. Gulf Times Saturday, October 7, 2017 13 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

US, Lanka Sirisena launches national to expand maritime security food production programme engagement IANS declared as the National Food Sri Lanka produces its own food tion has been opened in Galle, in Colombo Production Week. required for consumption. the southern part of the island. The government is expected The president pointed out The South East Asia-Middle IANS to cultivate lands and take steps that self-suffi ciency in food is East-Western Europe 5 (SEA- Trincomalee ri Lankan President to encourage those who are cul- the identity and the culture of ME-WE 5) submarine cable Maithripala Sirisena tivating. Legal actions will be Sri Lanka for the past thou- system spans approximately Syesterday launched the taken against those who do not sands of years and it should be 20,000km whilst off ering POP- he US Navy and Ma- national food production pro- cultivate on their unused lands. protected. to-POP (point of presence) so- rines and the Sri Lankan gramme aimed at preventing a The programme will also see He also said it is important lutions from Singapore to Eu- TNavy and Marines have food shortage in the future. many initiatives to promote that the country gives value to rope via France and Italy. launched the annual Co-opera- With nearly 1.9mn people home gardening, tree planting, local products if it is to help the “The SEA-ME-WE 5 is de- tion Afl oat Readiness and Train- facing a severe drought in the prevention of food wastage and agriculture economy as well as signed to provide upgrade- ing (CARAT) exercise in Trin- island country and many ag- promotion of toxin-free food the national economy. able transmission facilities by comalee in the island’s east. ricultural lands destroyed by production. On Thursday, the president adopting the state-of-the-art “The US Navy is pleased to fl oods earlier this year, Sirisena Meanwhile, Sirisena said im- formally opened a cable land- multiple 100 GBPS technology,” add Sri Lanka to our list of CAR- said the food programme was mediate steps will be taken to ing station that will connect the the statement said. AT partners in 2017 as part of launched to encourage food stop importing unhealthy food country with the latest subma- When fully loaded, the SEA- our larger eff orts to expand both cultivation in unused lands and items as well as non-essential rine cable linking South East ME-WE 5 cable system is capa- bilateral and multilateral mari- revive the agricultural sector, food items into the country. Asia, to Europe via the Mid- ble of carrying 24 terabytes per time security engagement across Xinhua news agency reported. He said more than Rs25bn dle East, a statement from the second, the equivalent of trans- the Indo-Pacifi c region,” said Many programmes will be were spent annually to import President’s Offi ce said. mitting around 4,800 high- Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena: “Self-suff iciency in food Commodore Robert Baughman, launched across the country essential food items into the According to the statement, defi nition movies every second, is the identity and the culture of Sri Lanka for the past thousands of Commander, Task Force-75. and October 6 to October 12 was country and it is essential that the submarine cable landing sta- the statement added. years and it should be protected.” Robert Hilton of the US em- bassy in Sri Lanka was quoted as saying in a statement that co-operation between the two military would continue to grow Remnants of desperate journeys as Colombo makes progress on reconciliation, justice and hu- 26 protesters man rights following the end of a dragging civil war. The week-long exercise en- hances maritime security skills and operational cohesiveness held after clash among participating forces. CARAT training encompasses small boat operations, evidence collection, diving procedures with police and anti-terrorism security.

AFP cannon to disperse the crowd,” Colombo a police offi cer told AFP by telephone from Hambantota, World’s 240km (150 miles) south of olice in Sri Lanka Colombo. clashed yesterday with “Four of our men were in- biggest Phundreds of supporters jured when the demonstrators of the former president who pelted stones.” were protesting plans to pri- The protest was led by book sale vatise an airport named after Namal Rajapakse, the legisla- him, fi ring tear gas and water tor son of Mahinda, who was cannon and arresting 26. ousted from power in January begins in The $210mn airport in 2015. Mahinda Rajapakse’s home The new government of- town of Hambantota in the fered to sell the airport after Lanka south of the island is one of sealing a billion-dollar deal several state-owned white in July with a Chinese state- elephants that were built owned company to take over IANS under the former president a majority stake in a deep sea Colombo and have never turned a port in Hambantota. profi t. The Rajapakse administra- It is one of the world’s least tion had raised some $8bn he world’s biggest book used airports, servicing just in loans from China to build sale got underway in the one fl ight a day, and Colombo infrastructure, including the TSri Lankan capital on A child walks past remnants of some 20 boats that ferried Rohingya refugees fleeing violence in Myanmar, which were destroyed by has said it is considering sell- ports, which do not generate Thursday with 1.5mn books on Bangladeshi authorities the night before, at Shah Porir Dwip near Cox’s Bazar yesterday. ing it to an Indian investor. enough revenue even to pay sale. “We used teargas and water staff . Founded by managing director Andrew Yap and executive direc- tor Jacqueline Ng in Malaysia, the Big Bad Wolf sale is aimed at encouraging the reading of Eng- lish books at reasonable prices, reports Xinhua news agency. Nepal police plan to set up cyber bureau This year’s sale, inaugurated by Education Minister Akila Vi- raj Kariyawasam, will be open Agencies work for the establishment of “We are laying He had hacked the websites users of malware infection along to peoples’ personal security, 24 hours, providing book enthu- Kathmandu the proposed bureau which groundwork for of National Tuberculosis Cen- with measures to be adopted to dignity and confi dentiality as siasts the opportunity to shop will look into threats posed the establishment tre, Nepal Telecom, Dairy De- secure their cyberspace. well. non-stop for 10 consecutive by cyber crimes,” a police of the proposed velopment Corporation, Offi ce The Central Investigation “With greater access to the days. It will end on October 15. olice in the Nepalese offi cial said. bureau which will of Cottage and Small Indus- Bureau and MPCD are two key Internet and other technolo- The Big Bad Wolf is in col- capital plan to establish Responsibility for almost all look into threats tries, various educational insti- branches of police to deal with gies, misuse of social network- laboration with ProRead Lanka, Pa high-powered cyber cyber attacks have been claimed posed by cyber tutions, among others, besides cases of cyber crime. ing sites, especially Facebook, a fi rm with a mission of spread- bureau after a spate of cyber- by foreign hackers. crimes” stealing details of the website Cyber crimes include activ- has not only posed a threat to ing knowledge with aff ordable attacks on more than 58 govern- In 2016, Metropolitan Police users. ities like hacking, raiding bank the younger generation but also books, and the ministry of edu- ment websites, including those crime division arrested a man MPCD said Bikash Paudel had The proposed bureau will also accounts, stealing identities has become a tool for crimi- cation. of department of passports and on the charge of hacking more hacked the websites of govern- work in close co-ordination and violating privacy, among nals,” he warned. The Big Bad Wolf held its fi rst law commission in the past one than 200 offi cial websites of ment and non-governmental with Internet service providers others. The offi cial said it had Any person involved in cyber sale in 2009 in Malaysia’s Selan- year. government and non-govern- organisations by using the name to ensure cyber security, while been a tough nut to crack for crime is liable to Rs100,000 in gor state. It has also been held in “We are laying ground- mental organisations. of “Anonymous # Opnep”. enhancing awareness among police as it was posing threat fi ne or fi ve years in jail or both. Thailand and Indonesia. Bangladesh to move ahead despite Rohingya infl ux, says PM Hasina

Agencies the remarks while exchanging out into the Bay of Bengal (and) if narrated the horrifying sto- again over the fi rst installation of Dhaka views with Awami League lead- we could feed 160mn people, we ries she heard from the fl eeing a span on the country’s biggest ers based in the United Kingdom can also feed additional 500,000 women and children from the infrastructure project. “We’ve (UK) and other European coun- to 700,000 people in their time Rakhine State of Myanmar. proved, we can,” she said. sserting that Bangladesh tries on Thursday. of distress.” She said the civil administra- Hasina said ill-eff orts were never felt scared in facing Prime Minister’s press secre- She further said, “If neces- tion, army, navy and air force, made by vested quarters to tar- Aproblems, Prime Minis- tary Ihsanul Karim briefed re- sary, we’ll take one meal a day BGB, police and her party vol- nish her and her family’s image ter Sheikh Hasina has said the porters after the meeting. and share another with these unteers were working hard to by bringing false allegations of country will surely move ahead Hasina said discussions with distressed people … we’re not mitigate the suff erings of these corruption. “But, all the allega- with great strides in develop- Myanmar have already begun to that rich but our heart is big people. tions were proved wrong in the ment despite the infl ux of tens of resolve the crisis with the recent enough and we stand for man- “Without waiting for any ex- Canadian Federal Court,” she thousands of Rohingya refugees visit of its Minister of the Offi ce kind.” ternal assistance, we’ve made said. into it. of State Counsellor Kyaw Tint The prime minister said the arrangement for accommoda- She said Bangladesh has set up Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: “The people of Bangladesh always “We, the Bangalee nation, Swe to Bangladesh. hapless Rohingya people who tion, food and medicine,” Hasina a glaring example in the world by believed in humanity.” fought and liberated the country “But, Bangladesh extended fl ed to Bangladesh will be shifted said. constructing this huge bridge in at the call of Father of the Nation shelter to the victims of the to an island called Bhasan Char The prime minister said the such a mighty river with strong the people do not have to suff er, secretary Abdus Sobhan Golap, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur forced exodus on humanitar- from Cox’s Bazar. international community was current. she added. president of the UK chapter Rahman … we never got scared ian grounds as the people of this Hasina, who along with her amazed to see the generosity of On the recent fl ood in the She urged the expatriate lead- Awami League Sultan Mahmud in the face of any problem. We country always believed in hu- younger sister Sheikh Rehana accepting such a huge number of country, Hasina said the deluge ers of Awami League and its as- Sharif, vice-president Jalaluddin rather want to advance further manity,” she said. visited the Rohingya camps in people by the Bangladesh gov- has caused massive damage to sociate bodies to further bright- Ahmed, general secretary Syed by tackling it (problem),” she Hasina said, “Human beings Cox’s Bazar before fl ying to New ernment. crops. But there is an adequate en the country’s image abroad Sajedur Rahman and joint secre- said. are for human beings... we can’t York to attend the 72nd session Turning to the Padma bridge stock of food while the govern- through their works. tary Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury The prime minister made throw them (Myanmar people) of the UN General Assembly project, she expressed happiness ment is importing rice so that Awami League central offi ce were, among others, present. Gulf Times 14 Saturday, October 7, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko The disunited states of

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] American gun control Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Mass shootings like the higher than Europe’s. Several large fi rearms (though not to ban handguns limits on the division of powers and Fax 44350474 mass shootings occur each year – in and rifl es outright, given the Supreme fundamental rights. That way, each one in Las Vegas serve only a country that is also waging several Court’s interpretation of the Second side of the culture wars can move to reinforce Americans’ seemingly endless wars overseas. Amendment’s “right to bear arms”). closer to its preferred outcomes America is, in short, a country with a My own state, New York, already bans without impeding the other side from belief that fi rearms are past history and current stark reality assault weapons, as do a handful of doing the same. their only true protection of racism, ethnic chauvinism, and other states. Rather than fi ghting My own state would thrive in resort to mass violence. another ill-fated battle in Washington, such a looser federation, using its GULF TIMES in a dangerous world The Las Vegas shootings make clear it is more promising to encourage increased margin of manoeuvre to once more the need to ban assault many more states to exercise their tighten its own regulations and to By Jeff rey D Sachs weapons. When America had such a prerogatives. scale up its social services with the London ban, from September 1994-September States that do will have lower savings in taxes now paid to the federal 2004, it helped to limit mass rates of mass shootings, more secure government. And the weaker federal Boeing boosts tech shootings; yet Congress failed to citizens, and more vibrant economies. government would mean fewer US he Las Vegas massacre renew the ban, owing to intense Las Vegas will suff er not only from “wars of choice” in the Middle East. and its aftermath are pure lobbying from gun enthusiasts. Nor the trauma of the recent massacre, At some point, the US will end up investment in hybrid, Americana. A deranged is the ban about to be reinstated but also from a diversion of tourism with federal gun control legislation. Tperson lugs nearly two any time soon at the federal level. A and conferences, at least until Nevada When more Congressmen come to dozen high-tech assault weapons to a prohibition against “bump stocks,” the cracks down on assault weapons and realise that their own lives are on the 32nd-fl oor hotel room to spray death device used by the Las Vegas killer to can guarantee visitors’ safety. line – which, sadly, they are – we autonomous planes upon concertgoers in a mass murder enable his semi-automatic rifl es to fi re America today doesn’t just have will fi nally see national action. Two and suicide. In response, the culture like fully automatic weapons, appears red (conservative) states and blue members of Congress have already Boeing is beefi ng up its investments in autonomous and wars fl are anew, with gun-control possible; but there will be little more (progressive) states, but de facto red been shot this decade (Gabrielle electric hybrid planes in anticipation that aviation could advocates in pitched battle against gun federal action than that. countries and blue countries, that is, Giff ords in 2011 and Steve Scalise enthusiasts. Yet there is consensus When Australia banned assault distinct regions with distinct cultures, earlier this year). For now, however, be primed for as much disruption as virtually every other on one deep truth: nothing much will weapons in 1996, mass shootings heroes, politics, dialects, economies, members of Congress will remain sector. change. After a week of televised, stopped abruptly. America’s gun and ideas of freedom. In New York caught in the political crossfi re of mad The aerospace giant has announced a series of recent heart-wrenching funerals, American lovers reject such evidence, and mass City, freedom means not having to gunmen and pro-gun lobbyists. This is life will go on until the next massacre. shootings like the one in Las Vegas fear that the thousands of strangers terrifying, but sadly the case. tech-focused investments, unveiling plans on Thursday Mass violence is deeply rooted in serve only to reinforce their belief that sharing the city’s sidewalks and parks In Trump’s America, gun violence to acquire autonomous aviation company Aurora Flight American culture. America’s European fi rearms are their only true protection with you on any given day are carrying and instability are being stoked daily. Sciences Corp, as well as a stake in Zunum Aero, which settlers committed a two-century- in a dangerous world. According to deadly weapons. In Texas or Las Vegas, A rapidly implemented, national-scale long genocide against the native compelling recent survey data, the freedom is the comfort of carrying solution would be ideal. But until that works on hybrid electric planes. inhabitants, and established a slave attachment to guns is especially your trusty fi rearms anywhere you happens, more US states should be Many of the technologies - such as unmanned fl ying economy so deeply entrenched that intense among less-educated white like. encouraged to choose gun sanity for taxis - sound space age, but the latest deals are a sign they only a devastating civil war ended it. Republican men residing mainly in It’s time to let red states and blue themselves. – Project Syndicate In almost all other countries, even rural and suburban areas in the South states go their own way. We don’t may not be as far off as they seem. Czarist Russia, slavery and serfdom and Midwest – the same demographic need to fi ght another civil war to agree zJeff rey D Sachs, Professor of Boeing did not disclose fi nancial terms for either were ended by decree or legislation, that forms the core of support for on an amicable and limited move Sustainable Development and investment. without a four-year bloodletting. President Donald Trump. to much looser linkages across the Professor of Health Policy and When it was over, America established Despite the deep ideological states. In this, the conservatives have Management at Columbia University, “The aerospace industry is going to be changing,” and enforced a century-long system of divisions in the country, there is it right: Let’s reduce the power of the is Director of Columbia’s Center for Boeing chief technology offi cer Greg Hyslop said in a apartheid. a glimmer of hope. Under the US federal government and turn more Sustainable Development and the UN conference call with journalists. To this day, America’s homicide and Constitution, states have the authority revenues and regulations back to the Sustainable Development Solutions to ban assault weapons and regulate states, subject to the constitutional Network. The Aurora purchase builds on Boeing’s work with the imprisonment rates are several times company on commercial and military equipment. Today’s commercial airplanes already employ sophisticated computer systems that have automated key aspects of fl ying. But Aurora aims to go far beyond that, aspiring to a completely autonomous fl ight, from take-off to landing. A robot, with the aid of artifi cial intelligence, could back up a pilot by depressing the pedals, taking control in emergency situations or even landing the plane. In May, Aurora, collaborating with the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency, successfully tested its automated co-pilot system on a Boeing commercial plane. Aurora has also “The aerospace worked to develop a kind of fl ying taxi system, of industry is going keen interest to Boeing to be changing” in its ongoing rivalry with Airbus. In April, Aurora was selected by Uber to develop its on-demand urban air transportation system. Aurora’s goal of delivering 50 autonomous aircraft for testing by 2020 is “well within reach,” the company said at the time. Airbus for its part is working to develop its fl ying taxi system Vahana by the end of the year, as well as another concept, Pop UP, that could travel between cities. Boeing also is seeking greater exposure to electric By accelerating the clean-energy transition, it is possible to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions below what would be expected under current consumption patterns. hybrid aircraft, a pursuit of Aurora and also of Zunum Aero, a Seattle startup in which Boeing has a stake. Zunum Aero said it expects to be able to deliver hybrid electric planes for delivery in 2022. Disrupting climate change The plane aims to address a gap in regional travel of up to 1,000 miles, a segment for which there are few options, the pace of warming. By accelerating Government models typically do not than many experts predicted it would. high costs and “door-to-door travel times haven’t By Jules Kortenhorst Denver the clean-energy transition that is account for such expanding returns. Still, not even a rapid shift toward improved in decades,” Zunum Aero said in a news release. underway, it is possible to reduce Another reason for underestimating “greener” energy will be enough The technology could let planes skip big regional greenhouse-gas emissions below the speed of today’s energy transition is to keep global average temperature fter a season of record- what would be expected under current that the scale is diff erent from previous within 2º of preindustrial levels. To airports such as Washington and Boston and instead breaking hurricanes in the consumption patterns. conversions to new technologies. achieve that, the world will also need travel from Beverly, Massachusetts to College Park, United States and fl oods This scenario is not as far-fetched When people switched from burning to take more greenhouse gases out of Maryland at a lower fare. Aacross Asia, it would be as some might believe. The world is wood to burning coal, and then to the atmosphere. easy to despair about the accelerating already switching to cleaner energy, to burning oil, the “new” energy sources Fortunately, that, too, is possible. The company expects to begin test fl ights in 2019. pace of climate change. Yet, despite electric mobility, and to smarter power came from very large capital projects, By incorporating carbon-reducing Zunum Aero has hired technologists who have worked the apocalyptic omens, an energy and land-use systems faster than like coalmines, off shore oil and gas strategies into agriculture and land on leading-edge vehicles for Boeing and Rolls-Royce. transformation big enough and fast anyone, including experts, anticipated. fi elds, and refi neries. The high costs conservation, more heat-trapping enough to curb the spike in global And it’s not the fi rst time the pace of deploying these projects were then gases can be locked up in forests “This aircraft is going to transform how we live and temperature remains within reach. of change has exceeded expectations. passed on to consumers. and soils. But while the techniques work,” said founder and Aero chief engineer Matt Knapp. Better still, we do not need to wait In 1980, for example, AT&T hired By contrast, in today’s energy already exist, success will require “We’ve pushed ourselves to challenge conventional for new inventions to implement the McKinsey & Company to forecast the market, consumers have more control. increasing the use of no-till farming, changes we need; the transformation number of mobile phones that would Consider how easy it is to install adopting permaculture principles, wisdom and the limits of engineering to deliver an can happen right now, with profi table be in use in the US within two decades. rooftop solar panels; it can be done in a better managing wetlands, and using aircraft of which we are extremely proud - one that off ers solutions delivered by businesses and The consultants predicted that by single day. Millions of small machines rotational grazing techniques, among effi ciency and performance without compromise.” driven by markets. 2000, the US mobile phone market – photovoltaic cells, wind turbines, other measures. Limiting the increase in global would support about 900,000 devices. batteries, and smart appliances – are The power of markets to drive radical temperature to within 2C of In fact, over 100mn phones were sold driving today’s energy transformation. changes in energy and land use is great, preindustrial levels – the target set by that year. Today, the planet has more Each new device in this distributed but as the storm season of 2017 should To Advertise the 2015 Paris climate agreement – will phones than people. system is cheap and pays off quickly, remind us, the climate emergency require decreasing reliance on fossil Solar and wind energy have suff ered so experimentation is aff ordable, and we face requires vigorous and urgent [email protected] fuels, and changing how the world similarly fl awed projections. For the technology can improve rapidly. action. Transforming the way people Display grows crops, harvests timber, and decades, experts at the International The result is a huge fi eld of global acquire and consume energy, and use Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 uses land. New research by the Rocky Energy Agency and the US Energy competitors, with faster innovation land, will require strong incentives and Mountain Institute (RMI) shows that Information Agency underestimated and new business models that are policy frameworks to set the course for Classified both outcomes are possible, and that, how quickly supplies from these helping to achieve economies of scale. success. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 together, the impact can “positively” sources would grow. They consistently The hardware of the clean-energy But don’t despair: there is still disrupt the trajectory of climate guessed low, increasing their forecasts revolution has more in common with time to save our climate. The Subscription change. only slightly every year, without ever mobile phones and laptops than with transformation has already begun – [email protected] According to our analysis, there catching up to reality. But as clean- mines and refi neries. Because it can and it will play out faster than most are pathways for the future supply energy businesses innovated, the cost be sold in very large markets, with people expect. – Project Syndicate and demand of energy, and for how of production from wind and solar scalable production chains and still- 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved forests and land store carbon, that, declined. Energy became cheaper, maturing technologies, the transition zJules Kortenhorst is CEO of the Rocky if followed, will dramatically slow and usage increased as a result. to cleaner power is happening faster Mountain Institute. Gulf Times Saturday, October 7, 2017 15 COMMENT South Korea’s looming crisis

Given the ongoing nuclear supervised fi nancial system and an advocate of the “Sunshine Policy” over-leveraged corporate sector. toward the North, wants to employ crisis with North Korea, As a result, the economy weathered “balancing sanctions and dialogue.” But, a new bout of economic the 2008 global fi nancial crisis far so far, South Korea has not managed to better than most, foreign-exchange improve diplomatic relations with its tumult is the last thing reserves far exceed short-term own ally, the US, not to mention with South Korea needs external liabilities, and companies China. And it has gotten nowhere near and banks are fi nancially sound. In reviving inter-Korean talks. this respect, the Asian fi nancial crisis This failure has many Koreans By Lee Jong-Wha amounted to a blessing in disguise for scared. Would the unpredictable Seoul South Korea. Trump go so far as to sacrifi ce Yet South Korea is now beset by South Korea (and Japan) to save San some of the same structural problems Francisco? The possibility is so bone- wenty years after the Asian Japan faced during its two decades chilling that the South is now debating fi nancial crisis, South Korea of stagnation: rapid population whether to develop its own nuclear seems to have learned its ageing, labour-market ineffi ciency, weapons or bring US tactical nuclear Tlesson, having taken great institutional weakness, and low bombs back to its territory. Either pains to strengthen its economic productivity in the service sector. approach would antagonise China, resilience. But now the country is Demographic constraints are potentially leading to an armed clash confronting a new set of internal and tightening. South Korea’s fertility rate on the Korean Peninsula. external risks, which may foreshadow fell to 1.17 last year – one of the world’s In the 1990s, South Korea waited another major economic crisis – or lowest – and continues to decline. for matters to come to a head before worse. Given the ongoing nuclear Fourteen per cent of the population responding. This time, it must nip the crisis with North Korea, a new bout of is aged 65 or older, a fi gure that is incipient crisis in the bud. That means economic tumult is the last thing the expected to reach 28% by 2035. As the accelerating domestic structural country needs. labour force shrinks and the burden reforms to improve productivity, In July 1997, a currency crisis that of supporting the elderly grows, the enhance labour-market effi ciency, struck Thailand quickly spread to economy is losing vitality. A s a result of China’s ban on group tours to South Korea, 49% fewer Chinese tourists visited the country in the first eight upgrade institutions, and foster a neighbouring economies. South Korea More problematic, however, are months of this year than in the same period last year. business environment that supports was not hit right away, and many South Korea’s low labour-market modern service industries and believed that it would be spared. By effi ciency and weak institutions. Externally, South Korea is highly Korea. But while China has lately for 25% of South Korea’s total exports, innovative start-ups. It also means that November, however, the country According to the World Economic vulnerable to the escalating North agreed to enforce economic sanctions giving it substantial leverage on trade. strengthening both economic and faced a sudden withdrawal of foreign Forum’s latest global competitiveness Korean nuclear threat. In recent more actively, it doesn’t want the Making matters worse, South diplomatic ties with major countries, capital, which, together with fi nancial report, South Korea ranks 73rd months, North Korea has fi red several North Korean regime to collapse. Korea’s second-largest trading while working with the US and China, institutions’ inability to borrow from worldwide for labour-market ballistic missiles and conducted a Moreover, China has focused some partner – the US, which accounts for in particular, to end the North Korean abroad, quickly depleted the country’s effi ciency, as a result of tight nuclear test, spurring an exchange of of its ire on South Korea. Beyond 13% of all exports – is also putting nuclear standoff . international reserves. restrictions on employee-employer incendiary rhetoric between North aggressively calling for the withdrawal pressure on the country. Despite the Neither agenda will be easy to The following month, South Korea relations. And it ranks 58th for Korean leader Kim Jong-un and US of the US military’s Terminal High critical importance of re-affi rming the pursue. But South Korea’s future turned to the International Monetary institutional quality, owing to President Donald Trump. This war Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) US-South Korea alliance, the Trump prosperity, if not its very survival, Fund for assistance, and launched excessive government regulations, of words, in which both sides have system from South Korea, which it administration, concerned about the depends on its leaders’ eff orts on both painful structural reforms. Companies opaque corporate governance, and threatened to launch “preemptive views as a threat to its own security massive bilateral trade defi cit, has fronts in the months and years ahead. and fi nancial institutions went policy instability. strikes,” is raising fears of a military and the region’s strategic balance, threatened to renegotiate the bilateral – Project Syndicate bankrupt, and millions of jobs were Finally, productivity in the services confl ict on the Korean Peninsula. China is using its economic might to free-trade agreement. lost. In 1998, the economy contracted sector amounts to just 45% that of The United States is now attempting retaliate against the South. While the economic impact of such zLee Jong-Wha is Professor of by 5.5%. the manufacturing sector, on average, to pressure China to take responsibility In particular, as a result of China’s a move would be serious for South Economics and Director of the Asiatic But things turned around a year compared with an OECD average of for curbing the North Korean ban on group tours to South Korea, Korea’s export-dependent economy, Research Institute at Korea University. later: GDP growth soared to 11.3%, 90%. The problem is most acute in nuclear threat, with the US Treasury 49% fewer Chinese tourists visited the most urgent imperative is to avoid His most recent book, co-authored with and government-led reforms made fi nance, real estate, business services, considering imposing sanctions on the country in the fi rst eight months any military confl ict on the Korean Harvard’s Robert J Barro, is Education progress toward addressing structural and community and government Chinese individuals, companies, and of this year than in the same period Peninsula. To that end, South Korean Matters: Global Gains from the 19th to weaknesses, including an under- services. banks doing business with North last year. Moreover, China accounts President Moon Jae-in, a longtime the 21st Century.

LEGAL HELPLINE Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY High: 37 C Low : 31 C Inshore: Hazy at place at first becomes Sick leave entitlements for employee hot daytime with slight dust at times and some local clouds, and relatively humid by night. By Dr Nizar Kochery Specifications intended purpose. The contractor A: In case of illegal access to the SUNDAY Doha shall held be liable for any defects in system, the police will charge the and materials such materials in accordance with the case under Article 371 of the Penal High: 37 C Q: If the contract does not specify provisions of liability for defects in law. As per the law, any person who Low: 28 C uestion: One of our the standard of materials and sold goods. accesses data saved in a computer Sunny employees fell sick if the used materials are not of or who is caught hacking into the and the medical report good quality, does the employer data system or a part thereof shall be reveals his inability to have the legal right to approach Illegal access to punished with imprisonment for a MONDAY Q High: 38 C continue working. The employee the contractor for rectifi cation? confidential data term not exceeding three years or a has submitted termination If the contract does not provide fi ne not exceeding QR10,000 or both. Low: 29 C request. So far he has availed any specifi cation, what is the law? Q: Our IT department has If the commission of off ence under Sunny only seven days’ sick leave. Please advise. identifi ed that someone used Article 371 resulted in deletion or Please advise on the sick leave KJS, Doha to access our system without modifi cation or spoiling or disabling entitlements. permission and access the the information in the system, the Fishermen’s forecast HS, Doha A: If the agreement is silent on confi dential data. We have wrongdoer shall be punished with OFFSHORE DOHA specifi cations, the contractor must conducted an internal inquiry, imprisonment for a term not less than Wind: NW-NE 03-12 KT Answer: If the worker resigns from use standard materials set by current but we cannot identify that. In one year and not exceeding three years Waves: 1-3 Feet work because of sickness with the practice. As per Article 684 of the such case of hacking, if we fi le a and a fi ne not less than QR10,000 and INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 07-17 KT approval of the competent physician Civil Law, if the contractor provides all police complaint, what will be not more than QR50,000 (Article 372). Waves: 1-2 Feet before the end of the six weeks to or any of the materials, such materials the punishment for such illegal which the worker is entitled as sick shall be with the agreed specifi cations access? zPlease send your questions by Around the region leave with pay, the employer shall or shall be adequate for meeting the SN, Doha e-mail to: [email protected] Weather Weather pay to the worker the balance of his today Max/min tomorrow Max/min entitlement. According to Article Abu Dhabi Sunny 37/29 Sunny 36/29 82, a worker with three months in Baghdad Sunny 35/20 Sunny 36/20 LEGAL SYSTEM IN QATAR Dubai Sunny service shall be entitled for sick leave Sunny 37/28 37/27 Kuwait City Sunny 37/24 Sunny 38/24 with full wage for fi rst two weeks and According to Article 327 of the Manama Sunny 36/28 Sunny 37/28 half of his wage for other four weeks penal laws, any person who defames Muscat Sunny 33/27 Sunny 34/27 and thereafter without pay until the a public offi cial or one who is in Riyadh Sunny 38/23 Sunny 38/23 worker resumes his work or resigns charge of a public service, during, Tehran M Sunny 23/14 Sunny 25/14 or his service is terminated for health in respect of, or on the occasion reasons. of performing the duties or public The sickness is to be certifi ed by an services assigned to him, or if the employer-approved physician. The libel aff ects the honour or injures extension of the sick leave thereafter the reputation of families, shall be shall be without pay until the worker liable to imprisonment for a term not resumes his work or resigns or his exceeding three years or a fi ne not service is terminated for health exceeding QR20,000 or both of these reasons. The employer may terminate penalties. the services at the end of the 12th week No crime shall be imputed to the on a report issued by the competent off ender if he proves the truth of the physician that the worker is unable to incident imputable to a public offi cial resume his work. or one who is in charge of public service, provided that the incident is related to the offi cial’s duty or service. Violation of The defamation or abuse contained the provision in the defence of parties to a legal action, whether verbally or in writing, Q: Our company does not have before courts of law or investigation any ongoing projects and is authorities, shall not involve a crime not providing the salaries on if it is within the limits of the right time. Now the management to defence. Informing judicial or comments related to the secrets of their consent through one of the Around the world is suggesting us to work for administrative authorities in good private or family life of persons even following means, shall be punished Weather Weather another employer. Is this legal faith of any matter that calls for the if they are true, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not today Max/min tomorrow Max/min as per the law? Can I work for responsibility of the accused shall not with imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or with a fi ne not Athens M Sunny 26/13 Sunny 23/13 another employer being under the involve a crime. exceeding one year or with a fi ne not exceeding QR5,000 or with both of Beirut Sunny 27/24 I T Storms 28/22 Bangkok T Storms T Storms 31/25 company’s sponsorship? Please As per Article 329, whoever curses exceeding QR5,000 or with both of these penalties; (1) opens a letter 32/25 Berlin Rain 12/09 P Cloudy 13/04 advise. a third party in public through the these penalties. or telegram without the consent Cairo Sunny 35/23 Sunny 33/22 TY, Doha use of improper words aff ecting Anyone who is entrusted with a of the person to whom it is sent or Cape Town P Cloudy 17/11 Cloudy 15/11 their honour and dignity shall be secret by virtue of his profession, overhears a telephone call, (2) records Colombo T Storms 29/26 T Storms 29/26 A: As per Article 16 of the Entry, Exit liable to imprisonment for a term trade, position or art and who or transmits conversations that take Dhaka S T Storms 32/26 Rain 31/26 Hong Kong P Cloudy 33/29 M Sunny 33/29 and Residence Law, an expatriate who not exceeding one year or a fi ne not discloses it in cases other than those place in a private place or through Istanbul P Cloudy 24/12 S Showers 17/12 has been granted an entry or residency exceeding QR5,000 or both penalties. lawfully permitted, or if he uses such any type of device, and (3) takes or Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 P Cloudy 32/24 permit for a specifi c purpose, or to Any person who defames or insults a secret for his own private benefi t transmits somebody’s photographs Karachi Sunny 37/25 Sunny 36/24 work at a specifi c place shall not the victim face to face and not in or for the benefi t of another person, or photographs of other persons in a London Cloudy 18/11 P Cloudy 17/11 Manila T Storms T Storms 31/26 private place using any type of device. 32/26 violate of the purpose of authorisation public, or by phone, or in a written without the consent of the person Moscow S Showers 10/04 M Sunny 13/08 or leave the work with recruiter / letter, or in another indirect way shall concerned with secret, shall be According to Article 334, whoever, New Delhi Sunny 36/23 Sunny 36/23 employer or work at any unauthorised be punished with imprisonment for a punished with imprisonment for a intending to take dishonestly New York P Cloudy 28/22 Showers 27/23 place. Any person who violates term not exceeding three months or term not exceeding two years and/or any moveable property out of the Paris M Cloudy 17/13 Cloudy 17/09 M Cloudy 27/19 the provision shall be sentenced to with a fi ne not exceeding QR1,000 or with a fi ne not exceeding QR10,000. possession of any person without Sao Paulo 24/18 S T Storms Seoul M Sunny 27/17 P Cloudy 26/16 maximum imprisonment of three with both. According to Article 333, whoever that person’s consent, moves that Singapore S T Storms 31/25 S T Storms 30/25 years or a fi ne of minimum QR20,000 According to Article 331, whoever illegally intrudes into another property in order to such taking, is Sydney P Cloudy 19/12 S Showers 21/17 and a maximum of QR100,000 or with publishes news, pictures or person’s private life and without said to commit theft. Tokyo Rain 21/15 Cloudy 25/17 both penalties. Gulf Times 16 Saturday, October 7, 2017 QATAR

Qatar underlines commitment to uphold principle of rule of law

Qatar stressed its continued He added that these Qatar paid special attention to be subject to the principle the principle of the rule of law of law at the national and resolution and peace-building. commitment with its partners institutions are continuing their the issue of complementarity of the rule of law on the had been and remains the international levels was not Al-Sulaiti said that the in the United Nations (UN) to efforts to increase community between national laws and basis of equality and mutual cornerstone of the success of a voluntary choice but an international community had uphold the principle of the awareness of this principle as it international instruments in the respect, and commitment to international eff orts to achieve obligation incumbent on all recognised that the rule of law rule of law at national and is the key factor for achieving area of the rule of law based the principle of international the goals for which the United states, in order to provide would not prevail if human international levels, out of its equality and justice among all on the shared responsibility of co-operation in the face of Nations was established. the environment required dignity and human rights were belief in the importance of this (citizens and residents) and states to face internal, regional common challenges, al-Sulaiti This is what had led the to achieve regional and not protected and international principle, which is an essential promoting good governance. and international challenges. said, pointing out that states’ international community to international peace and stability law was not respected in element of conflict prevention, Furthermore, al-Sulaiti Building on the close link behaviour must comply with adopt many international sought by the international international relations, as the peacekeeping, conflict resolution emphasised that the country’s between the rule of law and the provisions of international instruments and declarations community to overcome the implementation of the rule of and peace-building in the world. leadership attaches a special the three pillars of the United law, with all the obligations emphasising the importance internal challenges facing many law would make this principle a This came in a statement importance to strengthening Nations — peace and security, and guarantees under of the rule of law and the duty societies. reality. delivered by Ali bin Ahmed national institutions involved human rights and development international law, a matter of states to implement their He pointed out that the He added that the principle is al-Sulaiti, a member of Qatar’s in the implementation of the — the strengthening of the rule which requires the existence commitments at the national international consensus on central to the consolidation of delegation participating in the principle of the rule of law, of law requires an environment of mechanisms for follow-up and international levels, and the commitment to the 2005 international law and respect 72nd session of the UN General with a view to ensuring clear conducive to the realisation of and accountability to states’ the close link between the rule World Summit Declaration that for fundamental human Assembly. Al-Sulaiti stressed that national legal frameworks in the aims and purposes of the implementation of their of law and international peace emphasised the importance of rights, which have made these government institutions in Qatar accordance with the 2005 Charter of the United Nations. obligations in this area. and security, development and the rule of law as an essential principles a cornerstone of the are keen on upholding the rule World Summit High Declaration The charter affirms that He added that international human rights. element of conflict prevention, national constitutions, laws and of law. on the Rule of Law. relations between states must developments reaff irmed that The principle of the rule peacekeeping, conflict regulations of states. MIA Park bazaar opens

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

he Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park bazaar opened Tyesterday off ering a di- verse range of products such as artworks, handicrafts and food items, among others. The ba- zaar, which continues today for its fi rst weekend this season, serves as a fi tting platform for 250 home-based entrepreneurs to further promote and market their products, as well as show- case their talent and creativity. “It is a good opportunity for people to see what we do and for people who see us online to see the products live,” Lilly’s Hand- made Naturals owner Diala Itani told Gulf Times. Apart from having a beauti- ful venue, she said the event also showcases an array of products for MIA Park visitors and regu- Diala Itani, together with her husband, shows her homemade natural lar customers. It will run every products at the bazaar yesterday. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar weekend until spring. Besides the usual items such as apparel, jew- ellery and toys, many stalls also Families, groups of friends and individuals throng the MIA Park bazaar opening yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma off er postcards, greeting cards, artworks and paintings, hand- bazaar last year, which was also made home decors, traditional held at the MIA Park. Indian dresses, carpets, and per- “The response of the public sonal accessories. Other prod- was excellent and we believe it ucts include cosmetics, stylish will attract more residents and bed sheets, toys, children’s shoes visitors to come and buy the and dresses, bags, abayas, per- products from here,” he said as fumes and kites, among others. he shows his new collection and Visitors can also try various designs. This statement was also freshly cooked traditional and echoed by Tamer Bassiouny say- international cuisines at the ing that the bazaar is very much food section such as Thai, Fili- appealing to a large number of pino, Malaysian, Turkish, and families, groups, and individuals Indian, as well as sweets, drinks who are spending their weekend and delicacies. Like Diala Itani, at the MIA Park. Shiraj MH from India who sells Bassiouny, also a fi rst time traditional Indian dresses for la- participant, sells shirts, caps, dies told Gulf Times they expect mugs, key chains and car stick- to receive more customers this ers bearing the ‘Tamim Al Majd’ season compared to the previous image. A variety of international food offered at the event. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar Tamer Bassiouny shows his items to a visitor. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar Qatar pottery artist seeks CMU-Q welcomes new faculty to revive age-old tradition

By Peter Alagos other countries in the region Buisness Reporter and Europe. Speaking about the econom- ic blockade and if it had any atari home-based busi- impact on home-based busi- ness owner Talal Nayef nesses in Qatar, al-Qasimi said Qal-Qasimi has been into the Gulf crisis had only aroused pottery making for the past 19 patriotism among many Qatari years. What started out as a micro entrepreneurs. hobby has, today, transformed “There has been a great in- Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) welcomed nine new faculty members for the 2017-18 into a passion to breathe new terest among Qatari citizens academic year. Michael Trick, who is also the Harry B and James H Higgins Professor of Operations life into an age-old skill. to express their patriotism Research at Carnegie Mellon University, was appointed dean of CMU-Q on September 1. He is “Pottery has been engraved in and show their support for the joined by: Nesrine Aff ara, assistant teaching professor, biological sciences; Peter Boatwright, Allan the Qatari culture for centuries. Qatari pottery artist Talal Nayef al-Qasimi stands beside his state, especially to the leader- D Shocker professor of Marketing and New Product Development; Milton Cofield, distinguished Lately, because of the infl ux of creations at a booth during the ‘Made at Home’ expo held recently. ship of His Highness the Emir service professor, business management; Aaron Jacobson, visiting assistant professor, history; many ceramic products from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Drew B Mallory, visiting assistant professor, organisational behaviour; Taeyong Park, visiting China, Qatari pottery has taken a provided a periodic platform for imports clay from the UK, Den- Thani by fl ooding the market assistant teaching professor, statistics, Nui Vatanasakdakul, visiting associate professor, backseat, which is why I am try- the exchange of experiences and mark, and other countries, his with ‘Made in Qatar’ products. information systems; and Mohamed Zayed, associate teaching professor, physics. ing to reintroduce it to the mar- skills among entrepreneurs. products refl ect Qatari tradition. “Entrepreneurs are eager to ket,” al-Qasimi told Gulf Times. “I am trying to revitalise “I do everything from de- promote their products to show To bring pottery closer to Qatar’s pottery tradition and signing, sculpting to painting. the international community the public, al-Qasimi conducts introduce it to people through Most of the products that are that Qatar can be self-suffi - QU workshop addresses vulnerable road user safety regular workshops at the Souq training sessions. I am also par- in demand in Qatar are hand- cient, and that it will go on even Waqif Art Centre. He has also ticipating in local and interna- made items like pots and vases,” without the products coming The Qatar Transportation and technical adviser to the National management and traff ic safety conducted similar activities in tional exhibitions to showcase he said, adding that his works from blockading countries,” he Traff ic Safety Centre (QTTSC) Organisations for Youth Safety of professionals; pedestrian, bicycle other locations in Doha, includ- Qatari-made products in the are also exported to the US and stressed. at Qatar University College of the USA Joe Toole, and the Road and motorcycle safety advocates; ing Katara –The Cultural Vil- global market,” said al-Qasimi, Engineering (QU-CENG) recently Safety Projects manager at World law enforcement; and research lage. Al-Qasimi also joined local who owns two home-based hosted a training programme Resources Institute Turkey Celai and academia personnel. and international exhibitions to studios and another one at the on “Vulnerable Road User Tolga Imamoglu. CENG dean and QTTSC director showcase his craft, especially Souq Waqif Art Centre. Safety”, in collaboration with the They presented a wide range Dr Khalifa al-Khalifa said, the ‘Made in Qatar’ trademark. During most of his train- International Road Federation of issues related to vulnerable “The presenters discussed Only recently, al-Qasimi was ing workshops, al-Qasimi said (IRF). road users safety including the reasons why pedestrians, among the 144 exhibitors of Qa- many young Qataris, especially The event brought together pedestrians, cyclists and bicyclists, motorcyclists, public tar Development Bank’s ‘Made women, have shown great inter- experts from CENG, QTTSC, IRF, motorists. A special emphasis transportation vehicles riders at Home’ initiative. est in pottery. “Teaching them Ministry of Municipality and was placed on safer school and non-motorised vehicles are The fi ve-day expo, which the art of pottery is a good way Environment, and construction zones as well as educational involved in impacts that result showcased home-based busi- of preserving this tradition, and engineering consultancy campaigns designed for all road in fatalities and serious injuries. nesses specialising in the fi elds especially among the Qatari companies. users from ages five to ninety- The corrective actions, including of food and beverage, technol- youth,” said al-Qasimi, whose The training was delivered by a five years old. education, enforcement and ogy, arts and crafts, perfumery works could also be seen on In- panel of presenters that included The training was designed for engineering countermeasures and jewellery, and clothing, pro- stagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Pots and vases are popular products among Qataris, said al-Qasimi. IRF executive vice president road agency executives; highway that can be taken to reduce these moted household products and Al-Qasimi said that while he PICTURES: Nasar T K Michael G Dreznes, senior and street engineers; traff ic impacts were presented in detail.”