QATAR | Page 16 SPORT | Page 1 Beach boys Samba and Janko claim gold for Cooling vests for Qatar 2022 stadium workers Qatar published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10925 August 29, 2018 Dhul-Hijja 18, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Barwa Bank, In brief ibq merger to

QATAR | Aviation Doha-Kochi fl ights form QR80bn to resume today Kerala’s Kochi airport, which was shut down on August 15 due to heavy rain and floods in the south Indian state, will resume operations Shariah entity today at 2pm, the airport owner CIAL (Cochin International Airport arwa Bank and International sisting the growth of private sector.” Limited) said yesterday. All airlines, Bank of Qatar (ibq) have reached “This agreement would combine both domestic and international, Ba fi nal merger agreement, creat- the key strengths of the two banks, in will follow the current schedule ing a Shariah-compliant fi nancial in- the areas of retail and private banking for operations, CIAL said in a stitution with total assets of QR80bn. services, corporate and government communique. Qatar Airways and In a statement yesterday, the two institutions, capital markets as well as Indian carriers – Air India Express, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting yesterday with Commander of the US Air Forces Central Qatari banks said their merger would wealth and asset management. By lev- Jet Airways and IndiGo – operate Command in Southwest Asia Lt Gen Jeff rey Harrigian. create a “leading Shariah-compliant eraging these strengths, the combined direct flights between Doha and fi nancial institution with a solid fi nan- entity will be ideally positioned to meet Kochi. Page 3 cial position and robust liquidity” to the needs of a wider range of clients support Qatar’s economic growth and thus increasing its market share,” the REGION | Confl ict fi nance development initiatives in line statement said. US support to coalition with Qatar National Vision 2030. Credit Suisse was previously ap- Amir discusses bilateral strategic The merger will create a combined pointed as fi nancial adviser to Barwa not unconditional: Mattis entity with total assets of QR80bn and Bank, QINVEST adviser to the Board, US support for the Saudi-led a shareholder equity base of more than and Perella Weinberg as fi nancial advi- coalition fighting in Yemen is not QR12bn. sor to the International Bank of Qatar. “unconditional,” Defence Secretary relations with US commander According to this merger agreement, The two banks have agreed to ap- Jim Mattis said yesterday, as he the “two banks will work to complete point a top tier management consult- defended America’s ongoing role is Highness the Amir Sheikh terrorism, and a number of other is- of the US Air Forces Central Command the necessary steps to consummate the ant in order to develop an integrated in the war. The Pentagon chief’s Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani sues of mutual interest. for his role in promoting joint action merger, obtain the required approvals plan, identify the strategy and achieve comments came the same day Hmet yesterday with the Com- At the beginning of the meeting, His between Qatar and the United States of from the regulatory authorities and ob- the desired objectives of the combined as UN investigators said they had mander of the US Air Forces Central Highness the Amir granted the outgo- America, especially in the fi ght against tain shareholders’ approvals before the entity, the most important of which reasonable grounds to believe that Command in Southwest Asia Lt Gen ing Commander of the US Air Forces terrorism. end of 2018. is increase revenue and reduce costs, warring parties in Yemen may have Jeff rey Harrigian and his accompany- Central Command the decoration of Lt Gen Harrigian expressed his grat- “The two entities will be consolidat- which will provide added value to committed a “substantial number” ing delegation, who called on the Amir Sheikh Joaan for military bravery (fi rst itude for the Amir and his pride in be- ed and operate as one bank subsequent shareholders and customers of the two of violations of humanitarian law at the Amiri Diwan to greet him. class) in recognition of his sincere ef- ing bestowed the honour. to their respective general assemblies banks and the national economy. that could amount to “war crimes.” The meeting reviewed the strategic forts to strengthen the strong relations The decoration of Sheikh Joaan is and the adoption of their fi nal fi nancial Reuters had reported in June that Page 4 relations between the two countries, and strategic partnership between the one of the military honours granted by results for the fi scal year ending in De- the two lenders were in advanced talks especially in the military and defence two friendly countries. His Highness the Amir for exceptional cember 2018.” after a three-way merger with Qatar- AMERICA | Politics fi elds, joint eff orts in the fi ght against The Amir thanked the Commander service in the military fi eld. — QNA In a joint statement, the two banks based leading Islamic lender Masraf Al said their merger will create a combined Rayan fell through. Trump warns Google, entity that “supports the economic Currently, 18 banks operate under Facebook and Twitter development of the State of Qatar by the Qatar Central Bank, of which 11 are President Donald Trump stepped Amir meets Canadian ambassador creating a strategic partner for the Gov- national banks. Four of these are Is- up his criticism of Internet firms ernment and the public sector while as- lamic banks. yesterday, hours after attacking Google over what he called “bias” against him and his supporters. “Google and Twitter and Facebook — they are really treading on very, very troubled territory and they New academic year begins today have to be careful,” Trump told reporters at the White House. The MoI, Traff ic Department The education ministry has signed comments come after the president off er safety advice up a total of 711 new teachers, bring- last week slammed social media ing the total in public schools to 13,440, firms for what he claimed was he new academic year is all set compared to 13,591 in private schools. It suppression of conservative voices, to begin in the country today, has also added a total of 5,065 seats by and yesterday’s tirade against Tmarking the return of more than opening new schools in preparation for Google that claimed news search 307,000 students to school after the the new academic year. results were “rigged” to favour “left- summer holidays. In addition, the ministry has distrib- wing media.” The necessary preparations have uted 2,117 buses to diff erent schools for been completed by the Ministry of transporting students and co-ordinat- EUROPE | Military Education and Higher Education and ed with the Traffi c Department to en- other government entities to ensure sure the safety of these buses and the Russia to hold biggest that the 2018-19 academic year has a transportation process. drills since Cold War smooth start. The ministry is conducting a back- Russia will flex its military muscles The Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the to-school campaign at Mall of Qatar and hold the biggest war games His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met at the Amiri Diwan yesterday with the outgoing Canadian Traffi c Department have issued safety until August 31 as part of its eff orts to since the Cold War era next month, ambassador to Qatar Adrian Norfolk. The Amir wished the ambassador success in his future mission, and the relations advisories for students and their parents. duly prepare students for the new aca- including almost 300,000 troops between the two countries further progress and development. For his part, the ambassador expressed thanks and Teaching staff began their work on demic year. The campaign has seen a and 1,000 aircraft, the defence appreciation to His Highness the Amir and the State’s off icials for the co-operation he received during his tenure, which Monday to prepare for the fi rst day of considerable turnout of parents and ministry said yesterday, leading contributed to the success of his work. school. students. To Page 16 Nato to warn of a “more assertive Russia”. The Vostok-2018, or East 18, exercises simulating large-scale warfare, which the Kremlin called “justified”, will be carried out from September 11 to 15 in the country’s east, with troops from China and Vodafone connects fi rst customer to its 5G network Mongolia also taking part. Page 10

BUSINESS | Naft a odafone Qatar has marked yes- This follows the Vodafone Qatar’s an- our international peers, Vodafone Qa- Trudeau will sign deal terday the connection of its nouncement on Monday that it switched tar is committed to building a world- Vfi rst enterprise customer - Gulf on its fi rst, live 5G network at an event class digital infrastructure that en- that’s ‘good for Canada’ Bridge International (GBI) - to its 5G that demonstrated the transformative hances the quality of lives and helps to Canadian Prime Minister Justin network in the Qatar Science and Tech- potential of 5G, thanks to incredible drive economic growth and productiv- Trudeau said yesterday he would nology Park. speeds but more signifi cantly ultra-low ity in Qatar.” sign a revamped continental Vodafone Qatar COO Diego Cam- latency, meaning a very low delay for From a business perspective, vir- trade agreement that is “good for beros presented a 5G customer data transmission between two points. tually every industry in Qatar will be Canada,” after the US and Mexico premises equipment (CPE) to GBI’s Camberos said: “We’re delighted impacted by 5G. Businesses across all hammered out their diff erences to management that will provide GBI that GBI is the fi rst company to be tri- sectors will be able to monitor their reach a tentative accord. “We will with broadband access at speeds that alling our 5G network. GBI is one of our operations in real time. Goods can engage in a positive way and look exceed 1Gbps with a user experience most important partners that has been be produced more effi ciently and in a forward to ultimately signing a deal that’s real-time and uninterrupted. providing us with international con- manner more responsive to consumer as long as it’s good for Canada and 5G connectivity using the CPE, nectivity for many years, so to play a needs, helping to minimise waste. This good for middle class Canadians,” equipment which is manufactured on a part in further enhancing their opera- will accelerate the country’s move to- Trudeau said during a visit with very limited scale worldwide, is availa- tions through our 5G network is some- wards self-suffi ciency from agriculture local business leaders in Quebec. ble where Vodafone Qatar’s 5G network thing we’re very proud of. Vodafone Qatar COO Diego Camberos hands over the CPE to Gulf Bridge to healthcare, and across every sector, Business Page 14 is deployed. “Leveraging the leading expertise of International off icials. Camberos said. Page 3 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 QATAR Amir receives message from Venezuelan president QC distributes sacrifi cial meat in 23 countries ith the support of its income families, refugees, dis- refugees in countries of asy- generous donors, Qa- placed persons, QC’s sponsored lum, whose circumstances Wtar Charity (QC) has orphans, people with special forced them to leave their successfully delivered Qurbani needs, as well as workers and home countries such as Syr- (sacrifi cial) meat to more than those who are not employed. ians, Rohingyans and refugees 900,000 people in 23 countries The project has targeted vul- in Africa. as part of its Eid al-Adha cam- nerable people in Qatar and 30 Upon completion of the paign, it was announced yester- other countries in Asia, Africa project, Executive Directorate His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has received a written message from President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, day. and Europe through QC’s fi eld of QC thanked all its donors for pertaining to bilateral relations and prospects for developing them. Venezuela’s Vice-President Dr Delcy Rodriguez Gomez delivered the Sacrifi cial meat from as many offi ces and its local partners in: their generous support and tre- message during a meeting with the Amir at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. as 26,000 cattle, including Palestine, Iraq, Somalia, Tuni- mendous eff orts to make Eid day sheep and cows, valued more sia, Morocco, Lebanon, Sudan, a special day in the lives of those than QR20mn was delivered. Kenya, Mali, Bangladesh, Benin, less privileged. In addition, Qatar charity Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, It is worth mentioning that Ministry recalls reached out to more than 12,000 Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Indonesia, about 1,000 orphans and children orphans during the holy ten days Kosovo, Albania, Bosnia, Ghana, from families of low income in Qa- Defence minister meets US military official Ducati motorcycles of Dhul-Hijja. They received Turkey, Jordan, Ethiopia, Gam- tar benefi ted from new Eid clothes new Eid clothes and gifts. bia, Chad and Senegal. and gifts, while 11,000 were The Ministry of Economy Qatar Charity’s sacrifi cial The sacrificial meat project reached in 22 countries around the and Commerce (MEC), in meat project focused on low- focused particularly on the world. collaboration with Alfardan Motorcycles, has announced the recall of Ducati Panigale V4 and Ducati Panigale V4 S motorcycles (2018 models) because fuel may leak from the tank plug. HBKU Fall 2018 community The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that bike courses open for registration dealers follow up on motorcycle defects and repairs. The MEC has urged all customers amad Bin Khalifa Uni- to report any violations to its versity (HBKU) has an- Consumer Protection and Anti- Hnounced the rollout of Commercial Fraud Department its Fall 2018 community courses, through the following channels: which are now open for public HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah Call centre: 16001, e-mail: info@ registration. The courses cover met the Commander of the US Air Forces Central Command in Southwest Asia, Lt Gen Jeff rey mec.gov.qa, Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, both practical and theoretical Harrigian, in Doha yesterday. During the meeting, a number of issues of mutual interest, as well as Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC aspects to deepen local capacity- means of enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries were discussed. mobile app for Android and IOS: building in the areas of leader- MEC_Qatar ship, co-active coaching, entre- preneurship and public speaking. HBKU will provide local and international expert resources to deliver the courses scheduled HBKU opens registration for community courses. in September and October. The compact course design is aimed Ooredoo’s 5G network enables at providing participants with garnering personal strengths to core ideas – leaving them confi - valuable insights into a myriad succeed within a competitive, dent and resourceful in their ap- of pertinent topics that can aid business-driven environment. proach to professional presenta- their professional development. The How to Start Your Venture tions. The fi ve-part module will Vice-president of Student module will off er participants run between September 30 and Qatar to be global IoT leader Aff airs at HBKU, Maryam al- practical tips on entrepreneur- October 14. Mannai said, “Since its concep- ship, prototyping and revenue Finally, the How to Become tion, the programme has aspired models in preparation for future a Social Entrepreneur course, oredoo has announced IoT present the biggest business move beyond 4G geolocation- wearables, can transform the to encourage lifelong learning business endeavours. This four- scheduled for October 1 to 17, that Qatar is leading opportunity of our lifetime in based services, to a 5G world learning experience. Students, through communal engagement part course will also run from will use case study examination Oglobal 5G and Internet transforming Qatar’s economy, with augmented and virtual re- educators, and administrators while complementing HBKU’s September 17 - 26. to discern this modern dimen- of Things (IoT) innovation, de- society, and environment. ality providing immersive expe- can foster enhanced digital col- wide range of postgraduate pro- One of HBKU’s most popular sion of entrepreneurship with livering new levels of business “Our industry-leading 5G riences from virtually trying on laboration, immersive virtual grammes and fostering a culture courses, Co-Active Coaching, a focus on social and economic success and transforming citizen and IoT solutions, and channel clothes to gyms with simulated reality fi eldtrips, and new levels of innovative thought among will be off ered in both Arabic value creation in areas of human and customer experiences. partner ecosystem, are guiding races. of automated campus safety and people of all age groups, genders, and English from September development, education, energy, The IoT era is seeing com- Qatar’s organisations in their Connected energy transmis- security. and professional backgrounds. 30 to October 16 and from Oc- health and sustainability. When puters integrated into billions digital transformation journeys sion – Smart grids can combine Entertainment – Theme We welcome a cross-section tober 1 to 17 respectively. This placed within the regional and of everyday objects, which to seize market share transform with 5G networks to monitor parks, concerts, and video games of Qatar’s diverse community transformative six-part course global context of contemporary collect data and communicate daily lives across the country.” and predict rapid increases in are being transformed by 5G and to enrol in HBKU’s community focuses on drafting life purpose market dynamics, this skill- real-time insights over ul- Ooredoo expects the ultra- demand, enable smart street IoT. By connecting sensors on classes and supplement their statements to gain perspective set can eff ectively advance new tra-high-speed 5G networks. fast 5G networks to serve as the lighting with LED lamps, and people with mobile devices, cus- existing professional competen- and draw maximised meaning business models that transcend Qatar is taking an early 5G foundation for the IoT to make overall provide real-time and tomers can design bespoke itin- cies with a new skill, or simply from all dimensions of everyday conventional models through an lead, with Ooredoo being the a major impact in the following dynamic utilities pricing to eraries, experience virtual reality engage in a unique personal de- living including family, friends, innovative approach. world’s first communications verticals: enhance costs, effi ciency, and concerts, and gain new levels of velopment opportunity.” career, money and health. Applicants for all courses are company to launch commer- Transportation – Autono- safety. immersive gameplay. The Leadership Through Self- In the Master Public Speaking eligible for a 30% discount if cially-ready 5G, and is prepar- mous vehicles can use 5G’s Smart healthcare – In the era Supporting Qatar’s organisa- Discovery course, which will and Overcome the Fear of Speak- they register before September ing 1,200 network stations to broadband and low latency to beyond digital patient records tions, Ooredoo is seeing strong run from September 17 - 26, is ing in Public module, partici- 9. Those interested can learn become 5G-ready. navigate complex city streets, and self-care apps, 5G’s fast demand for the IoT Connect an opportunity to re-discover pants will acquire and hone their more about the course contents, Now, Ooredoo is leveraging 5G and for ambulances to co-or- speeds and low latency could solution, which allows tracking leadership potential through an public speaking and presenta- schedules and registration pro- to drive IoT innovation with two dinate on green light signalling. enable robotic surgery, new lev- and management of networked interactive four-part workshop tion skills – a vital component cedures, at ww.hbku.edu.qa/ key technology elements: net- Connected metros and trams els of monitoring wearable de- devices, tools, and products. that draws on the principle of of eff ective communication of community-classes work traffi c prioritisation based can leverage 5G broadband and vices such as heart monitors, Business customers can lev- on the priority of the industry GPS technology for real-time and Big Data analytics that could erage the Ooredoo Advantage, vertical, and lower latency for tracking that can reduce head- analyse massive patient data sets making Ooredoo “Best for Busi- critical applications such as ways, enhance safety, and pro- for predicting treatments and ness,” thanks to its breadth and smart and connected transpor- vide real-time passenger infor- identifying regional or global depth of talent, best fi xed and tation, retail, energy, healthcare, mation. healthcare trends. mobile networks, broadest port- education, and entertainment. Smart and connected retail – Education – In schools and folio of ICT services and solu- Ikea launches 2019 catalogue Ooredoo Qatar COO Yousuf With Qatar’s connected malls universities, 5G combined with tions, and trusted partner for 60 Abdulla al-Kubaisi said, “5G and growing, smart retailers can mobile devices, from tablets to years. kea, the leading Swedish home-furnishing retailer Iwhich is in its 75th year, has launched in Qatar the 2019 cata- logue at a media event at Doha Traffi c diversion on part of Salwa Road Festival City yesterday. Ikea Qatar store manager Alexey Sitkin and marketing he Public Works Authority (Ashghal) manager Iyad Hudaib led the has announced that it will close part event. Tof Salwa Road at Rawdat Rashed In- This year, seven homes have terchange, in the lanes leading to Doha, from been created as the base for the August 31. Ikea catalogue. They each tell The diversion, implemented in co-ordina- stories of diff erent lives, and the tion with the General Directorate of Traffi c, catalogue invites the world to an will be in place for six months. “open house” in these homes A music performance at Ikea’s 2019 catalogue launch event at Doha During this period, traffi c on the closed part which are fi lled with inspiration Festival City yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed of Salwa Road will be diverted to the opposite for everyday life. side of the road, which will include two lanes “At Ikea we are obsessed with stuff ” is the single biggest cause True to its ethos, the 2019 edi- for traffi c heading to Doha and another two life at home and each year we of stress in the home. tion is also full of features and lanes heading to Abu Samra, as shown on the conduct in-depth research to Globally, 27% of people think content that not only off ers de- attached map. further understand what mat- that society puts pressure on sign inspiration, but promotes The closure aims to enable construction ters to us all so that we can ad- them to live minimally. 49% of the idea living sustainably and works for a new bridge parallel to the existing dress real life needs in our cata- people say that the main cause of provides practical solutions in bridge at Rawdat Rashed Interchange, in or- logue to make people’s homes their domestic arguments is due which to do so. der to accommodate traffi c heading to Rawdat better,” Vinod Jayan, manag- to clutter, and in many homes, “Whether you have a busy Rashed Road, Ashghal has said in a statement. ing director at Ikea UAE, Qatar, there is a battle of clutter versus home with people of all ages This is part of the fourth phase of the Rawdat Oman and Egypt, explained in a minimalism. under one roof, trying to cre- Rashed Road Development Project imple- statement. The new catalogue also in- ate a calming space in a stress- mented by the authority. Through research presented cludes a diverse range of fur- ful city, or looking to live more Ashghal will install road signs advising mo- in the Ikea “Life at Home” re- nishings and fi ttings for the sustainably – the new catalogue torists of the diversion, and has requested all port about people’s needs and home which refl ect its Swedish spread gives easy to follow steps road users to abide by the speed limit and fol- dreams for their homes around heritage and other cultural in- to apply to your home,” Jayan low road signs to ensure their safety. the world, having “too much fl uences from around the globe. added. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 29, 2018 3 QATAR Dar Al Salam Mall Qatar excels in Russian parachute tournament to build 9 cinemas, entertainment zone zExpansion plans electronic section. and we received good foot- include doubling the “Construction will start fall every day and during number of parking soon and will take at least the recent Eid al-Adha holi- spaces one year,” he noted, adding days,” he said. “We expect that such expansion plan an average of 20,000 visi- By Joey Aguilar will benefi t a large number tors per day.” Staff Reporter of residents in the area once “Dar Al Salam Mall is ap- fi nished. pealing to many residents The Qatar Special Parachute Jump Team have recorded remarkable achievement in Russia’s eight-day Parachute Iqbal added that access to due to its good mix of popu- Jumping championship, following stiff strong competition among the participating teams. The Qatar team included ar Al Salam Mall free and bigger parking area lar brands, and other food Ahmed Ali Abdul Aziz, Abdullah Saqr al-Ali, Abdullah Hani al-Rashedi, Saeed Salem al-Kuwari, Hasan Ali al-Malki, Saleh is set to build nine becomes easier for worship- and beverage off erings (res- Salem al-Kuwari, Abdulaziz al-Abdullah, Salman Hassan al-Sharshani, Khalifa Abdullah al-Yafei and Jassim Mohamed Dcinemas and an Dar Al Salam Mall’s pers who come to pray at taurants and coff ee shops),” al-Buainain. The Qatar Special Parachute Jump Team had held a camp in Russia for 20 days in preparation for the entertainment zone on its operations manager Zahid the biggest mosque in Abu Iqbal pointed out. “People tournament. rooftop, aimed at provid- Iqbal. Hamour area. Built by Dar keep coming because of the ing Doha residents with Al Salam Mall, the mosque calm, peaceful and safe at- diverse range of offerings, accommodate more vehi- also has a Qur’an education mosphere here.” the mall’s operations man- cles. system. In partnership with Qatar ager Zahid Iqbal has told Iqbal said Dar Al Salam Despite the blockade on Tourism Authority, he said Gulf Times. Mall is also set to con- Qatar, Iqbal stressed that the mall hosts numerous “We are planning to bring vert its Carrefour super- the mall continues to ex- entertainment and cultural a one-of-its-kind enter- market into a hypermar- pand its operations without performances during Eid Kochi airport to resume tainment on an 18,000sqm ket, which will occupy any of its stores leaving or holidays and similar fes- area, including a beautiful an additional 2,500sqm closing until today. tivities and holidays in the garden,” said Iqbal, while area, dedicated for an “We are doing very well country. showing a blueprint of the mall’s expansion plan. “It fl ight operations today is a huge lease area, half for the cinemas and (the other half) for an entertainment zQatar Airways and tic and international, will at Nedumbassery, near to the three international zone for shoppers and mall- Indian carriers – Air India follow the current schedule Kochi, Qatar Airways re- airports in Kerala – Thiru- goers.” Express, Jet Airways and for operations, CIAL said in routed its fl ights – QR516 vananthapuram, Kochi and He noted that Dar Al IndiGo operate direct a communique. and QR517 between Doha Kozhikode, has been a pop- Salam Mall is the first flights between Doha “Intimation regarding and Kochi (Nedumbassery) ular transit point for thou- mall in the country to and Kochi the readiness of the air- to Thiruvananthapuram In- sands of Malayalis living in have a ‘green park’ on port has been given to all ternational Airport. North America and Europe its rooftop but had to erala’s Kochi airport, airlines to make sure the Air India Express di- besides the Middle East. be closed due to a water which was shut down smooth functioning of the verted its Kochi fl ights to The heavy rain and fl oods leakage, removing trucks Kon August 15 due to services as per schedule” Thiruvananthapuram and caused the airport’s run- of soil, grass and various heavy rain and fl oods in CIAL said. Kozhikode. way, taxiway and apron to kinds of plants. the south Indian state, will Qatar Airways and Indian Thousands of Qatar resi- be submerged. According to Iqbal, the resume operations today carriers – Air India Express, dents from central Kerala It was initially slated to problem has been fi xed and at 2pm, the airport owner Jet Airways and IndiGo – have been relying on Ned- resume operations at 2pm the mall is ready to bring the CIAL (Cochin International operate direct fl ights be- umbassery airport to fl y to on August 18, but owing to garden back for residents Airport Limited) said yes- tween Doha and Kochi. Doha. the severity of the fl oods, it and visitors to enjoy. terday. Following the closure of Doha, which also pro- was later deferred to August Part of the project, he All airlines, both domes- the Kerala’s largest airport vides excellent connectivity 26. added, also includes dou- bling the number of parking spaces from 600 to 1,200 to Dar Al Salam Mall.

Vodafone to revolutionise Qatar industries with 5G technology

By Peter Alagos Asked to provide a timeline be proud of it.” Business Reporter for the use of 5G technology “We’re ahead of the glo- in Qatar’s industries, Cam- bal trend; if there’s a need beros said: “Driverless cars for the customers then we’re odafone is looking to are a reality today, and you going to do it…we already revolutionise various might be surprised how fast have a roadmap and this 5G Vindustries in Qatar to things like that will be around launch event is the kick-off help create smart farms and here; even as prototypes be- of that plan,” he continued. cities, as well as world-class cause a driverless vehicle Camberos said Vodafone transportation and sports needs 5G, so when you have is working with diff erent services using 5G technol- that technology, it becomes vendors such as Huawei, ogy via its global expertise, Vodafone Qatar COO Diego easier. I think we’ll all be sur- whom he said, is “are ahead a company offi cial has said. Camberos speaks during prised how fast we can have of developing 5G-related Chief operating offi cer Di- the company’s 5G launch this in the country.” equipment such as handsets, ego Camberos stressed that event recently. Yesterday, Vodafone Qatar among others.” Vodafone Qatar “is ahead of PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed announced that it is the fi rst “Whoever comes fi rst, we the global trend” in the utilis- service provider in the coun- will get the devices but Hua- ing 5G technology. He noted “There are also diff erent try to connect a customer to wei is bringing the CPE, which that Vodafone Qatar is work- projects where we will be 5G. This came a day after the is a router. Today, there are no ing with diff erent local part- discussing about how we company’s offi cial 5G launch handsets yet available in the ners in the public and private can provide, for example, ceremony at the Qatar Na- world. If the smartphones are sectors to maximise the use of smart cities to Qatar, which tional Convention Centre. available, our network will be 5G in diff erent projects. is part of a bigger picture Camberos, responding to a ready to deliver that. “We’re leveraging on a and not just Vodafone and question on Vodafone Qatar’s “Today, we have live 5G lot of the Vodafone global some of its partners. There global position amongst oth- network and working de- expertise, so all of these are are actually some ongoing er telecommunications com- vices available in the mar- being done somewhere al- projects from the Qatari panies, said: “We’re lucky ket, which is the CPE. We’re ready. We’re bringing our government that we’re al- that we’re the fi rst one in waiting for other manufac- global expertise to Qatar to ready part of, so this future the world to do it, as a com- turers like Huawei and others work with local farmers and is coming very, very soon,” pany and as a country. We are to deliver the handsets, and local companies to connect Camberos told Gulf Times ahead of the trend. And in the then we will be ready. But to- them with 5G technology. on the sidelines of Vodafone Vodafone way, we’re the fi rst day, we are the fi rst network We’re in the middle of all Qatar’s 5G launching held ones. And as a country, we’re to have a live network in Qa- these developments. Monday in Doha. the fi rst ones and we should tar,” he explained.

Kahramaa builds substation with ready-made concrete in record time

atar General Elec- gated ways to make use of and armed blacksmithing a specialised factory. Con- tricity and Water all modern constructions works, pouring concrete etc. struction works were com- QCorporation (Kah- techniques to reduce sub- Working hours in the pleted in mid-June. ramaa) managed to imple- station construction period. substation reached 350 The site is well equipped ment a model for electric- It managed to construct a hours without lost time in- and observes all security ity distribution substation distribution substation in 35 jury (LTI). and safety standards. from a ready-made concrete days using the ready-made Setting substation design This modern technology in a record time by using the concrete instead of 90 days began in April after approv- can be utilised to cope with state-of-the-art modern by the transitions ways. The ing architectural and con- the rapid urban develop- construction technology. substation was constructed struction designs, and get- ment Qatar is witnessing This achievement is part by moving and install- ting the required permissions and to accelerate provision of Kahramaa’s endeavour to ing these elements using from relevant authorities. of services to customers. accelerate project comple- the modern construction Implementation started at It comes within Kahramaa’s tion while maintaining the technology. The method the beginning of May while endeavour to achieve its mis- highest quality. did away with many tradi- the construction elements sion of providing high quality Kahramaa’s Electricity tional construction stages (concrete bases, walls, ceil- and sustainable electricity and Networks Aff airs investi- including bricks, carpentry ings, etc.) were prepared in water for better living in Qatar. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Mistura invites US, South Sudan Some coalition strikes allies for Syria rebel chief talks next month ‘agrees to sign in Yemen may amount special envoy for Syria. De Reuters peace deal’ Geneva Mistura is tasked with form- ing a committee of Syrian citizens to draw up the new AFP N Syria envoy Staff an constitution, after receiving Khartoum de Mistura has invit- nominations from the Syr- to war crimes: UN Ued the United States ian government and the op- and six other countries for position. outh Sudan rebel chief Reuters talks in Geneva next month, The planned meetings fol- Riek Machar has agreed to Geneva a UN spokeswoman said low a similar set of talks with Ssign a fi nal peace deal with yesterday, as the United Na- both groups of countries in the government to end a brutal tions continues its push for a June, although Egypt was not civil war after initially refusing ir strikes by the Saudi-led coalition in new Syrian constitution. involved in that round. to ink it yesterday, a Sudanese the war in Yemen have caused heavy He plans to meet senior The discussions about mediator said. Acivilian casualties and some may representatives from the setting up a constitutional Machar and President Salva amount to war crimes, UN human rights ex- United States, Britain, Saudi committee have made slow Kiir have held weeks of talks in perts said yesterday. Arabia, Jordan, Germany, progress and represent a big Khartoum in search of a com- The experts’ panel also said that fi ghters of France and Egypt on Sept downgrade in the United prehensive peace deal to end the the rebel Houthi movement had fi red missiles 14, two days after he receives Nations’ ambitions for Syr- confl ict, which has killed tens of into Saudi Arabia and shelled the Yemeni city offi cials from Russia, Turkey ian peace talks. thousands and displaced mil- of Taiz. and Iran for previously an- For two years the war- lions since 2013 in the world’s It accused them of committing torture and nounced talks. ring sides repeatedly came youngest country. deploying child soldiers, both war crimes. “This is going to be an to Geneva, in a futile search The warring parties have al- Saudi Arabia is leading an alliance of states opportunity to discuss the for agreement on political ready inked several agreements, trying to restore the internationally recog- way ahead on the political reforms, a new constitution including a permanent ceasefi re nised government of Yemeni President Abd- process,” UN spokeswoman and new elections. and a power-sharing deal that Rabbu Mansour Hadi, ousted from the capi- Alessandra Vellucci said. But this year, with lit- sees Machar returning as fi rst tal Sanaa by the Houthis in 2015. A US State Department tle US political involvement vice president in the govern- The experts said they did not examine offi cial said the United and major gains on the bat- ment. But earlier yesterday in the United States and Britain, who supply States would be represented tlefi eld by Syrian President what was seen as a setback to weapons and intelligence to the alliance, or by James Jeff rey, the newly- Bashar al-Assad and his ongoing peace eff orts, Machar support for the Houthis, but other UN bod- A Yemeni suff ering from kidney failure receives dialysis treatment in Sanaa, yesterday. minted special representa- Russian and Iranian allies, refused to sign the deal even as ies were doing so. They urged all states to re- tive for Syria, and Joel Ray- the UN political process has Juba inked it. strict arms sales to help end the war. Yemen although international human rights lition have raped detainees and migrants, burn, the administration’s largely evaporated. Hours later the Sudanese me- “I think it fair to say, that of those parties groups have regularly documented abuses. they said. diators announced that he had that we have investigated — and we have not It was released ahead of UN peace talks The Saudi-led coalition said it had re- agreed to sign it. been able to look at for example Al Qaeda and between Hadi’s government and Houthis ferred the UN report to its legal team for “After intense negotiations Daesh (Islamic State) who are also involved scheduled for Sept 6 in Geneva. review. “The Coalition will take an appro- IS member killed in Libya attack by Sudanese mediators, Riek in Yemen — of those parties, none have clean More than 10,000 people have been killed priate position on this matter and make an Machar agreed to sign the docu- hands,” panel member Charles Garraway told in the war in Yemen and 8.4mn are on the announcement about it once the legal team The US military said it carried out an air strike yesterday ment on Thursday, August 30,” a news conference. brink of famine, the panel said. submits its observations,” it said in a state- in Libya, killing an Islamic State member described by Sudanese Foreign Minister Al- In Washington, US Secretary of Defence “Coalition air strikes have caused most of ment. a source as a former local leader of the militant group. Dierdiry Ahmed told reporters. Jim Mattis said US support for the Saudi-led the documented civilian casualties. In the UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs The US Africa Command said it “conducted a precision Ahmed said Machar had ex- coalition was not unconditional, but sug- past three years, such air strikes have hit res- Anwar Gargash said the report merited a air strike near Bani Walid, Libya, on August 28, killing one pressed some reservations about gested the United States would continue to idential areas, markets, funerals, weddings, response. ISIS-Libya terrorist,” referring to the Islamic State group. the deal, which the mediators support the alliance as it works to reduce detention facilities, civilian boats and even But he added the region needed to be The strike around 170 kilometres southeast of the capital will forward to the regional East fallout on civilians. medical facilities,” it said. preserved. Houthi officials could not im- Tripoli was co-ordinated with the UN-backed Government Africa bloc IGAD, which is lead- The US goal was to “keep the human cost Coalition forces have imposed severe re- mediately be reached for comment. of National Accord, the US military said. “At this time, we ing the latest peace eff ort aimed of innocents being killed accidentally to the strictions on Red Sea ports and Sanaa airport, The panel said its investigation of 11 in- assess no civilians were injured or killed in this strike,” at ending the civil war in South absolute minimum” and to bring the warring depriving Yemenis of vital supplies, which cidents raised serious concerns about the the US African Command (AFRICOM) said in a statement. Sudan. Machar and other rebel parties to the negotiating table, Mattis told may also constitute international crimes, the coalition’s targeting process. A source within the Bani Walid security services said an groups had initially refused to reporters. experts said. Attacks that fail to spare people or struc- “unidentified aircraft” targeted a pickup truck around four sign the draft, saying their res- The report was the fi rst United Nations United Arab Emirates (UAE) personnel tures protected by international humanitar- kilometres from the town. ervations had not been acknowl- investigation into possible war crimes in and proxy forces which are part of the coa- ian law would be unlawful violations, it said. edged in the text.

Parliament questions Rouhani

Reuters London

ran’s parliament voted yesterday to reject President Hassan Rouhani’s Iexplanations for economic hard- ship after a dramatic grilling on live TV, as new US sanctions begin to bite. The vote in parliament came two days after lawmakers sacked the minis- ter of economy and fi nance and weeks after they sacked the labour minister, blaming them for the collapse of the rial currency and surging infl ation. Rouhani won two landslide elections on a platform of economic reform and opening Iran up to the outside world, and his pragmatic supporters have a President Hassan Rouhani and members of the Iranian Parliament listen during a majority in the parliament. session in Tehran, yesterday. But his reputation and political in- fl uence have taken a sharp hit as his in coming months,” Saeed Laylaz, an terday about fi ve subjects: unemploy- promised economic gains have failed to Iranian economist, told Reuters by tel- ment, slow economic growth, the fall materialise. ephone from Tehran. of the rial, cross-border smuggling, His highest profi le achievement “Iranian political factions have al- and the lack of access by Iranian banks was to negotiate the lifting of fi nan- ways used international issues to pur- to global fi nancial services. cial sanctions on Iran in a 2015 deal sue their domestic gains,” he added. The parliament found only Rou- with world powers over its nuclear After the sacking of the two minis- hani’s answer about banks satisfactory. programme, but US President Donald ters this month, Tasnim news agency “I want to assure the Iranian na- Trump pulled out in May and Wash- reported that 70 lawmakers had signed tion that we will not allow the US plot ington has re-imposed sanctions. a motion to impeach a third: the Min- against the Islamic Republic to suc- Rouhani spoke out in parliament ister of Industry, Mines and Business. ceed,” Rouhani told parliament. “We in defence of his economic record, Rouhani has bowed to pressure and will not let this bunch of anti-Iranians blaming the country’s woes on the US fi red the head of the central bank. in the White House be able to plot sanctions rather than his team’s man- A deputy central bank governor was against us.” agement. But a majority of lawmakers arrested by the judiciary on corruption Iran’s offi cial unemployment rate voted to reject his explanation in four charges in a crackdown that also saw is 12%, with youth unemployment as out of fi ve areas. foreign exchange dealers rounded up. high as 25% in a country where 60% of There were confl icting reports about The lawmakers asked Rouhani yes- the 80mn population is under 30. what would follow from the vote: sev- eral Iranian news agencies said Rouha- ni’s case would now be referred to the America rejects court jurisdiction in sanctions case judiciary, although the spokesman for the parliamentary leadership, Behrouz The United States told UN judges yes- the five permanent members of the Nemati, said lawmakers must hold fur- terday they had no jurisdiction to rule UN Security Council plus Germany. ther discussion before that would take on Tehran’s demand for them to order In return, Tehran made commit- place. the suspension of debilitating nuclear- ments not to seek to develop nuclear Trump’s decision to abandon the related sanctions against Iran. weapons. But Trump said the deal did nuclear deal was opposed by US allies Washington cited security concerns not do enough to curb the threat from in Europe, who argued that he under- in its first legal response to a suit by Iran. He pulled out of the accord in mined Rouhani and strengthened the the Islamic Republic, which is suff er- May and began reimposing sanctions hands of the hardliners. ing increasing economic chaos. this month, alarming other signatories While Rouhani and his cabinet run Iran has argued that US President to the deal. In the first day of hearings Iran’s day-to-day aff airs, ultimate au- Donald Trump breached a 1955 treaty at the ICJ on Monday, Iran’s lawyers thority lies with the Supreme Leader, with his decision to reimpose the said the sanctions were threatening 79-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, sanctions after withdrawing from a the welfare of its citizens and disrupt- in power since 1989. multilateral nuclear accord. ing tens of billions of dollars’ worth of Weakening the pragmatists now But US State Department lawyer business deals. The US lawyers held could aff ect the choice of Khamenei’s Jennifer Newstead told the Interna- Iran to blame for its economic woes. successor. tional Court of Justice in The Hague They have “deep roots in the Iranian For now, Rouhani’s own position ap- that it “lacks prima facie jurisdiction government’s mismanagement of its pears safe. to hear Iran’s claims”. She argued own economy and repression of its The judiciary could determine that that the United States had the right own population,” Newstead said. he broke the law and parliament has to protect its national security and Trump says the sanctions are needed the power to impeach him, but experts other interests. The treaty “cannot to ensure Iran never builds a nuclear on Iranian politics say power struggles therefore provide a basis for this bomb. The Islamic Republic’s lead are more likely to play out indirectly. court’s jurisdiction” in the case, she representative in the case, Mohsen “The parliament’s move is politically said. Sanctions on Iran had been lifted Mohebi, branded the sanctions “na- motivated and indicates that tensions under a landmark 2015 accord with ked economic aggression”. would increase in the Islamic Republic Gulf Times Wednesday, August 29, 2018 5 ARAB WORLD

Israel demolishes family home of Palestinian fi ghter

Reuters Mohamed Tareq Ibraham Dar tinued policy of collective punishment Kauber, West Bank Youssef, 17, broke into the settlement is merciless,” Abu Ayyoush said. of Adam on July 26, and stabbed three Israel’s Supreme Court has upheld people, killing Yotam Ovadia, 31. the demolition policy, which Israeli he Israeli military yesterday One of those wounded in the assault officials have termed both punitive demolished the family home fatally shot the Palestinian, the mili- and a deterrence to potential attack- Tof a Palestinian teenager in tary said. ers. the occupied West Bank who killed Dar Youssef’s uncle, Khaled Abu In a statement, the military said an Israeli in a Jewish settlement a Ayyoush, said the youth’s parents, two dozens of Palestinians hurled rocks, month ago and was shot dead in the brothers and two sisters had lived in fi rebombs and pipe bombs at troops attack. the house razed in the night-time op- who deployed in the village and that Footage distributed by the military eration. they responded with “riot dispersal showed an armoured bulldozer tear- The family, he said, had known means”. It said none of the soldiers ing into the one-storey structure in the nothing of his intention to carry out an was hurt. village of Kauber, north of the Pales- attack. There were no immediate reports of tinian city of Ramallah. “Why are they at fault? Israel’s con- any Palestinian injuries. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 AFRICA Kidnapped Nigerian girl begs for freedom

By Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, Reuters “People should help to put pressure on Abuja the Nigerian government concerning her re- lease,” he said by telephone. Sharibu said no one in the government had he father of a Nigerian schoolgirl contacted him. kidnapped by Boko Haram yesterday The fact that the girl asks the president for Tcalled for the government to do more help in the recording suggests the militants to secure her freedom after audio of her beg- wanted to put public pressure on him, said ging for help was released. Ryan Cummings, a security analyst for con- Leah Sharibu, 15, was taken hostage with sultancy fi rm Signal Risk. more than 100 girls in the town of Dapchi in “This does indicate that there seems to be February, in the largest mass abduction since some form of negotiations ongoing between Boko Haram took 220 girls from the town of the state and the militants,” Cummings said. Chibok in 2014. Sometimes militants release similar She was the only one not released when the “proof of life” videos of hostages when ask- others were freed a month later — apparently ing for ransom money, he added. because she refused to convert from Christi- Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu said anity to Islam — the freed girls said in March. on Twitter that the government was aware of The government said it was investigating the audio and would react in due course. the audio recording, which was circulated by “For President Buhari, nothing will be local media this week and is believed to have spared in bringing all our girls home,” Shehu come from Boko Haram. wrote. “He will not rest until all of them are It is likely a ploy by the militants for ran- freed.” som money, according to analysts. The Nigerian government said it did not The Thomson Reuters Foundation could pay a ransom for the release of the other not independently verify its authenticity, but Dapchi girls, who were returned home by the Sharibu’s father said he recognised her voice. militants, seemingly unprompted, in March. “Her mother collapsed and was crying Nigeria is still haunted by the kidnapping when she heard the audio, but me, I was very of the Chibok girls in 2014. happy because I did not think she was alive,” About 100 have been found or freed, but at Somali police attend a handover ceremony as African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) leaves the Mogadishu stadium yesterday. Nathan Sharibu told the Thomson Reuters least 100 are still believed to be in captivity in Foundation. the northeast. South Africa withdraws land expropriation bill After 7 years, AU quits base outh Africa’s parliament has with- expropriation of land without compensa- drawn an expropriation bill it passed tion, as whites still own most of South Af- Sin 2016 that allowed the state to make rica’s territory. compulsory purchases of land to redress South Africans are taking part in public racial disparities in ownership, the ruling hearings on land reform that are being held at Somali national stadium African National Congress (ANC) said yes- countrywide, to give their comments on the terday. ANC’s proposal to change the constitution. The thrust of the bill, which had not been “The bill in its current form would need AFP ital Mogadishu where they have been The last football match to be top four bases in the country. signed into law, has been overtaken by a pro- to be re-considered in light of the process of Mogadishu stationed since 2011. played at the stadium, which can The stadium is “a national sym- posal by the ANC to change the constitution reviewing Section 25 of the constitution for “We thank AMISOM for handing seat up to 6,000 people, was in bol”, said Abdihafi d Mohamed of the to allow the expropriation of land without the expropriation of land without compen- back the stadium to the government 2003, according to Mogadishu’s Mogadishu Sports Committee. “The compensation. sation,” Nonceba Mhlauli, a spokeswoman frican Union troops yester- because the Somali people have been Sports Committee. public has been waiting for a long time The bill was meant to enable the state to for the ANC’s chief whip, said. day pulled out of their base in requesting this for a long time to al- Over the years, the stadium has for sporting activities to resume.” pay for land at a value determined by a gov- “Were the bill to be re-introduced, it ASomalia’s national stadium, low sporting activities to resume,” been used as a base by many armed Built with funding from the Chi- ernment adjudicator and then expropriate it would contain a clause or clauses refl ecting freeing up the venue for sporting Defence Minister Hassan Ali said at groups, notably by the Islamist She- nese government, it opened in 1978. for the “public interest”, ending the willing- expropriation of land without compensation events for the fi rst time in years, an a departure ceremony. baab group between 2008 and 2011 But over the past 15 years, it has buyer, willing-seller approach to land re- if that is the way that South Africans have AFP correspondent said. On Monday night, President Mo- who imposed a ban on all sporting fallen into a state of disrepair, over- form. chosen to go,” she said. The AU’s mission in Somalia hamed Abdullahi Mohamed also events in the capital. run with weeds and its walls pep- However, South African President Cyril Markets and investors are wary because (AMISOM) comprises some 20,000 visited the site and pledged that the In 2011, AMISOM troops chased pered with bullet holes in testimony Ramaphosa announced on August 1 the ANC of concerns about wider threats to property troops split across several bases, one government would “restore the sta- the Shebaab out of Mogadishu and to the violence which has ravaged plans to change the constitution to allow the rights. of which was the stadium in the cap- dium to its former glory”. turned the stadium into one of its the city over the past 30 years. Ugandan army arrests soldiers over beating of lawmakers

Reuters liamentary by-election threw cusations the government has Rebecca Kadaga had called for “This is therefore to demand that the capital Kampala and other whether Kadaga’s letter had reached Kampala stones at Museveni’s motorcade rejected as “rubbish”. the arrest of security personnel the offi cers concerned be appre- towns last week. Protesters and Museveni but said the issues it pur- on August 13 as he was leaving “We have apprehended all the involved in the suspected beating hended at the earliest opportunity opposition supporters accuse portedly raised had been addressed. the town of Arua after campaign- (soldiers) who were involved in and torture of 33 people after their and presented in court. The Uganda Museveni, president of the East “It was President Museveni oldiers involved in the ing for a ruling party candidate. the incidents and they have been arrest over the convoy incident. parliament will not condone or ac- African country since 1986, of who was the fi rst to condemn the beating of Ugandan law- Songwriter Robert Kyagulanyi, brought to book,” army spokes- “I am concerned that no eff ort quiesce in acts of torture.” stifl ing dissent through intimi- violence and shooting of civilians Smakers and civilians over who is also a lawmaker, was among man Richard Karemire said. has been made to arrest the se- Deputy Speaker Jacob Oulanyah dation, beatings and detentions, during and after (the by-elec- their alleged role in a stoning dozens of people detained shortly He declined to identify the curity offi cers from the (Special yesterday halted parliamentary charges which his government tion),” he said. “He ordered the of President Yoweri Museveni’s afterwards on suspicion of taking detained soldiers, say how many Forces Command), Military Po- business for a week to await an of- denies. On Monday, a Ugandan arrest of police offi cers who shot convoy have been arrested, the part in the assault on the convoy. had been arrested or when their lice and Uganda Police Force who fi cial response from the president High Court granted bail to all 33 dead a civilian in Mityana Town,” army said yesterday. Their lawyers and others have cases would be heard. were involved in the violent ac- about the beating of lawmakers. people arrested over the stoning. Wanyama said, adding that the Supporters of an independ- said the detainees have since In a letter to Museveni dated tions against unarmed civilians,” The arrests sparked two days Presidential spokesman Don president would respond once he ent candidate contesting a par- been beaten and tortured — ac- August 27, Parliament Speaker Kadaga wrote. of anti-government protests in Wanyama could not confi rm received the letter.

Senior Kenyan judge arrested in graft probe

enya’s deputy chief justice, the country’s second- highest judge, was arrested yesterday on corruption Kcharges. Philomena Mwilu, one of seven members of the Su- preme Court, was among the judges who annulled Presi- dent Uhuru Kenyatta’s initial election win in August 2017, leading to the controversial holding of a fresh vote. Kenya’s director of public prosecutions, Noordin Haji, told journalists there was evidence she had abused her of- fi ce for personal gain and accepted money as a gift in dubi- ous circumstances. She is also accused of failing to pay taxes and using false pretenses to carry out a transaction involving an asset be- longing to the Imperial Bank, which collapsed in 2015. “This afternoon, I informed Chief Justice David Maraga of my decision to grant consent for the arrest and prosecu- tion of the deputy chief justice, Lady Justice, Philomena Mbete Mwilu, on criminal charges,” said Haji. “This decision has not been taken lightly,” he added. “The dignity and independence of the judiciary is dear to us.” Mwilu later appeared in court where she was released on bail of 5mn shillings ($50,000). She is expected to face for- mal charges today. Her lead lawyer James Orengo — who fought for the opposition NASA alliance in its Supreme Court battle to overturn the election outcome — said he planned to chal- lenge the proceedings on the grounds of constitutionality. Mwilu was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2016, and shot into the limelight for her role in annulling Kenyatta’s fi rst poll win last year. Haji said her arrest was part of an ongoing crackdown against corruption, which has seen several high-ranking offi - cials hauled into court, a rarity in graft-wracked Kenya whose citizens rarely see justice done. “Many other cases are under investigation...and Kenyans should expect fresh investiga- tions and prosecutions on a regular basis,” he added. Asked by a journalist whether Mwilu’s prosecution was related to Kenyatta’s threat to “fi x the judiciary” after the annulment of his initial election, Haji insisted the decision was independently taken. “We are an independent insti- tution and we are not being directed by anyone or by any statements given out there, this decision was made inde- pendently of all other matters and factors,” he said. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 29, 2018 7 AMERICAS

‘FAKE’ NEWS VENEZUELA INACTION GRAFT CHARGE JUSTICE NATURE’S FURY Trump accuses Google of Duque pulls Colombia out Kirchner wants rights Court to rule next month hiding ‘fair media’ of UNASUR grouping group to monitor case on Lula plea for freedom

US President Donald Trump said yesterday Google’s Colombia has withdrawn from the Union of Lawyers for Argentine ex-president Cristina Kirchner Brazil’s Supreme Court will weigh next month search engine was hiding “fair media” coverage of South American Nations (UNASUR) due to its yesterday said they will call in human rights an appeal by jailed former president Luiz Inacio him and said he would address the situation, taking “silence and complacency” in view of the “brutal observers to counter “violations” by prosecutors Lula da Silva to be set free so he can join the a swipe at the internet giant without providing acts of the dictatorship in Venezuela,” President investigating her for corruption. Her defense team presidential campaign already under way, a court evidence or giving details of action he might Ivan Duque said on Monday. Duque told plans to ask the Inter-American Commission for spokesperson said on Monday. Lula was jailed take. The company denied any political bias in reporters that Foreign Minister Carlos Holmes Human Rights to send observers to examine the in April to start serving a 12-year sentence on a its search engine. The president tweeted Google Trujillo had sent a letter to that eff ect to the body, investigation led by prosecutor Claudio Bonadio. corruption conviction that will almost certainly search results for “Trump News” showed only the adding that the process would take six months. Lawyer Gregorio Dalbon said the investigation disqualify him from running in the October reporting of what he terms fake news media. “They “UNASUR as an institution has never denounced into the former president “is violating all legal election. He has appealed an earlier decision by have it RIGGED, for me & others,” he said, blaming any of the abuses” of the government of procedures.” A key complaint is the refusal to allow a Supreme Court justice who rejected a habeas Google for what he said was dangerous action President Nicolas Maduro, Duque said. The one of her lawyers to be present at a search of her corpus writ his lawyers had filed seeking his Lava streams down the side of Pacaya that promoted media outlets such as CNN and 12-member agency has been largely paralyzed home last week. Raids were carried out at three release. The full 11-member court will now rule on volcano as seen from the San Vicente Pacaya suppressed conservative political voices. “This is a by political divisions and infighting over how to Kirchner residences in Buenos Aires and Patagonia the appeal by electronic vote between September municipality, Escuintla department, about very serious situation-will be addressed!” handle crisis in Venezuela. after her immunity was temporarily suspended. 7 and 13, the spokesperson said. 42km south of Guatemala City, early yesterday.

North Carolina Trump blinks, orders fl ags gerrymander is illegal: court

By Jon Herskovitz, Reuters to half-staff for McCain Austin

By Jerome Cartillier and Robyn federal court ruled on Monday that Beck, AFP North Carolina Republicans illegally Washington/Phoenix Adrew up US congressional districts in the state to benefi t their party, suggesting that new lines be crafted before November’s election. onald Trump bowed to pres- The three-judge panel for the US District sure Monday to honor the late Court for the Middle District of North Caro- DJohn McCain, ordering that lina said in a 321-page opinion that Republican fl ags be lowered to half-staff across legislators responsible for the map conducted the country, as the late senator fi red a unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering to parting shot at the president in a fare- dilute the impact of Democratic votes. well message to the United States. “That is precisely what the Republican- Trump’s about-face came after he controlled North Carolina General Assembly found himself mired in controversy sought to do here,” the opinion said. over his rather conspicuous failure The panel gave parties until tomorrow to fi le to pay tribute to McCain, who died their recommendations to fi x the problem. Saturday at 81 after a year-long bat- The decision could have national implica- tle with brain cancer. tions in this November’s battle for control of When veterans’ groups launched Congress. appeals for a more fi tting salute to Democrats need to pick up 23 seats to gain McCain, a Navy veteran who was a majority in the US House of Representatives imprisoned for more than fi ve years that could thwart Republican President Donald in Vietnam, the Republican leader — Trump’s legislative agenda. who had no love lost for the Arizona Among the suggestions from the judges were senator — blinked. holding state nominating primaries in Novem- “Despite our diff erences on policy ber with new district lines that remove illegal and politics, I respect Senator John partisan bias and then holding a general elec- McCain’s service to our country,” tion before the new US Congress is seated in Trump said in a statement as he or- January 2019. dered the fl ag atop the White House The North Carolina dispute centered on a and elsewhere to fl y at half-staff un- congressional redistricting plan adopted by the til McCain’s burial on Sunday. Republican-led legislature in 2016 after a court He later told evangelical lead- found that Republican lawmakers improperly ers that “we very much appreciate used race as a factor when redrawing certain US everything that senator McCain has House districts after the 2010 census. done for our country.” The Republican lawmaker in charge of the The White House fl ag was lowered plan said it was crafted to maintain Republican after McCain’s death on Saturday — dominance because “electing Republicans is but it was once again at the top of the better than electing Democrats.” fl agpole on Monday morning. Party offi cials were not immediately available Trump’s initial silence about Mc- for comment on the court’s decision. Cain underscored the isolation of the Demonstrators protest against US President Donald Trump in front of the White House as the flag flies at half-staff . North Carolina Democratic Party chairman US leader and fueled criticism that Wayne Goodwin said the decision “is a monu- he is incapable of bringing a divided “We weaken our greatness when rah Sanders, Chief of Staff Kelly and Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and civil the former Navy aviator for his cour- mental and necessary line in the sand stating nation together even as it mourns we confuse our patriotism with other senior staff had urged a state- rights champion Rosa Parks. age, integrity and decency. that politicians cannot choose their voters by a man widely seen as an American tribal rivalries that have sown re- ment be released referring to McCain The two men who defeated Mc- On Capitol Hill, his desk on the silencing other voters.” hero and a political icon. sentment and hatred and violence in as a “hero” — but Trump opted for a Cain in his White House campaigns, Senate fl oor was draped with a black Republicans in 2016 won 10 of the 13 House In Phoenix, where a week of trib- all the corners of the globe,” McCain terse, impersonal tweet instead. Republican George W Bush in 2000 cloth, and adorned with white roses. districts — 77% of them — despite getting just utes to McCain was soon to get under wrote. The enmity between Trump and and Democrat Barack Obama in Senators returning to work were 53% of the statewide vote, nearly the same re- way, the two-time presidential can- “We weaken it when we hide be- McCain dates from the day the real es- 2008, are expected to deliver eulo- saddened by his passing. sult as in 2014. didate’s former campaign manager hind walls, rather than tear them tate tycoon announced his candidacy gies at a Saturday service at the Na- Democratic Senate Minority In June, the US Supreme Court threw out a Rick Davis confi rmed that Trump down, when we doubt the power of for the Republican presidential nomi- tional Cathedral in Washington. Leader Chuck Schumer, who is pro- lower court ruling that Republicans drew the would not be attending the funeral. our ideals, rather than trust them nation with an attack on Mexican im- Among the pallbearers will be posing a bill to rename one of the boundaries to ensure electoral victories for However, Vice President Mike to be the great force for change they migrants as criminals and rapists. Democratic former vice president upper chamber’s buildings after their party. Pence is set to speak at a ceremony have always been,” he added — an During the 2016 campaign, Trump Joe Biden, ex-senator Russ Feingold, McCain, spoke of a great and unex- But the justices sent the case back to the fed- honoring McCain at the US Capitol apparent reference to Trump’s plans mocked McCain’s war service. former New York mayor Michael pressable loss.” eral three-judge panel to reconsider whether on Friday. for a border wall. In the years since, McCain was Bloomberg and actor Warren Beatty. “In stark relief to what now passes the plaintiff s, including a group of Democratic White House chief of staff John McCain, who served as a senator Trump’s loudest Republican critic, McCain will be buried Sunday at for our politics, he continues to serve voters, had the necessary legal standing to sue Kelly, Defense Secretary James Mat- from Arizona for more than 30 years, especially as the president disrupted the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, as a beacon to who we are and who in the case. tis and National Security Advisor clashed repeatedly with Trump even America’s long-time alliances. Maryland, in a private funeral service. we can be when we are at our best,” “North Carolina’s gerrymandering was one John Bolton will represent the ad- though they were both Republicans, McCain’s remains will lie in state In Washington, McCain’s death has said Jeff Flake, who was McCain’s of the most brazen in the nation, where state ministration during services. and the president initially paid scant at Arizona’s capitol today, before been a rare occasion for bipartisan fellow Arizona senator. legislative leaders proudly pronounced it a par- In Phoenix, Davis read a posthu- tribute to the senator after his death. a public viewing Friday in the ro- praise for his lifetime in public service. “If John McCain can forgive the tisan gerrymander,” Rick Hasen, a professor at mous statement that made a fi nal jab The Washington Post reported tunda of the US Capitol — an hon- Tributes have poured in from eve- North Vietnamese torturers, we can the University of California, Irvine, wrote on at Trump. that White House spokeswoman Sa- or reserved for the likes of John F ry living former president honoring at least forgive each other.” his election law blog.

In US Senate primary, Arizona Republicans compete over who loves Trump most

By John Whitesides, Reuters Arpaio, both hard-line conservatives. in recent days by the death of John Mc- support for DeSantis in a tweet. Washington McSally has already launched adver- Cain, Arizona’s longtime Republican DeSantis, who aired a campaign ad tising aimed at her likely Democratic senator, on Saturday. showing him urging his toddler daugh- opponent in November, US Represent- All three Republicans had distanced ter to “build that wall” with toy blocks, contentious three-way US Sen- ative Kyrsten Sinema. themselves from McCain, who fre- now leads in polls. ate battle in Arizona yesterday Polls have shown Sinema with nar- quently feuded with Trump, and Ward Trump carried Florida by just over 1 Aamong Republicans fi ghting to row leads over McSally and a wider gap suggested that his family’s announce- percentage point in 2016. prove the depth of their allegiance to between her and the other two candi- ment on Friday that he was stopping The Republican winner will face President Donald Trump tops the last dates. medical treatment was timed to hurt whoever emerges from a crowded big day of state nominating contests But the race to embrace the polariz- her campaign. Democratic gubernatorial primary fi eld before November’s elections. ing Trump could make it harder in No- McCain’s death narrowed the led by moderate former US Representa- Voters there and in Florida were vember for the Republican winner. number of Republican-held seats in tive Gwen Graham, the daughter of Bob heading to the polls to pick candidates All three have fought over who is the 100-member US Senate to 50, with Graham, a former Florida governor and for November 6, when Democrats will closest to Trump and most enthusias- Democrats controlling 49. US senator. try to pick up 23 seats in the US House tic about his agenda, highlighting the Republican Arizona Governor Doug Graham’s top challengers include of Representatives and two seats in the praise Trump has off ered them over the Ducey will appoint a member of his former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Lev- Senate to gain majorities and slam the past few years. own party to succeed McCain. ine and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gil- brakes on Trump’s legislative agenda. McSally boasts she has been invited Control of the Senate could also be lum, a progressive favorite endorsed by In Arizona, a Southwestern state that to the White House for movie screen- determined by the November Senate US Senator Bernie Sanders. Trump won by four percentage points ings, and many of Ward’s events fea- race in Florida, which will pit term- As with other states throughout this in the 2016 White House race, Repub- ture life-sized cardboard cutouts of limited Republican Governor Rick election cycle, early turnout has been lican establishment favorite US Repre- Trump. Scott against incumbent Democrat Bill strong. sentative Martha McSally has led con- Arpaio, who built a national reputa- Nelson. More than 1.9mn Florida voters have sistently in opinion polls over former tion as an immigration hard-liner, won Polls have shown a close race. already cast absentee ballots or voted state Senator Kelli Ward and former a pardon from Trump after he was con- Scott faces only token opposition in early, according to the state’s Division Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. victed of criminal contempt in a case yesterday’s primary; Nelson is unop- of Elections, surpassing early voting in Martha McSally talks to Dennis Williams of Mesa, Arizona as he heads to the polls The contest could be critical to the involving racial profi ling. posed. state primaries in 2014 and 2016. to vote in the Republican primary for the open US Senate seat, in Mesa, Arizona. balance of power in the Senate in No- “The entire campaign has been de- Trump has waded into Florida’s Both Arizona and Florida were hold- vember because the Arizona seat of fi ned by the eff ort to show who is the hotly contested Republican guberna- ing primaries for several competitive In addition, Oklahoma was yesterday Drew Edmondson, former state attor- retiring Republican Jeff Flake, a Trump better, more enthusiastic supporter of torial primary, endorsing conservative US House races that could prove crucial holding a primary runoff to determine ney general. critic, is considered one of the two top the president,” said Stan Barnes, a vet- US Representative Ron DeSantis over for the Democrats’ chances to take con- the Republican nominee for governor, After yesterday’s primaries, only fi ve takeover targets for Democrats, along eran Republican strategist in Arizona. Adam Putnam, the state agriculture trol of the House. as no candidate hit the 50% threshold states remain to pick candidates before full with Nevada. Trump has not endorsed any of the commissioner and a former US con- Democrats see several Republican- needed to advance to the general elec- attention turns to the November election, McSally is seen as a stronger general three Republicans. gressman. held districts in South Florida as prime tion in the June primary. when all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats election candidate than either Ward or The contest has been overshadowed Trump yesterday reiterated his opportunities to pick up seats. Democrats have already nominated and 36 governors’ offi ces will be at stake. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

N Korea still ‘serious and imminent threat’: Japan

AFP change in our basic recognition 5.3tn yen ($47.6bn) for the budg- excuses to expand their military South Korea, which calls them Tokyo concerning the threat of North et for the fiscal year starting strength but instead look at the Dokdo. “The Japanese govern- Korea’s nuclear weapons and mis- from April. bigger picture of a stable relation- ment must bear in mind that re- siles.” Despite the historic handshake ship with China,” she said. The peating such unjustifi able and orth Korea still poses a Pyongyang continues to post in Singapore, there has been lit- white paper also drew ire from groundless allegations over Dokdo “serious and imminent “an unprecedentedly serious and tle progress in denuclearising the Seoul by repeating Tokyo’s long- will not be helpful at all in build- Nthreat”, Japan said yester- imminent threat to Japan’s secu- Korean peninsula and Washing- standing claim of sovereignty over ing forward-looking relations day in its fi rst annual defence re- rity and (to) signifi cantly dam- ton-Pyongyang relations appear islands which Japan calls Take- between the two countries,” the view since tensions eased on the age the peace and security of to have taken a turn for the worse, shima. South Korean foreign ministry Korean peninsula. Japan’s 2018 the region and the international with Trump abruptly scrapping a The islands are controlled by said in a statement. defence white paper also took aim community”, according to Tokyo. planned visit to the North by Sec- at China’s rise as a military pow- Japanese Defence Minister Itsu- retary of State Mike Pompeo. The Japanese man expelled from N Korea arrives home er, saying Beijing was sparking nori Onodera acknowledged in the white paper also reiterated Japan’s “strong security concerns in the document that North Korea had worries about China’s increasing A Japanese tourist who was (KCNA) announced his expulsion region and international commu- begun dialogue with its former military spending and expanding detained in North Korea arrived at the weekend. It was unclear nity, including Japan”. foes the US and South Korea. naval ambitions. home yesterday, a day after when Sugitomo was detained, Last year’s defence review was “But we cannot overlook the fact It complained that Beijing was North Korea expelled him for though Japanese media said in published at the height of the that, even to this day, it possesses trying to “change the status quo allegedly breaking the law during early August that the government tensions with North Korea, amid and fully deploys several hundred by coercion”, referring to such ac- a visit there, media reports said. was trying to gather information nuclear and missile tests and missiles that put nearly all of Ja- tions as building up disputed is- Tomoyuki Sugimoto, who is on a man being held in North with US President Donald Trump pan within range,” the minister lands in the South China Sea and believed to be a videographer Korea. Japan has demanded that threatening to rain down “fi re and stressed. expanding naval activities around from Shiga prefecture in central North Korea abandon its nuclear fury” on Pyongyang if it kept up In response, Japan is steadily East China Sea islands disputed Japan, arrived at Tokyo’s Haneda weapons and missile programmes its threats. upgrading its capacity to shield with Japan. airport on a flight from China, and has also sought the return of But since then, a spectacu- the nation from the North’s ar- Chinese foreign ministry Kyodo and Jiji news agencies citizens kidnapped by the isolated lar diplomatic detente has taken senal, including a plan to spend spokeswoman Hua Chuny- said. Japanese media reports said state during the 1970s and 1980s. place, culminating in the historic some $4.2bn over the next three ing dismissed the white paper as Sugimoto had apparently been It has said it will not provide summit between Trump and the decades on installing and oper- containing “irresponsible” and caught filming a military facility economic aid to Pyongyang until North’s leader Kim Jong-un in ating US radar systems. The de- “baseless accusations”. in Nampo city. The state-run that issue is resolved and normal Singapore on June 12. Neverthe- fence ministry is expected later “We hope that the Japanese Korean Central News Agency diplomatic ties established. less, Tokyo insisted: “There is no this week to request a record will not come up with all sorts of Rohingya demand justice after UN genocide report

AFP could also thwart eff orts to refer the case to historic, ethnic and religious background,” Dhaka the ICC. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Dil Mohammad, another Rohingya leader, Chunying told reporters yesterday. “So how urged the UN to take further steps to ensure to resolve this problem? Through negotia- ohingya leaders in Bangladesh yester- their safe return to Rakhine state, a process tion and dialogue,” she said, adding: “I think day challenged the United Nations to that has stalled with Bangladesh and My- that blame on any side, or pressure, does not Rensure Myanmar’s generals stand tri- anmar blaming each other for the delay. “It help resolve anything.” The Security Coun- al after investigators called for top military already took a year to reach this UN ruling,” cil is set to discuss Myanmar in New York. commanders to be prosecuted for genocide said Mohammad, who lives in a strip of no- If legal moves for the ICC stall at the Se- against the minority. A UN fact-fi nding man’s land near the Bangladesh-Myanmar curity Council, it could consider an ad hoc mission into violations in Myanmar said the border with 6,000 other refugees. “Many or mixed tribunal similar to ones created for country’s army chief and fi ve other senior things need to be done very quickly so we Rwanda, Yugoslavia, Lebanon and Cambo- brass should be investigated over a brutal can return to our land in dignity and safety,” dia. This would in theory require the co-op- crackdown last year that drove 700,000 Ro- he told AFP. eration of national authorities in Myanmar. hingya Muslims into Bangladesh. United Nations’ Independent International The investigators were never granted ac- Another possibility stems from an un- The report commissioned by the UN Hu- Fact-finding Mission on Myanmar cess to Myanmar and based their fi ndings on precedented request by the chief prosecu- man Rights Council detailed a horrifying list chairperson Marzuki Darusman presents interviews with 875 victims and witnesses, tor at the ICC, Fatou Bensouda, to extend of atrocities against the Rohingya, includ- the final report on alleged rights violations as well as satellite imagery and authenti- its jurisdiction to Myanmar, which has not ing murder, enforced disappearance, tor- during a press conference in Geneva. cated documents, photographs and videos. signed up to the court. That’s “uncharted ture, and sexual violence “perpetrated on a The International Criminal Court (ICC) territory”, according to Kingsley Abbott of massive scale.” Estimates that 10,000 were “The commanders must face an ICC tri- in the Hague is the quickest route to justice the International Commission of Jurists, killed in the 2017 crackdown were “conserv- al,” he added, referring to the International for the Rohingya. For proceedings to begin, who says the move may be possible because ative”, investigators said. Criminal Court in The Hague. the United Nations Security Council needs they crisis spilled over into Bangladesh, a Myanmar has vehemently denied the alle- The investigators have called on the UN to refer Myanmar to the court. But geopoli- member of the ICC. gations, insisting it was responding to attacks Security Council to refer the Myanmar situ- tics is likely to get in the way with China and If the court agrees, the prosecutor could by Rohingya rebels. Community leaders for the ation to the ICC or for the creation of an ad Russia — which last week hosted Myanmar launch a preliminary investigation and ul- roughly 1mn displaced Rohingya in southern hoc international criminal tribunal. The military chief Senior General Min Aung timately issue arrest warrants for Myanmar Bangladesh welcomed calls for prosecution, Security Council has repeatedly urged My- Hlaing — able to veto any referral. nationals. but said they would judge the UN on its ability anmar to halt military operations and to al- China has consistently refrained from But this would take time, requiring par- to deliver justice. “The UN has to ensure that low the Rohingya to safely return home. But condemning Myanmar for its treatment of ticipation from Bangladesh in the investiga- justice sees the light,” Rohingya community its initiatives have been limited by council the Rohingya, describing it as an internal tion and — somewhat implausibly — Myan- leader Abdul Gowff er told AFP by phone. member and top Myanmar ally China, who matter. “Rakhine State has very complex mar to hand over suspects.

Uber driver charged with raping passenger in Sydney

An Uber driver in Australia has teenager when she was alone in driver, and will appear at court in Maldives opposition been charged with raping a the car, the police alleged. “It’s a October. Uber Australia said they 17-year-old passenger after she very traumatic incident but she has were are working closely with the fell asleep in the back of his car in the support of family and police police. “This is deeply upsetting. warns against bid to central Sydney. are ensuring she is looked after,” As soon as we became aware New South Wales Police said assistant police commissioner of this report we immediately yesterday the 37-year-old man Mark Walton told reporters in removed this driver’s access to the sway Sept election picked up three teens in the city Sydney. “Any sexual assault is a app,” an Uber spokesperson said after midnight on Sunday. The very distressing situation for any in a statement. Uber driver dropped off two person. It is alleged she was asleep Last year, a Pakistani Uber driver Reuters Lanka, forming one of the largest teens in Bondi, an eastern Sydney at the time of the incident.” was sentenced to jail in Sydney Colombo blocs of overseas voters. The op- suburb, and was meant to drive The man was arrested yesterday for more than six years after a position has accused the Maldives the third teenager home a bit afternoon. He was granted bail, court found him guilty of raping government of locking up most of farther to North Bondi. under a condition that he is not a drunk female passenger when he opposition presidential the leaders who could challenge Instead he attacked and raped the allowed to work as a ride-share she fell asleep in his car. candidate in the Maldives Yameen’s bid for re-election, an Thas said he does not expect accusation the government de- a September election to be free and nies. “We are also very aware that fair but trusted voters to decide on President Yameen is going to rig it his challenge to President Abdulla as much as he can,” Nasheed, who Bimstec arrivals Yameen, who imposed a state of also attended the meeting, said, re- emergency this year. Yameen is ferring to the election. “But when seeking a second fi ve-year term in people come overwhelmingly, the tropical tourist paradise riven there is very little he can do. We are by political instability since a po- going to win this election.” lice mutiny forced its fi rst demo- Government spokesman Ibrahim cratically elected leader, Moham- Hussain Shihabon said in a state- ed Nasheed, to quit in 2012. ment Yameen’s administration The Indian Ocean archipelago “will not exceed its constitutional of 400,000 people has faced up- mandate” and would not unduly heavals since February, when infl uence the election in any way. Yameen imposed the emergency Responding to Solih’s remarks, the to annul a Supreme Court ruling Maldives ambassador to Sri Lanka, that quashed the convictions of Mohamed Hussain Shareef, said: nine opposition leaders, including “The opposition is crying foul as an Nasheed. Veteran lawmaker “Ibu” exit strategy and ploy to save face Mohamed Solih, who is challeng- internationally for when they are ing Yameen in a coalition led by eventually defeated.” the main opposition Maldivian Nasheed was convicted of ter- Democratic Party (MDP), spoke to rorism charges in 2015 and sen- 400 citizens resident in Sri Lanka tenced to 13 years in prison after a yesterday. “We are very worried widely criticised trial. about the situation,” Solih, who In 2016, he was allowed to go was fi rst elected to parliament in on medical leave to Britain, where 1994, told reporters in Colombo, he received political asylum. Since the Sri Lankan capital, ahead of his last year, he has been in Sri Lanka, campaign meeting. working to unite opposition parties Asked if he expected the elec- to defeat Yameen. Nasheed was the tion to be free and fair, he replied sole candidate when the MDP held “No,” but added that the opposi- a primary election in May but the Nepal’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Ishwor Pokhrel (left) welcomes Myanmar’s tion placed “very much trust” in election commission ruled that he President Win Myint (centre right) on his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport to attend the voters in its battle against the gov- was not eligible to stand.. 4th Summit of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Co-operation ernment. Solih’s party estimates Opposition parties then fi elded (Bimstec) in Kathmandu yesterday. about 30,000 Maldivians live in Sri Solih as their candidate. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 29, 2018 9 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Premier shows off dance May vows to refocus UK moves

DPA Cape Town overseas aid programme The prime minister says ple out of poverty, but how can become the largest G7 investor in heresa May might just spending will go beyond we ensure there is a long, longer Africa by 2022. need lessons in how to protecting vulnerable people term element by working with Doing so would mean the UK Tshake a leg from Barack governments and others to en- overtaking the US and staying Obama, the former US leader fa- By Dan Sabbagh sure good government in stability ahead of France which, under mous for his funky dance moves. Guardian News & Media in those fragile states”. President Emmanuel Macron, May’s uncomfortable at- The prime minister, who is on has made investing in Africa a tempts to get foot-loose and a three-day trip to Africa, said strategic goal. boogie with young students on heresa May has promised she wanted Britain to use its aid Development charities sound- a visit to a South African pri- that a refocused UK over- programme “to support a major ed a note of caution about May’s mary school yesterday have been Tseas aid programme would new crack down on illicit fi nance proposals. drawing much mirth online. go beyond protecting vulnerable and organised crime, deploy- Mark Goldring, the chief exec- “Theresa May dances like people to crack down on illegal ing expertise in fi nancial centres utive of Oxfam GB, said: “It’s an she’s wearing an invisible full migration and organised crime around the world” – and to coun- uncomfortable fact that extreme body cast,” Twitter user @Jer- and to support fragile coun- ter “illegal migration, modern levels of poverty are increasing in maineRowe said. tries in Africa as she detailed her slavery and traffi cking in people”. the countries she is visiting de- Others compared the prime plans to reprioritise development Her speech came a day after spite recent economic growth. minister to a robot. spending. she signalled that while the UK “It is therefore vital that the “Someone thought it a good The prime minister spelled remained committed to spending UK promotes growth that sup- idea for the Maybot to dance in out how she hoped to change 0.7% of its GDP on overseas aid, ports the world’s poorest fi rst public on her trip to South Af- Britain’s aid priorities during a its priorities would be refocused and foremost, and that UK trade rica,” tweeted @JohnOBreenan2. speech yesterday in Cape Town. to counter political and terrorist interests don’t inadvertently in- “The big news is her danc- She said she wanted the UK threats. crease inequality.” ing skills are comparable to her to do more to help West African The UK is one of the heaviest The UK also announced it had negotiating skills,” he added in countries such as Mali, Chad and spenders on overseas aid, much signed an agreement in principle a tongue-in-cheek reference to Niger which have been “waging a to the chagrin of the Conserva- May is greeted by schoolchildren waving British and South African flags during her visit yesterday to the to roll over EU trading arrange- ongoing and arduous negotia- battle against terrorism”. tive right, which argues that the ID Mkhize Secondary School in Gugulethu township, about 15km from the centre of Cape Town, as part of ments with South Africa and tions over Brexit. May said she is talking about a money would be better spent do- a three-nation visit to Africa. other southern African countries However, some users were new strategic approach to devel- mestically. after Brexit. kinder, saying they felt sorry opment which amounted to “not May will visit Nigeria and the continent for fi ve years, af- The prime minister said that partnership for the future rec- It represents the fi rst of 40 for politicians who had to prove just what we can do to help the Kenya after South Africa, but she ter predecessor David Cameron she is looking forward to a greater ognising the challenges that we international trade agreements their down-to-earthness by most vulnerable people across has faced criticism for being the attended the funeral of Nelson engagement with Africa. “What both face.” that the UK has confi rmed it dancing in public. the world and help lifting peo- fi rst UK prime minister to visit Mandela in 2013. I’m talking about today is a new She also said the UK should would continue after Brexit. “As someone who can’t dance, I stand (awkwardly) in solidarity with Theresa May,” tweeted @ iainmartin1. When it comes to diplomatic PM says she’d would fi ght a Boris Johnson leadership bid dance moves, May’s not alone. Her predecessor David Cam- eron and former foreign minister PM ‘in this for the long term’ suggested that she would lead the When asked specifi cally if she is unhappy with her Chequers make progress in the Brexit ne- going to be able to do that”. Boris Johnson were also mocked and will focus on domestic Conservatives into the next gen- would contest a leadership chal- Brexit proposals, a negotiating gotiations and show she has the The prime minister also said online for their awkward dance issues at Tory conference eral election as she repeated a lenge from Johnson, the former plan that led to his resignation energy to take the Conservatives she wanted to showcase “what moves during a Spice Girls per- promise to lead the party “for the foreign secretary, May said she from the cabinet and him arguing forward after March 2019. we’re doing in technical educa- formance at the closing ceremo- By Dan Sabbagh long term”. hoped to fi ght on as prime min- that Britain would be “reduced to May said that she would focus tion to improve opportunities for ny of the 2012 Olympics. Guardian News & Media May said she is in politics “to ister: “I am in this for the long the status of a colony” if it was on “the domestic agenda” at the young people”, and “a sustain- When Obama danced on a deliver for the British people” term. I am in this for delivering adopted. event in Birmingham and singled able 10-year plan from the Na- recent Africa visit, South Afri- and told journalists she would for the British people, and that’s The prime minister, mean- out policies “to actively increase tional Health Service (NHS) to can President Cyril Ramaphosa heresa May has indicated highlight housing, healthcare what I’m focused on.” while, has to face her party’s an- housebuilding so young people deliver better outcomes for pa- joked that the late Nelson Man- that she would seek to and other non-Brexit issues in a Johnson remains a serious nual conference in September at have an opportunity to get their tients” after she agreed to boost dela was a better dancer than the Tfi ght off any leadership relaunch at next month’s party threat to May at a time when a time when she is under pres- feet on to the housing ladder, its fi nances by £20.5bn a year in former US leader. challenge from Boris Johnson and conference in Birmingham. much of the party’s grassroots sure to demonstrate that she can when so many fear they are not England.

Irish minister says talk of no-deal Brexit is ‘a negotiating position’ Interactive map reveals Scotland’s coastal litter hotspots Talk of Britain leaving the European Union without an exit deal is more a negotiating position than a reality as such a scenario would benefit neither side, Ireland’s foreign minister told Reuters yesterday. By Severin Carrell 10,000-mile coastline, organised trol, said that in many cases it of the detritus jettisoned in the intestines of fi sh and mammals, With just seven months to go until it leaves the EU on March 29, Guardian News & Media by a coalition of environment and was only possible to see the rub- Atlantic. and in the Pacifi c conglomerat- Britain has yet to reach an agreement with the bloc on the terms of marine conservation charities bish from the air because it lies in “We were not only dismayed ing on the sea’s surface in vast its departure. working in the Scottish Coastal coves or dips that are out of sight by the concentrations of rubbish fl oating mats. British Prime Minister Theresa May’s plan for a “business-friendly” n aerial survey of Scot- Rubbish Aerial Photography, or from sea level and are not easily that we found, but the problem “We know plastics are a grow- deal has failed to impress negotiators in Brussels and has been land’s long and rocky SCRAPbook, project. reached by land. is much bigger than that because ing problem for our environment heavily criticised at home. Acoastline has revealed The project, a collaboration Liggat said the volumes of just under the seaweed there’s an that must be tackled,” said Dr Earlier, Sky News reported that May had said that failing to secure a that large amounts of industrial between the Marine Conserva- waste found far outweighed ex- awful lot of stuff . It’s getting bro- Sam Gardner, the acting direc- deal with the EU before Britain leaves the bloc next year “wouldn’t rubbish have washed up on the tion Society pectations. ken up, washed back out, broken tor of WWF Scotland. “They are be the end of the world”. shore. (MCS), Sky Watch Civil Air “Initially we thought it would up and washed back in again. not only suff ocating our oceans, But Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney told Reuters: “I think the The litter, made up of plastic Patrol and the Moray Firth Part- just be scattered rubbish, but it “Eventually [the particles] will but as they get washed ashore, chances of a no-deal Brexit are very slim.” barrels, fi shing nets, timbers, nership, has posted details of the was enormous. Particularly in get so small it will just get out can have a lasting impact on our “I think talk of being able to survive or manage a no-deal Brexit crates and industrial equipment, pollution hotspots on an interac- the southwest of Scotland, we into the environment and disap- coastal environment.” is more a negotiating position than it is reality,” he added in an has collected across large areas of tive map, which stretches from have been dismayed by what pear forever.” The SCRAPbook project said it interview. “Nobody benefits from a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.” shoreline and rocky coves, often the Solway Firth in southwest we’ve seen.” Environmentalists have been is grading the waste piles in order The EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, said earlier this washed into highly inaccessible Scotland to the Pentland Firth in He said the UK “sits like a huge increasingly alarmed about the of severity. month that a deal with Britain is needed “not much later” than in areas. the far north. net on the edge of Europe, par- prevalence of plastic waste in They hope it will also allow early November and that the bloc is not working towards a “no-deal” The waste was pinpointed by Archie Liggat, the chairman ticularly the fj ord-like coastline the sea, detecting it in minute volunteer groups to co-ordinate Brexit, though it had to prepare for it. fl ights over parts of Scotland’s of the Sky Watch Civil Air Pa- of Scotland”, and caught much particles in sea life, blocking the their own clean-up operations. UK Somali teens being taken ‘on holiday’ and forced into marriage

Figures show 100% jected to physical, sexual and has been a 100% year-on-year seven coming from the north- going on in London. Because So- year-on-year rise in forced mental abuse. increase in the number of forced west. mali children in London get in- marriages involving Somali In some cases, those held marriage cases involving Somali When the Guardian contacted volved in drugs. children against their will are told the only children and teenagers. a number of UK-based Somali “Most of this is happening in way out is to get married. In 2017, the number of forced community organisations and London. Never heard of Somali By Nazia Parveen David Myers, joint head of marriage cases relating to Soma- charities, most said they had not people in Liverpool taking their Guardian News & Media the Home Offi ce’s forced mar- lia increased to 91. heard of the practice or denied children for forced marriage. riage unit (FMU) in the UK, said: Somalia has more cases than that forced marriage involving “We have fi ve big Somali com- “What we are seeing in these India, for example, putting it British Somali nationals was tak- munities in Liverpool. They ritish Somali teenagers are communities is that young peo- third in countries with the high- ing place. started coming over in 1985 dur- A woman in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. being taken back to their ple who have anti-social behav- est number of cases of forced Sahra Abdi, the head of the ing the civil war and I have been Bparents’ homeland under iour issues, are getting involved marriage. Lodge Lane Somali women’s here for 18 years and never heard and sometimes being married. bassy, saying that they had been the pretence of a holiday and in gangs and drugs, and are be- Myers said: “The Somali case is group in Liverpool, said that of this.” He said that many young So- abused. then kept in detention centres ing sent back to Somalia by their unusual. Traditionally, when you forced marriage is not a problem However, the Somali Golden mali people in the UK were get- The Somali government was before being forced into mar- parents for re-education and re- look at these cases you always within the Somali communities Centre of Opportunity in Man- ting involved in drugs and gangs. put on “red alert”, he said. riages, it can be revealed. habilitation. think of South Asian communi- in the north of England, and is chester passed on the details of “It is true that parents are However, he denied abuse was Under the practice of dhaqan “The concept in Somali cul- ties but the Somali community is concentrated in London. Abdillahi Abokor, a British So- bringing their children back here taking place and claimed young- celis – loosely translated as “the ture, dhaqan celis, means return- a new and emerging community Abdi, a mother of six, once mali national who decided to but there is a reason for this. sters were “making stories up” so rehabilitation community” – So- ing to the culture to help them in the UK and the second genera- missed a fl ight to Somalia after move back to Somalia after living They are bringing them back so they could return to the freedoms mali children and teenagers are rehabilitate and they are sent to tion are coming of age.” being questioned by police at the and working in London for sev- they learn that the life that they they enjoyed in Western coun- routinely taken to the African what they call schools but what The number of cases reported airport. eral years. have in the UK is the wrong life. tries. nation. we call detention centres. to the FMU in 2017 was more Abdi was travelling with her The former youth worker who “Parents do get them married Abokor says that his son, Once there, they are often sent “We have had reports of physi- than double the number received three daughters aged 14, 12, and worked at the United Nations of- but I wouldn’t say it is forced. It who is living in London, will be to “rehabilitation” centres. cal abuse, mental abuse, sexual the previous year. 10 at the time. fi ce in Somalia said that parents is arranged … and their lifestyle is brought back to Somalia once he These centres promote them- abuse within these centres, Almost 75% of the victims, She said that offi cers were were taking their children back to changed.” fi nishes his GCSEs. selves as “re-education” schools where they are kept in really some younger than 15, were al- concerned she was taking her Somalia to “protect them”. Abokor, 41, confi rmed the ex- “I will bring him back. I don’t to align young people with So- strict conditions. ready overseas when they con- daughters back to Somalia to Speaking from Hargeisa in istence of many “rehabilitation” want him to end up dying or get- mali cultural values and their So- “These teenagers and children tacted the FMU. force them to marry. Somaliland, Abokor, a father of centres. ting stabbed. I don’t want him to mali roots. are told that the only way they There were calls from 65 fe- That was two years ago. four, said that the issue has been Referring to them as boarding get involved with gangs. In the However, the Home Offi ce says can escape these centres is to get males and 26 males. Abdi said she had never heard taken out of context and admit- schools, he said the government UK, if you are young and Somali, they generally do not deliver an married to another Somali, and Of those, 23 were under the age of forced marriage involving So- ted that young people were be- had started monitoring the cen- you are forced to join a gang. academic curriculum and are that is where the forced marriage of 15. mali British nationals in Liver- ing brought back to Somalia from tres after a recent case involving “This is 100% a way of pro- in fact detention centres where element comes into it.” London had the highest pool: “I don’t think this is hap- across Europe, including the UK, two girls. tecting our children. A marriage young people are routinely sub- The latest fi gures show there number of victims at 64, with pening in Liverpool. It’s probably Finland, France and Germany, The girls contacted an em- is sometimes arranged, yes.” Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 EUROPE

Millions risk malnutrition as CO2 levels climb: study

By Marlowe Hood, AFP journal Nature Climate Change. Zinc defi ciency aff ects the im- requirements from plants. are grown in 151 countries. dren under fi ve would probably “Supplements could tempo- Paris “Hundreds of millions of peo- mune system and makes chil- The global food system is also If humanity continues emit- fi nd their iron intake reduced by rarily alleviate some of the health ple could become newly defi cient dren, particularly, more vulner- vulnerable to rising tempera- ting greenhouse gases from 4% or more. consequences, but they are not a in these nutrients, primarily in able to malaria, lung infections tures, prolonged drought, and burning coal, oil, and natural gas Half-a-billion in this group viable long-term solution,” said ising levels of carbon diox- Africa, Southeast Asia, India and and deadly diarrhoeal diseases. other forms of extreme weather at current levels, the concentra- risk developing iron defi ciency- Smith. ide (CO2) in the air threat- the Middle East,” lead author A lack of iron increases the driven by climate change, earlier tion of carbon dioxide in the at- related disease. Because they are diffi cult to Ren to sap wheat, rice, and Matthew Smith, a researcher at likelihood of mothers dying dur- research has shown. mosphere is likely to reach 550 India would be hardest hit, distribute and do not address the other staple grains of valuable the Harvard TH Chan School of ing childbirth, can lower IQ, and Impacts include reduced crop parts per million (ppm) by 2050. with some 50mn people suff ering underlying cause of malnutri- nutrients, raising the spectre of Public Health, told AFP. “These causes anaemia, or a drop in red yields, heat-stressed livestock, It is now at just above 400 a lack of zinc, and 38mn falling tion, vitamins and supplements mass malnutrition, researchers are in addition to the billions blood cells. and shifts in the quantity and ppm. short of minimum protein re- “should best be seen as a short- warned on Monday. of people already defi cient that Wheat, rice and maize togeth- location of commercially-fi shed The team found that nearly 2% quirements, said the team. term medical intervention”, he On current trends, higher CO2 could see their condition wors- er account for roughly 40% of ocean species. of the global population – an ex- The numbers of aff ected peo- added. concentrations could reduce en.” protein, zinc, and iron supply in To assess how extra CO2 in the tra 175mn people – could become ple would also increase dramati- More than 2bn people world- iron, zinc, and protein levels in Protein, along with the min- the diet worldwide. atmosphere might impact global zinc defi cient, and 122mn would cally in China, Indonesia, Bang- wide are currently defi cient in the crops that feed the world’s erals iron and zinc, are essen- In general, humans get three- health by 2050, Smith and col- no longer get enough protein un- ladesh, Brazil, Kenya, and other one or more nutrient, according population by up to 17% by mid- tial nutrients for normal human fi fths of dietary protein, four- league Samuel Myers ran models der those conditions. emerging or developing econo- the World Health Organisation century, they reported in the growth and development. fi fths of iron, and 70% of zinc for 225 diff erent food plants that Some 1.4bn women and chil- mies. (WHO). German far-right mobilised Macron suff ers by ‘fake news’, say offi cials Reuters Dresden/Berlin

ar-right groups spread “fake news” on social me- blow as star Fdia to mobilise their sup- porters for violent protests tar- geting migrants after the fatal stabbing of a German man, said offi cials in the eastern German state of Saxony where they took place. German police have arrested minister quits a 22-year-old Syrian man and a 21-year-old Iraqi man over Sun- AFP While saying that he had day’s stabbing in the town of Paris “profound admiration” for Ma- Chemnitz, which provoked two cron, Hulot made a series of days of protests, including clash- damaging remarks, denouncing es between far-right and leftist mmanuel Macron suf- the infl uence of “lobbies” and demonstrators. fered a major blow to his “targets that we know in ad- The stabbing and the protests Eauthority and green cre- vance we won’t meet”. have exposed deep divisions in This picture taken on Monday shows far-right demonstrators lighting dentials yesterday as his popular The TV star was left disap- German society over the infl ux of flares during a rally in Chemnitz, eastern Germany. environment minister resigned pointed when the government more than 1mn migrants, mostly live on radio – without inform- backtracked on a target to cut Muslims fl eeing Middle East support the claim, Kretschmer investigation is continuing, po- ing the French president before- back on nuclear power, while EU confl icts, after Chancellor An- said. lice offi cials said. hand. negotiations on pesticides were gela Merkel’s decision in 2015 to Local authorities were brac- They also said nearly 20 peo- Nicolas Hulot, a TV celebrity another source of frustration. let them in. ing for further demonstrations ple had been injured in Monday’s and one of the most respected On Monday, the cost of a Yesterday Merkel repeated her in Dresden and Chemnitz yester- demonstrations, where fi reworks members of the cabinet among hunting licence was cut in half condemnation of both the stab- day, and German Interior Min- were thrown. the public, announced the news – a fi nal bitter pill for the veg- bing and the protests, saying that ister Horst Seehofer said federal German security offi cials are on France Inter radio, taking etarian and animal rights cam- scenes – depicted in amateur police stood ready to provide ad- monitoring the situation in close both his interviewers and gov- paigner, who faced accusations video clips – of migrants being ditional assistance if needed in consultation with state offi cials ernment colleagues by surprise. from fellow activists that he did chased through the streets were Saxony. at a special command centre for “I am taking the decision to not hold enough sway over gov- completely unacceptable in a Saxony’s interior minister, combating far-right activism in leave the government,” Hulot ernment decisions. state based on the rule of law. Roland Woeller, said that the Cologne, security sources told said, explaining he felt “all Formerly the presenter of a hit Michael Kretschmer, the pre- protests had drawn far-right Reuters. alone” on environmental issues Ushuaia environmental TV pro- mier of Saxony and a close Mer- supporters and anarchist groups Many far-right support- in a government committed to gramme, Hulot had repeatedly kel ally, vowed to deal fi rmly with from Berlin, nearby states of ers in Chemnitz joined a small the same economic model “that turned down off ers to enter gov- extremists in his state, long a Brandenburg and Thuringia but growing party called “Third is the cause of all the problems”. Hulot: I hope my departure will trigger deep soul-searching by our ernment by previous presidents. hotbed of support for far-right and as far away as North-Rhine Way” after a Nazi-inspired group “I hope my departure will society on the realities of our world. He was widely reported to parties. Westphalia in northwestern Ger- was banned about four years ago. trigger deep soul-searching by be close to quitting in February “We believe that at least some many. The new party is also un- our society on the realities of speculation over his role in gov- aide was fi lmed manhandling after media reports that he had of the calls that were circulated “We saw a signifi cant mo- der observation by intelligence our world,” Hulot added. ernment. protesters, and his poll ratings been accused in the 1990s of online (to join the protests) were bilisation eff ect – that means agencies, according to the latest A government spokesman His departure adds to mount- have slumped to their lowest- rape, which he denied. based on false information, on that anarchists travelled from report by the BfV domestic intel- ripped into Hulot for not tak- ing problems for Macron, who ever levels. Macron’s record on the envi- fake news,” he told a news con- far beyond the region and state ligence agency. ing “the most basic of courte- swept to power in May last year Hulot’s exit also risks under- ronment is mixed. ference in the state capital Dres- borders, especially right-wing “The fact that we have a Syr- sies” to inform Macron or the promising to end decades of cutting Macron’s credentials as Despite Hulot’s frustrations, den. violent actors ... from the hooli- ian and an Iraqi suspect is no prime minister before quitting high unemployment and reform a leading campaigner interna- the president has made the bat- For example, a report circu- gan scene and from the football reason – no reason at all – for a – an unprecedented move for a the European Union. tionally against climate change tle against global warming one lated widely on social media that scene,” he told reporters. general suspicion of all foreign French minister, analysts said. Due to slowing economic which has seen him adopt the of his foreign policy priorities, the 35-year-old man who was At least fi ve people are fac- residents,” said Kretschmer. “We However, Macron responded growth, his government is hav- catchphrase “Make our planet hoping to compensate for US stabbed had been defending a ing charges for performing the need a jolt in Germany and Saxo- that Hulot is “a free man” and ing diffi culties drawing up the great again”. President Donald Trump’s cli- woman from migrants, adding ‘Hitler salute’, which is banned in ny. We need broad public support that he respected his decision. 2019 budget which saw Prime His resignation “will signal mate scepticism. that there was no evidence to Germany, and a comprehensive to win this fi ght.” “I hope I will be able to count Minister Edouard Philippe an- to the public that the govern- Macron also led eff orts at the on his commitment in another nounce at the weekend that he ment isn’t doing much” when it EU level to reduce the use of the form,” Macron said on a trip to was dropping targets for reduc- comes to the environment, said controversial weedkiller chemi- Tsipras revamps cabinet for post-bailout push Telegram will Copenhagen. ing the defi cit. Daniel Boy, an environmental cal glyphosate and has scrapped Hulot, 63, was lured into gov- At the diplomatic level, Ma- specialist at political research a proposed airport in western Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has reshuff led his cabinet ahead co-operate in ernment last year by Macron but cron is struggling to convince centre Cevipof. France, partly on environmental of a keynote economy speech next month, seeking to rebound from terror probes has repeatedly clashed with his his European partners of the While Macron claims that he grounds. poor ratings in the final stretch before 2019 elections. cabinet colleagues over policy. need for a more integrated EU as is “neither of the left or right”, “Do you do an environmen- Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos remains at his post, as does De- The Telegram encrypted “We’re taking little steps, and nationalist governments make the shock announcement will tal revolution in one year? The fence Minister Panos Kammenos, leader of the nationalist Independ- messenger app said yesterday France is doing a lot more than gains across the continent. further erode support from the response is no,” government ent Greeks, the junior party in Tsipras’ government coalition. that it would co-operate with other countries, but are little The president also suff ered centre-left after criticism that spokesman Griveaux said. “I The reshuff le also left unchanged the key ministries of labour, migra- investigators in terror probes steps enough? The answer is a major political scandal this his economic policies favours prefer little steps to not mov- tion, tourism and foreign aff airs. when ordered by courts, except no,” he added, after months of summer when a senior security the rich, Boy predicted. ing.” in Russia where it is locked in an ongoing battle with authorities. The company founded by Russian Pavel Durov has refused to provide authorities in the country with a way to read its Russia to hold biggest military drills since the Cold War communications and was banned by a Moscow court in April as a result. Reuters/AFP sian military action after Mos- that such war games are essen- in a transparent and predictable But in its updated privacy Moscow cow annexed Ukraine’s Crimea tial. manner,” White said in an e- settings, Telegram said it would in 2014 and backed a pro-Rus- “The country’s ability to de- mailed statement. disclose its users’ data to “the sian uprising in eastern Ukraine. fend itself in the current in- He also said that since Vos- relevant authorities” elsewhere if ussia will hold next month The war games, which will ternational situation, which is tok-2018 takes place east of the it receives a court order to do so, its biggest war games take place from September 11-15, often aggressive and unfriendly Ural mountains, Moscow is not although not in Russia. Rsince the fall of the Soviet are likely to worry Japan, which towards our country, means (the obliged to notify the West or “If Telegram receives a court Union, Defence Minister Sergei has already complained about a exercise) is justifi ed,” Peskov invite observers from the Or- order that confirms you’re Shoigu said yesterday, a massive Russian military build-up in the told reporters on a conference ganisation for Security and Co- a terror suspect, we may military exercise that will also Far East, something Moscow has call. operation in Europe. disclose your IP address and involve the Chinese and Mongo- linked to Tokyo’s roll-out of the When asked if China’s in- “Vostok demonstrates Rus- phone number to the relevant lian armies. Aegis US missile system. volvement meant Moscow and sia’s focus on exercising large- authorities,” Telegram’s new The exercise, called Vos- Japanese Prime Minister Beijing are moving towards an scale confl ict. It fi ts into a pat- privacy settings said. tok-2018 (East-2018), will take Shinzo Abe is due to attend a fo- alliance, Peskov said it showed tern we have seen over some “So far, this has never happened. place in central and eastern rum in the Russian city of Vladi- that the two were co-operating time: a more assertive Russia, When it does, we will include it Russian military districts and vostok over the same period, and in all areas. signifi cantly increasing its de- in a semiannual transparency involve almost 300,000 troops, a Japanese foreign ministry of- China and Russia have taken fence budget and its military report,” the app added. more than 1,000 military air- fi cial said yesterday that Tokyo part in joint military drills before presence.” Durov said the new privacy terms craft, two of Russia’s naval fl eets, always paid attention to shifts but not on such a large scale. Shoigu this month announced were adopted to “comply with and all of its airborne units, in Russian-Chinese military co- Nato spokesman Dylan White the start of snap combat readi- new European laws on protecting Shoigu said in a statement. operation. said that Russia had briefed the ness checks in central and east- private data”. The manoeuvres will take Shoigu said that the war alliance on the planned exercise ern military districts ahead of But Durov assured his Russian place at a time of heightened games would be the biggest in May and that the Nato would the planned exercise. users that Telegram would tension between the West and since a Soviet military exercise, Shoigu: Imagine 36,000 pieces of military equipment moving monitor it. “Imagine 36,000 armoured continue to withhold their data Russia, which is concerned Zapad-81 (West-81) in 1981. together at the same time. Russia had invited military at- vehicles – tanks, armoured per- from security services. about what it says is an unjusti- “In some ways they will re- taches from the Nato countries sonnel carriers and armoured “In Russia, Telegram is asked to fi ed build-up of the Nato mili- peat aspects of Zapad-81, but in sia’s Pacifi c and Northern Fleets Asked if the cost of holding based in Moscow to observe the infantry vehicles – moving and disclose not the phone numbers tary alliance on its western fl ank. other ways the scale will be big- would take part, while the Rus- such a massive military exer- war games, an off er he said is working simultaneously, and or IP addresses of terrorists The North Atlantic Treaty Or- ger,” Shoigu told reporters, while sian ministry of defence has said cise was justifi ed at a time when under consideration. that all this, naturally, is be- based on a court decision, but ganisation (Nato) says that it has visiting the Russian region of that Chinese and Mongolian Russia is faced with higher so- “All nations have the right to ing tested in conditions as close access to the messages of all beefed up its forces in eastern Khakassia. military units will also partici- cial spending demands, Kremlin exercise their armed forces, but as possible to military ones,” users,” he wrote on his Telegram Europe to deter potential Rus- Shoigu said that both Rus- pate. spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it is essential that this is done Shoigu said yesterday. channel. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 29, 2018 11 INDIA Manned Flood-world space mission to cost Commuters ride their bikes on a water-logged road after heavy rains in Gurugram yesterday. Gandhi fetes Kerala fi shermen who rescued 70,000 people

$1.4bn By Ashraf Padanna “The #KeralaFloods reveal two dis- Alappuzha, Kerala tinct ideas of India,” he later tweeted. By Krishna N Das, Reuters agency had “perfected the engineering “The fi rst is one of love and compas- New Delhi aspects of the mission”, although it was sion for all living beings, particularly new to the fi eld of bioscience — dealing ongress president Rahul Gan- in their suff ering. The second is driven with living beings. dhi yesterday promised a sepa- by hate & bigotry that is unrelenting ndia said yesterday it expected to Private agencies will also partici- Crate ministry for fi shers the even in the face of suff ering.” He also spend less than Rs100bn ($1.43bn) pate in the mission, and ISRO might moment his party comes to power af- launched the party’s project to build Ion its fi rst manned space mission consider collaborations with space ter the general elections eight months 1001 houses for those left homeless in to be launched by 2022, suggesting agencies from “friendly countries away. fl oods accepting cheques for Rs5mn. it is likely to be cheaper than similar with advanced space programmes”, the “God’s own army will have its own There were a series of 412 land- projects by the United States and Chi- statement added. ministry,” he said as he felicitated Ker- slides, close to half of them ponding na. India’s neighbour and old rival China ala fi shermen who risked their lives the picturesque Idukki district where India is cultivating a reputation as a fi rst sent humans to space in 2003, be- and saved thousands of people caught many villages remain cut off like its low-cost space power, after the 2014 coming only the third country to have in the recent fl oods. hilly cousin of Wayanad that attract launch of an unmanned Mars mission a such capability after Russia and the “I salute your bravery. Thirty thou- hundreds of tourists. cost of $74mn, or less than the budget United States. sand fi shermen, despite having a sig- Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pinarayi of the Hollywood space blockbuster China’s Shenzhou programme is se- nifi cant amount of risks in your life, Vijayan, facing criticism for the delay Gravity and a fraction of the $671mn cretively run through military and gov- saved 70,000 people. This is a not a in distributing interim relief, said all the US space agency Nasa spent on its ernment agencies and its budget is not small thing.” the fl ood-displaced families who have MAVEN Mars mission. public. In 2003, offi cials said it had cost Those whom he felicitated at a returned home would get Rs 10,000 The Indian manned mission, an- 18bn yuan ($2.62bn). function here included KP Jaisal of each “as soon as banks are open.” nounced this month by Prime Minis- India’s space programme has a to- Tanur in Malappuram district who He said the shops in the fl ood-hit ter Narendra Modi and to be led by the tal budget of around $4bn, and Modi’s went down in the knee-deep water to areas remain closed and many are Indian Space Research Organisation government hopes recent satellite provide his back as a step for women Congress president Rahul Gandhi felicitates KP Jaseel, who made his back a struggling to overcome damages. (ISRO), will aim to send a three-mem- launches — many on behalf of foreign and children to get into an unsteady stepping stone for evacuees to get into lifeboats during a rescue mission in The magnitude of destruction was ber crew to space for fi ve to seven days governments — would improve its lifeboat which went viral. flood-ravaged Kerala, in Alappuzha yesterday. much bigger than initially estimated. in a craft that will be placed in a low prospects of winning a larger share of Gandhi wanted the coastguard to The Chief Minister’s Distress Re- earth orbit of 300-400km, the Depart- the more than $300bn global space in- use these fi shermen, yet to recover So when the century’s worst fl oods “Looking back, I’m not happy with lief Fund had so far received Rs7.18bn ment of Space said in a statement. dustry. from the Cyclone Ockhi that took devastated the state, fi shermen, the help you received. Like farmers, you in donations, surpassing the federal “ISRO has developed some criti- Earlier this month, NASA unveiled away nearly 100 men from them and mostly from Thiruvananthapuram also face an uncertain life. But when advance of Rs 6bn Prime Minister cal technologies like re-entry mis- its analysis of data collected from lunar devastated their lives, in future in such and Kollam, without waiting for any Kerala needed, you stood up and showed Narendra Modi cleared recently. sion capability, crew escape system, orbit by an Indian spacecraft. rescue operations. appeal, took nearly 700 fi shing boats Kerala what you’re made of.” Gandhi The chief minister’s call for donat- crew module confi guration, thermal The fi ndings marked the fi rst time When the cyclonic storm swept to the worst-fl ooded areas where the hugged each of those he was felicitating. ing a month’s salary is also receiving a protection system, deceleration and scientists confi rmed by direct ob- them away on November 30, the Coast navy rescuers could not reach. The Gandhi scion, who also vis- good response. Former prime minis- fl oatation system, sub-systems of life servation the presence of water on Guard had not taken them onboard its “I remember I came here last time to ited relief camps in Ernakulam district ter Dr Manmohan Singh and defence support system etc required for this the moon’s surface — in hundreds of rescue vessels initially, and they be- see my fi shermen brothers when you yesterday, will leave for Kozhikode minister AK Antony gave a month’s programme,” the statement said. patches of ice deposited in the darkest lieved that increased the magnitude of were hurt by the cyclone. I came visit- and from there to Wayanad today after pay and Rs10mn each from their local ISRO chairman K Sivan said the and coldest reaches of its polar regions. the tragedy. ing your homes,” he recalled. staying in Kochi overnight. area development fund as MPs.

Court seeks WhatsApp’s response on alleged rule breaches

Reuters Grievance Offi cer by all intermediar- both an Indian corporate entity and a tral bank’s directive for storing data of Mumbai ies.” the CASC says in its petition a grievance offi cer for Indian users. Indian customer locally has delayed copy of which was reviewed by Reuters. The grievance offi cer that the spokes- the launch of WhatsApp’s inter-bank “It is also required to have a Griev- man referred to is based in California, money transfer service, which is already ndia’s top court has asked WhatsApp ance Offi cer for users in India. Yet, it also handling India-related issues. in testing, a source told Reuters earlier. to respond to a petition that alleges is being allowed to continue with its WhatsApp is working on having a Another source said India wanted Iit breaches certain Indian regula- Payments and other services, without grievance offi cer based in India fol- WhatsApp to have a local head and tions, creating another headache for the any checks,” the petition added. lowing talks with the technology min- team that manages local operations Facebook Inc-owned fi rm already facing The Indian IT Act mandates inter- istry, the spokesman said. before it receives clearance for the for- pressure in India over fake news. mediaries or carriers of content like India’s technology, home, law and mal launch of the payments service. In an order seen by Reuters, the Su- WhatsApp, to appoint a Grievance Of- fi nance ministries as well as its tele- WhatsApp, which has more than preme Court asked the messaging serv- fi cer, to handle any queries, concerns coms regulator are also among the re- 200mn users in India, has also had to ice to respond to the petition, fi led by a or issues that users of the platform spondents named in the public inter- battle the spread of rumours and false Delhi-based think-tank called the Cen- may have that do not come under the est litigation and will have to respond messages on its platform that have led tre For Accountability And Systemic purview of other authorities. to the court notice in four weeks. to mob killings and sparked calls for ac- Change (CASC), within four weeks. WhatsApp declined to make a com- “To run Payments service in India, tion by authorities. In a meeting with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chairperson K Shivan gestures while WhatsApp does not comply with the ment specifi cally about the litigation WhatsApp is obligated to have its offi ce the technology minister this month, addressing a press conference in New Delhi as Minister of State for Department Information Technology Act, 2000, or their response to it but a spokesman and servers in India,” the petition added. WhatsApp pledged to do more to com- of Space Jitendra Singh looks on. which mandates “the appointment of for the messaging service said it has A lack of clarity over the Indian cen- bat the spread of misinformation. After fl ood, tourism in Kerala left mud-bound

By Malini Menon and Sivaram son, but as his home disappeared under “Kerala’s GDP growth may fall by val which is one of the highlights of the Venkitasubramanian, Reuters 2.5m of water, his family now have to 2%,” state Finance Minister T M Tho- state’s cultural calendar. New Delhi/Alappuzha live aboard the boat he would other- mas Isaac told Reuters, forecasting Festivities, including the spectacular wise be renting to tourists from Europe, growth of 6% for the fi nancial year Vallam Kali races involving traditional China, Malaysia and India. ending next March. war canoes, some manned by more ore than a week after the “I’ve nothing left, but this house- Crops have been lost, the construc- than 100 paddlers, were postponed. fl oodwater began subsid- boat. I don’t know how I can repay my tion industry was dead for a month, and “Kerala has lost out on one of the Ming, animal carcasses are still bank loan in this condition. The bank tourism, which contributes 10% of the best seasons, as the calamity struck fl oating in Kerala’s backwaters, and in may take back my boat. I will have state’s economy but accounts for about during the 10-day run up to Onam,” places a nauseating stench rises like a nothing at all then,” Sudarsanan, a 25% of jobs creation, has been badly hit. said Ranjini Nambiar, who heads a trav- wall when the wake from a passing boat 64-year-old father of two, told Reuters. For discerning tourists looking for a el consultancy. breaks the surface. Some 1,500 houseboats are tied up at more laidback Indian experience, Ker- Thousands of volunteers have joined These inland lagoons running par- Alappuzha, going nowhere, with many ala has it all — long sandy beaches, lazy a clean-up campaign mounted by the allel to the coast are one of the biggest of the owners still paying off loans tak- waterways, charming, historic towns state, and Shilendran M, an executive tourist draws in the state, but the stain en to buy the boats. like Kochi and the cool, forested hills of with the CGH Earth luxury hotel chain, of death and devastation wrought by Sudarsanan owes about $8,600 on the Western Ghats. expected some kind of order to be re- Kerala’s worst fl ood in a century will the loan taken eight years ago to buy Kerala doesn’t draw numbers like the stored within the next few weeks. take longer than a season to wash away. the boat, and he could have earned up northern tourist circuit, the so-called “The state administration is work- The quaint towns and villages scat- to $7,000 by December if the deluge “Golden Triangle” running from New ing on a war footing,” said Shilendran, tered between the lush forests and pad- hadn’t washed away his hopes. Delhi to the Taj Mahal in Agra, and whose group has more than a dozen dy fi elds bordering the backwaters are Hundreds of people perished in the Jaipur’s palaces in the desert state of properties in Kerala. “We are limping now communities in despair. fl ood and more than 1mn of Kerala’s Rajasthan, but it has carved out a siz- back to normal.” Volunteers collect household items before cleaning a house in Kuttanad, Houses in low-lying areas are still 35mn people were forced to abandon their able niche. Hardly anywhere in the state escaped Alappuzha district. submerged, roads are waterlogged and homes and take shelter in relief camps. Last year, 1mn foreigners visited the calamity. Ernakulam district, the the sewage from drains have washed Blessed with natural beauty, fertile Kerala, along with 15mn domestic tour- biggest industrial and tourism contrib- tea and cardamom plantations high in the Neelakurinji, blossoms on the into channels that are too slow-moving land and bountiful seas, Kerala has been ists, but state government and industry utor to Kerala’s economy and home to the Ghats was cut off , as bridges were slopes around Munnar — and this was to eff ectively fl ush out the effl uent. dubbed “God’s own country” by its peo- offi cials reckon the fl ood will result in the historic city of Kochi, suff ered ma- washed away and landslides blocked one of those years. The state tourism Sudarsanan T K, a houseboat owner ple, but the Marxists running the state losses for the tourism sector of $357mn. jor damage, and its busy international roads. had marketed 2018 as the Kurunji year, in the town of Alappuzha, had been government reckon it will need $3.57bn The fl oods struck just as Kerala was airport was shut for nearly two weeks. Once every dozen years a bright pur- but people in Kerala are more likely to looking forward to the peak tourist sea- to rebuild over the next two years. gearing up for Onam, the harvest festi- Munnar, a hill resort overlooking the plish-blue bell-shaped fl ower called remember the mud. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 PAKISTAN Committees formed to look into heritage buildings

Internews Heritage (NHLH) Federal Min- meeting that regional commit- governor houses in all four pro- that we will not spend money on der-utilised buildings across the division due to their relevance to Islamabad ister Shafqat Mehmood chaired tees will be formed, comprising vincial capitals along with those a luxurious lifestyle. Convert- country will also be undertaken the department. yesterday the fi rst meeting of committee members from re- in Murree and Nathia Gali, the ing these buildings into public- to restore and use the premises The minister, who also heads a special committee created to spective cities. Chief Minister’s Offi ce in Lahore, friendly institutions will help better. the federal education ministry, s the Pakistan Tehreek-e- review how heritage buildings, They will visit these buildings the state guest houses in Lahore achieve our objective of auster- “Heritage buildings in our said that there are massive chal- Insaf (PTI)-led govern- such as the governor and state and prepare a detailed report and Karachi, the Shahi Mahman ity as well as benefi t the public country are our asset, and it is lenges which the federal govern- Ament seeks to open key rest houses across the country, about them, including on the Khana in Peshawar, the Punjab for whom these institutions were vital to not only protect these ment has to address on the edu- government buildings for public can be opened up for public ac- number of employees, the struc- houses in Rawalpindi, Islamabad established,” he said. buildings but also turn these cation front, including that of use, a heritage body tasked to do cess. tural condition of the building, and Murree, the Qasr-e-Naz Ka- To better co-ordinate and buildings into public places ac- the enrolment of 25mn out-of- that has formed sub-panels to The meeting was held at the and the historical signifi cance rachi, and the Chamba House in communicate, Mehmood direct- cessible to the people,” the min- school children, implementing a determine the current state of NHLH division in Islamabad of these buildings, and come up Lahore. ed that the committee members ister said. national syllabus to end discrim- these buildings. and attended by NHLH secre- with suggestions to put these Mehmood said that the newly- form a social media group linking Mehmood also said that cul- ination, raising the standard of These sub-committees were tary Aamir Hasan, joint secretary buildings to better use. elected government has to meet all the members to share the daily tural institutions such as the Lok education, and promoting skill- told to submit their report within Syed Junaid Akhlaq, and other Some of the buildings to be the expectations of the public progress of their given task. Virsa and the Pakistan National based education. two weeks. offi cials from diff erent cities. reviewed include the Prime Min- within a short span of 100 days. Besides this, he said, an inven- Council of the Arts (PNCA) will In this regard, he promised to National History and Literary It was decided during the ister’s House in Islamabad, the “We have to show the nation tory of old, historical and un- be brought under the heritage introduce reforms.

Pakistan to hike PM taps minister to lead job quota for special cabinet economic panel persons Internews Husain (institutional reforms ECC himself after replacing the legal, constitutional, and politi- Internews Islamabad and austerity). fi nance minister at the time, cal aff airs. Islamabad The ministers for communi- Ishaq Dar. Meanwhile, the fi rst meeting cations, national food security, Abbasi’s decision brought of the reconstituted committee rime Minister Imran Khan power, privatisation, statistics, back the direct control of the has been called for today, to take dviser to Prime Minister has declined to lead the and water resources are due to Prime Minister’s Offi ce over fed- up major issues including an in- on Parliamentary Aff airs Pcabinet’s Economic Co- be appointed to the ECC. eral ministries and divisions that crease in consumer gas prices by ABabar Awan informed the ordination Committee (ECC), The offi cial said that there are it had when Shaukat Aziz was an average of 30%. Senate yesterday that a proposal choosing Finance Minister Asad no set standards and rules on prime minister under retired The Oil and Gas Regulatory has been fl oated to increase the Umar to lead the reconstituted who should head the ECC or any General Pervez Musharraf’s rule. Authority had determined the job quota for special persons, economic decision-making other sub-committees of the Former prime minister Yousuf rise, but the caretaker govern- from 2% to 4%. body. cabinet. Raza Gillani initially continued ment declined to pass it on to the He made this statement on A senior government offi cial Prime Minister Khan (left) has Diff erent prime ministers with the arrangement when he consumers even though it was the passage of a resolution by said that the cabinet division tasked Finance Minister Umar have made varying decisions in inherited the government. legally required to do so within Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Senators had moved a summary to the (above) with leading the ECC. the past. Syed Naveed Qamar was fi - 40 days of the proposal. Sirajul Haq and Mushtaq Ah- prime minister seeking his ap- He explained that it is the nance minister at the time. The caretaker government mad. proval to head four major cabi- cabinet to give them legal cover. prime minister’s prerogative, The authority was subse- had contended that this increase The resolution reads: “This net committees on restructur- Other members of the ECC so under the Rules of Business quently transferred when Shau- was a major policy decision, house recommends that the gov- ing, privatisation, energy, and far are ministers Farogh Naseem 1973, to appoint as many com- kat Tarin took the reins of the which ought to be made by the ernment should take immedi- the China-Pakistan Economic (law and justice), Ghulam Abba- mittees of the cabinet as he or ministry. new-elected government. ate steps to ensure appointment Corridor (CPEC). si (petroleum), Khusro Bakhtiar she desired, and to assign any Former prime minister Nawaz According to the agenda, the of diff erently-abled persons The prime minister, however, (planning and development ), subcommittee of the cabinet Sharif delegated all economic ECC will also take up the issues against the quota reserved for appointed his fi nance minister The offi cial said that the deci- and Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (rail- to anyone of their cabinet col- and fi nancial powers to Ishaq of the liabilities of the Pakistan them in the federal government as chairman of the ECC, which sions of the fi nance minister-led ways), and the prime minister’s leagues. Dar who reportedly headed, at State Oil, rising circular debt in departments”. has 12 other members, six of cabinet committee would have advisers Razak Dawood (com- Former prime minister Sha- one time, more than four dozen the power sector, and the pre- At a briefi ng earlier, Awan said whom remain to be appointed. to be endorsed by the federal merce and textiles ) and Dr Ishrat hid Khaqan Abbasi headed the committees, including those on dicted shortage of fertilisers. that he had been informed that special persons in remote areas could not aff ord travel expenses to avail of job opportunities. He agreed when Haq stated that it is a fact that normal peo- ple had been given jobs on quota HRW urges Imran to prioritise human rights meant for diff erently-abled per- sons. “We have confi rmed infor- Internews “These are: freedom of ex- groups, including the Taliban, Punjab information and culture minister an admirer of Hitler mation that normal people even Islamabad pression and attacks on civil in retaliation for criticism, par- get issued medical certifi cate to society; freedom of religion and ticularly around their diktats. A politician who admires Nazi leader Adolf Hitler has tion as minister by Prime Minister Imran Khan. secure jobs, which are not for belief; violence against women Media outlets remain under become a minister in the Punjab government. “By declaring himself fan of #AdolfHitler, can we say them,” the senator said. he Human Rights Watch and girls; access to education; pressure from the authorities Fayyaz Chohan, a lawmaker from the Pakistan information minister #Punjab @Fayazchohanpti is The House was informed that (HRW) has asked Prime restoring moratorium on death to avoid reporting on several is- Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), was sworn in on Monday as Goebbels of PM @ImranKhanPTI?” activist Asad Toor there are at least 1.4mn people, TMinister Imran Khan to penalty; and, terrorism and sues, including criticism of gov- information and culture minister in Punjab. tweeted, in a reference to Hitler’s propaganda minister as per the data shared by the Na- make human rights a key focus counter-terrorism abuses. ernment institutions and the The lawmaker has been touting his fondness for the Joseph Goebbels. tional Database and Registration of his government, stating that “Imran Khan has an impor- judiciary. leader of Nazi Germany, who ruled the European Neither Chohan himself nor Khan’s party responded Authority (NADRA), are special since Pakistan faces serious hu- tant opportunity to create a “The Pakistan Tehreek-e- country during World War II. to questions from DPA about Toor’s comments. persons, but as the job quotas man rights challenges, address- rights-respecting government Insaf (PTI) has been a strong “I like Hitler because he tried to wipe out the worst The fondness for Hitler in many parts of the world is for them are not implemented ing them should be one of the that abides by the rule of law and proponent of free expression, people,” Chohan had once said at a public rally in the a result of deep-rooted anti-Semitic sentiments, said properly, and they have become new government’s priorities. restores the public faith in dem- including on social media, to city of Rawalpindi, near the capital Islamabad. Raza Haider, a political commentator and profes- a burden for themselves and for In a letter to the premier made ocratic institutions. criticise state policy and press The lawmaker had also mentioned on his Twitter han- sor of politics at Riphah International University in their families. public yesterday, the Asia Direc- “It is crucial for Pakistan’s for change,” the HRW said. dle that Hitler and a Muslim ruler from early Islamic Rawalpindi. Defence Minister Pervaiz tor of the HRW, Brad Adams, development for the govern- “An independent media is key history were his favourite leaders. “It is not surprising at all,” said Haider. “There might be Khattak and Senator Saadia urged the government to begin ment to actively carry out hu- to robust dialogue that refl ects However, Chohan removed Hitler’s name after criti- undeclared admirers of Hitler, perhaps thousands of Abbasi of the Pakistan Muslim by reversing abusive laws and man rights agenda,” the rights public concerns. Human Rights cism on social media on Sunday, following his nomina- them in Pakistan.” League – Nawaz (PML-N) also policies and demonstrating gen- watchdog said. Watch hopes that the PTI gov- decried that the job quota for uine commitment to the rule of The HRW said that a climate ernment will foster a culture special persons as well minori- law and equal justice. of fear impeded media coverage of political tolerance for media said, Pakistan had witnessed able groups by failing to repeal domestic violence, create and ties is not being implemented. In the letter, the HRW urged of abuses both by government criticism,” the HRW added. an increase in the incidence of discriminatory laws and using implement a comprehensive na- the Pakistani government to take security forces and militant It also urged the Pakistan gov- blasphemy-related violence religious rhetoric, inciting ha- tional action plan to end child concrete steps to protect funda- groups. ernment to amend the blasphe- while the government contin- tred against minorities. marriages, and take measures to PTI expels 14 mental civil, political, economic, Journalists increasingly prac- my law as a fi rst step towards its ued to encourage discriminatory The rights watchdog urged improve investigation and pros- social, and cultural rights in six tice self-censorship after nu- repeal. persecution and other forms of the prime minister to take steps ecution of cases of “honour” KP members key areas. merous attacks by militant In the past two years, the HRW discrimination against vulner- to implement legislation against killing and acid attacks. With the elections out of the way and the party ascending to power in the Centre and in Water talks two provinces, it has set about tackling those members who Pakistan sees 47% displayed an “unsupportive attitude” towards the party during the general polls. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) less rainfall than has cancelled the membership of 14 of its off ice bearers and district councillors. A notification in this regard was usual this month issued by the party’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) South Region president Ali Amin Gandapur. Internews normal, but was above normal in According to the notification, the Islamabad Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 14 members of the party were Gilgit-Baltistan, and close to normal found guilty of gross misconduct, in Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK). violation of party discipline, and akistan received 47% less rain- Pakistan’s offi cial monsoon open opposition to the party in fall this August than usual with stretches from July 1 to September 15 the general elections. Pjust two weeks remaining until and is extended at times. The notification further stated the end of the monsoon, apparently Sindh saw a massive 87% decline that “due to the damage they due to climate change. in rainfall between July 1 and August have caused to political interest The worst-aff ected areas in the 27. of the party, compromising country were in Sindh and Balu- The PMD has reported that while party ideology, defaming PTI chistan. Sindh typically receives 111mm of candidates with unsubstantiated According to data compiled by the rain in July and August, the province and politically motivated Pakistan Meteorological Department received just 14.7mm this year. allegations instigated by (PMD), overall rainfall between July 1 Baluchistan saw a 54% reduction in opposing candidates and parties, and August 27, 2018, was 28% below rainfall; its average in July and August their memberships were being normal. is 51.1mm but it received 23.5mm. cancelled”. Rainfall was 47% lower than the Punjab saw a 9% decline in rainfall, It added that those who hold average rainfall in August, which an KP received 4% less rainfall, AJK re- off ices in the party will cease to offi cial attributed to the impact of ceived 7% less rainfall than usual, and be off ice bearers, while those climate change on the country’s tem- Gilgit-Baltistan received 6% less. Pakistan’s Commissioner for Indus Waters (PCIW) Syed Muhammad Mehar Ali Shah (right) walks with his Indian counterpart who were representing the party perature pattern. The Met Offi ce also predicted that Pradeep Kumar Saxena (second right) at the Wagah Border, after the latter arrived with other members of the Indian delegation for in the local government will Met Offi ce data has also shown monsoon rainfall is likely to decline a meeting to discuss the Indus Waters Treaty and other issues. cease to be such and be treated that July’s rainfall was 12% below further in September. as party defectors. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 29, 2018 13 PHILIPPINES

One killed, dozens hurt after blast at street festival

AFP Cotabato

bomb blast tore through a crowd at a street festi- A val in the southern Phil- ippines yesterday, killing one person and wounding dozens more in the second deadly at- tack in under a month in the region, authorities said. The powerful bomb in the town of Isulan went off near a night market that was part of local celebrations, sending people running in terror. “It was loud, we immediately left the area but I can’t forget the images of a young girl car- ried by her father, her shirt Activists and families of drug war victims display placards during a protest against the war on drugs by President Rodrigo Duterte in Quezon city, Metro Manila, yesterday. covered in blood,” said witness Judy Sapto, an area resident. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but suspicion fell on militants, who have been fighting a decades- long insurgency in the south of the majority Catholic archi- pelago. “It’s obvious that the Bang- Duterte hit by new ICC samoro Islamic Freedom Fight- ers (BIFF) with links to ISIS (Islamic State) has the strong- est desire to initiate these kind of attacks”, said Army Captain Arvin Encinas. The local mayor’s office said two other bombs were discov- complaint over drug war ered in the area and defused by authorities. Group calls for Duterte his readiness to go on trial in One person was killed and at indictment; Lawyers The Hague and “rot in jail”. Op- least 36 were hurt in the blast, say ICC has jurisdiction position lawmakers maintain the mayor’s office added. due to Duterte immunity that Duterte’s withdrawal from There was no immediate the treaty, which takes eff ect in word on the victims’ condi- Reuters March 2019, was illegal because tions. Manila it was done without Senate ap- Local police officials said the proval. bomb went off near a petrol They have challenged it at the station as Isulan was celebrat- ctivists and families of Supreme Court, which started ing the 61st anniversary of its eight victims of the Phil- hearing oral arguments yester- founding. Aippines’ “war on drugs” day. This attack comes less than a fi led a complaint yesterday Jurist groups say that re- month after a van bomb ripped with the International Crimi- gardless of how the court rules, through a military checkpoint nal Court (ICC), a second peti- Duterte is not protected from a on the neighbouring island of tion accusing President Rodrigo possible indictment because the Basilan, killing 10 people. Duterte of murder and crimes alleged crimes took place while Islamic State claimed re- against humanity. the Philippines was a member sponsibility for that bombing The 50-page complaint calls of the ICC, and therefore cov- and authorities believe the man for Duterte’s indictment over ered by its jurisdiction. behind the wheel of the explo- thousands of alleged extra- Duterte also maintains the sives-laden van may have in- judicial killings during his Philippines never actually ac- tended to target a nearby chil- crackdown on drugs, which the ceded to the Rome Statute in dren’s parade. activists and families said in- 2011, because it was not pub- President Rodrigo Duterte cluded “brazen” executions by lished in the country’s offi cial put the southern Philippines police acting with impunity. Members of the Supreme Court of the Philippines, led by its newly-appointed Chief Justice Teresita de Castro (centre), arrive to hear oral gazette. The ICC is a court of under martial rule until the end Critics of the campaign were arguments on the petition to quit the International Criminal Court, in Manila, yesterday. last resort that can exercise ju- of this year after pro-IS mili- being “persecuted”, they said, risdiction if states are unable or tants seized the southern city and cases fi led by victims’ fami- senting the group, told report- the bounds of the law”. The drug users and small-time deal- him as a “ruthless and heartless unwilling to investigate crimes, of Marawi last year. lies had gone nowhere. ers. Duterte insists he told po- ICC petition, known as a com- ers, using only cursory intelli- violator of human rights”. He which Duterte’s spokesman said Several armed groups are ac- The latest move is led by a lice to kill only in self-defence munication, follows a similar gence. even threatened to arrest ICC was not the case in the Philip- tive against government forces network of activists, priests and has lashed out at critics complaint fi led in April 2017 by Police reject that. prosecutor Fatou Bensouda if pines. Kristina Conti, another in the south of the South- and members of the poor, urban while demonstrating no re- a Philippine lawyer and backed Presidential spokesman Har- she were to come to the Philip- lawyer backing the complaint, east Asian country, where a communities that have borne morse for the deaths. by two opposition lawmakers, ry Roque said the latest peti- pines to investigate him, and said it had been fi led before the decades-long rebellion has the brunt of a fi erce two-year In a national address last into which the ICC in February tion was “doomed”, because the said he would convince other ICC because as a serving presi- claimed more than 100,000 campaign in which police have month, he said the drugs war started a preliminary examina- Philippines’ was no longer cov- countries to follow him in quit- dent, Duterte had immunity lives by government count. killed about 4,400 people, would be remain “relentless tion. ered by the ICC’s Rome Statute. ting the ICC. from legal action. These latest blasts follow the causing international alarm. and chilling”.Benigno Durana, Human rights groups believe Duterte unilaterally withdrew It was a stark contrast from The ICC prosecutor’s offi ce Duterte government enacting a “Duterte is personally li- a national police spokesman, the death toll could be far higher in March from the ICC’s found- the early days of Duterte’s pres- did not immediately respond law to create greater autonomy able for ordering state police to said the only order Duterte gave than the one the police give, ing treaty, saying it skirted due idency, when he had routinely to a request for comment and for the minority in the south undertake mass killings,” Neri to police was “to wage war on and accuse law enforcement of process and presumption of his disparaged the ICC and dared could not be reached out of nor- and which is hoped to help end Colmenares, a lawyer repre- drugs and criminality within summarily executing suspected innocence and sought to portray it to go after him, expressing mal offi ce hours. the conflict.

CRISIS Sulu, Tawi-Tawi Magsaysay award winners face rice shortage House nod for 100-day While the government is slowly addressing the rice shortage in maternity leave bill Zamboanga City, people in Sulu province are also lining up in long queues to buy five kilos of rice from By Llanesca T Panti including those in the informal the National Food Authority (NFA), Manila Times economy, regardless of civil sta- Manila Times reported. NFA rice tus or the legitimacy of the child. sells at P27 a kilo in Sulu where a Also, the measure provides shortage of the staple is also being he House of Representa- that it can be availed of either felt. Similarly, the neighbouring Tawi- tives approved the Ex- before or after the actual period Tawi province, which is near Sabah Tpanded Maternity Leave of delivery in a continuous and in Malaysia, also reels from lack of Bill, which would increase paid uninterrupted manner. rice supply and residents are queu- maternity leave from 60 days to Rep. Emerenciana de Jesus of ing to buy government-subsidised 100 days, on second reading via a Gabriela party-list said at least rice sold at NFA outlets.| With the voice vote yesterday. 5mn women in the workforce are rice crisis in these areas, Agriculture Rep. Bernadette Dy of Bagong expected to benefi t from the bill, Secretary Emmanuel Pinol has Henerasyon party-list, an author on top of health benefi ts for both proposed a special importation of of the measure, noted that the the mother and the baby. 132,000 metric tonnes of rice by cost of implementing the 100- Under existing law, the paid the private sector for Zamboanga day paid maternity leave greatly maternity leave for women who Peninsula — composed of Zam- outweighed the benefi ts of having gave birth under normal delivery boanga City and the provinces of healthy mothers in the workforce. is at 60 days. Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga “This bill will increase the Those who delivered via cae- del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte mothers’ productivity when sarean section are entitled to 78 — and Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, they go back to work,” Dy said days. also known as ZamBaSulTa. Pinol is in defending the measure before The Senate approved the ex- also considering the establishment the plenary. panded maternity leave bill last of a Rice Trading Centre where The bill, however, was amend- week, but it sets the additional all supplies coming from other ed to limit the coverage of the paid maternity leave at 120 days. countries nearby, such as Malaysia, expanded maternity leave to four The expanded maternity leave would be unloaded. “My proposal is The winners of this year’s Magsaysay Awards, widely regarded as Asia’s version of the Nobel prize, (from left) Viel pregnancies from its previous bill also provides that those who that the volume of rice allowed to Aquino-Dee, daughter of the late Philippine president Corazon Aquino, representing awardee Howard Dee; Sonam provision of covering all preg- will avail of the maternity leave enter through the Rice Trading Cen- Wangchuk of India, Youk Chhang of Cambodia, Vo Thi Hoang (in wheelchair) of Vietnam, Maria de Lourdes Martins of East nancies, regardless of number of and the additional non-paid 30- tre should not be more than half of Timor and Bharat Vatwani of India, pose for photos ahead of the awards ceremony in Manila, yesterday. The Manila-based occurrence. day maternity leave — whether the total requirements of the region Ramon Magsaysay Award, named after a Filipino president killed in a plane crash, was established in 1957 to honour The expanded maternity leave in the government or private so that rice farmers in the mainland people and groups tackling development problems. covers all female workers in sector — are assured of security would not be aff ected,” Pinol said. government and private sector, of tenure. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES A no-deal Brexit to weigh on Europe’s economic future

As the European Union and the United Kingdom have for long failed to agree on terms of their divorce, concerns have been rising that Britain may crash out of the bloc with a no-deal Brexit in March. What does that mean? An EU-UK divorce with no agreement in place on how to continue doing business with each other with various rules, permits and accords falling into limbo. And free trade between Britain and the EU will give way to basic World Trade Organisation tariff s An end to Australia’s and become subject to border checks where now there are none. Bottlenecks could bring shortages of everything from imported food to manufacturing components. EU citizens living in the UK and Britons living on the continent could be stranded without permission to remain. democratic pantomime? In her fi rst major address on Brexit, in January 2017, Prime Minister Theresa May declared that “no deal for By Gareth Evans acolyte Peter Dutton, would have been. Britain is better than a bad deal for Britain.” Though she Melbourne But bridging the gulf between the might not believe that anymore, it’s an established part Liberal Party’s moderate and reaction- ary wings will probably be beyond of her negotiating position. There is also no real majority hat explains Australia’s him, with his public salesmanship not in Parliament for any particular kind of Brexit, and some bizarre leadership churn? helped by the announced departure lawmakers actively want the UK to just walk away. No prime minister has from politics of the well-known and The Brexit imbroglio is also undermining London’s Wserved a full term since well-regarded former deputy leader 2007, with fi ve diff erent faces becom- and foreign minister, Julie Bishop, who coveted status as the global fi nancial hub. ing prime minister in the last fi ve was the party’s most senior woman. The “City,” home to over years: Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd, Tony Moreover, Morrison’s very conserv- 250 foreign banks and the Abbott, Malcolm Turnbull – and now, ative social stance and hyper-liberal The Brexit Lloyd’s of London insurance in the latest party-room coup, Scott economic positions make him vulner- Morrison, whom most Australians, let able to Labor electoral attack. For imbroglio is market, has been facing alone international observers, would example, Morrison has opposed same- a crisis ever since the struggle to identify in a line-up. All sex marriage, a phase-out of reliance undermining Brexit vote as fi rms debate this is happening in a long-estab- on coal, and royal commission scrutiny whether to shift jobs to lished, confl ict-free, and above all of the big banks, and has supported big London’s prosperous parliamentary democracy, corporate tax cuts and a major dilution continental Europe to keep enjoying a record 27th year of uninter- of Australia’s traditionally progressive coveted status serving customers there rupted economic growth. income tax. after Britain leaves the EU. The answer still seems to lie in With the public manifestly fed up as the global An Ernst & Young report in the three factors – globally familiar, with division and dysfunction in the nationally systemic, and person- governing coalition parties, Australia’s fi nancial hub June 2017 predicted a loss of ally idiosyncratic – that I identifi ed next election, most likely in May 2019, 232,000 jobs fi nancial jobs three years ago. Is this entertainment seems now almost certain to result in in Britain as result of Brexit. – no joke here, however many others The new Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison attending a news conference in yet another new prime minister, La- London’s allure may not fade that soon, that easily. abroad may be laughing – destined to Canberra, Australia in this August 24, 2018, file picture. bor’s Bill Shorten. Impossible though it continue indefi nitely, or can the cycle may be to confi dently predict any- But a central theme of the grant Brexit narrative has be broken? thing about Australia’s future, given been the “passporting rights,” that entitles companies The fi rst explanation of the churn the madness of recent years, there are authorised in one country of the European Economic Area is that Australia is not immune to reasonable grounds for believing that – currently comprising the 28 EU states plus Iceland, the preoccupation with personalities this could be a circuit breaker, and that and popularity polls, and the demand we might at last have leadership for the Liechtenstein and Norway – to sell their products and for instant gratifi cation rather than long haul. services throughout the bloc, accessing a $19tn integrated serious policy debate, affl icting most The fi rst reason for such confi dence economy with more than 500mn citizens. of the world’s established democra- is that Labor has introduced a rule The government last week warned UK fi nancial services cies in this age of the 24/7 media (which could be circumvented only in cycle and omnipresent social media. the most exceptional circumstances) fi rms are set to lose the right to market their products into Traditional mainstream political par- that any leadership change between the EEA post-Brexit, unless EU authorities take action to ties everywhere, spooked by populist elections requires supermajorities in prevent it. fringe-dwellers, are constantly on edge the parliamentary caucus and endorse- A no-deal Brexit, or even a hard deal with the loss of trying to work out how to counter their ment by the wider party membership. appeal. That change has already delivered passporting rights, will tempt cities such as Frankfurt, A second dimension is Australia- leadership continuity and stability for Dublin and Paris – after decades of falling behind – to specifi c: the tension created by pecu- the last fi ve years, and there is no mood challenge each other for the City’s business. liarities in our Westminster parlia- to go back. Britain will automatically leave the EU in seven months. mentary system. A ludicrously short The other reason is that Labor’s three-year electoral cycle, briefer than current front bench is not riven by But the failure to strike a deal before March 29, 2019, risks almost anywhere else in the world, any significant personal or ideologi- infl icting sweeping tariff s and uncertainty on both the EU makes it almost impossible to govern cal divisions, and seems to have an and the UK. in a campaign-free atmosphere. The overall depth and breadth of com- WTO director-general Roberto Azevedo has warned Senate, with more formal power to petence not seen since the success- block and bring down governments ful Bob Hawke and Paul Keating that the UK risks trade disruption in the event of a no- than any comparable upper house, has A file photo taken on August 23, 2018 shows Australia’s former prime minister governments of the 1980s and 1990s. deal Brexit because it is “very unlikely” to have agreed been dominated in recent years by a Malcolm Turnbull gesturing at a press conference at Parliament House in As party leader, Shorten continues tariffs and quotas with the other WTO members in litter of minor parties and independ- Canberra. to generate mixed reviews, not least time. ents reminiscent of the bar scene from because of the difficulty he some- Star Wars. These oddballs have made sonal: the character quirks that have lar “captain’s picks.” times seems to have in suppressing The EU has told governments and companies to prepare it very diffi cult for any prime minister contributed to each leader’s dramatic Turnbull, the urbane but arro- his instincts as a former trade-union for the worst. But, make no mistake, a no-deal Brexit to deliver on the promises he or she rise and equally spectacular fall. Gil- gant former journalist, lawyer, and apparatchik. But he is an astute strat- doesn’t bode well for Europe’s economic future. makes. lard was a highly competent transac- investment banker, whose deposition egist, has a good policy brain and Moreover, the internal rules of the tional politician who had her minute of Abbott in 2015 triggered a crusade decent core values, and is an excel- major parties – the now governing of international fame with a brilliantly of sustained internal hatred which lent communicator one-on-one and Liberal/National coalition, and until passionate attack on her opponent’s finally drove his own ouster last in small groups (if less compelling in To Advertise recently Labor – have permitted lead- misogyny. But she was seen as politi- week, was initially popular – and ap- other settings). ers, including serving prime ministers, cally tone-deaf otherwise. parently as liberal in his instincts as Shorten and his team seem, overall, [email protected] to be torn down overnight by their Rudd, who wrestled the leadership Abbott was reactionary. But, while he to be mercifully free of the indisci- Display own colleagues, with no referral to back from her in 2013, remains intel- maintained more public support than pline and character quirks and fl aws the wider party membership or other lectually without peer and highly re- any of his internal rivals, he proved that have affl icted Australia’s national 44466621 44418811 delaying process. If a leader is seen to garded internationally, but was seen by unable to translate it into opinion- leadership over the last decade. In the be losing appeal, either to the broader his colleagues, not entirely unfairly, as poll majorities. And as he made ever interests of our credibility abroad and Classified electorate (or, as happened with Mal- too often incommunicative, obsessive, more concessions to his party’s right sanity at home, it is not just Labor 44466609 44418811 colm Turnbull last week, the party’s and having misplaced policy priorities. wing in order to survive – notably on party loyalists here who are fervently own base), the absence of any braking Abbott, profoundly conservative and climate policy – the perception took hoping so. – Project Syndicate Subscription mechanism to force refl ection means hyper-partisan, proved utterly inca- root that he had no core beliefs at all, that momentum for change can build pable of managing the transition from other than in his own genius. Gareth Evans, foreign minister of [email protected] and feed on itself with sometimes opposition to government. He presided Morrison is a potentially more ap- Australia from 1988 to 1996, and resi- lunatic rapidity. over the cabinet with slogans rather pealing knockabout character, and dent of the International Crisis Group The remaining part of the explana- than coherent policy, and constantly less divisive than Turnbull’s main from 2000 to 2009, is Chancellor of © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved tion is undoubtedly local and per- alienated his colleagues with unpopu- conservative challenger, the Abbott the Australian National University. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 29, 2018 15 COMMENT The current account counts

By Stephen S Roach save out of income when frothy asset national saving rate, which drives the New Haven markets can do the job? The preference current account, remains woefully for asset-based saving over income- defi cient, averaging just 1.9% in net based saving is central to America’s terms (adjusted for depreciation) over n an increasingly interconnected current-account defi cit. the post-crisis 2009-17 period. That global economy, cross-border The surplus countries have been is less than one-third the 6.3% average trade and fi nancial-capital delighted to go along for the ride. It during the fi nal three decades of the Ilinkages have come to matter didn’t matter that the US consumption twentieth century. more than ever. The current-account binge was built on a foundation of Large and growing federal budget balance, the diff erence between a quicksand. Excess export growth in defi cits over the next several years country’s investment and saving the large surplus economies enabled will only exacerbate this problem. position, is key to understanding these the excesses of the world’s largest Blaming China misses the obvious linkages. The dispersion of current- consumer. and important point that the Chinese account positions tells us much about That was especially the case in current-account surplus has fallen the state of global imbalances, which China. Spurred by Deng Xiaoping’s sharply in recent years, from 9.9% of are often a precursor of crises. “reform and opening up,” China’s GDP in 2007 to an estimated 1% in The same is true of trade tensions, export sector increased sixfold – from 2018. In 2017, China’s current-account such as those now evident around the 6% of GDP in 1980 to 36% in 2006. surplus of $165 billion was well below world. Current-account disparities Mirroring America’s massive that of Germany ($297bn) and Japan often pit one country against another. current-account defi cit, China’s ($195bn). Economies running current-account current account went from relative As China presses ahead with defi cits tend to suff er from a defi ciency balance in 1980 (+0.1% of GDP) to a consumer-led rebalancing, it will of domestic saving. Lacking in saving massive surplus of 9.9% in pre-crisis continue to move from surplus saving and wanting to invest, consume, 2007. The same was true in major to saving absorption, with the distinct and grow, they have no choice but to developed economies, albeit to a lesser possibility that its current account borrow surplus saving from others, extreme: Germany’s export share of will shift into permanent defi cit (a which gives rise to current-account GDP went from 19% in 1980 to 43% in small defi cit actually was recorded in and trade defi cits with the rest of 2007, while Japan’s went from 13% to the fi rst quarter of this year). That will the world. The opposite is the case 17.5% over the same period. leave a defi cit-prone America with for countries with current-account In many respects, a marriage of one less surplus country to draw on surpluses. They are affl icted by subpar convenience between the surplus and in funding the growth of its saving- consumption, excess saving, and defi cit countries eventually blossomed short, excess-consumption economy. chronic trade surpluses. The United States has the largest current-account imbalance in the world. into full-blown codependency. But Maybe the rest of the world will step up There is a long-standing debate over then, with the wrenching global and fi ll the void. But with the Trump who is to blame for this state of aff airs contributions to its military campaign the large surplus countries, which toward low saving and debt-fi nanced fi nancial crisis in 2008, the music administration now disengaging from – the defi cit countries, which draw in the Persian Gulf underpinned a tend to suff er from a shortfall of consumption; the deductibility of stopped. Since then, frictions between globalisation, that seems less and less freely on the saving of others to fi nance miniscule surplus (0.05% of GDP). domestic demand. Others, including mortgage interest, the absence of any defi cit and surplus countries have likely. economic growth, or the surplus During the 2000-2017 period, the me, are more critical of America’s value-added or national sales tax, intensifi ed, now risking the possibility History suggests that current- countries, which choose to grow by US amassed $9.1tn in cumulative long-standing penchant for excess and a dearth of saving incentives are of a full-blown trade war. account imbalances ultimately matter selling their output in foreign markets. current-account defi cits. That is consumption and the role that surplus especially problematic. President Donald Trump’s a great deal. A still-unbalanced global This blame game, which has long been larger than the $8.9tn of cumulative economies play in enabling it. While So, too, are the wealth eff ects from administration has played an especially economy may be forced to relearn that central to disputes over international surpluses run collectively by the three there is undoubtedly some validity a profusion of recent asset bubbles. antagonistic role in asserting that the painful lesson in the coming years. - economic policy and trade tensions, is largest surplus economies – Germany, to both points of view, I worry more Aided and abetted by the Federal US is being victimised by large trade Project Syndicate particularly contentious today. China, and Japan – over the same about the destabilising role of the US. Reserve’s über-accommodation since defi cits. Yet America’s trade gaps have, The United States has the largest period. America’s consume-now-save- the late 1990s, there was no stopping in fact, been spawned by a chronic Stephen S Roach, a faculty current-account imbalance in the Many observers believe that the US later mindset, which is at the heart of the interplay between America’s asset- defi ciency of domestic US saving. member at Yale University and former world. It has recorded a defi cit for is doing the rest of the world a huge its current-account defi cit, is deeply dependent economy and an equally Despite the government’s recent Chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia, all but one year since 1982, the sole favour by running chronic current- embedded in its political economy. pernicious leverage cycle underwritten upward revision to a still-depressed is the author of Unbalanced: The exception being 1991, when foreign account defi cits – namely, supporting The US tax code has long been biased by bubble-infl ated collateral. Why personal saving rate, the overall US Codependency of America and China.

The climate fi ght’s next turning point Three-day forecast

TODAY according to the Renewables 2018 Global Status accumulating at a rate that will soon take us well above Maximum Temperature : 380c By Patricia Espinosa and Anne Hidalgo Minimum Temperature : 320c Paris Report. Moreover, as part of the Under2 Coalition, the 1.5°C threshold, beyond which some of the worst over 200 states, regions, and local authorities have eff ects of climate change cannot be staved off . THURSDAY committed to cut their greenhouse-gas emissions by at Extreme weather already is becoming more Maximum Temperature : 400c ext month, the Global Climate Action least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. common, as exemplifi ed by record-high temperatures Minimum Temperature : 320c Summit – one of the largest international Urban centres are also proving their capacity for worldwide this year. FRIDAY gatherings on climate change the world has climate innovation and leadership. On current trends, average global temperatures Maximum Temperature : 420c Nseen – will be held in San Francisco. New York City has mandated the retrofi tting of could well rise by 3°C, imperilling vital natural systems Minimum Temperature : 330c 14,500 of the city’s most polluting buildings. like coral reefs, rainforests, and the polar regions. The event, whose theme is “Take Ambition to Fisherman's forecast the Next Level,” aims to serve as a launchpad for Shenzhen has become the fi rst city in the world with All relevant stakeholders need to strengthen their accelerated action that will enable the world to meet a fully electric bus fl eet. climate commitments. WARNING To kick-start that process, the Global Climate Inshore : Poor visibility expected the goals set by the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Curitiba, Brazil, has introduced a new model of at places by early It is a golden opportunity to make progress in the urban food production. Action Summit and its partners have issued a wide morning eff ort to combat global warming, but it can be seized And Oslo has created a climate budget to guide array of new challenges, including zero-waste goals Offshore : Nil only with the involvement of all stakeholders. fi nancial decision-making. in cities, a target of 500 companies adopting science- WEATHER Inshore : Misty to foggy at With the Paris climate agreement, the international At the business level, more than 700 companies with based targets, and initiatives to accelerate uptake of places by early community agreed to limit the rise in average global a total market capitalisation of over $16tn have made zero-emission vehicles. Such eff orts would not just morning,becomes hot temperature to 2° Celsius – and ideally 1.5°C – above far-reaching climate commitments, according to the protect our environment; they would also boost our and relatively humid daytime with some pre-industrial levels. We Mean Business Coalition. economies. clouds,humid by night. To that end, national governments were tasked with And 289 investors, holding nearly $30tn in assets, A recent report by the New Climate Economy Offshore : Misty at times with developing their own climate-action plans, called have signed on to Climate 100+, a fi ve-year initiative to suggests that, in transportation alone, a low-carbon some clouds. WIND Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).But engage with the world’s largest corporate greenhouse- transition would create 23mn jobs worldwide annually. Inshore : Mainly Northeasterly national governments cannot do it alone. gas emitters to improve governance on climate change, Perhaps more important, a show of climate- 05-15 KT Everyone – including those at all levels of curb emissions, and strengthen climate-related action ambition from leaders across sectors would Offshrore : Northeasterly-South- government, as well as business leaders, investors, and fi nancial disclosures. likely inspire national governments to increase easterly 05-15 KT civil society – must contribute. As a result, global green bond issuance could reach their own NDCs ahead of this December’s United Visibility : 4-8/2 KM This calls for a new form of inclusive multilateralism $300bn this year. Nations Climate Change Conference in Poland, – one that can also be applied to achieving the Yet we are far from being in the clear. where governments will fi nalise the implementation Offshore : 2-4 FT guidelines of the Paris agreement. Sustainable Development Goals, which complement Scientists agree that global carbon dioxide emissions Around the region the Paris agreement’s commitments. must reach a turning point in 2020 if we are to achieve Acting alone can be diffi cult.Acting in concert can Weather It is a tall order, but there is plenty of reason for carbon neutrality (with emissions low enough to be inspire and enable all participants to do more. Weather tomorrow Max/min optimism. safely absorbed by forests, soils, and other natural And if we are to leave a healthy planet to future today Max/min Sunny 46/29 There is unprecedented global momentum to build systems) by mid-century. generations, more is what we need. - Project Syndicate Baghdad Sunny 43/27 Sunny 45/31 a low-carbon, climate-secure future, characterised So far, nearly 50 countries have or may have reached z Patricia Espinosa is Executive Secretary of the Kuwait City Sunny 46/31 Sunny 41/31 by a dynamic green economy, a thriving society, and a their emissions peaks, and more may soon join their United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Manama M Sunny 39/31 M Sunny 32/28 healthy environment. ranks. Change. Muscat P Cloudy 31/27 Sunny 36/23 Globally, renewable power accounted for 70% of This is progress, but it is not enough. Anne Hidalgo is Mayor of Paris and Chair of C40 Tehran Sunny 37/23 net additions to power-generating capacity in 2017, In fact, greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are still Cities. Live issues Supplementing with whole grains and beans

By Barbara Quinn whole grains to your diet in place The Monterey County Herald of - not in addition to - some of the other foods you currently eat. If you’re Around the world eating high amounts of protein and Weather Weather eader Patricia P writes: “Read fat diet like the keto diet, for example, today Max/min tomorrow Max/min today in the Stockton Record trade some of these foods for a serving Athens Sunny 32/24 Sunny 33/23 about the need for whole of whole grain at each meal. Studies Beirut Sunny 29/26 M Sunny 29/26 Rgrains in diets. What books show that people who consume whole Bangkok S T Storms 31/26 T Storm 31/26 give suggestions and amounts to eat? grains tend to have lower body weights Berlin Sunny 27/16 Rain 22/11 I’ve been sticking to a Keto Diet but and smaller waist measurements than Cairo Sunny 36/25 Sunny 36/25 realise the short falls of always eating those who do not. Cape Town Sunny 17/11 M Sunny 20/11 that diet. I wonder how not to gain I know most keto enthusiasts frown Colombo S T Storms 29/25 S T Storms 29/26 back weight supplementing with on beans in the diet but they are in Dhaka T Storm 32/26 S T Storms 32/27 whole grains and beans at meals. I fact a powerhouse of plant protein Hong Kong T Storm 27/24 T Storm 27/25 would appreciate more information. plus a host of other nutrients such as Istanbul P Cloudy 30/22 Sunny 30/22 Thank you.” calcium and soluble fi bre that may Jakarta P Cloudy 33/24 S T Storms 34/24 Hi, Patricia, be lacking in a full bore restricted Karachi P Cloudy 31/26 M Cloudy 30/26 One reliable resource on whole People who eat whole grains tend to have less abdominal fat. carbohydrate diet. (At least half of the London P Cloudy 21/11 P Cloudy 20/11 grains is the Whole Grains Council carbs in most cooked dried beans, by Manila P Cloudy 32/26 S T Storms 32/26 www.wholegrainscouncil.org - a that people who eat whole grains aren’t huge. For instance, just a cup the way, is benefi cial dietary fi bre.) On Moscow P Cloudy 30/16 P Cloudy 27/14 nonprofi t consumer advocacy group tend to have less abdominal fat (the of cooked oatmeal is 1 serving. (Eat a weight loss diet, just 1 cup of cooked New Delhi T Storm 32/27 S T Storms 33/27 responsible for the Whole Grain stamp accumulation around the midsection it with nuts and a dollop of Greek beans a week meets current nutrition New York M Sunny 36/26 S T Storms 33/22 that helps us identify products that associated with heart disease and yoghurt to bring your protein up to recommendations. Beans in fact are Paris Rain 21/13 M Cloudy 23/14 contain these healthful ingredients. diabetes) than those who don’t eat par.) A slice of whole grain bread is so nutritious that the latest Dietary Sao Paulo P Cloudy 26/14 Sunny 28/16 Check out the Whole Grains 101 these foods. another serving. Add a half cup of Guidelines for Americans considers Seoul T Storm 27/23 T Storm 27/21 section on their website where you The current recommendation for cooked brown rice, which counts as a them good choices in two nutrient Singapore S T Storms 31/26 S T Storms 32/26 can search health studies pertaining whole grains is about 3 servings (or serving of whole grain, and you’ve got groups: Vegetables and Protein. Sydney Sunny 14/06 M Sunny 16/09 to a variety of whole grain topics. For 3 ounces) a day, or at least half the your 3 for the day. Hope this helps. - Tribune News Tokyo Cloudy 39/24 Clear 35/25 example, recent research has found grains we eat daily. And those servings To keep your girlish fi gure, add Service Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, August 29, 2018 QATAR Ashghal completes key projects to facilitate new academic year „ The Public Works Authority accomplishes a number of MoI, Traffi c Dept off er tips infrastructure and road projects From Page 1 school bags in the passage. On its part, the Traffi c De- that serve schools, educational The Ministry of Interior partment urged motorists to (MoI) has stressed the need for reduce the speed and follow institutions in preparation for students and their parents, to traffi c rules to ensure the safe- follow safety rules. ty of children. 2018-19 academic year The tips were provided Vehicular speed should be through a series of posts on reduced in residential neigh- the MoI’s Twitter page. bourhoods, near schools and he Public Works Author- the Ministry of Municipality and The ministry said it is im- on small streets to avoid acci- ity (Ashghal) has stressed Environment. It also established portant to wait in designated dents, the advisory said, add- Tthat it has accomplished the Itqan Medical Simulation areas only before boarding the ing that starting early would some key projects in prepara- Centre that provides research school bus and also to main- help people reach their desti- tion for the new academic year and training facilities for sur- tain a safe distance from the nation on time. (2018/2019), which begins today. geries as well as for QU College road. Meanwhile, according to “In light of the government’s of Medicine students and other In case it is necessary to local Arabic daily Arrayah, the directives and Qatar National Vi- medical staff . cross the road, students should education ministry’s back- sion 2030, Ashghal is keen on de- External areas do so after ensuring that it is to-school campaign at Mall livering integrated infrastructure Ashghal has highlighted the completely free from any vehi- of Qatar has attracted a large and public buildings that serve completion of new highways cles and it is safe to cross. number of people with its di- all sectors in Qatar, including such as Dukhan Road, which The School Zone Safety Programme helps ensure the safety of students. It is also important to start verse activities that engage education,” the authority said in serve students from areas lying boarding the bus only after it children in an interactive way. a press statement yesterday. on the west of Qatar such as Al comes to a complete stop and The campaign has been Ashghal noted that it had ac- Sheehaniya, Lejmiliya, Leatoor- the boarding process should organised by the ministry in celerated work on projects that iya and Rawdat Rashid. “The be conducted in an orderly co-operation with Weill Cor- served a number of schools opening of G-Ring Road and manner and avoid crowding. nell Medicine-Qatar’s Sahtak and provided safe passage to the southern part of Doha Ex- During the trip, students Awalan – Your Health First students. It partially opened pressway are a breakthrough for should avoid playing, un- Programme, and Qatar Unifi ed Al Ma’adid Street in the Al students in the southern areas, necessary movements, talk- Awareness Team. It is spon- Maamoura area and Al Qattara and students living in Al Wakrah ing to the driver or putting sored by QNB. Street in Al Wakrah. and Al Wukair can access Qatar Construction is under way to University or Education City in open Shura Intersection and Fer- record time,” it noted. was opened in the first phase. ing parts of Abu Al Hairan Street eej Kulaib next week, according The opening of large parts of Al Ma’adid Street to ensure smooth traffi c fl ow and to Ashghal. Orbital Road also helps serve Parts of the project have been quick access from the academy The authority has completed thousands of students and re- opened to facilitate safe entry to the highway and vice-versa. four projects in terms of the de- duce the travel time between and exit for students to schools Al Shura Intersection velopment of local roads and in- the south and north by more in the area, and many parking Ashghal is currently working frastructure in diff erent areas in than 50%. Students can reach spaces have been provided, Ash- on the development of Al Shura 2018: Rawdat Rashid, Bani Hajer Education City, the Community ghal has said. The Al Ma’adid Intersection, which aims to in- North, Al Aziziya East and Raw- College of Qatar (CCQ) or QU Street project aims to increase crease the number of lanes at the dat Aba Al Hayran, reaching a directly. The route extends from the capacity of the street, neces- intersection in all directions from total of 28 projects. The upgrade Mesaieed in the south to intersect sitated by the presence of a large three to four, which will lead to works involve 18,807 residential with a number of major roads in number of public and private increased traffi c fl ow there. The subdivisions and 1,829 new land the country such as Al Wukair schools in addition to a driving project also includes the con- plots, providing easy access to Road, G-Ring Road, Al Sailiya institute. struction of a rainwater drainage school goers. Road, Dukhan Road, Al Rufaa The project also seeks to facili- network and a new drinking wa- Ashghal has also accomplished Street, Al Shamal Road towards tate traffi c fl ow on the side roads ter line to serve Hamad Hospital, up to 500km of expressways until Lusail and Al Khor and Ras Laff an by providing fi ve roundabouts, the renovation of some old water this month, which link students on the other side. in addition to enhancing traf- lines on Al Rayyan Street, which living in the external areas to Ashghal has opened an exten- The Industrial Area Road provides easy access to Abu Hamour, Mesaimeer and Ain Khalid, which are fi c safety for road users through serves citizens in the neighbour- Doha and provide better traffi c sion of Rawdat Al Khail Street home to a number of schools. the provision of service roads for ing areas, as well as the con- movement in Doha as well, the (Industrial Area Road), which schools. It also aims to provide struction and renovation of the statement notes. includes the Industrial Area points out. Ashghal has opened Khaissa and Umm Slal Moham- from Al Duhail Intersection and safe entrances and exits to and communications network on Al Further, the authority has ac- Road and parts of Central Mar- roads that serve thousands of med interchanges. Al Shamal Road. from schools and residential fa- Rayyan Street. The entire project complished 171 new schemes as ket Street. This has contributed students every day, including Ashghal has developed streets Education City cilities and allocate more than is expected to be completed in part of the School Zone Safety to easing traffi c congestion in Lusail Expressway, which con- leading to the three institutions. Education City is particularly 1,000 parking spaces on both the last quarter of 2018. Programme, in line with its strat- surrounding areas such as Abu nects traffi c coming from the In Al Duhail, it has boosted the important as it receives thou- sides of the road to serve schools Freej Kulaib Intersection egy pertaining to traffi c safety Hamour, Mesaimeer and Ain heart of Doha towards QU and fl ow of traffi c coming from all sands of students daily. Ashghal and residents in the area. The intersection includes sev- and students. As for educational Khalid, which are home to a shortens the travel time by more parts of Doha. The works have has opened a number of projects Al Qattara St, Al Wakrah eral schools, including Al Bayan facilities, it has implemented number of schools. than 70%. included the development and that provide smooth traffic to Ashghal has developed and Primary School, Doha English new requirements for fi re protec- Qatar University The accomplishment of the expansion of large parts of Arab the area, including Khalifa Av- opened Al Qattara Street with Speaking School and Amna Bint tion at 33 schools this year. Areas housing three institu- Al Shamal Road enhancement League Street as well Duhail enue, where four lanes have a length of 1.4km and one lane Wahab High School. The project Ashghal has built 73 school tions have benefi ted signifi cantly project has facilitated “great traf- Al Tarfa Street, Qtaifan Street, been from the main road with in each direction linking it to includes the transformation of and 37 kindergartens in and from Ashghal projects in recent fi c fl ow” for those coming from Wadi Al Jaiah Street, Shafalahi- a length of more than 6km, Wakrah Hospital Street to fa- the Freej Kulaib roundabout and around Doha since 2013 and also times, namely QU, College of the western Doha such as Al Gharafa, yah Street and Al Khafj i Street. Gharafat Al Rayyan Interchange cilitate access to Qatar Academy the old traffi c roundabout into constructed research and edu- North Atlantic – Qatar and CCQ, Al Rayyan, Al Kharaitiyat and Roads have been expanded and and Bani Hajer Interchange, (part of Qatar Foundation). It is traffi c signals and increasing the cational facilities, such as the as well as several schools in areas Umm Slal and using Al Shamal turned into intersections, there- which connects Doha and Al planned to connect Al Qattara capacity of the road with the de- Aquatic Research Centre, that such as Duhail, Dafna, West Bay Road, through the completion of by helping achieve smooth ve- Rayyan through its connec- Street north of Abu Al Hairan velopment of Al Jazeera Inter- serve Qatar University (QU) and and nearby areas, the statement the Izghawa, Al Kharaitiyat, Al hicular fl ow for people coming tion to Al Rayyan Road, which Street and complete the remain- section. Worker cooling vests rolled out across Qatar 2022 sites „ Steel fixers, carpenters, masons, foremen, scaffolders, banksmen and riggers currently benefiting from the 3,500 vests issued to date

he Supreme Commit- tee for Delivery & Legacy T(SC) said it has delivered thousands of ‘state-of-the-art’ cooling vests to workers building stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The cooling vests, which have been designed by apparel experts TechNiche, reduce a wearer’s body temperature by up to 15C. Testing and development over Designed by apparel experts TechNiche, cooling vests reduce a wearer’s body temperature by up to 15C. the past year have shown the vests improve a wearer’s com- delivering constant cooling for that demonstrates the innova- Innovation Community recently fort, concentration and the abil- the wearer. The wearer stays dry tion goals at the heart of the fi rst invited TechNiche to become the ity to work effi ciently during hot due to quilted layers of absorbent World Cup in the Arab world. It fi rst non-Qatari private sector conditions, according to a report fi bre on the outside, and water- has the potential to leave a global company to join its community on www.sc.qa. proof fabric on the inside. legacy for workers operating in and help drive innovation solu- Mahmoud Qutub, executive The vest will stay cool for up countries with similar climactic tions related to the 2022 FIFA director of the SC’s Workers’ to eight hours, depending on the conditions to Qatar.” World Cup. Welfare Department, said: “The environment, and cool a wearer’s James Russell, managing di- The cooling technology is the cooling vest has the potential to core body temperature by up to rector of TechNiche UK, said: latest in a long line of projects transform the lives of our work- 15C. “This is a signifi cant moment for undertaken by the SC’s Work- ers. We have spent two years ex- This is not the fi rst time the SC the technology, the SC and Qatar. ers’ Welfare Department to en- ploring how best to utilise vari- The SC has explained how the technology works. and TechNiche have teamed up. This specially developed product sure the health and safety of the ous cooling products, but many The two organisations are cur- is the most advanced of its kind 30,000 workers currently en- are simply not suitable for Qa- impact such products could have ance and maximise the cooling up as much water as possible. rently collaborating to develop in the world and provides signifi - gaged on its projects. tar’s environment. We want our for anyone working outside in hot eff ects of the technology. Steel Airfl ows, such as movement and a ‘revolutionary air-cool suit’ – cant health and welfare benefi ts A specially designed balaclava workers to really benefi t from conditions. It’s another example fi xers, carpenters, masons, fore- wind, then evaporate the water something that will use the same to wearers. made from the same material the concept of this technology of developing solutions to pro- men, scaff olders, banksmen and contained in the vests. technology as the apparel worn “As a global business, we are has also been designed to pro- and, after putting the TechNiche tect our workers that also have riggers are the workers currently The greater the airfl ow, or the by Formula 1 drivers during races. proud to support Qatar’s genu- tect workers from dust and heat, products through rigorous test- the potential to leave a tangible benefi ting from the 3,500 vests more a wearer moves, the more it The suit will be the fi rst product ine desire to transform the way while the SC is working with ing, they delivered impressive human and social legacy.” that have been issued to date. works. of its kind to be developed spe- in which worker welfare is con- Qatar-based Hamad Bin Kha- results. During the test phase, the SC’s A super-absorbent polymer cifi cally for construction work- ducted, particularly around lifa University to integrate smart “This is a new product, de- Workers’ Welfare Department How the technology works fi bre within the vest’s fabric ers, according to the SC. heat-related issues.” health sensors into workers’ signed specifi cally for workers in worked alongside TechNiche to The vests are submerged in holds the water layer for slow Qutub added, “The air-cool As a result of their work de- overalls in order to monitor key Qatar. However, we recognise the compile data, tweak perform- water to allow the fabric to soak evaporation over several hours, suit contains exciting technology veloping the cooling vests, Qatar health data.