BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 12

Froome INDEX tightens DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2 - 4, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 Doha Bank posts REGION 4 BUSINESS 1 – 4, 10 – 12 18,417.00 10,591.60 45.95 ARAB WORLD 5, 6 CLASSIFIED 5 – 10 half yearly net grip on title -10.00 -56.98 +0.27 INTERNATIONAL 7 – 21 SPORTS 1 – 12 -0.05% -0.54% +0.59% profi t of QR708mn Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10156 July 21, 2016 Shawwal 16, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Doha meeting Caution on use In brief

REGION | Blaze of apps like Fire breaks out in Dubai skyscraper Fire broke out at a 75-storey residential tower in Dubai yesterday, the fifth blaze in a skyscraper in the United Arab Pokemon Go Emirates in recent years. Flames leapt out of windows toward the To save consumers from charges physical locations,” the statement said. cation details with strangers through top of the Sulafa tower in the like trespass and encroachment, Advising consumers to keep safety the app. Besides, be aware that al- upscale Marina district, and 10 the CRA has cautioned them to be fi rst and foremost on their mind while though the app features ‘PokeStops’ to 15 storeys appeared to have aware of privacy issues using apps like Pokemon Go, the CRA on public or private properties, you been charred. Burning debris has provided the following advice: “The should be respectful of others’ privacy floated toward the ground and atar’s Communications Regu- safety of the users, especially children, as unauthorised entry to private prop- firefighters approached the site latory Authority (CRA) has is of utmost importance and it must be erty or offi cial buildings/areas may be with sirens blaring. In March, a fire Qalerted consumers to exercise ensured that virtual reality combined considered trespassing. It is safer if broke out at a residential tower caution while using apps like Poke- with outdoor locations entails exercis- you don’t go to unknown areas.” in the nearby Emirate of Ajman. mon Go that use location services and ing same precautions as you would in Consumers have also been advised On New Year’s Eve, a blaze hit personal data. any other outdoor setting. to have a good understanding of their a landmark downtown hotel in The warning comes in the backdrop “The app urges users to be aware data plan and monitor their usage. Dubai; in February last year, fire of players venturing into dangerous of their surroundings while walking “The app works with GPS, which broke out at a 79-storey residential and prohibited places in their quest of around in public. And, if you use the means it may use a lot of data. Be tower in Dubai, and in November capturing the virtual creatures in the app while driving, you are putting aware of your data plan, and if unsure, 2012, a 34-storey Dubai residential wildly popular Pokemon Go, a free- your and others’ lives in danger. So check with your service provider to building was partially gutted. to-play location-based augmented ensure that you don’t play while driv- avoid bill shocks.” Page 4 reality mobile game. ing and obey all traffi c laws.” The CRA noted that it took its con- In a statement, the CRA said it has To save consumers from charges sumer protection mandate “very seri- observed media reports, social media like trespass and encroachment, the ously”. EUROPE | Brexit comments and stray incidents where CRA has cautioned them to be aware “We will continue to engage with Merkel accepts safety and privacy of individuals and of privacy issues. “The app access- relevant external authorities and HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi businesses may have been compro- es other applications in your smart service providers to increase custom- Britain’s decision and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates, mised while using augmented reality phone – location services, camera, er benefi ts while safeguarding their Germany and Britain yesterday Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, held a meeting at Al Bahr Palace yesterday. apps that use geolocation services. etc. Be careful when sharing your lo- rights,” the statement added. Page 10 agreed that Prime Minister Talks during the meeting dealt with relations between Qatar and the UAE and “In this regard, CRA would like to Theresa May needed time to ways to advance them in various fields, particularly with regard to strengthening alert all citizens and residents in Qatar Saudi council revives decree prepare for talks to leave the EU, co-operation within the framework of the GCC in order to ensure further progress, to exercise caution while using apps like after London took the first step security and stability for the people of the GCC states. The two sides also reviewed Pokemon Go, Geocaching, Waze, etc. Saudi Arabia’s top clerical body has Pokemon Go mobile game. The General towards Brexit by giving up its the latest regional and international developments and exchanged views on a Pokemon GO app, although not available renewed a 15-year-old edict that the Poke- Secretariat of the Council of Senior Reli- presidency of the European Union. number of issues of common concern. The meeting was attended by a several offi cially in Qatar, uses mapping soft- mon game franchise is un-Islamic, Saudi gious Scholars said it had revived a 2001 On her first foreign trip since ministers, UAE’s National Security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed al-Nahyan and ware to create a virtual reality game, and media said yesterday, although the fatwa decree against a Pokemon card game in taking off ice in the wake of Britain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Aff airs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed allows users to ‘catch’ the game charac- made no mention of the successful new response to queries from believers. Page 4 seismic referendum, May told al-Nahyan. The Abu Dhabi crown prince was on a one-day visit to Qatar. Page 2 ters on smart phone screens at various German Chancellor Angela Merkel that her government would not ask to leave the European Union before the end of 2016 in order to plan a “sensible and orderly departure”. “We will not invoke Article 50 until our objectives Phase-out of incandescent Erdogan declares are clear, which is why I’ve said already this will not happen before the end of this year,” May said in Berlin, referring to the formal EU light bulbs continues state of emergency mechanism to leave the bloc. Page 13 DPA he import and sale of 40-60 He told local Arabic daily Arrayah Ankara watts incandescent tungsten that the companies importing and dis- WORLD | Internet Tbulbs will be banned in Qatar tributing the new energy-saving air Facebook Messenger from November this year. conditioners would also be responsible urkey yesterday declared a state of tops a billion users Qatar General Organisation for for providing suitable spare parts for all emergency across the country for Standards and Metrology at the Min- their products. In addition, the dealers Tthree months in the wake of last Facebook said yesterday the istry of Municipality and Environment are expected to provide consumers with week’s failed coup attempt. number of users of its Messenger (MME) said yesterday that the initiative adequate warranty that could range President Recep Tayyip Erdogan an- application had topped 1bn, a key was part of implementing its 2010-2020 from fi ve to seven years. nounced the state of emergency in a President Erdogan speaking during a milestone as it seeks to expand strategy, which includes its vision to Dr al-Kuwari said that currently live television broadcast, saying it is news conference in Ankara yesterday. the platform to new services. have only high-quality products in the there might be no private workshops not against democracy, rule of law or The growth in Messenger gives country whether locally manufactured other than the dealers that could repair freedoms, but rather is aimed at protect- place in various areas of the south-east greater reach to Facebook, which or imported, and help consumers opt for issued by the organisation said. the new types of ACs. “However, after ing these values and strengthening them. for 15 years. is moving to create a “family” of the best products of high standards. A ban on the import and sale of tung- the passage of one year and the wide- These are “necessary precautions vis Meanwhile, President Erdogan has applications beyond the social Besides, it is part of the organisa- sten 75 and 100 watt light bulbs has spread use of these energy saving ACs, a vis the threat of terror, democracy, rule said he believes foreign countries may network. “As part of this journey tion’s scheme to conserve energy and come into eff ect in Qatar on May 1. new workshops and centres capable of law. The measure is to protect basic have been involved in the failed coup at- to 1bn, we focused on creating maintain a clean and healthy environ- Tungsten (incandescent) bulbs use of maintaining them would normally rights and freedoms,” he said following tempt, though he declined to name any. the best possible experiences in ment. In this regard, the organisation much more power than energy-saving emerge. During the fi rst year every- National Security Council and cabinet Speaking through an interpreter in an modern day communications,” has launched a publicity campaign to LED ones as well as give off more heat. body knows that these products will be meetings in Ankara. interview with broadcaster Al Jazeera, said Facebook vice president David create awareness about the purpose of Meanwhile, Dr Mohamed bin Saif al- maintained by the distributors under Erdogan also tried to assure markets Erdogan also dismissed suggestions Marcus in a statement. Facebook the ban and the date when it will take Kuwari, MME assistant undersecretary the terms of the warranty.” and investors, saying economic reforms that he was becoming authoritarian and itself has more than 1.6bn users, eff ect. The authorities will conduct for standardisation and metrology af- Dr al-Kuwari pointed out that a would continue.“There will be no liquid- that Turkish democracy was under any and WhatsApp, another messaging searches in co-operation with the enti- fairs, has said the companies importing meeting was held in January with the ity problem,” he said. threat. application acquired by Facebook ties concerned in the country to ensure the new energy-saving air condition- importers of the new ACs where special The last state of emergency in Turkey “We will remain within a democratic for some $20bn in 2014, also that the targeted bulbs are not circu- ers would be responsible for providing stress was made on the issue of mainte- was lifted in 2002 in two provinces where parliamentary system, we will never step counts more than a billion users. lating in the local market, a statement maintenance for such appliances. nance and spare parts. it remained in force after having been in away from it,” he said. Page 15 New map lays out brain’s cerebral cortex

Reuters brain’s thin, wrinkly outermost layer the brains of people with such condi- “Indeed, it is responsible for the stuff “We consider this to be the most ac- Washington made of so-called gray matter. tions and healthy people, the research- that makes us human, and the cortex curate and detailed map of human cer- These areas were present in both the ers said. has expanded dramatically in humans ebral cortex published to date,” Wash- left and right hemispheres of the cer- Neuroscientist Matthew Glasser of relative to our closest living relatives, ington University neuroscientist David euroscientists acting as car- ebral cortex. Washington University in St Louis, lead the apes.” Van Essen said. tographers of the human mind More than half, 97 of them, were pre- author of the study published in the The regions were mapped based on German neurologist Korbinian Brod- Nhave devised the most compre- viously unknown. journal Nature, said the map also may features such as cortical thickness mann published a landmark fi rst map of hensive map ever made of the cerebral The researchers nailed down the be useful in neurosurgery, helping sur- and the amount of insulation, called the cerebral cortex in 1909. cortex, the part of the brain responsible specifi c function of some of the areas, geons avoid damaging important brain myelin, around nerve-cell connec- Glasser said the new one also will not for higher cognitive functions such as but said they were only scratching the areas involved in speech or movement. tions. be the last word on the subject. abstract thought, language and mem- surface on understanding what all of Neuroscientists have devised the “The cerebral cortex underlies most The researchers also used MRI data “Think of this as version 1.0 of the ory. the areas did. most comprehensive map ever made of human cognition, providing such on cortical activity when people carry brain map. Using MRI images from the brains of The map could assist in the study of of the cerebral cortex, the part of the functions as speech production and out tasks such as listening to stories, It is very likely that better data or 210 people, the researchers said yes- brain maladies such as autism, schizo- brain responsible for higher cognitive understanding, ability to use tools, computing math problems and looking more eyes on the problem will identify terday they were able to pinpoint 180 phrenia, dementia and epilepsy, and functions like abstract thought, ability to make decisions, et cetera,” at other people making various facial improvements, perhaps for a version distinct areas in the cerebral cortex, the shed light on the diff erences between language and memory. Glasser said. expressions. 2.0 in the future,” Glasser said. Gulf Times 2 Thursday, July 21, 2016 QATAR Emir holds talks with Abu Dhabi crown prince

QNA Ambassador hails Doha Qatar-UAE ties

H the Emir Sheikh The UAE ambassador to Tamim bin Hamad al- Qatar Saleh in Mohamed al- HThani and the Crown Amri said that the visit of the Prince of Abu Dhabi and Dep- Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi uty Supreme Commander of and Deputy Supreme Com- the Armed Forces of the United mander of the UAE Armed Arab Emirates, (UAE) Sheikh Forces, Sheikh Mohamed bin Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Zayed al-Nahyan to Qatar and held a meeting at Al Bahr Palace his meeting with HH the Emir yesterday. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed al-Thani, reflect the depth of al-Nahyan conveyed the greet- the relations that bind the ings of UAE President Sheikh two countries, and will have Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan to a positive impact on bilateral the Emir and his wishes of fur- ties as well as inter-Gulf rela- ther progress and prosperity to tions. the Qatari people. Ambassador al-Amri said that HH the Emir reciprocated the the historic Qatar-UAE ties are UAE president’s greetings and getting deeper and stronger wishes. day by day. The relations Talks during the meeting dealt have the advantage of direct with relations between Qatar communication between the and the UAE and ways to advance two leaderships and officials, them in various fi elds, particu- HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receiving the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh he said. larly with regard to strength- Mohamed bin Zayed al-Nahyan in Doha yesterday. ening co-operation within the framework of the GCC in order the latest regional and inter- several ministers, UAE’s National sour bin Zayed al-Nahyan and Bahr Palace in honour of the ABu companying delegation at Doha to Qatar Saleh bin Mohamed al- to ensure further progress, secu- national developments and ex- Security adviser Sheikh Tahnoon members of the accompanying Dhabi crown prince. International Airport. Ameri. Later in the evening, the rity and stability for the people changed views on a number of bin Zayed al-Nahyan, Deputy delegation. Earlier, the Emir led well- The crown prince was also wel- Emir led well-wishers to see off of the GCC states. issues of common concern. Prime Minister and Minister of Following the talks, the Emir wishers to welcome the Abu comed by several ministers, sen- the crown prince and the ac- The two sides also reviewed The meeting was attended by Presidential Aff airs Sheikh Man- hosted a luncheon banquet at Al Dhabi crown prince and the ac- ior offi cials and UAE ambassador companying delegation.

Qatar opens new embassy HQ in Brussels

QNA representatives of European in- the magnitude of the business He pointed out that the new Brussels stitutions as well as Arab and delegation that visited Qatar, he headquarters of the embassy of Qa- foreign ambassadors accredited said that the mission contrib- tar reaffi rms Qatar’s commitment to Belgium and representatives uted to strengthening the exist- to a more eff ective and construc- he new headquarters of of the North Atlantic Treaty Or- ing partnership between the two tive cooperation with the Brussels- Qatar’s embassy in Brus- ganisation (Nato). countries and opening prospects based international institutions as Tsels was inaugurated yes- In a speech on the occasion, for other new partnerships. well as with all other actors operat- terday. Reynders commended the depth of The deputy prime minister ing in the capital of Europe. The inauguration ceremony relations between his country and and foreign minister of Belgium HE the Minister of State for was attended by Belgian Deputy the State of Qatar and expressed attributed the steady growth in Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad Prime Minister and Minister of his delight at the progress attained bilateral relations to the impor- al-Mureikhi said that the value Foreign Aff airs Didier Reynders, at the level of partnership. tance attached by the two sides of this building is not only in its HE the Minister of State for For- While lauding the visit of to these relationships, adding architecture but also in the con- eign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al- Belgian economic delegation that the inauguration of this solidation of the concepts of de- Mureikhi along with a number of headed by Princess Astrid to the building refl ects the progress of velopment of relations between Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Aff airs Didier Reynders and HE the Minister of State Belgian offi cials and high-level State of Qatar in March 2015 and these relations. Belgium and Qatar. for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Mureikhi inaugurating the new embassy headquarters in Brussels. Gulf Times Thursday, April 21, 2016 3 QATAR

In brief Deputy PM meets UK envoy Lawyers meet

Emir sends murder convicts Independence Day greetings

By Ramesh Mathew day that a Doha appeals court They, however, could not meet HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Staff Reporter had upheld the death sentence Sivakumar Arasan, the third Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy awarded to two of the three ac- convict who was given a life Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad cused by a trial court for the term, as he was apparently taken al-Thani and HE the Prime he defence team for the murder. The third defendant was out for a health check-up. Minister and Minister of Interior three Indian expatriates given a life sentence. Speaking to Gulf Times after Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Tconvicted in the murder The woman was murdered the meeting, Kochery and Ku- Khalifa al-Thani sent cables of al-Mahmoud holding talks with the ambassador of the United Kingdom to Qatar Ajay Sharma in of an elderly Qatari woman is ex- at her home towards the end of mar said they would move their congratulations to Colombian Doha yesterday. They discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in various fields, as pected to fi le an appeal by July 27. 2012 and the capital punishment appeal in the highest court by President Juan Manuel Santos on well as issues of common concern. This was revealed after a four- was awarded on December 31, July 27. The local legal system his country’s Independence Day. member team yesterday met two 2014. The Court of Appeals up- mandates that an appeal in a of the three convicts at the Cen- held the death sentence on May case should be fi led within two Chief of Staff tral Prison. 30 this year. months of a judgment. “We went The team included Doha- Yesterday, accompanied by a through the court papers and are meets envoys based legal activist Nizar Ko- staff member from the Indian exploring all possibilities,” said Ministry recalls cheri and S Suresh Kumar, a embassy, Kocheri and Kumar Kochery. HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Fire breaks out in lawyer from Nagercoil in the held deliberations with Alagappa Kumar said he would press Armed Forces Major General Maserati models southern Indian state of Tamil Subramaniam and Chinnadurai upon the Indian federal and Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem Nadu who arrived in Doha af- Perumal, who were awarded the Tamil Nadu governments to bear held separate meetings with under-construction mall ter being deputed by the South death sentence. The lawyers met the fi nancial expenses in the the ambassadors of Bangladesh he Ministry of Economy Asian Fishermen Fraternity. them separately and heard their case. The lawyer is expected to and South Korea to Qatar, Achod and Commerce (MEC), in Gulf Times reported yester- version of the case. return to India early today. Ahmed and Park Heung-Kyeong. Tcollaboration with Alfardan fi re broke out at the un- in a section of the upcoming Mall Sports Motors, has announced the der-construction Tawar of Qatar near Rayyan Sports Club. recall of Maserati Quattroporte AMall near Dahl Al Hamam Tawar Mall, which is expected and Ghibli models of 2014-2016 to Park in the Duhail area of Doha, to open by the last quarter of this replace the screws of the rear toe- yesterday morning. year, will have more than 312 shops in adjustment rods. Emergency responders were and restaurants, including 59 new Alfardan Sports Motors is the rushed to the spot and the Min- concepts and fl agship stores, as QC launches school project in Gaza dealer of Maserati vehicles in istry of Interior tweeted a little well as a 12-screen cinema. Qatar. after 11am that Civil Defence Other attractions include The recall campaign comes personnel had contained the fi re wide corridors with natural atar Charity (QC) has tary in the Ministry of Educa- in Gaza,” he said. ing the Ibhath project that is within the framework of the and there were no casualties. light, a panoramic restaurant, an started implementing tion and Higher Education in the Mohamed Abu Halloub, QC’s fi nanced by the GCC through ministry’s ongoing eff orts to The exact cause of the blaze external music water fountain, Qthe Kamal Al O’hood Gaza Strip, thanked the govern- offi ce director in the Gaza Strip, Islamic Development Bank, protect consumers and ensure and extent of damage were, an internal fountain, a boutique (Fulfi lling Pledges) School ment and people of Qatar and said: “This project aims to pro- Jeddah. The funds off ered for that car dealers follow up on ve- however, yet to be ascertained. hotel with 122 rooms and a souq. project in the Gaza Strip. commended QC’s eff orts in the vide primary education to stu- the project, which aims to en- hicle defects and repairs. Some sources told Gulf Times Promoters of the mall had Under this initiative, the service of the Palestinian peo- dents living on the eastern side courage scientifi c research in The MEC has said it will co- that yesterday’s blaze at Tawar Mall earlier stressed that Tawar Mall school is to be established - to- ple in general and the education of Jabalia, mainly the Ezbit Abd the Gaza Strip, amount to over ordinate with the dealer to fol- was put out “in less than two hours”. would showcase a number of wards the east of Jabalia Camp sector in particular. Rabu territory, which is con- QR7,000,000. low up on maintenance and This comes some three-and-a- features and facilities support- in the northern area - and The education sector suff ers sidered relatively remote due to In May, QC also announced repair works and communicate half months after a fi re broke out ing local traditions and customs. equipped. from a shortage of schools and the multiple Israeli assaults that the initiation of the second stage with customers to ensure that Around 600 male and female teachers. Around 200 schools have hit the area during the past of the “Cycling for Education” the necessary repairs are carried students from the northern area are needed for the sector’s re- three wars on the Gaza Strip.” initiative, which was launched out. are expected to benefi t from the quirements to be met, QC has QC had earlier implemented a last year in co-operation with The ministry has urged all project, which is being imple- said in a statement. project to supply public schools Qatar Cyclists. The initiative consumers to report violations mented at a cost of QR2.2mn. It On behalf of the ministry, with science laboratories. It had aims to collect QR5,000,000 to to its Consumer Protection and is fi nanced by philanthropists Thabit expressed happiness also carried out a project through rebuild a girls’ school in Gaza Anti-Commercial Fraud De- from Qatar and executed by QC at the implementation of the which it provided 60 schools with a capacity of 1,000 stu- partment through the call cen- in partnership with the Ministry project. “I hope support for this with alternative energy to over- dents. tre (16001), e-mail (info@mec. of Education and Higher Educa- vital sector continues because come the problem of powercuts The initiative’s fi rst stage re- gov.qa), Twitter (@MEC_Qatar), tion. of the great impact it has on im- in the Gaza Strip. sulted in the collection of more Instagram (MEC_Qatar) and the Dr Ziad Thabit, undersecre- proving the quality of education Further, QC is implement- than QR2,000,000. MEC mobile app for Android and iOS (MEC_Qatar). Black smoke emanating from the upcoming Tawar Mall yesterday. South Indian fi lm opens to sell-out shows in Qatar

By Ramesh Mathew Kabali comes at a time when for tomorrow. Even shows impressive for screenings at Staff Reporter many multiplexes in Qatar scheduled for 3.30am on The Mall and Landmark. The are reportedly witnessing Friday were almost sold out. Mall, in particular, has re- poor footfall, particularly on As each hall can accom- portedly seen heavy bookings fi lm featuring a su- weekdays. The situation has modate around 500 people for the fi rst two days. perstar from India is worsened in the summer, at Asian Town, thousands The fi lm has generated Agiving cinema opera- say sources. are expected to watch the much interest in India and also tors in Qatar a lot to cheer Kabali, though, can pro- movie there today alone. garnered international atten- about even before its re- vide some relief to the cin- “It is after a considerable tion, with reports saying that lease. ema operators by giving a period that we are seeing businesses in some southern Going by initial reports, big boost to revenues, they such a response to a fi lm in Indian cities have given their Rajinikanth-starrer Kabali - point out. Qatar,” said the QBCC offi - employees the day off tomor- which releases in Qatar and The local response to Kab- cial, who also reported that row (when the fi lm releases in other GCC countries today - ali has been “unprecedented”, the fi lm was witnessing an India) so that they can attend is witnessing a huge demand according to an offi cial of Qa- equally good response at the screenings of the fi lm. The and seats are fi lling up fast. tar Bahrain Cinema Company company’s three halls in Al companies apparently an- More than 20 shows of (QBCC), which manages halls Khor Mall. ticipated that many employees the Tamil-language gang- at City Center Doha, Asian At City Center Doha, would be reporting sick in or- ster-drama movie have been Town and some other malls where the fi lm will have nine der to see the fi lm. sold out for the opening day in the country. screenings on the opening Posts on social media at a couple of cinemas - Together, these two cinemas day (including the 1am show showed that Doha-based City Center Doha and Asian will have more than 20 daily on Friday), thousands more fans of the superstar were Town, it is learnt. screenings of the fi lm on Day 1. are expected to catch their also eagerly waiting for the While details from other At Asian Town, a popular favourite star in action this fi lm’s release and many halls are awaited, sources destination among expatri- weekend. planned to watch the open- said the fi lm is expected to ate workers on the outskirts Speaking to Gulf Times, ing show of Day 1. One of do really well as Rajinikanth of the Industrial Area, near- Qatar Cinema and Film Dis- them is an Indian chartered has a huge and dedicated fan ly all shows at the four halls tribution Company general accountant, who will be following. have been sold out for today manager A Najdi, too, said the watching the fi lm at Novo The craze surrounding and the demand is also high advance bookings have been Cinemas. Page 17

Woman to be jailed, deported for forgery

he Court of Appeal woman to one year in jail the department concerned in document confi rmed the has upheld a rul- and ordered her deporta- Qatar for attestation. Howev- forgery. Ting of the Court of tion. However, an upper er, the employee in charge re- In court, the woman denied First Instance against an court later overturned the alised that the stamp attrib- any wrongdoing and said she Asian expatriate accused ruling and suspended the uted to the Qatari embassy in had paid a man (the equiva- of counterfeiting an offi- sentence and deportation her home country had been lent of) QR600 in her home cial stamp on her marriage order, local Arabic daily counterfeited, according to country to get her marriage certificate. Al Sharq reported. the daily. certifi cate attested because she The Court of First In- The woman had submit- The woman was arrested wanted to use it to get a visit stance had sentenced the ted her marriage certifi cate to and further scrutiny of the visa for her family members.

Expatriate gets 3-month jail term for DUI

Doha Criminal Court the suspension of his driv- ing recklessly on D-Ring rived at the spot. The man has sentenced an In- ing licence for a month be- Road under the infl uence of was eventually arrested and Adian expatriate to cause he jumped a red light, alcohol and nearly caused an a blood test proved that he three months in jail for driv- local Arabic daily Arrayah accident. had consumed alcohol. ing in an intoxicated state. reported. A police offi cer saw the Accordingly, the court The court also fi ned the According to the details of man and stopped him and found the man guilty and man QR10,000 and ordered the case, the man was driv- the traffi c police also ar- convicted him. Gulf Times 4 Thursday, July 21, 2016 QATAR/REGION Saudi renews fatwa against Pokemon

Reuters/AFP Scholars said it had revived a and idols”. The fatwa added that Dubai/Riyadh 2001 decree against a Pokemon symbols used in the game pro- card game in response to queries moted Japan’s Shinto religion, from believers. Christianity, Freemasonry and audi Arabia’s top cleri- The council argued that the “global Zionism”. cal body has renewed a mutations of the creatures in In Saudi Arabia, home to Is- S15-year-old edict that the the game, who are given specifi c lam’s two holiest sites, cinemas Pokemon game franchise is un- powers, amounted to blasphemy are banned and women’s sports The BMW M4 GTS and M2 Coupe. Islamic, Saudi media said yes- by promoting the theory of nat- are discouraged as promoting terday, although the fatwa made ural evolution. sin. no mention of the successful “It is shocking that the word The pre-Islamic era is dis- new Pokemon GO mobile game. ‘evolution’ has been much on missed as the age of ignorance Nintendo’s augmented real- the tongues of children,” the and its relics are deemed un- ity app, in which players walk fatwa read. godly, and some clerics even New BMW M models wow Qatar around real-life neighbourhoods It also said the game contained see patriotism as tantamount to to hunt and catch virtual cartoon other elements prohibited by Is- idolatry. characters on their smartphone lamic law, including “polythe- Users of the game walk around lfardan Automobiles has comes with a six-cylinder in- have been re-tuned to the en- deliver sheer driving pleasure. screens, has become an instant ism against God by multiplying their real-life neighbourhoods welcomed the BMW M4 line turbo engine with innova- gine’s increased output. With the lightweight alu- hit around the world. the number of deities, and gam- in search of scores of “pocket AGTS and BMW M2 mod- tive water injection technology The weight-minimised, ex- minium front and rear axles The General Secretariat of bling, which God has forbidden monsters”, which emerge super- els to Qatar this month. to give the 3.0-litre unit a sub- clusive M light-alloy wheels in from the BMW M3/M4 models, the Council of Senior Religious in the Qur’an and likened to wine imposed on the phone screen via “Bringing motor racing genes stantial power boost. star-spoke 666 M Styling are forged 19-in aluminium wheels the camera. wrapped in an exciting de- The water injection system forged and polished, and come with mixed-size tyres, M Ser- Middle Eastern states are of- sign and coupled with unlim- raises the engine’s output sig- in Acid Orange. votronic steering with two ten wary of social media use by ited everyday usability, these nifi cantly – to 368kW/500hp – Joining the limited-edition settings and suitably eff ective their growing youth popula- exceptional M models off er a and increases torque to 600Nm M4 GTS is the model that made M compound brakes, the new tions, and authorities in Kuwait combination that has defi ned (442lb-ft), giving it the ability its Middle East debut at the Qa- BMW M2 Coupé has raised the and Egypt have already warned the character of the M automo- to accelerate from a standstill to tar Motor Show – the BMW M2 bar once again in the compact that players might be tempted to biles from the start and mus- 100km/h (62mph) in a mere 3.8 Coupé. It comes as a successor high-performance sports car point their smartphones at re- tering a large following of loyal seconds and hits a limited top to the BMW 1 Series M Coupé segment when it comes to driv- stricted locations such as royal M fans globally,” the company speed of 305km/h (189.5mph). and continues the tradition of ing dynamics. palaces, mosques, oil facilities or said in a press statement yes- The standard-fi tted seven- the compact high-performance The electronically control- military bases. terday. speed M Double Clutch Trans- BMW sports cars that started led Active M Diff erential, which Pokemon Go uses smartphone The BMW M4 GTS is a spe- mission (M DCT) selects the over 40 years ago with the optimises traction and direc- satellite location, graphics and cial edition car limited to 700 optimum ratio for every driving BMW 2002 turbo. tional stability, also plays a sig- camera capabilities to overlay units to commemorate the 30th situation with no interruption With the M2 Coupé’s pow- nifi cant role here. cartoon monsters on real-world anniversary of the BMW M3. in the fl ow of power as it makes erful six-cylinder in-line Even greater driving pleas- settings, challenging players to The new model combines its way to the rear wheels. engine, with automatic or ure is on the cards when the capture and train the creatures powerful, motor sport-inspired The driver can also select manual gearbox, producing Dynamic Stability Control sys- for battles. looks with high-performance gears manually using either 272kW/370hp and 465Nm, tem’s M Dynamic Mode (MDM) It has already been blamed for technology to further enhance shift paddles on the steering rear-wheel-drive agility, light- is activated. a wave of crimes, traffi c viola- the capabilities and appeal of wheel or the selector lever. weight aluminium M Sport MDM allows wheel slip and Saudi men play with the Pokemon Go application on their mobiles in tions and complaints in cities the BMW M4. The Drivelogic shift pro- suspension and extrovert styl- therefore moderate, controlled Riyadh. around the globe. The limited-edition model grammes and Launch Control ing, it has all the ingredients to drifts on the track. Blaze rips through Explosion kills four Dubai skyscraper soldiers

DPA/AFP in Aden Dubai

Agencies ire ripped through a 75-storey, Aden 285-m-high residential tower in FDubai yesterday, forcing police to evacuate the area in the latest of a series blast in the southern of skyscraper blazes in the Gulf state. Yemeni city of Aden Firemen managed to extinguish the A killed four soldiers and fi re after evacuating the building lo- wounded six, the city’s security cated in Dubai Marina with no injuries administration said, in an attack or deaths reported, the head of the de- claimed by Islamic State. partment, General Rashed al-Matrousi, The militant group said it had said, without referring to how it broke detonated an explosion among a out. group of soldiers in the port city, “The fi re broke out on the 60th fl oor according to a statement posted and extended to the 70th due to the to its online news agency Amaq. wind. One eyewitness said the Self-extinguishing devices prevent- bomb, which hit a checkpoint ed the blaze from aff ecting the apart- in the central Caltex area of the ments,” he added. city, was planted in a plastic bag The blaze caused chaos on streets by a roadside. around area with people returning from Security offi cials and other work unable to reach their homes as witnesses said the blast was set police blocked nearby roads to avoid off by a suicide bomber detonat- any injuries from falling debris, Abu ing an explosive vest. Dhabi-based The National newspaper Aden has been beset by at- reported online. tacks on troops claimed by Is- The tower is the 23rd tallest building lamic State and Al Qaeda, and in Dubai and 127th tallest in the world. the two groups have gained Fires have hit several high-rise build- strength as the government -- ings in the United Arab Emirates, famed Flames are seen after a fire broke out at backed by a military coalition for its record-breaking skyscrapers. residential Sulafa tower in the upscale led by Saudi Arabia – has fought On New Year’s Eve a huge blaze Marina district in Dubai yesterday. against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. ripped through the luxury Address Despite a 16-month-old Downtown Hotel, injuring 16 people evacuate nearby blocks. Saudi-led military intervention just a few hours before a spectacular In March, a high-rise residential in Yemen, the government has fi reworks display nearby. tower caught fi re in Ajman, north of struggled to secure Aden, which In November last year, fi re engulfed Dubai. has seen several bombings and three residential blocs in central Dubai The building was evacuated and no assassinations claimed by IS or and led to services on a metro line being casualties were reported. Al Qaeda. suspended, although no one was hurt. In 2012, a huge blaze gutted the On Friday, a suicide bomb- In February, a blaze gutted one of the 34-storey Tamweel Tower in the nearby ing claimed by Al Qaeda hit the emirate’s tallest buildings, also in the Jumeirah Lake Towers district. convoy of Aden governor Aida- Dubai Marina neighbourhood. It was later revealed to have been rus al-Zubaidi, wounding three It destroyed luxury fl ats in the Torch caused by a cigarette butt thrown into people travelling with him. tower and prompted authorities to a bin.

UN chief: Make sure nuclear deal benefits Iranian people

United Nations Secretary- world powers, Ban urged all were lifted in January when restrictions, he said Iran General Ban Ki-moon urged the parties to uphold their the UN nuclear watchdog believes it has yet to benefit world powers yesterday to commitments to implement confirmed that Tehran from the lifting of sanctions. ensure a historic nuclear deal the agreement to curb fulfilled commitments under Ban cited Iran’s complaints with Iran delivers “tangible Tehran’s atomic work. its nuclear deal. over US visa restrictions and benefits to the Iranian people” “It is of the utmost But Iran is still subject to a the confiscation of Iranian after Tehran complained it importance that the JCPOA UN arms embargo and other Central Bank assets under a was not fully benefiting from (Iran deal) works for all its restrictions. US court order. sanctions relief. participants, including by In Ban’s first bi-annual The United States complained On the first anniversary delivering tangible benefits to report to the UN on Monday that Ban of a UN Security Council the Iranian people,” Ban said Security Council on the overstepped his mandate by resolution endorsing the in a statement. implementation of those referring to Iran’s complaints deal between Iran and six Most UN sanctions on Iran remaining sanctions and in the report. Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 5 ARAB WORLD Israel, Guinea renew ties after 49-year break

DPA with Israel was growing smaller. Tel Aviv “Israel calls on states that haven’t yet renewed diplomatic relations to follow in Guinea’s srael and Guinea ended a footsteps,” he said. 49-year rupture in relations He said Israel helped Guinea Ias they renewed diplomatic fi ght the Ebola virus by donating ties yesterday, the Israeli Foreign the largest sum per capita of any Ministry said. country to a fund set up by the The predominantly Muslim United Nations and by sending a West African Republic cut off ties mobile clinic. with Israel in 1967 because of the Israel would also off er the Six-Day War, in which Israel cap- country its know-how in fi elds tured the West Bank from Jordan, like agriculture, water manage- A member of the Palestinian security forces inspects a damaged house following a blaze overnight in the village of Duma in the Israeli-occupied West Bank yesterday. the Gaza Strip from Egypt and the ment and security. Golan Heights from Syria. Israel and African nations Israeli Foreign Ministry Direc- should be “joining hands” in the tor General Dore Gold signed an fi ght against radical Islamic ter- agreement with Ibrahim Khalil rorism, which threatens not only Kaba, Guinean President Alpha the Middle East, but also Africa, Conde’s chief of staff , in Paris. he urged. “This is an important closing Benjamin Netanyahu paid a of a circle,” said Gold, according fi ve-day visit to four East African Fire in Palestinian village to a Foreign Ministry statement, states early this month, the fi rst adding the number of African Israeli prime minister to do so in a year after deadly arson states that had yet to renew ties some 50 years. NGO condemns latest AFP of Mohamed Dawabsha, located in this particular village in the sha and fatally injured his par- human rights groups and Pales- Nablus near the house that was fi re- last year.” ents. tinians. bombed on July 31 last year. Israeli police said they were Five-year-old Ahmed was the Mladenov said the courts Gaza death sentence Dawabasha and his wife suf- investigating the cause, but that sole survivor from the immedi- were still moving too slowly. fi re burned a home yes- fered smoke inhalation, but they had so far not found any ate family. “Indictments have been AFP ers were confi rmed by a higher terday in a Palestinian there were no other injuries. evidence of a Jewish extremist Mohamed Dawabsha is part made, but the perpetrators of Gaza City military tribunal. Avillage where an arson UN Mideast envoy Nick- attack. of the same clan but is not an this terrible crime have yet to The Gaza Military Court an- attack by Jewish extremists a olay Mladenov said Israel was Dawabsha said he and his wife immediate relative of the fam- face justice,” he said. nounced a sentence of death by year ago killed a toddler and his obliged under international law heard noises outside their home ily. “I call upon the authori- Palestinian human rights hanging for the man identifi ed parents, residents and authori- to protect those living under its in the middle of the night. The 2015 attack sparked glo- ties to move swiftly in bringing organisation condemned as M.S., aged 59, from the Tuff ah ties said. occupation. “We went outside and after- bal condemnation and drew the perpetrators of this terrible Ayesterday the latest death area east of Gaza city on charges Inhabitants of the village of “I am concerned by reports wards we heard an explosion renewed attention to Jewish ex- crime, as well as this latest inci- sentences handed down by tribu- of “collaborating with the Israeli Duma in the occupied West of yet another arson attack on in the bedroom and saw huge tremism, including accusations dent, to justice.” nals in Gaza Strip. occupation.” Bank and a Palestinian offi cial the home of the Dawabsha fam- fl ames,” he said. Israel had not done enough to In March, another fi re burned A military court in the coastal The Higher Military Court said said they suspected another ex- ily last night in Duma in the oc- Neighbours assisted them in prevent such violence. the Duma home of a key wit- Palestinian enclave condemned it had confi rmed execution or- tremist attack, but Palestinian cupied West Bank,” he said in a moving to safety. In January, a court charged ness to the arson attack, but the a local man to death on Tuesday ders against two other men, one fi refi ghters had not commented statement. Last year’s attack on a fam- two Israeli settlers over the fi re- cause was not clear. on charges of collaborating with a 49-year-old man from Khan on the cause. “If confi rmed, this despicable ily home in the village killed bombing after slow progress in Israeli authorities said at the Israel, while death sentences is- Yunis, by hanging and a Gaza City The blaze damaged the home act would be the third incident 18-month-old Ali Saad Dawab- the case led to criticism from time they were investigating. sued previously against two oth- man aged 38 by fi ring squad. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, July 21, 2016 ARAB WORLD Syrian rebel group investigates beheading of child

Reuters Images of a fi ghter cutting off of President Bashar al-Assad. port channelled from Turkey, in- In a statement, Nour al-Din for investigations in accordance The child in the video appears Beirut the small boy’s head with a knife “This is a prisoner from the cluding US-made TOW missiles. al-Zinki denounced what it de- with the relevant legal stand- to have bandages round his waist matched some of the worst bru- Quds Brigade. They don’t have US State Department spokes- scribed as “the human rights ards.” and one of his legs, and a plastic talities committed by the mili- men any more so they’ve sent man Mark Toner said Washing- abuses that were shared on social In an online statement, the medical tube near his arm. Syrian rebel group which tant Islamic State group, which us children today,” one of the ton was seeking more informa- media sites”, which did not rep- Quds Brigade denied the 12-year- The Syrian Foreign Ministry has received US military has killed hundreds of captives men says.”These are your dogs, tion on what he described as “an resent its policies or practices. old child was a fi ghter. said it had written to the Secre- Abacking said it is investi- in Syria and neighbouring Iraq in Bashar, children of the Quds bri- appalling report”. It said it had detained the indi- It said he was from a poor family tary-General of the United Na- gating the beheading of a young the last three years. gade,” says another. “If we can prove that this was viduals who were involved in the living in the Handarat Camp area tions asking him to condemn all child in Aleppo after video foot- Before being killed, the boy is The Syrian Observatory for indeed what happened and this incident and formed a committee north-east of Aleppo, which had crimes towards the Syrian people age circulated showing the boy shown on the back of a truck be- Human Rights said the men were group was involved it would give to investigate what happened.”All fallen under the control of rebels. and Palestinian people in Syria. being killed by a man activists ing taunted by several men who fi ghters from the Nour al-Din al- us pause about any assistance individuals who undertook the “The child was ill, evidenced The letter asked the UN to identifi ed as a member of the say he is from a Palestinian faction Zinki Movement, a rebel group or any further involvement with violation have been detained and by the presence of a drip in his punish states which support group. which fi ghts in Aleppo in support which has received military sup- this group,” he told reporters. turned over to the committee hand,” the statement said. rebel groups in Syria. Kerry warns of challenge in securing Iraq after IS

Reuters Syria and Iraq, but also Libya and Washington recent attacks in Europe. The United Nations is prepar- Libyans gather around the remains of a helicopter that crashed near Benghazi yesterday. ing for what it says will be the S Secretary of State John largest humanitarian relief op- Kerry said yesterday that eration so far this year as terrifi ed Uthe battlefi eld momen- people stream out of the path of tum in Iraq and Syria has shifted the advancing Iraqi military and against Islamic State but the in- fl ee from the city itself. ternational community must now They will need shelter, food Three French soldiers killed also confront the challenge of sta- US Secretary of State John Kerry and water, and sanitation for bilising newly liberated areas. speaks during a Pledging Confer- three to 12 months, depending on “The momentum has shifted,” ence in Support of Iraq. the extent of the city’s destruc- Kerry told an international con- tion. in Libya intelligence mission ference to raise funds for Iraq. pledging session was to raise at The vast majority of the ex- “The new challenge that we face least $2bn in new aid for Iraq to pected refugees will be Sunni is securing and aiding for the re- help communities get back on Muslims, many of whom feel Reuters The country has since de- Masmari said the French had The BDB includes fi ght- covery of a liberated area.” their feet once Islamic State mil- disenfranchised by Iraq’s Shia- Paris/Benghazi scended into chaos. been gathering intelligence on ers pushed out of Benghazi by Lise Grande, the United Na- itants have been driven out. led government in Baghdad, and Western special forces from fi ghters from Boko Haram, after Haftar’s forces. tions’ humanitarian co-ordinator The battle for Mosul is expected that presents what could be an countries including France, some Malian militants loyal to The group launched a new for Iraq, warned that without ad- to be diffi cult, but the aftermath even bigger problem. hree French soldiers were Britain and the United States the group had arrived in the area. campaign last month south of dressing the needs of Iraqis dis- could be tougher, Iraqi, United Mosul, which Islamic State killed in a helicopter ac- have sent small teams to western “It was probably a technical the eastern city to regain lost placed by the confl ict, military Nations and US offi cials say. seized from a collapsing Iraqi Tcident during an intelli- and eastern Libya. problem but the investigation ground. victories will prove transient. Plans are still being fi nalised to army in June 2014, is Iraq’s sec- gence-gathering mission in Lib- The French have been work- has not fi nished yet,” Masmari Fighting has been continu- “The military campaign will provide urgent humanitarian aid ond biggest city and home to a ya, President Francois Hollande ing alongside forces loyal to said. ing, including in the area around have achieved a great short-term and restore basic services and se- combustible mixture of Sunni said yesterday. eastern Libyan commander However, the Benghazi De- Magrun. success, but perhaps little else of curity for residents and as many Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen and oth- They are the fi rst confi rmed Khalifa Haftar, who launched a fence Brigades (BDB), a recently Western powers have been enduring impact,” she said. as 2.4mn displaced people. ers. Western military casualties campaign against Islamists and formed force of Islamists and backing Libya’s UN-backed The offi cials were speaking as Defence ministers of the US- Offi cials in Erbil, the capital of since it became known this year other opponents in Benghazi other fi ghters, claimed after the unity government, hoping it will defense and foreign ministers led coalition against Islamic Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish re- that special forces were operat- more than two years ago but has helicopter crash that it had shot seek foreign support to confront gathered in Washington to raise State were also meeting at Joint gion, criticised the coalition yes- ing on the ground in Libya. rejected a Western-backed unity the aircraft down, killing four Islamic State militants, deal funding for Iraq and to agree on Base Andrews outside Washing- terday for excluding the Kurds “At this moment we are car- government in Tripoli. people, according to a statement with migrant fl ows from Libya next steps in the fi ght against Is- ton, followed by a joint session from the Washington gathering, rying out dangerous intelligence A spokesman for Haftar’s posted on social media accounts to Europe, and restore oil pro- lamic State, in particular the mil- of foreign and defense chiefs to- with Masrour Barzani, head of operations (in Libya),” Hollande forces, Ahmed Masmari, said a close to the group. duction to shore up the Libyan itant group’s bastion in Mosul. day to discuss the broader fi ght the regional security council, said in a speech.”Three of our helicopter carrying three Liby- The statement said that the economy. Kerry said the goal of the against Islamic State not only in calling it “a travesty” on Twitter. soldiers, who were involved in ans -- a pilot and two techni- helicopter was an M135 belong- But Haftar has so far reject- Although Iraqi and US offi cials these operations, have been cians -- as well as the three ing to Haftar’s forces and that ed the unity government, and have not announced a timetable killed in a helicopter accident.” French, had crashed on Sunday two foreigners and two Libyans hardliners loyal to him have pre- Britain doubles military trainers in Iraq for moving on Mosul, a senior France took a leading role in the Magrun area about 75km were killed when the group shot vented a rival government and Baghdad-based diplomat said in the Nato air campaign that (47 miles) south of Benghazi. it down with a rocket. the parliament, both based in Britain will double its deployment what more they can do.” Abadi wants to advance the start helped rebels overthrow auto- Libyan offi cials had ear- Pictures purporting to show the east, from formally endors- of troops to train Iraqi and Kurdish Earlier, US Defence Secretary of the Mosul campaign to Octo- cratic leader Muammar Gaddafi lier said four people died in the the wreckage of the helicopter ing the UN-backed body. forces fighting the Islamic State Ash Carter had said the US-led ber after the seizure of Fallujah in 2011. crash, all of them Libyan. were also posted. group, defense minister Michael coalition fighting the Islamic State from Islamic State last month. Fallon told reporters yesterday. group was drawing up a plan to This month, Iraqi forces backed The additional 250 troops will liberate its remaining bastions. by US air power retook Qayara air Tunisia stops militant cell plotting attacks in Sousse bring Britain’s contingent of advis- Allied air power and military train- base south of Mosul, which will be ers to more than 500, he said, as ers are helping Iraqi government, turned into a logistics hub for the Tunisian authorities dismantled militants to take control of a town on Tuesday in the Kalaa Kbira area, had been arrested or give further allied ministers met in Washing- Kurdish militia and Syrian anti-IS main assault on the city. a cell linked to the Islamic State near the Libyan border in March. and that it “planned to carry out details. ton to plan moves to defeat the fighters push the jihadists back to The UN estimates that under a militant group that was planning On Tuesday the government terrorist acts in Sousse against key Tunisia has faced a growing chal- militants. Raqa, Syria and Mosul, Iraq. worst-case scenario, more than attacks against sites in the coastal extended a nationwide state of sites in the city”. lenge from Islamist militants since “We will be sending an additional There, in the coming months, 1mn people could be displaced town of Sousse, the interior minis- emergency that gives authorities It said a number of the cell’s mem- its 2011 revolution and transition to 250 troops into the theater over commanders hope to defeat the from Mosul and another 830,000 try said yesterday. additional powers for two more bers had received combat training democracy. Off icials estimate that the next few weeks,” Fallon said. IS “caliphate” -- its heartland terri- from a populated corridor south Tunisian security forces are on months. and watched videos on how to several thousand Tunisians left to “Other countries are being asked tory -- but they admit its broader of the city, adding to the burden high alert after attacks in Tunis and The interior ministry statement make explosives. fight with Islamic State and other to look for their contribution to see network will be harder to crack. of caring for 3.5mn Iraqis already Sousse last year, and an attempt by said the cell had been dismantled It did not say how many people groups in Iraq, Syria and Libya. displaced. Palestinian Doctor Dolittle cares for Gaza’s stray dogs

Reuters Sulala Society for Training and now,” said Aer, 45.”As soon as I Taqqeya, a 48-year-old father of Gaza City Caring for Animals. arrive in my car, they pop up from six from central Gaza, who was It’s costly and time-consum- all over the farm and come run- planning to adopt a dog called ing work. ning to me.” Rex.”I will take him home so my mong the many problems Aer, a government employee, Dogs are considered unclean in kids will play with him and he Gaza faces, from confl ict estimates he has spent as much as Islam and are usually kept out- will guard my house.” Ato homelessness, power $20,000 on caring for 50 dogs so side, but there is no ban on them. With several thousand strays cuts and a lack of fresh water, far, including vet bills and the rent Caring for animals and pets is estimated to live in Gaza -- a Saeed el-Aer has dedicated him- on a fenced-in, 2,000 sq-m (0.5 one of the tenets of the faith, and territory that’s barely 40km (25 self to an unusual one: stray dogs. acre) farm where they are housed. having a guard dog or one that miles) long, 10km wide and home For several months, Aer has At the farm in Zahra, south helps with hunting is not un- to more than 1.9mn people -- Aer been trawling the streets of the of Gaza city on the coast, young common. knows he has his work cut out for territory looking for abandoned volunteers feed the dogs by boil- In fact, Aer has been surprised some time to come. canines, winning their confi - ing chicken wings and legs in a by the number of Gazans who But he’s hoping more people dence, feeding them and restor- large pot over a wood-fi red stove. want to visit the kennels and care will decide to adopt a dog, as long ing them to health. When the animals are fi rst for the dogs. as they are willing to sign up to “We tour the streets and dis- brought in they are kept on The society’s Facebook page the rules. tribute food for days or a week chains. has proved popular. “You have to feed him, off er until they get used to us and then But as they become more do- Volunteers help train and walk him water, not beat him,” he said. we catch and bring them to the mesticated, they are freer to the animals through the streets If people can’t stick to the society,” said Aer, referring to the roam and see visitors. of Zahra. rules, he said, “they call us and Palestinian man Saeed el-Aer trains stray dogs with other boys on the property of the organisation he organisation he helped set up, the “They know me very well “I love dogs,” said Nasser Abu we will come and take him back.” helped set up, the Sulala Society for Training and Caring for Animals, in Zahra, south of Gaza City. Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 7 AFRICA

Several Ugandan army opposition DR Congo launches rescues 38,000 supporters arrested from S Sudan vaccination drive AFP only pulled out late last year. in Zambia Kampala The recent violence in the capital echoes the fi ghting that fi rst triggered the civil Reuters he Ugandan army said war and marks a fresh blow to Lusaka yesterday it had evacu- a deal reached last year to end Tated 38,000 civilians the bitter confl ict which began against yellow fever caught up in fi ghting in Juba, when Kiir accused Machar of ambian police arrested the capital of crisis-hit South plotting a coup. 28 opposition support- Reuters Sudan. Kiir is a member of the Zers yesterday on suspicion Kinshasa Most of those taken across the Dinka tribe, while Machar is a of rioting and making petrol border were Ugandans but “they Nuer, and the dispute has split bombs, the latest sign of political were joined by hundreds of Ken- the country along ethnic lines tensions ahead of elections on emocratic Republic yans, Rwandans among other and caused tens of thousands August 11, a senior offi cer said. of Congo launched a nationalities who wanted to of deaths. The arrests come shortly after Dcampaign yesterday to leave South Sudan for their safe- The Ugandan army’s rescue the election commission lifted vaccinate about a million peo- ty,” Ugandan army spokesman operation involves a heavily a 10-day ban on campaigning ple against yellow fever over Paddy Ankunda said. protected convoy of 30 vehicles imposed on some parts of the the next 10 days in the capital Describing the evacuation which have been ferrying peo- southern African country to Kinshasa and a nearby province. process in recent days as suc- ple the 200kms (125 miles) from prevent violence A wider campaign to vacci- cessful, the army spokesman Juba to the Ugandan border. Police confronted support- nate more than 10mn people in said “the total number of civil- Once the evacuees safely ers of the opposition United the city and along the border ians evacuated from South Su- reach Ugandan territory, heli- Party for National Development with Angola will have to wait at dan by road under protection copters take young children, the (UPND) as they destroyed ruling least two more weeks, however, of the UPDF (Ugandan army) sick and pregnant women to a party campaign posters in Kasa- due to shortages of vaccine and since the start of the operation hospital in Gulu, in the north of ma, 850km (500 miles) north syringes. has reached 38,000”. the country, said Ankunda. of Lusaka, Northern province “Now I am armoured. Now The evacuation operation These are people who fl ed police chief Bonnie Kapeso said. I have the blood of a soldier,” began on Friday. Juba after deadly fi ghting Other opposition supporters said Claudy Pindi, who is in his The Ugandan army joined broke out earlier this month who had camped at UPND vice- forties, holding up his yellow the confl ict in South Sudan between government forces president Geoff rey Mwamba’s vaccination card. soon after it began in Decem- and the rebels. home then started throwing Pindi was among the fi rst to A man getting a yellow fever vaccine during a ceremony launching a response campaign against yel- ber 2013, fi ghting on President The United Nations’ refugee stones at police, damaging one be vaccinated in Kinshasa’s Ki- low fever in the district of Kisenso in Kinshasa province of D R Congo yesterday. Salva Kiir’s side against a rebel agency, UNHCR, estimated vehicle. senso district, where four peo- force led by arch-rival Riek that 10,300 South Suda- “We were left with no option ple are suspected of having died last three weeks that hindered ing nurse for the Kisenso health voking violence outside some Machar, now the country’s vice nese found refuge in Uganda but to follow them after they re- from yellow fever. the shipping of a chemical used zone. “At the community level, health centres. president. The combat troops between Friday and Tuesday. treated and hid inside the house. Congo’s health minister de- in testing. the monitoring is very active.” Eugene Kabambi, a WHO We broke the door and fi shed out clared a yellow fever epidemic Over 100 people queued to The vaccination drive is the spokesman in Kinshasa, said the ring leaders,” Kapeso said. last month after the haemor- be vaccinated yesterday under second this year after more than authorities were using com- UN to bring relief to 6.5mn in Malawi “We had to use tear gas.” rhagic virus spread from An- tents set up by health workers 2mn people were vaccinated in munity leaders and street cam- Police found seven petrol gola, where 350 people have on a soccer pitch in Kisenso. Kinshasa and Kongo Central paigners with megaphones to The UN will launch the Dry spells last year have also bombs, she added. died since last December in the Authorities have identifi ed province in late May. promote the current drive. largest emergency food relief contributed to the drought, However, the UPND said in a worst outbreak in decades. around 80 suspected cases of Health offi cials have also ex- “We’ve avoided a strong operation in the history of which aff ects up to 40% cent of statement they were only empty Congo had registered 1,798 yellow fever there. pressed concerns about begin- publicity campaign. We’ve Malawi, where up to 6.5mn the 16mn population. bottles. suspected cases of yellow fe- Residents of three health ning with such a targeted ap- focused on word of mouth people may require such “I’ve talked with women in President Edgar Lungu has ver as of July 11, according to zones in Kwango province, proach in Kinshasa, a chaotic communication,” he said. assistance in the coming rural areas who told me they been in power for just over a year the World Health Organisation which abuts the Angolan bor- megacity of some 12mn people. The yellow fever vaccine months, the UN World Food have enough food for just a after winning a ballot triggered (WHO), including 85 deaths der, will also be vaccinated During the last vaccination takes one year to manufacture Programme said yesterday. few more weeks, after which by the death of his predeces- believed caused by the disease. during the campaign. drive in May, people arrived and there currently exist just Malawi is one of the southern they will have nothing,” said sor, Michael Sata. Lungu faces Only 68 cases have been lab- “We are very sure we will from outside targeted areas, 8mn doses in the world after African countries worst aff ected Ertharin Cousin, WFP executive a strong challenge from UPND oratory confi rmed however, due stop the spread of the virus,” preventing some local residents stocks were depleted in series of by a drought caused by the director who concluded a visit leader Hakainde Hichilema. to a technical problem over the said Gedeon Siama, supervis- from being vaccinated and pro- outbreaks earlier this year. climatic phenomenon El Nino. to Malawi yesterday. Cash crunch hits mass weddings in Nigeria

AFP sulted in a huge backlog of Kano women intent on getting the right husbands to marry through the matchmaking ow global oil prices process,” said Sufi . have hurt Nigeria’s Hajara Umar, a divorced Leconomy, taking it to mother of three children, the brink of recession. But said she registered to fi nd a the resulting cash crunch has husband two years ago but also had a more unexpected has been frustrated because eff ect - on mass weddings. of the lack of funding. More than 10,000 “We are not asking for women have registered for too much, just the basic the state-sponsored pro- things we need to start a gramme in Kano, said Abba new married life,” she said. Sufi , director general of the Widespread poverty has northern city’s “morality Brides attending a wedding feast at the Kano state gov- been blamed for the rising police”, the Hisbah. ernor’s off ice after taking part in a mass wedding at the number of divorces in Kano “At the moment we have central mosque in Nigeria’s second city of Kano. city and the surrounding state, over 10,000 women who as well as the decline in tra- have registered for the mass A total of 1,111 couples struggled to pay public sec- ditional marriage ceremonies wedding programme and are tied the knot in an elaborate tor wages; the naira has between men and women. waiting to be introduced to event at Kano’s main mosque weakened, causing a short- The mass wedding prospective suitors when the in December 2013. At the age of foreign exchange, hit- project was seen as a solu- project resumes,” he said. time, the Hisbah said it had ting investment and key im- tion to the situation and The matchmaking pro- arranged 4,461 marriages ports of goods, fuel and food. also at preventing Boko gramme began in 2012 to help since the programme began. At the same time, infl a- Haram Islamists from re- divorcees remarry in Kano Nigeria, one of Africa’s tion has soared to nearly cruiting disaff ected and state, which has the highest main oil producers, depends 11-year highs, with predic- impoverished youth for divorce rate in Nigeria. on the sale of crude for 70% tions of more devaluation their violent insurgency. Under the scheme, the of government revenue but to come and further rises in The north’s conservative state government pays the income has been slashed the cost of living. culture gives a husband ab- bride price and provides since prices plunged around “The cash crunch has solute powers in marriage but furniture and household the world two years ago. compelled us to halt the men have often abused it and utensils for the newlyweds. State governments have programme, which has re- divorced their wives at will.

Kenya security accused of murder, abduction

AFP HRW executive director Ken Roth. that the heavy-handed approach al- Nairobi He said the cases documented were ienates and angers communities, “just the tip of the iceberg.” helping drive radicalisation. The report details people taken from Those warnings have been ignored, ecurity agencies are killing and their homes by masked, armed men HRW says, with a range of security abducting men in northeast Kenya who did not identify themselves, or agencies employing the same tactics Ssuspected of links to Islamist ex- being beaten in the streets and driven in northeast Kenya under the legal au- tremists, a rights group said yesterday, away in government vehicles. thority of Kenya’s National Security as police challenged them to provide Some of the disappeared were last Council, headed by the president and evidence to an independent body. seen in police or military custody. No other senior offi cials. Human Rights Watch (HRW) docu- one has been charged with any crime, “The allegations raised by Human mented 34 “enforced disappearances” nor are their families able to trace them. Rights Watch are very serious,” said and 11 suspected “extrajudicial kill- “Rounding people up and refusing to police spokesman Charles Owino. ings” over two years in Garissa, Man- disclose their whereabouts is a serious “We challenge them to provide all dera and Wajir counties as part of crime and only compounds fears and mis- the evidence they have about those al- counterterrorism operations in Kenya’s trust in the security forces,” Roth said. legations to the Independent Policing predominately ethnic Somali northeast. Kenya’s Anti-Terrorism Police Oversight Authority, the Witness Pro- “People in northeastern Ken- Unit (ATPU) is regularly accused of tection Unit and the director of Public ya deserve protection from Al intimidating or killing suspects. Prosecutions for a thorough inves- Shebaab attacks, not further Both human rights and academic tigation so that action can be taken,” abuse from the authorities,” said researchers have repeatedly warned he said. Gulf Times 8 Thursday, July 21, 2016 AMERICAS

Last month ‘was hottest June’ Trudeau at his best

AFP spikes in heat. It said 14 of 15 of these spikes Washington have occurred since February 2015, signaling that global warming is accelerating. The planet’s average land temperature in June ast month was the hottest June in mod- was 2.23 degrees Fahrenheit higher than the ern history, marking the 14th consecu- 20th century monthly average, tied at an all- Ltive month that global heat records have time record for June that was struck last year. been broken, the US National Oceanic and At- The land temperature also hit a record high mospheric Administration has said. for the fi rst six months of the year. “The globally averaged temperature over The average sea surface temperature was land and ocean surfaces for June 2016 was the 1.39 degrees Fahrenheit above last century’s highest for the month of June in the NOAA monthly average. global temperature dataset record, which That marked the hottest June and the hot- dates back to 1880,” the agency said in a state- test January-June period on record. ment. Experts say global warming is at least par- “This marks the 14th consecutive month tially to blame for a number of environmental the monthly global temperature record has disasters around the world, from the bleaching been broken, the longest such streak in the of the Great Barrier Reef off Australia to wild- 137-year record.” fi res raging across Canada. The report, issued each month by NOAA, Last year marked the hottest on record, also said the global temperature for the fi rst beating 2014, which previously held the title. six months of 2016 was the hottest on record. With 14 months in a row now setting records The combined average temperature over for heat, 2016 — now half over — is on track to global land and ocean surfaces for June was be another scorching year. 0.9C above the 20th century average of 15.5C. NASA climatologist Gavin Schmidt said “June 2016 marks the 40th consecutive June that while the high temperatures are in part with temperatures at least nominally above tied to the El Nino weather pattern — related the 20th century average,” NOAA said. to warm waters in the Pacifi c Ocean — around NOAA also spoke about what it calls the 60% comes from “other factors, including the “monthly temperature departure” or record very strong Arctic warming”.

Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shakes hands during an event at a restaurant in Gatineau, Quebec. Cartel boss hacked child to death, says witness in Texas The cartel boss said he had a He now faces life in prison. sations and his defence said that his Antonio Express-News reported. clean record in Mexico The counts included posses- lack of a criminal record in Mexico He then ordered her parents sion of fi rearms in connection with indicated his good character. killed, and more than a dozen oth- Guardian drug traffi cking and distribution Court documents indicate he was ers, and forced the witness to watch San Antonio of cocaine, methamphetamine and arrested in Mexico in 2013 on sus- as punishment for a lost shipment marijuana, killing while engaged in picion of planning to sell marijuana of drugs, according to testimony. international drug traffi cking, em- and for possession of AK-47 assault After a senior Zetas member be- is lawyer described Mar- ploying minors in drug operations rifl es, but he was cleared by a tribu- gan cooperating with US authorities ciano Millan Vasquez as and providing false identifi cation to nal. in 2011, the cartel tried to root out Hnothing more than a humble US authorities. His attorney, Jaime Cavazos, his associates and other potentially goat rancher. The prosecution alleged in a court called character witnesses who disloyal members. A jury disagreed yesterday, con- document that between the start testifi ed that Millan Vasquez was a In a roundup of men, women cluding that he was a regional boss of 2009 and July 2015, in Texas and “good father”, while Cavazos told and children, some of them in fact for the Zetas drug cartel involved in Mexico, “Vasquez, while engaged in the court that his client “had a small unconnected with the drug trade, a murderous conspiracy that lead to drug traffi cking off ences, caused the ranch in Mexico where he bought cartel fi gures killed more than 300 the deaths of more than 300 people intentional killing of various indi- and sold pigs, goats and farm ani- people in northern Mexican towns in northern Mexico. viduals.” mals”, KSAT local news reported. and burned their bodies in barrels of After a brief deliberation, the jury US prosecutors pursued Vasquez But a witness testifi ed last week acid or with diesel fuel, according to found Millan Vasquez guilty of all for alleged crimes that took place that Millan Vasquez was the Zetas an informant’s testimony reported ten charges he faced. in Mexico on the basis that they had cartel leader in Piedras Negras, a by the Express-News. The two-week trial took jurisdiction given the international Mexican border town 250km from When the man asked about a place in federal court in San impact of the murders and traffi ck- San Antonio, and personally hacked missing teenager, he said he was Antonio, the city where Millan ing. a six-year-old girl to death with an told, “ We just fi nished cooking Vasquez was arrested last year. Millan Vasquez denied the accu- axe in front of her parents, the San him.”

Canada to hold fi rst Zika vaccine test on humans

AFP Montreal

Canadian university said Tuesday it will con- duct the world’s fi rst Zika vaccine test on hu- Amans as health authorities scramble to coun- ter the explosively spreading virus. The Zika vaccine that’s under development will be administered to humans “in the coming days”, Uni- versite Laval, based in Quebec City, said in a state- ment. “We’re very proud to be part of the fi rst interna- tional team in the world to complete all of the steps in the regulatory process,” said Gary Kobinger, doc- tor of microbiology and professor of medicine at the university, who is overseeing the study. Kobinger noted that development of the Zika vac- cine was authorised by the US Food and Drug Ad- ministration and Health Canada. Until now, vaccines have been tested on mice. Zika virus is transmitted primarily by mosquitoes and there is no existing treatment or vaccine for it. The virus is capable of causing serious birth defects and has travelled quickly through Latin America. Kobinger, a global authority on vaccines, is a re- searcher at CHU, a hospital centre affi liated with the university. CHU is conducting the study in collaboration with two centres in the United States. “CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval is one of the three leading research centres involved in the vaccine study and we’re very proud of that,” said Gertrude Bourdon, president and CEO of CHU. More than a dozen pharmaceutical companies, in- cluding France’s Sanofi and India’s Bharat Biotech, are working on developing a Zika vaccine, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO has forecast sharp growth in the out- break in the Americas, with as many as 4mn people infected. Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 9 AMERICAS

Twitter bans editor Team Trump tries to of conservative site AFP “But no one deserves to be Washington subjected to targeted abuse on- line, and our rules prohibit in- citing or engaging in targeted witter found itself em- abuse or harassment of others.” broiled in controversy Yiannopoulos’ critics said he Tyesterday after banning incited followers to bombard put scandal to bed an editor at the conservative Jones with racial comments, Breitbart website for fuelling while his supporters claimed he Having secured the nomination Trump disdain for Clinton will unite the party and a stream of abuse that drove was being targeted for his views. is consolidating his hold over the party make a series of missteps — like the pla- Ghostbusters star Leslie Jones Jones announced that she giarism scandal — irrelevant. to quit the social network. was fed up with the hateful AFP “The party is unifi ed, we’re all here, I The move banning Milo comments around the release of Cleveland will bet you if you polled this place, there Yiannopoulos, the website’s Ghostbusters, an all-female re- is not one vote for Hillary Clinton in this tech editor known for provoca- make of the 1984 classic. building,” former key Trump lieutenant tive posts, sparked protests One slur referred to the death reshly crowned Republican presi- Corey Lewandowski told AFP. from his supporters but praise of Harambe the gorilla, who was dential nominee Donald Trump tried “People are ready for a fundamental and from others, while sparking de- shot dead in May. Fyesterday to draw a line under a pla- unequivocal change in Washington and bate over free speech rights for The 48-year-old Jones re- giarism scandal that has rocked his cam- the person who is going to bring that is social media users. sponded to the abuse by tak- paign, with a staff er off ering to resign. Donald Trump.” The move by Twitter sparked ing screenshots and retweeting Having prevailed in his remarkable run On Tuesday, Donald Trump Jr, the a hashtag war with Yiannopou- many of the slurs, saying they to the Republican White House nomina- candidate’s eldest son, made a sweeping los supporters using #FreeMilo had made her “numb”. tion, Trump turned to his next task of qui- speech peppered with personal anecdotes and his critics #LoveForLeslieJ. Sara Levine, welcomed the eting questions about his campaign’s pro- that humanised his father. Yiannopoulos wrote after move to ban Yiannopoulos, fessionalism and healing party divisions. The married father of fi ve touched on the ban that “Twitter has con- tweeting, “Racists shouldn’t be A Trump staff er admitted to using themes of economic inequality and job fi rmed itself as a safe space for allowed to silence others. Twit- Michelle Obama quotes in a speech deliv- creation, promised health care for “our terrorists and Black Lives Mat- ter did right to ban him”. ered by Melania Trump at the Republican most vulnerable citizens” and vowed to ter extremists, but a no-go zone But John Nolte responded, convention, apologising and off ering to A supporter of Trump yells at protesters near the Republican National Convention. improve public education. for conservatives”. “Basically, the corporate fas- resign over the plagiarism row — an off er As in Melania Trump’s speech the night The suspension came a day cists at @Twitter silenced however rejected by the nominee. candidacy, few experts gave him even the “Everybody realizes now that the family before, similarities were noted between after Jones, who is African someone for criticizing and Melania Trump had “always liked” the faintest chance. infi ghting is over, we do in fact have a can- phrases in the junior Trump’s keynote and American, said she was leaving mocking a rich and powerful current fi rst lady and had “read me some His campaign has defi ed political norms didate, and I would hope that 99 percent- an article published in a conservative pub- Twitter after being bombarded movie star.” passages from Mrs Obama’s speech” over — embracing racially infl ammatory poli- plus of Republicans get behind that candi- lication. by trolls likening her to an ape Twitter’s actions were likely the telephone as examples of what she cies, off ending key voting blocs, eschew- date moving forward,” said Gary Inmon, a But he was saved from controversy and making other racist insults. to intensify a debate on how so- wanted to tell the convention on Monday, ing big-spending advertising campaigns Texas delegate bound to Senator Ted Cruz when the author of the May 2 article in “I leave Twitter tonight with cial media regulates off ensive or said the staff er, Meredith McIver. and relying on saturated media coverage but who is now solidly behind the nomi- American Conservative, FH Buckley, tears and a very sad heart. All inappropriate conduct. “I wrote them down and later included above campaign structure. nee. stepped forward to say he had been a prin- this cause I did a movie. You can Both Twitter and Facebook some of the phrasing in the draft that ulti- “It’s unbelievable. As the last vestiges of Republican resist- cipal speechwriter. hate the movie but the shit I got have banned thousands of sus- mately became the fi nal speech. It’s surreal. ance were quashed, there were fresh signs “So it’s not an issue,” Buckley told Time. today... wrong,” the “Saturday pected jihadists for seeking to I did not check Mrs Obama’s speeches. I’m so proud of my father,” said Trump’s that the party establishment had thrown its com. Night Live” comedian and ac- incite or celebrate violence, and This was my mistake, and I feel terrible for eldest daughter and businesswoman Ivan- lot in with Trump in a bid to beat Clinton. Another son, Eric Trump, will also make tress said late Monday. also have targeted users for cer- the chaos I have caused,” she said. ka Trump, often described as his secret New Jersey Governor Chris Christie led the case for his father, while two senators Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey re- tain kinds of harassment and “No harm was meant.” weapon. delegates in declaring Clinton “guilty” whom Trump vanquished in the primary sponded with a tweet back to insulting commentary. After a roller-coaster campaign that “He’s the ultimate outsider and he did and encouraged visceral chants of “lock race, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, will also Jones saying he was “following” Matthew Ingram, a Fortune saw Trump defeat 16 rivals and steamroll it. We are so proud of him.” her up”. speak. and asking her to contact him magazine writer who also blogs stubborn party opposition, the tycoon Around the convention fl oor, Trump’s Speaker of the house of representa- Trump’s vice presidential pick, Indiana directly. for the Nieman Journalism Lab, said it was time to “go all the way” and victory was far from universally wel- tives Paul Ryan, who hesitated to endorse Governor Mike Pence, addresses the con- Yiannopoulos’s Twitter ac- however suggested that this beat Democrat Hillary Clinton in Novem- comed. Trump earlier this year, sounded like he fab as well. count, which had more than time, Twitter may have gone ber. Many delegates clapped politely after was all-in at the convention. Clinton wasted no time seeking to capi- 338,000 followers, was later too far. “This is a movement,” he told the del- his victory, a few angrily walked out or “The Obama years are almost over. talise on Trump’s party victory. blocked. “I know this isn’t going to be egates via video link. voiced their unease. The Clinton years are way over,” Ryan “Donald Trump just became the Repub- “People should be able to ex- a popular opinion, but I don’t When the brash real estate mogul came But some delegates who supported oth- said.“Two-thousand sixteen is the year lican nominee. Chip in now to make sure press diverse opinions and be- think Milo said anything to Les- down the escalators of Trump Tower in ers in the primaries were already lining up America moves on.” he never steps foot in the Oval Offi ce,” she liefs on Twitter,” the company lie Jones that deserves a perma- New York 13 months ago to announce his behind Trump. The Trump campaign will hope that said in a fundraising tweet. said in a statement. nent ban,” Ingram tweeted.

Forests ‘not the climate remedy hoped for’

Thomson Reuters Foundation ited and the absorption rate diminishes, said senior author New York Margaret Evans, a professor at the University of Arizona in Tucson. “There is a tipping point,” she said.“A warmer climate orth American forests will not fi ght climate change becomes a bad thing instead of a good thing.” by absorbing carbon dioxide at levels once hoped Looking ahead at warmer temperatures likely in the Nfor because the trees may not grow big enough, a coming decades, trees in the US study said yesterday. southwest north to the Rocky Mountains, Canada and The new research challenges previous studies that said Alaska could grow as much as 75% slower than normal by trees could grow larger due to higher temperatures brought 2075, the researchers said. on by global warming, said the authors of the study pub- By 2075, the average temperature in North America lished in the journal Ecology Letters. could be about 6C higher than it was in 1925, under a Typically, up to a third of carbon-dioxide emissions worst case scenario, the researchers said, using data from from human activity, such as automobile driving or steel the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate production, is absorbed by forests, the study’s authors said. Change. Carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas responsible Some increases in tree growth are still likely in the Pacifi c for global warming. Northwest, parts of Florida, the northeastern part of Que- But if temperatures get too high, tree growth is inhib- bec in Canada and its maritime provinces, they said. Crime on the rise in Canada: govt

AFP Ottawa

rime in Canada rose last year for the fi rst time in more than a decade, in part because of an increase Cin fi rearm use, the government statistical agency reported yesterday. Violent crime increased 6% in 2015, mostly because of a rise in robbery, homicide, attempted murder and gun-related violations, Statistics Canada said. Attempted murder and violations involving fi rearms were 22% higher than the previous year. The average crime rate was highest in western Canada, in line with past trends. In the Northwest Territories and Yukon — where large proportions of the population identify as Indian and so- cial inequalities persist — the crime rate has been rising for several years. Yukon’s crime rate is four times higher than the national rate. Alberta province saw a particular uptick in crime, especially in its two largest cities, Calgary and Edmonton. A drop in oil prices has kept that province in a severe recession for two years, with unemployment rates doubling to 8%.

Gaga calls off engagement

Pop diva Lady Gaga and actor Taylor Kinney have called off their engagement, reports said Tuesday, more than a year after she thought she had found the right match. The singer has in recent days appeared without her engagement ring in photos she posted on Instagram from the resort town of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where she has been volunteering at a charity for needy children. Neither artist or their representatives have commented. E! News said it was unclear who initiated the split but that they had agreed to keep it private. The 30-year-old Lady Gaga last year showed off on Instagram a simple, heart-shaped engagement ring from Kinney. Kinney popped the question to Gaga over a Valentine’s Day dinner last year at a New York restaurant owned by her family. Gaga has said that she had trouble in the past sustaining relationships as partners were often intimidated by her success or uncomfortable with her openness about sex. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, July 21, 2016 ASEAN Piracy down, but not out, in treacherous waters

By John Grafilo, DPA ping super highway, which serves as har, director general of Malaysia Mari- cluding 13 hijackings — recorded in the ing poverty and underemployment in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philip- Kuala Lumpur the shortest route between the Indian time Enforcement Agency. fi rst three quarters of 2015. coastal communities,” he said. pines annually, with cargo worth an es- Ocean and the Pacifi c Ocean. “We have plugged loopholes in our But Ian Storey, a fellow at the Sin- Von Hoesslin called on governments to timated $40bn. Each year more than 120,000 ships operations and further boosted co-or- gapore-based Institute of South-East address problem of corruption, especially In March and April, suspected Abu he owner of a tanker grew fran- pass through these waters, making the dination,” he told DPA. Asian Studies, said concerned govern- in Indonesia, where the highest number of Sayyaf militants in the southern Phil- tic earlier this year after failing strait a magnet for pirates and thieves. Malaysian Defence Minister His- ments need to do more than just inten- piracy-related incidents occur. ippines seized two Indonesian and one Tto contact the ship while it was Karsten von Hoesslin of the Global hammuddin Hussein said air surveil- sify law enforcement. “Maritime agencies must receive Malaysian vessel, taking hostage a to- traversing the pirate-infested Malacca Initiative against Transnational Organ- lance patrols as well as intelligence “Piracy can never be completely better pay in order to stamp out the tra- tal of 18 crew members Storey said the Strait, the world’s busiest sealane. ized Crime said “an enormous number information sharing among the four eradicated in South-East Asia due to dition of ‘moonlighting’ within the po- joint announcement recently of de- The owner contacted the Indonesian of islands are available for the pirates’ countries — Malaysia, Thailand, Sin- geographical factors, poor socio-eco- lice and navy, which directly facilitates fence chiefs of Malaysia, Indonesia and police, who immediately dispatched use as hiding places and bases.” gapore and Indonesia — have boosted nomic conditions and corruption,” opportunities for organised crime,” the Philippines to establish safe transit two navy vessels to locate the missing “The width of the Malacca Strait anti-piracy operations. he told DPA. said in a report entitled The Econom- corridors for ships passing through the tanker, which was loaded with 4,000 varies from only 10 nautical miles The intensifi ed co-operation has “The aim is to reduce the problem to ics of Piracy in South-East Asia, which area “is a step in the right direction.” tons of marine gas oil. (18.5km) in the south to 125 nautical yielded positive results in containing that of a nuisance rather than a major was released in May. But he expressed ambivalence over After two days of scouring the seas miles (231km) in the north, which re- the problem in the Malacca Strait, ac- security threat.” But the problem of piracy in South- the plan to replicate the Malacca Strait aided by intelligence and air surveil- duces the time during which pirates cording to the International Maritime Storey specifi cally cited the need East Asia goes beyond the Malacca Patrols (MSP) in the Sulu Sea-Celebes lance from Malaysia, Singapore and have to expose themselves and enables Bureau, an global anti-piracy watch for governments to address the prob- Strait and further into the Sulu- Sea area. Thailand, the vessel was located and them to carry out their business with group. lem of poverty among communities in Celebes Sea area where attacks perpe- “The MSP has provided a deterrent the Indonesian navy recovered the relatively small ships,” he said. The bureau’s data showed that in the the coastal areas, which are the natural trated by Abu Sayyaf rebels, Philippine eff ect over the past decade — it remains ship, arresting nine suspected pirates But increased patrols by Malaysia, fi rst quarter of this year there were only breeding grounds of pirates. Islamists, have intensifi ed. to be seen if that deterrent eff ect can be and rescuing unharmed its 20-member Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand four incidents of low-level thefts in the “Regional states need to focus great- More than 100,000 ships and 18mn replicated in the Sulu-Celebes Sea which crew. have greatly reduced recent attacks, strait, with no reports of hijackings, er attention on tackling the root causes passengers pass through the Sulu- has a much longer culture of lawlessness The Malacca Strait is a global ship- according to Ahmad Puzi bin Abdul Ka- compared with over 100 attacks — in- of the problem, specifi cally reduc- Celebes Sea tri-border area between than the Malacca Strait,” he said.

MH370 search Myanmar military admits to be discussed at meeting

AFP soldiers killed villagers Kuala Lumpur

Reuters adding that the military would take We don’t know who they are,” said ransport ministers from Australia, Yangon action against the perpetrators ac- Mya Tun Oo. China and Malaysia will meet Friday cording to the law. Villagers have said the two men Tto discuss the future of the frus- “The military will take the best care were brothers and that their bodies trating deep-sea search for missing fl ight ive villagers were killed by sol- and support of the victims’ families,” were found in a ditch close to where MH370, offi cials said yesterday. diers during an interrogation said Mya Tun Oo, without giving the the other fi ve victims were buried. The Australia-led search is scouring the Fin Myanmar’s northern Shan details. Mong Yaw lies in a remote corner seafl oor within a designated 120,000sq km State, a senior general said yester- Myanmar’s armed forces have often of northern Shan State, where thou- belt of remote Indian Ocean where author- day, in a rare admission by Myanmar’s been accused by human rights groups sands of people have been displaced ities believe the Malaysia Airlines passen- still-powerful military which prom- and Western governments of abuses by decades of fi ghting between the ger jet may have gone down. ised to prosecute the perpetrators. during decades of confl ict with ethnic military and ethnic insurgents. Searching is expected to be completed Witnesses have told Reuters that sol- armed groups in the country’s lawless Last year the military lost hundreds possibly in the next few weeks, and the diers rounded up dozens of men in the border zones. of men in a bid to re-take a rebel-held three countries have said the hugely ex- remote village of Mong Yaw, in an area Campaigners such as Amnesty In- region bordering China. pensive high-tech sonar operation far off riven by a long-running ethnic insur- ternational say it is extremely rare for Local human rights activists helped western Australia will not be further ex- gency, on June 25 and led fi ve men away. troops to be held accountable for al- exhume all seven bodies in Mong Yaw panded without “credible” new evidence The bodies of the fi ve were found in leged abuses, or for such allegations and record their injuries. pointing to a crash site. a shallow grave a few days later. to be investigated transparently. Campaigners expressed surprise “The search has been unprecedented Lieutenant General Mya Tun Oo, “After the incident in Mong Yaw that the military was taking the al- in both size and scale, conducted in some one of Myanmar’s highest-ranking we ordered an investigation commis- legations seriously, saying they had of the world’s most isolated waters and at offi cers and the chief of military in- Deputy Major General and chief of military intelligence Mya Tun Oo addresses sion with three members, led by the spent decades documenting similar times in extremely challenging weather,” telligence, told a news conference in a press conference in Yangon yesterday. vice-commander of the northeast incidents. Australia’s Transport Minister Darren Yangon that a court martial was un- command, very quickly,” said Mya Despite the latest admission, fear and Chester said yesterday. der way and that the verdict would be the presence of the international me- The military is forging a delicate Tun Oo. mistrust of the military that has fes- “The meeting will provide an opportu- made public. dia is unprecedented. partnership with Nobel laureate Aung “They visited the area, met with the tered for years in places such as Mong nity to refl ect on achievements to date and The military also pledged help for The armed forces have occasionally San Suu Kyi, who swept to power after families of the victims and supported Yaw is unlikely to disappear quickly. discuss next steps as we near completion of the victims’ families. acknowledged troops have been at a historic election in November. them according to their needs.” On July 11, Major General Kyaw the 120,000sq km search area,” he added. “The court martial found that they fault in previous incidents, but have The armed forces, which ruled the Villagers said the military vis- Kyaw Soe had invited the bereaved The Boeing 777 vanished March 8, 2014 violated the rules, failing to follow usually done so in vaguely worded of- former Burma for nearly half a cen- ited Mong Yaw and gave each family families to an army facility near the en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing certain procedures, that led to the fi cial statements. tury, still control three security min- 300,000 kyat ($250) “as a gesture of northern city of Lashio. with 239 people aboard, mostly Chinese death of the victims during the inter- The military’s response this time istries and a quarter of the seats in sympathy”. Reuters reporters trying to attend nationals. The cause of its disappearance is rogation,” said Mya Tun Oo. suggests a heightened sensitivity parliament. The deaths of two other men in a were ordered by soldiers to leave. unknown and remains one of the greatest He did not say how many soldiers about the army’s image as it tries to “Every soldier has to follow rules separate incident in the same area “He said he would fi nd justice for mysteries in aviation history. were being tried or what charges they present itself as a responsible partner and regulations while investigating were also being investigated. us,” said Aye Lu, an 18-year-old wom- Friday’s meeting will be held in the Ma- faced. in Myanmar’s democratic transition prisoners or detainees regardless of “They were shot dead when riding an whose husband was among the fi ve laysian administrative capital Putrajaya and Such a public admission of wrong- and seeks closer ties with its Western whether they are related to insurgents a motorbike near the military convoy, killed, after the meeting. “I don’t be- will also be attended by Malaysia’s Liow doing by soldiers from a top general in counterparts. or regular citizens,” said Mya Tun Oo, but we don’t know who shot them. lieve him.” Tiong Lai and China’s Yang Chuantang. Thai junta raffl e seeks to Orchid extravaganza bring tax returns online

By Orathai Sriring and Pairat Temphai- senior country economist of the World rojana, Reuters Bank for Thailand, adding Thailand’s Bangkok informal economy accounted for half of GDP between 1999-2007. Thailand has about 2.7mn SMEs — ant to win a million baht? Go some 700,000 are registered and only for e-payment,” says Thai- about 450,000 pay taxes, according to Wland’s junta, off ering a lucky the Offi ce of Small and Medium Enter- draw as an incentive to use a new online prise Promotion. payment scheme for business, in an ef- Under the master plan, a new money- fort to bring some of the massive infor- A customer signs on a payslip as she transfer system, PromptPay, will enable mal economy onto the books and boost pays by credit card at a department people to transfer money and make e- tax revenues. store in Bangkok. payments using a mobile phone or na- As Southeast Asian economies strug- tional identifi cation card linked to a bank gle and tax income misses budget targets, Under the system, transaction infor- account from October. Thailand’s fi nance minister is hopeful a mation is sent to the revenue depart- The scheme will later be widened to nationwide e-payment scheme will add ment, so the government “can see all include complete electronic tax services tax revenue of 100bn baht ($2.9bn) a year trade fl ows, making tax avoidance more and all government payments. to the coff ers. diffi cult,” said Krisada Chinavicharana, Electronic payments will be more Finance Minister Apisak Tantivo- head of the ministry’s fi scal policy offi ce. convenient but some expressed concern rawong has estimated the move will save Tax evasion in Thailand is a major about privacy. Visitors walk through the Orchid Extravaganza as part of the Singapore Garden Festival. Over 10,000 orchid banks and businesses a combined 75bn problem for the government. “It will be good in a sense that it will plants will be displayed in conjunction with the Singapore Garden festival that runs July 23-31. baht a year though other policymakers Former Finance Minister Sommai prevent employees from taking money expect it could take some time for busi- Phasee estimated evasion may have cost from the cash register, but it won’t be nesses to change their habits. Thailand 30% of VAT revenue. good because the tax man will know eve- Cash and cheques now make up 80% In the fi scal year ended in September rything,” said Panisa Boonchaiwattana, Indonesia bans police and soldiers from playing Pokemon Go of transactions. 2015, tax revenue was about 2.3tn baht, a coff ee shop manager in Bangkok, who A coup in May 2014 ended months of down 9% from the budget target, with said she would use an EDC machine. ndonesia is banning police and Despite Pokemon Go not yet be- Sulaiman told AFP. The order will political unrest, but the generals have VAT at 709bn baht. “The idea of the government moni- military personnel from play- ing offi cially available in Indonesia, note concerns that devices being struggled to revive Southeast Asia’s Thai tax revenue is equivalent to about toring your bank account is kind of in- Iing Pokemon Go while on duty, many have downloaded it illegally used to play the game can send data second-largest economy as exports and 17% of GDP. timidating,” said Raweeras Poochareon, offi cials said yesterday, after the and taken to the streets to hunt for over the Internet to other countries. consumption remain weak. The junta is also urging small- and owner of tie-dye textiles shop in Chiang defence minister warned the smart- virtual “pocket monsters”. Police offi cers across the country To promote the scheme, the junta will medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to Mai. phone game was a security threat. But its popularity has caused con- were already sent an order on Tuesday next year off er consumers and merchants register a single accounting book by giv- “I feel like I lose my privacy. I refuse. I It came as the Jakarta presidential cern among the security establish- banning them from playing the game a monthly lucky draw of cash awards ing them tax incentives and no tax retro- wouldn’t win the lotto anyway.” palace also prohibited playing the ment’s top echelons, with offi cials while on duty, a spokesman said. worth 7mn baht ($200,400) for a year. active checks, which will help expand the Bank of Thailand Governor Veerathai popular game around the premis- suggesting its high-tech capabilities “We are worried that police of- Transactions made through the system tax base and prevent fi rms from avoiding Santiprabhob expects it may take some es, with signs appearing that read could be put to use in spying. fi cers may become addicted and we will qualify for a chance to win. taxes by keeping two books — one for tax time before the scheme gains general “Playing or hunting Pokemon is for- “Spying can come in diff erent don’t want that because a police Some 5.5mn baht will be for e-payment authorities and the other for banks. acceptance as it requires a change in be- bidden in the area of the palace”. forms,” said hardline Defence Min- offi cer’s duty is to serve the pub- customers, with the biggest prize of 1mn baht From 2019, banks will have to use the haviour. Indonesians have joined the fren- ister Ryamizard Ryacudu, adding lic. The job requires hard work and and the rest for business operators that install same accounts companies’ submit to the “I think Thai people are quite recep- zy for Pokemon Go, which has be- that the game was “just not right”. concentration,” said national police electronic data capture (EDC) machines. tax authorities as the basis for lending tive to new technology. For smaller busi- come a worldwide hit since launch- The military will soon issue an or- spokesman Boy Rafl i Amar. “This should make people go for e- decisions. nesses, there will be a challenge,” he said. ing two weeks ago and has already der banning all personnel from play- At the presidential palace, press payment quickly,” Apisak said, adding “We think this policy is a good step, “But it will take time, it won’t be that been blamed for a wave of crimes, ing Pokemon Go during work hours chief Bey Machmudin said the ban the junta aimed to bring big and small and it will tend to decrease the informal one day we have this proper system, push traffi c violations and complaints in as it seeks to protect high-security had been introduced as “this is the businesses into the e-payment system. sector,” said Kiatipong Ariyapruchya, the button and people will switch.” cities around the globe. sites, military spokesman Tatang president’s offi ce not a playground”. Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 11 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Pyongyang resumes coded spy broadcasts N Korea: Missile test By James Pearson, Reuters sending one-way secret messag- Seoul es, dates to the French Resistance in World War II and is still in use by some governments today. ow we’ll begin a South Korea jams most North mathematics re- Korean radio frequencies but “Nview assignment for Pyongyang-based Voice of Korea members of the 27th expedition- broadcasts on shortwave signals simulated attack on ary unit of the distance learning which can be picked up far be- university,” the woman’s voice yond the Korean peninsula, and crackled over the radio. “Turn to are diffi cult to jam. page 459, question 35; 913, ques- The receiving agent, armed tion 55; 135, question 86.” with a radio and a pen, uses an Isolated North Korea has re- easily concealed pad with corre- started coded radio broadcasts, sponding letters on it to listen to presumed to be targeted at its and decrypt the secret message. South ports, airfi elds spies, for the fi rst time in 16 years “(North Korean) numbers this month, South Korea said. broadcasts have been on hold Reuters military said, in defi ance of UN nal that (US) war plans cannot The messages, a recording of for quite some time but have re- Seoul Security Council resolutions and succeed because if we activated which was broadcast by South cently resumed, something we the latest in a series of provoca- them, the North Koreans would Korean TV channel KBS, were think is very regrettable,” Jeong tive moves by the isolated coun- strike as we made the attempt,” disguised as a mathematics les- Joon-hee, a spokesman for South orth Korea said yesterday try after a series of nuclear weap- said Joshua Pollack, editor of the son for distance learners and re- Korea’s unifi cation ministry, told that it had conducted a ons tests. US-based Nonproliferation Re- appeared on North Korean radio a media briefi ng yesterday. Nballistic missile test that “The drill was conducted by view. station Voice of Korea in the early It was not clear whether the simulated preemptive strikes limiting the fi ring range under Late on Tuesday, North Korean hours of Friday. signals were meant to deceive or against South Korean ports and the simulated conditions of mak- state media called US ambassa- North and South Korea are still deliver genuine instructions. airfi elds used by the US military, ing preemptive strikes at ports dor to South Korea Mark Lippert technically at war after the 1950- “I can’t speak to their inten- a likely reference to the launches and airfi elds in the operational a “mentally-deranged hooligan” 53 Korean War ended in a truce, tions, but we hope that the North of three missiles on Tuesday. theatre in South Korea where and “a heinous war maniac” for not a peace treaty, and tensions will refrain from an old practice The North’s leader, Kim Jong the US imperialists’ nuclear war fl ying in a US fi ghter jet earlier are running high. like this and behave in a manner Un, supervised the exercise that hardware is to be hurled,” KCNA this month. North Korea, which has car- that’s conducive to improving successfully tested the simulated said. “And it once again exam- Reclusive North Korea occa- ried out a string of rocket and South-North ties,” Jeong said. detonation of nuclear warheads ined the operational features of sionally publishes insults of US nuclear weapons tests in defi - Seoul has also operated a mounted on missiles, its offi cial the detonating devices of nuclear and South Korean offi cials. ance of UN Security Council numbers station, former agents KCNA news agency reported. warheads mounted on the ballis- The North and the rich, demo- resolutions, said yesterday that told Reuters in 2013. It did not give the date of the tic rockets at the designated alti- cratic South are technically still it had conducted a ballistic mis- Offi cials at the National Intel- exercise, as it customarily re- tude over the target area.” at war because their 1950-53 sile test that simulates strikes ligence Service were not imme- ports activities of its leader with- Yang Uk, a senior researcher confl ict ended in an armistice, against South Korean ports and diately able to confi rm their use. out dates or locations. at the Korea Defence and Secu- Two men read a copy of the Rodong Sinmun newspaper showing not a peace treaty. airfi elds used by the US military, South Korea’s station is known Rodong Sinmun, the ruling rity Forum and a policy adviser to coverage of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un overseeing a ballistic The North regularly threatens apparently referring to three as “V-24” to amateur radio en- Workers’ Party’s offi cial newspa- the South Korean navy, said that missile test conducted by the Hwasong artillery units of the KPA to destroy Japan, South Korea missile launches on Tuesday. thusiasts who have tracked the per, carried photographs of Kim there was little fi rm evidence to Strategic Force, in a public square in Pyongyang yesterday. and the South’s main ally, the The radio messages, also source of the signal to a location with military aides, apparently suggest the North had succeeded United States. known as numbers stations, somewhere south of the Demili- observing a ballistic missile ex- in developing a nuclear warhead risks for us,” he added. nal High Altitude Area Defence The US air force said Lippert work by broadcasting strings of tarised Zone separating the two ercise. for missiles. Tuesday’s missile launches (THAAD) anti-missile system to fl ew in a familiarisation fl ight in seemingly random numbers over Koreas, and has been known to North Korea fi red three bal- “However, it is a reminder that were seen as a show of force a counter threats from the North. an F-16 on July 12 to gain bet- shortwave signals to an agent in begin with a scratchy rendition listic missiles that fl ew between they are continuing to pursue week after South Korea and the North Korea had threatened a ter understanding of the US the fi eld. of Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No 500km and 600km into the sea nuclear warhead development, United States chose a site in “physical response” to the move. and South Korea’s joint defence The technique, a method of 8. off its east coast, South Korea’s and that itself is an escalation of the South to deploy the Termi- “The idea seems to be to sig- against North Korea.

Heavy rain disrupts trains and fl ights in Beijing HK poll body says

Reuters warning system, over the rain, candidates ‘must Beijing and warned it could continue overnight, with 100mm (3.9”) of rain expected in some areas. issue China pledge’ ersistent heavy rain yes- More than 200 fl ights were terday caused widespread cancelled at Beijing’s main inter- Pdisruption in the Chinese national airport, and a handful of Reuters Relations between Hong capital, Beijing, forcing the delay subway stations shut, the gov- Hong Kong Kong and Beijing have frayed in and cancellation of hundreds of ernment said. recent years over pro-democ- fl ights and the closure of some Pictures on social media racy protests, a failed bid for subway stations. showed cars making their way andidates in an elec- electoral reform, and instances Beijing’s steamy summer slowly through fl ooded streets in tion in Hong Kong in where Hong Kong residents months are often marked by dra- parts of the city. CSeptember must pledge say Beijing is breaking the “one matic rainstorms, one of which Some high speed rail services that the city is an “inalienable” country, two systems” agree- in 2012 killed 37 people. were also delayed, the rail au- part of China, and anyone who ment – such as the alleged At a meeting of the top gov- thority said. advocates independence could abduction of fi ve Hong Kong ernment body, the Politburo There were no reports of any be banned from standing, the booksellers known for their standing committee, President casualties. head of the Electoral Aff airs gossipy books about China’s Xi Jinping urged offi cials to be Large parts of central and east- Commission (EAC) said. leaders. prepared for rescue work and ern China have been inundated EAC chairman Justice Barn- There is also a small but vo- fl ood control eff orts as China is with rain this summer, killing abas Fung Wah made his com- cal minority of activists calling in its fl ood season, the offi cial more than 200 people. ments after the commission for outright independence. Xinhua news agency said. Since Monday, 13 people have and the Hong Kong govern- “There have been comments The Beijing city government been killed and 62 have gone ment drew anger by saying that and proposals in the public are- issued an orange alert, the sec- missing amid rains in north and candidates for the legislative na which have deviated from ond highest in China’s four-tier northwest China, Xinhua said. PROOF OF LIFE: Two girls standing by a window are seen enjoying the rain in Beijing yesterday. council – which includes pro- ‘one country, two systems’ and democracy and independence the constitutional status of activists – were required to Hong Kong as prescribed in the Five dead after declare in a new Confi rmation Basic Law. In this regard, there Form that Hong Kong falls di- are public concerns on wheth- seaplane crashes rectly under the central gov- er candidates fully understand Taiwan lawmakers, fi shermen protest ernment in Beijing. the Basic Law,” Fung said. Five people were killed yesterday The Hong Kong government Beijing’s chief representa- after a seaplane crashed into also said that advocating and tive in Hong Kong, Zhang a bridge during its inaugural promoting independence was Xiaoming, said in a separate at disputed South China Sea island flight in China’s eastern port city “contrary” to that declaration speech yesterday that allow- Shanghai, according to local and could render a candidate ing independence activists to authorities. ineligible. run for offi ce – or even use the AFP rock and is fi t for human habita- Ten people were on board the The EAC said that anyone election as a platform for their Taipei tion, a spokesman for the group Joy Air flight when it crashed, making a false declaration was ideas – would be a breach of said. authorities in the Jinshan district “liable to criminal sanction”. the “one country, two systems” Taiwan last year inaugurated said. Hong Kong is part of China framework, public broadcaster aiwanese lawmakers and a solar-powered lighthouse, The five other passengers were but governed by separate laws RTHK reported. fi shermen headed to an an expanded airstrip and a pier injured, one critically. under a “one country, two sys- A candidate who fails to Tisland in the disputed as part of eff orts to strengthen The plane, a Cessna 208B, tems” framework agreed with submit the Confi rmation Form South China Sea yesterday to defence capabilities on Taiping was headed for Zhoushan in Britain when it was handed may be asked for further in- protest at an international tri- island. the neighbouring province of back from colonial rule in 1997. formation and election offi c- bunal ruling which undermined There is also a farm, water Zhejiang. “The introduction of the ers, with input from the Justice Taipei’s claims there. well, hospital and temple on the The passengers – among Confi rmation Form has sound Department, may declare the Eight lawmakers from the island. them off icials, entrepreneurs legal basis. candidacy invalid, according to ruling Democratic Progres- Taiping island is 0.51sq km and journalists – were invited The measure (is) entirely the EAC. sive Party and the opposition (0.19sq miles) and most of its guests on the inaugural flight to based on legal and procedural The EAC is an independent Kuomintang (KMT) boarded a inhabitants work for the coast- showcase a new Joy Air venture. considerations,” Fung told statutory body that oversees military plane to the Taiwan- guard, which has about 160 staff The Chinese airline wanted to lawmakers on Tuesday, ac- elections in Hong Kong. controlled Taiping island in the there. rent the plane to tourists in the cording to a printed version of Legislative Council elec- Spratlys archipelago. Each year about 200 fi shing future. the remarks. tions are on September 4. Five fi shing boats decorated boats operate in the waters near with Taiwanese fl ags and ban- This handout picture taken and released yesterday by the off ice Taiping island. ners reading “Protect fi shing of KMT lawmaker Johnny Chiang shows a general view of Taiping The Spratlys are also claimed Hong Kong family reveals terror of German train attack rights, safeguard sovereignty” island in the South China Sea, before a group of lawmakers landed in part or whole by China, Viet- also set sail to Taiping from on the island onboard a military plane. nam, the Philippines, Malaysia Relatives of a Hong Kong family injured in a brutal Islamic State (IS) group. He was later shot dead. southern Pingtung county to and Brunei. axe attack by an Afghan refugee on a German train A video released by the group on Tuesday protest at the perceived threat to Crucially for Taiwan it also to show the international com- Taiwan’s government rejected have revealed details of the assault. purportedly shows “Mohammed Riyadh” – knife fi shermen’s livelihoods. ruled that Taiping, the largest munity that it is an island, not the arbitration court’s ruling, The elder daughter of the Yau family told local media in hand – announcing that he would carry out an The fi shermen waved to on- island in the Spratlys chain, was a rock,” said KMT lawmaker saying it “severely jeopardised” that her parents tried to defend her sister’s boyfriend “operation” in Germany, and presenting himself as a lookers, who shouted their sup- legally a “rock” and not entitled Johnny Chiang, who was part of Taiwan’s rights. when the axe-wielding teenager went for him. “soldier of the caliphate”. port and set off fi recrackers as to its own exclusive economic the protest visit. It said that the judgment has “Originally the assailant was attacking my sister’s Sylvia and her husband, who travelled to Germany their boats departed. zone, undermining Taiwanese The lawmakers watched a no legally binding force since boyfriend and when my mother and father saw, they on Tuesday night accompanied by off icials from Those boats will arrive in fi ve claims to waters surrounding display of combat skills by the the tribunal did not formally went up to get in the way and then they got injured,” Hong Kong’s immigration department, told how their to six days’ time. the island. coastguard stationed on Taip- invite Taipei to take part in its Sylvia, 30, told the Hong Kong-based Apple Daily family had been enjoying their holiday before the The protests come after the Taiwan last week sent a war- ing as well as visiting facilities proceedings or solicit its views. newspaper on Tuesday night. attack. Permanent Court of Arbitration ship to the South China Sea “to that show the island is self-suf- Taiwanese authorities have Both the boyfriend, Edmund Au-yeung, 30, and “My father-in-law’s friends received pictures and said in the Hague ruled last week defend maritime territory”, with fi cient. said they will continue to send Sylvia’s 62-year-old father are in intensive care with they were having lots of fun,” said Sylvia’s husband, that China has no historic rights President Tsai Ing-wen rallying They are due to return in the aircraft and ships for patrol mis- serious head injuries, the paper reported. who was not named. to its claimed “nine-dash line” troops on the frigate’s deck a day afternoon. sions to the region and expel Her sister Tracy, 26, and mother, 58, were also The attack happened around 9.15pm (1915 GMT) on in the South China Sea and had after the ruling. When the fi shermen arrive in any foreign boats that enter its injured, while Sylvia’s 17-year-old brother was the train between the town of Treuchtlingen and violated the Philippines’ sover- “The ruling is absolutely un- Taiping they will receive drink- 200-nautical-mile exclusive unharmed. Wuerzburg in Bavaria, southern Germany. eign rights in Manila’s exclusive acceptable. It is necessary for ing water from the island in a economic zone despite the rul- The 17-year-old attacker injured a total of five people economic zone. us to visit Taiping at this time bid to prove it is more than just a ing. in the assault on Monday, which was claimed by the „ See also page 14 Gulf Times 12 Thursday, July 21, 2016 BRITAIN Heat cause Feeding fun being probed as soldier dies during training

London Evening Standard training for the Platoon Sergeants’ London Battle Course in Brecon.” Police also confi rmed yester- day that a 16-year-old boy died rmy chiefs are investigating in a river after playing in the water whether an infantry sol- with friends. Adier who died on a training His body was recovered from course was overcome by heat. the River Etherow near Hyde, The soldier, from The Rifl es Greater Manchester, yesterday. regiment, died in the Brecon area Jack Pullen was in the river of Wales on Tuesday — Britain’s Etherow when he got into dif- hottest day of the year so far. fi culty on Tuesday afternoon. It comes after three soldiers Greater Manchester police (GMP) died during an SAS training exer- said they had recovered the body cise in the Brecon Beacons on one of the Longdendale high school of the hottest days of 2013. pupil from the river in the vil- Seven-year-old Olivia Coyte feeds pigeons in St James’s Park in London yesterday. Temperatures peaked at just lage of Broadbottom, Tameside, above 30C (86F) in Brecon on shortly before 5.45pm. Offi cers Tuesday, the Met Offi ce said. said that while the river appeared The soldier, a corporal on a shallow and calm there may have course to become a sergeant, is been strong undercurrents and understood to have got up around hidden hazards beneath the sur- dawn and fallen ill around 9am, face. Greater Manchester police before the full heat of the day. are investigating reports that the But temperatures were already youngster became trapped be- around 25C, according to some tween a bridge and a log. reports. A 46-year-old drowned after Hyde Park turns to ‘war The cause of death is still not jumping into a fast-fl owing river clear but is not believed to have in- to cool down on Monday. The volved a fi rearm, vehicle accident man, who has not been identifi ed, or fall. leapt into the River Trent in Stap- The army will probe whether it enhill, Burton-upon-Trent. may have been heat-related and if Emergency services were called lessons learnt from the 2013 trag- at 10pm following a report that a zone’ as mob, police clash edy were properly followed with man was having diffi culties in the new procedures to reduce the risks water. He was pulled out by res- London Evening Standard Several offi cers were injured as a spontaneous water fi ght. the ranks of police and chanting: natured crowd but offi cers be- of casualties. cue teams and taken to Burton’s London and three police vans were dam- The trouble began as police “Black lives matter.” came aware of a group setting up The soldier who died was a re- Queen’s Hospital but died a short aged. tried to stop people setting up A breakaway group stormed a sound system and an unlicensed cruiting instructor based at the time later. Offi cers were also called to deal sound equipment for an unli- a nearby branch of McDonald’s, music event and decided this was Catterick military base in North The Platoon Sergeants’ Battle ive police offi cers were in- with reports of disorder and fi ght- censed music event which had causing terrifi ed staff to fl ee not safe. They went to deal and Yorkshire. His next-of-kin have Course is run three times a year. It jured, one of them stabbed, ing among 300 people at Burgess been advertised online. downstairs as dozens of teenag- negotiate with them but were met been informed. is described on the army website Fwhen “horrifi c” violence Park in Camberwell. There were Suddenly offi cers came under ers leapt over counters to clear the with a horrifi c level of violence. Three years ago, Lance Cor- as “both mentally and physically erupted among as many as 4,000 frayed tempers on the commuter a hail of bottles and missiles and racks of food. “Offi cers came under attack porals Edward Maher and Craig demanding”. teenagers in Hyde Park. network too, with fi ghts report- one was stabbed in the hand as Buses were diverted from the and one was stabbed. People in Roberts were pronounced dead on Captain Doug Beattie, who has At least two youths were knifed edly breaking out among pas- they were surrounded by a mob. streets around Park Lane, which the crowd were carrying knives the Brecon Beacons after suff ering taken the course and run pre- as a mob clashed on Tuesday sengers battling to board packed Eye witness Waqqas Nawaz was littered with broken glass, as and intent on serious violence. heatstroke during a 16-mile SAS courses, said: “It needs to be de- night with offi cers called to a wa- trains on the hottest day of the told BBC Radio London “about the last remaining youths were That’s not acceptable.” test march. manding and I don’t think there ter fi ght and party organised on year. One man was arrested after 300-400 people” had gathered detained or dispersed. He denied the disturbance, Corporal James Dunsby died should be any call that it shouldn’t social media. punches were thrown at Clapham “throwing bottles at the police”. Riot vans blocked off Oxford which involved a “hard core” of from multiple organ failure in Bir- be demanding, I don’t think any- Extraordinary video footage Junction station. He described how police had Street to prevent the crowd from about 100 people, had anything mingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hos- body would want that. posted on Twitter shows one Witnesses in Hyde Park de- “made a chain line across Marble spilling into the shopping dis- to do with the “Black Lives Mat- pital more than two weeks later. A “But being a demanding exer- youth being stabbed in the street scribed how the banks of the Ser- Arch” to restrict people’s move- trict. Met commander B J Har- ter” movement. coroner ruled that neglect played a cise does not mean you do not do after he is chased through traffi c pentine turned into a “war zone” ment and try to calm the situa- rington, who is in charge of public The hot weather was no excuse part in their deaths. your risk assessments and take all on Park Lane. In a separate attack as hundreds of youths clashed tion. order, said: “The people of Lon- for violent criminal behaviour, he An army spokeswoman said: precautions so that people don’t in Hackney, dozens of riot offi cers with riot police. Initially, local Riot offi cers were called in and don this morning are waking up said, adding: “Does the weather “We can confi rm that a soldier get injured. We cannot speculate were pelted with missiles as they uniform offi cers were called to the group were driven back to to what is unacceptable criminal cause people to be violent? My from ITC Catterick died on July in this case and need to wait and closed down an illegal “block police a large crowd gathered in Marble Arch where 500 remained violence. personal opinion is no, that’s not 19 while conducting pre-course see what the cause was.” party” on an estate. the park for what some described until midnight, hurling bottles at “Initially there was a good- the case.” Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 13 BRITAIN

EDUCATION PEOPLE ECONOMY INITIATIVE CRIME Universities announce Johnson refuses to ‘£4.5bn a year up for grabs if Campaign against travel Man arrested after death fees above £9,000 limit apologise for insults Londoners rent out homes’ hate crime launched of Geordie Shore star

Universities in England are already announcing a Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said it would take A total of £4.5bn a year could be earned if Lon- Police and Tube staff yesterday launched a cam- A man has been arrested on suspicion of at- tuition fee increase above the £9,000 limit before far too long for him to apologise for the “rich thesau- doners were to rent out their homes when going paign to encourage passengers to report hate tempted murder after a glamour model who Parliament has even finished debating plans which rus” of rude comments and insults he has directed on holiday, it was claimed. Homes in the capital crime, including incidents sparked by the Brexit appeared in the reality TV series Geordie Shore would pave the way to raise fees. Tuition fees for at world leaders and others over the years. Johnson, are left empty for an average of two-and-a-half vote. They vowed to investigate all incidents as died in a fall from a block of flats. Aimee Spencer, 2017 are listed on Durham, Kent and Royal Holloway a former journalist with a talent for trenchant com- weeks every year, according to a Populus survey. part of the #WeStandTogether campaign to pro- 27, suff ered critical injuries after she fell from a websites as £9,250. MPs will vote in the autumn ments that his critics say sometimes tip over into Families are being chased by firms that off er to vide reassurance that the Underground is safe for first floor window in Chichester Terrace just after on whether to allow an increase in tuition fees. The untruth, said his utterances over a three-decade find tenants while they are away, and even clean all passengers. Transport for London was unable 9am on July 11 in Brighton, East Sussex. Spencer government will support an increase if universities career had often been “misconstrued”. Johnson first up afterwards. Merilee Karr, founder of Under- to say whether the UK’s decision to leave the EU - known by her stage name Carla Mai - died from can show they have high quality teaching. Announc- made his name in the early 1990s as a correspond- TheDoormat, one of the new sharing economy had resulted in increased attacks. One woman her injuries a week later at the city’s Royal Sussex ing a higher level of fees of £9,250 was attacked as ent in Brussels writing highly coloured stories start-ups, said: “There are over 600,000 homes passenger said she was the victim of an incident County Hospital. The 28-year-old suspect is from “disgraceful arrogance from some universities” by about the EU. Since then he has continued to court in London that sit empty for four each year, and two days ago at Covent Garden station when Brighton. A woman, also 28, has been detained the Liberal Democrat education spokesman John controversy, for example accusing US President over 100,000 homes are empty for 10 weeks or her head scarf was pulled by a man who pulled on suspicion of possession of a class A drug Pugh. The proposal to raise fees is “not a done deal”, Barack Obama of nurturing an ancestral dislike for more. There is a huge opportunity for homeown- “monkey faces”. She said: “I was not harmed but I with intent to supply. Both have been bailed until says Pugh. the British empire. ers to make some money”. was very upset.” September 5.

A reason to smile Corbyn wins legal May echoes fi ght in leadership ballot case Thatcher and

Guardian News and Media London blasts Corbyn eremy Corbyn will be a de- fendant in the legal challenge Jto his automatic inclusion on the Labour leadership ballot, the high court has decided. Lawyers for the Labour leader successfully argued he had a right on spending to be heard in the case because his interests were not the same Agencies have to go to food banks.” narrow road at 100-miles-an- as those of Labour’s general sec- London The brief exchange saw May set hour whilst having to look in your retary, Iain McNicol, who had out her battle lines against Labour rear-view mirror to see what is go- previously been the only named on spending and home ownership. ing on behind you, and if anybody defendant in the case brought by a confi dent Theresa May Corbyn attacked the £450,000 is there trying to smash your car up Labour donor. Corbyn and McNi- echoed Margaret Thatcher limit for starter homes set out in from behind. It is just impossible.” col will have separate legal teams. Ain her fi rst Prime Minister’s government policies, saying that it Having navigated the session The legal challenge, brought by Questions yesterday afternoon, was too high. with no major stumbles, May’s former parliamentary candidate accusing Jeremy Corbyn of press- But May pointed out that it re- fi nal question was from an old po- Michael Foster, contests the deci- ing for over-spending. fl ected everyday life for people in litical rival. sion of Labour’s national execu- Responding to the Labour lead- his Islington constituency. Liberal Democrat leader Tim tive committee to allow Corbyn on er calling for an end to austerity, Often the only taste of parlia- Farron, whose party spent fi ve the ballot paper without having to she snapped: “He calls it austerity mentary business that members of years in coalition with the Con- secure nominations from Labour — I call it living within our means.” the public regularly get, the box- servatives before losing almost all MPs. May also mocked Labour’s offi ce drama known colloquially its lawmakers at last year’s elec- McNicol was being sued in a record on women. as PMQs is seen as a barometer of tion, recalled running against May representative capacity but Cor- “In my years here in this house how well party leaders are doing for a parliamentary seat in 1992. byn requested to be added to the I’ve long heard the Labour Party and they spend hours preparing “She has come a long way since proceedings as second defendant. asking what the Conservative for it. we were on the hustings together On Tuesday, high court mas- Party does for women, well it just May, who after six years as in- in north west Durham,” he said. ter Victoria McCloud heard that keeps making us prime minister!,” terior minister is no stranger to May responded: “Little did the Corbyn’s “personal interest in the she said, as her husband Philip tough questions in parliament, oc- voters of north west Durham know subject matter of this litigation looked on from the public gallery. casionally referred to a fi le of notes that the two unsuccessful candi- is pressing and obvious and dis- “The Labour Party may be as she was grilled on topics rang- dates in that election would be- tinguishes him from the general about to spend several months ing from education to the Nice at- come leaders of two of this coun- body of members represented by fi ghting and tearing itself apart. tacks. try’s political parties.” McNicol”. The Conservative Party will be “It is the single most nerve- “Although I would point out... McCloud said it was clear Cor- spending those months bringing wracking thing you’ll ever do in my party is a little bit bigger than byn had a personal interest in the this country back together.” your life,” former Conservative his.” case. “The extent to which the Labour MPs looked solemn as Party leader Iain Duncan Smith May, who styles herself as a court should err towards inclu- May was widely deemed the vic- told ITV. serious, down-to-earth and un- siveness in an action inevitably tor in her fi rst outing in the weekly “It is like driving a car down a fl ashy leader. depends on the facts but in this clash. case the court fi nds that Corbyn Tory MPs roared approval as she Britain relinquishes rotating EU presidency is a member of the Labour party mocked Labour’s leadership tur- who is particularly aff ected and moil, calling Corbyn “a boss who Britain will no longer take on the the second half of 2017, noting that particularly interested in the doesn’t listen to his workers, a boss rotating EU presidency as planned we would be prioritising the negotia- proper construction of the rules, who exploits the rules”. next year, relinquishing the role in tions to leave the European Union,” a and his interest in that regard is Leaning forward, she teased: the wake of the Brexit vote, Prime spokeswoman said. “Tusk welcomed of a signifi cantly diff erent qual- “Remind him of anyone?” Minister Theresa May’s off ice said the prime minister’s swift decision ity than that of other members,” Observers said that line was de- yesterday. May informed European on this issue which would allow the she said. livered in a style uncannily remi- Council president Donald Tusk in a council to put alternative arrange- Labour’s NEC voted 18-14 in niscent of Thatcher, who governed phone call on Tuesday evening, their ments in place,” she said. The presi- a secret ballot after a tense six- Her long-term love popped the question over the weekend so it’s hardly surprising from 1979 until 1990. first since she took over from David dency of the council - the gathering hour meeting that Corbyn, as that Pippa Middleton can’t stop showing off her new diamond sparkler. The Duchess of Corbyn hit back with a jibe Cameron last week. “The prime min- of national ministers from the EU’s the incumbent, was not subject Cambridge’s little sister couldn’t wipe the smile off her face as she flashed her engagement about austerity, telling MPs: “I ister suggested that the UK should 28 member states - rotates among to the rule that forces candidates ring from hedge fund millionaire James Matthews as she left home yesterday morning. know this is very funny for Con- relinquish the rotating presidency of members every six months. to show they have the backing of Dressed in a chic and feminine floral dress, 32-year-old Pippa beamed with joy. servative members, but I don’t the Council, currently scheduled for 20% of the party’s MPs and MEPs. suppose many Conservative MPs

Royal honour Boost for government as Police offi cer under employment rate at a high probe caught speeding London Evening Standard thurst School in Surrey, where London pupils were allowed to “wear riot London Evening Standard globally-minded, big-thinking at what could go wrong and stop it gear, helmets, hold truncheons London country we have always been.” happening.” and try on handcuff s”, in June The employment rate in the Howard Archer, chief UK and senior Scotland Yard of- 2014. three months to May was 74.4%, European economist at IHS Global fi cer who is under inves- The Met said it often supported heresa May’s new govern- the highest since comparable Insight, said the robust employ- Atigation after arranging school and community engage- ment was boosted yes- records began in 1971. ment market up to May could have for riot squad offi cers to visit her ment events in London but had Tterday after offi cial data A total of 31.7mn people were been helped by stronger than ex- children’s school has been caught asked Hertfordshire Police to carry showed employment hit its high- in work, 176,000 more than for pected GDP growth. speeding. out a misconduct investigation af- est rate since records began. the three months to February and But he pointed to other research Deputy assistant commissioner ter receiving an “internal report” The fi gures, relating to the peri- 624,000 more than a year earlier. — the REC/Markit report on jobs Maxine de Brunner is understood on the matter. od just before the EU referendum, Almost 23.2mn were working full — that showed permanent em- to have been caught speeding in De Brunner, a former head of show that almost three quarters of time, an annual rise of 401,000, ployment placements fell in June a 30mph zone in south London anti-corruption, has not com- all people aged between 16 and 64 and 8.52mn were part-time, up for the fi rst time since September about six months ago and given a mented on the allegations. Last were in work. The unemployment 223,000 on the year before. 2012. £100 fi xed penalty notice. month, the offi cer, who is in charge rate also dipped under the sym- The last time the unemploy- Markit’s UK business outlook A Met spokesman said: “Whilst of the Met’s savings programme, bolic fi ve percent mark for the fi rst ment rate dropped under 5% was report for last month also suggest- off duty the offi cer received a xed fi was criticised by an employment time in more than a decade. in 2005 during Tony Blair’s ad- ed that hiring intentions were the penalty notice for speeding. The tribunal for discriminating against It comes as ministers desperate- ministration. Figures yesterday weakest since early 2013. matter was immediately disclosed a male chief inspector. ly try to highlight the economy’s showed it fell to 4.9%. Archer said: “We strongly sus- to the offi cer’s line manager in line Chief inspector Adrian Denby strength going into the Brexit vote, During the referendum, new pect heightened uncertainty and with Met policy.” was in charge of a riot unit when while experts warn of diffi culties Work and Pensions Secretary concerns among businesses fol- De Brunner is facing a miscon- de Brunner objected to meeting to come. Chancellor Philip Ham- Damian Green had warned of job lowing the Brexit vote, as well as duct investigation after she asked another offi cer wearing a towel as mond said the statistics showed losses if the UK quit the EU. Yes- a weakening economic perform- for Met offi cers and dogs, horses he was walking from a shower to “the fundamentals” of the econo- terday he said the government ance, will take an increasing toll on and cars to be made available to changing rooms at a police sta- my are solid. would have to work to minimise the labour market.” entertain pupils at her son’s pri- tion. Denby was later placed on He added: “While the decision any impact of Brexit, which may ING economist James Smith vate school in Surrey. restricted duties and had his pro- to leave the European Union marks show in the next round of statis- said: “This data is pre-Brexit and The event was due to be held in motion opportunities curtailed. the beginning of a new phase for tics. thus assumes little relevance for Queen Elizabeth II awards professor Dame Ann Dowling June at a reported cost of £10,000. The Central London Employment our economy, the message we take He said: “We’ve now got to get the Bank of England when they the insignia of the Member of the Order of Merit during It was cancelled when senior of- Tribunal found he was the victim to the world is this: our country on with the new reality, the British meet to decide on the amount of a private audience at Buckingham Palace in central fi cers ruled it was an inappropriate of sexual discrimination and that remains open for business and people have spoken. It’s one of the stimulus to add at the start of Au- London. use of resources. De Brunner, 50, elements of de Brunner’s evidence we are the same outward-looking, key tasks for government, to look gust.” organised a similar event at Chin- were “not credible”. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, July 21, 2016 EUROPE

Valls forces through controversial labour Germany fears more reforms a third time

DPA There is a 24-hour deadline Paris on such motions. The measures included in the labour overhaul should be ‘lone wolf’ attacks rench Prime Minister implemented as soon as possi- Manuel Valls invoked ble after adoption, government Reuters many in 2015, many fl eeing war thought to be Afghan but de De Maiziere said the govern- He was living with a foster Fa constitutional article spokesman Stephane Le Foll Berlin in Syria and beyond. Maiziere said yesterday there ment had introduced a range of family and had a part-time job at yesterday in the lower house said yesterday. “You cannot say there is no were indications he was from Pa- measures to improve security a bakery. of parliament to force through France’s socialist govern- connection between refugees kistan. in the last year but warned that De Maiziere said Germans a controversial set of labour ment already used the con- ermany is likely to face and terrorism, but the danger Offi cials have said the attacker Germany should brace itself for would have to get used to more reforms for a third time, likely stitutional article to force the more Islamist attacks, its was high before and remains came to Germany as an unac- further attacks. video surveillance and police paving the way for their adop- labour legislation through on Ginterior minister said yes- high, regardless of questions companied minor and registered “Like several EU countries, like offi cers on the streets, and also tion into law. the fi rst two readings, despite terday, although he played down about refugees,” Interior Minis- as a refugee in June 2015 at Passau the whole EU, Germany is also in urged mosques to help Muslims The bill is aimed at relaxing fi erce opposition from both any link between the govern- ter Thomas de Maiziere said. on the Austrian border. the target area of international integrate. some labour regulations, in- sides of the political spectrum. ment’s open-door refugee policy A 17-year-old who had sought The train attack came just four terrorism ... the situation is seri- “We need the active co-oper- cluding rules governing over- Yesterday’s third reading and Monday’s axe assault aboard asylum in Germany was shot days after a Tunisian delivery ous,” de Maiziere told reporters. ation of Muslims living here, in- time compensation and union- was defi nitive. a train in Bavaria. dead by police after severely man drove a truck into crowds Investigations so far pointed to cluding the mosque communities employer negotiations. Protests against the bill have Anti-immigrant party Alter- wounding four people from Hong celebrating Bastille Day in the the train attacker being a “lone working here. It has sparked months of seen violent scuffl es between native for Germany (AfD) has Kong who were travelling on the French city of Nice, killing 84 wolf” who had been spurred into “They, too, must make a con- protest from worker unions some protesters and police. seized on the train attack to criti- train near the city of Wuerzburg people. action by Islamic State propa- tribution to integration, to pre- and student organisations. Public sites – including a cise Chancellor Angela Merkel’s and injuring another woman The militant group Islamic ganda, said de Maiziere. vention and to spotting the radi- Political parties have been hospital in Paris – have also migrant policy, under which while fl eeing the scene. State (IS) has claimed both at- It is unclear how the youth be- calisation process early on,” he split on the reforms, with been defaced. some 1.1mn people entered Ger- The perpetrator was initially tacks. came radicalised. said. some saying that they don’t do Union leaders vowed to con- enough while others fear they tinue to mobilise against the roll back hard-earned worker reforms to the labour code that protections. had been proposed under new- Calling it a “text of progress”, ly appointed Labour Minister Radiation student Valls said the bill is a great re- Myriam El Khomri. form that is indispensable for Strikes against the so-called the future of the country. El Khomri bill, organised The government has argued by seven main unions, have held over bomb that it modernises the work prompted fuel shortages, the force in France, paving the way accumulation of rubbish piles for business opportunities that and transportation cancella- will create more jobs. tions across France. alert in Brussels Article 49-3 allows for the The reforms are intended to adoption of legislation without bring down France’s chroni- a parliamentary vote, unless cally high unemployment AFP police spokeswoman Ilse Van de the lower house passes a no- levels, one of the key goals of Brussels Keere told AFP. confi dence motion against the President Francois Hollande, Police said that the “belong- government. but have been seen by many as ings” he was carrying were A motion against Valls’ move a betrayal of his own Socialist radiation student wearing harmless. was not immediately fi led. Party’s traditional platforms. a coat with wires hanging “When the bomb disposal Aout triggered a fi ve-hour robot moved towards the per- bomb alert in central Brussels son under surveillance, he made Hungary’s right-wing govt launches yesterday before police managed some very worrying statements to detain him for questioning, that led us to fear that he had ex- new anti-migrant media off ensive police said. plosives on him,” Brussels police Brussels is on high alert for spokesman Christian De Con- Hungary stepped up its anti-migrant rhetoric yesterday with a Belgian national day celebra- inck told RTL-TVI television. new media off ensive against refugees, ahead of a vote in October tions taking place today, and re- “He was a student who was on troubled EU plans to relocate asylum-seekers among member mains tense following Islamic going to do his studies in radia- states. State (IS)-claimed suicide bomb tion. Run under the slogan “Did you know?”, the right-wing government attacks at the airport and in the “So all the belongings he had unveiled a series of ads on its website blaming recent terrorist metro on March 22 that left 32 on him, which were very suspect, attacks in Europe on the refugee crisis, which has been rattling the people dead. were in fact harmless.” bloc since 2015. Police backed by bomb dis- Photographs in local media “The Paris attacks were committed by migrants,” reads one slogan posal teams cordoned off part of showed the man on his knees at Belgian soldiers patrol a Brussels square after a man was seen wearing a thick coat with wires protruding in reference to last November’s co-ordinated assaults that left 130 central Brussels where they sur- gunpoint. from underneath in the city centre. people dead in the French capital. rounded the suspect individual, Footage showed troops, police Among the perpetrators were two men who had entered Europe who aroused suspicion because and fi refi ghters in and around the comes a month after a man with attack set off a fresh wave of un- head of population of Islamic among the flow of Syrians and Iraqis arriving on Greek shores last he had on a long winter jacket on cordoned-off area at Place de la psychiatric problems who was ease in Belgium and the latest militant recruits going from the summer. a hot day. Monnaie, with the streets largely carrying a fake suicide belt full incident, even if it proves to be a European Union to fi ght with Other messages warn that “violence against woman has increased “He was studying waves and deserted in what is normally a of salt and biscuits triggered a false alarm, will add to nerves as IS in Syria, causing deep con- exponentially since the start of the migrant wave” and that “in Libya radiation. He has just been de- very busy shopping district near major anti-terror operation at a the country prepares to celebrate cern that they will return home alone, a million migrants wait to come to Europe”. tained and police will begin the Brussels opera house. Brussels shopping mall. its national day today. battle-hardened and even more The ads will be published in the print press, broadcast on TV and questioning him now,” Brussels The latest apparent false alarm Last week’s deadly Nice lorry Belgium is the main source per radicalised. radio, and plastered on billboards all over Hungary in the coming weeks, the government said. The opposition news website 444.hu slammed the campaign for French lawmakers extend state of emergency “solely aiming to spread unlimited xenophobia across the country”. Man ordered to pay €2,250 fine after

Reuters dreds, also said that it would step was spray-painted in red with the government head in the greater In response to demands from insulting German politician via e-mail Paris up strikes against Islamic State words “leave or die”, local prefect Nice area, said policing was light- the main right-wing opposi- (IS) in its strongholds in Iraq and Michel Delpuech said. er than Prime Minister Manuel tion party, Les Republicains, the The Cologne district court has ordered a man to pay €2,250 Syria. And Paris’s police prefect can- Valls claimed, and that concrete rollover of emergency rule was ($2,470) for insulting a German politician in their e-mail rench lawmakers approved A year from elections, Hol- celled an open-air fi lm festival as blocks were not deployed to seal extended for six months, to late correspondence. a six-month extension of lande is under intense pressure as well as plans to turn the Champs roads off during the national hol- January 2017, rather than the “You must have the IQ of a piece of toast,” the 53-year-old wrote Femergency rule yesterday opponents accuse his adminis- Elysees boulevard into a summer iday festivities of July 14. three months proposed by Hol- in his e-mail to Hannelore Kraft, the premier of North Rhine- after last week’s truck attack on tration of police failings over the pedestrian zone. Emergency rule has been in lande’s government. Westphalia. holiday crowds in Nice, the third tragedy. The extension of exceptional place since attacks on Paris last The emergency regime, due to The man wrote two e-mails in which he referenced her proposal to deadly assault in just 18 months A Tunisian man was able to search-and-arrest powers for November in which Islamist mil- be examined by the upper house put long-term unemployed people to work helping refugees. for which Islamist militants have drive a 19-tonne truck along a police was approved by 489 votes itants killed 130 people. Senate later in the day before He used other profanities and went on to call Kraft and other claimed responsibility. packed sea-front promenade, to 26 shortly before dawn in Another 17 were killed in Janu- becoming law, allows police to politicians a “corrupt bunch” who belong in the stocks. President Francois Hollande’s mowing down people in the France’s National Assembly, the ary 2015 in attacks that began search homes and arrest people Kraft responded to the first e-mail with details about the proposal, Socialist government, accused Bastille Day crowd, before he was lower house of parliament, but with the shooting of journalists without prior warrant. the judge said. After receiving a second abusive e-mail, she filed a by political opponents of doing shot dead by police. not without renewed calls for an working for Charlie Hebdo, a sa- It also allows them to tap com- personal complaint. too little to avert the attack that In a sign of other tensions, the inquest. tirical weekly that had published puter and phone communica- The accused, who was jobless at the time, claimed he was killed 84 people and injured hun- outer wall of a mosque in Lyon Christian Estrosi, regional cartoons mocking Islam. tions more freely. “frustrated”. Ukraine shocked by car bomb murder of Russian journalist

Reuters “I don’t rule out that the cyni- en hints. Every time I go to Mos- Kiev cal murder of Ukrayinska Pravda cow, it’s like I’m in a minefi eld,” journalist Pavel Sheremet could he said in an interview. be used to destabilise the internal He said Ukraine needed strong, n award-winning jour- political situation in Ukraine,” independent media to counter nalist working for the on- said Anton Gerashchenko, a law- the infl uence of outlets control- Aline investigative website maker and adviser to the interior led by business tycoons. Ukrayinska Pravda was killed by ministry. “The investigation will “Now the problem of freedom a car bomb in central Kiev early examine all possible theories for of speech and objective journal- yesterday morning, in what a the murder, fi rstly linked to his ism is becoming again a serious senior Ukrainian offi cial called a journalistic activities. Even a issue,” he said. “As far as internal This handout picture taken on “cynical murder”. Russian connection should not politics is concerned, I can see Febrauary 27, 2015 in Kiev and Pavel Sheremet, a Belarussian be excluded.” oligarchic games again, black PR, released yesterday by Ukrainska known for his outspoken criti- In Moscow, Kremlin spokes- the use of media to settle scores Pravda shows Russian journalist cism of his home country’s lead- man Dmitry Peskov, said: “The and solve political problems.” Pavel Sheremet. Ukrainian police off icers and security services experts examine the car in which Sheremet was killed. ership and his friendship with the murder of a Russian citizen and Tributes poured in from col- slain Russian opposition leader journalist in Ukraine is a very leagues and Ukraine’s president Sheremet’s friend Nemtsov, a the funeral of Boris Nemtsov, and operation in Europe (OSCE) for an investigative journalist who Boris Nemtsov, was driving to serious cause for concern in the and prime minister. vocal critic of the Kremlin, had of course I couldn’t have known his reporting on human rights was murdered 16 years ago, his work in the car of the website’s Kremlin.” Sevgil Musayeva-Borovyk, the been working on a report exam- that a similar thing would hap- violations in Belarus, including decapitated body discovered in a owner when it was blown up. Sheremet, who was given Rus- editor-in-chief of Ukrayinska ining the Russian military’s role pen to Pavel,” Anatoly Lebedko, the disappearances of opposition forest outside Kiev. The killing was a throwback sian citizenship after fl eeing po- Pravda, which has made its name in the Ukraine crisis when he was leader of the Belarussian opposi- politicians and journalists. The incident helped to pre- to the days of violence against litical persecution in Belarus, had exposing corruption, called him shot dead in central Moscow last tion party United Civil Party, told The OSCE called yesterday for cipitate the Orange Revolution journalists that Ukraine, under a told Reuters in October that he “very brave”. year. Reuters. action to address the safety of of 2004/05, which resulted in an pro-Western leadership since the did not feel comfortable visiting It was not clear whether the Sheremet led the tributes at his In 2002, Sheremet won a journalists in Ukraine. election re-run and the victory of 2014 Maidan protests, hoped to Moscow any more. bomb had been set off by remote memorial service. journalism prize from the Or- The founder of Ukrayinska an opposition presidential can- have shed. “I’m threatened often and giv- control or a timer. “The last time we met was at ganisation for Security and Co- Pravda, Georgiy Gongadze, was didate. Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 15 EUROPE Concern in Europe as 50,000 are hit by purge

AFP Chancellor Angela Merkel’s struck and then, narrowly escap- 22,000, according to reports yes- rope, with the EU warning such a The 75-year-old reclusive cler- peated air attacks and the air still Ankara spokesman saying: “Nearly every ing the rebel soldiers, fl ew to Is- terday. move would be the nail in the cof- ic lives in Pennsylvania but retains thick with dust from the rubble. day we are seeing new measures tanbul where he had stayed since, Also, 21,000 people working in fi n of Turkey’s already embattled vast interests in Turkey ranging “I do not know how long the that fl out the rule of law and that appearing before crowds of fl ag- private education will have their bid to join the bloc. from media to fi nance to schools rebuilding will take. But we have urkey faced fresh accusa- disregard the principle of pro- waving supporters each night in licences removed and banned Ankara says that the coup was and wields infl uence in various started,” a senior police offi cial tions by some Western portionality.” “vigils” for democracy. from teaching in the future. masterminded by US-based arms of the state, including the told AFP at the scene. Tleaders it was fl outing The putsch left more than 300 The president told support- Even the sports ministry has preacher Fethullah Gulen and the judiciary and police. The government says that 312 the rule of law with its purge of dead and caused scenes of devas- ers in Istanbul on Monday that dismissed 245 personnel. massive crackdown appears to be In their fi rst telephone conver- people were killed in the coup, 50,000 people after an attempted tation, especially in Ankara where “an important decision” would Turkey’s higher education targeting individuals suspected of sation since the attempted over- including 145 civilians, 60 police, coup, as the president gathered raids by fi ghter jets and attack be announced after the security council also banned academics any connection to Erdogan’s ally- throw, President Barack Obama three soldiers and 104 plotters. security chiefs yesterday for the helicopters turned parts of parlia- meeting, without specifying – from work trips abroad and urged turned-foe. pledged US assistance to Erdog- Before the plot erupted, the fi rst time since the putsch. ment and the police headquarters fuelling fears that the government those overseas to return home Turkey accuses Gulen of run- an for the investigation into the government had been waging Authorities have rounded up to rubble. may impose even tougher security quickly. ning a “terror group” and has putsch, which has threatened to a relentless military campaign or sacked tens of thousands of The president returned to the measures. The moves amplifi ed European stepped up pressure on Washing- once again raise tensions between against Kurdish rebels in the police, judges, teachers and other capital late on Tuesday for the About 9,300 people have been concern that Erdogan was us- ton to extradite him, sending sev- the uneasy Nato allies. southeast of the country and their civil servants from across the state fi rst time since the coup and detained, including 118 generals ing the coup plot as a pretext to eral “dossiers” it says are packed MPs have meanwhile carried rear bases in northern Iraq. bureaucracy in the aftermath of chaired meetings of his national and admirals accused of treason crack down on opponents, with with evidence about his alleged on working in parliament, despite The Turkish air force launched Friday’s failed bid to seize power security council, composed of top for allegedly masterminding the Turkey’s Western allies urging the involvement. rubble and shards of glass still its fi rst strikes since the abortive by disgruntled elements in the military brass and security minis- plot as well as soldiers, police and authorities in the strategic Nato Gulen issued a statement on covering the fl oor after three air putsch against targets of the out- military. ters, and the cabinet, at his presi- judges. state to obey the rule of law. Tuesday urging Washington to strikes on the night of the coup. lawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party However, the purge has dential palace. The number of state education Erdogan’s suggestion that the reject the extradition call and dis- Ankara’s police headquarters is (PKK) in northern Iraq, in a sign sparked an outpouring of con- Erdogan was in the Aegean re- ministry personnel suspended death penalty could be reinstated missed as “ridiculous” the claim in an even worse state, with the Erdogan has regained full control cern in Europe with German sort of Marmaris when the coup has risen by some 6,000 to nearly has sent shockwaves through Eu- he was behind the botched coup. 10-storey building gutted by re- over the armed forces. Gulen hit ... with loss of his pension

Turkey has promised to take the toughest action against the US-based cleric whom President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blames for last week’s failed coup. But it has also taken a more symbolic step – by cutting the modest state pension of Fethullah Gulen, 75, whose Hizmet (Service) movement operates schools around the world and is also linked to media, finance and business interests. Erdogan chairs top Yesterday the state-run Anadolu news agency reported that the Social Security Service SGK had cut Gulen’s pension and cancelled all his social security rights. He will be deprived of about $380 ($420) a month, said the opposition Sozcu newspaper. Gulen is believed to have substantial financial wealth. Given the hatred that the government bears for Erdogan’s one time ally, it was news to most people that Gulen even was still receiving a security meetings pension. Erdogan has charged Gulen has sought to undermine his government DPA Turkey’s political landscape has by running “a state within a state” and accused him of “terrorism” by Istanbul further eroded its institutional instigating Friday’s bloody attempt to overthrow his government. checks and balances,” the agency Gulen has denied the claims, while the US government has asked for said, putting its outlook to “neg- firm evidence in reply to Ankara’s request to extradite the reclusive urkish President Recep ative”. spiritual leader from his mountain retreat in Pennsylvania. Tayyip Erdogan chaired a “We expect a period of height- The Sozcu newspaper reported that Gulen had received 1,283 Turkish Tmeeting of the National ened unpredictability that could lira ($380, $416) a month in October 2014 and would have received his Security Council in Ankara yes- constrain capital infl ows into last regular payment on Tuesday. terday in the wake of the failed Turkey’s externally leveraged Anadolu also reported that the SGK would take similar measures coup attempt, with the potential economy,” a statement by the against other coup plotters. for decisions on new security agency said, adding that the out- measures. look could be revised if the “in- Embassy targets schools in Cambodia The meeting of the council dependence of key institutions – which brought together civil- was not eroded”. A Turkish off icial in Cambodia has called for the closure of schools that ian and military leaders – lasted The lira dropped further, to it says are linked to the cleric accused of orchestrating a failed coup in four hours and 40 minutes, state 3.07 to the dollar. Turkey. broadcaster TRT reported. Prior to the failed coup, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has blamed bitter foe It was to be followed by a Turkish currency was trading at Fethullah Gulen for last week’s bloody failed putsch and has vowed to cabinet meeting, also chaired about 2.85 to the greenback. root out his network of alleged supporters. by the president, who arrived in Turkey has demanded the ex- “We know that Fethullah Gulen is behind the coup attempt and we the capital on Tuesday evening Erdogan chairing the National Security Council meeting at the presidential palace in Ankara. tradition of Fethullah Gulen, an know Zaman schools are aff iliated with this person,” an off icial from for the fi rst time since the failed Islamic cleric living in self-im- the Turkish embassy in Cambodia told AFP yesterday, referring to the putsch. tempt, which began on Friday a “heated” mood in the country. tion had been attacked. posed exile in the United States, Zaman International School in Phnom Penh. Nurettin Canikli, a deputy and left hundreds dead. “Unfortunately, we are seeing More than 50,000 civil serv- claiming that he was behind the “That’s why our government expects these schools to be closed,” he prime minister, ruled out the im- But the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ a civilian counter-coup,” he says, ants have been fi red, suspended coup attempt. said, requesting anonymity. position of martial law, speaking Democratic Party (HDP) voiced but stressing: “Thank God the or detained in the purge that fol- Gulen, a one-time ally of Er- In a video posted on the embassy’s Facebook page on Monday, Turkish ahead of the start of the high- concern about reprisals against coup was averted.” lowed the failed coup, including dogan, denies involvement. ambassador Ilhan Kemal Tug labelled Gulen’s movement a “terrorist level meetings, according to the opposition, with lawmaker A government offi cial thanked nearly 3,000 members of the ju- Turkey sent the United States organisation”. broadcaster Haberturk. Ziya Pir telling DPA that other all opposition parties on behalf diciary. four dossiers on Gulen and has “We have been in close contact with the Cambodian government ... He added that the measures factions “are afraid of being of the president and the prime Meanwhile, Ratings agency promised to provide ample evi- regarding the Zaman schools in Cambodia, and we have requested all to be taken will provide stability lynched”. minister “for their strong stance Standard and Poor’s downgraded dence on his involvement. kinds of support to be halted,” the ambassador said. and fall within the legal frame- Pir also charged that the anti- against the coup”. the nation’s credit rating by one The US confi rmed receipt of The director of the schools, which serve more than 2,000 students in work. coup street protests have been The offi cial stressed there had notch – taking the foreign cur- the documents but declined to Cambodia from kindergarten to university level, denied formal ties with All political parties in Turkey’s largely in favour of Erdogan, not been “a single incident” in rency rating to BB from BB-plus. say they constituted a formal ex- the preacher. parliament rejected the coup at- rather than democracy, creating which a member of the opposi- “We believe the polarisation of tradition request. Cambodia’s ministry of foreign aff airs told AFP that it has not received a formal request to shut down the schools. Coup plotters ‘planned PKK accusation’ Patriotic upsurge A document found by investigators seems to indicate the coup plotters in Turkey planned to charge President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with aiding the banned Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), considered a terrorist organisation. drives fl ag sales The charges would have also been made against former prime minister and foreign minister Ahmet Davutoglu and Hakan Fidan, the head of MIT – Turkish intelligence – according to state-run Anadolu news Reuters highest demand since Turkey’s agency and confirmed by a government off icial. Istanbul soccer team made the semi-fi - The alleged charge would have referred to the peace process – which nals in the 2002 World Cup. ultimately collapsed last year – between the government and the PKK Even in calmer times the Turk- leadership, which began secretly in 2009. ilitary coups are rarely ish fl ag – a white star and cres- good for business but cent moon against a red back- Turkey blocks WikiLeaks e-mail dump Mat least one small sector ground representing the blood of Turkey’s economy has seen a of martyrs – is venerated in this Anti-secrecy website WikiLeaks has released nearly 300,000 e-mails roaring trade since a failed army proudly nationalistic country. linked to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling AKP party, revolt on July 15 – the nation’s It is a crime to damage or tear with Turkey immediately blocking access yesterday. fl ag sellers. the fl ag or show it any disrespect. WikiLeaks said the e-mails came from the party’s web domain akparti. Flag manufacturers are work- “We had quite a lot in stock, org.tr and mainly related to world aff airs. ing fl at out to meet surging de- but they have all gone. We have It said the e-mails, which date between 2010 and July 6 this year, were mand from patriotic Turks after started up new production ... obtained before the attempted coup of July 16. a faction in the armed forces demand is huge. Our public is re- A Turkish off icial said the WikiLeaks website was being blocked “due to SUPPORT ANYTHING BUT FLAGGING: A young man waves the Turkish flag as others gathered for a tried to topple President Recep ally sensitive about this subject,” violation of privacy and publication of illegally obtained data”. meeting in support of the Turkish president on Istanbul’s Taksim Square late on Tuesday. Tayyip Erdogan and his govern- said Selahattin Afsar of Kara- ment on Friday evening. nfi l Bayrak, a fl ag-maker in the The coup quickly crumbled western city of Bursa. “Person- but Erdogan urged people to take ally I was so sad for my country to the streets daily in support of on the night of the coup attempt President’s critics glad coup failed but fearful of backlash his government. that I couldn’t think of selling “From the fi rst day around fl ags even though I had so many 1.5mn fl ags were sold. I expect of them then.” AFP Emre, as he crushed ice in a hip- In recent days, Erdogan has the Iranian regime,” she said will restore an order that will another 5mn to be sold in the The fl ag can be seen fl ying Istanbul ster cafe in the district that over- himself fi lled squares with elat- fearfully. “At fi rst I believed it only strengthen its domination.” coming days,” said Orkun Altier, from even more buildings and looks the Bosphorus. ed supporters, who have waved was Erdogan’s theatre show, but Some people still voiced owner of fl ag producer Gozde vehicles than usual since the at- Since the failed coup, when F- red-and-white Turkish fl ags and it appears there are (subversive) doubts the coup was real and ar- Bayrak. tempted coup. hree years ago, critics of 16s bombed parliament in Ankara celebrated his victory over the soldiers among the soldiers. The gued that, either way, Erdogan “Teachers, blacksmiths, can- Flags sell for as little as three Turkey’s president Recep and rebel troops nearly captured mutineers. idea that it really was staged by would take full advantage of it. teen operators, everyone wants lira ($1) in Turkey. TTayyip Erdogan rallied Erdogan, the government has “There is no change in my others is comforting me more.” “I believe the government fl ags at the moment. I don’t even “We have increased produc- against him in mass protests. launched a sweeping purge of dissident views about the gov- She stressed that she opposes will benefi t from it, even if it is have one left for myself to hang tion but it takes time to make Last Friday they were appalled suspected conspirators. ernment,” said Emre. “Every- the idea of anyone overthrowing not entirely fake,” one young- in my own home,” he said. them,” said Izzet Adar, owner of by a coup attempt against him. Emre, who like many here de- one is now scared of a so-called an elected government by force. ster said. “The killing of so many Manufacturers say they expect Aybayrak, who has been making Now they fear what may come clined to give his full name, said counter-coup. We hear about the “Even though I do not approve people will serve a purpose. I up to 10mn fl ags to be sold in the fl ags for the past 25 years. “They next. he took part in the 2013 protests news that steps are being taken in of Erdogan’s policies, I believe don’t think there are any people coming days in Turkey, which are factory-made so it takes two A gloomy mood pervades Is- against Erdogan and his Islamo- this direction.” no-one can do this to his own left who dare to speak up against has a total population of nearly to three days to produce them. tanbul’s chic, secular neighbour- conservative government that At fi rst glance, life is back to country,” she said. bad governance.” 80mn people. Basically everyone in Turkey hood of Besiktas, a left-wing were sparked by plans to redevel- normal in Besiktas, where trendy Celik recounted the passion for At a nearby bookshop cafe, They say this would mark the wants fl ags.” stronghold and centre of opposi- op Gezi Park in central Istanbul. cafes were packed with a lunch change she felt three years ago at 18-year-old Nesrin worried tion against Erdogan. Besiktas and its local Carsi crowd early this week. the height of the Gezi protests, about Erdogan’s calls for citi- Academics banned from travel abroad While most here have no taste football fan club were at the fore- But, on most tables, there was and added how crushed she feels zens to take to the streets to rally for military rule and are grateful front of the mass protests, which only one topic of conversation. now. against the coup attempt. Turkey’s decision to ban academics from travelling abroad is a the putsch failed, they are also pitted mostly youthful urban “F-16 jets were fl ying, prayers “At that time, I was very hope- “We were banned from tak- temporary measure prompted by the flight risk of alleged coup plotters anxious about what they call the protesters against riot police. for the dead were said through ful, protesting amongst the ing to the streets during the Gezi in universities, a government off icial said yesterday. subsequent “counter-coup” that Refl ecting on his confl icting the loudspeakers of minarets that crowds proudly, my eyes brim- protests and tear-gassed,” she The off icial added that certain individuals at universities were believed has seen thousands detained. feelings now, shared by many night,” recounted Sumbul Celik, ming with tears,” she said. “Now I said. “Now people are told to take to be in contact with cells within the military, without giving further “It appears a witch-hunt is here, Emre said: “I am not back- a 32-year-old sales representa- am looking for a way to leave this the squares. What an irony! I am details. under way,” said 25-year-old ing the government, but a coup is tive, of last Friday night. country. We are a tiny minority scared that the freedoms that re- Turkey’s High Board of Education has banned all academics from university student and bartender never acceptable.” “That made me think about at the moment. The government main will be restricted.” travelling abroad, state-run broadcaster TRT reported earlier. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, July 21, 2016 INDIA

POLITICS INITIATIVE CONSTRUCTION CUSTODY DEATH APPEAL Arunachal Pradesh Incentives for building BJD opposes barrage Jharkhand told to pay Jayalalithaa writes to PM CM wins trust vote toilets in villages on Mahanadi river Rs100,00 compensation on Thiruvalluvar statue

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu The Haryana government will now provide Biju Janata Dal (BJD) members yesterday The Jharkhand High Court yesterday ordered Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa yesterday yesterday won the floor test in the assembly as incentives, and not subsidies, for construction demanded that the central government take steps the state government to pay Rs100,000 as urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to urgently 44 Congress legislators and two Independents of toilets in villages, an off icial said yesterday. to stop the construction of a barrage by Bharatiya compensation within 24 hours to the family take up with the Uttarakhand government the voted for him. Eleven Bharatiya Janata Party Till now the government used to subsidise Janata Party-ruled Chhattisgarh government on of a minor tribal boy allegedly killed in police issue of installation of a statue of Tamil sage poet legislators voted against Khandu. The eff ective the construction of the toilets. But that policy the Mahanadi river. “This is really unfortunate that custody, a lawyer said. The court also issued a Thiruvalluvar in Haridwar. In a letter to Modi, strength of the 60-member Arunachal Pradesh has been revised and village councils will in our federal system the interests of the people notice to the state and sought a reply within six Jayalalithaa requested Modi to accord this issue the assembly is 58. Khandu moved the motion receive incentives for maintaining cleanliness, of Odisha have been completely neglected. We weeks on Rupesh Swansy’s death. The boy was highest priority and prevail upon the Uttarakhand for vote of confidence in the government led Navraj Sandhu, additional chief secretary of are shocked,” BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab picked up by the Ranchi police from a shop at government to resolve the matter at the earliest. by him yesterday morning. It was seconded the Rural Development Department, said. The said in the Lok Sabha. “Mahanadi contributes to Bundu, around 50km from Ranchi, on suspicion “It is learnt that the Thiruvalluvar statue is now by former chief minister Nabam Tuki. The government will no longer give Rs12,000 for maximum irrigation in our state. The lives and of being a Maoist supporter earlier this month. lying in the Dam Kothi Guest House, Haridwar, in proceedings were conducted by Deputy Speaker construction of toilets. Instead, incentives will livelihood of the farmers of 15 districts, including The boy’s sister said policemen brutally beat an abandoned condition. The visuals of the statue T N Thongdok as Speaker Nabam Rebia had be given. Earlier people constructed toilets Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Sundergarh and him, resulting in his death. Two police off icials in this condition beamed on television screens are resigned on Tuesday night. Arunachal Pradesh in their homes with the subsidy but never Bolangir are fully dependent on Mahanadi,” he have been suspended and one of their seniors causing outrage in Tamil Nadu,” Jayalalithaa said. Governor Tathagata Roy had hurriedly convened used it. Now the cleanest and most functional said. Mahtab demanded that “immediate steps” transferred in connection with the alleged She said Bharatiya Janata Party leader Tarun Vijay the session for yesterday and asked Khandu to public toilet at the district will get an award of be taken by the central government to stop the custodial death. The state has handed over the had proposed the installation of the statue, and he prove his government’s majority in the assembly. Rs10,000 each month, Sandhu said. construction of the barrage. case to the Crime Investigation Department. off ered to raise funds for the purpose.

Bullet train services by Gujarat sees by 2024, says Prabhu more protests IANS New Delhi

ailways Minister Suresh Prabhu yesterday said the RMumbai-Ahmedabad bul- let train corridor would be com- over attacks pleted by 2023-24. Prabhu said the joint feasibil- ity study for the high-speed bul- let train project has already been conducted by the Japanese In- ternational Corporation Agency (JICA). on Dalit men “Mumbai-Ahmedabad high- We are the poorest but we are partial shutdowns as Chief Min- including a Muslim man who was speed rail project has been sanc- not cowards, says a leader of ister Anandiben Patel visited the last year beaten to death by a mob tioned with technical and fi nan- the community village of the four Dalit men in in a town near New Delhi. cial assistance from government Una of Saurashtra region . Opposition lawmakers disrupt- of Japan. Joint feasibility study Agencies They broke down on seeing ed parliament yesterday to protest for Mumbai-Ahmedabad high Ahmedabad Anandiben at their doorsteps. She against the fl oggings in Gujarat -speed rail project has already later claimed all 25 Dalit families and demanded Modi apologise to been done by JICA,” Prabhu said in the village were satisfi ed with the victims. in the parliament. rotesters from the Dalit the government’s action in the as- “The recent shocking incident “On the basis of negotiations community blocked roads sault case. in Gujarat where four Dalit youths held with government of Japan Pand attacked government Besides aid, she said, the Gu- were savagely beaten and humili- and JICA, the government of In- buses in Prime Minister Narendra jarat government will provide fi - ated publicly is just one example of dia has sanctioned the Mumbai- Modi’s home state of Gujarat yes- nancial help to these families for the social terror this government Ahmedabad high-speed train terday in a third day of demon- the construction of houses and condones,” Congress president project with fi nancial and techni- strations over the fl ogging of four toilets. Sonia Gandhi told supporters. cal assistance from government of men accused of skinning a cow. A special camp will be held to In the upper house Rajya Sabha, Japan for commissioning targeted The four Dalit men were last ensure they get benefi ts of all gov- opposition members trooped near in 2023-24,” the minister said. week tied to a car, stripped and ernment schemes. the chairman’s podium, raising According to the minister, fl ogged with sticks by self-styled Dalit children studying in Class slogans against the government. the journey on the 508km high- hardline Hindu cow protectors 5 and above will be enrolled in Social Justice and Empower- speed rail corridor will be com- who then published a video of the government model schools for ment Minister Thawar Chand pleted in 2.07 hours with the attack as a “warning” to others. free. Gehlot expressed regret at the trains running at a maximum The beatings sparked the most Anandiben said she had or- death of the Dalit who consumed speed of 350km per hour and an serious protests by Dalits in years dered the district administra- poison. operating speed of 320km per in Gujarat, with seven youths try- tion to complete these tasks in a The minister, however, said the hour. ing to kill themselves in protest by month’s time and that she will issue should not be “politicised.” Currently, the fastest pas- taking pesticide in diff erent parts revisit the place after two months Critics say Modi’s Bharatiya senger train in service with the of the state, an act that further in- to monitor the progress. Janata Party’s nationalist agenda Indian Railways - Duronto - cov- fl amed tempers. Dalits are at the bottom of In- empowers hardline activists to ers the same distance between A police offi cer was killed on dia’s ages-old social hierarchy, believe they can take matters into Mumbai and Ahmedabad in sev- Tuesday during clashes in Una, making them vulnerable to at- their hands and target minor- en hours. 340km from Ahmedabad, where tacks perpetrated by self-styled ity groups like Dalits and Muslims Prabhu said the Japanese gov- the tannery workers were at- cow-protecting vigilantes. involved in the cattle trade. ernment will fi nance 81% of the tacked. The vigilantes chase trucks Home Minister Rajnath Singh project cost of Rs976bn with an Cows are revered in Hindu- transporting cattle and raid condemned the attack in Gujarat interest rate of 0.1% per annum, ism and their slaughter is banned slaughter houses. and said Modi was committed to to be repaid in 50 years with 15 in most states including Gujarat, Several people accused of eat- the protection of low-caste peo- years of moratorium. where Modi ruled as chief minis- ing beef have also been attacked, ple. In the last session of parlia- ter for a decade and spearheaded a ment, the minister had said the 2011 ban. Rahul caught ‘napping’ in Lok Sabha fares of the bullet train will be 1.5 Dalits in the state, however, times the current fi rst class AC said they earn their livelihood A video clip showing Congress vice president’s alleged nap, say- charges. from skinning cows that die natu- vice president Rahul Gandhi ap- ing he was just “resting his eyes. In Duronto Express, for exam- rally, buff aloes and other animals, parently dozing off momentarily in (He) wasn’t sleeping. Can anyone ple, the current AC 1st Class fare and vowed to fi ght anyone trying the Lok Sabha yesterday when the sleep through that ruckus? We between Mumbai and Ahmeda- to stop them from doing so. party was heatedly raising the an- (MPs) just close our eyes for relief.” bad is Rs2,200. This means, for “We are the poorest but we are ti-Dalit violence in Gujarat had the Social Justice and Empowerment the 508km run between the two not cowards,” said Mayur Dab- party on the defensive. The video Minister and Bharatiya Janata cities via a dedicated, high-speed hia, a leader of the Dalit campaign clip, which showed Gandhi resting Party leader Thawarchand Gehlot, corridor the fare will be around group in Ahmedabad. his head on his right hand, with however, later criticised the Rs3,300. Police are investigating wheth- eyes apparently shut, went viral on Congress. “We have been saying The ministry expects around er the fl ogged men killed the cow social networking sites. Congress that they are not serious about 36,000 daily users both ways or whether it was already dead. leader Renuka Chowdhury sought issues related to Dalits and their by 2023, going up to 186,000 by Members of the Dalit community block a road during a protest against the flogging of four men Diff erent regions of the state to give a clarification on the party welfare.” 2053. accused of skinning a cow, in Ahmedabad, yesterday. observed sporadic protests and Lawyers and journalists Offi cer gets bail to perform last rites clash on court campus IANS Both were found hanging New Delhi from ceiling fans in diff erent rooms of their fi rst fl oor fl at in By Ashraf Padanna ting in protest outside. Journal- tried to molest her on a road at the Neelkanth Apartments in east Thiruvananthapuram ists unions also took out protest busy Convent Junction in Kochi. New Delhi court yester- Delhi’s Madhu Vihar area, po- marches at many places, includ- The letter said “the way in day granted three-day lice said. ing the state capital here, against which the police published the Ainterim bail to a senior The CBI had raided their cores of journalists yesterday “the attempts to silence the me- news and framed the lawyer” are offi cial of the Ministry of Cor- fl at on Saturday and Monday staged a sit-in at the Kerala dia.” against the guidelines laid down porate Aff airs for performing morning. SHigh Court protesting at The Kerala High Court Advo- by the Supreme Court. However, the last rites of his wife and Bansal was arrested on Sat- what they termed was “hooligan- cates Association, which has been state police chief Loknath Behera daughter who committed sui- urday and remanded in two- ism” of a section of lawyers. at the forefront of a campaign said the complaint was genuine. cide on Tuesday. day’s custody by a special court The lawyers on Tuesday alleg- against “framing and arresting” “The mode and approach of the The Central Bureau of In- on Sunday. He was accused edly manhandled television crew, its member in the rape case, said police in violating the rulings and vestigation (CBI) Special Judge of receiving Rs900,000 from including a woman reporter, and it had nothing to explain. fl ashing the news which has un- Gurdeep Singh granted the bail Mumbai-based Elder Pharma- locked up the media room saying “We have nothing to say. Noth- necessarily tarnished the image of to B K Bansal till July 22. ceuticals. they were distorting facts after ing to off er, and we don’t want to lawyer fraternity at large and the He was arrested on bribery The CBI had also booked the the arrest of a government coun- speak to journalists,” said its pres- unnecessary comments prefi xed charges. company’s chief operating of- sel on charges of rape attempt. ident S U Nazar. “We are going to along with the name of the lawyer The court asked him to fi cer Anuj Saxena. The court premises also wit- meet the (acting) chief justice.” is improper and needs to be con- furnish a personal bond of During investigation, the CBI nessed a pitched battle between In a letter to Advocate General demned,” the letter said. Rs50,000 and a surety of like is said to have found that the the two sides, and the police had Sudhakar Prasad earlier, the law- The KHCAA had in the morn- amount. senior offi cer owned 20 proper- a tough time to bring the situation yers alleged the police misused the ing convened an extraordinary Upset over two CBI raids at ties in Haryana’s Sirsa, Gurgaon under control. media to give extensive publicity to general body meeting to discuss their residence within three and Faridabad as well as Delhi. Women journalists said the the arrest of government pleader the issue of alleged “manhandling days, Bansal’s wife Satyabala, All the properties were lawyers hurled abuses at them be- Dhanesh Mathew Manjooran. of certain lawyers by media per- 57, and daughter Neha, 27, al- bought in the last two years fore they were fl ushed out of the He was arrested after a woman sons inside the High Court build- Journalists stage a sit-in protest outside the Kerala High Court legedly committed suicide on and most were in the names of media room and later while sit- raised an alarm saying he had ing” the previous day. yesterday. Tuesday noon. Bansal, his wife and son. Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 17 INDIA AAP woman activist commits suicide, Sisodia orders probe

IANS The woman, Soni, who lived (Word, gesture or act intended to “she was rushed to hospital, but a magisterial probe into the al- “Very sad case of Soni sui- “The real face of AAP has been New Delhi in outer Delhi’s Narela area with insult the modesty of a woman) died around 7pm.” leged suicide. cide. DCW counsellor met SHO, exposed and the suicide by the her two daughters and other of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), The offi cer said that Soni was Sisodia asked North Delhi’s ACP and got her FIR fi led. Court woman party worker has estab- family members, had fi led a po- police said. basically unhappy with her party district magistrate to investigate gave bail to accused. We demand lished the fact that it is an anti- woman Aam Aadmi Party lice complaint on June 2 about In her police complaint, Soni for not taking action against her the matter. strictest action in this case,” women character party.” (AAP) activist commit- party colleague Ramesh Wadhwa alleged that Wadhwa harassed alleged molester. “Have ordered magistrate Maliwal tweeted. “She raised the issue with the Ated suicide after a party for harassing her. her continuously and asked for Police said Wadhwa had got a inquiry in AAP activist suicide “Suicide case increasing. party leaders but they kept on member, who she accused of “We registered a case against sexual favours. She even raised stay on his arrest from the court case in Narela. DM north will do Many get depressed during bat- ignoring her complaint,” Upad- sexually harassing her, was re- him and arrested him on June 3,” the matter in the party but no on June 22. the inquiry,” Sisodia tweeted. tle for justice. DCW to set up hyay said, adding, “and it is not leased on bail. Delhi Deputy a police offi cer said. action was taken against him, Meanwhile, family members Delhi Women Commission special counselling centre for the fi rst incident, around six Chief Minister Manish Sisodia “He was granted police bail on she said. of the woman alleged that Soni chief Swati Maliwal expressed women dealing with depres- cases have been fi led against has ordered a magisterial probe. June 4,” the offi cer added. “On Tuesday, she mixed went into depression after bail concern over the incident and sion,” Maliwal said in another AAP leaders for misbehaving The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) The case was registered under something in her cold drink and was granted to the accused. demanded stringent action tweet. with women who either work said the incident has exposed the Sections 506 (Punishment for tried to commit suicide around Taking note of the incident, against those behind Soni’s sui- Attacking the AAP, Delhi unit with them or go to their offi ce to anti-women character of the AAP. criminal intimidation) and 509 2pm,” the offi cer said, adding the Delhi government ordered cide. BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said: meet them.” Rajni mania grips India ahead of fi lm release

Agencies following as a rock star of yes- New Delhi teryears,” Tilak added. “His fan base is expan- sive from rickshaw-pullers in ans of the balding Chennai to techies in Silicon 65-year-old Tamil su- Valley who dance down the Fperstar Rajinikanth are aisles to the songs in his fi lms.” going mad across India as they Most theatres across Tamil prepare for the opening of his Nadu have sold out tickets for latest fi lm Kabali tomorrow. the opening weekend. Migrant labourers wait for bus tickets so they can travel back to their respective homes at the Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar, during a curfew yesterday. Many non-Kashmiri Several software fi rms in “With the average ticket labourers are leaving the valley due to ongoing unrest. Bengaluru and Chennai have costing Rs600, most ardent given their employees a day Rajinikanth fans are disap- off so they can catch the fi rst pointed that they couldn’t showings of the gangster dra- aff ord the tickets on the fi rst ma. day,” a trade analyst said. S Shriram, founder of shop- Despite Tamil Nadu govern- ping and delivery website ment’s cap of Rs120 on movie Oyethere.com, has booked tickets, theatre owners have two Inox screens for Kabali in been selling Kabali tickets at Facebook under fi re for Chennai for his workforce, the fi ve times the original price. Times of India reported. “We are used to paying A Maruti Suzuki car dealer Rs120 for movie tickets. But in Hosur town in Tamil Nadu this sudden exponential in- is selling a model of the Swift crease in ticket price is very decorated with images, graph- unfair. The prices vary ac- ics and quotes from Kabali, cording to the show timings. Kashmir ‘censorship’ the paper reported. Early morning shows are sold Born Shivaji Rao Gaikwad, at Rs500-600 and the prices Without credible information mation blackout has been exacer- “There are so many rumours from Facebook’s headquarters ers, support for violent organi- Rajinikanth was a bus con- are slashed through the course or access to communication bated by censorship on Facebook. fl ying around, people saying ‘Did in America; I never thought it zations or exceedingly graphic ductor before he made it big of the day,” said Santhosh Ku- channels there is an “There are no papers and we you hear about this man who would happen to me.” content on Facebook.” in fi lms. mar, a college student. atmosphere of uncertainty only get two TV news channels,” died?’ when the man is still alive. Dar, an academic at UC Berkley In a statement, Facebook He is a cult fi gure in India, Some fans are seething over said Zargar Yasir, a Kashmiri blog- Or did you hear about that shoot- and California State who teaches said: “There is no place on Fa- almost deifi ed by this many unavailability of tickets be- Guardian News and Media ger and PhD student who said his ing here? When actually it hap- a class about cinema and terror- cebook for content that praises fans, and usually plays larger- cause they were allegedly sold New Delhi account was blocked for more pened somewhere else,” said Yasir. ism, said: “Naturally I post about or supports terrorists, terrorist than-life roles. in bulk to companies. than a week, with some posts re- Social media companies such these things, and I use Facebook as organisations or terrorism. We Srinivas Jayaseelan, a “We don’t have issues with moved, after he linked to a self- as Facebook are under increasing a place to discuss ideas.” welcome discussion on these Chennai-based airline ex- the ticket prices. It’s once in acebook has censored doz- authored blogpost about Wani. pressure to limit the spread of When Dar wrote to Facebook subjects but any terrorist con- ecutive has booked tickets to two or three years, you get a ens of posts and user ac- “When there’s no news, usually extremist propaganda - but have about her account being deleted, tent has to be clearly put in con- watch 10 back-to-back shows Thalaivar (Rajinikanth’s) fi lm. Fcounts after the death of we turn to social media for infor- also faced criticism that they she got a response saying that text which condemns these or- of Kabali, website fi rstpost. If you can’t shell out Rs1,000 a Kashmiri separatist militant, mation. That way at least we can have gone too far. her posts had “violated com- ganisations and or their violent com reported. for your matinee idol, then who was killed by security forces talk to each other, we can ask our Rizwan Sajid, whose account munity standards. The e-mail activities. Therefore, profi les Asked if he had similar de- what kind of a fan are you,” earlier this month. families and friends how they are, was blocked after he changed did not mention which post spe- and content supporting or prais- votion for any other actor, Ja- asks Muralikrishna, a char- Academics, journalists and if they are OK. But Facebook has his profi le picture to an image cifi cally had led to the deletion of ing Hizbul Mujahideen and Bur- yaseelan was quoted as saying: tered accountant. the pages of local newspapers taken my account down, so how of Wani, said Facebook’s actions her account but said, “one of our han Wani are removed as soon as “I have one father, one mother A theatre owner said the are among those who have had do I do that now?” said Yasir. amounted to Islamophobia. main priorities is the comfort they are reported to us. In this and one god - who is Ra- tickets were being sold at photos, videos and entire ac- To get round the government’s “Why is it that only Muslims and safety of the people who use instance, some content was re- jinikanth.” such high prices because counts deleted by Facebook after news ban, reporters have been get blocked? Facebook is be- Facebook, and we don’t allow moved in error, but this has now “Rajinikanth is an icon of the high investment they posted about recent events updating the news websites and ing one-sided by supporting credible threats to harm oth- been restored.” for people who worship involved. in state. posting on social media to keep the atrocities committed by the him with religious rituals,” “The Chengalpet area Burhan Wani, a senior mem- people informed. Indian army. Other people can Principal charged with sedition said Sudha G Tilak, a crit- rights of Kabali were ber of the Hizbul Mujahideen Mubashir Bukhari, a journal- say whatever they want, but if ic writing on Tamil bought for Rs18 rebel group, was killed by the ist writing for Kashmir Monitor Muslims say something, we get A school principal and two spotted the map in a school fi lms. crore (Rs180mn). army on July 8. At least 45 peo- paper said: “When I came into blocked. It is not neutral.” others in Madhya Pradesh have diary. Police said hundreds of “He is an emblem In order to make ple died in the violent protests work yesterday, I saw that Fa- Huma Dar, a Kashmiri academ- been charged with sedition diaries were printed by the of all their aspira- profi ts, the fi lm that spread across Jammu and cebook had removed a video we ic in California, found that her for printing an incorrect map private Green Bells Public tions, his characters should collect Kashmir in the aftermath of the had posted. The video showed profi le had been deleted without of Jammu and Kashmir, police School, showing parts of have humble roots over Rs30 crore. killing, and an indefi nite curfew Syed Ali Shah Ghelani, a sepa- warning after she posted images said yesterday, an off ence Kashmir within the borders and fi ght for jus- If the tick- has been introduced by the gov- ratist leader, condemning the of Wani’s funeral last Sunday. technically punishable by a of Pakistan and China. “All of tice.” ets are sold ernment. death of Burhan Wani. We have “The day that Burhan was maximum of life in jail. The them have been charged with Each of the star’s at Rs120, it’s Mobile phone coverage, landlines never had anything else removed killed, I got messages from principal was arrested on sedition and acting against fi lms is a “time impossible to and Internet services were curbed from our Facebook page.” friends in India saying some of Monday along with the school’s the national interest,” Satish for celebration,” he recover the in- throughout the state, and police Without credible informa- their photos had been deleted. owner and a printing press Dwivedi, a senior police off icer said. vestment in the raided newspaper offi ces, seizing tion or access to communication I thought it had something to owner following a complaint by in Shahdol district where the “Rajinikanth com- fi rst few days,” he thousands of printed copies. channels there is an atmosphere do with the Indian government. a rightwing Hindu activist, who men were arrested, said. mands the same fan said. Kashmiris say that the infor- of uncertainty in the state. I live a mile and a half away Police arrest three over Mumbai temple accepts shares as donations gang-rape of student AFP “The stocks cannot be used Mumbai for trading purposes,” Rane ex- plained. Agencies that attack, but were released on highway last Wednesday night. Hundreds of thousands of New Delhi bail while awaiting trial. Her family has said the fi ve ne of India’s most high- worshippers pray at Siddhivi- “We arrested three of them men had issued threats before profi le Hindu temples nayak temple every day, includ- yesterday,” Pushpa Khatri, a the latest attack, demanding Osaid yesterday it now ac- ing cricketers, politicians and olice have arrested three police offi cer involved in the in- that they withdraw the case cepts shares of listed companies Bollywood stars. suspects over the alleged vestigation, said without giving lodged after the 2013 assault. as donations in a novel departure It is one of the wealthiest tem- Pgang-rape of a student by further details. The family also told media from the usual gifts of cash and ples in India, receiving donations a group of men, some of whom A local court sent the three they had been forced to move gold. of around Rs750mn ($11.19mn) a had been charged with a previ- accused to police custody until away from their home district Mumbai’s Siddhivinayak tem- year in cash, silver and gold. ous attack on her, an offi cer said Sunday, after a prosecutor asked after the 2013 attack because of ple, which Apple chief executive As well as donations, Hindus yesterday. for them to be remanded for harassment. Tim Cook visited in May, allows also seek the blessings of their The 21-year-old Dalit woman further questioning, an offi cer However, some of those ac- generous devotees to transfer favoured gods by making reli- has told police she was abducted present at the hearing said. cused in the latest case have de- their stocks electronically to gious off erings at shrines, such near her college in Haryana last It was unclear whether the nied involvement, saying they an account run by the religious as fruit, incense sticks and fl ow- week by the fi ve men, who then two men already facing charges were not in the area on the day of site’s trust. ers. drugged and raped her. were among those arrested. the alleged assault. “We have opened up a ‘share Rane hopes Indians who like According to relatives quoted Police said they were still The victim’s father said his and securities’ option for devo- to invest on the Bombay Stock in media, she identifi ed all fi ve as looking for two other suspects in daughter was determined to tees globally,” trust chairman Exchange will be inclined to give the men who had raped her be- the latest case. fi ght the case and after the sec- Narendra Murari Rane said, some of their shares to Siddhivi- fore, in 2013. The woman was found uncon- ond incident had told him: “I will Police escort two men accused of gang raping a woman as they adding that the stocks would be nayak in the hope that it will Two men were charged over scious in bushes on the side of a not give up.” arrive in a court in Rohtak, Haryana, yesterday. converted into cash. boost their fortunes. Gulf Times 18 Thursday, July 21, 2016 LATIN AMERICA

DECISION HEALTH TRAGEDY LEGAL PEOPLE Chile demands Bolivian Surgery on Noriega brain Death toll in Peru river Court backs referendum Swedish free-skier off icials have visa for entry tumour postponed: doctor cruise blast up to two on peace deal with Farc dies in Chile avalanche

Chile has declared that all Bolivian government Scheduled surgery on imprisoned former Rescuers have recovered a second body from a Colombia’s constitutional court has given its Swedish professional extreme skier Matilda off icials would need entry visas in passports to Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega to remove cruise ship that exploded while docked on a river in approval for a popular referendum on a historic Rapaport has died after being caught in an visit. The move was a firm rebuke after Bolivian a benign brain tumour has been postponed the Peruvian Amazon, off icials said. Divers are still peace deal being negotiated with Farc rebels. avalanche in the Andes mountains near Chile’s Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca made an because of the 82-year-old’s frail health, his looking for the bodies of several people missing “There is a green light for us, the Colombian capital Santiago, her sponsor Red Bull said. unoff icial visit to Chilean ports this week. The doctor said. The operation was to have taken since Saturday’s blast in the city of Iquitos. The people, to approve the peace deal with our votes,” Rapaport, who was 30 years old, was skiing in a countries have an agreement under which Chile place today on the tumour, which has slowly accident happened when a gas container exploded President Juan Manuel Santos said. The top court film shoot outside the resort town of Farellones allows Bolivia access to its ports; Choquehuanca grown since being detected years ago. But the aboard the Aqua Expeditions cruise ship as it was held more than eight hours of deliberations when the avalanche occurred. She died later in had critical words to say, and outraged Chilean ex-general’s personal doctor Eduardo Reyes said taking on fuel. No tourists were on board at the before giving its go-ahead to a government bill on hospital after suff ering oxygen deprivation and off icials who insist they are keeping their side of that, after being admitted to hospital, Noriega time. The second body was found by Peruvian the plebiscite, which has already been approved brain damage. “Matilda was an extraordinary the deal. But there is no shortage of bad blood was found to be suff ering blood pressure navy divers. They had to work carefully because by Congress. The Colombian government and the athlete, travelling the world to find her passion, between the Andean neighbours. Bolivia lost its “too high for surgery.” He added that it was of risks of another explosion, said Oscar Garrido- Marxist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ride steep terrain and share her bright smile,” access to the sea to Chile in the War of the Pacific risky to expose Noriega to hospital infections Lecca Hoyle, director of the Iquitos port. The rest (Farc) are in the final phase of four years of talks Red Bull said. Rapaport was an established part in the 19th century, and has stepped up eff orts to “unnecessarily” and the operation had been put of the bodies are believed to be trapped on the that it is hoped will result in a peace deal putting of the freeride skiing circuit, in which athletes get it back under President Evo Morales. off “until new advice.” starboard side of the ship, now under water. to an end a half-a-century of conflict. rapidly descend steep, rocky mountain faces. Superheroes River cleanup swoop in to a Venezuela in crisis

AFP are often cobbled together us- Caracas ing whatever materials are at hand. Ann Mary Fayard, a 34-year- uperheroes, wizards old fashion designer, was and Jedi Knights have decked out as Harley Quinn, Sdescended on the Ven- the Joker’s sidekick, a costume ezuelan capital. And while she made from scraps. they may not be able to save “I recycle everything. the country from its spiralling Whatever cloth is left over, economic crisis, fans at Cara- design materials. I save money cas Comic-Con are counting and tap of my ingenuity,” she on their heroes to at least help said. them escape their real-world “I like ‘cosplay’ (costume problems for a while. role-play) because I can let For three weekends, through my imagination fl y. It’s a way July 31, fans are paying tribute to free your mind of so many to the worlds of comic books, problems and spend time do- video games and sci-fi at the ing something else.” 10th Caracas Comic-Con, the Venezuela is teetering on Men work cleaning up the garbage next to an ecobarrier at Meriti River which flows into Guanabara Bay, in Duque de Caxias, near Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. local edition of the interna- the brink of collapse, devas- tional pop culture fest. tated by the global plunge in It comes at a time when prices for its main export, oil. a punishing recession, food President Nicolas Maduro’s shortages, hyperinfl ation and government is struggling to violent crime have left Ven- contain the crisis, fuelling op- ezuelans desperate for heroes position calls for an end to 17 — or even villains — to come to years of leftist rule. the rescue. The doom and gloom “It gives us space to breathe have not kept self-described Cuba urges Obama to in the middle of this political “geeks” from shelling out situation,” said Jhoan Guz- 1,800 bolivars (about $3 at the man, a 25-year-old chemist latest offi cial exchange rate) who was yesterday wearing — more than a week’s pay at the white face paint and red minimum wage — to attend lipstick of his alter ego: Bat- Caracas Comic-Con. man’s arch-enemy Joker. Convention organiser Dan- make thaw ‘irreversible’ “This is an alternative to iela Paolillo said she expected help us forget the world we’re some 20,000 visitors. AFP to make the process irreversible 1962, paving the way for visible presidential nominee, nor Hil- receiving fi nes,” she said. living in, to enjoy ourselves One of the top issues they Havana going forward,” she said in an changes. lary Clinton, his presumptive “The US government has not doing something we love.” are talking about, said Paolil- interview published in the rul- Cruise ships can now sail Democratic rival, would likely issued any political statement or Instead of lining up outside lo, is when they will be able to ing Communist party’s offi cial from Miami to Havana, regular reverse the rapprochement — legal document explaining to the the supermarket for basic ne- play Pokemon Go, the wildly uba yesterday called on newspaper, Granma. commercial fl ights are due to though they may not make the banks of the world that opera- cessities, attendees fl ock to a popular video game in which US President Barack “Cuba has reiterated the im- resume in the coming months, ongoing negotiations a prior- tions with Cuba are legitimate convention hall in a Caracas players roam the real world CObama to make the portance of the president using US companies like Airbnb and ity. and will not be sanctioned.” mall to pay homage to their hunting for cartoon monsters former Cold War enemies’ rec- his executive authority to the Netfl ix now operate in Cuba and Vidal said some of Obama’s The US for its part continues favourite pop culture phenom- with their cell phones. onciliation “irreversible,” as they maximum to continue introduc- American hotel group Starwood changes — including a green pushing Cuba to promise greater ena: The Avengers, Star Wars, Thyfany Ron, a member of marked one year since the resto- ing political changes.” recently opened a Sheraton in light for Cuba to use the dollar human rights protections — a Harry Potter, Pokemon and the Pokemon Venezuela fan ration of diplomatic ties. Since Obama and Cuban Pres- Havana. and transact with US banks — message that has so far received Game of Thrones, among oth- club, said there is still no local With the US hurtling toward ident Raul Castro announced the But Obama, who visited Ha- have still not taken eff ect. a steely response from the Cas- ers. release date for the game. its November presidential elec- thaw in December 2014, Wash- vana in March, has failed to per- “Our fi nancial transactions tro regime. Some even show up in cos- And it is unclear how safe it tion, Josefi na Vidal, Cuba’s top ington and Havana have taken suade his Republican opponents continue to be blocked...we “Tough conversations on tume, just like at other Com- would be for players in a coun- diplomat for US aff airs, urged once-unthinkable steps to mend in Congress to lift the full em- are denied all kinds of serv- challenging issues such as hu- ic-Cons worldwide — chief try with one of the world’s Obama to ensure his successor ties after more than half a cen- bargo, the main source of linger- ices, including our diplomatic man rights... lie ahead,” said the among them the giant gath- highest rates of violent crime, cannot undo the countries’ his- tury of enmity. ing tension. missions and offi ces abroad, US ambassador to Cuba, Jeff rey ering each July in San Diego where smartphone users are toric rapprochement. Obama has relaxed portions of Political analysts say neither and banks and foreign entities DeLaurentis, ahead of the anni- — though here the get-ups frequent targets on the street. Obama “can do much more the US embargo imposed since Donald Trump, the Republican linked to our country continue versary.

Petrobras ‘inclined to Anniversary marked Court order blocking redo’ fuel unit stake sale WhatsApp suspended DPA by social media giant Face- Reuters Investments and Advent In- for BR Distribuidora and max- Rio de Janeiro book, has repeatedly said it Sao Paulo ternational Corporation, the imise profi ts and dividends for does not archive or copy user source said. Petrobras, the source said. messages. The 30 fi rms that partici- A control-sharing mecha- razil’s Supreme Court Earlier this year, the com- razil’s state-controlled pated in a fi rst-round bid could nism in which Petrobras would has suspended a lower pany introduced end-to-end Petroleo Brasileiro SA be invited to join the reworked cede voting control of BR Dis- Bcourt’s order blocking encryption on all of its serv- Bis inclined to restart the stake sale process, the source tribuidora has been widely WhatsApp, the latest reversal ices, making it impossible for process of selling part of BR said. Petrobras said in a securi- used in the past by state fi rms, in an ongoing spat between anyone but users themselves Distribuidora SA, a source with ties fi ling that the structure of such as Banco do Brasil SA. the messaging service and to access their communica- direct knowledge of the matter the BR Distribuidora stake sale According to the source, the authorities over access to en- tions. said, as a recent bidding round will be decided this month. violent divergence in valuations crypted data, Brazilian media The order was the third put a low price tag on the fuel Neither the board nor man- led the board and Parente’s team reported. time a Brazilian judge had distribution unit. agement of Petrobras have de- to rethink the plan. Petrobras is Ricardo Lewandowski, the shut down WhatsApp in simi- The source, asking for ano- cided yet whether to share or seeking a valuation for BR Dis- president of the Supreme lar disputes, and the third nymity as talks are underway, surrender control of the sub- tribuidora of between 30bn and Court, said a lower court’s na- time such an order had been said preliminary board and sidiary, the fi ling added. 40bn reais, the source added. tionwide block of the popular reversed by a higher court. management discussions were The media offi ce of Rio de Ja- The company had 118bn reais messaging service was “dis- In December, a judge or- converging toward selling con- neiro-based Petrobras, which ($36bn) in revenue last year and proportionate” and violated dered a 48-hour suspension trol of BR Distribuidora to gar- fully owns BR Distribuidora, owns Brazil’s No. Brazilians’ right to freedom of the service, which was re- ner a higher valuation. declined further comment. 1 gasoline station network. of expression and access to versed by a higher court after An initial plan to sell a mi- Chief executive offi cer Pedro In the June process, bids communication, the daily O 14 hours. nority stake was behind the Parente, who took offi ce in valued the company between Estado de Sao Paulo reported. In May, the service was or- disappointing bids, the source June, wants to sell assets and 10bn reais and 15bn reais, the A court in Rio de Janeiro had dered off -line for three days, said. cut debt without depriving source noted. earlier ordered Brazil’s mobile then was back online after 24 To kickstart the process, Petrobras of units that generate The disposal of a stake in phone providers to suspend hours. Petrobras must tell the three cash or are core to the business. BR Distribuidora is part of a support for the service and In March, a Facebook exec- fi rms that placed second- Reuters reported in March $14.4bn target for asset sales at said it would fi ne the company utive was arrested overnight round bids last month that that Parente’s predecessors Petrobras, which is struggling 50,000 reales ($15,625) a day on charges of obstructing a the structure of the deal will favoured selling control of BR with $130bn in debt, the largest until it provides authorities criminal investigation. change, the source said. Distribuidora as interest in a debt of any global oil company. Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega (left) greets Venezuela’s with copies of messages sent Used by more than 100mn The three bidders were minority stake faltered. Potential bidders have re- President Nicolas Maduro during the celebrations to mark the through its system they seek Brazilians, WhatsApp is by global energy and commod- The discussions will defi ne mained wary of gasoline price 37th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution at the Juan Pablo in a criminal investigation, far Brazil’s most popular mes- ity trading company Vitol BV which model for the deal would caps and fallout from a massive II square in Managua, Nicaragua. GloboNews reported. saging service and among its and private-equity fi rms GP bring about the highest price corruption probe. WhatsApp, which is owned largest markets. Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 19 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

ENTERTAINMENT Pakistani band collaborates with Indian singer

Law against honour killings Pakistani pop rock band Mizmaar has collaborated with veteran In- dian singer Shubha Mudgal for its latest single Jogi later this month. The song has been written and composed to juxtapose the musi- cal styles of Mizmaar and Mudgal. in weeks, says PM’s daughter “Jogi is an eff ort to compel people to think about coexisting and Reuters ties in parliament. Woman inspector to probe Qandeel’s murder finding the right path to bring Islamabad “We have fi nalised the draft peace in the world,” Mizmaar’s law in the light of negotiations,” A female Pakistani police off icer statements of a suspect. frontman Kashan Admani said in a she said in an interview. “The has been assigned to probe CPO Akram said the new statement. akistan’s ruling party fi nal draft will be presented to the murder of model Qandeel woman Investigation Off icer In Jogi, Mizmaar has featured their plans to pass long-delayed a committee of joint session of Baloch, off icials said yesterday. had issued notices to various new lead vocalist Asad Rasheed Plegislation against “hon- parliament on July 21 for consid- Qandeel, a social media persons, including Mufti Abdul who is well-versed with both East- our killings” within weeks in the eration and approval.” celebrity, was strangled to Qavi and the slain model’s ern and Western styles of singing. wake of the high-profi le murder Maryam said once the parlia- death on July 16, allegedly former husband Ashiq Hussain, He seeks inspiration from a variety of an outspoken social media mentary committee approved by her brother in the name in the light of the statement of of artistes across diverse genres. star, the daughter of Prime Min- the bill, it would be presented of family honour, in Multan, Qandeel’s mother. Some of his inspirations include ister Nawaz Sharif said yester- for a vote in a “couple of weeks” Punjab province, Dawn online The police had obtained Linkin Park, Audioslave, U2, day. before a joint session of parlia- reported. Qandeel’s mobile phone data Coldplay, Led Zeppelin, David The bill will go before a par- ment. Central Police Off icer (CPO) and detained her brother. Coverdale (Whitesnake), Mehdi liamentary committee as early A spokesman for Jamaat-e- Azhar Akram deployed “We are preparing the case in Hassan Khan and Nusrat Fateh as today, said Maryam Nawaz Islami, one of the two major reli- woman Inspector Attiya Jaff ari a way that its trial is concluded Ali Khan. Sharif, who is an increasingly in- gious parties in parliament, said following the suspension of two within three months,” Akram fl uential member of her father’s his party would not oppose the former investigating off icers said, adding that a letter had ruling party. bill. for showing negligence in the been dispatched to the Karachi GIFT The government has faced Pakistan’s other main re- Maryam Nawaz Sharif probe. corps commander for recording China to install mounting pressure to pass the ligious political party, Jamiat Meanwhile, Qandeel’s alleged the statement of Aslam law against murders carried out Ulema-e-Islam, could not be Baloch’s brother accused of her ample for others who tried to killer, her younger brother Shaheen, the elder brother of mega chandelier at by people professing to be acting reached for comment but it has murder, designating it a crime malign the clergy. Waseem, was sent on a 14-day Qandeel, who is serving in the Jinnah mausoleum in defence of the honour of their only a small number of seats in against the state and thereby He is being investigated for judicial remand on Tuesday, army. family. parliament. blocking her family from forgiv- her murder along with Baloch’s the police could not take him The CPO disclosed that suspect China will install a 2.5tonne The law would remove a loop- Both religious parties have ing their son. two brothers. to a forensic lab in Lahore for Waseem had made calls to decorative chandelier inside the hole that allows other family traditionally opposed legislation Baloch had long divided opin- Although government offi cials DNA and polygraph tests to some people soon after the mausoleum of Quaid-e-Azam members to pardon a killer. empowering women. ion in the deeply conservative appeared confi dent of backing complete the investigation. murder. Mohamed Ali Jinnah. The gifted The brother of social me- The upper house of parlia- Muslim society with her social for the bill in parliament, it could The police later filed an appeal Meanwhile, talking to Dawn, chandelier will be made by Chi- dia star Qandeel Baloch, often ment passed the bill in 2014 but media photos and posts. still face resistance. in the court to get physical Qandeel’s father Mohamed nese experts. described as Pakistan’s Kim it lapsed after the government She was unapologetic about The infl uential Council of Is- remand of Waseem, Dawn Azam and mother Anwar The signing ceremony of the Kardashian, has been arrested failed to put it up for a vote in the pushing the boundaries of ac- lamic Ideology, which advises online noted. Bibi said the name of Aslam agreement in this regard was held in connection with her stran- lower house because it was pre- ceptability for women and the government on the compati- According to a police off icial, Shaheen was included in the yesterday in which PM’s Special gling death and told a news occupied with legislation aimed changing “the typical orthodox bility of laws with Islam, warned the course of investigation FIR by them mistakenly and Assistant Irfan Siddiqui and conference he was incensed by at tackling security problems mindset” of Pakistanis. that it would not support any requires DNA and polygraph they would request the court Chinese ambassador in Islamabad her often risqué posts on social and economic reforms. Many viewed her as a disgrace law that removed the forgiveness tests to verify, establish and to exclude his name from the Sun Wiedong represented Paki- media. A senior government offi cial to the cultural values of Islam loophole, even though the coun- evaluate the truthfulness of case. stan and China respectively. Some 500 women are killed said all major parties were now and Pakistan. cil considers honour killings a Irfan Siddiqui said that the two each year in Pakistan at the backing the bill and it was likely Others hailed her as a “femi- crime. nations attach great respect and hands of family members over to be passed in a few weeks by a nist icon”. “Islamic law and the Qur’an take away that right from the done away with,” said Sharmeen aff iliation for Father of The Nation, perceived damage to “honour” joint session of parliament. She ran into political con- say that the right to forgive or family.” Obaid-Chinoy, whose docu- as is depicted by Chinese gifted that can involve eloping, frat- “The prime minister is tak- troversy last month after her punish lies first and foremost The religious parties and the mentary on honour killings A chandelier. “The gifted stunning ernising with men or any other ing personal interest,” added a “selfie” photographs with a with the victim’s family,” said council hold signifi cant infl u- Girl in the River: The Price of and precious chandelier is a infraction against conserva- second offi cial and close aide prominent Muslim cleric, went council spokesman Inam Ul- ence over public opinion and the Forgiveness won an Oscar this reiteration respect and honour tive values that govern women’s to Sharif. “You will see in com- viral, leading to him being lah. government fears a backlash if year. reflected by China” he said adding modesty. ing days more will be done, big fired from a prominent Muslim “So if this bill is trying to com- any law passes without their ap- “I am hopeful that this law will that the people of China also Maryam Nawaz Sharif said the changes will be announced.” council. pletely take away that right from proval. pass but the change in mindset expressed their marvellous attach- government wanted to pass the In a rare move, this week the After her death, the cleric, the family, then of course that is “This mentality - that you will talk so much longer...I think ment to the great Quaid through law unanimously and had been government became a complain- Abdul Qavi, told media that her against Islamic teachings. can get away with murder in the Qandeel Baloch’s murder is the installing a chandelier to further negotiating with religious par- ant in the police case against murder should serve as an ex- The state cannot completely name of honour - it has to be tipping point.” the beauty of shrine in 1971.

CRIME Afghan teen’s Protest death sparks Taliban attacks threaten shock waves Right groups yesterday called on the Afghan government to end disputed district centre the scourge of child marriages, af- ter a 14-year-old pregnant girl was burned to death in the latest case Reurters killed in the fi ghting, including ghanistan last week that US of violence against women. Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan the Taliban’s shadow district forces would have greater free- The family of the girl, Zahra, says governor in Sangin, Mawlawi dom to strike at the Taliban she was tortured and set alight by Agha, Zwak said. under broad new powers ap- her husband’s family, according fghan security forces A Taliban spokesman, Qari proved last month by President to reports citing local off icials in backed by US air strikes Yousef Ahmad, said his fi ghters Barack Obama. central Ghor province, where the Ahave beaten back Tali- had captured the district centre Sangin is in a strategic area incident occurred. ban attacks on a vulnerable but Afghan and US military of- for the lucrative opium trade, Relatives of the teenager’s southern district, government fi cials rejected that. which provides funding for husband insist her death was by offi cials said yesterday, after a the Taliban, as well as other self-immolation. relative lull in fi ghting over the “Taliban insurgents strongmen. Zahra, four months pregnant, was month of Ramadan. attacked our security The district centre is a small, also said to be a victim of “baad”, In recent days, Taliban forces outposts on Sunday but government-controlled en- the forced marriage of a girl to a launched attacks on the Sangin faced fi erce resistance clave in an area otherwise family to settle a dispute, a prac- district centre, an outpost in from Afghan forces and largely dominated by the Tali- tice prevalent in rural Afghanistan. Helmand province repeatedly were pushed back” ban, who have increased their Her death last week has sparked threatened by militants over stranglehold on the district shock waves in Afghanistan, with the past year. US warplanes had conducted over the past year. rights groups demanding that the “Taliban insurgents attacked at least two air strikes in the Fighting intensifi ed in Af- Afghan government bring an end our security outposts on Sun- 24 hours up to yesterday af- ghanistan after the Taliban to child marriages. day but faced fi erce resistance ternoon in support of Afghan announced the start of their “This is a truly heartbreaking situation Pakistani activists from Al-Badar Mujahideen shout slogans during a protest to denounce recent from Afghan forces and were troops, but offi cials declined annual warm-season off ensive in which Zahra faced suff ering beyond violence by Indian security forces in the Indian-administered Kashmir in Peshawar yesterday. Some pushed back,” said Omar Zwak, to provide additional details on in April, but it tailed off dur- comprehension,” Save the Children said 45 people have been killed in disputed Indian-administered Kashmir during deadly clashes a spokesman for the provincial the fi ghting. ing the Muslim fasting month in a statement. “Zahra’s is an extreme between government forces and demonstrators angered by the killing of a popular young rebel. governor. US Defence Secretary Ash of Ramadan, which ended early case of what can happen when a child Dozens of militants were Carter said on a visit to Af- this month. is forcibly married off .” Pricing dispute hits supply of TB drugs in Pakistan

Pakistan has world’s fifth-highest this year, said Ayesha Haq, executive tions, but said they were resolved last Formed in 2012 to oversee drug reg- TB rate; Price caps on key drugs director of Pharma Bureau, a trade month. ulation, DRAP this month instituted a not raised significantly since 2001; group representing 20 fi rms in Paki- She declined to say whether the fi rst annual price increase since 2001, Drugs firms seek average 30% stan. pricing dispute was a factor. with increases pegged to infl ation, price hike - lobby Doctors and public health offi cials A local TB drug maker, Schazoo which last year was at a 46-year low of said shortages could lead to a rise in Zaka, also partially cut production be- 2.86%. Reuters drug-resistant strains of TB with tens cause of the pricing dispute, said Ejaz Last month, DRAP also allowed for Islamabad of thousands of patients missing doses Qadeer, who heads Pakistan’s anti-TB an 8% increase in TB drug prices under mid-treatment. programme. a hardship clause, which drug com- The drugs include combinations of Schazoo Zaka did not respond to a panies can apply for once every three wiss pharmaceuticals firm No- antibiotics as well as substitutes for request for comment. years. vartis AG said it has stopped patients with complications. While TB medicine is available in DRAP’s Aslam acknowledged that Smaking tuberculosis drugs in “It’s an emergency in the making,” government hospitals, at least a third price increases so far were not enough. Pakistan in a dispute over pricing, said Naseem Salahuddin, an infectious of patients rely on private clinics, About 18 months ago, DRAP recom- prompting fears of a health crisis disease doctor in Karachi. where the drugs are hard to come by, mended that at least three dozen drugs due to a shortage of drugs in a coun- With a population of 190mn, Paki- health offi cials and patients said. be put under a new ‘orphan drug’ pol- try with the world’s fifth-highest TB stan has around 500,000 TB patients DRAP Chief Executive Mohamed icy - for medicines developed to treat rates. every year, according to the World Aslam said he has recommended a rare diseases, and typically with no As in many developing countries, Health Organisation. workaround to the health ministry price cap, so as to give manufactur- the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pa- Rana Iftikhar Anjum, a resident of for companies to raise prices for some ers an incentive to produce for a small kistan (DRAP) sets prices for about 320 Multan in Punjab province, said it took critical medicines, and a decision market. critical medicines. him weeks to track down TB drugs for A staff sorts medicines for tuberculosis patients at the government’s tuberculosis could come next month. “Anti-TB drugs, cardiac drugs, an- But pricing caps have not been sig- his 15-year-old niece, and Mohamed centre in Rawalpindi, yesterday. Pakistan has raised critical drugs ti-cancer drugs - these are critically nifi cantly raised since 2001, making it Rafi q, a pharmacist at a leading Is- prices on an ad hoc basis over the past needed,” Aslam said. unviable for fi rms to make many of the lamabad hospital, said he had to pay trols around 30% of Pakistan’s TB have done this,” he said. 15 years when companies have asked, TB is not classifi ed as a rare disease drugs. Rs2,000 ($19) in bribes to get the drugs drug market, was looking to exit the Pfi zer Inc, which controls another but drugs fi rms say those increases in Pakistan, but listing it as an orphan The issue has become particularly for his brother, who suff ers from mul- business, and Ahsan Raees, in charge 30% of the market, has also seen sup- have not been enough. disease would allow companies to get acute for TB drugs. ti-drug resistant TB, from a govern- of the company’s regulatory aff airs in ply disruptions in recent months, add- Haq, the lobbyist, said companies around current regulations and sell Of 18 companies licensed to manu- ment hospital. Pakistan, blamed the production halt ing to shortages, spokeswoman Trupti were seeking an average 30 percent in- TB drugs at cost price. Sajid Hussain facture TB drugs in Pakistan, only four, Novartis spokesman Dermot Do- on the price dispute. “If they had given Wagh said. crease for regulated drugs to make pro- Shah, a ministry spokesman, said work including Novartis, were making them herty said the company, which con- us the price increase, we would never She did not elaborate on the disrup- duction viable. was ongoing on the policy. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, July 21, 2016 PHILIPPINES De Lima ‘ignorant’ of SC powers, says ex-justice secretary

Manila Times justice secretary in the early years ecutor of the dismissed plunder Sandiganbayan,” said Perez, now As to the possible suits against fi led against GMA is without any partment of Justice and the Of- Manila of the Arroyo administration case at the Sandiganbayan, the president of the privately owned de Lima and Morales, Perez said substantial evidence,” Perez told fi ce of the Ombudsman was “po- from 2001 to 2003, also warned anti-graft court, he said. University of Batangas. that a person who had fi led ma- The Manila Times. litical,” the former House deputy that criminal counter-charges Perez lambasted de Lima for “She (de Lima) is wrong. The licious charges without any Incriminating an innocent speaker and representative of Ba- predecessor of former for incriminating “innocent per- casting doubts on the Supreme Supreme Court has the power to evidence could be charged with person, under the Penal Code, tangas said. justice secretary Leila de sons” could be fi led against de Court ruling when she claimed review the case via a petition for malicious prosecution, which happens when “any person who, De Lima orchestrated the fi l- ALima slammed the now Lima, who orchestrated Arroyo’s on Tuesday that the high tribunal certiorari,” Perez added. warrants damages under the by any act not constituting per- ing of electoral sabotage cases in neophyte senator for being ig- arrest for an earlier case alleging had become a “trier of facts” and Under the power of judicial re- Civil Code. jury, shall directly incriminate or the Pasay Regional Trial Court norant of the “vast powers” that electoral sabotage as chief justice should not have reviewed Ar- view provided under Article XIII, They can also be slapped with impute to an innocent person the against Arroyo, which prevented allowed an overwhelming major- of the previous Aquino adminis- royo’s case. Section 1 of the 1987 Constitu- a criminal case for “Incrimina- commission of a crime.” her from leaving the country in ity of the Supreme Court (SC) to tration. “While it is true that the Su- tion, the high court can review tory Machinations” under the It is punishable by up to 30 2011 despite the fact the “watch- acquit former president Gloria The same charge could also be preme Court is not a trier of facts, cases when there is “grave abuse Revised Penal Code. days in prison. list” order of de Lima was stopped Macapagal Arroyo of plunder. fi led against Ombudsman Con- it has the power to re-examine of discretion amounting to lack “It is possible that they can be Arroyo can even argue that the by a temporary restraining order Hernando Perez, who served as chita Carpio-Morales, the pros- the evidence presented at the or excess of jurisdiction.” charged if proven that the case case fi led against her by the De- from the Supreme Court. Claim over sea non-negotiable, says Manila

Manila Times wards the peaceful resolution Manila of the issue must be compliant with the Constitution, Interna- tional Law and the rule of law,” alacanang Palace has he said. hardened its stand on Foreign Aff airs Secretary Per- Mthe Philippines’ claim fecto Yasay Jr on Tuesday re- over shoals and rocks at the vealed that he had turned down South China Sea, saying the a Chinese proposal to start bi- country’s economic right over lateral talks because Beijing did these territories is “non-nego- not want the ruling of the inter- tiable.” national tribunal tackled. Presidential spokesman Er- Yasay said he had met his nesto Abella said yesterday that Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, while the government contin- on the sidelines of the recently- ues to take a diplomatic path in concluded Asia-Europe Meet- fi nding ways to settle the mari- ing Summit in Mongolia, where time dispute with China, the the latter warned of a “confron- Philippines will not trade off its tation” if Manila insisted on the rights over the sea. ruling. A policeman walks past a poster showing support for former Philippine president Gloria Arroyo on display in front of a government-run hospital, where Arroyo has been held “The Philippines contin- The PCA nullifi ed China’s since her November 2011 arrest, in Manila yesterday. The Philippine Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out a long-running corruption case against Arroyo and ordered her ues along a diplomatic path to historic claims on areas in the immediate release after almost five years in detention. fully realise the EEZ (exclusive sea, including Panatag (Scar- economic zone) rights granted borough) Shoal, Panganiban by the Permanent Court of Ar- (Mischief) Reef, Ayungin (Sec- bitration (PCA) - engaging in ond Thomas) Shoal and Recto bilateral talks to fi nd mutually (Reed) Bank that is within the acceptable arrangements to RP country’s exclusive economic (Republic of the Philippines), zone (EEZ). PROC (People’s Republic of “They had insisted for us to China); and consulting with our not even make any comments Arroyo release delayed regional allies,” said Abella. about that … and had asked us “We consider our sovereign also to open ourselves for bilat- economic rights, granted by the eral negotiations but outside of Law of Nations to be non-nego- the arbitral ruling,” Yasay said. tiable,” he said. He said he rejected the off er Abella issued the statement because it was not consistent a day after President Rodrigo with the Philippine Constitu- despite court ruling Duterte met with US Senator tion and national interest. Chris Murphy. In that meeting, China’s Foreign Ministry We can’t understand what’s royo (not related to the former Sandiganbayan, and that there On Tuesday, Sereno left her “There is a process that is fol- Duterte made his position on the spokesperson Lu Kang con- causing the delay, say the president) came out of the Su- was no more need to wait for the offi ce earlier than the 5pm close lowed for all decisions. That is matter clear. fi rmed that Yasay and Foreign former president’s lawyers preme Court building in Manila thick offi cial decision and sepa- of business, it was learned. the process that is being followed Murphy disclosed the result Minister Wang Yi did meet. empty-handed, and conceded rate opinions. “It’s obvious Sereno is delay- here,” Te said. of his meeting with the presi- “Foreign Minister Wang Yi Manila Times that his client would have to wait The notice was to be signed by ing the release, because she lost The defence counsel, Laurence dent on Twitter. elaborated on China’s principled Manila longer for her release. the SC en banc Clerk of Court, in the vote,” another SC source Arroyo, said he was told the main “In Manila - just out of meet- position on the current situa- Another Arroyo lawyer, Raul Felipa Anama, the sources said. said. decision needed to be circulated ing (with) new Philippines Pres- tion, saying that China would Lambino, said: “We can’t under- “The decision and the sepa- Sereno was among the four among the justices for their sig- ident Duterte. Assured us he like to work in unison with the olice escorts were ready stand what’s causing the delay.” rate opinions are thick. If we dissenters who blocked the ac- natures. has no plans to negotiate (with) Philippines if the new Philippine and well-wishers had Only a notice containing the wait for the full decision, Ar- quittal of Arroyo. The three oth- Yesterday, police were seen China over islands dispute. We government is willing to resume Pgathered in anticipation of one-paragraph “dispositive por- royo’s release will really be de- ers are Associate Justices Anto- securing the veterans’ hospital were fi rst US elected offi cials dialogue and consultation, her homecoming. tion” was all that’s needed for the layed. The agreement was that nio Carpio, Marvic Leonen and ahead of Arroyo’s expected re- to meet (with) Duterte. Says he manage disputes and improve But former president Gloria Sandiganbayan to issue Arroyo’s the dispositive portion be re- Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa. lease. will not trade territorial rights to bilateral relations together with Macapagal-Arroyo had to remain release papers, Lambino argued. leased ahead because the deci- Aside from the ponencia of Ramon de Leon, who identi- China. Tribunal decision non- China,” Lu said in a translated in her detention cell at the Unimpeachable sources at the sion is immediately executory,” Associate Justice Lucas Ber- fi ed himself as president of the negotiable,” said the American transcript issued by the Chinese Veterans Memorial Medical high court told The Manila Times an SC source said. samin that won in the voting, Kongreso ng Maralitang Pilipino, lawmaker. embassy in Manila yesterday. Centre in Quezon City yesterday the SC justices had an agreement The Manila Times learned that other separate opinions were said the public was able to know Duterte had earlier pushed bi- Lu said the Chinese minis- because her release papers were that the release be done immedi- after the 12 noon voting on Tues- authored: the concurring opin- through the SC ruling that Ar- lateral talks with Beijing and had ter underscored that it is in the held up at the Supreme Court ately. day of the SC en banc that cleared ion of Associate Justice Arturo royo committed no off ense. wanted former president Fidel fundamental interests of both (SC). Since the ruling states that the Arroyo, and the announcement Brion, the concurring and dis- “That is why we ask those who Ramos to head the negotiations. countries and their people “to This was despite the clear acquittal and release of Arroyo of results by Theodore Te, the SC senting opinion of Associate detained our former president, Abella stressed that any ne- move China-Philippines rela- wording of Tuesday’s 11-4 deci- from detention shall be “imme- spokesman, at 2pm, there was Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe, you detained her even if she was gotiations with China will be in tions back to the track of dia- sion of the high tribunal that the diately executory,” the SC jus- no action at all from the offi ce of and the dissenting opinions of innocent, have conscience,” de accordance with local and inter- logue and consultation.” acquittal and freedom of Arroyo tices agreed that the dispositive Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Ser- Leonen and Sereno. Leon said. national laws. The PCA’s ruling was also re- shall be “immediately executory.” portion of the decision should eno to issue the Notice of the Dis- Te, however clarifi ed that He added that Arroyo’s tor- “Engagement with China to- jected by Taiwan. Defence lawyer Laurence Ar- be brought immediately to the positive Portion. there was no delay. mentors should be jailed. China backs Philippine’s Duterte enjoys 91% trust rating: survey controversial drug war dent Duterte,” Pulse Asia said in Manila Times a statement. Agencies fi rmed killing nearly 200 people in many of its nationals were being Manila Among geographical areas, Manila a two-month crime blitz. arrested for illegal drugs in the the president got the highest There has also been a surge in Philippines. trust rating in Mindanao at killings by anti-drug vigilantes In a related development, of- resident Rodrigo Duterte 97%, followed by the National hina has off ered its support who leave victims’ corpses on city fi cials said Muntinlupa City will started his six-year term Capital Region at 92%. He got to the Philippine’s con- streets wrapped in packaging tape assist drug users and pushers who Pwith a record 91% trust an 89% trust rating in Luzon Ctroversial drug crackdown with signs accusing them of being surrendered to the police by pro- rating, the highest score given and Visayas. pushed by new President Rodrigo drug dealers. viding them fi nancial assistance to a public official since Pulse Across socioeconomic Duterte, which has been slammed The statement from the Chinese and employment opportunities. Asia started its operations in classes, trust for Duterte is by rights groups for encouraging embassy made no reference to the At a Peace and Order Council 1999. highest among Classes D and E extrajudicial killings and vigilante killings - which have prompted a meeting attended by city offi cials Duterte’s rating is higher than at 92%, followed by Class ABC justice. backlash from domestic and inter- and barangay representatives, the 85% trust rating of former at 89%. “China fully understands that national rights groups - only say- Mayor Jaime Fresnedi discussed president Benigno Aquino’s A similar survey conducted the Philippine government under ing fi ghting drug-related crimes the city government’s programmes when he started his term in July by Social Weather Stations the leadership of Rodrigo Duterte was a “shared responsibility of all for those who surrendered, such 2010. showed Duterte getting an “ex- has taken it as a top priority in countries in the world.” as MAPALAD (Mamamayan at The Pulse Asia survey re- cellent” net trust rating of +79. cracking down (on) drug-related It added: “The Chinese govern- Pamilya Laban sa Droga), a one- leased yesterday showed that Informed of the survey re- crimes,” China’s embassy in Ma- ment has been fi rm and severe in stop shop after care programme 91% of the 1,200 Filipinos sults, Malacanang Palace nila said in a statement issued on drug control and in punishing all for relinquished drug users and polled from July 2 to 8 trust Du- thanked the Filipino people for Tuesday. drug criminals in accordance with pushers. terte while 8% are undecided. their “overwhelming support” “China has expressed explicitly laws regardless of their nationali- The Barangay Drug Abuse “President Rodrigo Duterte for the president. to the new administration China’s ties.” Council will provide fi nancial as- begins his stint as the coun- Presidential Communica- willingness for eff ective coopera- Beijing is known to execute sistance to qualifi ed benefi ciaries, try’s 16th president with an tions Secretary Martin Anda- tion in this regard, and would like drug off enders and in recent years set periodic physical activities and overwhelming majority of his nar said Duterte’s record-high to work out a specifi c plan of ac- has put to death several Filipinos monitor those who surrendered, constituents expressing trust trust rating of 91% is “a hum- tion with the Philippine side.” found guilty of smuggling narcot- assist in the conduct of drug fo- Dennis Mendoza, 36, puts on finishing touches on toy figurines of in him (91%) and practically no bling reminder that the genu- Duterte swept to power in May ics into China. rums and awareness and provide President Rodrigo Duterte made of fibre resin, which he sells for one distrusting him (0.2%). The ine and meaningful change that on a promise to clampdown on On Sunday, Duterte said he transportation for patients under 800 to 5,000 pesos ($17-106) inside his workshop in Pasay city, rest of Filipinos (8%) cannot say our people aspire for is now be- drugs, and police have since con- planned to ask China why so temporary confi nement. Metro Manila. if they trust or distrust Presi- ing felt.” Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

5 militants Bangladesh says 261 missing indicted for blogger murder amid radicalisation fears in 2015 AFP families in recent times, follow- out who are misguiding young released by IS immediately after the issue of missing young men comprising a doctor, his college Dhaka ing the July 1 siege claimed by students,” she told parliament. the siege praising the attackers. seriously, the terror attacks professor wife, their two daugh- Islamic State group (IS). “Back in 2003-4, Tahmid in Gulshan cafe and in the Eid ters and son in-law have been IANS Police and parents said the fi ve “We will fi nd out used to be the lead singer of an congregation could have been missing since October. Dhaka octors, engineers and who stormed the Western-style everything - who are underground rock band. Then he avoided,” said Rob, a professor at “We’re probing where they’ve university students are cafe and hacked the hostages to patronising them (the became one of the top contest- private North South University gone,” local police station chief Damong 261 people of- death had gone missing months militants), who are ants of the (talent) reality show in Dhaka. Rafi qul Islam said, while an- Dhaka court yesterday fi cially missing in Bangladesh, earlier. At least two gunmen providing them with Close Up One,” said a friend who “Still it is not too late. Au- other offi cer told local media charged fi ve activists of with some feared recruited by who carried out a deadly attack arms, money and other did not want to be named. thorities should scrutinise the the family was suspected to have Aa banned militant outfi t Islamic militant groups, as the days later at a massive Eid prayer support. We will fi nd out “After seeing him in the video list, take help from universities fl own to Syria. for the 2015 murder of popular country reels from a wave of service had also previously who are misguiding young I felt a shiver down my spine to learn who are missing for what Another on the list, marine blogger Oyasiqur Rahman Babu, deadly attacks. disappeared. students” thinking of him holding a ma- reasons and act accordingly,” he engineer Najibullah Ansari, had who wrote against the Jamaat-e- More than two weeks after As the list was published chete instead of a microphone. said. been missing for over a year Islami and radical Islamists. Islamists killed 20 foreign hos- on Facebook, Prime Minister The list shows a diverse range Before he disappeared from his “It may go a long way to when his parents contacted po- An additional metropolitan tages in a siege at a cafe in Dha- Sheikh Hasina reiterated her of mainly young people who home, he used to tell his fellow preventing the next attack.” lice after this month’s national magistrate court indicted the ka, police published a list over- secular government’s determi- have fallen off the radar includ- musicians to leave music as it is Hasina’s government has manhunt. Ansarullah Bangla Team mili- night Tuesday of those missing nation to “root out the scourge ing some from wealthy families forbidden in Islam,” he said. blamed a string of recent mur- According to his family, An- tants and fi xed August 4 for dep- and urged information on their of militancy”. and with good jobs, and others “He had a good job at a tel- ders of secular bloggers and re- sari was last in touch with his ositions by witnesses, bdnews24 whereabouts. Hasina, who has long denied at university, long thought by ecommunications company,” he ligious minorities on local not brother in January 2015 on Face- reported. “We have to fi nd them,” elite IS and Al Qaeda have a foothold experts to be a recruiting ground said of Rahman, whose friends overseas militant groups, along book, saying that he was in Iraq Three of the suspects were Rapid Action Battalion spokes- in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, for radicals. Local media re- think he went missing about a with the opposition whom it ac- fi ghting with jihadists. presented in the court for the man Mufti Mahmud Khan said, urged villages to form commit- ported yesterday dozens have year ago. cuses of trying to destabilise the “I have come to Iraq. Tell fa- hearing, an offi cial said. without saying how many were tees to gather information on travelled to the Middle East to Security analyst Abdur Rob country. ther and mother not to worry for The remaining two are ab- suspected to have joined ex- those missing. join IS. said authorities have until now But since the siege, it has me. I have come here for jihad,” sconding and will be tried in ab- tremist groups at home and “We will fi nd out everything It includes Tahmid Rahman, ignored the issue of Bangla- launched a crackdown on social read the message according to a sentia, the offi cial added. abroad. - who are patronising them son of a former home secretary desh’s missing, adding some media sites, saying they are be- screen shot seen by local daily On the morning of March 30, Bangladesh was spurred into (the militants), who are pro- and election commissioner, who may have already joined IS and ing used to recruit young men to Dhaka Tribune. 2015, machete-wielding reli- launching a nationwide hunt for viding them with arms, money was seen in a video, thought to other groups. jihadist groups. “I will never return home,” he gious fundamentalists hacked people reported missing by their and other support. We will fi nd have been shot overseas, and “Had the authorities taken Police said a family of fi ve said. Oyasiqur to death near his home in Dhaka’s Tejgaon area. Oyasiqur’s attackers tar- geted his neck and head, similar to previous attacks on blog- Teachers’ Day gers, Ahmed Rajib Haider and Brands won’t Avijit Roy. According to bdnews24, one of the arrested militants is a madra- sa student from Hathazari area of quit Bangladesh Chittagong and the other attends a madrasa situated in Dhaka’s Mirpur area. Locals managed to nab two of after attacks, says the attackers and handed them over to law enforcers while the third suspect was arrested by police later. safety group According to reports, Oya- siqur worked as a travel agency executive and had over 2,600 Reuters Bangladesh relies on gar- friends on Facebook. The blog- Berlin ments for more than 80 per- ger wrote under pseudonyms on cent of its exports and roughly popular blogs. 4mn jobs. It ranks behind only On his Facebook account, he head of a group China as a clothing supplier to Oyasiqur wrote several notes working on factory developed markets in Europe opposing irrational religious be- Tsafety in Bangladesh for and the United States. liefs, superstitions and radical fashion retailers including In- Some people working in Islamists. ditex and H&M expects brands the garment industry say they He was also an admirer of Avi- to actually increase sourcing fear for the future of the $28bn jit Roy, a US-based Bangladeshi from the country due to im- sector after a group of radical- - founder of Mukto Mona, a web proving building standards ised young Bangladeshis killed forum for South Asian rational- despite attacks claimed by about 20 people, including 18 ists - who was hacked to death Islamist militants. foreigners, in an attack on an on February 26, 2015. The Accord on Fire and upscale Dhaka restaurant. Oyasiqur wrote against Building Safety was set up by Wayss said some brands had Jamaat-e-Islami and radical Is- more than 200 mostly Eu- put a temporary halt to for- lamist groups. He was also vocal ropean brands, retailers and eign staff travelling to Bang- against human rights violations importers in 2013 to improve ladesh, but he expected visits A schoolchild presenting flowers to her teacher on Teachers’ Day at a local school in Kathmandu yesterday. on the religious minorities and safety in Bangladeshi factories would resume again soon as indigenous people of the country. after the collapse of the Rana buyers take up an off er from Plaza complex in which more the government to provide than 1,100 people died. extra security and escorts for Accord executive director foreigners. Nepal’s inflation soars in June Rob Wayss said much progress He said it is quite likely that Nepal’s inflation jumped to 11.1% and footwear from among non- had been made since then, the work of the Accord will be in the 11th month of last fiscal food items exerted an upward Switzerland fi les charges with 65% of the safety issues extended beyond 2018, when year from the previous month’s pressure on overall inflation identifi ed at around 1,600 it is currently due to wrap up 10% as the prices of both food during the review period, the factories already resolved. its work, noting that it still and non-food items surged, central bank said in its latest “There is no other country has to introduce safety com- Nepal’s central bank has said. macro-economic report released against alleged Tamil where the work that the Ac- mittees at the majority of The last fiscal year 2015-16 on Friday. cord is doing is taking place factories that supply its brands. concluded on July 15. The central bank has unveiled and where buyers can have the He added that discussions Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the the monetary policy for the assurances on safety compli- were taking place on a pos- central bank of the country, said next fiscal year 2016-17 by Tiger fundraisers ance issues that they can have sible extension between the prices of food items surged to increasing the minimum lending here,” he said in an interview signatories to the Accord, double digit in mid-June ( end of requirement for commercial over Skype from Dhaka. which include brands, global the 11th month) while standing banks in agriculture and Reuters with supporting or being mem- Tamil Tiger leaders in Swit- “For many of the brands, and Bangladeshi trade unions at single digit in the previous hydropower sectors. Zurich bers of a criminal organisation, zerland “devised and im- Bangladesh is a very impor- and four non-governmental month. Prices of non-food items As per the policy, the commercial fraud, false certifi cation, and plemented a systematic and tant and good supplier base organisations. also witnessed double digit banks have to ensure that they money laundering, the Offi ce rapid method for obtaining and ... it is still their plan to A separate group of most- growth in the 11th month of the lend at least 15% of their entire witzerland’s attorney of the Attorney General (OAG) money from the Tamil diaspora increase the amount and types ly North American brands last fiscal year, Xinhua reports. loan portfolio in these two general has fi led charges said yesterday. in Switzerland,” the OAG said of production that they have and retailers including Gap The higher rate of increase in sectors within mid-July 2017. Sagainst 13 people accused In 2009, the Sri Lankan gov- in a statement yesterday. here,” he said, stressing that and Wal Mart said last week price indices of vegetables, Earlier, they were told to maintain of raising millions of dollars ernment ended its 26-year “As the investigations car- sourcing decisions rest with it is also still committed to pulses and legumes, drinks the lending in these sectors at to buy weapons for the Tamil confl ict with the Tamil Tigers, ried out by the Offi ce of the the brands. Bangladesh. among food items and clothes 12% within the same deadline. Tigers fi ghters during the civil who had been fi ghting for an Attorney General of Swit- war in Sri Lanka. independent Tamil state in the zerland with the support of The indictment alleges that north and east of the Indian the federal police show, sub- the people collected around Ocean island. stantial sums of money were 15mn Swiss francs ($15.2mn) The OAG did not disclose the obtained from the diaspora Scholarship winners during the late 1990s and early names of the accused. community using couriers 2000s to support the organisa- It said money was raised and loans,” it said. tion, which has the formal title from members of the Sri The funding system stopped the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Lankan community in Swit- in 2009 following the end of Eelam. zerland through micro-credit the civil war, the OAG said. The accused, who have not loans from a bank in Zurich and The matter will now be con- been identifi ed, come from channelled through an off shoot sidered by the Federal Criminal Switzerland, Germany and Sri known as the World Tamil Co- Court in Bellinzona, although Lanka. They have been indicted ordinating Committee. no date was given for a hearing.

Lanka and EU discuss steps to repeal anti-terror laws Sri Lanka and the European also provided updates on the Lanka in fisheries management Union have held talks on steps process of drawing up the and control, consistent with to repeal anti-terror laws during new constitution, Xinhua news its international obligations. a recent meet in Brussels, the agency reported. It was agreed that the close foreign ministry said yesterday. The meeting provided an relationship established on The matters were discussed at opportunity to exchange views fisheries between the two the 20th meeting of the EU-Sri on the state of implementation parties will continue,” the Lanka Joint Commission which of the UN Human Rights Council foreign ministry said. took place in Brussels. resolution last year, which was The Joint Commission They discussed the co-sponsored by UN member also welcomed Sri Lanka’s Prevention of Terrorism states and Sri Lanka. application for access to the Act (PTA), the release or “The parties welcomed the trade concessions under the prosecution of detainees, recent lifting of the EU ban on EU’s generalised scheme of Bangladeshi scholarship winners pose for a group photo after receiving scholarship document paper from Chinese government in front of and the establishment of the export of fish from Sri Lanka. preferences plus as a sign of Sri the Chinese embassy in Dhaka yesterday. Chinese government has awarded annual scholarship to 106 Bangladeshi students for pursuing transitional mechanisms for This was achieved due to Lanka’s renewed commitment their bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate’s degrees in various universities across China, an off icial said yesterday. truth, reconciliation, justice the extensive improvements to meeting its wider and reparations. Sri Lanka made by the government of Sri international obligations. Gulf Times 22 Thursday, July 21, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: C P Ravindran Time for the young

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] to assert themselves Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Young people have been witnessed a dramatic worsening in spilled over into messy politics, as While highly desirable, such Fax 44350474 overly complacent when inequality, not just of income and growing segments of the population changes will materialise only if greater wealth, but also of opportunity. have lost trust in the political constructive pressure is placed on it comes to political The 2008 crisis should have been establishment, business elites, and politicians. Simply put, few politicians participation our economic wake-up call. It wasn’t. expert opinion. The resulting political will champion changes that promise Rather than using the crisis to catalyse fragmentation, including the rise longer-term benefi ts but often come change, we essentially rolled over and of fringe and anti-establishment with short-term disruptions. And By Mohamed A El-Erian went back to doing more of the same. movements, has made it even harder the older voters who back them will GULF TIMES Specifi cally, we simply exchanged to devise more appropriate economic- resist any meaningful erosion of Los Angeles private factories of credit and leverage policy responses. their entitlements – even turning, for public ones. We swapped an To add insult to injury, we are now when they perceive a threat to their nce again, over-leveraged banking system for permitting a regulatory backlash interests, to populist politicians and young people experimental liquidity injections by against technological innovations that dangerously simplistic solutions such have gotten hyperactive monetary authorities. In disrupt entrenched and ineffi cient as Brexit. Bach facing his the process, we overburdened central industries, and that provide people Sadly, young people have been Othe short end of the political stick. banks, risking their credibility and with greater control over their lives overly complacent when it comes The outcome of the United Kingdom’s political autonomy, as well as future and wellbeing. Growing restrictions to political participation, notably Brexit referendum is but another fi nancial stability. on companies such as Airbnb and Uber on matters that directly aff ect their toughest decision reminder of a yawning generational hit the young particularly hard, both wellbeing and that of their children. divide that cuts across political Almost as producers and as consumers. Yes, almost three-quarters of young affi liation, income levels and race. If we do not change course soon, voters backed the UK’s “Remain” Almost 75% of UK voters aged 18-24 three-quarters of subsequent generations will confront campaign. But only a third of as chief of IOC voted to “Remain” in the European self-reinforcing economic, fi nancial, them turned out. In contrast, the Union, only to have “Leave” imposed young voters backed and political tendencies that burden participation rate for those over 65 was on them by older voters. And this them with too little growth, too much more than 80%. International Olympic Committee president Thomas is just one of several ways in which the UK’s “Remain” debt, artifi cially infl ated asset prices, Undoubtedly, the absence of young Bach fi nds himself in a tricky position. In 1976, he millennials’ economic future, and that campaign and alarming levels of inequality people at the polls left the decision became Olympic fencing champion with the fi ne foil, and of their children, is being determined and partisan political polarisation. in the hands of older people, whose by others. Fortunately, we are aware of the preferences and motivations diff er, so far has negotiated the murky waters of sports politics I am in my late fi fties, and I worry Emerging from the crisis, we mounting problem, worried about its even if innocently. with the same fi nesse as was required of his specialty. that our generation in the advanced shifted private liabilities from banks’ consequences, and have a good sense Millennials have impressively But now, he will need the cutting thrust of a sabre as world will be remembered – to our balance sheets to taxpayers, including of how to bring about the much- gained a greater say in how they he faces mounting pressure to act after a damning report shame and chagrin – as the one that future ones, yet we failed to fi x fully needed pivot. communicate, travel, source and lost the economic plot. the bailed-out fi nancial sector. We Given the role of technological disseminate information, pool their on state-run doping in Russia by the World Anti-Doping In the run-up to the 2008 let inequality worsen, and stood by innovation, much of which is youth- resources, interact with businesses Agency (WADA) appointed independent investigator global financial crisis, we feasted as too many young people in Europe led, even a small reorientation of and much else. Now they must Richard McLaren. on leverage, feeling increasingly languished in joblessness, risking a policies could have a meaningful seek a greater say in electing their entitled to use credit to live beyond scary transition from unemployment and rapid impact on the economy. political representatives and in According to Dagmar Freitag, the head Germany’s our means and to assume too much to unemployability. Through a more comprehensive policy holding them accountable. If they parliamentary sports committee, it’s time for Bach to speculative financial risk. We In short, we didn’t do nearly approach, we could turn a vicious don’t, my generation will – mostly follow up words about zero tolerance on doping with stopped investing in genuine engines enough to reinvigorate the engines cycle of economic stagnation, social inadvertently – continue to borrow deeds. “We now need a president of the International of growth, letting our infrastructure of sustainable inclusive growth, immobility, and market volatility into excessively from their future. - decay, our education system lag and thereby also weakening potential a virtuous cycle of inclusive growth, Project Syndicate Olympic Committee who meets his leadership role and our worker training and retooling output and threatening future genuine fi nancial stability, and greater shows strength of leadership,” Freitag said. Many others programmes erode. economic performance. And we political coherence. zMohamed A El-Erian, chief economic have voiced similar opinions. We allowed the budget to be taken are compounding these serial What is needed, in particular, is adviser at Allianz, is chairman of US The IOC has deferred making a decision on whether hostage by special interests, which has miscarriages with a grand failure to simultaneous progress on pro-growth President Barack Obama’s Global resulted in a fragmentation of the tax act on longer-term sustainability, structural reforms, better demand Development Council and author of to impose a blanket ban on Russian athletes for the system that, no surprise, has imparted particularly when it comes to the management, addressing pockets of The Only Game in Town: Central August 5-21 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. It is studying the yet another unfair anti-growth bias planet and social cohesion. excessive indebtedness, and improving Banks, Instability, and Avoiding the McLaren report, which revealed how positive tests were to the economic system. And we Poor economics has naturally regional and global policy frameworks. Next Collapse. made to disappear with the connivance of the sports ministry, intelligence service and other offi cials, and how urine samples were swapped and tampered with at the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. The IOC executive board said in reaction Tuesday it would explore the “legal options” for a complete ban on Russian athletes at the Rio Games. The IOC is also waiting for today’s As a young ruling by the Court of fencer, Bach Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on the eligibility experienced of 68 Russian athletes who have appealed to and suff ered the compete in Rio following boycott of the the suspension of the Russian athletics 1980 Games in federation by athletics Moscow ruling body IAAF. McLaren’s report showed that not only the winter Olympics in Sochi two years ago was aff ected by the cheating; it ran to other events including the 2013 athletics world championships in Moscow. It looks as if the 62-year-old IOC chief wants to avoid a complete exclusion of Russia from the XXXI Games around the CAS decision and the international sports, but he can’t keep waiting for what the associations do or what the CAS does. As a young fencer, Bach experienced and suff ered the boycott of the 1980 Games in Moscow. Therefore, he How to end hunger knows that a new Cold War in sport would aff ect athletes By Hilal Elver and 2030. The only way to do that will be their own nutrition, health, and other and Cultural Rights, which treats fi rst and foremost. Nevertheless, he insists the IOC “will to implement well-designed social productive capacities. As such invest- the material needs of all persons as not hesitate to take the toughest sanctions available Jomo Kwame Sundaram Istanbul/Kuala Lumpur protection and scale up pro-poor ments sustainably raise incomes, they a fundamental human right. A few against any individual or organisation implicated.” investments. enable further increases in productive years earlier, US president Franklin First of all though, the IOC lawyers have to explore According to the World Bank, personal investments, thereby break- D. Roosevelt called “freedom from one billion people in 146 low- and ing the vicious cycle of poverty and want” – which, presumably, includes what legal options there are for a blanket exclusion of ast September, world leaders middle-income countries currently hunger. freedom from hunger – one of four Russian athletes for the Olympics and how this is also made a commitment to end receive some form of social protection. Governments, too, have invest- essential freedoms of which people compatible with athletes’ individual rights. Or is Bach hunger by 2030, as part of the Yet 870mn of those living in extreme ments to make, in order to ensure “everywhere in the world” should be being considerate of Russia because he maintains good LUnited Nations Sustainable poverty, mainly in rural areas, lack that those who are currently mired in assured. Development Goals (SDGs). It sounds coverage. poverty reach the point where they Now, with the adoption of the relations with President Vladimir Putin? like a massive undertaking. In fact, can invest in themselves. An early SDGs, governments everywhere are Corruption expert Sylvia Schenk from Transparency the world already produces enough Poverty and hunger big investment push would generate obliged to take responsibility for end- International favours an Olympic exclusion for Russia, food to feed everyone. So why does the additional incomes sooner, reducing ing poverty and hunger, as well as for but also says that any such decision cannot be the last problem persist? are intimately longer-term fi nancing costs. Moreo- creating the conditions for ensuring Poverty and hunger are intimately ver, it would boost aggregate demand that both are permanently overcome. word. “You can make an example like this, also because connected, which is why the SDGs connected, which is in a world economy that badly needs The upcoming High-Level Political the pressure is so great, but you cannot then carry on as target elimination of both. For some- it. Forum on Sustainable Development usual,” the former athlete said. “The whole anti-doping one living at the World Bank’s poverty why the SDGs target The world can afford the needed presents an important opportunity to system has to be put to the test.” line of $1.90 per day, food would ac- investment. According to estimates forge the path ahead, setting near- and count for some 50-70% of income. elimination of both by the Food and Agricultural Organi- medium-term priorities. The IOC surely has a great deal on its hands over the The Bank estimates that almost four- sation (FAO), the International Fund Ending hunger and poverty in a next few days. fi fths of the world’s poor live in rural Unsurprisingly, the greatest short- for Agricultural Development (IFAD) sustainable way is morally right, areas, though those areas account for falls are in low-income countries, and the World Food Programme politically benefi cial and economically less than half of the world’s popula- where social protection covers less (WFP), it would cost the equivalent feasible. For world leaders, inaction To Advertise tion. The obvious conclusion is that than one-tenth of the population, of 0.3% of the world’s 2014 income. is no longer an option. - Project raising rural incomes sustainably is 47% of which lives in extreme poverty. All that is needed is for wealthier Syndicate [email protected] required to eradicate hunger. In the lower-middle-income coun- countries to provide budgetary sup- Display That will not be easy. Most develop- tries, social protection reaches about port and technical assistance to the zHilal Elver is UN special rappor- Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 ing countries nowadays are burdened a quarter of those living in extreme low-income countries that need it. teur on the Right to Food and research by high rates of unemployment and poverty, leaving about a half-billion (Most middle-income countries can professor of global studies at the Uni- Classified underemployment. And with current people without coverage. afford the needed financing them- versity of California, Santa Barbara. Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 economic prospects bleak, especially In the upper middle-income selves.) Jomo Kwame Sundaram was assistant given low commodity prices, and in- countries, about 45% of those living in It should not be diffi cult to generate director-general and co-ordinator for Subscription sistence on fi scal austerity continuing extreme poverty receive social-welfare the political will to provide the needed economic and social development in [email protected] in most places, downward pressure on benefi ts. support, at least in theory. After all, the Food and Agriculture Organisation rural incomes is likely to worsen. This is clearly not good enough. it has been more than a half-century of the United Nations, and received But even if countries do manage Improved social protection can help since the adoption of the Universal the 2007 Wassily Leontief Prize for 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved to achieve inclusive growth, it will to ensure adequate food consump- Declaration of Human Rights and Advancing the Frontiers of Economic not be enough to eliminate hunger by tion and enable recipients to invest in its Covenant on Economic, Social Thought. Gulf Times Thursday, July 21, 2016 23 COMMENT My battle with Alzheimer’s: Finding my way back

This is the fi fth instalment up, which leads us to perhaps the most I confess to feeling shame and of a series on Alzheimer’s important element of them all: guilt and embarrassment... and, yes, Balance. immense relief. disease. The fourth part was For me, this is crucial because it I walked on, panic-stricken, past published in Gulf Times last involves all of the dangers for which banks and funeral parlours and we must be ever vigilant, namely: schools, and looked up to fi nd myself Thursday and the next in the Stairs. standing in the middle of a median series will be written by the Steps. strip with traffi c roaring past on Rugs. both sides. I had no idea how I got doctor treating Bill Lyon Escalators. there. It was as though I had been Anything else lying in ambush that sleepwalking. By Bill Lyon can trip you up and send you sprawling. But, glory be, there was a familiar The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS (See pets, toys, walkers, etc.) landmark. A convenience store. From I’ve taken three tumbles since here I could cruise home, after 90 Al fi rst got his hooks in me. Once minutes in the broiling noonday sun, hen I was younger and was getting out of the car. I pitched with mad dogs, Englishmen and Al. insuff erably full of forward and braced myself for a myself, I got a kick out jarring hands-fi rst landing. Better the TIME-OUT Wof watching old folks hands being scraped than coming in walk. I called it the Geezer Shuffl e. It headfi rst. To the nurses and the podiatrist was like ice skating without the skates. The other times I was careless and and the acupuncturist who have Locomotion six tentative inches at a not concentrating while going down written to me since this series time, the speed limit of no concern. stairs. First the left knee and then, began last month. To the therapists And then one day I awoke to fi nd a year later, the right knee. Both are and the biochemists and the myself in the throes of bladder scarred still. herbalists, to the pastor and the urgency, propelling myself like a But, again, better the knees than the Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist emeritus Bill Lyon, 78, was diagnosed with teachers and the care givers, to the man trying to step safely through head. Alzheimer’s three years ago, but he has continued to be active, writing, teaching, thoughtful donors who offered me a minefi eld. And I swear I heard a exercising and playing with his great-grandson Liam in an attempt to fight back vitamins and Depends and Indian familiar taunting voice: “Well, well, WHERE AM I? PART 1 against the ravages of this disease, which he likens to “death by inches”. One of Philadelphia Inquirer sports columnist spices and crossword puzzles and smart-ass, look who’s doing the the side eff ects of the disease, which he complains about, is shaky hands which emeritus Bill Lyon with his free MRIs... and a brain scan... Geezer Shuffl e now.” I’ve gotten lost, seriously lost, makes his cursive writing almost unreadable. He has changed to big block letters. great-grandson Liam. and especially to those who have Al, of course. twice. The fi rst time I was still driving lost loved ones to this insidious My nemesis, Alzheimer’s. and had not been tested for Al. I read the road signs out loud but Horns blared, frenzied headlights daily walk come hell or high water.(You disease... Remember: Resist. Persist. Never From a distance I realise now that it had no idea what they meant. Should signalled me, and I frantically jerked can hear Al laughing.) And to the other 2,000 e-mailers give in. was a preamble of Alzheimer’s and I get off at the next exit? Or the one my way through a maze of thundering For variety’s sake I made a turn at an with their kind and generous that awful feeling of being utterly after that? Or just keep on going? metal and I heard someone screaming intersection I normally ploughed on sentiments, my eternal gratitude. WATCH YOUR STEP disoriented. Panic enveloped me. - it was me. No way I was getting out through. And then when I decided to I have been overwhelmed by your I was in my SUV, it was nearing Al had me by the throat. of this alive. And I wouldn’t have, get back on familiar turf I blanked out response to my journal these past Before you can commence the twilight, the road was dry, and it My breathing was harsh and but for the grace of God. Eventually and had that queasy, ominous feeling five weeks detailing my fight Geezer Shuffl e, you must get upright. was rush-hour traffic. I was going labouring. my pulse subsided and I called home I remembered from my SUV horror. I against that gutless little weasel, My preferred method is grasping on an errand over a route I had Look, over there, a fi lling station. I’ll and, with the aid of ground-control walked faster. Al. each armrest and rocking back and driven often... and then, quite ask for directions. Someone will know computers (“Recalculating”), I found As if that will get you to where But this is not goodbye. It is only forth, fl exing my knees, and after without warning, I blanked out. I where I want to go. Right? safe harbour. you’re going - and, by the way, time-out. It is my intent to continue three or four accelerated rocking froze. Except I couldn’t talk. I stuttered where is it you’re going again? Of the journal from time to time. Having passes, preparing for launch and then What had been a simple task I’ve and stammered and the more agitated WHERE AM I? PART 2 course, going faster only dehydrated you with me is at once humbling and catapulting myself. And if I’ve gained done a million times suddenly became I became the more gibberish came out me. uplifting. takeoff altitude, well done. If not, clear a confusing jumble. I missed my turn of my mouth. It was July, sweltering, sticky, If that wasn’t bad enough there This was only Round 1. the runway and regroup.(Caution: and had to backtrack. And I forgot... I forgot where I suff ocating. You know that saying “Only came a sudden, urgent message from And we’re still here, Al. Sudden bursts of exertion may result But I didn’t recognise where that led wanted to go. I gave up trying, got back mad dogs and Englishmen venture out my bladder. I was, you’ll pardon the We’re still here. in the passing of gas.) me, and I slowed to a crawl, peering in the SUV, and drove off . in the noonday sun”? Add to that list expression, hung out to dry. So I wet Once upright, the prudent move is and squinting, looking for something Directly into oncoming traffi c. I was an idiot in his late 70s with Alzheimer’s myself. I was wearing black shorts, zBill Lyon ([email protected]) is to s-l-o-w-l-y gather yourself, survey familiar. The farther I went, the more going the wrong way on a one-way who knows better but is anal-retentive thankfully. They were welcome a retired Philadelphia Inquirer sports what is in front of you, and straighten confused I became. express. obsessive and determined to get in his camoufl age. columnist. Letters Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Violation of and democratic regime with a military not been keeping well for the last few High: 43 C is a licence for massive violations of years. Low : 35 C Hazy at places at first becoming hot global laws human rights. She made her Bollywood singing Please send us to very hot during day and relatively debut with 1949 fi lm Aiye in which she humid by evening Dear Sir, Farouk Araie had a solo track with melody queen your letters [email protected] Lata Mangeshkar. FRIDAY The attempted military coup Through the 1950s and 1960s, By e-mail High: 42 C in Turkey is a clear violation of Begum worked with the best music [email protected] Low: 34 C international laws. It is cold comfort A tribute to directors in the fi lm industry - S Fax 44350474 Sunny that the coup plotters could face the Mubarak Begum D Burman, Shankar Jaikishan and Or Post death penalty. Khayyam - on movies that starred Former UN secretary-general Kofi screen legends like Sunil Dutt, Nargis Letters to the Editor SATURDAY Annan once asserted that “as an Dear Sir, and Rajendra Kumar. Gulf Times High: 44 C established norm .... military coups She also used to give regular stage P O Box 2888 Low: 34 C against democratically-elected An era has come to an end in performances and musical concerts. Doha, Qatar Sunny governments by self-appointed juntas Indian music with the death of It is sad that ghazals are waning in are not acceptable”. singer Mubarak Begum, best known this era of popular music. Mubarak Military governments invariably for crooning the title track of 1961 Begum’s legacy in ghazal singing will All letters, which are subject Fishermen’s forecast to editing, should have the subvert democratic principles, violate romantic drama Meri Yaad Aayegi and never be forgotten. OFFSHORE DOHA the most basic human rights and fl out the hit song Mujhko Gale Lagalo from In her days she was quite famous name of the writer, address Wind: SE-NE 03-12 KT the rule of law with impunity. fi lm Hamrahi. She had an enchanting among South Asian expatriates in Gulf and phone number. The Waves: 1-3 Feet A military coup d’etat is an voice. countries. INSHORE DOHA writer’s name and address Wind: NW -NE 05-15 KT immoral and illegal means to ascend Begum, who sang several Hindi Waves: 1-2 Feet to power. film songs and ghazals, mainly Ramesh G Jethwani may be withheld by request. The replacement of a legitimate between the 1950s and 1970s, had (e-mail address supplied) Around the region Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Abu Dhabi Sunny 43/34 Sunny 45/32 Baghdad Sunny 51/32 Sunny 49/30 Dubai Sunny 42/33 Sunny 43/32 Live issues Kuwait City P Cloudy 49/34 Sunny 47/36 Manama Sunny 40/32 Sunny 40/33 Muscat Sunny 38/32 Sunny 39/33 Riyadh M Sunny 47/31 Cloudy 47/31 Should I take multivitamins during pregnancy? Tehran Sunny 41/29 Sunny 42/28

By Dr Luisa Dillner anything other than vitamin D and London folic acid are needed as supplements in pregnancy. Folic acid reduces the likelihood of t’s the winner of pregnancy brain and spinal cord defects in babies product of the year for Boots, (anencephaly and spina bifi da) – and so it has to be something that’s higher doses may be needed in women Igreat for pregnant women, with greater risk of these conditions. right? Pregnacare Max, according to The evidence for folic acid is strong. the Boots website, is “the ultimate The research to support vitamin formula” for mums-to-be. D supplements in strengthening It includes not only folic acid and the development of bones and teeth vitamin D at amounts recommended in babies is not as strong, but good by Britain’s Department of Health, enough for the bulletin and Nice to but also zinc, magnesium, niacin, recommend it. vitamins B6, B12 and C, iron and a host But there is no such of other vitamins and minerals. All for recommendation for vitamins C and E. £19.99 (around QR100) for a 42-day High levels of vitamin A may cause Around the world supply. birth defects, so those supplements Weather Weather So is that the price a mother has are a no-no; iron is needed only today Max/min tomorrow Max/min to pay for the health of her and her for women who are anaemic, as it Athens Sunny 34/24 Sunny 34/25 newborn? can irritate the stomach and cause Beirut Sunny 30/23 Sunny 30/23 Bangkok S T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 32/26 Well, according to a review of constipation or diarrhoea. Berlin S Showers 27/17 S Showers 29/17 vitamin supplements in pregnancy Only research from low-income Cairo Sunny 37/24 Sunny 36/24 in the latest Drug and Therapeutics countries where pregnant women Cape Town S Showers 16/09 Showers 15/08 Bulletin, the true price may be less. are more likely to be malnourished Colombo S T Storms 29/26 S T Storms 29/26 T Storms 30/26 The article said: “For most women suggests any benefi t from Dhaka 31/26 T Storms Hong Kong S T Storms 32/29 Sunny 32/29 who are planning to become pregnant multivitamins, although advice varies Istanbul Sunny 29/18 Sunny 31/18 or who are pregnant, complex around the world. Jakarta S T Storms 32/25 T Storms 31/24 multivitamin and mineral preparations Pregnant women in the US are Karachi M Cloudy 32/28 Cloudy 32/28 promoted for use during pregnancy advised to take iron and folic acid London M Cloudy 25/17 Showers 24/16 Manila S T Storms 33/26 T Storms 33/26 are unlikely to be needed and are an supplements, but not vitamin D. Moscow Cloudy 22/13 Rain 22/16 unnecessary expense.” So does it really matter if pregnant New Delhi P Cloudy 36/27 P Cloudy 36/26 Women would be better off , said women take multivitamins? Probably New York Sunny 32/23 P Cloudy 35/24 the bulletin, sticking to vitamin D (10 not, as long as they check the amount Paris M Cloudy 29/17 P Cloudy 28/16 Cloudy P Cloudy 19/09 micrograms a day) and folic acid (400 Buying both tablets separately is developing baby gets, the better? of vitamin A in the preparation. Sao Paulo 16/10 Seoul P Cloudy 29/22 S T Storms 29/22 micrograms before pregnancy and usually cheaper than multivitamin This latest review agrees with But why spend more on Singapore S T Storms 32/25 T Storms 31/25 until the end of the fi rst trimester) and preparations – Boots sells vitamin D at guidance from the National Institute supplements if they won’t make you Sydney S Showers 19/13 M Sunny 25/13 spending their money on a healthy £1.09 (QR5) for 90 tablets. for Health and Care Excellence or your baby any healthier? - Guardian Tokyo Rain 24/21 Cloudy 25/20 diet. But surely the more vitamins your (Nice): there is no evidence that News and Media Gulf Times 24 Thursday, July 21, 2016 QATAR PM opens health centre in Umm Salal he Prime Minister and health sector were present on courage citizens and residents to HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani along with HE Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, Dr Mariam Abdulmalik and other off icials after Minister of Interior, HE the occasion. adopt healthy lifestyles to avoid the opening of the new health centre at Umm Salal. PICTURE: Emiri Diwan TSheikh Abdullah bin On the sidelines of the event, possible preventable diseases.” Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani Dr al-Kuwari said, “This is the It is expected that the cen- Dr Abdulmalik said that the provide a balance between the tre has implemented the Clinical an appointment system.” opened yesterday Umm Salal third health centre opened by tre will be able to cater to a new health centre was a replace- physical and mental health of Information System (CIS). The new health centre has Health and Wellness Centre, the the PHCC this year. PHCC will population of about 50,000 people. ment of the old one and the new patients. “These services will Dr Ali said, “Almost all the about 20 doctors, 77 nurses, and third such facility under the Pri- open new health centres in the The minister also pointed out one provided several additional support the community to en- health centres under PHCC 22 administrative staff . It serves mary Health Care Corporation upcoming days that will be built that the opening of such ad- services. “It is a Type A health joy a healthy life through the have adopted the CIS system. the areas of Al Daayen, Umm (PHCC). in accordance with the best in- vanced health centres showed centre that provides wellness provision of wellness services Through this system, patient Salal Mohamed, Umm Salal Ali, HE Minister of Public Health ternational standards, provid- the commitment of the coun- services along with other medi- and the preventive action by a information is recorded elec- Umm Al Amad, and Umm Abiri- Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari, ing quality healthcare for the try in the development of the cal services. Umm Salal is the team of specialists that include tronically and accessible from ya. In addition, all the patients PHCC managing director Dr population.” primary healthcare system third centre of this nature after doctors, nurses and dietitians,” all the health centres under of the previous health centre Mariam Abdulmalik and Pub- Dr al-Kuwari explained: and the provision of integrated Leabaib and Rawdat Al Khail she added. PHCC as well as from any of the have already been moved to the lic Works Authority president “Umm Salal Centre will off er and comprehensive healthcare health centres.” Dr Nadia Saleh Ali, manager, Hamad Medical Corporation new health centre. The centre Nasser Ali al-Mawlawi and a integrated services for the pri- for all the individuals of the According to Dr Abdulmalik, Umm Salal Wellness and Health health facilities. Moreover, all works from 7am to 11pm, fi ve number of offi cials from the mary healthcare, and will en- community. the new centres are designed to Centre, said that the health cen- the patients are seen through days a week. Biggest wellness and health centre under PHCC

he Umm Salal Well- people in the radius of 10km. centre also provides laboratory clude a gym, multi depth swim- ness and Health Centre Therefore, it is expected to serve services, pharmacy, radiology, ming pool, massage and sauna. Tis the biggest of all the the community quite well.” premarital services, home care There are separate facilities for health centres under the Pri- Georgis said that the topogra- services and others. male and female. There is also mary Health Care Corpora- phy of the land allowed the de- Dr Samya al-Abdullah, ex- high advanced equipment for tion (PHCC), an offi cial said signer to have a diff erent build- ecutive director of operations, sports to enhance a healthy life- Umm Salal Wellness and Health Centre. yesterday. ing for the pool, mosque, and a PHCC, said, “The health centre style. It also consists of a swim- “It is of great architectural unique design with the wings. It has the capacity to cater up to ming pool, massage area, sauna merit with a unique building took more than two-and a-half 50,000 people. There are about and physiotherapy for both male lying in 50sq m. It also has dif- years to complete the project. 36,000 patients registered at and female.” ferent wings for a number of Classifi ed as Type A, the cen- the new health centre and out The health centre will provide clinical practices like family tre provides a number of preven- of the 36,000, about 30,000 are a number of preventative serv- medicine, walk-in clinic, den- tive and curative services such as regular visitors to the centre as ices such as antenatal, well-baby tistry, among others,” said Nikki vaccination, mental health serv- per the records of the old health clinic, well woman clinic and Georgios, executive director of ices, cancer screening, physi- centre.” in future we will have a mental engineering department, PHCC. otherapy, dermatology, ENT, She added, “This is a well- health clinic in addition to the According to Georgios, the family medicine clinics, clinic ness health centre. This new general clinic. centre has the largest number of of non-communicable diseases, health centre has other services The centre also has a phar- clinics. “It has 64 clinics which baby clinic, dental and oph- that were not available in the old macy and laboratory which are allow it to cater to about 50,000 thalmology clinic. The health health centre. Such facilities in- highly equipped. PHCC off icials at the press conference.

The swimming pool at the new health centre. Some of the facilities at the new health centre. Souq Waqif establishments feel summer pinch

By Peter Alagos expatriates leave the country for Business Reporter holidays. Feroz, who tends a souvenir shop that sells various antiques, ue to the lack of tour- handicraft, and other gift items, ists and while many said the store would sometimes Dresidents in Qatar are off er some products at bargain out of the country on vacation, prices to entice customers. establishments inside Souq He said the store’s bestsellers Waqif are struggling to attract among tourists include refriger- more customers this summer, ator magnets, key chains, lamps, it is learnt. camel fi gurines, jewellery boxes, The centuries-old Souq Wa- and small trinkets, among oth- qif is one of Doha’s top tourist ers. “Most souvenir shops rely destinations, especially during on tourists for sales. But since the cooler months when vari- it is the summer, we do not get ous activities and events are held as much tourists compared to within the area. our peak season in the winter,” Many shopkeepers report he said. “excellent sales” during peak Gilbert, a restaurant staff , season, which is usually in the echoed the same sentiments, winter time. During this peri- saying daytime operations are od, tourists and residents alike often dull during the summer. are often seen taking day or “We still get some of our regu- night strolls along the cobble- lar customers during the daytime stone-paved streets or explor- and some occasional walk-ins Row of souvenir shops at Souq Waqif. PICTURES: Peter Alagos ing the Souq’s labyrinth-like but that is not enough to boost lanes. sales. Sales are better during the tended shifts, up to 12 hours a day ing to enjoy the mood of the to regular days of the cooler However, the mood at the weekends but it is defi nitely a just to accommodate throngs of Souq and the festivities, if any. months. Souq changes drastically during far cry from what the restaurant customers. But now, it is completely the “There are three seasons where the summer when high tempera- makes during the winter season,” “Most restaurants are opposite,” he said. most stores make the most profi t - tures discourage many residents he said. packed in the winter and they According to Ashraf, a store- Ramadan, before the onset of school from frequenting the shops and During events like the Souq add more tables and chairs keeper at Al Sanafer Centre, sales season, and winter; these are good restaurants. The season is also Waqif Spring Festival, Gilbert outdoors because many cus- for garments drop as low as 50% occasions to buy clothes, spices, the time when many Qataris and said staff members go on ex- tomers prefer al fresco din- during the summer compared perfumes and other items,” he said. Restaurants at the souq take in a few customers during the daytime.