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MONDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10993 November 5, 2018 Safar 27, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir appoints chief of Court of Cassation

His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued Amiri Order No 5 of 2018 appointing HE Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr al-Muhannadi as Chief of the Court of Cassation. HE the Chief of the Court of Cassation took the oath before His Highness the Amir, thereby becoming the Chief of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary under the provisions of the Judicial Authority Law His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting with the newly appointed ministers. His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad promulgated by Law No 10 of 2003. The oath-taking ceremony was attended by al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani attended. His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani. Amiri order reshuffl es Qatar Cabinet z New ministers take oath z Law issued on competencies of ministries Other key decisions, decrees and orders

Besides the Cabinet reshuff le, His business events QNA Sharida al-Kaabi as Minister of State tended by His Highness the Deputy in the offi cial gazette. Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin z Decision No 72 of 2018 restructuring Doha for Energy Aff airs and member of the Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- In another development, the Amir Hamad al-Thani issued a number of the Qatar Investment Authority board Cabinet. Thani. It was also attended by HE the issued yesterday Amiri Order No 5 of other laws, decisions, decrees and z Decision No 73 of 2018 on HE Dr al-Nuaimi will assume the duties Prime Minister and Interior Minister 2018 appointing HE Dr Hassan Lah- orders yesterday. Following are the restructuring the board of directors of is Highness the Amir Sheikh of the Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa dan Saqr al-Muhannadi as Chief of the highlights: Qatar Petroleum Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani is- in addition to the duties of his post. al-Thani. Court of Cassation. z Order No 6 of 2018, appointing HE z Decree No 70 of 2018 establishing the Hsued yesterday Amiri Order No The Amiri Order annuls any provi- Meanwhile, the Amir issued Amiri The Amiri Order is eff ective starting Masoud bin Mohamed al-Amri as Planning and Statistics Authority 7 of 2018 reshuffl ing the Cabinet. sions contravening its rules. Decision No 68 of 2018, amending from its date of issue and is to be pub- Adviser at His Highness the Deputy z Decree No 71 of 2018 appointing HE The Amiri Order appoints HE Dr Issa The order is to go into eff ect from the some provisions of Amiri Decision No lished in the offi cial gazette. Amir’s Off ice Dr Saleh Mohamed Salem al-Nabit as Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi as Minister date of issue and is to be published in 16 of 2014 setting the competencies of HE the Chief of the Court of Cassa- z Decision No 74 of 2018 establishing chairman of the Planning and Statistics of Justice, HE Abdullah bin Abdulaziz the offi cial gazette. ministries. tion took the oath before His Highness the National Tourism Council Authority. bin Turki al-Subaie as Minister of Mu- Later, their excellencies new minis- The new decision details the speci- the Amir, thereby becoming the Chief of z Decision No 75 of 2018 to form the z Decision No 76 of 2018 appointing nicipality and Environment, HE Ali bin ters appointed by Amiri Order No 7 of alities and tasks of both the Ministry of the Supreme Judiciary Council under the board of directors of the National the board of directors of Qatar Financial Ahmed al-Kuwari as Minister of Com- 2018, issued to amend the formation of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce provisions of the Judicial Authority Law Tourism Council Markets Authority merce and Industry, HE Yousef bin Mo- the Cabinet, took their oath before His and Industry, and their various areas of promulgated by Law No 10 of 2003. z Law No 20 of 2018 on tourism z Decision No 35 of 2014 regulating hamed al-Othman Fakhro as Minister Highness the Amir at the Amiri Diwan jurisdiction and functions. The oath-taking ceremony was at- regulation Qatar General Electricity & Water of Administrative Development, La- yesterday. The decision is to go into eff ect from tended by His Highness the Deputy z Law No 21 of 2018 on organising Corporation (Kahramaa) Pages 2, 3, 8 bour and Social Aff airs and HE Saad bin The oath-taking ceremony was at- the date of issue and is to be published Amir. Profiles of the new ministers

HE Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi HE Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Minister of Justice, will also assume Turki al-Subaie the duties of the Minister of State for Minister of Municipality and Cabinet Aff airs. Before the Cabinet Environment, has been Qatar Rail’s reshuff le, al-Nuaimi was the Minister of managing director and CEO. He Administrative Development, Labour served as the CEO of Barwa Group and Social Aff airs from January 2016, from April 2011 to May 2014, prior to and the Minister of Administrative which he was the CEO of Smeet, a Development from June 2013. Earlier, Qatari Diar Group subsidiary, where al-Nuaimi was the secretary-general of he worked since its inception in the Council of Ministers and chairman of 2008 until March 2011. the Standing Committee for Legislative Al-Subaie held several key positions Aff airs. He was the assistant secretary- in project management with Qatar general of the General Secretariat of the General Electricity and Water Council of Ministers from 2007 to 2008. Corporation (Kahramaa) from 1996 Al-Nuaimi was the director of Legislation to 2008. He was on the boards Department of the General Secretariat of organisations such as Hochteif, of the Council of Ministers from 2004 Qatar Broadband Network and to 2007. He served in the Off ice of the Qatar Engineering and Construction Prime Minister between 2000 and Company. Al-Subaie holds an MBA 2004, and in the Ministry of Interior from and a BSc in Electrical Engineering 1999 to 2000. from Qatar University.

HE Ali bin Ahmed al-Kuwari HE Yousef bin Mohamed al-Othman Fakhro HE Saad bin Sherida al-Kaabi Minister of Minister of Administrative Minister of State for Commerce and Development, Labour Energy Aff airs and Industry, was the and Social Aff airs, started member of the Cabinet, QNB Group CEO his career at Qatar was Qatar Petroleum and the Board Petroleum. He has diverse (QP) president and CEO. of Directors experience in areas He joined QP in 1986 as chairman from including information a student of Petroleum & December 2014. technology, banking, Natural Gas Engineering Earlier, he served human resources, at Pennsylvania State as QNB’s general project management, University, US, from where manager and event management he graduated in 1991 with a chief operating and hospitality. Earlier, Bachelor of Science degree off icer and a Fakhro has functioned in Petroleum & Natural Gas founder of QNB as undersecretary of the Engineering. Subsequently, Capital. Al-Kuwari has been a board Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour al-Kaabi joined QP’s Reservoir & Field Development member of Milaha since 2005, served as and Social Aff airs; QNB’s general manager – human Department, where he progressed through various Qatar Exchange Board of Directors vice capital, and 2006 Doha Asian Games’ organising petroleum engineering, technical, commercial and chairman, and a member of the Board of committee’s deputy director general of operations. supervisory positions. He then became the Manager Directors of Nakilat Company representing He holds a degree in Computer Science from the of Gas Development responsible for North Field Qatar Navigation. University of Southern California. management and development. Gulf Times 2 Monday, November 5, 2018 QATAR

Amir issues decision restructuring Qatar-Britain military ties reviewed Qatar Petroleum board of directors HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr QNA The decision stipulated that will include HE the Minister Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met Air Doha the board of directors of Qatar of Finance, HE the Minister of Chief Marshal Sir Stephen John Hillier Petroleum be restructured with Commerce and Industry, Nasser of Britain’s Royal Air Force. During the His Highness the Deputy Amir Khalil al-Jaidah, Sheikh Khalid meeting, they discussed relations is Highness the Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- bin Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani between Qatar and Britain. HE the Chief Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- Thani as chairman and HE the and Saeed Mubarak al-Muhan- of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Hmad al-Thani yesterday Minister of State for Energy Af- nadi. Lieutenant General (Pilot) Ghanem bin issued Decision No 73 of 2018 on fairs as vice-chairman and man- The decision is eff ective from Shaheen al-Ghanem and a number of restructuring the Board of Di- aging director. its date of issue and is to be pub- senior off icers of the Qatar Armed rectors of Qatar Petroleum. The members of the board lished in the offi cial gazette. Forces attended the meeting. Meanwhile, HE the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces held a separate meeting with Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen John Hillier. They discussed Amir appoints relations between Qatar and Britain Amir appoints QFMA and means of boosting them in various adviser to Deputy military fields, as well as joint security issues. The meeting was attended by board of directors Amir’s Offi ce senior off icers of the Qatar Armed Forces and the British Defence Attache in Doha Colonel (Pilot) Simon Blake. QNA hamed bin Hamad bin Qassim QNA Doha al-Abdullah al-Thani as chair- Doha man, Yahya Saeed al-Nuaimi as vice-chairman and the mem- is Highness the Amir berships of Sheikh Khalid bin is Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- Saud bin Fahad al-Thani, Ab- Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- Hmad al-Thani issued dulrahman Mohamed Yousuf Hmad al-Thani issued yesterday Decision No 76 of Jolo, Michael Rayan, Dr Khalid yesterday Amiri Order No 6 of 2018 appointing the Board of Nasser al-Khater and Dr Mo- 2018, appointing HE Masoud bin Directors of Qatar Financial hamed Abdulaziz Saleh al-Khu- Mohamed al-Amri as Adviser at Markets Authority. laifi . His Highness the Deputy Amir’s The decision stipulates that The decision is eff ective start- Offi ce. The Amiri Order is eff ec- Amir establishes National the Board of Directors of the Qa- ing from its date of issue and is tive starting from its date of is- tar Financial Markets Authority to be published in the offi cial sue and is to be published in the is to comprise HE Sheikh Mo- gazette. offi cial gazette. Tourism Council

is Highness the Amir tourism and related programmes be allocated to the new council. Economy and Commerce, CEO Qatar Investment Authority’s Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- in a way that sustains the com- The decision is eff ective from of Qatar Airways Group, director Hmad al-Thani issued prehensive development plans the day following its publication of the Government Communica- yesterday Decision No 74 of 2018 for tourism. It will also be con- in the offi cial gazette. tions Offi ce, chairman of Katara board of directors revamped establishing the National Tour- cerned with regulation of the The Amir also issued yester- Hospitality and two representa- ism Council. sector and promotion of tour- day Decision No 75 of 2018 to tives from the private tourism The council shall have a legal ism both within and outside the form the board of directors of the sector, selected by the chairman QNA The Decision stipulated that Kuwari, HE Saad bin Sherida identity and a budget to be at- country. National Tourism Council. of the board of directors. Doha the Board of Directors of Qatar al-Kaabi, HE Sheikh Abdulla tached to the general budget of The tenure of the board of The decision stipulates that The decision is eff ective as of Investment Authority should be bin Saoud al-Thani, HE Dr Hus- the State. It shall pertain to the directors of the council is set at the board is to be chaired by the date of issue and is to be pub- restructured as follows: sain Ali al-Abdulla and HE Cabinet and have its headquar- four years, which is renewable HE the Prime Minister, with lished in the offi cial gazette. is Highness the Amir HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Ab- Nasser bin Ghanim al-Khulaifi ters within the country, and can for a similar period. HE the Minister of Finance as Meanwhile, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- dulrahman al-Thani as presi- as members. also have offi ces outside the The new law cancels Qatar vice-chairman. It will also have, the Amir also issued Law No 20 Hmad al-Thani issued dent, HE Mohamed bin Hamad The decision is eff ective start- State. Tourism Authority and the gov- as members, HE the Minister of 2018 on tourism regulation. yesterday Decision No 72 of 2018 bin Khalifa al-Thani as deputy ing from its date of issue and is The council aims to provide ernment committee to co-ordi- of Culture and Sports, HE the The law is eff ective and shall be restructuring Qatar Investment president, HE Ali Sherif al- to be published in the offi cial suitable circumstances to im- nate conferences and events. All Minister of Transport and Com- published in the offi cial gazette. Authority’s Board. Emadi, HE Ali bin Ahmed al- gazette. plement the national strategy for functions of these entities shall munications, HE the Minister of - QNA Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 3 QATAR

Speaker meets Russian official

HE the Speaker of the Advisory Council Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud yesterday met the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Aff airs and a member of the Council of Foreign and Defence Policy (CFDP) of the Russian Federation, Yevgeny Primakov, currently visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they discussed parliamentary relations between Qatar and Russia and ways of supporting and developing them, as well as a number of issues of common concern. The Speaker of the Advisory Council expressed satisfaction with the development of the Qatari-Russian relations in various fields, looking forward for further bilateral co-operation in the coming stage. For his part, Yevgeny Primakov praised the great achievements made by Qatar and the distinguished position it enjoys both regionally and internationally, stressing the desire of the Russian Federation to develop the two countries’ relations and move them forward to a new stage. He also stressed the keenness of the State Duma to develop parliamentary relations with the Advisory Council. The meeting was attended by HE the Secretary-General of the Advisory Council Fahd bin Mubarak al-Khayarin, a number of Advisory Council off icials and Russian Federation ambassador to Qatar Noor Mohamad Khulouf.

Amir issues decision establishing Planning and Statistics Authority

is Highness the to the Cabinet with head- have the necessary author- the Ministry of Develop- Amir Sheikh Tamim quarters in Doha. ity to run it and achieve its ment Planning and Statis- Hbin Hamad al-Thani The authority will aim targets in accordance with tics. issued yesterday Decree No to follow up on the imple- applicable laws and regula- Besides, it shall have all 70 of 2018 establishing the mentation of the compre- tions within the approved the possessions, facilities, Planning and Statistics Au- hensive development vision annual budget. equipment, machines and thority. and establishing a statistics The new decree details all others that used to pertain The Amir also issued yes- system in the State with all the departments and sec- to the Ministry up to that terday Decree No 71 of 2018 relevant tasks. tions of the Planning and date. appointing HE Dr Saleh The Planning and Statis- Statistics Authority as well Decree No 70 of 2018 is Mohamed Salem al-Nabit tics Authority shall be the as the jurisdiction and tasks eff ective as of the date of is- as chairman of the Planning offi cial source for all offi cial of each. sue and is to be published in and Statistics Authority. data and statistical opera- Starting from the date the offi cial gazette. The authority shall have tions in the country. the decision is applicable, Decree No 71 is eff ective a legal identity and a budget The chairman of the au- the new authority shall take starting from its date of is- to be attached to the Cabi- thority shall be appointed over all the rights, liabilities sue and is to be published in net budget. It shall pertain by an Amiri decision and and fi nancial allocations of the offi cial gazette. - QNA Gulf Times 4 Monday, November 5, 2018 QATAR

National Museum to open on March 28

he National Museum of Qatar pressing a vibrant community’s as- sory experiences, and its historic (NMoQ) will open on March 28, pirations for the future”, it added. core of the Palace of Sheikh Abdul- T2019, it has been announced. Qatar Museums chairperson HE lah bin Jassim, son of the founder “It is with great pleasure that we Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad of modern Qatar. The museum em- announce the NMoQ opening date, bin Khalifa al-Thani, too, tweeted bodies the fullness of our history, 28.03.2019,” the NMoQ tweeted that “we look forward to open the heritage and contemporary life,” yesterday. @NMOQatar to the public on 28 she said. NMoQ tells the story of Qatar and March 2019 with its magnificent The museum has been designed its people, “giving voice to Qatar’s new building by @ateliersjnouvel”. by Jean Nouvel, the world-re- rich heritage and culture and ex- “Its extraordinary variety of sen- nowned French architect.

Qatar Airways issues public advisory on ‘ticket scams’

Qatar Airways yesterday issued a statement on “false ticket scams”, advising people to report such fraudulent attempts to the airline. “Members of the public are receiving links that appear to be from Qatar Airways or any of the subsidiaries of Qatar Airways Group, where it falsely states that they can book travel tickets as part of an anniversary promotion or receive two tickets for 1 euro,” the statement posted on the airline’s Twitter page read. Such links are “false off ers and phishing scams” and may come from unknown domains that mimic an of- ficial Qatar Airways website, the statement noted, adding that they may “ask you to reply to share information to claim an off er. Such links can compromise your personal information”. “Any Qatar Airways Group-related communication will always be sent from an off icial domain. We highly recommend that you report such fraudulent attempts with details to [email protected],” Qatar Airways said.

Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 7 QATAR Fourth Student Leadership Conference set for Nov 17-18

QNA presenting successful experiences. for success in their life and career. Doha The conference also aims to create Holding the conference in QU re- an interactive environment that fo- fl ects the university’s continuous obli- cuses on developing leadership skills gation towards its students to provide he fourth Student Leadership through providing various applied various opportunities to develop their Conference (Taqadam) will take training courses which enables stu- skills, in line with its vision which aims Tplace at Qatar University on No- dents to learn eff ective communica- to create a generation of qualifi ed lead- vember 17-18 under the patronage of tion, team work, leading change, prob- ers to contribute to the development of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad lem solving and encouraging others. the country in accordance with Qatar bin Khalifa al-Thani. It also aims to promote awareness National Vision 2030 and its pillars The conference aims to provide and commitment to eff ective citizen- related to social and human develop- communication opportunities with ship and social responsibility. ment. students from diff erent universities QU Associate Vice President for A number of students and sponsor and colleges in Qatar, GCC and Arab Student Life and Services Dr Abdulla representatives shared the programme countries, as well as promote dialogue al-Yafei said Taqadam is a unique op- of the conference such as the lectures on the importance of developing lead- portunity to provide students with and workshops it will provide to the at- ership skills amongst students and leadership skills which prepares them tendees of the conference. Gulf Times 8 Monday, November 5, 2018 QATAR

Amir issues decision on regulating Kahramaa His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued yesterday Decision No 69 of 2018 amending some provisions of Amiri Decision No 35 of 2014 regulating Kahramaa. The decision stipulates that the aff iliation of Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation is to be transferred HIA partners with Tarsheed to HE the Minister of State for Energy Aff airs. The decision also stipulates that a specialised department for new and renewable energy is to be established. Amir issues law on organising on energy-saving campaign business activities His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani amad International Air- senger by 30% by 2030 against yesterday issued Law No 21 of 2018 on organising business port (HIA) launched the a 2015 baseline and has achieved events. H‘One Degree Makes a Dif- signifi cant progress. ference’ campaign in the spirit In addition to a fuel-saving pro- of Qatar’s Annual Sustainability gramme aimed at reducing fuel Week through its memorandum consumption through operational of understanding (MoU) with practice and driver awareness, Kahramaa in partnership with the the airport’s Carbon Management National Programme for Conser- Plan encourages the participation vation & Energy Effi ciency “Tar- of the airport’s stakeholders in- sheed”. cluding passengers, Qatar Airways The initiative champions Tar- and its subsidiaries, government sheed’s objectives on energy stakeholders, private operators, conversation as part of the Qa- and retailers to engage in environ- tar National Strategy 2018-2022 mentally-conscious practices and objectives for saving resources reduce carbon emissions across through conservation and energy the airport campus. effi ciency to achieve 8% per capita A cross-functional Energy decrease of electricity consump- Working Group identifi es and pro- tion by 2022. motes energy saving initiatives, Since November 1, Qatar’s state- including the optimisation of air- of-the-art airport has increased conditioning for passenger load the AC temperature by one degree bridges through integration with for duration of two months, dem- fl ight schedules, replacing con- onstrating simple tactics that con- ventional lighting with LEDs, and serve energy and benefi t the en- optimising light usage at the air- vironment. Awareness videos and port’s boarding gates. visuals are on display throughout Hamad International Airport is HIA’s terminal, encouraging trav- Since November 1, Qatar’s state-of-the-art airport has increased the AC temperature by one degree for duration committed to continually improv- ellers to participate in environ- of two months, demonstrating simple tactics that conserve energy and benefit the environment. ing environmental performance mentally-conscious practices. by achieving lower and more ef- On the campaign, Abdulaziz al- bon Accreditation programme, is we are proud of this ongoing part- tion as well as energy effi ciency, in fi cient greenhouse gas emissions, Mass, HIA vice-president (Com- paving the way to mitigate envi- nership which continues to result addition to planned energy audits reducing and recycling waste, mercial and Marketing) stated, ronmental impacts wherever we in valuable outputs. We have just at HIA’s award-winning passen- and managing noise and control- “HIA holds itself to the highest operate. We hope to be a leading completed our Energy audit for ger terminal and at Qatar Airways ling emissions to air and water. environmental standards and to example in encouraging other cor- the airport, including an energy head offi ces. The airport’s key environmental responsible business practice. A porations in Qatar to take environ- assessment report which will in- Earlier this year, HIA success- achievements are presented in its key component of our contribu- mentally-conscious practices as crease energy-effi cient practices fully retained its Airport Carbon Sustainability Report which covers tion to national energy saving seriously as we do,” he added. in HIA’s operations.” Accreditation at Level 3. The air- the airport’s contribution towards initiatives is cooperation with in- Kahramaa’s (Qatar General This new initiative follows in port’s renewal came after suc- group-wide environmental objec- strumental and action-oriented Electricity and Water Corpora- the tracks of the existing MoU cessfully reaching Level 3 ‘Opti- tives. The Sustainability Report organisations. We are committed tion) Conservation and Energy between HIA, Qatar Airways and misation’ status last year in the can be accessed online through the to supporting Tarsheed’s initia- Effi ciency Department manager Tarsheed, which was implement- Airports Council International HIA’s offi cial website. tives for awareness, conservation, Abdul Aziz al-Hammadi said, ed last year to achieve long-term (ACI) Airport Carbon Accredita- Tarsheed, a national programme and effi cient use of water and elec- “This campaign is part and parcel sustainability and energy conser- tion programme. for conservation and effi cient tricity.” of Tarsheed’s overall goal to de- vation in line with the Qatar Na- The airport is the fi rst airport use of water and electricity, was “The airport’s sustainable prac- crease per capita consumption of tional Vision 2030. Through this among the Gulf countries and only launched in 2012 by Kahramaa tice, comprised of several energy electricity, encouraging effi cient framework, Tarsheed conducted the second in the Mena region to under the auspices of His High- management programs and par- use of apparatus and decreasing staff trainings for both HIA and achieve this accreditation. ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin ticipation in Airports Council CO2 emissions. As one of the most Qatar Airways on best practices HIA is currently targeting to Hamad al-Thani under the slogan International (ACI) Airport Car- sustainable airports in the world, for electricity and water conserva- improve carbon effi ciency per pas- “Qatar is Pulsing”.

Dr Sanjay Chawla Some of the participants at the event. PICTURES: Anas al-Samaraee QCAI-BigML machine learning programme draws huge response

By Joseph Varghese “We might think of making Now, we see machine learn- learning to solve real-world Staff Reporter the event an annual feature, ing moving into the industry problems. It also serves as an considering the interest in- in a big way. We see many introduction to the kind of voked by the fi rst Machine high profi le companies work that students can ex- atar Centre of Ar- Learning School. One of the make use of machine learn- pect if they were to enrol in an tifi cial Intelligence aims of QCAI is to encourage ing to optimise their busi- advanced machine learning Q(QCAI) an initia- local stakeholders to use Ar- nesses. This is making a big masters. tive of Qatar Computing tifi cial Intelligence solutions impact in various areas and The course covers the Research Institute (QCRI), built in Qatar. To make this increasingly used by most main machine learning part of Hamad Bin Kha- happen, we have make sure companies,” said BigML techniques of classifi ca- lifa University (HBKU), in that people in Qatar learn CEO, Francisco Martin. tion, regression, time series, collaboration with BigML, about machine learning,” The school provides a two- clusters, anomaly detection, a leading machine learn- noted the offi cial. day crash course ideal for in- association discovery, and ing company, started the “Machine learning is a dustry practitioners, devel- topic models. Attendees will fi rst-ever Machine Learning transformational technol- opers, graduate students as also be able to put in prac- School in Doha yesterday. ogy as it has never seen be- well as advanced undergrad- tice all the concepts learned “This is the fi rst pro- fore. It helps enhance and uates seeking a quick, hands- with practical workshops gramme by BigML not only automate decision making. on introduction to machine and use cases. in Qatar but in the entire region, as far as we know. We have tremendous re- sponse for the programme. Participants from over 12 countries are taking part in the inaugural school,” QCAI research director, Dr Sanjay Chawla told Gulf Times. “BigML is taking a leader- ship role in promoting ma- chine learning through their education programmes all around the world, both in academia and organisa- tions. Right from the day, we had advertised the event, there was a huge response and within a week the whole course was full. We had witnessed heavy interest in the programme as people from very distant coun- tries such as Finland have fl own in to participate in the programme,” explained Dr Chawla. According to Dr Chawla, BigML is a pioneer in off ering services that make machine learning easy for the masses. Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 9 QATAR Participants of QC’s ‘Give Them Your Experience’ learn business skills - The program works at developing leadership abilities and skills of young people and establishing a culture of social responsibility, in cooperation with the prominent figures of the community

he ‘HENKS’ team led by Khadeeja Albuhulaiqa, a Qa- ence, as it provided them with an opportunity to learn skills It is worth mentioning that Qatar Charity, in coopera- tari entrepreneur, has participated in the “Give Them from the team leader, Khadeeja Albuhulaiqa, a local entre- tion with the “Do Good” initiative, has launched the second TYour Experience” program, which was implemented preneur, who contributed to highlighting the Qatari culture edition of the “Give Them Your Experience” program last by Qatar Charity in cooperation with the “Do Good” initia- to the world and played an important role in strengthening month with the participation of four competing teams in- tive, to learn how to set up their own business. the importance of women in society. The “HENKS” team, made up of girls, attended an inte- The girls also pointed out that the skills they have learned cluding “Heroes of the Earth”, Al Rayyan, Ektashef Deerti in grated program covering theoretical and practical aspects, through the participation in the program will help them start addition to HENKS. in which they learned how to establish a successful business their careers in the economic field. and open a shop as well as they came to know the social as- Hessa al-Obeidan, a Class 12 student pect of any successful business. at Qatar International School, said “I At first, the team leader asked the participants if they had have learnt many skills and abilities, any ambition to engage in the economic field and start their which will help me set up my own busi- own business in the future. Then, the leader talked about her ness”, noting that she has the ambition to academic and professional career as well as about her begin- engage in the economic field in the fu- nings in the field of entrepreneurship. ture. In her speech, Khadeeja Albuhulaiqa urged the participat- For her part, Douwa Al-Kuwari, a ing girls to come up with creative things and make every ef- graduate of the Qatar International fort to achieve their goals, noting that those, who want to School, expressed her happiness in gain- start their own business, must plan, be aware of the market ing the experience in the economic field. and think of introducing an innovative addition to their new She also applauded the role played by the business. “Give Them Your Experience” program During the program, the girls participated in the coordi- in providing the participants with the nation of roses, learned how to maintain the plants, and at information needed to establish a suc- the end, discussed a project to win the first position of the cessful business, noting that it is a kind program’s competition. of adventure, which requires good prep- The participants expressed their pleasure over their par- aration from legal, financial and other ticipation in the program entitled “Give Them Your Experi- aspects.

QR14.5mn for “Gaza, the Right to Live” through Qatar Charity Qatar Charity thanked the donors and Eid Charity for funding the campaign’s projects and the media for mobilizing support. ith generous support from philanthropists in Qa- centers to benefit 24,000 people and the provision of as- tar, total donations collected for Qatar Charity’s sistance to dozens of patients with kidney failure, as well as W(QC) projects under the joint campaign “Gaza, the the provision of prostheses for 200 people. The projects also Right to Live” amounted to around QR14.5mn, which consti- include providing safe lighting for 7,000 families, and main- tutes 90% of the total donations of the campaign amounting taining and rehabilitating sewage stations benefiting 40,000 to QR16mn. people. These donations will be used to support health and edu- At the beginning of the campaign, Qatar Charity target- cation sectors and to implement income generation projects ed the collection of QR10mn to implement several devel- and those related to the provision of water and health ser- opmental projects in the field of social welfare, water and vices and many other social projects. sanitation, but thanks to generous donators of Qatar, it has At the end of the campaign, Qatar Charity expressed its successfully collected around QR14.5mn for QC’s projects in thanks and gratitude to the donors, both individuals and Gaza under the campaign. companies, for their significant contributions. Qatar Charity said it would begin immediately, through its The charity said such donations from them reflects the office in the Gaza Strip, the implementation of the projects level of trust Qatar Charity enjoys in the public and at the funded under the campaign. same time increase its commitment towards donors in order The joint campaign, entitled “Gaza, the Right to Live” was to expedite the implementation of the funded projects ac- launched under the supervision of the Regulatory Authority cording to the best specifications through its office in Gaza, for Charitable Activities (RACA) and with participation of The charity also thanked the media and social media influ- Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), Qatar Charity (QC), Ed- encers for their important role in the campaign. ucation Above All (EAA) and the Silatech Foundation, aiming Qatar Charity extended special thanks to Eid Charity for at contributing to the development of Gaza Strip and help- donating over QR7.6m under the campaign to implement 5 ing alleviate the suffering of its people. The campaign ended important projects, which include the operation of 7 health with live coverage on Qatar TV to mobilize more support. Gulf Times 10 Monday, November 5, 2018 QATAR HMC performs 4,000 urgent and Ministry sets deadline for contest on Qur’an emergency surgeries every year memorisation he Ministry of Educa- low up the protection of stu- WHO surgical safety Every operation has a se- tion and Higher Edu- dents before the date of the checklist helps HMC in ries of steps that must be per- Tcation yesterday an- competition. reducing delays in the formed correctly every time and nounced that the deadline The ministry aims to carry operating room Dr Rashad al-Fkey, consultant, for participation in the 58th out these competitions to pre- acute care surgery and chair- annual school competition in serve the Qur’an in the gener- round 4,000 urgent man of the Perioperative Qual- memorising the Holy Qur’an ations, and to preserve the Ar- and emergency surger- ity Committee, said the use of for the 2018/2019 academic abic language because it is the Aies performed at Hamad a surgical safety checklist helps year is February 9, 2019. language of the Holy Qur’an, Medical Corporation (HMC) prevent communication failures The competition is held an- and sharpen the motivation of each year, said Dr Abdulla al- and reduces complications. nually in co-ordination be- the students to compete in the Ansari, acting chief medical “The checklist includes a tween the Ministry of Educa- fi elds of science, and to edu- offi cer. briefi ng, sign in, timeout, sign tion and Higher Education and cate generations created by He said the 2014 adoption out, and debriefi ng. During the the Ministry of Endowments the morals of the Qur’an. of the World Health Organisa- briefi ng, which generally hap- and Islamic Aff airs (Awqaf), The tests run on February tion’s (WHO) Surgical Safety pens at the beginning of the day, in line with the message of the 17 and are open to Qataris and Checklist, which was imple- all team members meet. During State of Qatar in caring for the residents enrolled in public or mented within the Acute Care this meeting, the team is formal- Qur’an and honouring its peo- private schools, provided they Surgery section of HMC, in ly introduced to each other and ple, spreading its teachings receive a personal number co-operation with the Hamad the various operations sched- among the students, and in- from the Directorate General Healthcare Quality Institute, is uled for that day are discussed in stilling its sublime manners in of Immigration, passports and an example of the continued detail. This is done to ensure the them in every way and eff ort. nationality, and the applicant focus on patient safety. needs of each patient can be ful- The ministry called on the chooses to participate in one He added that the implemen- ly met. Next comes the ‘sign in’ supervisors of Islamic educa- of the fi rst levels or the second tation of the checklist has re- Members of HMC’s Acute Care Surgery section and Quality team. which occurs before the induc- tion to give the opportunity shall not be combined, and the sulted in improved communica- tion of anaesthesia and before to all students, without ex- applicant shall abide by the tion between surgical teams and WHO’s Surgical Safety Check- Various conditions including The WHO Surgical Safety the fi rst incision is made. During ception, wishing to partici- curriculum according to the led to a 50% reduction in delays list. This simple checklist has acute appendicitis, gallstones, Checklist is a patient safety com- this phase, the medical team will pate throughout the period of years of study, and shall not in the operating room. been shown to signifi cantly re- pancreatitis, intestinal obstruc- munication tool that is used by ask the patient his or her name registration, and to take care have won an award in a similar “Acute care surgery is an duce surgical complications and tions, and diabetic foot infec- nurses, surgeons, anaesthesiolo- to ensure it matches their medi- of them, and applying to the contest in the same amount or evolving specialty that aims to through its implementation, we tions are among the most com- gists, and other operating room cal record and that the patient competition from all stages, more in the past years. ensure timely access to high- have helped patients achieve mon conditions that require professionals to discuss impor- consents to the surgery. The pa- by memorising the prescribed Participation in the second quality emergency surgical faster recovery rates and im- urgent surgical intervention. tant details about each surgical tient will be asked to confi rm the parts. Prescribed parts have tier is permitted only for those care and improve outcomes for proved health outcomes, includ- HMC’s Acute Care Surgery case. It involves a series of steps specifi cs of the planned surgery, been illustrated in co-ordi- who memorise seven or more patients with acute surgical ing reducing the length of hos- section, which is comprised of and checks that ensure every- and it will be confi rmed that the nation with parents with at- connected parts of the Qur’an conditions. We continue to be pital stay. The checklist has also more than 50 members, provides one knows the information they proper surgical site markings tention to good performance or hereafter, and the keeper focused on improving surgical contributed to reduced waiting an advanced model of care for need to know. HMC is among have been made. Medication al- and strict control. of the whole Qur’an is not al- safety and are delighted to have lists for operations,” said Dr al- patients who require urgent and the fi rst hospitals in the region to lergies will also be confi rmed,” It also directed all schools lowed to participate again successfully implemented the Ansari. emergency general surgery. implement the checklist. added Dr al-Fkey. to form a committee to fol- until one year later. (QNA) WISH launches Doha Healthcare Week

he World Innovation of Doha Healthcare Week. at Doha Festival City set up by Summit for Health Additional highlights in- the Ministry of Public Health, T(WISH), an initiative clude an exhibition at the QF and workshops for healthcare of Qatar Foundation (QF), has Recreation Centre and QF professionals around topics announced the activities for Headquarters showcasing such as nursing, tobacco Doha Healthcare Week, start- the work of internationally- control, and diabetes. ing from tomorrow. renowned photographers, fo- Nick Bradshaw, partnerships The inaugural seven-day cusing on the health eff ects manager, WISH, said, “We are festival will feature a host of of war; a special free screen- excited to be working with a workshops, health checks, and ing by Doha Film Institute of broad range of partners to cre- mental and physical wellbe- ‘Life: Animated’ in MIA Park ate Doha Healthcare Week. The ing activities. A wide range of on November 7; a Diabetes initiative aims to raise aware- free events will also promote Walkathon at Education City, ness of the health resources A group of 25 participants from Qatar and the region attended the course. healthy living and showcase organised by QF member Qa- available in Qatar, and to en- the services off ered by Qatar’s tar Diabetes Association on gage the local community in a leading healthcare provid- November 9 at 2pm; football wide variety of fun and healthy ers, including Hamad Medical on the beach at Katara each activities during the week Corporation, Primary Health evening with ‘Sahtak Awalan – leading up to our global health- Care Corporation (PHCC) and Your Health First,’ an initiative care summit, WISH 2018.” WCM-Q hosts regional Unesco Al-Ahli Hospital. of QF partner university Weill International partners in- During Doha Healthcare Cornell Medicine-Qatar ; and clude Orbis, The Carter Center, Week, members of the public healthy cooking classes for The Rosalynn Carter Institute for who answered a call to regis- families at The St Regis Doha Caregiving, Nursing Now, and ter last month will have the on November 10. Alzheimer’s Disease International. ethics teacher training course opportunity to visit the Fly- Other activities include Doha Healthcare Week runs ing Eye Hospital. The aircraft cancer checks by PHCC, free from November 6-12, lead- eill Cornell Medicine- istry of Education and Higher and Human Rights; dignity and Qatar has shown resolute com- will be based at the old air- health check-ups by Al-Ahli ing to WISH 2018, which takes Qatar (WCM-Q) has Education; Dr Khaled Machaca, ethics for professional educa- mitment to ensuring the rights port in Doha for the duration Hospital, an information booth place from November 13-14. Whosted a regional WCM-Q associate dean for re- tors; and bioethics teaching in and dignity of those using the teacher training course on the search; and Dr Anna Paolini, di- the Arab World. healthcare system and those subject of ethics in collaboration rector of the Unesco Doha offi ce. Dr Thurayya Arayssi, WCM-Q generous individuals who chose with the Unesco Offi ce for the The course, which was jointly senior associate dean for Medi- to participate in human subject Gulf States and Yemen, Unesco hosted by WCM-Q’s division of cal Education and Continuing research for the greater good. Beirut and the Qatar National Continuing Professional Devel- Professional Development, said, This important course will con- Commission for Unesco. opment and the Research Divi- “Ethical behaviour demon- tribute signifi cantly to enhanc- A group of 25 participants sion, taught participants the strates our commitment as phy- ing and facilitating the ethical from Qatar and the wider re- principle methods and method- sicians, researchers and health- issues at play.” gion convened at WCM-Q for ologies for the teaching of ethics, care professionals to always act Dr Paolini stated, “Ensur- the four-day Regional Ethics identifi ed key learning resources, in the very best interests of pa- ing the equitable distribution of Teacher Training Course, which and provided assessment and tients and research subjects. As the benefi ts of science as well is designed to advance pedagog- feedback on the teaching skills of such, a sound understanding and as ‘health wealth’ to address ical capacity for ethics teaching each participant, under the guid- a solemn appreciation of ethics inequalities within and among and improve the quality of ethics ance of experienced teachers. is absolutely fundamental to the nations, is a central challenge to education around the world. The The interactive course fea- correct practice of medicine and achieving the 2030 Development course forms part of a multifac- tured lectures, group work, in- biomedical research.” Agenda. In the Arab region, while eted capacity-building strategy dividual demonstrations, and Dr Machaca gave the welcome bioethics is gaining recognition designed to help Unesco mem- group discussions, led by train- address. He said, “Qatar has ex- as an eff ective means to ad- ber states address ethical issues ers of the Unesco bioethics team. perienced extraordinary growth dress ethical confl icts in medical arising from rapid progress in Among the topics addressed by in its healthcare and biomedical treatments and research, actual medical and life sciences. the course were patient rights, research sectors in recent years, interpretation and implemen- The programme was opened privacy, confi dentiality and in- establishing itself as a leading tation of universal principles in by Dr Ibrahim bin Saleh al-Nuai- formed consent; the UN Uni- research hub in the region. Dur- practice diff er and are infl uenced In this file photo, children participate in a ‘Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First’ activity. mi, undersecretary of the Min- versal Declaration on Bioethics ing this period of rapid growth, by cultural aspects.” QR14.5mn raised in ‘Gaza, the Right to Live’ campaign

atar Charity (QC) has those related to the provision suff ering of its people. The cam- funded projects in line with the said donations col- of water and health services as paign ended with live coverage best specifi cations through its Qlected for projects un- well as a number of other so- on Qatar TV to mobilise more offi ce in Gaza. der the ‘Gaza, the Right to Live’ cial projects, QC has said in a support. The charity also thanked the joint campaign, with generous statement. At the end of the campaign, media and social media infl u- support from philanthropists The joint campaign was Qatar Charity thanked the do- encers for their important role in The campaign ended with live coverage on Qatar TV to mobilise more support. in Qatar, amount to around launched under the supervi- nors – both individuals and the campaign. QR14.5mn. sion of the Regulatory Author- companies – for their contri- Further, QC extended special to dozens of patients with kidney At the beginning of the cam- QR14.5mn for its projects in Gaza This constitutes around 90% ity for Charitable Activities and butions. QC said such dona- thanks to Eid Charity for do- failure, as well as the provision of paign, QC targeted the collec- under the campaign, the state- of the total amount of the initia- with participation of Qatar Red tions from them refl ect the level nating over QR7.6mn under the prostheses for 200 people. The tion of QR10mn to implement ment noted. tive, which is QR16mn. Crescent Society, QC, Educa- of trust Qatar Charity enjoys campaign to implement fi ve im- projects also include providing several development projects in Qatar Charity said it would These donations will be used tion Above All Foundation and among the public and at the portant projects, which include safe lighting for 7,000 families, the fi eld of social welfare, water begin immediately, through its to support the health and edu- Silatech, aiming to contribute same time enhance its commit- the operation of seven health and maintaining and rehabilitat- and sanitation, but “thanks to offi ce in the Gaza Strip, imple- cation sectors and implement to the development of the Gaza ment towards donors in order to centres to benefi t 24,000 people ing sewage stations – benefi ting the generous donors in Qatar”, it mentation of the projects funded income-generating projects and Strip and helping alleviate the expedite the implementation of and the provision of assistance 40,000 people. has successfully collected around under the campaign. Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 11 QATAR Preparations complete for start of 5th Katara European Jazz Festival

By Joey Aguilar soul,” he said. “Music is entertain- Staff Reporter ment and joy, and contributes to build bonds among peoples, mix- ing diff erent cultures and creating selection of renowned Euro- a universal language.” pean musicians will be per- “Jazz is indeed the best example Aforming in Doha for the 5th we can off er to promote intercul- Katara European Jazz Festival from tural exchange. As one of the most tomorrow until November 10. signifi cant musical phenomenon The event, organised by Katara of the 20th century, jazz repre- – the Cultural Village in co-oper- sents a fusion of rhythm and im- ation with embassies of 13 Euro- provisation, a melting pot of cul- pean countries in Doha (Germany, tures that blends Afro-american France, Austria, Spain, Portugal, and European musical sensibili- Bulgaria, Netherlands, Hungary, ties,” the envoy noted. Poland, Switzerland, Romania, The embassy proposes to bring Belgium and Italy), will also see Max Ionata Trio, a group formed popular composers performing by three champions of Italian jazz their best hits. Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti with the 13 ambassadors from 13 European embassies popular abroad, whose perform- “Organising this festival at Ka- in Doha at the press conference yesterday. ances with sax, bass and drums tara for the fi fth year in a row adds refl ect a vibrant dialogue among to the cultural scene in Qatar and the festivals’ previous editions and and mutual understanding. Salzano also thanked Qatar Air- three creative spirits. Their har- exposes visitors to a signifi cant the increasing number of partici- “We are proud that the festival ways group chief executive Akbar mony makes their music always form of music and culture” said pants annually. has grown bigger and bigger every al-Baker for the airline’s “generous entertaining and full of surprises Katara general manager Dr Khalid Italian ambassador Pasquale year, up to become a key event in support” to the annual festival. for the audience. bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti. Salzano described the festival as the local cultural panorama,” the “Music is harmony, colour, and “According to a great jazzman, He stressed Katara’s keenness in one of the most anticipated mu- envoy said, as he thanked Dr al- energy. It plays a central role in life Ray Brown, ‘Jazz is something you holding “such important interna- sical events in Doha aimed at en- Sulaiti and Katara for supporting by communicating feelings and have to feel, something you have to tional events,” citing the success of couraging cultural co-operation such as ambitious initiative. expressing the inner part of human live’,” Salzano said.

Katara celebrates ‘Iraqi Cultural Nights’ with music

variety of traditional music high- lighted the ‘Iraqi Cultural Nights’ Aat Katara – the Cultural Village yesterday, attracting hundreds of spec- tators from Iraqi and other communities in Doha. The performance, which forms part of the Iraqi Cultural Week, was opened by Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, along with Iraqi embassy’s Chargé d’aff aires Abdelsattar al-Janabi. The concert began with poetry reading by prominent Iraqi poet Alyaa al-Malki who expressed her happiness to perform in Qatar for the fi rst time, saying she is looking forward to meet local poets. A traditional Oud performance by Iraqi musicians and an amazing per- formance by Iraqi singer Qaes Aladamy who sang traditional songs of Baghdad inherited over centuries and preserved Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and Iraq’s Chargé d’aff aires among traditional singers, enthralled Abdelsattar al-Janabi grace the opening of an art gallery, which showcases the crowd. Qatar-based Iraqi artists’ paintings that highlight the rich heritage of Iraq. Musicians perform at the Iraqi Cultural Nights event. The concert also featured a tradi- tional Iraqi performance dubbed as songs in a modern way. The concert was preceded by the ‘Khashaba’, a Bedouin style music using Janabi said they want to make this opening of an art gallery, which show- special drums, while renowned singer event a permanent annual musical cel- cases Qatar-based Iraqi artists’ paintings Amal Khudayyer revived nostalgic Iraqi ebration at Katara. that highlight the rich Iraqi heritage.

Board of Trustees named for University of Calgary in Qatar

atar has announced the in- community. They are catalysts Qatar by delivering the academic augural Board of Trustees who are leading healthcare system programmes that will help make it Qfor the University of Cal- transformation. possible.” gary in Qatar’s (UCQ). “Meeting the health care goals Board members appointed by This comes after a new govern- of Qatar requires educating more Qatar include Board chair, Dr ance structure was established nurses and supporting the devel- Sheikh Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani, earlier this year, secured upon the opment of current nurses. I be- chairman, Qatar Cancer Society; signing of a fi ve-year collabora- lieve UCQ is educating the nursing Dr Asmaa Ali J F al-Thani, dean tion agreement between Qatar and leaders that will help us get there.” of the College of Health Sciences UCQ. Dr Dru Marshall, provost and and professor of Virology, Qatar Now in its eleventh year of op- vice president (Academic) of the University; Dr Khalid al-Ali, di- eration, UCQ is the only Cana- University of Calgary, was one of rector of Higher Education Insti- dian university in Qatar and the three senior university represent- tutions Aff airs Department, Offi ce sole provider of bachelor’s and atives who travelled from Canada of the Assistant Undersecretary master’s degrees in nursing in the for this initial meeting. for Higher Education Aff airs; and country. “The formation of a Board of Dr Nabila al-Meer, deputy chief The board members from Qatar Trustees is an important and nec- for Continuing Care Group and and Canada met in Doha this week Members of the University of Calgary in Qatar’s Board of Trustees. essary step forward for UCQ,” said Ministry of Public Health Nursing to discuss current operations and Dr Marshall. Aff airs. the future strategic plans for the pends on a workforce that includes Qatar off ers higher education “The University of Calgary has Board members appointed by University, including next steps in well-educated nurses,” said UCQ nursing degrees right here in our a proud tradition of academic ex- the University of Calgary include helping to meet the Qatar National Board of Trustees chair, Dr Sheikh own country. Nurses make vital cellence in Canada and around the Dr Dru Marshall; Dr Sandra David- Health Strategy 2018-2022. Khalid bin Jabor al-Thani. contributions to the health of their world. We are excited to contribute son, dean, Faculty of Nursing; and “A healthy future for Qatar de- “The University of Calgary in patients and their families in our to the advancement of nursing in Karen Jackson, general counsel.

Mercury will be at ‘greatest elongation’ with sun tomorrow

he planet Mercury will be at the They can see the planet for approxi- Dr Marzouk said Mercury’s orbit is close tance between Mercury and the sun will de- “greatest elongation” point with the mately an hour and 14 minutes tomorrow, to the sun, which is why it is not always pos- crease every day,” he noted. Tsun tomorrow, reaching its highest from about 4.51pm until the setting time of sible to observe the planet for a long time Mercury had last reached its “greatest point over the western horizon, Qatar Cal- Mercury at 6.05pm. During the “greatest after sunset. elongation” point with the sun on July 12, endar House (QCH) has said. elongation” period, the planet will be at the “Hence, this phenomenon is very impor- and this would occur again on February 27, People in Qatar will have a good chance farthest angular distance to the Sun as ob- tant because it will be the best time to ob- 2019. to observe Mercury in the evening sky after served from Earth, Dr Marzouk said. serve Mercury for a long duration because The elongation is the angle between an sunset over the western horizon, according “Mercury will be at the ‘greatest elonga- it will arrive at the highest point above the object and the sun as seen from Earth. When to a statement issued by QCH astronomy tion’ angle — 23.3 degrees – from the eastern western horizon of the Qatar sky tomorrow. a planet is at “greatest elongation” (east or expert Dr Beshir Marzouk. sun’s centre,” QCH adds. After the ‘greatest elongation’ time, the dis- west), it is at its farthest distance from the sun. Gulf Times 12 Monday, November 5, 2018 QATAR

Engineer Mohamed bin Nasser al-Hajarji, managing director and general manager, also commended the achievements of the company in The programme was followed by presentations from the Civil Defence, Drug Enforcement Administration, terms of health, safety, and environment standards. Traff ic and Patrol Department, Al Fazah Police, Qatar Cancer Society, and Du Pont. Qatar Steel celebrates ‘Health and Safety Day’ atar Steel has celebrated by engineer Mohamed bin Nasser Department, Al Fazah Police, Qa- commend the positive results vent them. Regularly, we conduct recent years. “I need your sup- He also thanked all employees the ‘Occupational Health al-Hajarji, managing director and tar Cancer Society, and Du Pont. achieved and envisage ambitious comprehensive risk and safety as- port and commitment to main- of Qatar Steel for their continuous Qand Safety Day’ at its general manager, along with Divi- “As a member of the World forthcoming results of the com- sessments to ensure the safety of tain a safe and healthy work eff orts to enhance the success and headquarters in Mesaieed In- sion and Department managers, Steel Federation, Qatar Steel at- pany in terms of health, safety, staff and contractors.” environment and achieve our progress of the company year to dustrial city, where the company and employees from various de- taches great importance to this and environment standards. Qatar Steel collaborated with goal of a safe and accident-free year, and considered that a strong takes into consideration of its partments and contractors. event to ensure a safe and acci- “Although the nature of our a specialised international com- place to work,” added al-Hajarji, culture of safety and security in community responsibility and Al-Hajarji kicked-off the pro- dent-free work environment, as business may expose individu- pany in 2015 to develop and im- who also honoured many distin- the workplace is the result of the full awareness of the importance gramme with a welcome note fol- well as to commit more eff orts als to dangerous situations that prove the occupational safety guished departments for main- commitment of all to implement of maintaining health, safety, and lowed by presentations from the to improve HSE standards,” al- threaten their lives and health, we and health regulations and regu- taining best practices of health, the principle of ‘safety fi rst’ and the environment. Civil Defence, Drug Enforcement Hajarji said. have suffi cient controls and cor- lations, which led to a reduction safety, and environment in the take necessary measures to avoid The ceremony was attended Administration, Traffi c and Patrol He added: “I would like to rect procedures in place to pre- in risk and accident indicators in workplace. any risks and accidents. Qatar Airways, Rolls-Royce partner for training initiative

atar Airways has an- initiative that aims to support nounced its partnership nationals to become passionate Qwith Rolls-Royce to co- global citizens and leaders in develop a unique specialised the aviation industry. training programme for the Al Darb, which is a Qatari airline’s national engineers, as term for ‘The Pathway’, high- part of its Al Darb Qatarisation lights the diff erent paths that programme. individuals can take with Qatar Le Mirage Real Estate joins ‘Screen For Life’ against breast cancer. The new ‘Innovation for Airways. Leaders’ programme was de- Through initiatives such as signed to enable Al Darb its summer internship pro- participants to learn from gramme and Graduate Devel- Rolls-Royce’s innovation and opee programme, Al Darb pro- Le Mirage Real Estate leadership. Professional ex- vides students and graduates perts from Rolls-Royce will with real-life projects that add introduce the airline’s national to their work experience and joins ‘Screen For Life’ engineers to a variety of topics prepare them for a successful designed to challenge them. career at the national carrier of The programme aims to en- the state of Qatar. against breast cancer able different individuals to A multiple award-winning work together to create inno- airline, Qatar Airways was vative solutions that will help named ‘World’s Best Business e Mirage Real Estate, Qatar’s from all Le Mirage Real Estate develop their skills further by Class’ by the 2018 World Airline leading real estate develop- properties including Le Mirage exposing them to new per- Awards, managed by interna- Lment and property man- Icon, Le Mirage Executive Apart- spectives. tional air transport rating or- agement company, organised a ments, Le Mirage Village, Le Mi- Qatar Airways senior vice ganisation Skytrax. seminar as part of its Corporate rage Residence, Le Mirage Elite president Human Resources It was also named ‘Best Busi- Social Responsibility (CSR) initia- etc. Nabeela Fakhri said: “Qatar ness Class Seat,’ ‘Best Airline in tive conducted by ‘Screen For Life’, Amer Fares, CEO of Sharaka Airways is proud to be collabo- the Middle East,’ and ‘World’s Qatar’s National Breast and Bowel Holdings, the parent company rating with Rolls-Royce on this The training is part of Qatar Airways’ Al Darb Qatarisation programme, a development initiative that Best First Class Airline Lounge.’ Cancer Screening programme led of Le Mirage Real Estate, said, “ specialised innovation pro- aims to support nationals to become passionate global citizens and leaders in the aviation industry. Qatar Airways currently op- by Primary Health Care Corpora- We believe it is our duty as part gramme to provide our nation- erates a modern fl eet of more tion (PHCC). of a caring society, to encourage als with essential insights from ing to support talented young ness Course’ in Derby, UK in with Qatar Airways to jointly than 200 aircraft via its hub, The ‘Screen for Life’ team positive and healthy initiatives to both organisations. nationals to develop their pro- January 2019 for Qatar Airways’ enhance our knowledge of how Hamad International Airport, presented a lecture about breast the community. In particular, the This is a unique opportunity fessional skills and fulfi l leader- nationals, which will provide to eff ectively lead innovation in to more than 150 destinations cancer symptoms, stages and Le Mirage community is a fam- for Al Darb participants to learn ship roles in the aviation indus- them exposure to topics, in- our businesses. worldwide. prevention methods, in addition ily. We will continue to invest in from some of the sharpest busi- try, as well as provide them with cluding Airline Strategy, Com- It was great to see our teams Earlier this year, Qatar Air- to hosting the screening mobile the health of this family.We are ness minds in the aviation in- the opportunity to connect and mercial, Finance Essentials, working together so enthusias- ways revealed a host of forth- unit at the Le Mirage Icon to of- honoured to support Screen for dustry. learn from the airline’s global and Airline Simulation. tically to solve real-life prob- coming global destinations in fer free Mammogram screening, Life’ activities both with our em- “The ‘Innovation for Leaders’ strategic partners.” Rolls-Royce vice president – lems facing our industries.” line with its expedited expan- which is the early detection test ployees and their families since programme, one of the many In addition, Rolls-Royce will Customers, David Hynes said: The training is part of Qatar sion plans, including Gothen- every woman between 45-69 health and well-being form the initiatives of Al Darb Qatarisa- also hold a ‘Business Manage- “Rolls-Royce is honoured to Airways’ Al Darb Qatarisation burg, Sweden; Da Nang, Viet- should have every three years. core values of the Le Mirage Real tion programme, is implement- ment and Commercial Aware- have the opportunity to partner programme, a development nam; and Mombasa, Kenya. The event was attended by ladies Estate brand”. Oxy Qatar sponsors CNA-Q forum meet

ollege of the North Atlantic - Qatar (CNA-Q) hosted the ninth Cgeneral Forum meeting for Ma- terials Technology, sponsored for the fi rst time by Occidental Petroleum of Qatar (Oxy Qatar). The meeting brought together 50 ex- perts from the local and international oil and gas companies, academic in- stitutions in Qatar, Danish Institute of Technology, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, and Qatar National Research Fund to discuss corrosion and failure case studies. Throughout the The forum is working to ensure the standardisation of engineering and meeting, they examined issues related infrastructure materials selection in the region. to corrosion and materials, as well as identifying possible research studies to event. Forums such as these provide key Technology said, “Qatar is unique for resolve these problems. arenas for us all to share best practices, its environmental factors such as high The forum is working to ensure the the latest research and newest technol- temperature, humidity, sand, wind, salt standardisation of engineering and in- ogies. It allows the industry to continue water, and direct sunlight that corrodes frastructure materials selection in the pushing boundaries and extending the and damages industry infrastructure. region, which derives from high-quali- useful life of our assets, which in turn, Coming together is an opportunity for ty fi eld research and case studies. Kirby leads to lower operating costs and more the engineering industry and educa- Lindsey, vice president, operations, Oxy effi cient operations.” Hanan Farhat, tional professionals to build capacity Qatar said, “Oxy Qatar is delighted to be the forum chairperson and an instruc- and create national standards that will a proud sponsor and participant in this tor at CNA-Q’s School of Engineering work for Qatar.” Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 13 REGION/ARAB WORLD IS attack ‘kills 12 US-backed fi ghters in east Syria’

AFP tacker against an SDF position week from the entire pocket af- Beirut between Hajin and Al-Bahra”. ter IS suicide bombings and low The attack allowed IS to ad- visibility due to sand storms. vance towards Al-Bahra from its Last Wednesday, the SDF US forces and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) patrol the Kurdish-held town of Al-Darbasiyah in northeastern Syria he Islamic State group holdout around Hajin, and push suspended its fi ght against the bordering Turkey, yesterday. killed 12 US-backed fi ght- back the fi rst lines of defence of militants after Turkish forces Ters in a surprise attack the SDF, which is backed by the fi red on the group’s positions in yesterday from the militants’ US-led coalition, the Observa- northern Syria. holdout in eastern Syria on the tory said. The coalition estimates 2,000 Iraqi border, a Britain-based The monitor said 14 civilians IS fi ghters remain in the Hajin monitor said. and nine IS militants were killed pocket near the border with American forces patrol Twelve fi ghters of the Syr- Saturday in coalition air strikes Iraq, which has reinforced mili- ian Democratic Forces (SDF) in Hajin and the nearby towns of tary positions near its Al-Qaim were killed and 20 wounded in Sousa and Al-Shaafa. crossing to prevent a spillover of a suicide car bombing and sub- A coalition spokesman said clashes. sequent clashes in the eastern those strikes targeted IS posi- IS overran large swathes of close to Turkish border province of Deir Ezzor, the Syr- tions. Syria and neighbouring Iraq in ian Observatory for Human “The strikes killed ISIS ter- 2014, proclaiming a “caliphate” Rights said. rorists and destroyed three op- across land it controlled. AFP tween the Kurds and Ankara. An SDF spokesman, how- erational facilities critical to But the militant group has Al-Darbasiyah Govt ready to co-operate with new UN envoy “They are not routine pa- ever, denied any members of his ISIS’ operations,” Sean Ryan since lost most of that terri- trols. They are directly linked Kurdish-led alliance had been said, using an alternative acro- tory to various off ensives in both Syria is ready to co-operate with new UN envoy Geir Pedersen as to these threats.The objective is killed. “There are counter-at- nym for IS. countries. S forces yesterday pa- long as he avoids the methods of his predecessor, its deputy for- to call on Turkey to stop its ag- tacks every day and the clashes The SDF, with the support In Syria, its presence has been trolled an area in north- eign minister said in remarks published yesterday. Pedersen, who gression,” Mustefa Bali said. are ongoing, but the talk of of coalition air strikes, in Sep- reduced to parts of the vast Ba- Ueastern Syria bordering assumes the role at the end of November, is the fourth negotiator Yesterday’s patrols were martyrs among our ranks is not tember launched an off ensive dia desert and Hajin. A total of Turkey after renewed tensions to have been appointed the UN’s special envoy to Syria since the headed towards Ras al-Ain, true,” Mustefa Bali said. to wrest the Deir Ezzor pocket more than 360,000 people have between Ankara and Syrian country’s war broke out in 2011. around 50 kilometres to the According to Observatory including Hajin from IS, making been killed since Syria’s multi- Kurds, a spokesman and an AFP A seasoned Norwegian diplomat, he replaces Staff an de Mistura, who west of Al-Darbasiyah along chief Rami Abdel Rahman, yes- slow advances. front war erupted in 2011 with reporter said. announced he is leaving the post last month after a four-year stint. the frontier, he said. terday’s attack “started with a But the alliance suff ered a ma- the brutal repression of anti- Three armoured vehicles “Syria will co-operate with the new UN envoy Geir Pedersen provided The US State Department car bomb driven by a suicide at- jor setback as they retreated last government protests. carrying soldiers wearing the he avoids the methods of his predecessor,” Deputy Foreign Minister has said it had been in touch US fl ag on their uniform arrived Faisal al-Meqdad said, quoted by Al-Watan newspaper. with both the SDF and Turkey in the Kurdish-held northeast- It would work with him if “he announces his support for the unity to push for de-escalation. ern border town of Al-Darbasi- of Syria’s land and people and does not side with the terrorists as Turkey accuses Syria’s Kurd- yah, the correspondent said. his predecessor did,” he added, referring to rebel groups. ish People’s Protection Units Turkey last week raised (YPG) — which form the back- threats against Kurdish forces bone of the SDF — of being Iranians hold rally in northeastern Syria, shelling the Islamic State group in Syria. safety and security in the re- “terrorists”. their positions and fl agging a Coalition spokesman Sean gion,” he said, but are not car- In what appeared to be an possible new off ensive. Ryan said Sunday’s patrol was ried out “on a regular basis”. attempt by Washington to ap- The Kurds spearhead the the second in a week, after a An SDF spokesman said the pease Turkey, US and Turkish Syrian Democratic Forces al- fi rst one by US forces on Friday. US patrols, in co-ordination troops on Thursday launched on eve of sanctions liance, backed by the US-led “The US forces’ assurance with the SDF, were directly joint patrols on the outskirts of coalition, that has been fi ghting patrols enable us to maintain linked to recent tensions be- the northern city of Manbij.

Reuters ny, Russia and China — remain committed to the Dubai accord. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the penalties set to return today “are the toughest sanctions ever put in place on the Islamic Republic housands of Iranians chanting “Death to of Iran.” Palestinian Jerusalem governor’s offi ce raided America” rallied yesterday to mark the an- Interviewed on “Fox News Sunday,” Pompeo Tniversary of the seizure of the US embassy said, “There’s a handful of places where countries during the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the im- already have made signifi cant reductions in their AFP minent reimposition of US sanctions on Iran’s oil crude oil exports and need a little more time to get Ramallah sector. to zero. And we’re going to provide that to them.” Students attending the government-organised He did not elaborate. rally in the capital Tehran, broadcast live by state Pompeo noted that oil sanctions would be cou- sraeli forces raided the offi ces of the television, burned the Stars and Stripes, an effi gy of pled with fi nancial sanctions involving “over 600 Palestinian governor of Jerusalem yes- Uncle Sam and pictures of President Donald Trump designations of individuals and companies in Iran.” Iterday, authorities said, after reports of outside the former embassy compound. The Iranian military said it would launch two an investigation related to a land sale. Hardline students stormed the embassy on Nov days of air defence drills today and assured Iranians Israeli authorities confi rmed the raid in 4, 1979, soon after the fall of the US-backed Shah, that it could neutralise any threats, the state news Al-Ram, just on the other side of Israel’s and 52 Americans were held hostage there for 444 agency IRNA reported. separation wall from Jerusalem in the oc- days. “We can assure our people that the enemy will cupied West Bank, but provided few details. The two countries have been enemies ever since. not be able to carry out its threats against our It came after Israel’s detention of the Pal- State media said millions turned out for rallies in country,” IRNA quoted Habibollah Sayyari, the co- estinian governor, Adnan Gheith, on Octo- towns and cities, swearing allegiance to the clerical ordinating offi cer, as saying. ber 20. establishment and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Among the anniversary events was an exhibition He was released two days later. Khamenei. of cartoons in Tehran called “Donald Salman” — a The Palestinian Authority’s (PA) Jeru- The fi gure could not be independently confi rmed reference to the close ties between the US president salem aff airs minister, Adnan al-Husseini, by Reuters. Rallies are staged on the embassy take- and King Salman, ruler of Saudi Arabia. said that Israeli forces confi scated docu- over anniversary every year. The restoration of US sanctions today targeting ments and material during the raid. Member of Fatah movement’s executive council and minister in charge of the Jerusalem But rancour is especially strong this time fol- Iran’s oil sales and banking sector is part of an ef- The same building houses his ministry aff airs for the Palestinian Authority Adnan al-Husseini (right) and Governor of Jerusalem for lowing Trump’s decision in May to withdraw from fort by Trump to force Iran to halt its nuclear and and the governor’s offi ce, both of which he the Palestinian Authority Adnan Gheith pose for a photograph with damaged computers at the world powers’ 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and re- ballistic missile programmes outright, as well as its said were raided in the fi rst such Israeli ac- Palestinian Ministry of Jerusalem aff airs’ headquarters in the town of Al-Ram, yesterday. impose sanctions on Tehran. support for proxy forces. tion. The deal brought about the lifting of most in- In a speech on Saturday, Khamenei said Palestinian government spokesman Yu- cy said in a statement a joint raid with po- the Shin Bet said only that all PA activity in ternational fi nancial and economic sanctions in Trump’s policies faced opposition around the suf Mahmud said it was a “dangerous es- lice and the army was over “illegal activity Jerusalem was illegal. return for Tehran curbing its disputed nuclear ac- world.”America’s goal has been to re-establish the calation of the occupation and a fl agrant by the PA in Jerusalem”. Israel occupied east Jerusalem in the 1967 tivity under UN surveillance. domination it had, but it has failed. violation of all international laws and It said “various materials were seized Six-Day War and later annexed it in a move Trump said the deal was weak and favoured Iran. America has been defeated by the Islamic Re- agreements”. which will be examined by security bodies.” never recognised by the international com- The other signatories — Britain, France, Germa- public over the past 40 years,” he said. Israel’s Shin Bet domestic security agen- Asked to specify which illegal activity, munity.

UNREST Sudan accepts South mediation in Battles rock Yemen port city as UN warns Egypt says 19 militants border regions

Sudan has for the first time ac- AFP Military offi cials said Saudi- coalition. The UN children’s call by the United States for an killed in security operation cepted mediation by South Sudan’s Hodeidah led coalition warplanes carried fund (Unicef) warned an as- end to the Yemen war, includ- leader in peace talks over the out dozens of air strikes early sault on Hodeidah city would ing air strikes by the coalition. restive Sudanese border regions yesterday to support pro-gov- jeopardise the lives of Yemenis Both the coalition and rebels Reuters bility for Friday’s attack in Minya of South Kordofan and Blue Nile, ntensifi ed fi ghting shook ernment forces in fi ghting that across the country who de- stand accused of acts that Cairo when gunmen targeted two buses a Sudanese off icial said yesterday. a key rebel-held port city appear to be approaching the pend on its port for humani- could amount to war crimes, near the Monastery of St Sam- Sudan had previously accused its Ion Yemen’s Red Sea coast city’s main university. tarian aid. and the Saudi-led coalition uel the Confessor, 260km south southern neighbour of stoking un- yesterday, leaving dozens dead Houthi media reported air “Yemen is today a living has been blacklisted by the UN gyptian security forces of Cairo. The dead included six rest in the two regions, where rebels as the United Nations warned strikes in Hodeidah yesterday hell — not for 50 to 60% of the for the maiming and killing of killed 19 militants from a members of the same family. kept up a fight against Khartoum’s that children in the war-torn but did not give a fi ghter casu- children — it is a living hell for Yemeni children in air raids. Ecell believed to be respon- Islamic State did not provide rule even after most of the territory country face “a living hell”. alty toll. every boy and girl in Yemen,” According to the World sible for an attack on Christians any evidence to back up its claim they fought for decades became The bloodshed comes de- Thirteen pro-government he told a news conference in Health Organisation, nearly in Minya province in central of responsibility, one of several in independent South Sudan in 2011. spite growing international troops were killed, according the Jordanian capital. 10,000 people have been killed Egypt in which seven people recent years as Egypt’s Christian Sudan’s government has an- pressure to end a years-long to medical sources in Aden The UN has called Yemen, in the confl ict, though some died, the interior ministry said minority has been repeatedly tar- nounced unilateral ceasefires in confl ict that has killed thou- and Mokha, where their bodies the largest humanitarian crisis rights groups estimate the toll yesterday. geted. both regions as well as in Sudan’s sands and pushed the nation to were transported. in the world, and warned that could be fi ve times higher. Security forces killed the sus- The ministry said the suspects troubled western region of Darfur the brink of famine. Nearly three quarters of 14mn people across the coun- UN Secretary-General pects in a fi refi ght after a chase in were on the run from security since 2015 and fighting has sub- Fifty-three Houthi rebels the country’s imports fl ow try face imminent famine. Antonio Guterres on Friday a mountainous area of the desert forces when national security in- sided. Ibrahim al-Sadiq, a spokes- have been killed and dozens through Hodeidah, from The Hodeidah clashes pleaded for a halt to violence west of Minya governorate, the telligence identifi ed their location. man said South Sudanese President wounded in battles and air where they are transported by erupted on Thursday just to pull Yemen back from the ministry said in a statement. “The area was raided and when Salva Kiir had begun talks with strikes over the past 24 hours land to areas further north. hours after the government “precipice”. And Hollywood It did not say when the gun bat- it was surrounded the terrorist el- factions from the Sudan People’s in Hodeidah, according to The port is controlled by said it was ready to restart star Angelina Jolie, a spe- tle took place, nor did it mention ements opened fi re at the forces, Liberation Movement (SPLM) medical sources in the port Yemen’s Houthi rebels and un- peace talks with the Iran- cial envoy for the UN refugee any casualties among security which obliged them to deal with present in South Kordofan and Blue city, which is a key gateway for der blockade by Saudi Arabia backed Huthis. agency (UNHCR), appealed for forces. the source of the fi ring,” it said in Nile over a peace settlement. humanitarian aid. and its allies in a government The off er followed a surprise an immediate ceasefi re. Islamic State claimed responsi- the statement. Gulf Times 14 Monday, November 5, 2018 AFRICA

AMBUSH POLITICS DEFENCE CRACKDOWN DIPLOMACY 9 dead, 20 children missing Cameroon police arrest 19 US airstrikes kill 4 Shebaab E Guinea expels ruling party Eritrea president says trust after Congo rebel attacks opposition protesters militants in south Somalia members linked to coup bid growing with Ethiopia

Rebels in eastern Congo killed at least nine people Police in Cameroon arrested 19 supporters of Four militants from the Shebaab terrorist group Equatorial Guinea’s ruling party has expelled Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki says Eritrea in overnight attacks near the city of Beni, local opposition leader Maurice Kamto, who disputes have been killed in US airstrikes near Kismayo 42 of its members for their alleged role in a and Ethiopia have built trust since signing a authorities said yesterday. More than 20 children the results of October presidential elections, at in southern Somalia, the United States Africa coup bid late last year, party sources told AFP peace deal in July, but need to iron out further were also missing after rebels stormed the towns protests yesterday against President Paul Biya, Command said yesterday. The strikes on Saturday yesterday. The ruling Democratic Party of elements of their ties to make their cooperation of Oicha and Mangboko on Saturday night, local authorities and witnesses told AFP. The near the community of Araara were a defensive Equatorial Guinea decided to expel them for sustainable. Isaias told state-run television that according to Donat Kibwana, a leading local off icial arrests happened at two diff erent places in the move, the military said, with armed militants their role in the failed December 24 coup, said the peace deal had heralded a “transitional who blamed the attacks on Allied Democratic town of Bafoussam in the country’s west where on the verge of attacking partner forces during a resolution passed by the party’s disciplinary stage that will lead to a new era” between the Forces (ADF) militants. Eastern Congo, already at Kamto backers were picketing, they said. Kamto, a patrol. US forces are partnering with African committee. Those expelled included a former neighbours. “The priority now is to create an the centre of an Ebola outbreak that has killed at who according to off icial results came second Union troops, AMISOM, and the Somali National ambassador, at least two former judges and the environment for this new reality to flourish,” he least 180 people in recent months, has witnessed with 14% of the vote behind incumbent Biya Security Forces in combined counterterrorism former head of security for President Teodoro told Eri-TV. “We need to consolidate. One by one, attacks from numerous rebel groups, primarily with 7%, called Friday for an independent vote operations in the troubled East African nation. Obiang Nguema. In March, the Convergence for we have to clearly state our issues and solidify fighting over the area’s rich mineral resources. recount. He claimed victory in the October 7 Shebaab, which is seeking to establish an Islamist Social Democracy, the second largest opposition them on a concrete basis. The reality is new, but The ADF was formed in 1995 and is based in the polls, and has been declared an “outlaw” by the state in Somalia, regularly launches attacks on party, said the coup bid had been organised from it has to be sustainable,” Isaias added, without mountainous Congo-Uganda border area. government. government buildings, hotels and restaurants. within the ruling party. going into specifics. US punishes six troops for their role in deadly

Madagascar presidential candidate Andry Rajoelina and his wife Mialy Rajoelina greet supporters while leaving Tulear airport yesterday. Niger ambush Madagascar ex-presidents in AFP The paper said a letter of reprimand to the Niger-Mali border in pursuit of an Is- Washington Perozeni cited the insuffi cient training and a lamic State group leader named Doundoun lack of mission rehearsals. Cheff ou. The two senior offi cers who approved the After intelligence located him, an opera- fi nal bid to return to power he US Army has punished six mem- mission and oversaw the ill-fated opera- tion was planned against the leader’s camp bers of the armed forces for their roles tion were not reprimanded, according to the by a helicopter-borne team of American Tin a 2017 mission in Niger that result- newspaper. commandos and Nigerien troops, along AFP tenures, it is now up to me to re- manana repeated his accusation ed in the ambush deaths of four Americans “As a result of the Niger 15-6 investiga- with Team 3212. Antananarivo alise it and to do more,” Rajoelina that Rajoelina came to power and four allied Nigerien troops, The New tion report, Secretary Mattis directed US But bad weather led to the helicopter mis- told his supporters, referring to through “a coup”. York Times reported Saturday. Africa Command, US Special Operations sion being canceled. Ravalomanana and most recent “There was no coup d’etat, you The ambush occurred on October 4, 2017 Command, Department of the Army and Team 3212 proceeded to the now-empty wo former Madagascar president, Hery Rajaonarimam- resigned,” answered Rajoelina. as a unit of 11 American special forces sol- the Under Secretary of Defense for Person- campsite. presidents drew tens of pianina. “And why then did the inter- diers and 30 Nigerien troops, returning from nel & Readiness to conduct a comprehensive It was ambushed by some 50 heavily Tthousands of supporters On the streets of the capital, national community call it a coup a village near the Malian border, were over- review of procedures, policies and train- armed Islamic State fi ghters while returning to rival rallies in the capital An- groups of rival supporters — d’etat?” retorted Ravalomanana. run by scores of extremist fi ghters. ing programs and report back to him with a to its outpost. tananarivo over the weekend as Rajoelina’s ones in orange and Although there are three dozen An investigative report released by the plan of action and corrective measures,” said The ambush claimed the largest loss of they entered the fi nal stretch of those of Ravalomanana in white, hopefuls, analysts say the real Pentagon in May said that while US soldiers Commander Candice Tresch, a Pentagon American lives in combat in Africa since the their election campaign. walked past each other, without race is among the three main had fought bravely and four “died with hon- spokeswoman. 1993 ‘Black Hawk Down’ incident in Somalia. Former president Marc Rav- incidents. candidates, Ravalomanana, Ra- our,” they had not been properly prepared “Secretary Mattis received those reports It also touched off debate about the pres- alomanana and rival Andry Ra- “You will sell the country if joelina and the outgoing presi- for the mission. by the 120-day deadline and is conducting a ence of the 800 American troops in Niger joelina are frontrunners in the you come to power,” yelled one dent Rajaonarimampianina. Investigators cited “individual, organisa- thorough review of the fi ndings.” and the larger purpose of the US military in November 7 ballot in Madagas- Rajoelina’s supporter. Rajaonarimampianina sur- tional and institutional failures.” The Defence Department has been tight- Africa. car, where protests earlier this “No one can buy us, unlike vived a mass protest movement Those being disciplined, the Times said lipped about the nature of the mission in Ni- General Thomas Waldhauser, head of Af- year erupted over a government you,” Ravalomanana’s support- earlier this year that claimed the Saturday, include Captain Mike Perozeni, ger — the existence of which surprised many rica Command, said in May that US forces attempt to reform electoral rules. ers shouted back. lives of two people. the leader of the Green Beret team, as well as Americans. had since become “far more prudent” in The election pits Ravalo- Rajoelina, a former disc jockey The protests were sparked by his second in command, a master sergeant The Times account said Perozeni’s Green their missions and had beefed up their fi re- manana against the man who and successful entrepreneur, proposed electoral reforms that whose name has been withheld. Beret unit, Team 3212, had headed toward power. ousted him from power in 2009 highlighted his youth and com- the opposition said had been de- in a military-backed revolt that munication skills to rally sup- signed to exclude them from the left the Indian Ocean island state port. vote. internationally isolated and later Ravalomanana, a milk mogul After months of tension, the struggling with a legacy of bitter who lived in exile in South Africa Constitutional Court ordered a Cocoa trail political division. after his ouster, began his politi- caretaker government to organ- Ravalomanana fi lled the capi- cal career as mayor of the capital ise the ballot. tal’s Mahamasina suburb with but was criticised as president If none of the candidates gets his supporters dressed in white, for an increasingly autocratic and more than 50% of the votes cast, his campaign colour. corruption-tainted rule. a second round will be held on His rival Rajoelina, head of The two candidates came face- December 19. state from 2009 to 2014, packed to-face on Saturday for a live Madagascar, a former French out Antsonjombe stadium, a few televised debate which was at- colony with a population of kilometres away. tended by four other candidates 25mn, has been endured decades “Since you have not been able on the public broadcaster TVM. of political crises and grinding to achieve anything during your During the debate, Ravalo- poverty.

SA minister to fi ght ‘lying under oath’ charge

Reuters private airport immigration facility. A South African court ruled Johannesburg Gigaba told the City Press yes- in December 2017 that Gigaba terday that he faced a sustained had lied under oath, violating political onslaught aimed at the constitution, when he denied outh African Home Aff airs forcing his resignation. having ever approved an applica- Minister Malusi Gigaba has “If I do that, I will be giving in tion by the Oppenheimers to op- Ssaid he will “fi ght...to the to a devious plot...No, they must erate an immigration service for bitter end” against any moves to bring the war, I am ready for it. I wealthy VIPs at Johannesburg’s remove him after the anti-graft am going to fi ght it to the bitter main airport. watchdog said he should be dis- end. They must not think they Nicky Oppenheimer, former ciplined for lying under oath, the can walk all over me,” Gigaba was chairman of diamond miner De City Press newspaper reported. quoted as saying. Beers and one of South Africa’s Last week, Public Protector Bu- His spokesman declined to com- wealthiest people, told a parlia- sisiwe Mkhwebane directed Presi- ment further on his comments to mentary committee this week dent Cyril Ramaphosa to discipline the newspaper, which said he had that Gigaba had initially ap- Gigaba over remarks made under denied giving any approval to the proved his family’s plan to open Britains’s Prince Charles visits cocoa growing town in Kumasi, Ghana. oath about the wealthy Oppen- Oppenheimer family’s bid to open a private terminal at OR Tambo heimer family’s attempt to open a an immigration facility. airport in 2016.

African countries should ‘decolonise’ water, recognise customary rights – report

By Kevin Mwanza, Reuters left more than 100 mn people co-author of the report released to the Washington-based think “Customary water rights with this task could not reach “In many parts of Africa wa- Nairobi without access to enough water, at a conference in Libreville, Ga- tank World Resources Institute, should be recognised as well as millions of small farmers, leaving ter right are tied to land rights according to the report by the bon. but most are restricted to home other statutory permits to en- many at risk of prosecution, the and the two are not separable. Sri Lanka-based International “This is critical for expanding use and limited farm irrigation. courage small users to invest report said. To be able to use water in many frican governments Water Management Institute smallholder irrigation,” said Sch- In the fi ve countries surveyed, (in irrigation),” Koppen said by Recognition of customary parts of Africa you need to have should recognise custom- (IWMI). reiner, who is executive director researchers found that laws re- phone from Pretoria. water rights would also help land,” Williams told the Thom- Aary rights to water for mil- Those countries should “de- of the South Africa-based ad- strict small farmers to irrigating She said state agencies man- strengthen land rights for a ma- son Reuters Foundation by lions of small farmers who have colonise statutory water law vocacy group Pegasys Institute. less than one acre of land without dated to license water use have jority of communities whose land phone. been sidelined or “criminalised” through a hybrid approach”, ac- “(It) will lighten the administra- a permit, said Barbara van Kop- concentrated on large com- is still untitled across Africa, said “Regulating water rights by permit systems created dur- cording to the report. tive burden on the state, while pen, a co-author and principal mercial users and failed to reach Timothy Williams, IWMI’s di- therefore implies also policing ing the colonial era, says a report A hybrid system that recog- making formal legal access to researcher at IWMI. small farmers. rector for Africa. land rights for millions of farm- published last week. nises both existing permits and water more equitable.” Recognising customary rights While many countries pro- About 90% of rural land in Af- ers. They end up being uninten- Restrictive permit systems in includes customary laws would About half of sub-Saharan Af- would help small farmers expand moted water permits as the best rica is undocumented, according tionally criminalised because Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, improve water access for small rica governments recognise cus- their agricultural production practise in the 1990s, poorly- to the World Bank, with most of it they can be prosecuted for using Uganda and Zimbabwe have farmers, said Barbara Schreiner, a tomary rights to water, according through irrigation, she said. funded state agencies mandated held under customary law. water without permits.” Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 15 AMERICA

Races to watch in midterm elections A number of notable races are tak- ing place tomorrow in the US mid- term elections, when Americans go to the polls to elect governors and members of the US House of Restrictive rules keep Representatives and Senate. Here is a look at some of the most interesting contests: Beto-mania: One of the most expensive and closely watched Senate races is in Texas, where incumbent Republican Senator Ted Cruz is facing Democratic Repre- millions from voting sentative Beto O’Rourke. O’Rourke, 46, whose given AFP names are Robert Francis but Washington who goes by Beto, is mounting a suprisingly strong challenge to the 47-year-old Cruz in the reliably illions of Americans will be Republican “Lone Star State.” barred from casting ballots in O’Rourke, a three-term congress- Mtomorrow’s crucial midterm man and former member of a elections due to electoral rules at the punk band, is drawing enthusiastic state level, which eff ectively exclude support from many urban dwellers many minority voters to the detriment in Texas while Cruz does better in of Democrats. conservative rural areas. 1.5mn Floridians disenfranchised: Plucking the Senate seat from Nearly six million Americans are exclud- Cruz, who battled Donald Trump ed from voting because they are impris- for the 2016 Republican presiden- oned, on parole or awaiting sentencing. tial nomination, would be a major African-Americans, who are over- victory for the Democratic Party. represented in the US penal system, Duelling female candidates: Ari- are four times more likely to be unable zona will have a woman represent- to vote than the rest of the population, ing the southwestern state in the according to The Sentencing Project, a US Senate for the first time as two nonprofi t organisation. women battle for the seat being va- Rules vary widely by state, with some cated by Jeff Flake, a Trump critic like Maine and New Hampshire allow- who is not running for re-election. ing inmates to vote. The Republican flag-bearer But in places such as Kentucky, Iowa, is Martha McSally, a 52-year-old Virginia and Florida, any conviction — former US Air Force fighter pilot even for a minor off ence like possession and two-term member of the of marijuana — results in lifelong disen- House of Representatives. franchisement. McSally’s Democratic opponent In Florida, where Donald Trump won is Kyrsten Sinema, 42, a three-term by just 112,000 votes in 2016, nearly member of the House of Repre- 1.5mn people are cannot vote because of sentatives who spent several years a criminal record. of her childhood in poverty after In addition to choosing their gover- her parents divorced. nor and members of Congress, Florida McSally and Sinema are run- residents will vote on whether to restore ning neck-in-neck in a state which voting rights to people with prior felony President Donald Trump won by convictions once they have fi nished 3.5 percentage points in the 2016 their sentences, besides those convict- presidential election. ed of the most serious crimes. Democrats in danger: Democratic Proof of street address: There is no Senate candidates are in danger of national identity card in the United losing their seats in Missouri, North States, with each state defi ning what Dakota and Indiana. documents can be used as identifi cation Democratic congressional candidate Ilhan Omar takes a picture with supporters in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Somali-American local state legislator had claimed In Missouri — which Trump won at the polling station. victory in her primary in Minnesota in August, putting her on track to become one of the first female Muslim members of the US House of Representatives after the by 18 points in 2016 — Democratic And according to the American Civil US midterm elections tomorrow. Omar was born in 1982 in Mogadishu and was raised in Baydhabo, Somalia. After the start of the civil war in 1991 in Somalia, she and Senator Claire McCaskill, 65, is Liberties Union, an infl uential civil her family fled the country and spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya. In 1995, Omar and her family emigrated to the United States, initially settling in Arlington, facing a strong challenge from rights organization, several states have Virginia before moving to Minneapolis. Republican attorney general Josh imposed restrictive rules since 2010. Hawley. North Dakota has since 2016 required Democrat who was elected to the Sen- to those given when applying for a driv- to become the fi rst black woman elected A federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump has campaigned for the its residents to present a document with ate in 2012 by just 3,000 votes — is cam- er’s license or social security number. governor in the US — has accused her Re- state to immediately change its proce- 38-year-old Hawley and called him proof of a street address. paigning to keep her seat. If there are discrepancies, authorities publican opponent, Brian Kemp, of using dure and make it easier for those who a rising star in the party. But the state is home to thousands of Backers of the rule hold it prevents might refuse the registration. his position heading the offi ce that over- have already been fl agged, about 3,100 In North Dakota — which Trump Native Americans who live on reserva- fraud, as North Dakota does not require Some 53,000 applications are cur- sees elections to infl uence the vote. people, to prove their citizenship. won by 36 points in 2016 — Demo- tions in rural areas with but a single post voters to pre-register. rently pending, 70% of which belong Kemp in turn says voters can cast bal- But even if applications in limbo are cratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp, 63, offi ce box. ‘Exact match’ rules: In Georgia, the to African-Americans, according to the lots if they clarify their situations, and ultimately approved, Abrams fears the is fighting for her political survival They might be turned away at the data voters provide when registering at Southern Poverty Law Center. accuses Abrams of wanting to let un- challenge to register might cause these against Republican Kevin Cramer. ballot box, where Heidi Heitkamp — a the polls have since 2017 been compared Democrat Stacey Abrams — who hopes documented immigrants vote. voters to stay home. Cramer, 57, who has served three terms in the House of Representatives, currently leads in Teenager kills mother, buries body at church the polls. In Indiana, Democratic Senator It took “solid detective work” to the murder of Gail Cleavenger,” Joe Donnelly, 63, has a small lead charge a Florida teenager with the sheriff department said on Florida shooter had been accused of harassment over his Republican challenger murdering his mother and bury- Twitter. Mike Braun, a 64-year-old business- ing her body in the grounds of a The department said in a Fa- man, in a state which Trump won nearby church, authorities said cebook post that Ramos got two Reuters Detectives are searching for links between Their deaths were “just devastating to the by 19 points in 2016. late Saturday. friends to stage a burglary scene Tallahassee him and the victims. Police said Beierle was FSU family,” said the university’s president, Bob Menendez, 64, a Demo- Gregory Logan Ramos, 15, at his home in DeBary, some a graduate of FSU who served in the military, John Thrasher. crat from New Jersey who has allegedly strangled his mother 420km north of Miami, which and that he had been the subject of calls to Dozens of yoga practitioners gathered on served in the Senate since 2006, Gail Cleavenger on Thursday after he initially claimed was linked to gunman who killed two women at a authorities in the Tallahassee area “related Saturday morning for an open-air session in could also be in trouble after fac- a disagreement over his report Cleavenger’s disappearance. Florida yoga studio and wounded fi ve to harassment of young women.” front of the State Capitol. Called ‘Yoga For ing corruption charges. The case card, according to the Volusia But under questioning, Ramos Aother people before taking his own One of the women killed was identifi ed as A Cause’, the event was in support of people ended up with a hung jury and County Sheriff . allegedly confessed to strangling life had previously been accused of harass- Nancy Van Vessem, 61, a doctor specialising aff ected by Hurricane Michael. a mistrial and the charges were “It took hours of questioning, his 46-year-old mother and using ing young women, police said on Saturday. in internal medicine who was a member of The Tallahassee Police Department post- dropped. solid detective work & coordi- a wheelbarrow and van to trans- Authorities said they do not know why the faculty at Florida State University Col- ed a photo of the gathering on Facebook Menendez is being challenged nated teamwork to obtain the port the body to a local church Scott Beierle, 40, opened fi re on Friday af- lege of Medicine in Tallahassee. with the quote “It holds so much meaning” by Republican businessman Bob confession of Gregory Ramos in where he buried it under a fire pit. ternoon after posing as a customer to join the The other was named as Maura Binkley, a and the hashtags #TallyStrong and #Our- Hugin, 64. class at the Hot Yoga studio in Tallahassee. 21-year-old student at FSU. CityOurHome. Close eye on Florida: Two of the most-watched races in the country are in Florida. Democrat Bill Nelson, 76, was first elected to the Senate in 2000 and was easily re-elected in 2006 Non-stop ads and robocalls: welcome to America’s costliest election and 2012. But Nelson, who served as a pay- load specialist on a Space Shuttle By Tim Reid and Grant Smith, Reuters at roughly $108mn. 40% of the district’s 720,000 residents in 1986, is facing a tough challenge Palmdale, California Texas is third at about $100mn. are Hispanic. this time from Florida’s Republican All up, it is a record for a congres- Democrats set their sights on taking Governor Rick Scott. sional midterm cycle. the district after 2016 presidential can- Gun control is a big issue in the endy Burke has had enough. Candidates, political parties and out- didate Hillary Clinton won it by seven race following the February shoot- Campaign advertisements side groups are set to spend more than points and a Republican, Representative ing at a high school in Parkland, Wbombard her favourite TV $5.2bn on House and Senate contests Steve Knight, clinched another term by Florida, which left 17 people dead. shows. Dozens of election pamphlets combined, according to the non-parti- six points. Another close race in Florida is fi ll her mailbox. Every day, she gets sev- san Center for Responsive Politics. This year, Knight, 51, has been out- for governor to replace the 65-year- eral political calls on her cell phone and The Democratic share of spending raised and outspent by Democratic old Scott. more on her landline. Strangers knock for the House swelled to 60% this year, challenger Katie Hill, who previously Democrat Andrew Gillum, 39, at her door seeking her vote. from 44% in 2014, the previous mid- ran a non-profi t for the homeless and is the African-American mayor of “It’s ridiculous,” Burke, 47, said out- term elections, said Sheila Krumholz, seeking offi ce for the rst fi time. Tallahassee, is locked in an acri- side a shopping centre in Palmdale, the center’s executive director. Hill, 31, raised $7.3mn by mid-Octo- monious battle with Ron DeSantis, California. “I’ve had to block my calls.” One reason for the big spending: ber, compared to the $2.4mn raised by 40, a member of the House of Welcome to the most expensive race Trump. Knight, according to FEC data. Representatives and ardent Trump in the hard-fought battle between Re- “This is in no small part a referendum Hill has out-spent Knight $5.9mn to supporter. publicans and Democrats for control of on the 2016 election, and it’s been bol- $2mn, with nearly three quarters of her Trump has personally cam- the US House of Representatives, which stered by the role of women, the #Me- money going to advertising. paigned for DeSantis and has had will be decided in tomorrow’s elections. Too Movement, the Brett Kavanaugh With money from outside groups harsh words for Gillum, considered The blizzard of spending in Califor- nomination, and the fact that so many factored in, more than $18mn has been by some to be a potential future nia’s 25th district, a region stretch- United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue holds up a phone as he women are running,” Krumholz said. spent on Hill’s behalf, compared to star of the Democratic Party. ing north and east of Los Angeles into attends a rally for candidate for governor Ron DeSantis in Lakeland, Florida. Republicans are seeking re-election about $8mn for Knight, Reuters found. First black female governor: In the high desert of the Antelope Valley, in nine of the 10 most expensive House Independence USA PAC, almost en- Georgia, Stacy Abrams, 44, the stands out even during the most expen- ters analysis of Federal Election Com- lier. races. tirely funded by former New York may- former minority leader of the state sive congressional elections in US his- mission (FEC) data. In Florida, Republican Rick Scott’s The tenth is an open Republican seat. or Michael Bloomberg, has spent more House of Representatives, is run- tory. It leads the 10 priciest House races, contest against incumbent Democrat Each recorded spending of more than than $4.5mn in ads supporting Hill. ning for governor against Repub- Most of the money is funnelled into where a total of $238mn has been spent. Bill Nelson is the most expensive Sen- $20mn. The money helped the political new- lican Brian Kemp, the 55-year-old non-stop advertising — on TV, radio, Democrats — aiming to pick up the ate race. Four of the costliest races are in Cali- comer blanket the district with her lib- Georgia secretary of state. social media, yard signs, automated 23 House seats and two in the Senate The candidates and their allies have fornia. eral message supporting a path to uni- Abrams, who has received the robocalls to cell phones and land lines, needed to control Congress and block spent nearly $160mn. Contests in Washington, Pennsylva- versal healthcare, an assault weapons support of Oprah Winfrey and bumper stickers and a deluge of pam- much of Republican President Donald Nelson’s campaign spent about nia, Colorado, Florida, New York and ban and gay-and-lesbian rights. other celebrities, would be the first phlets stuff ed into mailboxes. Trump’s agenda and increase oversight $25mn while outside groups splashed Minnesota round out the list. That could prove a double-edged black woman to become governor “The mailers go in the trash,” she of his administration — have far out- out $45mn supporting him or opposing California’s 25th district is one of the sword. of a US state if she wins. said. “I can’t wait until this whole thing paced their opponents in spending. Scott, who spent nearly $67mn. most competitive. District voter Burke said she had The race has seen allegations is over.” Democrats and their allies in the 10 Outside groups spent $22mn sup- Republicans have held the seat since leaned toward Knight. that Kemp has attempted to pre- The contest, a top Democratic target, costliest House races spent $142mn to porting him and opposing Nelson. 1992. Then the avalanche of Hill ads and vent tens of thousands of mainly has drawn more than $26mn in spend- Republicans’ $96mn, Reuters’ analysis Missouri’s Senate race between Dem- But the past decade has seen an infl ux mailers annoyed Burke so much it ce- black voters from taking part in the ing by candidates and outside groups found. ocrat Claire McCaskill and Republican of newcomers priced out of the Los An- mented her decision to cast her ballot election. since January 2017, according to a Reu- The fi ght for the Senate is even cost- Josh Hawley is second most expensive geles housing market, and now nearly for him. Gulf Times 16 Monday, November 5, 2018 ASIA Lanka to lift parliament US, Japan freeze aid suspension in 10 days over crisis: AFP The United Nations had led a Colombo chorus of international voices demanding an early resumption of parliament to end the consti- ousted PM ri Lanka President tutional crisis that has paralysed Maithripala Sirisena an- the administration and caused Snounced yesterday that economic upheaval. Reuters Japan had also put on hold parliament would reconvene a Wickremesinghe says his Colombo plans to extend a soft loan of week later than expected, pro- dismissal was illegal as he com- $1.4bn for a light railway project, longing a bitter power struggle mands a greater majority in par- he said. “A lot of projects are held that has crippled the country. liament than former strongman ri Lanka’s deposed Prime up, the Millennium Challenge, Sirisena had on Friday prom- Rajapakse. Minister Ranil Wick- the Japanese loan,” he said. ised that he would recall parlia- The announcement by Sirise- Sremesinghe said the Unit- The Sri Lankan embassy in ment on Wednesday to decide na came as the country’s main ed States and Japan had frozen Washington has been informally between two rivals claiming the Tamil party urged him to end the more than a billion dollars of told by the MCC that around lawful right to head Sri Lanka’s worsening political crisis. development aid after his abrupt $480mn will be on hold be- government. The Tamil National Alliance dismissal raised doubts about cause of the latest situation in The nation of 21mn has been (TNA) could tip a vote to de- the future of democracy in the the country, a Sri Lankan foreign gripped by constitutional tur- cide between the two rivals and island. ministry offi cial separately con- moil since Sirisena sacked his has already said it would vote The move to hold back project fi rmed to Reuters. former ally, prime minister Ranil against Rajapakse in a no-con- fi nancing, along with the EU’s An offi cial at the Sri Lankan Wickremesinghe, and his cabi- fi dence motion when parliament warning it could withdraw duty- ministry of Megapolis and West- net on October 26 - appoint- reconvenes. Activists hold placards during a demonstration in Colombo yesterday. free concessions for Sri Lankan ern Development also confi rmed ing former president Mahinda Both men have been marshal- exports if it didn’t stick to com- the freeze to Reuters on the Rajapakse in his place. ling numbers behind the scenes, Wickremesinghe’s United Na- sacking of the prime minister as including the TNA - are set to op- mitments on national recon- Japanese loan, imperilling the Sirisena shut the legislature a worrying civil society groups tional Party (UNP) risks losing “sheer political expediency” and pose Rajapakse, observers said. ciliation, will further strain the project. day after the sacking, preventing who protested Sunday in the legislators to Rajapakse’s camp outside the law. The Sri Lanka Muslim Con- economy, Wickremesinghe told An offi cial at the Japan Inter- a vote demanded by Wickremes- capital Colombo against the as the days drag by. The state-run Sunday Observ- gress (SLMC) party, which has Reuters in an interview. national Co-operation Agency inghe to prove his majority. horse-trading. Some members of his party er, now controlled by Rajapakse seven lawmakers, said its mem- President Maithripala Sirise- said the agency was closely Yesterday the expected re- TNA legislator Dharmalingam have alleged they were off ered loyalists, defended the change of bers had also rejected off ers na fi red him last month after monitoring political develop- call was pushed back until Sithadthan said the president portfolios and huge amounts of government but acknowledged to join the Sirisena-Rajapakse months of tensions within the ments and the railway project November 14. had called the Tamil legislators to money to switch allegiances. the crisis should be resolved. camp. government and appointed Ma- loan had been withheld. “I do by this Proclamation a meeting Wednesday - the same Seven MPs have already According to latest counts, Meanwhile, thousands of hinda Rajapakse as premier in a The US embassy in Colombo summon Parliament to meet at day parliament was originally switched sides and been granted Wickremesinghe now has 102 supporters continue to occupy shock move that has plunged the had no immediate comment the Chamber of Parliament... on expected to reconvene. portfolios under Rajapakse’s new MPs from the 225-seat assembly Wickremesinghe’s offi cial resi- nation into a political crisis. when asked if Washington is the fourteenth day of November, “We have asked the president to administration. after another defection while Ra- dence saying they would resist Rajapakse is a former presi- taking any measures due to the 2018 at 10.00 am,” Sirisena said immediately call parliament and The Sunday Times of Co- japakse and Sirisena also have 102. any move by Sirisena to evict dent who led the country to a Sri Lankan political crisis. in an offi cial proclamation. end this crisis,” Sithadthan said. lombo newspaper described the Most of the remaining 21 MPs - their prime minister. military defeat of Tamil separa- The United States and the EU tist guerrillas in 2009 but who have urged the president to im- has since faced widespread al- mediately summon parliament legations of human rights abuse and let deputies decide who is and targeting of Tamil civilians. to lead the country. Sirisena Wickremesinghe, who has suspended parliament until No- Rohingya Bangladesh to release poll schedule on Nov 8 challenged his dismissal and vember 16 and has made no pub- vowed to remain prime minister lic statement on his plans. until parliament voted him out, While Wickremesinghe is boy injured IANS missioner Shahadat Hossain days from the schedule.” rules in line with the recent said there were international staying on in the premier’s resi- Dhaka Chowdhury said while talking However, an EC source said amendment to the Represen- concerns about a government dence called Temple Trees, Ra- to reporters after the meeting. the election might be held be- tation of the People Order led by Rajapakse. japakse has taken over the offi ces in fi ring at There is every possibility fore December 25, news agency (Amendment) 1972 which in- “Countries are sensitive, they of the prime minister following he election commission that the election schedule will UNB reported. corporated a provision to pave have concerns (about a govern- his swearing in. (EC) of Bangladesh will be announced at noon, he said. Hossain said no decision the way of using EVM in the ment led by Rajapakse) democratic Wickremesinghe said his par- border Tannounce the sched- Replying to a query, the was taken at the meeting about general election like local body countries have concerns,” he said ty will step up a public campaign ule for the 11th parliamentary election commissioner said army deployment during the elections. in the interview conducted in the for parliament to be called and elections on November 8, me- they had a plan to announce election. The EC will now send the prime minister’s offi cial residence he be allowed to prove his ma- AFP dia reported. the polls schedule on Novem- The CEC presided over the draft rules to the law ministry in a colonial-era bungalow where jority. “We are all contemplating Cox’s Bazar The decision was taken at ber 4. “However, we’ve decid- EC meeting that began around for vetting before publishing Wickremesinghe is camping along alternative actions, this includes a meeting of the commission ed to announce the schedule 5:45pm. a gazette notifi cation over the with his supporters. a big mobilisation of people. Ul- yesterday. on November 8 considering all The EC yesterday fi nalised rules, said the offi cial. The United States has held off timately this has to be decided in Rohingya refugee boy was “Chief Election Commis- the aspects,” he said. the draft rules to use electronic On October 31, President on a nearly $500mn aid programme parliament.” shot and injured on the sioner (CEC) Nurul Huda will Asked when the voting voting machine (EVM) in the Abdul Hamid promulgated an for building of highways and im- Soon after taking over Ra- ABangladesh-Myanmar announce the election sched- will be held, he said they will general election. ordinance amending the RPO proving land administration by the japakse said he wanted to end the border as multiple rounds were ule through an address to the fi x the polling day main- EC joint secretary S M incorporating the provision government-funded Millennium “politics of hate” in the country fi red from a Myanmar border nation some time on the day taining a standard time. Asaduzzaman said the com- of EVM use in parliamentary Challenge Corporation (MCC), and that his government will security post, an offi cial said (November 8),” Election Com- “This might be around 45 mission formulated the draft polls. Wickremesinghe said. work for justice for all citizens. yesterday. Nurul Islam, 15, was graz- ing cows when 17 rounds were fi red from Myanmar’s Rymongkhali security post, Border Guard Bangladesh French PM inaugurates medical centre in Vietnam city (BGB) spokesman Major Iqbal Ahmed said. “Islam was lucky as a bullet AFP not be drawn on the Commu- medical centre in the city. nies to store data in the country, scratched his elbow,” he said, Ho Chi Minh City nist government’s handling of A source familiar with the remove “toxic content” from adding the boy lives in Bal- dissent, which includes jailing meetings between the two gov- websites, and hand over user ukhali refugee camp in Bangla- people for posting their opin- ernments said human rights information if requested by the desh’s southeastern Cox’s Bazar rance does not “sweep ions about hot-button issues was brought up during talks on government. district. anything under a rug” on Facebook. Friday, the day of Philippe’s ar- Critics of the bill say it will The BGB would send a Fwhen it comes to the More than 50 activists, rights rival. serve as a chokehold on dissent protest letter to their Myan- issue of human rights in Vi- campaigners and bloggers have “The human rights issue was in the one-party state, where mar counterparts, the Bor- etnam, French Prime Minis- been put behind bars in 2018, addressed in the talks. The Vi- activists are routinely jailed der Guard Police, over the ter Edouard Philippe insisted one of the harshest crackdowns etnamese authorities’ attention and all independent media are shooting, he said. yesterday, after sidestepping in recent years. has been drawn to a list of indi- banned. A local Bangladeshi offi - questions over the Asian When questioned by re- vidual cases,” said the source. Philippe will host a business cial, speaking on condition of country’s dismal record on porters in Ho Chi Minh City, The French premier’s visit forum with French tech entre- anonymity, said the incident dissent. Philippe insisted, “we do not coincides with the recent re- preneurs before departing in might be aimed at delaying His comments came on the sweep anything under the lease of a draft cybersecurity the evening for New Caledonia. the repatriation of Rohingya fi nal day of a state visit to Vi- rug, but we have discussions decree, which outlines how the The jam-packed three-day refugees, set to begin in next etnam, that was largely aimed with the Vietnamese authori- draconian bill would be imple- visit also included a stop at week. “Otherwise, why would at drumming up business deals ties that do not go through the mented. Dien Bien Phu on Saturday, they fi re at the Bangladeshi with one of Asia’s fastest- press”. It is expected to come into the site of an epic battle be- ground? It is to create pres- growing economies as both “We do it in forums that are eff ect in January, and observers tween France and Vietnam in sure on the refugees and the sides signed contracts worth a going well, the way we have say that it mimics China’s re- 1954 that would spell the end French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, centre, speaks as Vietnam’s UN,” he said. total of nearly $12bn. always done,” Philippe said pressive web control tools. of France’s colonial empire in Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, right, looks on after the Bangladesh and Myanmar of- But the French premier would after inaugurating a French It would require tech compa- Indochina. inauguration of a medical centre in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday. fi cials last week said some 2,000 Rohingya refugees would return to their homeland in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state as part of a repatriation deal. Marigold in bloom More than 720,000 of Myan- Suu Kyi’s party defeated in by-polls mar’s stateless Rohingya fl ed a brutal military crackdown in AFP urday’s by-election, in which on the ethnic Rakhine Bud- August last year, taking shelter Yangon 13 seats in the lower and upper dhists’ dissatisfaction. in crowded camps in Bangla- houses of parliament and re- Nyunt said the loss of these desh and bringing with them gional assemblies were up for six seats is due to his party’s harrowing tales of rape, murder he party of Myanmar’s grabs. unpopularity with ethnic mi- and arson in a military crack- embattled head of state “Currently, we won seven nority groups and people work- down. TAung San Suu Kyi said seats and lost in six places,” ing for the government. Investigators have said sen- yesterday they were defeated in NLD spokesman Myo Nyunt “We heard that ethnic groups ior Myanmar military offi cials six constituencies in a national said. are not satisfi ed with our per- should be prosecuted for geno- by-election, showing uneven Four of the six seats were formance regarding the peace cide in Rakhine, but the country support for her government af- previously held by NLD candi- process,” he said. has rejected these calls, insisting ter a string of controversies. dates. Political analyst Maung it was defending itself against Suu Kyi and her National While offi cial tallies have not Maung Soe said that the low militants. League for Democracy (NLD) yet been released by the Union voter turnout in most of these Myanmar and Bangladesh an- swept to power in 2015 in a Election Commission, prelimi- constituencies hurt the NLD’s nounced a large-scale repatriation landslide victory, ending dec- nary results show the military- showing, and voter apathy plan in November 2017. ades of military rule. aligned Union Solidarity and could really impact them in the But the process hit bureau- But her tenure has been full Development Party (USDP) had next election in 2020 – adding cratic hurdles almost im- of stumbles, most notably with beaten NLD out on three seats. that in comparison, the mili- mediately and failed to take ethnic groups involved in peace In some constituencies vot- tary-aligned USDP has unwa- off , as both sides blamed the talks with the military – which ers went with ethnic political vering support. other for the delay and rights has been marred by skirmishes parties, while people in Rakhine “Although NLD supporters group warned returning the and ongoing civil war in states state’s Yathedaung township are many, they are currently Rohingya to Myanmar would A woman picks marigold flowers, used to make garlands and off er prayers, before selling them like Kachin and Shan. threw their support behind the losing supporters from ethnic condemn them to further to the market for the Tihar festival, also called Diwali, in Kathmandu yesterday. The dissatisfaction came son of a prominent politician groups and intellectuals as well reprisals. through in the results of Sat- who has in the past capitalised as from the media,” he said. Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 17 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Punk activist group stand up for Hong Kong freedoms

AFP “threats made by Chinese au- Hong Kong has rights unseen invading the pitch dressed as Hong Kong thorities relating to the artist”. on the mainland, protected by police during the football World “We are very sorry to know an agreement made before the Cup fi nal in Moscow in July. that things are getting worse city was handed back to China by The band said it was a protest embers of Russian punk here. I think it is very important Britain in 1997, but there are seri- against Russian leader Vladimir protest group Pussy to be here now just to express our ous concerns those freedoms are Putin and issued a list of politi- MRiot joined Hong Kong solidarity,” Pussy Riot member under threat. There was a major cal demands, including freeing pro-democracy campaigners on Olga Kuracheva said during the backlash against Hong Kong au- political prisoners and ending Saturday to defend freedom of packed panel discussion on free- thorities when they denied a visa arrests at peaceful rallies. In Sep- expression as Beijing tightens its dom of art and expression, held without explanation to a Finan- tember, a Pussy Riot member grip on the semi-autonomous at a studio in Hong Kong. cial Times journalist last month was hospitalised with suspected city. Kuracheva and fellow Pussy who had chaired a press club talk poisoning and has said he be- Two members of the Russian Riot member Veronika Nikulshi- by a Hong Kong independence lieves he was attacked by Russia’s group spoke alongside leading na said threats to exhibitions and activist. secret service for his attempt to Hong Kong democracy activist political art events are “common Wong called on members of investigate the deaths of three Joshua Wong at a panel discus- practice” in Russia. Kuracheva civil society around the world Russian journalists in Africa. sion that had been due to ac- encouraged people to speak out to share their experiences in or- The two Pussy Riot members company the launch of a highly against suppression. der to gain “more bargaining told the Hong Kong audience anticipated art show by Chinese “I would advise people not to power” in pushing for human that the poisoning was a bid to political cartoonist Badiucao. be afraid, because one voice is rights and freedoms. Kurache- silence them. “Sometimes living Pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong speaks as he protests alongside members of Pussy Riot from Russia That show was cancelled on Fri- not so much ... but voices of soli- va and Nikulshina were among in Russia is like living in a war and against the jailing of political prisoners, and in support of dissident Chinese-Australian cartoonist Badiu- day with Hong Kong organis- darity should sound loud,” she four members of Pussy Riot who I sometimes think: who’s going cao, who cancelled his exhibition in Hong Kong due to what exhibition organisers claimed were threats ers citing safety concerns due to told the audience. served a 15-day jail sentence for be the next?” Kuracheva said. from China, in Hong Kong.

Cuban president welcomed to Pyongyang

Cuban President Miguel Diaz- welcome the visit to Pyongyang in 1986 to meet founder-leader Canel was due in Pyongyang by Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Kim Il-sung, and Pyongyang held yesterday, North Korea’s state Bermudez,” said an editorial three days of off icial mourning media reported, describing carried by the off icial Rodong when Castro died in November the visit as a “historic event” Sinmun newspaper. 2016. North Korea sent a N Korea warns highlighting the “invincible “His current visit ... is a historic delegation led by Choe Ryong- friendship” of the two allies. event which powerfully hae, a senior aide to its leader The visit comes amid stalled demonstrates invincible Kim Jong-un, to Havana for talks between North Korea and friendship and unity and Castro’s funeral. the United States and only days comradely friendship,” it added. Cuba in the past has flouted after Washington imposed fresh The paper featured a separate international sanctions imposed economic restrictions on Cuba. profile and photo of Diaz-Canel, on North Korea over its nuclear of returning to Washington’s ties with Havana who took off ice in April in a weapons programme. In 2013 were fully restored in 2015 after historic transition of power on Panama seized a North Korean more than half a century of the Caribbean island, succeeding ship carrying an undeclared enmity, but have deteriorated Raul Castro, who took over Cuban arms shipment of Soviet- since President Donald Trump from his elder brother Fidel, era weapons and fighter jets took off ice. Communist Cuba father of the 1959 revolution. No hidden under sacks of sugar. is one of North Korea’s few further details were given on the North Korea insisted the weapons nuclear policy remaining allies. itinerary of his visit. were being shipped for repair, “The Korean people warmly Fidel Castro visited North Korea prior to their return. AFP Seoul

orth Korea has warned the United States it will US, South Korea set to begin N“seriously” consider re- turning to a state policy aimed at building nuclear weapons if delayed military exercises Washington does not end tough economic sanctions against the impoverished regime. Reuters exercises for 2019. Vigilant Ace, tion.’ We cannot help laughing For years, the North had pur- Seoul suspended earlier this month, at such a foolish idea.” sued a “byungjin” policy of si- is one of several such exercises North Korea has not tested multaneously developing its nu- that have been halted to encour- a ballistic missile or nuclear clear capabilities alongside the he United States and age dialogue with Pyongyang. weapon for nearly a year, and economy. South Korea will be- has said it has shuttered its main In April, citing a “fresh climate Tgin small-scale military In recent weeks, North nuclear test site with plans to of detente and peace” on the pe- drills today that were delayed Korea has pressed more dismantle several more facili- ninsula, North Korean leader during talks with North Korea, sharply for what it sees as ties. Kim Jong-un declared the nu- days after Pyongyang threat- reciprocal concessions In recent weeks, North Korea clear quest complete and said his ened to restart work on its nu- by the United States and has pressed more sharply for country would focus on “social- clear programme if internation- other countries what it sees as reciprocal con- ist economic construction”. But a al pressure does not ease. cessions by the United States statement issued by the North’s The Korean Marine Exchange The biggest combat-read- and other countries. “As shown, foreign ministry said Pyongyang Programme was among the iness war game ever staged the US is totally to blame for all could revert to its former policy if training drills that were indefi - in and around Japan has gone the problems on the Korean pe- the US did not change its stance nitely suspended in June after ahead, however, with nuclear- ninsula including the nuclear over sanctions. US President Donald Trump met powered aircraft carrier USS issue and therefore, the very “The word ‘byungjin’ may ap- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) posing with North Korean and Chinese artists while attending a North Korean leader Kim Jong- Ronald Reagan joining Japanese one that caused all those must pear again and the change of the joint performance at the Mansudae Art Theatre in Pyongyang. un in Singapore and promised to destroyers and a Canadian war- untie the knot it made,” Friday’s line could be seriously reconsid- end joint, US-South Korea mili- ship in the ocean off Japan — statement said. ered,” said the statement carried compatible,” said the statement, from lifting sanctions against ment and joint cross-border tary exercises often criticised by another key player in the eff ort American offi cials have re- by the offi cial KCNA news agency released under the name of the Pyongyang. Despite a fl urry of projects as incentives for steps the North. to pressure North Korea. mained sceptical of Kim’s com- late Friday. At a historic summit director of the foreign ministry’s diplomacy on and around the pe- towards denuclearisation, while A spokesman for South Ko- North Korea warned on Friday mitment to give up the nuclear in Singapore in June, US Presi- Institute for American Studies. ninsula diff erences are emerging the US has been adamant pres- rea’s Ministry of Defence con- that it could restart develop- arsenal he has already amassed, dent Donald Trump and Kim “What remains to be done is between Seoul and Washington, sure should be maintained on fi rmed a round of training would ment of its nuclear programme however, and Washington says signed a vaguely-worded state- the US corresponding reply,” it which stations 28,500 troops in Pyongyang until it fully disman- begin near the southern city of if the United States does not it won’t support easing inter- ment on denuclearisation. added. the South to protect it from its tles its weapons programmes. Pohang, with no media access drop its campaign of “maximum national sanctions until more But little progress has been The statement is the latest sign nuclear-armed neighbour. In an interview with Fox expected. About 500 American pressure” and sanctions. verifi ed progress is made. made since then, with Washing- of Pyongyang’s increasing frus- The South’s dovish president News on Friday, US Secretary of and South Korean marines will “The improvement of rela- South Korean President ton pushing to maintain sanc- tration with Washington. Last Moon Jae-in has long favoured State Mike Pompeo reiterated participate in the manoeuvres, tions and sanctions are incom- Moon Jae-in, meanwhile, has tions against the North until its month, the North’s state media engagement with the North, that sanctions will remain until the Yonhap news agency report- patible,” a foreign ministry offi - forged ahead with eff orts to en- “fi nal, fully verifi ed denucleari- carried a near 1,700 words long which is subject to multiple UN Pyongyang carries out denu- ed. In Washington last week, cial said in a statement released gage with North Korea in recent sation” and Pyongyang con- commentary accusing the US Security Council sanctions over clearisation commitments made South Korea’s defence minis- through state-run KCNA news months, raising US concerns demning US demands as “gang- of playing a “double game”, im- its nuclear and ballistic missile in Singapore, adding he will meet ter said Washington and Seoul agency. “The US thinks that that Seoul could weaken pres- ster-like”. “The improvement of plicitly criticising Trump for his programmes. with his North Korean counter- would make a decision by De- its oft-repeated ‘sanctions and sure on North Korea to give up relations and sanctions are in- comments aimed at barring Seoul He has dangled large invest- part next week. cember on major joint military pressure’ lead to ‘denuclearisa- its nuclear weapons.

15 die as truck hits car lineup in China

Indonesia extends search for crash victims, second black box An out-of-control truck ploughed into a 31-car lineup in northwest China killing 15 people and injuring 44, authorities in the city of Lanzhou said yesterday. The accident occurred on Saturday night Reuters as the driver of the heavy duty articulated truck lost control on a Jakarta downhill stretch of expressway and collided with cars lining up at a toll booth, Lanzhou’s propaganda department said. Ten of the 44 hurt sustained serious injuries, authorities said. The big rig driver Li Feng ndonesian authorities yester- was put under investigation and police watch, according to the off i- day extended by three days the cial news agency Xinhua. The semi-trailer was registered to Li’s home Isearch for victims and a black northeastern Liaoning province, more than 2,000km from the scene box from the wreckage of a Lion of the accident. It was Li’s first time driving the stretch of road, the Air passenger jet that crashed China Daily said. State broadcaster CCTV aired video from the scene near Jakarta last week, killing all showing heavy snow and many crippled and twisted vehicles. 189 people on board. “We decided Deadly road accidents are common in China, where traff ic regula- to extend it three days”, beginning tions are often flouted or go unenforced. Last week a scuff le between on Monday, search and rescue a bus driver and a passenger caused a bus to plunge from a bridge agency (Basarnas) chief Muham- into a river in southwest China, killing all 15 people on board. mad Syaugi told a news confer- ence. The decision was based on an PNG police hunt for prison escapees evaluation and observations of An Indonesian rescue team lift a pair tyres from the ill-fated Lion Air the crash site, he told reporters, An Indonesian National Transportation Safety Commission (KNKT) flight JT 610 off Karawang in the Java Sea yesterday. noting that many victims’ re- off icial carries debris from the crashed Lion Air flight JT610 at Tanjung Dozens of escaped prisoners, some described by police as “hardcore” mains had not been recovered. Priok port in Jakarta, Indonesia. strong signal. Today (a search) have complicated search eff orts. criminals, remained on the run nearly a week after a jailbreak on As of yesterday, a total of 105 dive was conducted – there was a The pilot of fl ight JT610 had Papua New Guinea’s remote island of New Britain. Some 43 con- body bags, few containing in- day, 13 minutes after it took off that fl ight,” Nurcahyo Utomo told signal but it was weak, quite pos- asked for, and received, permis- victs broke out of Lakiemata prison yesterday while on their way to tact remains, had been recovered from Jakarta. The head of Indone- reporters. Analysis of the data and sibly because of the mud,” Utomo sion to turn back to Jakarta, but church, using homemade weapons to threaten guards, police said. and handed to police for forensic sia’s transportation safety com- a recovered aircraft landing gear said. what went wrong remains a mys- Three were shot and killed by security guards and one has since identifi cation, yet only 14 victims mittee (KNKT) said 69 hours of and engine will begin on Monday He noted that the fl ight data tery. surrendered. In a statement released on Friday, police said they were had been identifi ed. “I’m sure the recorded data from 19 fl ights, in- and information will be passed to recorder had been found buried in While victims’ relatives are confident of recapturing “most, if not all” of the 39 escapees still on total will increase,” Syaugi said. cluding the one that crashed, had police if needed, Utomo said. “Of half a metre of mud. desperate to know what hap- the loose. PNG encompasses the eastern side of the island of New The agency is prioritising re- been downloaded successfully course, this won’t be completed in The second black box is pened, the fi rst crash of a Boeing Guinea, where its capital Port Moresby is located. New Britain is a covering remains of victims and from a partly damaged fl ight data one or two days.” thought to be around 50m from 737 MAX is also the focus of scru- separate island to the east of New Guinea. The country will host the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), recorder recovered on Thursday. Meanwhile, divers searching the main search area, where the tiny by the global aviation indus- world leaders at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit the second of two black boxes “Now we are choosing which for the cockpit voice recorder water is only 30m (98ft) deep, but try. Preliminary fi ndings of the beginning November 17 in the crime-plagued capital. from the Boeing Co 737 MAX that parameters we need. From here have been homing in on ping sig- ocean currents and mud on the investigation are expected to be The government has been planning a massive security operation in crashed into the sea early on Mon- we will analyse what happened to nals. “Yesterday there was a fairly sea bed that is over a metre deep made public after 30 days. the lead-up to the event. Gulf Times 18 Monday, November 5, 2018 BRITAIN

BA travellers forced to sleep on airport fl oor during 77-hour delay

Guardian News and Media were forced to sleep on the fl oor The airline put up passengers Ceri Todd, from Mumbles in “There was a lack of leader- got on the aborted fl ight, the cus- and while there were limited ho- London of New York’s JFK airport after in a hotel for the night in Orlando Wales, said she was on the fl ight ship, a lack of strategy and there tomer care manager advised us tel rooms available, our teams on their fl ight from Orlando in Flor- and returned them to the aircraft with her husband and two teen- didn’t appear to be any plan in that they weren’t sure the aircraft the ground cared for customers ida to London was diverted. after repairs were made. age children, who spent seven place for when things like this had been fi xed. No way would we in our fi rst class lounge providing ritish Airways has been Flight BA2036 was scheduled The fl ight was diverted to New hours trying to sleep on the fl oor happen.” ever use BA again.” bedding, food and drinks to en- accused of providing “de- to leave Orlando on November 1 at York after a further “minor tech- of the terminal before being Another passenger, Rosie Slat- BA said in a statement: “We sure they were comfortable dur- Bplorable service” after 19.25ET and arrive in London eight nical issue”. moved to a departure lounge. er Watts, said her children had appreciate that this was an ex- ing their stay.” more than 100 London-bound hours later. But after being held up Passengers said many people Describing it as “the journey to bed down for more than fi ve hausting and frustrating expe- The company said it had been passengers were stranded in the by a “technical defect” and then a were stranded at JFK without from hell”, she said there were fi re hours on a JFK terminal fl oor. rience for our customers, and unable to fi nd accommodation US for nearly three days due to a diversion to New York, it did not information, accommodation or engines on the JFK tarmac when She told the Guardian: “We we have apologised for the long for all passengers because the technical fault on a plane. arrive in London until Sunday No- access to food or drink for several the plane landed but no BA staff were treated with contempt and delay to their fl ight. Customers New York marathon meant that Passengers said their children vember 4, 77 hours late. hours. to greet passengers. like we didn’t matter. When we were rebooked where possible hotels were fully booked. Govt rubbishes reports of all-UK customs Brexit deal

Reuters ing good progress on the future London relationship and 95% of the withdrawal agreement is now settled and negotiations are on- rime Minister Theresa going.” May’s offi ce has dismissed The Sunday Times said May’s Pas “speculation” a news- Cabinet would meet tomorrow paper report that suggests an to discuss her plan and that she all-UK customs deal will be hoped there would be enough written into the legally binding progress by Friday for the EU to agreement governing Britain’s announce a special summit. withdrawal from the EU. EU diplomats told Reuters on The Sunday Times said the Friday they doubted a deal could plan would resolve the vexed be completed in time for a tenta- issue of the Irish border, which tively scheduled summit on No- is the main stumbling block in vember 17-18, but that it could Brexit campaigner, Arron Banks, appears on the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show, in London yesterday. the Brexit talks, by avoiding the perhaps come a week later. need to treat Northern Ireland Cabinet support for any exit diff erently from the rest of the agreement is crucial for May, UK. whose ruling Conservative Party With just fi ve months to go is deeply divided over Brexit. until it exits the EU, Britain’s Some of her lawmakers want divorce talks are at an im- to oust May. passe, fuelling huge uncertainty May also runs a minority among businesses and causing government which relies on the No Russian money in the value of sterling to see-saw support of Northern Ireland’s on any news about a possible Democratic Unionist Party breakthrough in the talks. (DUP) to get legislation through Reuters reported on Friday parliament. that the EU has suggested a The DUP has vowed to scup- backstop post-Brexit customs per any deal that treats North- arrangement that would cover ern Ireland diff erently to the rest Brexit donations: Banks all of the UK. of the UK. This could give mainland If she fails to win Cabinet Guardian News and Media the money came from his UK pany ... which doesn’t generate mission had not asked for his Banks’s appearance on the Britain some scope to set trade and parliamentary support for London company Rock Services, gener- that kind of money”, Banks said bank statements and that a QC show came after it emerged he rules while keeping the province any deal, Britain faces the pros- ated by his group of insurance the income came from insurance had signed off the loan structure may have misled parliament over of Northern Ireland aligned with pect of an unstructured Brexit businesses. profi ts and was “UK-generated”. for the donation. links between his pro-Brexit the EU. — leaving the EU without any rron Banks has said his “The money came from Rock However, he refused to say The NCA announced last week campaign and his insurance Housing Minister James formal arrangements for trade, donations to the Brexit Services, which was a UK limited which of his companies had gen- that it was investigating alle- business during the EU referen- Brokenshire said yesterday immigration and many other is- Acampaign came from his company. It was generated out erated the income for Rock Serv- gations of criminal off ences by dum. there was still an issue around sues. own bank account and that there of insurance business written in ices. “It has all sorts of revenue … Banks and Leave.EU. The busi- Hundreds of internal e-mails Northern Ireland in the Brexit Meanwhile, more than 70 was “no Russian money, no in- the UK,” Banks said. “Contrary it’s a group of companies,” Banks nessman said the NCA would leaked by former employees from talks, referring to a yet-to-be business fi gures are calling for a terference” in the £8mn he gave to some of the press reports … we said. “Your understanding of it “see it for what it is” and sug- Eldon Insurance and Rock Serv- finalised ‘backstop’ arrange- public vote on the fi nal terms of to the unoffi cial Leave campaign. turn over £250mn of premium, is wrong. (The donations) came gested he would be vindicated. ices to the Observer suggest that ment which would prevent a Britain’s exit from the European The founder of Leave.EU, it’s a sizeable business.” from me – I am Rock Services, Banks also said he stood by a – despite categorical denials by hard border between Northern Union, warning that the country whom the Electoral Commission Banks has previously said his the companies belong to me and comment in the Sunday Times Banks – insurance staff worked Ireland and EU member Ire- faces “either a blindfold or a de- referred to the National Crime company Rock Services did not I am a UK taxpayer.” this week that he would now vote on the Leave.EU campaign from land if no better solution can structive hard Brexit”, the Sun- Agency (NCA), said he wanted to generate income. He told the Banks said he had provided to remain in the EU, blaming the their company offi ces. be found. day Times reported. state “absolutely for the record, digital, culture, media and sport bank statements to The Andrew “corruption” in British politics. Any work carried out in the “That very much remains our Firms are increasingly wor- there was no Russian money or select committee that it was “a Marr Show, though Marr said “The sewer that exists, the months before the referendum focus and attention in getting ried about the prospect of Brit- interference of any type, I just treasury function, it just deliv- they had been redacted, and that disgraceful behaviour of the gov- should have been declared under that deal,” he told the BBC. ain leaving the world’s biggest want to be absolutely clear about ers the cash ... It is just a service “no money” came from the Isle ernment in how they are selling electoral law. Asked about the Sunday trading bloc in March without that”. company. The actual loan came of Man-based company Rock us out means that if I had my Banks said it had been declared Times report, a spokesman at an agreement, or that politi- The £8mn donation was the from another one of my compa- Holdings, which owns both UK- time again, I think we would have and that people from Eldon had May’s offi ce said: “This is all cians will sign up to a deal that largest in British history. Banks, nies that was delivered in.” based and international busi- been better to probably remain “transferred over on short-term speculation. The prime minister limits companies’ access to the appearing on the BBC’s Andrew When Marr put it to Banks that nesses. and not unleash these demons,” contracts, legally, and it was re- has been clear that we are mak- continent’s markets. Marr Show yesterday, claimed Rock Services was a “shell com- Banks said the Electoral Com- he said. ported in the right way”. May to face questions Peace rally Rebels Labour MPs escape sanctions from kids on TV show Guardian News and Media rations and workers earning more London than £80,000. One senior Labour insider Guardian News and Media to allow May to be interviewed by fi lmed at Sky’s studios in west briefed on the shadow chancel- London the channel, compared with other London before being aired at he 20 Labour MPs who re- lor’s rationale said they had wit- broadcasters. 10.30am on Saturdays and 11.30am belled to oppose Tory tax nessed an “eerily similar spiel in She has not appeared on Sky on Sundays. Tcuts for high earners will the New Labour years” when Blair heresa May has agreed to News’s fl agship Sophy Ridge on Other segments include chil- not face further sanctions, as the and Gordon Brown were thrashing take part in a fortnightly Sunday political interview pro- dren providing commentary on a party tries to shut down the em- out how best to raise extra funding Tquestion-and-answer ses- gramme since its fi rst episode in story currently in the news, a sec- barrassing row. for public services, including the sion on Sky News – on the condi- January 2017, while earlier this year tion called I Don’t Get It, which The shadow chancellor, John NHS, without paying a price at the tion that all the questions are asked Sky News’s director of news gath- takes an in-depth look at an issue, McDonnell, irked colleagues by ballot box. by children. The prime minister ering, Jonathan Levy, was among and a roundup of viral videos. announcing that Labour would Twenty Labour MPs, includ- signed up to be a regular feature on those who signed a public letter A feature called Our World will not reverse the measures – a de- ing Lisa Nandy, David Lammy and FYI, a new weekly children’s news complaining about the limited involve children reporting from cision based on polling and focus Alison McGovern, defi ed party programme that will be broadcast access given to some broadcast- overseas, although Sky confi rmed group analysis described by one whips on Thursday to vote against on Saturday and Sunday morn- ers during the Conservative party this will only feature “safe envi- senior party fi gure as “eerily simi- the chancellor’s changes to tax ings, starting from this week. conference. ronments” and no child reporters lar” to that carried out by Labour thresholds despite Labour urging As part of her appearances, Taking part in the programme would be dispatched to war zones. under Tony Blair. Philip Ham- its MPs to abstain. All of Jeremy May will answer two questions could have political benefi ts. Al- Lucy Murphy, the head of Sky mond’s move to bring forward in- Corbyn’s rivals for the party lead- from children, with the interview though children cannot vote, it is Kids, said: “I hope FYI doesn’t just creases to the income tax personal ership in 2015 – Yvette Cooper, Liz pre-recorded in Downing Street. another opportunity for politi- answer kids’ questions, but that it allowance and the higher-rate Kendall and Andy Burnham – op- The fi rst question was posed by cians to reach the parents who are gets them asking more. Kids make threshold, promised in the Con- posed McDonnell’s stance, saying an eight-year-old boy called Zak, watching alongside their kids. up 20% of the population but they servative manifesto, was one of the £2.7bn cost of the measure who asked the prime minister In alternate weeks, the children are 100% of the future, so it’s vital the most eye-catching announce- could have been spent on alleviat- whether she gets along with the will question a diff erent politician, we invest in them and give them ments in the budget on Monday. ing child poverty. US president, Donald Trump. with the Labour leader Jeremy a voice.” FYI is being produced by McDonnell provoked a back- Senior party fi gures have said The prime minister’s decision Corbyn, the mayor of London, a Fresh Start Media, an off shoot lash among Labour colleagues on McDonnell based his decision to take part in the show is a coup Sadiq Khan, and the EU’s chief of the company behind the chil- Doves are released as people holding placards gather Tuesday when he said in a series partly on Labour party research for Sky Kids, which commissioned Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, dren’s newspaper First News, and together for a march for ‘Peace, Love and Justice’, of interviews that he would not that showed voters’ idea of who the programme. However, it could currently lined up to take part. broadcasts will be made available organised by Turn to Love, a global, multi-faith reverse the cuts if Labour came to should pay more tax to fund public anger some at Sky News, who have The political interview is one to schools through the First News community of individuals turning their back on terror power, but would instead intro- services tends to be those earning become frustrated with Down- part of the 15-minute show, which website, in addition to being avail- and turning towards love, in London yesterday. duce his own tax policy aimed at a sum well beyond their own ex- ing Street’s perceived reluctance will be presented by children and able on Sky’s catchup services. raising more revenue from corpo- pectations. Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 19 BRITAIN ‘15-year-old boy’ accused of being 30-year-old migrant Daily Mail Ipswich, looks much older than also said to speak little English, Lewis Forte, whose step- One mother said: “Looking One parent with a son at the and has 680 pupils, has asked London his classmates and is said to have making it diffi cult for teachers to daughter is a pupil at Stoke, said: at photos, he is clearly older school said: ‘It is not a nice the Home Office to investi- admitted lying to them about his teach him eff ectively. “I went to the school to raise than 30. How can someone thought that this man is around gate. age. Parents are furious that a concerns and the teacher tried like this be eating with chil- children and sitting with them The trust said in a statement: pupil who claims to be The row began after a pupil ‘man’ is at school alongside their to shut me down by saying all his dren, changing with children at lunch.” Another said: “He has “The student is not attending 15 is under investigation posted a picture online of the children and have demanded an documents were correct, which and learning with our children told students he has had to lie to school at this time. We cannot Aby the Home Offi ce over ‘boy’ in uniform in a classroom explanation. There are reports they probably were. while pretending to be a teen- get into high school to complete comment further on an individ- concerns he may actually be a with a message: “How’s there a that children have been kept at When you come into the ager? He could be harmless but his GCSEs. He is believed to have ual case, but we have followed 30-year-old man. 30-year-old man in our maths home as a protest until the mat- country as an asylum seeker, he could also be a dangerous had his age assessed by immigra- government and local authority He is believed to be an asylum class?” ter is resolved. The authorities – you’re asked your name and age man. tion offi cials when he arrived in policies and guidance.” seeker who started school this The ‘15-year-old’ pupil is re- who have refused to discuss the and, if they’re satisfi ed you’re an “My son has always said that the UK without paperwork after Sources at the Home Offi ce term after telling the authorities ported to have said to classmates pupil or his age – and the school asylum seeker, then you’re given he looks older and he says the travelling via Germany. confi rmed the investigation was he was a teenager. that he needed to study because have been accused of ‘naivety’ the papers you need to get a job man does not even speak Eng- Following parents’ protests, being treated ‘seriously’ and ap- The pupil, who is studying for his previous qualifi cations are for not challenging the authen- and go to school. The school has lish. He sits in the class but can- the school, which is run by the pealed for the pupil to be given GCSEs at Stoke High School in not recognised in the UK. He is ticity of his claims. been naive.” not speak or learn.” Ormiston Academies Trust privacy.

Eight kids Veteran Car Run Govt plan injured Cameron to speed up as slide fracking collapses ‘not eyeing challenged he government is facing a Guardian News and Media fresh legal challenge to its London Tproposals to fast-track new political fracking sites by loosening plan- ning regulations. even of the eight children Ministers said this summer who were hurt after an they would drop the requirement Saccident on a giant fair- for shale gas wells to obtain plan- ground infl atable slide at a fi re- comeback’ ning permission by designating works display on Saturday have fracking sites as national infra- been discharged from hospital, structure projects. police have said. Guardian News and Media Anna Turley said: “The sense of Greg Clark, the business sec- Witnesses reportedly said London entitlement is unreal.” retary, used a written ministerial a number of children fell from Cameron’s post-political ca- statement to tell local authorities the top of the slide on to con- reer has so far seen him take a they should abide by a defi nition crete and people several metres riends of David Cameron diff erent direction to other key of fracking that campaigners say below. have insisted he harbours fi gures from the coalition period, is looser than the current one. The fireworks display at Fno immediate ambition to who have landed lucrative jobs in Opponents say the new defini- Woking Park in Surrey, was return to frontline politics and the private sector after govern- tion allows some companies to claim cancelled and a crowd of has been displeased by specula- ment. that their operations do not meet the 12,000 people were evacuated tion he would love to be foreign George Osborne, who was technical definition of fracking and from the venue to allow air am- secretary in a future Conserva- Cameron’s chancellor, is now therefore do not have to face tougher bulance helicopters to land and tive government. the editor of the Evening planning decisions. treat the injured. One said the former prime Standard newspaper in London A high court will today decide Surrey police declared a ma- minister intended to “purpose- and has also taken on a lucra- whether to allow a legal challenge, jor incident at the display after fully stay out of politics” for the tive advisory role with the US brought by the mayor of a town the incident, which happened at foreseeable future – well beyond investment firm BlackRock, in north Yorkshire against two about 7.30pm. Brexit next spring – and that he which in 2017 was paying him government departments, on the Police reported that eight was pursuing a portfolio career £650,000 a year for working grounds they should have under- children had been taken to hos- after “pretty much” completing one day a week. taken an assessment required by EU pital with “potentially serious his delayed memoir. Last month it emerged the law before Clark’s statement. injuries”. The South East Coast The book is due out next former deputy prime minister The case has been brought by Paul ambulance service said the chil- autumn, a year later than Nick Clegg had been appointed Andrews, the mayor of Malton, which dren were transported to major planned, leaving Cameron to head of global policy at Face- is the nearest town to the KM8 well that hospital trauma centres in Lon- concentrate on a mixture of book, advising Mark Zuckerberg Third Energy intends to frack. don for treatment. commercial and charitable as the company deals with grow- He said Clark’s comments had But in a statement yesterday, work, including setting up a ing political scrutiny. completely undermined protec- Surrey police said: “Following UK-China investment fund Cameron is understood to still tions against fracking in North Saturday night’s evacuation of and a “blue belt” clean ocean be distressed by Brexit, which Yorkshire county council’s local Woking Park after children fell initiative launched recently followed his decision to hold the minerals plan. from an infl atable slide, we are with the former US secretary of EU referendum, and by the cur- “It’s about local democracy and pleased to update that seven state John Kerry. rent state of the Tories, where also about property rights,” said of the eight victims were dis- But Cameron, according to the anti-EU MPs are arguably more Andrews, who has raised more than charged. friend, remains “a believer in the powerful than ever. £23,000 through crowdfunding “The eighth victim was kept idea of public service” should a He is widely understood to for the challenge. “If the whole of in for observations, but his in- suitable public role emerge in the support the “Norway for now” the area is industrialised it’ll have a juries are not thought to be sig- future, although there is little soft Brexit option, rejected em- disastrous eff ect on property values nifi cant. sign that Theresa May would be phatically by May but supported and kill the tourist trade.” “The investigation will now accommodating. by a handful of former allies in Councils deciding on fracking sit with the health and safety ex- No 10 would only say that parliament, such as Grantham applications have so far been able ecutive.” it was “up to him” if Cameron and Stamford MP Nick Boles, a to refer to planning guidance that Initial reports said that a hel- wanted to return to public life, long-time friend of Cameron. It includes a broad defi nition of what ter-skelter ride had collapsed giving no indication that it was involves the UK remaining in the counts as fracking. causing the injuries but Surrey a prospect that would be wel- single market by staying in the But in his statement, Clark said: police later confi rmed the inci- comed by his successor. European Economic Area. “We expect mineral planning au- dent involved a large infl atable The denials emerged after the May and hard Brexiters claim it thorities (usually county councils) to slide. Sun reported that Cameron was would leave Britain a rule-taker. recognise the fact that parliament has Andy Datson, 23, said he saw bored and fancied a return to the Cameron has been paid set out in statute the relevant defini- up to 40 children playing on the Cabinet whenever a new leader £800,000 by Harper Collins for tions of hydrocarbon, natural gas and “fl imsy” slide, which he esti- succeeded May, prompting a his memoir, which will tell the associated hydraulic fracturing.” mated was about 30 feet tall at torrent of criticism from former story of his life from childhood but The defi nition he referred to is its highest. political opponents. with a focus on the period after he narrower and means a company’s “We had been walking past Angela Rayner, the shadow became Tory leader in 2005. application could be considered the slide earlier in the night and education secretary, tweeted: He resigned as an MP in Sep- not to be fracking depending on said it looked unsafe. It looked Participants in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run make their way down The Mall, in “No David please stay in retire- tember 2016 saying he did not the amount of water to be used, pretty fl imsy to say the least,” he London, Britain, yesterday. ment you caused enough damage want his presence to become a which could mean less stringent said. last time.” Her fellow Labour MP distraction for May. criteria are applied by planners.

Jewellery worth £400,000 Remembrance Service Teen stabbed to death seized from banker’s wife in mistaken identity Daily Mail drill rapper – music linked Guardian News and Media London, where they had been The court of appeal heard last London to criminal behaviour. “This London brought to be valued by Haji- month that Zamira Hajiyeva situation is going to spiral – yeva’s daughter Leyla Mahmu- spent £16.3mn on three Harrods there will be reprisals,” said dova. The NCA said the source customer loyalty reward cards boy of 15 was stabbed the friend. ore than £400,000 of funds used to purchase the over a decade. On one trip to to death by a machete Thomas Coffi e, an IT work- worth of jewellery has jewellery, including a £120,000 the department store, she spent Agang 100 yards from his er at Kings College Hospital, Mbeen seized from the Boucheron sapphire and ruby £150,000 on products from the home. tried to save Jai’s life. “I was wife of a fraudulent banker as necklace, “requires further in- luxury jeweller Boucheron. The Four men jumped from a coming home from work and part of the UK’s fi rst McMafi a- vestigation”. The district judge NCA said she used 35 credit car and attacked Jai Sewell, pulled up to get some food,” style “dirty money” investiga- granted the detention of the cards issued by her husband’s slashing at his body. He stum- said the 23-year-old. tion. items for six months to allow bank to fund the Harrods spend- bled into a fried chicken shop, ‘I heard a bang and looked A judge ordered the deten- further investigation and “de- ing spree. where he had been heading up. I could see he had been tion of 49 items of high-end termine whether it is recover- The court also heard that for a meal, and collapsed with stabbed through his jacket. jewellery connected to Zamira able”. Hajiyeva had access to a £32mn appalling stomach injuries. He fell on the fl oor, I couldn’t Hajiyeva, the wife of an Az- Some of the items were pur- Gulfstream G550 jet. He died in a London hospital stop him falling. I started to erbaijani banker jailed for de- chased by Hajiyeva’s husband The NCA claims suspect cash three hours later. help him and then took off frauding his state-owned bank Jahangir Hajiyev in the luxury funded the £10.5mn purchase of His killing sparked the 116th my shirt to stop the bleeding out of hundreds of millions Swiss ski resort of San Moritz in Mill Ride golf and country club murder investigation in the from the left side. I tried to put of euros. Hajiyeva, who was 2008. Hajiyev, 57, is the former in Ascot via a company based in capital this year. It came just some pressure on the wounds known only as Mrs A until an chair of the state-owned In- Guernsey. In a high court rul- 24 hours after Rocky Djelal, just to keep him alive until the anonymity order was lifted last ternational Bank of Azerbaijan. ing last month, Justice Sup- 38, was stabbed to death near ambulance arrived. I was just month, is subject to the UK’s In 2016, he was sentenced to 15 perstone ordered that Hajiyeva a children’s playground in holding him, I couldn’t see be- first unexplained wealth order years in jail for defrauding the must comply with the UWO and Southwark Park. cause of all the blood. He had (UWO) under which she risks bank. explain how she amassed the A friend of Jai said the at- been cut in his stomach and losing two properties worth The NCA alleges that sto- money used to fund the prop- Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, attends the Submariners’ tack in Bellingham, south- his chest.” £22mn. len funds were used to buy an erty purchases. If she is unable Remembrance Service and Parade in London yesterday to east London, was a case of Jai’s murder took place The National Crime Agency £11.5mn, fi ve-bedroom property to prove the legitimate source of honour submariners of all generations who have died serving mistaken identity linked to hours after a police chief com- seized the items from Chris- in Knightsbridge, 100 yards from the funds, the properties could their country. tit-for-tat gang violence. pared some of Britain’s streets tie’s auction house in central the doors of Harrods. be seized. He said Jai’s cousin was a to the Wild West. Gulf Times 20 Monday, November 5, 2018 EUROPE Merkel’s party in Nine of single family quarrel over future direction

Reuters CDU deputy chair Armin Berlin Laschet warned against mov- killed in Italy fl ood ing the CDU more to the right. “I’m convinced that such a AFP/Reuters searching for a doctor, 40, forced yesterday after also fl ying over erman Chancellor An- policy shift would be wrong,” Casteldaccia/Milan by the storms to abandon his car the Alpine town of Belluno. gela Merkel’s Christian Laschet told Sueddeutsche Zei- on the road near the town of Cor- “We need €40bn ($45.5bn) to GDemocrats (CDU) ar- tung daily. leone after trying to drive to work secure the national territory,” he gued yesterday over whether The CDU should stick to its loods killed 12 people on at the hospital there. said. they should return to a more centrist course, he added. the island of Sicily, in- Two other people, a man and He pledged to collect and conservative agenda once she Speaking to reporters short- Fcluding nine members of a woman, died after their rental spend that sum but, in a barbed steps down as party chair as ly before the CDU board meet- a single family, pushing Italy’s car was swept away by a torrent aside to the European Union, contenders to succeed her gear ing in Berlin, Laschet and CDU week-long storm toll beyond 30, in the region of Agrigente, rescu- said he hoped his plans would up for the leadership race. deputy leader Julia Kloeckner rescuers said yesterday. ers said. not provoke overspending com- Support for their Social both suggested that the candi- After a river burst its banks, Violent winds and strong rain plaints from Brussels. Democrats (SPD) coalition dates to succeed Merkel should the bodies of the family includ- had killed at least 20 other people Europe has objected to Italy’s partner meanwhile hit a record present themselves in several ing children aged one, three and this week around Italy, especially proposed budget, which it says low, according to a poll pub- regional conferences in the 15 were discovered in the town of in the northern parts and around will worsen the country’s already lished hours before senior coming weeks. Casteldaccia in the Palerno re- Venice. huge defi cit. members of both the CDU and The candidate most likely gion. Two were reported killed on The canal city of Venice, on the SPD were due to discuss to stand for a continuation Their house was near a small Friday, including a 62-year-old Italy’s northeast coast, has also the parties’ future courses in of Merkel’s centrist course is river which had burst its banks, Germany tourist struck by light- experienced some of its worst closed-door meetings. CDU party secretary general rescue services said. ning in Sardinia. fl ooding ever, and withstood Merkel announced last week Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer The other victims’ ages ranged Six regions remain on high winds of up to 180kph (110mph). that she would step down as who is expected to comment from 32 to 65. alert for storms. The picturesque fi shing village CDU leader in December, end- on her candidacy in the com- Three family members man- The severe weather has caused of Portofi no near Genoa, a holi- ing an era of nearly two decades ing days. aged to escape, one by climbing massive property damage and day resort on the Italian riviera, in which she shifted Germany’s The third candidate is Frie- a tree, the Agi news agency re- disruption. was only reachable by sea after most powerful party gradually drich Merz who would stand ported. Trees in sprawling mountain- the main road collapsed. from the right to the centre. for a shift towards the low-tax, “I lost everything, I have noth- side forests in the northeast of An emergency path opened to Her decision followed two business-friendly right-wing ing left, just my daughter,” one the country were fl attened like let residents out was deemed too regional votes in which Mer- conservatism that Merkel has of the survivors, 35-year-old matchsticks by violent winds. dangerous. kel’s centre-right bloc and the pushed into the background. Giuseppe Giordano, told journal- “It’s like after an earthquake,” Floods in Sicily have closed left-leaning SPD suff ered their The CDU seems to be split ists. A motorhome is pictured off a flooded road yesterday, near a house said the governor of the Veneto many roads this week, and may- worst election results in dec- over its leadership question. His wife, two other children, where nine members of the same family died after a small river burst region, Luca Zaia. “Thousands ors ordered schools, public parks, ades while the ecologist Greens An Emnid poll for Bild am his parents, brother, and sister all its banks in Casteldaccia, near Palermo on the southern Italian island of hectares of forest were razed to and underpasses shut. and the far-right Alternative Sonntag showed that 44% of died, he said. of Sicily. the ground, as if by a giant elec- Yesterday, troops were de- for Germany (AfD) gained sup- party members backed Merz After fl ying over Casteldac- tric saw.” ployed to check the condition of port. and 39% favoured Kramp- cia yesterday, Sicilian prosecu- Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte also in the Palermo region. Yesterday, after fl ying over the the main roads on the Mediter- Health Minister Jens Spahn, Karrenbauer. tor Ambrogio Cartosio described said he was leaving to visit Sicily, He had been trying to reach area with Italy’s Interior Minister ranean island. one of the three contenders to Support for Spahn was at scenes of “total disaster”. adding he was also in constant a service station, where he was Matteo Salvini, Zaia said that the Italy’s civil protection agency replace Merkel as party leader, 9%. Offi cials have opened an in- touch with offi cials on the situ- the manager, to help a colleague storms had destroyed 100,000 has described the weather lash- said that the CDU had watered SPD deputy chair Ralf Steg- vestigation to determine whether ation in the north of the country. trapped there. hectares (247,000 acres) of pine ing the country this week as “one down its profi le by becoming ner said his party would not houses built near the river had In a separate incident in Sic- A 20-year-old passenger in the forest in all. of the most complex meteoro- too centrist in the past years. remain in the coalition “at any complied with safety norms. ily, a 44-year-old man was found car with him is still missing. Salvini posted photos of the logical situations of the past 50 “Parties must diff er from price”. In a tweet yesterday, Italian dead in his vehicle near Vicari, Rescue workers are also devastation in a series of tweets to 60 years”. another again more strongly,” “If the coalition does not Spahn told Welt am Sonntag drastically and rapidly change newspaper. “The way we view its work mode and image, it people and society is funda- cannot and will not last,” he mentally diff erent from the one said. Smoke show of the Social Democrats.” A Forsa poll for RTL/n-tv Activist Spahn is one of the fi erc- broadcasters showed yester- est critics of Merkel’s decision day that support for the SPD in 2015 to welcome more than plunged to a record low of 13% dies three 1mn refugees, mainly Muslims while Merkel’s CDU/CSU bloc from war zones in the Middle rose to 27%. East. The pro-immigration months Spahn ruled out a coalition Greens jumped to 2%4 to be- with the anti-immigration come the second-strongest AfD, saying that the CDU could party, the poll showed. after acid not work together with a party The AfD fell to 13% while the he called anti-American and pro-business Free Democrats which he said idolises Russian (FDP) and the party The Left attack autocrats. both stood at 9%.

AFP Boat carrying 31 migrants runs Kyiv aground in southern Greece

krainian anti-corruption A boat carrying 31 migrants ran aground on a rocky section of the campaigner Kateryna Peloponnese peninsula’s coast after it experienced engine trouble, UGandzyuk, seriously in- Greek police said yesterday. jured in an acid attack in July, has The migrants were able to make it to land after the incident on died in hospital, supporters and Saturday and were intercepted by the coastguard and police, an the government said yesterday. off icer from the town of Neapoli Voion told DPA. “Katya (Kateryna) is dead. De- The migrants were all in good health. tails will be available in a while,” Two men suspected of being people smugglers were detained, posted a Facebook group that Jets of the Italian Air Force aerobatic unit Frecce Tricolori (Tricolour Arrows) spread smoke in the colours of the Italian flag as they state broadcaster ERT reported. publishes updates about Gan- fly over Rome during off icial ceremonies taking place yesterday to celebrate the ‘National Unity Day’ and the ‘Armed Forces Day’, in The coastguard believed the migrants – who said they hailed from dzyuk’s health and news on the remembrance of the end of World War I. Syria and Iraq – had begun their journey from either the Turkish, investigation into the shock at- Lebanese or Egyptian coasts and were attempting to reach Italy. tack in the ex-Soviet country. Ukrainian President Petro Po- roshenko confi rmed the news 12 arrested after and off ered condolences to Gandzyuk’s relatives at a meet- shooting at biker ing with representatives of the New Caledonia rejects independence from France gang clubhouse Ukrainian community in Tur- key’s Antalya, where he is on an Twelve people have been offi cial visit. AFP vestment in island nations. its back on the region in recent arrested in the wake of a shooting “I appeal to law enforcement Noumea Polls beforehand had forecast months”, Macron said China at a motorcycle gang clubhouse offi cers to do everything possible an emphatic 63-75% of New was “building its hegemony near the southwestern Swedish so that the murderers of Katery- Caledonians would vote “no” step by step” in the region – city of Gothenburg, police said na Gandzyuk are found, put on slanders on the French Pa- when asked if the archipelago suggesting that an independent yesterday. trial and punished,” Poroshenko cifi c territory of New Cal- should “attain full sovereignty New Caledonia could be Bei- Police said the 12 were being tweeted. Iedonia rejected independ- and become independent”. jing’s next target. questioned on suspicion of Gandzyuk, 33, who worked ence in a referendum yesterday, Under a 1998 deal called the During visits to New Delhi various crimes related to the late as an adviser to the mayor of but the results showed weak- Noumea Accord to devolve and Canberra since taking Saturday incident in Molnlycke, Ukraine’s southern city Kherson, er-than-expected support for powers to the territory, two power last year, Macron has east of Gothenburg. was leaving home early on the Paris in the resource-rich and further votes on independence talked up France’s Pacifi c pres- At least seven people were taken morning of July 31 when a man strategic outpost. can be held by 2022 – a right ence to propose an axis of dem- to hospital. poured about a litre of acid over Some 18,000km (11,000 independence leaders look set ocratic Asian maritime powers Police said not all of the victims her and ran away. miles) from the French main- to invoke. that would include India and had gunshot injuries. Gandzyuk was immediately land, New Caledonia is home to “We’re a short step away Australia. Six men remained in hospital hospitalised in a serious condi- a quarter of the world’s known from victory and there are There were fears that the yesterday, one was in serious tion, with burns on 30% of her supplies of nickel – a vital elec- still two votes to come,” Alo- referendum in New Caledonia condition, a spokeswoman for the body, including her upper torso, tronics component – and is a sio Sako, head of the separatist could infl ame tensions between People cast their ballots in the referendum on New Caledonia’s Sahlgrenska University Hospital arms, and face. foothold for France in the Pa- movement FLNKS, said after indigenous Kanak people, who independence from France, in the Montravel quarter of Noumea. told DPA. Gandzyuk was an outspoken cifi c where China is gaining in- the results were announced. tend to favour independence, She could not give details of critic of corrupt practices in law fl uence. Macron had largely stayed and the white population which dependence in several of its for New Caledonia, and throw the injuries due to patient enforcement agencies, particu- On the fi nal count, 56.4% of clear of the campaign in New has settled since France an- overseas territories, which are off the shackles of the “colo- confidentiality rules. larly the police. people rejected the proposition Caledonia, but during a visit nexed the islands in 1853. a legacy of the country’s colo- nial” authorities in Paris. A police detective, Stefan The country has seen an in- that New Caledonia become in- to Noumea in May, he declared Several cars were burned nial history and are sometimes The Kanak community is Lindgren, said several victims had crease in attacks on anti-cor- dependent. “France would be less beauti- and a couple of incidents of dubbed “the confetti of the economically disadvantaged links to the motorcycle gang Hells ruption activists and campaign- Turnout was high at 80.63%. ful” without the territory. stone-throwing were reported French empire”. compared with the white pop- Angels. ers. President Emmanuel Macron As well as being home to late yesterday, local authorities French Guiana in South ulation and plagued by high He declined to off er details, citing Journalist Pavel Sheremet expressed his “immense pride French troops and being a said, but the vote was otherwise America and the Indian Ocean school dropout rates, chronic the ongoing probe, the online was killed by a car bomb in 2016 that we have taken this historic source of nickel, the territory peaceful. archipelago of Mayotte have unemployment and poor hous- edition of the Goteborgs-Posten while driving near his home in step together” in an address gives France a large, exclusive Tensions in New Caledonia been rocked by major protests ing conditions. newspaper reported. Kyiv. to the nation, adding it was “a economic zone in the Pacifi c boiled over into ethnic strife in over living standards and per- But indigenous people make The daily said the shooting took In 2017, the stabbed body sign of confi dence in the French and rich fi shing resources. the 1980s which claimed more ceived neglect. up less than 50% of the elec- place at an industrial estate of human rights activist Iryna republic, in its future and its The 40-year-old French than 70 lives. Closer to home, the Paris torate and some Kanaks back where a Hells Angels support Nozdrovska was found in a river values”. leader has also raised concerns That led to the 1998 Noumea government also faces renewed staying part of France, not least club has a clubhouse. outside Kyiv. But the winning margin on over increasing Chinese in- Accord which paved the way for calls for independence from due to the €1.3bn ($1.5bn) the The incident was being In July, Vitaliy Oleshko, a New Caledonia, sometimes re- fl uence in the Pacifi c, where a steady devolution of powers, nationalists on the Mediterra- French state hands to the is- investigated as attempted former volunteer fi ghter in the ferred to in France as “the peb- Beijing has invested heavily as well as yesterday’s referen- nean island of Corsica, which lands every year. murder. rebel Ukrainian east and a local ble”, might cause some concern in Vanuatu, a territory which dum and possibly two others have been rebuff ed by Macron. Going it alone, “I’m not sure Gothenburg is one of several activist, was shot dead outside a in Paris, as well Australia which broke from France and Britain before 2022. Separatists had urged Kanak we have all the assets we’d need Swedish cities that in recent years hotel in the southeastern city of has been alarmed by Beijing’s in 1980. In recent years, France has voters to choose self-determi- to succeed”, said Marc Gnipate, has experienced shootings, often Berdyansk. designs in the Pacifi c and its in- Accusing the US of “turning faced protests and calls for in- nation for Kanaky, their name a 62-year-old pensioner. related to gang turf wars. Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 21 INDIA Chennai is now home to family of chess masters

IANS (WIM) her family became India’s and won several other titles. the 1990s was less and hence the perienced player plays that we game, then I would know that he At home, the chess games be- Chennai fi rst family of chess masters. Rakshitta’s parents – IM T S player’s growth was also slow. learned about that aspect of the had lost. In the case of a win he tween them are very competitive. “I want to become the fi rst Ravi and WIM Sai Meera Ravi Sai Meera got her WIM title game. We learned and improved would be calm,” Sai Meera said. “I will not give an inch just Women’s World Chess Cham- – were also promising Indian after Rakshitta was born. upon playing at Tal Club.” Speaking about the style of because Rakshitta is my daugh- hennai, the cradle of pion from India and the young- chess stars once. “When Rakshitta was about “Ravi is a gentle and soft-spo- Rakshitta’s game Sai Meera said: ter. I will play for a win and won Indian chess, has sev- est woman player to achieve Ravi once came second in the four years old, I just wanted to ken person. But on the chess board “It is a mix of our style – ag- against her earlier. Now she Ceral fi rsts including be- that. The short-term target is to National A chess tournament see whether she is interested in he is a tenacious player and will gressive and defensive. I am an beats me,” Sai Meera said. ing home to India’s fi rst Inter- become a WGM very soon,” Rak- and has represented India in the the game and set up the chess play till the end even though the aggressive player while Ravi is a Ravi the proud father also said national Master (Manuel Aaron) shitta told IANS. World Chess Olympiad. board. She soon learned how position is drawish,” said R RVas- defensive/positional player.” his daughter has beaten him in a and Grand Master (Vishwanath- The eighth standard student He learned chess from his two the various pieces moved on the udevan, now a chess coach and “With three of us playing lightning game. an Anand). of Vellammal Vidyalaya in Chen- elder brothers and Sai Meera board,” Ravi told IANS. who had played with Ravi in tour- chess, the conversation at home Both Ravi and Sai Meera have It is now home to the Ravis nai has credible achievements learned watching her elder sister When asked to compare and naments in their younger days. would invariably revolve around stopped playing serious com- – India’s fi rst family of Interna- under her belt to dream big. play with her friends. contrast his early days with that of “Rakshitta has inherited that the game,” Sai Meera said. petitive chess. tional Masters. She became the World cham- Both worked their way up in Rakshitta’s he said: “We learned quality from Ravi. She is a ma- Ravi said they do not have a Sai Meera quit her job in Indi- When 13-year-old Rakshitta pion at the World Youth Chess the sport. from our mistakes. Nobody taught ture and confi dent player. If Ravi cable TV connection at home as an Bank to take care of Rakshitta Ravi was recently crowned the Championship Under 10 girls Unlike these days, the number us about knight fork, discovered comes out laughing and chat- it takes out productive as well as while Ravi is with the Indian Oil Women International Master category held in Greece in 2015 of tournaments in the 1980s and check and others. When an ex- ting with fellow players after a family time. Corp. Maneka slams Maharashtra minister over tiger killing

Agencies person is continuing to hold a New Delhi ministerial position,” she said. “We cannot allow this kind of insensitive and merciless omen and Child De- attitude towards animals to velopment Minis- prevail. I am going to take up Wter Maneka Gandhi this issue legally, criminally as yesterday accused Mahar- well as politically,” she added. ashtra Forest Minister Sudhir The Supreme Court had is- Mungantiwar of ordering the sued a hunting order for T1 “ghastly murder” of a tiger in September, ruling that she and vowed legal action after could be killed if tranquilizers the man-eating animal was failed. shot dead. Several appeals were made The big cat blamed for kill- against the death sentence. ing more than a dozen people Forestry offi cials acknowl- was shot dead on Friday night edged to media that no vet was after a months-long search, present during the hunt, as re- capping one of India’s most quired by the Supreme Court high-profi le tiger hunts in order. decades. The Indian branch of the But the shooting in the People for the Ethical Treat- A view of the cable-stayed ‘Signature Bridge’ after its inauguration ceremony in New Delhi yesterday. forests of Maharashtra state ment of Animals said the tiger sparked immediate controver- slaughter was about “satisfy- sy and allegations the kill was ing a hunter’s lust for blood”. unethical and illegal. The big cat was blamed for Gandhi, a staunch animal 13 deaths since June 2016 but activist and part of Prime animal activists said she was Minister Narendra Modi’s trying to protect her young. cabinet, accused Munganti- A team of more than 150 peo- BJP, AAP workers clash war of hiring a “trigger-happy ple had spent months search- shooter” to slay the tiger. ing for T1, using a paraglider “It is nothing but a straight and dozens of infrared cameras case of crime”, said Gandhi, a while sharpshooters had ridden member of the ruling Bharati- on the backs of elephants. ya Janata Party (BJP), describ- T1 was shot by Asghar Ali at opening of Delhi bridge ing the shooting as a “ghastly Khan, son of India’s most fa- murder”. mous hunter Nawab Shafath “I am defi nitely going to Ali Khan, who was meant to be IANS help people enjoy a panoramic Ring Road on the western bank is the time for the people to think developments which he claimed take up this case of utter lack leading the hunt but was not New Delhi view of the city from a 154m- of the river with Wazirabad road if they want bridges or statues.” were started by his party. of empathy for animals as a present on Friday night. high observation deck which on the eastern side. The bridge was inaugurated “Congress conceptualised test case. Legally, criminally as The senior Khan defended will be opened in around two Dedicating the bridge to the in the presence of Delhi Assem- and built the Signature Bridge. well as politically,” she posted his son’s actions as “a refl ex fter missing many dead- months, an offi cial said. people of Delhi, Kejriwal said bly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel, The AAP government fi rst de- on Twitter. action of self-defence” as the lines, the iconic and “Some final work is left in people should ask political par- Deputy Chief Minister Manish layed the project – now taking She accused Mungantiwar – tiger turned on the hunting Amuch-awaited Signature the high observation deck and ties about the works done by Sisodia and cabinet ministers the credit. Kejriwal should have also from the BJP – of ignoring party after being struck by a Bridge on the Yamuna was inau- it will be opened earlier next them before voting. Imran Hussain, Satyendar Jain respectfully invited Sheila Dik- appeals to call off the hunt for tranquilizer dart. gurated yesterday by Delhi Chief year, while the roads will open “Don’t get into the politics and Gopal Rai among others. shit and J P Agarwal – as they the tiger known offi cially as T1 India has launched a major Minister Arvind Kejriwal and from tomorrow,” the official of those building temples, else Sisodia said the bridge will be were the real architects of this and popularly as Avni. campaign to boost tiger numbers. will be open for the public from told IANS. your son will become a priest a landmark and a tourist desti- project,” Maken said. “It is nothing but a straight At the last tiger census in today. The 575m-long suspension and not an engineer. Before nation. The inauguration was fol- case of crime. Despite re- 2014 the number had risen to The opening came after a bridge, proposed in 2004 and voting ask the parties how “Delhi was famous for India lowed by a laser show. quests from his own forest more than 2,200 from a low of clash between workers of the approved by the Delhi cabinet many schools, hospitals or Gate and Qutub Minar but will Ahead of the inauguration, department and people, Su- less than 1,500. Bharatiya Janata Party and the in 2007, will reduce travel time bridges they built. If they fail to now be known for this bridge. BJP and AAP activists clashed, dhir Mugantiwar gave orders But urban spread as the Aam Aadmi Party workers at the between North and North-East count, tell them they can’t get The bridge got its fi rst pylon af- with BJP leader Tiwari attacking for the killing. This is the third population of 1.25bn grows site, with BJP Delhi unit chief Delhi. your vote,” he said. ter we came to power. The work AAP workers and punching a po- tiger being killed on his direc- has increasingly eaten into the Manoj Tiwari, who is also an The bridge, connecting “For the development of done before that was only 10- liceman who intervened. tions,” Gandhi said. territory of wild animals. MP, punching a policeman dur- Wazirabad across the river Ya- the country, the governments 15%,” he said. Tiwari got into a scuffl e with She said Mugantiwar earlier Endangered elephants and ing the fracas before order was muna, will take vehicular pres- should build schools, hospitals However, Delhi Congress AAP workers before the function had ordered killing of a dozen tigers kill on average one per- restored. sure off the existing Wazirabad and bridges and not temples or president Ajay Maken criticised started, leading to the violence. leopards and 300 wild boars. son a day, according to gov- The country’s fi rst asymmet- bridge. statues.” the AAP government for taking The BJP leader later blamed “I am shocked that such a ernment fi gures. rical cable-stayed bridge will It will also connect the Outer The AAP leader added that “it credit in bringing infrastructural the AAP for the trouble. BJP leaders back demand Protest against govt DMK urges regional parties to come together for law to build temple Agencies The present central govern- Chennai ment has been dismantling the IANS time has come to fulfi l that re- he “personally” felt that a law federal structure and state au- New Delhi solve. After Deepawali, we will should be brought for the con- tonomy by stripping the rights move forward.” struction of the temple . ravida Munneta Ka- of the states, Stalin said, adding Federal minister Uma Bharti “The temple should certainly zhagam chief M K Sta- that this demands that all the number of Bharatiya Ja- said no one could stop a temple be built. We want a judgment on Dlin has urged all region- opposition parties should come nata Party (BJP) ministers at Ayodhya. this at the earliest. It is the desire al parties and secular forces to together under one umbrella to Aincluding Uttar Pradesh “A grand temple will be built, of 85% of the population that come together under one um- take on the BJP in the poll battle. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath nobody can stop it,” she said. a judgment on it should come brella to defeat the Bharatiya However, Tamil Nadu BJP yesterday backed a demand by Giriraj Singh, another minis- fast,” Chaudhary said. Janata Party in the upcoming general secretary Karu Naga- Hindu religious leaders for an ter, said in Bihar’s Nawada that “I cannot speak on behalf of Lok Sabha elections. rajan claimed Stalin was rat- ordinance or law for the con- “no power in the world” could the government, but my person- His appeal came days after tled at the prospect of Con- struction of a temple in Ayodhya. come in the way of a temple in al opinion is that since the court Congress president Rahul Gan- gress dumping the DMK and The opposition Congress Ayodhya. is taking very long in this matter, dhi met Andhra Pradesh Chief exploring the option of forging however accused the BJP of “The (Supreme) Court has a legislation can be brought,” he Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, an alternative alliance. thinking about the temple issue taken several matters in the mid- added. boosting opposition unity. “Actor-turned politician only during election times and dle of the night. So if they have Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Welcoming the meeting, Kamal Hassan and rebel AI- said the ruling party also knows time for terrorists, why not for Minister Dinesh Sharma said it Stalin endorsed the Congress ADMK leader T T V Dhinaka- that any ordinance will be un- temple which is the object of was the government’s right to de- chief’s call to opposition par- ran, who has founded Amma constitutional as the issue is faith for 125 crore Indians? Peo- cide where to build the temple. ties to work together. Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam pending in the Supreme Court. ple had high hopes, their hopes “Whether a temple will be “The Congress president’s (AMMK), have expressed in- Speaking at an event at Bikan- were dashed and that is why they built or not, nobody has a right call to opposition parties’ is the terest in a partnership with er in Rajasthan, Adityanath said: are fi lled with anger. No power in to discuss this mater but the Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Tejashwi Yadav speaks to most important message,” Sta- Congress. As the Congress is “Light an extra lamp this Diwali the world can come in the way of government.” journalists during the party’s protest march to Raj Bhavan, lin noted and expressed total having multiple options in the as you see your sentiments tak- the temple,” Singh said. The Congress, however, dis- the governor’s residence, against the central and the state support for Naidu’s view that state, Stalin continues to issue ing shape, because the work will Minister of State for Law missed the BJP’s pitch as plain governments’ policies, in Patna, Bihar yesterday. unseating the BJP was neces- such statements to keep the soon begin there (Ayodhya). The and Justice P P Chaudhary said politics ahead of elections. sary to defend democracy. Congress in good humour.” Gulf Times 22 Monday, November 5, 2018 INDIA

JUDICIARY INVESTIGATION TECHNOLOGY SOCIETY SANITATION 26 years on, court acquits Fake currency of face QR-enabled fridge magnets ‘Deprive voting rights to Jharkhand to become open 10 in Harshad Mehta scam value Rs982,000 seized for digital payment of bills people with over two kids’ defecation-free by Nov 15

Twenty-six years after stockbroker Harshad Mehta- The Border Security Force (BSF) has seized fake The New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) Yoga guru and retail Jharkhand will become an open defecation led securities scam shook the nation, Mumbai Indian currency notes of face value Rs982,000 yesterday launched a “smart” initiative under entrepreneur Baba Ramdev free (ODF) state by November 15, Minister for Mumbai High Court has acquitted seven off icers from a Bangladeshi national in West Bengal’s North which it will distribute quick response-enabled yesterday said those who have Drinking Water and Sanitation Uma Bharti of the State Bank of India (SBI), State Bank of India 24 Parganas district, an off icial said yesterday. smiley fridge magnets to its consumers to more than two children should said yesterday. Jharkhand was carved out Capital Markets Limited (SBI Caps) and three Acting on specific information, the BSF off icials facilitate digital payment of utility bills. Powered be denied voting rights. “In this of Bihar on November 15, 2000 to create a others of duping SBI Caps to the tune of Rs1.05bn. raided Halderpara village on Saturday and by SignCatch – an IT and services company, the country, those who, like me, do separate state. She was speaking at the ‘Ganga This includes a share broker attached to Mehta’s arrested Mohamed Sukur Ali, 41 and seized the magnets will be personalised and each customer not marry, should be honoured, Gram Swachchhata Sammelan’ at Rajmahal firm. Justice Shalini Phansalkar-Joshi delivered the fake currency notes being smuggled from India will have a unique QR Code mapped to their and those who marry and in Jharkhand. “Ganga Gram” is a concept to verdict after observing that the Banking, Securities to Bangladesh. “The patrol party chased him and consumer account number, the NDMC said in a have more than two children, their voting rights transform the banks of the Ganges river into and Fraud division of the Central Bureau of managed to catch him. Fake currency notes in statement. “There will be separate magnets for should be taken away,” he said while addressing a ideal villages with emphasis on ODF, solid and Investigation (CBI) had completely failed to prove denomination of Rs2000 were found on him. The electricity and water bills,” it added. The consumers gathering at his Yogpeeth in Haridwar. He said that liquid waste management, water conservation, charges against them. The CBI had alleged that the notes were wrapped with plastic and kept in a bag,” can stick the magnets on their refrigerators at though population control was a “political issue”, groundwater recharge, modern crematorium, prime accused, Rama Sitharaman, C Ravi Kumar Prabhat Kumar Singh, deputy inspector general of home and use their smartphones to scan the QR in “Indian tradition Vedas advocate having even 10 tree plantation, and organic and medicinal plant and Mehta, plotted a securities scam with others. BSF’s South Bengal Frontier said in a statement. Code on the magnet to pay bills instantly. off spring if the population is less. agriculture, a government statement said. Diwali shoppers throng market Brace for more farmer suicides, experts warn Maharashtra

Agencies as a national disaster on par with government was to provide fod- Mumbai other natural calamities and the der at the doorstep of farmers necessary amendment should instead of making them avail- be made in the National Disaster able at ‘Chara Chavani’ or fodder xperts have warned that Management Act, 2005, to en- banks where farmers are forced the number of farmer sui- sure timely aid from the central to spend time with their animals Ecides could rise in Mahar- government. instead of investing time in gain- Shoppers throng the Teen Darwaja market place ahead of Diwali festival in Ahmedabad yesterday. The festival of lights will be ashtra due to the drought in the Bodkhe and Desarda said state ful employment. celebrated across India and in many countries on November 7. state. governments face numerous dif- “To grow one hectare of sug- They have urged the govern- fi culties in getting timely fi nan- arcane, a farmer has to provide ment to be prepared for such an cial assistance from the central three crore (30mn) litres of wa- eventuality. government as drought is not ter. Around 1,000 people can “Agricultural drought and treated as a national calamity. survive for a year on this amount farmer suicides have a very This problem will be ad- of water,” Desarda said. strong correlation and the gov- dressed once the National Dis- He pointed out that this year ernment should be prepared to aster Management Act, 2005 is 1.15mn hectares of sugarcane is Kerala town turned into a police deal with the distress of farm- amended to include drought, being grown in the state which ers,” Professor Naresh Bodkhe Bodkhe said. would consume water that from the Gokhale Institute of Desarda, who is a former could meet the needs of 1.1bn Politics and Economics said. member of Maharashtra State people.“Now we have to decide fortress ahead of temple opening There were reports in May Planning Board said: “We have what should be our priority,” he that farmer suicides in Mahar- to understand that this is not a said. IANS Supreme Court that allowed peared to be something shady tempts by two women journalists ashtra had dropped to 188 in meteorological drought but a GIPE and the board have Sabarimala women of all age groups to enter going on as the media had never to do their job from the temple April, as claimed by the govern- hydrological drought because jointly organised a meeting the temple. before been banned into the top were thwarted by protesters. ment – lower than the monthly of the failure of the government with farmers on November 23 at The Kerala government has temple town. The representatives of the average of 225 to 250 in the fi rst and public policy.” He said this GIPE, Pune to discuss drought- he Sabarimala shrine will said it will implement the rul- “If the media is kept away, Pandalam Royal family, the three months of this year. year’s droughts was far worse related problems in various dis- open for a day today, and ing, pitting it against the pro- then the authorities want to custodian of the jewellery of Bodkhe and H M Desarda, than the one in 1972. tricts and submit a report to the Tthe temple town has been testers. hide something,” he said. the Sabarimala shrine, said the vice-chairman of Maharashtra It is distressing that although government. virtually taken over by over All roads leading from Ni- State Congress president temple was passing through Drought Mitigation and Eradi- Maharashtra has one of the The drought mitigation board 2,300 police personnel after lackal to the base camp of the Mulapally Ramachandran said: “tough times” as the town had cation Board, were speaking at a largest networks of dams in the is an autonomous body estab- protests marred the last pil- temple town Pamba are barri- “Parties like the CPI, academ- been taken over by the police. news conference on the current country, it has little to show in lished in 1952 by D R Gadgil, a grimage season. caded and have been declared ics, intelligentsia and socio- “We will hold a special prayer drought in Maharashtra which terms of water storage and dis- noted economist and former The devotees will be allowed out of bounds till today morn- cultural icons should prevail and singing of hymns when the has hit 26 districts. tribution management, Desarda vice chairman of the Planning to go up the pathway only today ing by the police. upon (Chief Minister Pinarayi) temple opens,” said Sreekumar GIPE in association with the said. Commission, along with social- afternoon, an offi cial said. The police are checking eve- Vijayan to see that he handles Varma. Board undertook a study of 22 As immediate relief measures, ist leaders S M Joshi and Datta The temple opens its door at ry vehicle that passes in and this very sensitive issue in a Pathanamthitta district Su- districts of Maharashtra and Bodkhe and Desarda suggested Deshmukh. 5pm and closes tomorrow at 10pm. around the town. more mature way.” perintendent of Police T Naray- found that around 60mn farmers that the government should list The board played a critical role Pathanamthitta District Col- Yesterday, after protests, the The Sabarimala Karma anan said yesterday that as of and agricultural labourers have the priorities for water utilisa- in co-ordinating between the af- lector P B Nooh has declared pro- police allowed the media to Samithi has written to media now, there had been no request been badly hit by the drought tion from available sources. fected people and the govern- hibitory orders in and around the travel till Nilackal. groups not to send women jour- from women to enter the shrine. this year. The top most priority should ment and in helping formulate temple town banning the gather- Kerala BJP spokesman M nalists to cover today’s events The police have so far registered In the Nashik-Jalgaon re- be given to drinking and domes- the government’s response to ing of four or more persons to foil T Ramesh warned the police at the temple that are generally 545 cases and arrested 3,731 people gion of north Maharashtra, they tic use and then for cultivation of the drought. street protests. against examining the holy kit out of bounds for women in the who protested last month when found that around 70% of villag- fodder crops. It was during the 1972 drought The Bharatiya Janata Party (Irrumudi Kettu) that is carried age group of 10 to 50. the temple opened for six days. ers had been forced to migrate in They urged farmers not to that the board proposed the Em- (BJP) and numerous Hindu on the head by the pilgrims. The Samithi is angry that Only around 100 are still in the absence of drinking water. grow sugarcane which consumes ployment Guarantee Scheme groups are up in arms against Former chief minister Oom- when the temple opened for the jail, while the rest have secured The experts have suggested a lot of water. which was later implemented at a September 28 verdict of the men Chandy said there ap- monthly prayers last month, at- bail. that drought should be treated Another suggestion to the the national level. Widow wants NTR to be Intellectuals slam reborn to save the TDP Assam killings IANS gressive regionalism” is prevail- Kolkata ing in the country, said a Trina- Agencies explaining the reasons which my tears on coming to know mool Congress delegation that Hyderabad compelled you to give up your how Naidu had knelt down visited Dhala in Tinsukia district 35 years of career in fi lms and before the Congress presi- section of intellectuals, yesterday. take up the responsibility of dent for an opportunistic al- close to West Bengal’s The four-member delegation pposing Andhra rescuing Andhra Pradesh from liance,” she said, appealing Aruling Trinamool Con- comprising Rajya Sabha mem- Pradesh Chief Min- the clutches of corrupt Con- to NTR to take “reincarna- gress, yesterday condemned the ber Derek O’Brien, Lok Sabha Oister N Chandrababu gress,” she said. tion” and rescue the Telugu killing of fi ve Bengali Hindus MP Mamata Bala Thakur, Rajya Naidu’s move to ally Telugu NTR, a popular Telugu ac- people. in Assam’s Tinsukia district on Sabha MP Nadimul Haque and Desam Party with the Con- tor, is still revered by the Telugu “I don’t know in which November 1. MLA Mahua Moitra visited the gress, the widow of party people because of the mytho- form you take re-birth. Or They staged a protest in Kolk- bereaved families yesterday. founder N T Rama Rao has logical roles he played in the infuse your spirit into a sin- ata, and accused the Bharatiya “The situation is really bad. In asked the late leader to take fi lms. cere leader to restore the Janata Party of creating unrest in Gujarat, Biharis are expelled and “reincarnation” to restore the Referring to his revolution- ideals which you had fought the north-eastern state. in Assam Bengalis are targeted self-respect of Telugu people, ary welfare schemes like pro- for. I strongly wish the Tel- “The terror outfi t that was in- like this,” O’Brien told reporters which had been “mortgaged viding rice at Rs2 per kg to the ugu people would be able to itially suspected has also denied in Dhala. with the Congress bosses in poor, total prohibition in the live with their heads held involvement. Who then is re- The TMC delegation also gave Delhi”. state and 33% reservation to high with self-respect and sponsible for the brutal killings,” some monetary help to the be- Nandamuri Lakshmi Par- women in local bodies, she prestige again,” she wrote. painter Subhaprasanna said. reaved families. vathi placed a letter with her noted that even when NTR After the death of her hus- The intellectuals also “No amount of compensa- appeal at Rao’s memorial on lost power in 1989, he did “not band, Lakshmi Parvathi fl oated slammed the federal govern- tion will fi ll the void which the the banks of Hussainsagar compromise on your principles a separate political party – NTR ment’s role in the rollout of the families of the deceased has suf- lake in Hyderabad, before and did not join hands with Telugu Desam Party – in 1996 draft National Register of Citi- fered,” he said. staging a silent sit-in protest any other party for the sake of and got elected to the state as- zens (NRC), which has allegedly Mahua Moitra said that since against Naidu joining hands power”. sembly from Srikakulam dis- caused tension in the state. 2014, a vicious atmosphere has with Congress president Ra- “And you bounced back to trict. “It is unbelievable that any been created in the country by hul Gandhi a couple of days power in 1994 with a thumping She, however, could not human being can make unarmed subversive forces who have been ago. majority.” sustain the party and fi nally people stand and shoot them trying to divide the people in the In the letter, Lakshmi Par- It was unfortunate that merged it with YSR Congress ruthlessly. There was a cordial name of community and reli- vathi regretted that the TDP his son-in-law Naidu, who party in 2012. existence of Bengalis and As- gion. founded by NTR with the usurped power from him Senior TDP leader and one samese in Assam but since the She was alluding to the com- lofty ideal of upholding the through “deceit” in August of the founder-members of the rollout of the draft NRC, peace ing to power of BJP’s Narendra self-respect of Telugu peo- 1994, completely destroyed the party Yanamala Ramakrish- has been disrupted,” economist Modi at the Centre. ple was surrendered to the fabric of the party and gave a nudu, however, said NTR es- Abhirup Sarkar said. Assam Chief Minister Sar- same Congress which he had go-by to its fundamental prin- tablished the party not against He said that the ruthless kill- bananda Sonowal said that strongly opposed till his last ciple of opposing the Congress, any particular party but against Trinamool Congress leader Derek O’ Brien meets the family of five ings were a refl ection of that un- some vested interests were breath. she said. the system prevailing at that people killed by suspected militants in Assam’s Tinsukia district rest. hell bent on creating a rift in “I still remember your words “I just could not control time. yesterday. A vicious environment of “ag- the state. Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 23 LATIN AMERICA Trial of world’s Fleeing Venezuela most notorious drug lord opens in the US today

AFP will determine whether Guzman New York — the diminutive father-of-two whose nickname means “shorty” — is guilty or not of 11 traffi cking, oaquin “El Chapo” Guzman fi rearms and money laundering goes on trial in New York today, charges. Jaccused of running the world’s According to the indictment, biggest drug cartel and spending the Sinaloa cartel, which Guzman a quarter of a century smuggling is accused of leading from 1989 more than 155 tonnes of cocaine to 2014, became “the largest drug into the US. traffi cking organisation in the The mammoth trial in a Brook- world... with thousands of mem- lyn federal court, which will cost bers.” millions of dollars and is expected US prosecutors contend that to last more than four months, will from 1989 to 2014, the cartel see one of the world’s most noto- smuggled at least 340,892 pounds Venezuelan migrants walk alongside a route, after leaving the CEBAF (bi-national border care center) facilities in Tumbes, Peru, near the border with Ecuador. Only rious criminals face the US justice (154,626kgs) of cocaine into the Venezuelan citizens who entered Peru by October 31 were eligible to obtain temporary residence permits (PTP). system. US, as well as heroin, metham- Prosecutors spent years piecing phetamine and marijuana, raking together a sweeping case against in $14bn. Guzman, who was extradited in Guzman pleads not guilty, but 2017 after twice escaping prison in the government has presented Mexico — fi rst hidden in a laundry so much evidence — more than cart, then slipping down a tunnel 300,000 pages and at least 117,000 that reached his prison shower. audio recordings — that the de- Guzman has been branded the fence complains they haven’t had world’s biggest drug lord since enough time to review it all. Colombia rebels blamed for Colombia’s Pablo Escobar, who Heroy estimates the trial will was dubbed “The King of Co- cost US taxpayer “more than caine” and was one of the wealthi- $50mn,” a price tag that includes est men in the world until police protection programmes for at least shot him dead in 1993. some of the several hundred wit- Experts say the government has nesses expected to testify. a near water-tight case likely to “It’s probably set up to be the killing spree in Venezuela send Guzman, 61, to a maximum most expensive trial in the history security US prison for the rest of of the US,” he said. Guardian News and Media operated with impunity. “Everyone who goes into Armed Forces of Colombia (or have been killed in massacres his life. Even Guzman’s lawyers are in Caracas Now, however, a leftist guer- the mines is scared,” said Jose Farc), demobilised following in Bolivar state. But at what price? the dark as to all the former asso- rilla group from neighbouring Pacheco, a miner from the an accord reached in late 2016, Now, with the bellicose ELN “Is it going to stop even one ad- ciates, hired hands or rivals who Colombia is expanding in the region. He initially worried though that process has been staking their claim on the ter- ditional pound of cocaine from have turned informants. hen Nassif Suliman’s zone, and leaving dead bodies that his daughter had also fraught with defections and ritory, the situation for locals coming into the US? Probably not. Some of the informants have daughter Adela left in its wake. Victims’ families died in the massacre, though killings of activists who sup- is deteriorating. The machine keeps rolling,” says already been absorbed into the US Wtheir home in Tumer- say that the National Libera- she turned up alive a few days port the deal. Bram Ebus, a consultant for Rob Heroy, a North Carolina law- witness protection programmes, emo to pan for gold in the wild- tion Army (or ELN) was behind later. The ELN had been in stop- International Crisis Group and yer who has defended other Mexi- given new identities and homes cat mines in Venezuela’s south- the massacre which took place “You never know if they will start peace talks with the Co- investigator for Infoamazonia, can drug barons. around the country. ern jungle, he feared she would 400 miles from the Colombian come out … now with guerril- lombian government, though a website that monitors the The Sinaloa cartel that Guz- Others are already in jail, housed not return. border. las there it’s even worse.” those talks recently stalled. Amazon region, said that the man founded in 1989 is still hugely in special wings to protect them So when news came that for- The rebel group have long Venezuelan officials deny Colombian rebels have long rebels are looking to establish powerful. from reprisals. eign rebels had committed a operated along the frontier be- the presence of ELN guerrillas used Venezuela as a strategic themselves as the main pres- His co-defendant Ismael “El If co-operating with the gov- brutal massacre in the region, tween the two countries, but in Bolívar, but locals say that rearguard, with security forc- ence in mining arc. “They are Mayo” Zambada remains at large, ernment can endanger their lives, Suliman, grey-haired and be- the recent massacre suggests living among the rebel army is es willing to turn a blind eye. in it for the long haul,” he said. and violent drug traffi cking con- and those of their families, it can spectacled, joined the military their reach extends deep inside a fact of daily life. Amid doubts over the fragile “By taxing illegal gold and tinues unabated in Mexico. also help reduce their own sen- in a harrowing search for bod- Venezuela, as they muscle in “The rebels want to take peace in Colombia, the ELN coltan mining operations the Last year, there was a record tences. “No one is going to have ies. on the lucrative informal gold- control of all the mines, lash- and Farc dissidents who chose guerrillas are collecting hefty 29,000 murders in Mexico. pictures of him (Guzman) carrying “It was a normal walk until I mines. ing out at innocent miners not to lay down weapons have sums of money with little re- In the US, opioid addiction has cocaine, taking the suitcase with saw bloodstains, and then just “The guerrillas did this,” who are just working so they taken advantage of the chaos spect for human rights,” Ebus spiralled into an epidemic. In 2016, money,” said Heroy. “The case is by a shrub 500 metres from the Suliman said. can eat,” said Jenny Mota, a in Venezuela, to expand their said, adding that many mas- an average of 174 Americans died going to be based on these inform- main road, I saw her body, all Oil-rich Venezuela is mired resident whose niece sells cig- presence deep inside the sacres go unreported as locals every day from drug overdoses. ants.” bloody and bruised,” Suliman in economic turmoil with ram- arettes and snacks to miners. neighbouring country. are too afraid to speak out. Jury selection will be conducted Guzman has been held in soli- said, his voice quivering. Adela pant hyperinfl ation and wide- “My family all say that they Venezuela’s mining arc Americo de Grazia, a promi- in security conditions reserved tary confi nement in New York had been shot in the head. spread shortages of basic goods. are guerrillas and that they are stretches across the country nent opposition politician in only for the most dangerous de- since Mexico extradited him in Over three days from October Over 2mn people have fl ed the Colombian.” from the Colombian border Venezuela, claims that despite fendants. US district court Judge January 2017, one day before Don- 14, at least seven miners were country where a kilo of meat is Colombia’s confl ict, which to the frontier with Guyana, the government’s silence, Brian Cogan will preside over the ald Trump took offi ce. He spends murdered near Tumeremo, in more expensive than the aver- began in 1964, has left at least and has long been a byword Nicolas Maduro and his cro- process behind closed doors. 23 hours a day in his cell. Bolívar state, the heart of Ven- age weekly salary. 260,000 dead and more than for lawlessness and violence. nies are aware of the ELN’s The 12 jurors, with six alter- The only visitors he is allowed ezuela’s so-called “mining arc”. For many of those who re- 7mn displaced. The military Soldiers killed 18 people in the presence. “Silence gives con- nates, will remain anonymous. are his three lawyers and twin, Mining in the region had al- main, clandestine and informal and state-aligned paramilitaries region in February. Last year, a sent. They know that it is true. US Marshals will escort them seven-year-old daughters, from ways been a dangerous voca- gold and coltan mines off er a contributed to the violence. skirmish between rival gangs They know that the ELN is to and from court every day. whom he is separated by a thick tion: the mines were controlled way to make a living – at great The country’s largest rebel left 17 dead. Over the past two operating in Bolivar state,” he These ordinary men and women glass screen. by violent local mafi as which risk. group, the Revolutionary years, an estimated 107 people said. Petrobras ‘to sell $20bn Official visit Brazil sugar mills see better outlook in assets through 2019’ Reuters His company decided not to Sao Paulo produce any sugar this year, allo- cating 100% of the cane to ethanol Reuters Petrobras was in talks to sell the re- ments could shift under new lead- production, Junqueira said. Rio de Janeiro fi nery to Chevron. ership. razilian sugar and ethanol Bioenergetica Aroeira was one Chevron declined to comment. Petrobras has also been seeking producers said the outlook of the 17 mills in Brazil’s centre- A plan, valued at around $1bn, to creative ways to boost output from Bfor the sector is gradually south that concentrated entirely razil’s Petroleo Brasileiro sell Pampo and Enchova, two shal- its aging oil fi elds, selling a 25% improving and that better pros- on the biofuel. SA could sell an additional low-water mature oilfi eld clusters stake in its prolifi c Roncador fi eld pects for next year’s season could On average, the centre-south B$20bn in assets through next located in Brazil’s Campos basin, is in the Campos Basin to Norway’s include shifting more production region is earmarking around 67% year, a person with knowledge of also expected to be signed this year, Equinor earlier this year. back to the sweetener. of cane to ethanol production and the matter said, indicating that the said the source and another person In the same vein, the company Millers taking part in Datagro’s only 33% to sugar in the current state-run oil company expects to familiar with the matter. also sought bids in May from oil international sugar conference season. maintain its robust pace of divest- Reuters reported in July that services fi rms Schlumberger, Gen- in Sao Paulo said that a recent “The worst is in the past, the ments despite recent setbacks. Petrobras had entered exclusive eral Electric Co’s unit Baker Hughes price rally in New York could help outlook is constructive,” said Mar- Planned sales of its Pasadena talks to sell the area to Brazilian and Halliburton for a production forward sales of sugar, which in iangela Grola, market intelligence refi nery in Texas and two oilfi eld energy fi rm Ouro Preto Oleo e Gas, sharing agreement for an onshore turn might lead mills to earmark manager at Raizen, the world’s clusters in the Campos basin could which is backed by private equity fi eld in the Potiguar basin. more cane to sugar production largest sugar producer. be inked by year end, the source fi rm EIG Global Energy Partners. That would mark the fi rst such than they did this year, and less to She expects sugar prices could said, declining to be named given EIG could not immediately be deal between oil services compa- ethanol. go up to 16 cents per pound if glo- the sensitivity of the topics. reached for comment. nies and Petrobras, with the fi rms They also think that the new bal supplies shrink due to produc- Petrobras did not immediately Ouro Preto declined to com- competing by off ering to boost right-wing government in Brazil tion diffi culties in some producing respond to a request for comment. ment. output most from the Canto do that is pledging to adopt market- countries and buyers turn strongly Petrobras, the world’s most in- Petrobras will not achieve the Amaro fi eld. friendly policies would eventually again to Brazil, where they will debted listed oil company, has been $21bn 2017-2018 divestment goal But a deal is not likely until the lead to higher fuel consumption, have to compete with ethanol. seeking to sell assets to reduce its without the sale of its TAG pipeline fi rst quarter of 2019, the source sustaining ethanol demand and Mario Lorencatto, CEO of debt load, despite resistance from unit, valued at around $7bn. said. forcing sugar consumers world- Coruripe, one of the 10 largest unions and courts. The TAG sales process, which Another person familiar with the wide to pay more for the Brazil- sugar and ethanol companies in From 2016 to the present, it has had been in its fi nal stages, is likely matter said an agreement this year made sweetener to compete. Brazil, said his company already divested some $20bn. to remain frozen for the time being was possible but more likely for “I think mills have to take the managed to secure profi table for- But as of June 2018, it had com- after a court decision earlier this next year. opportunity to hedge some sugar ward sales, combining New York pleted just $9.5bn of the $21bn in year requiring sales of units of state Baker Hughes, Halliburton and now and avoid betting too much futures with local currency non- divestments it had targeted for 2017 companies to get congressional ap- Schlumberger declined to com- on ethanol next year, which is deliverable forward (NDF) con- and 2018. proval. ment. always subject to oil prices and tracts. It has not released an asset sales Brazilian president-elect Jair Despite the setbacks, Petrobras, public policies,” Gabriel Feres Jun- The arrangement has been prof- forecast for 2019. Bolsonaro, who takes power in Jan- which reports quarterly results this queira, chief executive offi cer of itable, he said. Petrobras could conclude the uary, has said he generally favours week, is likely to reach its goal of Bioenergetica Aroeira mill, said. “It is quite possible that more sale of its Pasadena refi nery in Tex- allowing Petrobras to sell assets, cutting net debt to 2.5 times earn- “Considering currency ex- sugar (production) will be consid- as to Chevron by the end of 2018, while opposing a full privatisation. ings before interest, tax, deprecia- change rates and New York futures ered in Brazil next season at this though it will not recover its more New Brazilian presidents typi- tion and amortisation (EBITDA) by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Dominican currently, they could fi x a price of level of prices,” said Jeremy Aus- than $1bn investment, the source cally replace senior management year-end, the person with knowl- Republic’s chancellor Miguel Vargas exchange documents 1,250 reais per tonne of sugar for tin, Brazil director for sugar trader said. at Petrobras and other state-owned edge of the matter said, down from at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. next season, which is a reasonable Sucden, in a presentation during Reuters reported earlier that companies, and the pace of divest- 3.23 times at the end of June. value,” he said. the conference. Gulf Times 24 Monday, November 5, 2018 PAKISTAN

Blue-collar workers Govt denies glossing bear brunt of rioting Internews But the worst-hit were the Lahore blue-collar workers who work on daily wages. It had taken Rehmat two years t took him seven years to pay operating his business of sell- off the instalments for his ing street food to fi nally become Icar; and yet he could not res- profi table. over protest actions cue it from the mob that smashed “Two days is a big stretch to it to bits: Fahad Ahmed, a small- lose business,” he said. Husband of blasphemy case time banker, is depressed beyond In fact, being in the sensi- woman appeals for asylum measure. tive Mall Road area, Rehmat was “All that hard-earned money badly aff ected even a day before. AFP/Reuters/Internews went down the drain,” he says not “The problem had begun on Islamabad/Karachi lifting his eyes off the ground, Wednesday night and I had to not daring to even look at what shut shop and leave,” he said. is left of his vehicle. “What will I Even the worse aff ected were nformation Minister Fawad do now?” vendors and hawkers. Chaudhry has insisted that Fahad had bought the car be- “I just eke out Rs300 a day,” Ithe government is not over- cause he had to travel a long way says Maryam Bibi, who sells hair looking the actions of those who to work, but now a drastic change accessories. “That makes for the took part in protests and rioting awaits him. “It will be back to day’s meals, but these past two over the Supreme Court acquittal buses for a long time, waiting days our supplies have been run- of a woman in a blasphemy case. endlessly in the sun and rain.” ning short.” Asia Bibi – a woman who had Over three days of protests last Corn seller Naseebullah says been on death row since 2010 week, with two of them punctu- he has suff ered a great loss. on blasphemy charges – was ac- ated by rioting, several people “We are poor people, what quitted by the Supreme Court have faced what Fahad has gone have we done wrong? Why at- on Wednesday, triggering large through, losing their cars to an- tack us, or not allow us to operate street protests led by the Te- Chaudhry: No one should have gry protesters. our business,” he said, recalling hreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) party this wrong impression that the In fact, the mob did not stop an incident where a young boy that paralysed Pakistan for three state will ignore this behaviour. at just cars, they also took over whose fruits were seized by riot- days, blocking roads and dis- This is not a religious issue, it is larger vehicles, including buses ers. rupting traffi c. an act of rebellion. No state can and trucks. Now that he has come back on “No one should have this ignore rebellion. Horrifying videos of burning the street to sell corn again, he is wrong impression that the state automobiles went viral on so- still not earning much as traffi c is will ignore this behaviour,” he over the deal, saying that it was cial media, and the mob could be thin and people are not stopping told reporters yesterday. “This is “appalled at the government’s seen beating them with rods and to buy snacks, unless they are on not a religious issue, it is an act failure to preserve the writ of the sticks. foot. of rebellion. No state can ignore state and the sanctity of the rule “I was scared to death as I was Saba, who goes from home to rebellion.” of law”. travelling down one of the main home off ering grooming services The minister said those in- “The TLP called openly for This picture taken on Thursday shows TLP supporters stopping traff ic during their protest in Peshawar. roads of the city, and a group to women, has also faced terrible volved will be taken to task. murder and mutiny, made a of young men stopped me,” re- loss. “The Constitution and law of mockery of the rule of law and Shafqaat said on Twitter, adding pleaded for international help to for comment on the video. counts Amjad Khan, a doctor. “I “For us who work on daily the state were insulted, this act is fundamental rights enshrined that some 500 people had been leave the country, saying that he On Saturday Masih told Ger- was taking my son to the hospi- wages, it is very diffi cult to even hard to forgive,” Chaudhry said. in the constitution, and appears accused over the unrest. feared for his family’s safety. man Deutsche Welle radio that tal. But these people did not stop take one day off , she says. “Even The case began in June 2009 to have assumed all the while Yesterday the authorities re- The request by Ashiq Masih the court had been “very coura- at anything. my Sundays are open to work. when Bibi – a Christian – was that its methods were legitimate leased pictures of those involved came a day after he criticised a geous” to acquit his wife. “They damaged my car’s bon- But an atmosphere like this, we asked to fetch water while out means of dissent,” the Human in the destruction and damage government deal with hardline Her case caught the attention net, but thankfully my wind- don’t even fi nd transport to trav- working in the fi elds. Rights Commission of Pakistan of property, and in causing harm Islamists that left her in legal of then Punjab provincial gover- screen and the rest remained un- el, let alone work. Muslim women labourers said in a statement yesterday. during the three-day protests. limbo, and called on authorities nor Salman Taseer who spoke in touched. I turned around as fast “Is the country only for these objected, saying that as a non- The TLP had blocked major The authorities also appealed to protect her. Bibi’s defence before being as- as I could and sped away.” agitators?” Muslim, she should not touch roads in Pakistan’s biggest cit- to citizens to co-operate with the Masih criticised the govern- sassinated by his bodyguard in the water bowl, and reportedly a ies for three days, calling for the police and the Federal Investiga- ment deal, saying that it was 2011. Twitter refused to ban protest account: minister fi ght erupted. murder of the Supreme Court tion Agency (FIA) in identifying “wrong”. The TLP was founded out of A local imam then claimed Bibi judges who acquitted Bibi, and the rioters. “I request US President Don- a movement to support Taseer’s A federal minister has accused Twitter of refusing to block an account insulted the Prophet Muhammad terming Prime Minister Imran “We will release more pictures ald Trump to help us to leave (the assassin, who was hanged in that stoked violent protests over the acquittal of a woman sentenced to (PBUH) – a charge she has con- Khan and the country’s army of those involved in rioting and country), and I request the prime 2016. death for blasphemy. sistently denied. chief enemies of Islam. destroying public property in minister of the UK to do their Federal minister for minorities Shireen Mazari, the federal minister for human rights, said the govern- The government reached a deal Police in Islamabad have ar- the coming days,” a statement level best to help us, to grant us Shahbaz Bhatti was also killed ment had asked the social media company to block the account of on Friday to end the protests by rested 12 people for violence and from the interior ministry read. freedom,” said Masih, in a video after calling for her release. Khadim Rizvi, the leader of the Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) group. agreeing to a travel ban prevent- incitement and were seeking an- “The interior ministry received message, seen by AFP, also re- Bibi’s lawyer fl ed Pakistan on Twitter declined the request, she tweeted yesterday. ing Bibi from leaving the country, other 32 who had been identifi ed. pictures from the special branch questing help from the Canadian Saturday, fearing for his life. Rizvi used Twitter to relay messages and instructions during the protests and saying that it would not ob- Reports had been “registered and other sources. We have asked prime minister. “In the current scenario, it’s that paralysed Pakistan for three days. ject to hardline movements ap- against more than 100 protesters the police and the FIA for their The US embassy and the Brit- not possible for me to live in Pa- Mazari said she disagreed with the government’s compromise with the pealing the verdict. who were involved in vandalism co-operation in identifying the ish and Canadian high commis- kistan,” Saiful Mulook, 62, told TLP, tweeting that such “appeasement” sends a “dangerous” message to Pakistan’s leading rights in Islamabad,” senior city offi cial perpetrators.” sions in Islamabad did not im- AFP before boarding a plane to groups. watchdog slammed Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Meanwhile, Bibi’s husband has mediately respond to a request Europe.

All in a day’s work Nation’s top judge takes notice of Islamabad offi cials living in huge buildings gets new

Internews Chief justice undergoes operation police chief Islamabad Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar underwent an angioplasty procedure at a Rawalpindi hospital yesterday, hospital management Internews hief Justice of Pakistan said. Islamabad Saqib Nisar has taken The top judge was admitted to the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology Cnotice of huge govern- after he complained of chest pain. ment residences occupied by He underwent angioplasty, during which two stents were implanted in ohamed Aamir Zulfi qar offi cials of diff erent depart- heart. has been appointed as ments. Nisar is out of danger and in good spirits, family sources added. Mthe new inspector gen- These government residenc- eral of police (IGP) of Islamabad. es are located in the upscale Zulfi qar joined the Police areas of major cities across the Almost 30,000 govern- DIG (2.5 acres each), Multan Services of Pakistan (PSP) in country. ment and private employees DIG (more than two acres) and 1991 as assistant superintendent The chief justice has ordered have been deployed at these Lahore DIG (two acres). of police (ASP). reports from the provincial residences, with the expenses The Mianwali Senior Super- He was the fi rst police offi cer chief secretaries within 10 days. borne by the government. intendent of Police (SSP) has to receive the President Police The Sargodha Commissioner If sold, these properties can the largest residence among Medal and Quaid-i-Azam Police House tops the list of the large fetch billions of rupees. the SSPs with an area of nearly Medal as an ASP. bungalows used by bureaucrats The federal cabinet in its fi rst six acres, followed by Rajan- He has served in the Fron- and senior police offi cers. meeting had considered a pro- pur SSP (nearly fi ve acres), tier Constabulary and was Da- Spread over 13 acres, it is the posal to hand over government Sheikhupura and Bahawalnagar Vendors transport cotton candy by bicycle along a street in Lahore. rikhshan Sindh ASP, Liaqatabad country’s largest government properties and buildings to the SSPs (four acres each), Attock ASP, Bin Qasim sub-divisional residence. Privatisation Commission for SSP (nearly four acres), Gu- police offi cer (SDPO), and Da- Thirty-three staff mem- sale to investors. jranwala SSP (three acres), Ra- rikshan Sindh SDPO. bers have been deployed for its The government has divided himyar Khan SSP (three acres), Later, he served one year as maintenance and security. its properties and buildings into Vehari and Kasur SSPs (2.5 part of a police mission in Bos- It is followed by the mansion three categories: assets that acres each), Jhang SSP (more nia. of the Sahiwal Senior Superin- would be privatised, leased, and than two acres), Khanewal and Senate session tomorrow After being promoted to the tendent of Police (SSP), which outsourced. Bahawalpur SSPs (two acres rank of superintendent of police is spread over eight acres. The total area of offi cial resi- each), Pakpattan SSP (nearly (SP) in 1998, he served as addi- The residences of the district dences of just 39 senior police two acres), Multan SSP (nearly Internews will come up for discussion in The senator said the recent tional SP in Sheikhupura, SP in co-ordination offi cers (DCOs) offi cers is 107.5 acres. two acres), Hafi zabad, Chakwal Islamabad the house. events had, once again, rein- Toba Tek Singh, SP in the Pun- of Mianwali and Faisalabad are According to available infor- and Narowal SSPs (more than “It is unfortunate that the forced the notion that the ap- jab Crime Branch, Staff Offi cer also spread over nearly eight mation, the Gujranwala Deputy one acre each), Sialkot SSP (one state of Pakistan is captive to plicability of law in Pakistan is to the Punjab Chief Minister, acres of land. Inspector General of Police acre), Gujarat and Bhakkar SSPs enate Chairman Sadiq warlords, and the Constitu- selective. Lahore Operations senior super- Millions are spent annually (DIG)’s residence is spread (one acre each), Layyah, Jhelum Sanjrani has convened tion and laws are molded to “However, what is really intendent of police (SSP), Pun- on the maintenance and secu- over more than eight acres, fol- and Khushab SSPs (a little less Sa session of the upper their convenience. The Quaid frightening is that the state is jab (Special Branch Admin) SSP, rity of the government resi- lowed by the Sargodha DIG (fi ve than one acre each), and Toba house for tomorrow (November (founder of Pakistan, Mohamed not willing to defend its own Lahore region (Special Branch) dences, spread over 325 acres of acres), Rawalpindi DIG, Faisal- Tek Singh and Rawalpindi SSPs 6) on a requisition submitted by Ali Jinnah) must be turning in institutions … this inspires SSP, and Multan police chief. land in Punjab alone. abad DIG and Dera Ghazi Khan (nearly one acre each). the joint opposition. his grave to see judges of the no confi dence in the common He was also appointed to im- Although the proposed agen- superior judiciary being intimi- man,” he said. portant posts including Multan da of the session includes the dated for acting in accordance The requisition submitted by regional police offi cer, deputy Former Punjab minister terms of foreign loans obtained with law, and the state failing the joint opposition on October inspector general of police (DIG) Air Marshal Zaheer named or being obtained, Pakistan’s to act against the intimidators, 29 to summon the session was of Punjab Counter-Terrorism booked for ‘gas theft’ Pakistan air force vice-chief possible intervention in the or when the military is called signed by 45 senators. Department, Sihala Police Col- Middle East confl ict, and the to revolt, and rebel-rousers are “Given the questions that lege Commandant, and at the The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has The Pakistan government has appointed Air increase in gas prices, it is be- appeased,” the senator stated. have arisen from multiple Punjab Services and General Ad- registered a first information report (FIR) against Marshal Aasim Zaheer as vice-chief of the air staff lieved that the acquittal of Asia The opposition senator sources on the state of the ministration Department. former Punjab caretaker minister Anjum Nisar in of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Bibi in the blasphemy case by warned that the consequences country’s public fi nances, and In 2018, he was elevated to connection with alleged gas theft to the tune of Zaheer was commissioned in the PAF in November the Supreme Court and events of such state abdication of its the record of irresponsible uni- the rank of additional inspector Rs337mn. 1984. following the decision, are set writ were far and wide. lateralism on raising foreign general and served as additional FIA spokesman Altaf Gohar Wattoo said that a raid He is a qualified flying instructor. to overtake the original agenda. “In the immediate, no judge debt, it is incumbent that the Punjab (Operations) inspector was conducted under the supervision of Lahore During his career, he has commanded a fighter A statement issued by Sena- of an anti-terrorism court or parliament be taken into confi - general. Electricity, Gas, Oil Anti-theft Unit (EGOA) deputy squadron, an operational airbase, and the Risalpur tor Raza Rabbani of the Pakistan other special courts will, in dence on all such matters forth- He was appointed as National director Imran Saeed along with Sui Northern Gas PAF Academy. Peoples Party (PPP) is an indi- these circumstances, dare to with,” the requisition moved by Highways and Motorway Police Pipeline Limited (SNGPL) off icials at Nisar Spinning Presently, he is serving at Air Headquarters as cation that the sit-ins staged by give a judgment against the ter- PPP Senator Sherry Rehman Inspector General of Police on Mills, Raiwind Road. deputy chief of air staff (administration). the Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP) rorists,” he noted. said. June 25. Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 25 PHILIPPINES Anti-corruption Eco-friendly ride group renews call for fi nance secretary’s resignation

Manila Times ez, accusing CAC as being dis- president and treasurer Enunina Manila owned by the Makati Business Mangio, president and chairper- Club (MBC); that it is a bogus son of various private corpora- organisation; and discrediting tions and chairman of the Phil- n anti-corruption group the Duterte administration. ippine-Korea Economic Council has reiterated its call for “Ledesma is wrong on all under the Philippine Chamber Athe resignation of Finance counts. We never claimed and of Commerce and Industry; CAC Secretary Carlos Dominguez, as do not wish to be associated with Secretary Alice Vidal, national it also refuted claims it was a bo- MBC. If only Ledesma did his president of the Women Law- gus organisation. homework like a diligent writer yers Association of the Philip- The Philippines’ Miss Earth candidate Silvia Celeste Cortesi rides a pedicab, which is full of symbolism in Tabaco City, Albay, as it In a statement yesterday, the should and checked with the Se- pines; and CAC Public Relations showcases the government’s fight against global warming. Coalition Against Corruption curities and Exchange Commis- Offi cer John Rana, consultant (CAC) urged Dominguez anew sion, he would have known that on the Peace Process, the First to resign. “If he has done noth- CAC has no connection or affi li- Anti-Corruption Summit Direc- ing, CAC urged him to resign as ation whatsoever with MBC,” it tor and member of Republic De- he does not deserve such a lofty added. fenders, an advocacy group for position in government,” it said. The group said that its crea- good governance. “We repeat: Secretary tion is in line with keeping the The group also mentioned Dominguez, in the three years 10-point agenda presented to that members of its board in- Robredo disappointed over nun’s that you were Finance Secretary, President Duterte during the clude Rosalina Bistoyong, former what have you done to curb cor- First Anti-Corruption Summit Agrarian Reform undersecretary ruption at the Bureau of Inter- held on November 26-27, 2017 and national president of the nal Revenue (BIR) and Bureau of at the Philippine International National Union of Career Serv- expulsion, hails contributions Customs (Boc)?” CAC added. Convention Center in Pasay ice Offi cers; Gonzalo Catan Jr, The organisation also chal- City. owner of Mapecon and an elder lenged the Finance chief on his CAC also emphasised that it is of the Brotherhood of Christian By Glee Jalea ability to manage BIR and BoC, far from being a bogus organisa- Businessmen and Professionals; Manila Times Missionary arrives in Australia aft er leaving Philippines pleading that he should not dis- tion, as its incorporators are in- Eddie Choa, businessman and appoint President Rodrigo Du- dividuals who have consistently vice president of Republic De- A nun whose missionary visa she was detained for 24 hours terte and the Filipino people. supported good governance and fenders; Maria Teresa Moncupa, ice President Leni Ro- was revoked by the Philippines after President Rodrigo Duterte The group’s latest statement the president’s war on corrup- lead convenor of DU34s, a sup- bredo was dismayed arrived in Australia yesterday, ordered an investigation into came after Dominguez snubbed tion. port group of President Duterte; Vover the deportation of and vowed to continue helping her activities. their initial call for resignation, It said joining the CAC in and Monalie Dizon, secretary Australian nun Patricia Fox, impoverished Filipinos fight for She was later ordered to leave saying that CAC’s accusations their personal capacities were general of Kilusang Pagbabago whom she believed was “more social justice. the country after the Bureau of are “very interesting.” individuals from respectable or- National Movement. Filipino” from her decades of “I’m so happy to be back but Immigration revoked her mis- CAC is also demanding a pub- ganisations such as CAC chair- “Ledesma, we demand a pub- missionary work in the country. I’m sad at the same time,” said sionary visa for allegedly par- lic apology from a certain Jun man Manuel Obedoza, also the lic apology for the malicious “It is disappointing that she Patricia Fox, a 71-year-old nun ticipating in anti-government Ledesma who it accused of ma- chairman of the Volunteers statements you made against was deported from our coun- from the Congregation of Our political activities, which were ligning the organisation by mak- Against Crime and Corrup- CAC and for maligning our per- try. In my opinion, she seemed Lady of Sion, who was greeted not allowed by her visa. ing fallacious and absurd state- tion and practising lawyer; CAC sons. If no such apology is made more like a true Filipino than with cheers from supporters at Presidential spokesman Salva- ments. president Lovensky Fernandez, within a week of this publica- many of us here,” Robredo said Melbourne Airport. Australian nun Patricia Fox dor Panelo said Fox’s departure CAC said Ledesma, under the president of Kilusang Pagbabago tion, we will fi le appropriate in her weekly radio show. “There’s been a culture of is surrounded by supporters “is a timely reminder to all byline “Letters from Davao,” National Movement for Change charges against you in the rel- Robredo added that she was impunity for a long time but it’s at the departure area of the foreigners who stay or sojourn took to the defence of Domingu- and practising lawyer; CAC vice evant courts,” CAC added. disappointed with the “politi- getting worse,” she said, adding Manila International Airport in this country that they are not cal” decision of the government she would not be able to return on Saturday. entitled to all rights and privi- to expel Fox out of the country. to the Philippines until Rodrigo leges granted to the citizens of “It is saddening how politics Duterte was the president. outside the Philippines,” she the Philippines.” became the reason behind all “I don’t think I can say what I added.”It’s probably a call to “To say that Sister Fox is this. It is saddening how voic- think of him,” she said of Du- struggle with the people in a ‘compelled to leave under More female police offi cers sought ing out one’s opinion against the terte. Prior to her flight, Fox said diff erent form.” strong protest’ is, therefore, government has to pay for it all she was leaving the Philippines Human rights activists, lawyers misleading as it is erroneous,” the time,” the vice president said. “under duress” because she and colleagues had joined he added.”Sister Fox was given By Glee Jalea pened was nothing new in police operations, and Fox left the country on Sat- was still appealing a deporta- a motorcade to bring Fox to due process of law.” Manila Times that offi cers like him were accustomed to having urday night and headed back to tion case against her. Ninoy Aquino International Fox appealed her case to the their way with suspected drug off enders and their Australia after months of legal “I’m thinking ‘When will I see Airport airport. Department of Justice, which family members. The girl’s mother reported the battle with the Bureau of Im- them again?’ I’m going out Fox was in the Philippines for nullified the deportation order lawmaker said yesterday there is a need to rape to the police, claiming that Valencia brought migration (BI) that ordered her under duress, but not being the past 27 years, working with on June 18. But the Bureau of increase the percentage of female offi cers in her daughter to a motel in Manila on October 26. deportation and downgraded deported,” she said after a various human rights organisa- Immigration again issued an Athe Philippine National Police (PNP) to give “In other jurisdictions with strong child protec- her missionary visa. thanksgiving Mass celebrated tions to help the poor, farmers, expulsion order against her increased protection to women and minors. tion systems, whenever a young girl is taken in for President Rodrigo Duterte for her. indigenous people and women. and downgraded her to a tour- Rep. Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur said the any reason, male offi cers cannot just put her in a had accused Fox of “meddling “I will take my advocacies Her ordeal began in April when ist visa, which expired Saturday PNP’s annual recruitment, training and educa- police car. They have to call for a female offi cer to with internal politics” from her tion quota for female offi cers should be increased accompany the child,” Pimentel said. participation in a series of pro- from 10% to 20% so “immediate administrative He added that children and women who were tests in Mindanao. other hand, said that Fox’s de- their sectors. “Sister Pat’s ex- sentative Ariel Casilao added reforms” can be made related to custodial handling visiting family members in police detention must The 71-year-old nun, who parture will likely be temporary. emplary service to the Filipino that Fox’s advocacy for “a just of children and women who may or may not be in be assisted by the station’s women and children has stayed in the country for 27 “In the end, the good always people through her missionary Filipino society” will continue confl ict with the law. protection desk.“There’s no reason why the PNP years, previously reiterated that prevails. That is why I think work among the country’s poor even after leaving the country. This came after Eduardo Valencia was charged cannot do this now. We already have Women and participating in assemblies of that there will come a time communities cannot be denied. “Defi nitely this is not the and dismissed from the police service for allegedly Children Protection Desks headed by female offi c- farmers and workers, who de- when Sister will come back to Only those who detest the poor end but rather another chapter raping the 15-year-old daughter of suspected drug ers in all police stations,” Pimentel said. manded just wages and humane us and continue her mission to would want her out of the Phil- of her advocacy for further ad- pushers in exchange for their freedom. Think-tank Center for Women’s Resources work conditions, are not politi- help the Filipinos,” she said. ippines,” Karapatan Alliance for vancing not only human rights Valencia’s case became controversial after he (CRW) said that a total of 56 policemen have been cal activities but moves to help Rights and labour groups the Advancement of People’s but also needed social reforms admitted to Director Guillermo Eleazar of the Na- involved in 33 cases of abuse against women under protect the rights of the poor also thanked Fox for her “ex- Rights said in a statement. for the poor sectors of our tional Capital Regional Police Offi ce that what hap- the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. and the needy. Robredo, on the emplary service” dedicated to Anakpawis Party-list repre- country,” he added. Labour group warns ‘paltry wage hike will lead to unrest’

By William Depasupil gress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) tioned the wage board for a P334 a employers and business owners, cre- “Drifting from one poverty level to Manila Times Vice President Louie Corral said in a day wage increase, but later settled ating tension within the enterprise another due to inadequate wage but statement. for P100. The Employers Confedera- level thereby disturbing and break- highly demanding jobs, more hungry “It will now be much more chaotic tion of the Philippines (ECOP) made ing the fragile industrial peace,” said workers will fi le notices of strikes he country’s biggest labour as the DoLE pushes the workers to go a counter-off er of P25. ALU-TUCP spokesman Alan Tan- from one company to another seek- group yesterday warned that on an off ensive at the enterprise level Labour representatives in the wage jusay. ing fairer wages and just compensa- Tthe meagre P25 wage hike for both non-unionised and non- board were outvoted by employers Tanjusay said the group suspected tion out of the growing economy,” expected to be announced by the unionised workers who have col- and government representatives in the ECOP of deliberately announcing Tanjusay said. Department of Labour and Employ- lective bargaining agreement (CBA) last-minute bargaining. the result of the wage board decision Other workers will troop to the ment (DoLE) today would “break negotiations,” he added. The Metro Manila wage board is before the NWPC review and ap- offi ces of the National Conciliation industrial peace” and trigger wide- The Regional Tripartite Wages and composed of the DoLE regional di- proval by the Offi ce of the President. and Mediation of the DoLE to de- spread discontent among workers. Productivity Boards for the National rector as ex-offi cio chairman, re- “Our national economic wealth is mand higher wages and improved Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello Capital Region or Metro Manila ap- gional directors of NEDA and the growing and businesses’ profi ts are benefi ts, he warned. 3rd, ex-offi cio chairman of the Na- proved on October 30, a P25 mini- Department of Trade and Industry exponentially growing by the billions “These will eventually lead to tional Wages and Productivity Com- mum increase on the P512 daily rate as ex-offi cio vice chairmen, and two and expanding, yet the workers who more to pickets and lockouts and mission (NWPC) that approves wage in Metro Manila. representatives each from the work- also help (build wealth) are again other forms of expression of protest hikes, is scheduled to offi cially an- Bello however said the P25 ap- ers and employer sectors as mem- made to sacrifi ce in (temporary jobs) and deep dissatisfaction including nounce today, a wage increase for the proved by the wage board was “un- bers. and contractualisation and, this through social media platforms— estimated 4mn private sector mini- offi cial” because it had yet to be re- The ALU-TUCP said Metro work- time, by a paltry wage increase. This ultimately breaking the industrial mum-wage earners in Metro Manila. viewed by the NWPC. ers needed a substantial increase for is absolute injustice,” Tanjusay said. peace conducive for sustaining our “We warn our government that Aside from Bello, other members them and their families to cope with Tanjusay said labour-manage- country’s economic growth,” Tan- supervening events will continue to of the NWPC are the director gen- the rising cost of living, which it said ment councils designed by govern- jusay said. push down workers below the pov- eral of the National Economic and had eroded the purchasing power of ment and employers were expected The ALU-TUCP had sought sup- erty threshold and the call for wage Development Authority (NEDA) as the P512 daily minimum wage to a to manage and control employees’ port from President Duterte to raise increase will only escalate further. ex-offi cio vice chairman, two repre- mere P340 a day. grievances. the P25 wage hike once it gets to his Labour Secretary Silvestre Bello has put forward Unfortunately, with this wage order sentatives each from the worker and “By not giving a substantial wage But these councils may be put to a offi ce for approval. an initial eight-point labour and employment instead of a realistic intervention (in employer sectors as members, and increase, we are looking at disgrun- test by workers demanding their just According to NEDA, a Filipino agenda to ensure “inclusive development, the) workers’ plight, the P25 will only the executive director of the NWPC tled, dissatisfi ed workers, with or and fair share of earnings from im- family needs at least P1,400 a day to prosperity, and labour justice” for Filipino prolong the instability,” Associated secretariat as ex-offi cio member. without unions, demanding for proved production quotas and pro- survive poverty and to live a decent workers. Labour Unions-Trade Union Con- The ALU-TUCP originally peti- higher wages directly confronting longed working hours, he said. and comfortable lives. Gulf Times 26 Monday, November 5, 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 Weighing up risk of being underweight on life expectancy

Obesity has always been on the healthcare radar as a hazard, but a new study in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology suggests that being underweight can also reduce life expectancy by four years. Led by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, the new study is one of the largest of its kind, looking at data gathered from 3.6mn people in the UK. Researchers found that, from the age of 40, people at the higher end of the healthy Body Mass Index (BMI) range had the lowest risk of dying from disease. But, Trump midterms will aff ect people at the top and bottom ends of the BMI risked having shorter lives, reported BBC News. BMI is calculated by dividing an adult’s weight by the square of their height. A “healthy” BMI score ranges everyone – not just Americans from 18.5 to 25. Most doctors say it is the best method they have of working out whether someone is obese because it is accurate and simple to measure. The By Jonathan Freedland They would also have approved a to fi ght this election: immigration or, angry base alone to win elections. But Guardian News and Media political approach that has Trump more starkly, xenophobia and racism. if Democrats falter, the lesson will study, showed that life expectancy for obese men and serve not as president of the United His closing messages could not have be clear. Turn your opponents into women was 4.2 and 3.5 years shorter respectively than States but as president of his base. been clearer. In the last few days alone, enemies, dial up the fury and the fear, people in the entire healthy BMI weight range. The very US election, presidential His electoral gamble is that he does he has proposed ditching the 19th- and power will be yours. or midterm, is always hailed not need to build bridges across the century, post-slavery constitutional And that lesson will not only be diff erence for underweight men and women was 4.3 as the most important of nation’s divides, he does not need to right of every child born in the US learned in the US. Trump has long and 4.5 years respectively. Eour lifetimes, at least by the win over the undecided, he simply to be a citizen. He has said he will been the face of the populist wave that BMI has been associated with all causes of death candidates stumping for votes. But needs to stir up and mobilise his own despatch a staggering 15,000 troops to has surged in Europe and which last categories, except transport-related accidents, this time the hype may actually be supporters. This guiding rule and the southern border to beat back the week gained its most overtly fascistic including cancer, cardiovascular diseases and justifi ed. The vote that will take place the habitual lying are connected: “caravan”, a supposed army of invasion, expression in the victory of Jair tomorrow – electing a new House he simply says whatever will rile which in fact consists of a dwindling Bolsonaro in Brazil. If Republicans defy respiratory diseases. of Representatives, one-third of the those angry white voters who back number of desperate asylum-seekers expectations and hold on, proving that However, not Senate and a slew of governorships him, regardless of truth, regardless from ravaged parts of Central America. 2016 was no fl uke, there will be more People at the top everybody in the – could not be more signifi cant. To of how much damage it will do. A And he has aired an unabashedly racist wannabe Trumps. Bashing the press, healthy category is Americans, most obviously, but to a telling moment came recently, when and wholly dishonest advertisement turning on minorities, trashing norms, and bottom ends watching world too. It is a referendum he was asked if he regretted mocking that paints migrants as murderers, and intimating violence: that will be the at the lowest risk of on the age of Donald Trump, delivering Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who falsely claims Democrats want to throw formula for success, bottled and ready of the BMI risk disease, according a verdict on whether the last two years testified that supreme court nominee open America’s borders. To say nothing for export. to report author Dr has been a horror show to be repudiated Brett Kavanaugh had sexually of his reaction to the most lethal But if Trump were to stumble, he having shorter Krishnan Bhaskaran. or a model to be advanced and copied. assaulted her. What if Ford was telling antisemitic attack in US history, when would suddenly look less like a model “For most causes of The stakes are high. If Democrats the truth? “It doesn’t matter,” Trump 11 Jews at prayer were gunned down in than a warning. Hate-fi lled populism lives retake the House, they will be able to said. “We won.” Pittsburgh last Saturday: Trump kept will be seen to have its limits. The death we found that slow or stall Trump’s agenda. Even if Tomorrow, US voters will pass on emitting his dog-whistle attacks on tunnel that we all entered that night there was an ‘optimal’ BMI level, with risk of death they stop short of launching formal judgment on that approach. If George Soros, a codeword heard and two years ago will, at last, give way to a increasing both below and above that level,” he said. impeachment proceedings, they Republicans triumph, they will have understood by Jew-haters everywhere. little light. “At BMIs below 21, we observed more deaths from will have the power to hold hearings endorsed it – and proven that, so long If Democrats do well, the Trump Americans are lucky: they can choose into the myriad corruption scandals as the economy is ticking over nicely, it political playbook – which relies which outcome they wish to see. The most causes, compared with the optimum BMI levels. that surround the president and his works. But they will also have validated, on lies and hate – will lose its gloss. rest of us have no such power. It is our However, this might partly refl ect the fact that low appointees. There will, at last, be a even given a mandate to, the main Republicans will shift away from it, fate to watch and wait – and hold our body weight can be a marker of underlying ill-health. substantial check on his power. theme on which Trump has chosen fearful that they cannot rely on an breath. For most causes of death, the bigger the weight If, on the other hand, Democrats fall short in the House and – as the polls diff erence, the bigger the association we observed with predict – Republicans maintain or mortality risk. So a weight diff erence of half a stone even tighten their grip on the Senate, would make a relatively small (but real) diff erence; we then Trump’s position will be even could detect these small eff ects because this was a very stronger than when he took offi ce. large study.” He will hold the executive and both houses of Congress, alongside what Some experts have questioned whether BMI is an is now, thanks to him and the two accurate way of analysing a person’s health. However, appointments he made, a more reliably Dr Katarina Kos, senior lecturer in Diabetes and conservative supreme court. Obesity at the University of Exeter, believes it is. “For But the signifi cance of Tuesday goes far beyond the formal allocation of the majority of people, BMI is a good measure,” she told powers. What matters as much, if not the BBC. Dr Kos added that the report did not contain more, is whether Trump is boosted or any surprises but added that overweight people who bruised by the results. If Democrats could lower their BMI may reap the health benefi ts. surge, the shock victory he won in November 2016 will come to look more “We know from the diabetes remission data how low- like a freak event, one attributable to calorie diets and weight loss can improve diabetes, for an unhappy convergence of a fl awed example,” she said. opponent in Hillary Clinton, an “And we know weight loss can also help in improving eccentric electoral system in which the risk so that would also then improve mortality rates.” candidate with the most votes is not necessarily the winner, and a helping The report suggested that a higher BMI in older people hand from Vladimir Putin. If Democrats may not be as dangerous, because a bit of extra weight wilt, then Trump and Trumpism will be was “protective” for them. But Dr Kos, who worked branded with the label that matters to on a report on this topic in 60 to 69-year-olds last him most: winner. He will claim – and be justifi ed year, disagreed with the fi ndings. Her report, on what in claiming – that, for all the liberal is known as the obesity risk paradox, did not “support hand-wringing, he has been vindicated, acceptance” of the theory. So, the take home point is both in style and in substance. He has too much or too little of body weight is not good. campaigned hard, packing in daily rallies across the country, telling the crowds at each stop that a vote for the local Republican candidate is, in fact, “a To Advertise vote for me”. So if Republicans prevail, Trump can say that Americans saw [email protected] what the Trump era entailed – and they Display wanted more of it. The pattern of serial, egregious lying 44466621 44418811 – at last count he had made more than 6,400 false or misleading claims over Classified the 650 days of his presidency, hitting 44466609 44418811 a rate of 30 whoppers a day during the current campaign – would have won Subscription public approval. Americans would have accepted the semi-admission [email protected] of mendacity Trump himself off ered this week: “When I can, I tell the truth.” Meaning: when the truth is © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved inconvenient, I lie. Tomorrow’s mid-term election is a referendum on the age of Donald Trump. Gulf Times Monday, November 5, 2018 27 COMMENT Europe’s coming year of reckoning

By Joschka Fischer the parliamentary election campaign; Berlin otherwise, they will suff er a shattering defeat at the hands of the new nationalists. olitically, 2019 will be an The nationalists want to return to extraordinarily important year the past; it is up to the pro-Europeans for the European Union. to off er answers for the future. P The United Kingdom is Make no mistake: a nationalist currently on track to leave the EU on victory next year would rock the EU to March 29, 2019. its core and throw it into another deep And, following elections to the crisis. European Parliament in May, nearly It would represent a defeat for the all of the most important leadership fundamental values of the European positions across EU institutions will project. turn over. Given the scale of the threat, pro- Thus, depending on how Europeans cannot count on business parliamentary seats are distributed, as usual. Europe could witness a major Recent upheavals in many member realignment of power among member- states’ party systems have altered states, within EU institutions, and the electoral calculus, and the pro- between member-states and the Europeans must adapt accordingly. Parliament. For my part, I foresee next year’s The new distribution of power elections auguring dramatic change in within EU institutions will be refl ected Europe. largely through personnel. For better or worse, the question of New presidents of the European Europe itself has been politicised, and Commission, the European Council, now it must be decided. and the European Central Bank There will either be a rebirth of will be appointed, and a new High nationalism or a victory for EU-level Representative of the Union for Foreign democracy and unity. Aff airs and Security Policy will be Sadly, pro-Europeans cannot hope chosen. Europe could witness a major realignment of power among member-states. for any help from abroad. If nationalist eurosceptic In fact, the opposite is true: Europe parties become the largest group governance diffi cult if not impossible. prominence of nationalist parties implications for Europe’s future in a Russia raises the threat of a renewed must be vigilant in policing foreign in the European Parliament, these Today’s de facto grand coalition in this election cycle, the usual pro rapidly changing world. arms race. interference in its aff airs – including its appointments could represent an between the conservative European forma European campaign issues will The current president of the United And this is coinciding with an elections. abrupt break from the past. People’s Party (EPP) and the inevitably take a back seat. States has such disdain for the EU escalating climate crisis and a global In recent years, there has been EU member-states are more divided Progressive Alliance of Socialists and This will be a contest about Europe that many now talk of “the end of the contest for predominance in artifi cial much talk of the EU suff ering from now than ever, even on the most Democrats (S&D) most likely will not and the future of European democracy. West.” An increasingly revanchist intelligence, the risks of which are still a “democratic defi cit.” But the fundamental issues concerning the survive beyond the elections. Recent developments in a number Russia is waging wars along the largely unaccounted for. fi ght for a majority in the European European project. The S&D, in particular, is in deep of member states have challenged European periphery and in Syria. Against this dismal backdrop, Parliament actually represents a major The broad pro-European consensus – indeed, existential – crisis across foundational EU principles such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip the question is what will become of opportunity for democracy. of the past has been replaced by a Europe. the rule of law and the separation of Erdo an is taking his country down the Europe. Pro-Europeans need only wake up in resurgent nationalism. And there are new players on the powers. path of authoritarianism. Will Europeans manage to hold time to seize it – or Europe’s enemies Moreover, east is increasingly pitted fi eld, including French President These democratic institutions, And China is demanding recognition on to their sovereignty, or will will. - Project Syndicate against west, and north against south. Emmanuel Macron’s centrist La as well as questions of European as a global power. their self-inflicted disunity render And there is good reason to fear République En Marche! and a solidarity and sovereignty, will all Worse still, US President Donald them ever more dependent on other zJoschka Fischer, Germany’s foreign that these widening rifts will be smattering of radical eurosceptic and eff ectively be on the ballot. Trump’s recent decision to withdraw powers? minister and vice chancellor from 1998 refl ected in the new composition nationalist parties. Needless to say, the parliamentary the US from the 1987 Intermediate- Pro-EU parties must make Europe’s to 2005, was a leader of the German of the Parliament, making majority Given the unprecedented elections will have far-reaching Range Nuclear Forces Treaty with place in the world a central issue of Green Party for almost 20 years.

The promise of AI in the developing world Three-day forecast

TODAY earthquake reconstruction needs. Since the programme launched while ignoring issues traditionally Maximum Temperature : 320c By Tej Kohli Minimum Temperature : 260c London Across Africa, AI tutors are in October 2016, delivery times associated with developing countries. helping young students catch up on have been cut by a factor of fi ve, and But mobile technology is opening TUESDAY coursework. hundreds of lives have been saved. new doors of opportunity, and it now Maximum Temperature : 310c common misperception Humanitarian aid agencies are Still, while AI innovations like this makes humanitarian and business Minimum Temperature : 260c among observers of digital using big data analytics to optimise one are impressive, we cannot take sense to target AI solutions far beyond WEDNESDAY trends is that consumers in the delivery of supplies for them for granted. Western countries. Maximum Temperature : 310c Adeveloping countries do not refugees fleeing conflict and other Unless we counter the misplaced That is why I established Rewired, Minimum Temperature : 250c hardships. but well-publicised fears that AI a $100mn investment vehicle that benefi t from advances in technology. Fisherman's forecast Whether it is owning the latest And in my country, India, rural disruptions will be worse than the supports embryonic AI and robotics smartphone or “employing” robot farmers use AI applications to improve rewards, the incredible progress fi rms engaged in addressing important WARNING that technology companies are social issues. Inshore : Nil cleaners, the ability to access crop yields and boost profi ts. Offshore : Expected strong wind innovation is one of the most visible Innovations like these bring us making in the Global South will be Rewired works with fi rms at the and high sea a first diff erences between rich and poor closer to achieving the United Nations slowed. vanguard of machine perception – the WEATHER countries. Sustainable Development Goals on There are a number of steps that can ability of robots to understand and Inshore : Moderate temperature daytime and scattered This gap has become even more issues like eradicating poverty, ending be taken to avoid this outcome. interpret the physical world. clouds to partly cloudy pronounced since the advent of health-care inequality, increasing For starters, programmes like the We have invested in companies that at places, mild by night. artifi cial intelligence (AI). For access to schooling, and combating UN’s “AI for Good” campaign, which are working to replicate human smell, Offshore : Partly cloudy at times. example, the vast majority of home global warming. is aimed at fostering dialogue on to develop aff ordable and dexterous “smart speaker” personal assistants, And yet the world is just scratching the benefi cial use of technology for prosthetics, and to create portable WIND like Amazon’s Alexa, are shipped to the surface of what AI can do for humanitarian work, must receive the machines designed to improve Inshore : Easterly-Southeasterly wealthy countries. human progress. full support of policymakers. manufacturing processes. 05-15 KT In 2017, over 80% of global smart To harness AI’s full power to Those of us involved in technology Our goal is to fund technologies Offshrore : Southeasterly- speaker shipments were to North advance development, we must fi nd development must also continue to with the potential to enhance quality Northeasterly 8-18 KT, America. new ways to apply it. identify the projects, initiatives, think of life in every country around the Gusting to 24/KT But while technology can deepen For example, with the right support, tanks, and organisations that would world. Visibility : 4-8 KM global inequality, it also has the the skies above developing countries benefi t from co-operation with AI And that, I believe, will be AI’s potential to mitigate it. could be fi lled with drones delivering fi rms – like Zipline in Rwanda. unifying characteristic. Offshore : 3-5/8 FT But, most important, conversations The machines we create today will This is because AI can do much medical supplies to remote hospitals. Around the region more than power appliances; it can This is already happening in rural about developing AI for humanitarian not only be profi table; they will also Weather also revolutionise the way healthcare, Rwanda, where a unique partnership purposes cannot be conducted bring us closer to solving some of the Weather tomorrow Max/min disaster relief, fi nance, logistics, between the health ministry and in isolation by aid organisations, world’s biggest challenges. - Project today Max/min S Showers 21/14 education, and business services are Zipline, a Silicon Valley-based tech charities, and governments. Syndicate Baghdad T Storm 21/14 S T Storms 26/19 delivered in the Global South. startup, is giving doctors in hard- Technology investors must also have Kuwait CityT Storm 26/20 Sunny 31/25 Around the world, AI is already to-reach clinics the ability to order a seat at the table. zTej Kohli is a technology entrepreneur, Manama Sunny 32/26 M Sunny 30/22 transforming developing countries. blood by text message, and then have For too long, technology businessman, and philanthropist, and Muscat Sunny 29/21 P Cloudy S Showers 13/08 In Nepal, machine learning it arrive by parachute in a matter of entrepreneurs have focused on founder of Kohli Ventures, a tech- Tehran 16/10 is mapping and analysing post- minutes. solving problems in the Global North, focused venture capital fi rm. Live issues Tall people may be more prone to varicose veins

Around the world By Lisa Rapaport They followed this with a genome- to search Biobank participants’ data for researchers to investigate the Reuters Health wide scan of several hundred thousand for patterns linking varicose veins mechanisms involved in varicose vein Weather Weather people that identifi ed 30 genetic with other traits and confi rmed that development and risk, the authors note. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min locations, many of them involved in well-known risk factors - including One limitation of the study is that Athens P Cloudy 23/14 Sunny 21/14 tanding above the crowd skeletal and blood vessel development, being older, female, overweight or the participants in the UK Biobank Beirut P Cloudy 22/18 M Sunny 23/18 puts people at greater risk of which further suggest tallness may be pregnant, or having a history of deep might not refl ect what would happen in Bangkok M Sunny 35/24 M Sunny 35/26 developing varicose veins, a a direct cause of varicose veins. vein thrombosis - are all associated populations in other parts of the world. Berlin M Sunny 17/09 Sunny 17/08 Slarge genetic study suggests. “We do not yet know why height is with varicose veins. Still, it off ers some of the most Cairo P Cloudy 27/17 M Sunny 27/17 Varicose veins are swollen, twisted such a strong risk factor for varicose Surgery on the legs, family comprehensive insight to date into Cape Town S Showers 13/10 Cloudy 16/11 veins that can be seen just under the veins,” said senior study author Dr history, lack of movement, smoking the environmental and biological Colombo T Storm 29/24 T Storm 28/24 surface of the skin, usually in the Nicholas Leeper of Stanford University and hormone therapy are also risk factors that might infl uence the risk of Dhaka M Sunny 32/24 P Cloudy 32/23 legs. More than 30 million people in in California. factors for varicose veins, the study varicose veins, said Dr Quinn Wells, of Hong Kong P Cloudy 24/22 Sunny 25/21 the US have varicose veins. Although “It may be a simple matter of confi rmed. Vanderbilt University Medical Centre Istanbul M Sunny 20/15 Cloudy 18/14 the condition is often dismissed plumbing and gravity, with taller But the connection between height in Nashville, Tennessee. Jakarta S T Storms 32/26 T Storm 33/26 as nothing more than a cosmetic individuals experiencing higher and varicose veins was new and “Although fi ndings of this study Karachi Sunny 34/21 Sunny 34/19 nuisance, it can cause moderate pressures in their veins, causing unexpected. may not immediately impact patient London M Cloudy 17/12 Showers 16/11 pain and has been linked to the them to enlarge and dilate,” Leeper Comparing the tallest 25% of people care, understanding these factors Manila P Cloudy 32/26 P Cloudy 32/26 more serious side eff ect of deep vein said by e-mail. “On the other hand, to the shortest, the analysis showed is the fi rst step toward developing Moscow P Cloudy 05/-2 M Sunny 06/-1 thrombosis, or blood clots in the deep the powerful genetics studies we the tallest had 74% higher risk of eff ective interventions for prevention New Delhi Sunny 28/15 Sunny 28/13 veins in the body. conducted showed that height is not varicose veins, according to the results and treatment of varicose veins,” New York Rain 12/11 T Storm 19/11 For the current study, researchers only associated with disease, but also in Circulation. Wells, who wrote an accompanying Paris P Cloudy 19/12 P Cloudy 20/08 analysed data on almost 500,000 seems to be causal for disease - an In addition, researchers screened editorial, said by e-mail. Sao Paulo Cloudy 20/14 P Cloudy 24/16 people participating in the long-term important distinction, because the for genetic markers associated with Generally, people can help prevent Seoul P Cloudy 18/06 P Cloudy 18/09 UK Biobank study, looking for traits genes that regulate human height varicose veins in 337,536 people, varicose veins by maintaining a Singapore T Storm 31/25 T Storm 31/25 associated with risk for varicose veins, could have a role in the structure and 9,577 of whom had varicose vein healthy body weight and exercising Sydney P Cloudy 26/18 Cloudy 29/22 and height stood out as a strong, integrity of the veins.” disease. The resulting 30 locations to improve muscle strength and Tokyo Cloudy 20/14 Cloudy 21/16 independent risk factor. The analysis used machine learning on the genome provide new leads circulation, Wells advised. Gulf Times 28 Monday, November 5, 2018 QATAR Three interchanges partially open on Khor Expressway

By Ramesh Mathew Staff Reporter

hree interchanges of the A view of the 34km fast cycle track being built along Al Khor Expressway. under-construction 33- Tkm Al Khor-Doha Ex- pressway were opened partially yesterday. The major project for a new link between the north- ern town of Al Khor with Doha is passing through the outskirts of Lusail, Simaisma, Tinbak and Umm Garn areas. This would considerably re- duce travel time between Doha and Al Khor in future, senior Ashghal offi cials said yesterday at the worksite of one of the three interchanges. They said the opened bridges are the fi rst major milestone ac- Orbital Highway under construction joins this interchange in Lusail which was partially opened yesterday. complished on Al Khor Express- PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam way project scheduled to be com- plete towards the end of next year. Road and the Orbital through Al The offi cials said almost 60% of Mazrooah Interchange to reach the work is completed. Ashghal of- Lusail. fi cials said two of the three lanes in The third bridge, located at each direction of the bridge at the the interchange connecting Lu- Simaisma Intersection have been sail city with Al Tarfa Road, also opened to the public to provide had two of its three lanes opened a free fl ow of traffi c to road users to provide new travel options for coming from Al Shamal Road via the road users from Al Shamal Simaisma Road and heading to- Road via Izghawa Interchange wards Simaisma. and the surrounding areas to- The new bridges will signifi - wards Doha and Lusail. cantly enhance traffi c movement Speaking later at the worksite as it will remove the old diversion in Lusail, Ashghal’s Highway and considerably reduce travel Projects Department assist- time. On the second bridge, lo- ant manager Bader Darwish said cated in the neighbourhood of their project team is working Lusail, two out of the three lanes round-the-clock to ensure that easier access to 15 residential ar- structure Aff airs director Mo- Central Municipal Council mem- in each direction were opened to these three vital bridges were ful- eas and some of the key business, hamed al-Marri, Al Khor and Al ber Meshal al-Nuaimi, Ministry provide a direct link between Lu- ly opened to the public ahead of leisure, service and sport areas. Thakhira Municipality direc- of Interior’s Traffi c Safety and sail and Orbital Road and Truck the schedule. He also explained of Qatar running parallel to Al ring roads as well as the Orbital At an informal meeting at the tor Mohamed Saleh al-Attan, Al Engineering Department man- Route. The bridge is expected to the Al Khor Expressway project Shamal Expressway. It is provid- Highway, and they are expected interchange in Lusail prior to Dha’ayen Municipality director ager Brigadier Mohamed Marafi - allow road users from Al Shamal is one of the key arterial roads ing connectivity to several major to provide road users with much the opening, Ashghal’s Infra- Rashed Meshlesh al-Khaytarein, ya were also present. Once complete, journey time from Doha to Al Khor will be 18-20 minutes

hen completed towards tional institutions such as Qatar the end of next year University, Community College W(2019), Al Khor Ex- of Qatar, College of the North pressway will be able to handle Atlantic-Qatar, Qatar Leadership 10,000 vehicles per hour against Academy and Doha Institute for the present 4,000 per hour on the Graduate Studies. Speaking yes- North Road between Al Khor and terday at the construction site of Doha. the new interchange near Lusail, While informing this yester- Central Municipal Council mem- Ashghal off icials and representatives of companies engaged in the construction of the interchange near day, senior Ashghal offi cials said ber (of Constituency 18) Meshal Lusail on its partial opening yesterday. PICTURES: Shaji Kayamkulam the new 33-km expressway would al-Nuaimi thanked Ashghal pres- feature fi ve lanes in either direc- ident Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhan- tion between Al Khor and near nadi and the project’s team. the Qatar University Street. This The opening of the interchang- is apart from the two emergency es is key to ease access to areas, lanes which the new highway is A view of the Al Khor Expressway near the Stadium in Lusail where especially the partial opening of expected to have on its comple- World Handball Championship was held in 2015. the interchange that connects Or- tion. bital Road from Rawdat Al Hama- When complete, Al Khor Ex- be built at Al Khor and Lusail. A The access will also be easier to Al ma to Lusail. This is expected pressway would have multi-level world-class 34-km cycle path, Rayyan Stadium through the Or- which reduces future traffi c on Al interchanges, six of which will capable of hosting globally ac- bital Road and Truck Route as well Shamal Road. provide free fl ow connectivity claimed events would also be as several sports facilities such as Al Khor and Al Thakhira Mu- with major roads such as the Or- completed alongside the express- Al Khor and Simaisma’s Youth nicipality director Mohamed bital Highway, Al Tarfa Road and way. The work of the cycle path is Centres, Al Khor Sport Club, Lu- Saleh al-Attan said the opening Simaisma Road as well as facili- already on. Not over, there would sail Sport Complex and Doha Gulf of three bridges yesterday as part tating access to Al Shamal Road be 42 pedestrian and cyclists’ Club. of Al Khor Expressway would re- and Lusail Expressway. underpasses. The work on the The new expressway would duce travel time for those coming In all the Expressway would project began in November 2016. also serve a number of business from Al Shamal to the coastal ar- feature 10 bridges, 22 tunnels When fully commissioned, Al districts such as Lusail, the Pearl eas such as Simaisma, Lusail and and underpass as well as a ‘camel Khor Expressway would cater to and West Bay along with facili- others. He added that the project bridge’ linking the small and the 15 residential areas throughout tating access to Al Dayen Services would provide free traffi c fl ow large Lusail protected areas will its stretch from Doha to Al Khor Complex and many hotels in the once completed. also be delivered. The expected including Simaisma, Umm Garn, surrounding areas. Several leisure Al Dayen Municipality direc- journey time between Al Khor and Tinbak, Wadi Al Banat, Rawdat Al facilities will be accessible via Al tor Rashid Mashlash al-Khayarin Doha would be 18 to 20 minutes, Hamama, Lusail, the Pearl, Leg- Khor Expressway including Ka- said Al Khor Expressway is one according to Ashghal authorities. taifi ya and Al Tarfa Road. tara, Simaisma Beach, Al Farkiya of the mega projects that would One of the highlights of the Al Khor Expressway will also Beach, and Al Dayen Celebration meet the needs and requirements Expressway would be its median, provide FIFA 2022 World Cup Halls. of the areas between Al Khor and which would feature the Doha fans with easy access to two of the Further to connecting ma- Doha. The road will facilitate bet- Metro’s Red line between Al Khor stadiums, namely Lusail Stadium jor cities and areas, the project ter traffi c between the two places, and Lusail. The new stations will and Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. would also link many educa- he added.