BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Man City well ahead as Chelsea INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-7, 24 COMMENT 22, 23 Qatar companies earn REGION 8 BUSINESS 1-7, 14-16 beat Man 23,449.00 8,126.89 55.64 ARAB WORLD 8 CLASSIFIED 8-13 QR500mn from global +5.06 -19.34 +1.10 INTERNATIONAL 9-21 SPORTS 1-8 United +0.02% -0.24% +2.02% markets via Tasdeer Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10629 November 6, 2017 Safar 17, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar slams Texas church Qatar sets up panel to shooting In brief Qatar has condemned the shooting incident inside a church in Texas, which caused a number of deaths and inju- ries. The Foreign Ministry stressed in a statement yesterday Qatar’s solidarity QATAR | Reaction with the US and its support for all Qatar condemns missile tackle cyberattacks measures taken to maintain security attack on Riyadh and stability. It reiterated Qatar’s total By Santhosh V Perumal tween governments and the private rejection of targeting places of worship Qatar has condemned the targeting of Business Reporter sector because of the great impor- and intimidating civilians. the Saudi capital, Riyadh by a ballistic tance of the fi nancial sector and its The statement expressed Qatar’s condo- missile. In a statement yesterday, the eff ective role in the economy. lences to the families of the victims and Foreign Ministry reiterated Qatar’s atar has constituted a high- In order to achieve a comprehen- the government and the people of the US, rejection of any direct or indiscriminate level committee to prepare sive national security, he said, Qatar wishing speedy recovery for the wounded. attacks against civilians as a violation Qpolicies and programmes as has taken all measures, procedures At least 20 worshippers were shot of international humanitarian law. It part of its strategy to achieve infor- and plans to ensure the protection dead by a gunman during a morning called on all parties to avoid escalation mation security and strengthen the of the security of national informa- service at a Baptist church in Suther- and engage in a comprehensive fi rewall against cyberattacks. tion by protecting the infrastruc- land Springs, Texas, yesterday. dialogue to end the war and restore “The membership of the commit- ture of classified information from The gunman was killed after a short stability to Yemen. The statement also tee includes representatives from hacking and theft, in addition to chase, CNN reported, quoting a sheriff ’s reiterated Qatar’s firm and supportive all sectors in the country, and it has reducing the risks to the informa- off ice spokesman in Guadalupe stance of the Gulf initiative, the sub-committees for each sector. Co- tion infrastructure, finding quick County. It was unclear whether the outcomes of the national dialogue, ordination is held at the highest level and appropriate technical solutions shooter died from a police bullet or at and UN resolutions aimed at restoring between all committees and the su- and reducing the damage and the his own hand. stability in Yemen. preme committee in order to achieve duration of repairs resulting from Sutherland Springs is a small rural the desired objectives to ensure the any external or internal attacks and community about 50km southeast of QATAR | Reaction achievement of information secu- other threats. San Antonio. rity,” HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Warning about the dangers related Attacks on Kirkuk Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- to information security, especially At least 20 worshippers mosque denounced Thani told the fourth conference on those related to cyber crimes which were shot dead by a gunman Qatar has denounced the twin attacks information security in the fi nancial have spread and aff ected developed during a morning service at a on a mosque in central Kirkuk, Iraq, institutions, organised by the Qatar countries and major companies, the Baptist church yesterday which resulted in a number of deaths Central Bank. premier referred to the hack that tar- and injuries. In a statement yesterday, Qatar works in full co-ordination geted the Qatar News Agency website With details rapidly unfolding, some un- the Foreign Ministry reiterated Qatar’s with all regional and international last May in an attempt to harm Qatar named off icials were quoted in media firm stance rejecting violence and institutions and organisations to and escalate the current crisis by the reports citing tolls as high as 27 dead terrorism regardless of motives and unify policies and to promote eff orts siege countries. and 20 or more wounded. reasons. The statement stressed for protecting information security, HE the Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani addressing Stressing on the need to intensify The shooter reportedly walked into Qatar’s total rejection of targeting he said. the QCB conference. the local, regional and international the church shortly before noon – at a places of worship and intimidating Several committees have been eff orts to fi nd the best ways to protect morning service that witnesses said civilians. It expressed Qatar’s formed at the level of the Gulf Co- “Co-ordination is also being un- bally by 2019 from almost $500mn in information security and lessen the was normally attended by some 50 condolences to the families of the operation Council countries to link dertaken at the international level to 2015, Sheikh Abdullah said the chal- dangers surrounding it, he said eff ec- people – and opened fire. A two-year- victims, the government and the and develop payment and settlement enhance information security, par- lenges faced by cyber space require tive protection would not be achieved old was among the wounded, the Dal- people of Iraq, wishing the injured systems and to enhance information ticularly in the fi nancial sector, and to everyone to take the necessary meas- unless co-operation among all par- las Morning News website reported. speedy recovery. security and protection, in addition benefi t from international expertise ures to protect and enhance informa- ties is established locally, region- A spokeswoman for Connally Memorial to co-ordination in the fi eld of su- and experience in this fi eld,” he said. tion security systems. ally and internationally, in addition Medical Center in nearby Floresville QATAR | Astronomy pervision and control, said HE Sheikh Quoting various reports that sug- In this regard, he pointed to the im- to setting strategies based on basic told Fox News that “we have accepted a Abdullah, who is also the Interior gest losses from cyber crimes are ex- portance and necessity of more active substrates of defence, deterrence and number of patients from the shooting.” Katara signs MoU Minister. pected to reach more than $2tn glo- participation and co-operation be- development. to build planetarium Katara – the Cultural Village has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) to establish a planetarium and the first observatory of its kind in Qatar. The signing of MoU was led by Emiri Air Force opens copter fl ight simulation centre Katara general manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and PDO’s external aff airs executive director, Abdulamir QNA ogy essential for training,” the Turkish al-Ajmi. “This MoU is a significant Doha daily said. step in the co-operation, exchange During the inauguration ceremony, of experiences, workshops and Canikli described Turkey and Qatar training between the two parties in he Qatar Emiri Air Force (QEAF) as two brotherly countries enjoying a the astronomy field,” Dr al-Sulaiti said. inaugurated yesterday a heli- strategic partnership. Page 3 Tcopter fl ight simulation centre “Our ties in the fi eld of defence will at Al Udeid Air Base. improve, and the new training facility SPORT | Athletics The AW 139 Helicopter Simulation is in accordance with our objectives,” Flight Training Facility was inaugurat- Canikli said. Marathon showcases ed by HE the Minister of State for De- “Turkey has advanced in defence NY’s resilience fence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed sector, especially the drone technology. Five days after the worst attack on New al-Attiyah, along with the Turkish De- HE the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah and Turkey has caught up with the world York since September 11, 2001, the city fence Minister Nurettin Canikli. Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli opening the training centre. especially in the UAV [Unmanned Aer- staged a show of defiance yesterday, The centre is a training facility for The flight simulator ial Vehicles] fi eld. F-35 will probably be with some 2.5mn people packing the pilots and aircraft crew using 3D tech- upgrade pilot’s effi ciency and reduce the centre is Turkey’s largest defence the last fi ghter jet to include a pilot,” he streets to cheer on 50,000 marathon nology at both the foundation, pro- the operational cost of aircraft. The industry project in Qatar. ages of Qatar’s entire sovereign terri- said, adding that the future air combats participants from around the world. In gressive and operational levels and in centre can also be linked to all aircraft “The fl ight simulator, built by the tory and medium-resolution images would be led by drones. a befitting finish, Shalane Flanagan, 36, all climatic conditions. simulators operated by the Emiri Air Turkish state-run air defence and of the larger Gulf area. The simulator Following the inauguration, al-Atti- became the first American in 40 years Providing more than 3,800 training Force. military software company Havelsan, costs about half the price of a heli- yah and Canikli inspected the facility to win the women’s title. Sport Page 7 hours per year, the centre would help According to Daily Sabah Defence, includes high-resolution satellite im- copter, with more advanced technol- together. Page 2 Al Rayyan Stadium marks 5mn man-hours safety milestone

QNA to the contractors leading work on- further embed safe working practices nations is something we should all Doha site, al-Fehani said: “This is a major within the workforce. Workshop ses- be proud of and celebrate.” achievement that everyone working sions covered working at height, first Certifi cates praising their achieve- on-site should be proud of. Not only aid, fire safety training and an up- ments were handed out to Al Balagh onstruction at Al Rayyan Sta- is it good for every one of us who gets dated power tool training from man- Trading & Contracting Co WLL and dium has reached a major to work in a safe environment, but agers. Larsen & Toubro Limited, both Main Cmilestone following the com- enhanced health and safety also rep- Nigel Valvona, SC Site Construc- Contractor Joint Venture Partners, as pletion of more than 5mn man-hours resents the real legacy of this World tion Health & Safety Programme well as Louis Berger, Construction Su- without a Lost Time Accident. Cup that our HSSE team works hard Manager, emphasised that safety pervision Consultant, and AECOM, The major construction safety to create.” continues to be a top priority for Project Management Consultants. landmark, which means no injuries Yasir al-Jamal, Vice Chairman of the SC, with over 83mn man-hours Al Rayyan Stadium, located that cause work on-site to be stopped the Technical Delivery Office; and worked across all projects so far and about 20km west of Doha, will be a have occurred in over 5mn hours Youssif al-Musleh, Competition Ven- an accident frequency rate of just 40,000-seater stadium during the worked, was celebrated with a cer- ues Executive Director, congratulated 0.04 (0.03 over the last 12 months). 2022 World Cup, hosting matches up emony led by Project Manager all for realising such an achievement. He added: “Our mandate to Work to and including the quarter-finals. Abdullah al-Fehani and the Su- They were also both given a tour of Safe, Deliver Amazing guides us, After the tournament, almost preme Committee for Delivery & Leg- the site, where sub- and super-struc- but it’s the work put in by the guys half of the stadium’s 40,000 modu- acy (SC) Health, Safety, Security and ture works are now progressing. on-site day in, day out that makes lar seats will be removed and given Environment (HSSE) team. They commended the rapid progress these achievements possible. We’ve to football development projects More than 2,700 people currently being made in such a safe working en- worked over 65mn hours on-site abroad. work at Al Rayyan Stadium, a pro- vironment. “Safety is paramount on Off icials at the celebration to mark Al Rayyan Stadium’s construction safety milestone. across the programme to-date, The smaller post-tournament are- posed host venue for the 2022 FIFA our sites but this is an achievement we which is a major achievement in na will enable popular Qatar Stars World Cup Qatar. It is scheduled for should all take a moment to appreci- such rapid progress on-site is testa- sonally for your eff orts.” itself. But to do so with such a low League side Al Rayyan to maintain the completion by mid-2019. ate,” the vice chairman explained. “To ment to the skill and dedication of eve- In addition to the ceremony, on- accident frequency rate lower even intense passion its fans are famous Speaking as he awarded certificates reach such a milestone while making ryone here and I want to thank you per- site HSSE officers held a safety day to than building sites in some Western for. Gulf Times 2 Monday, November 6, 2017 QATAR

PM meets Turkey’s transport minister Qatar-Turkey transport ties reviewed

HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti met the visiting Turkish Minister of Transport, Maritime Aff airs and Communications Ahmet Arslan, yesterday. The meeting discussed co-operation between Qatar and turkey in the fields of HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met transport, communications, maritime and aviation. They also discussed ways to benefit from investment opportunities available in these Turkey’s Minister of Transport, Maritime Aff airs and Communications Ahmet Arslan yesterday. They fields, and a number of topics of common interest. The Turkish Minister visited Hamad Port accompanied by HE al-Sulaiti. During his visit, discussed relations between Qatar and Turkey and means to further develop them, especially in Ahmet Arslan was briefed on the operations of the port and the plans to start a second phase and increase its capacity. He also observed the fields of transport and communication. The two sides also discussed a host of topics of mutual the operations at the port and the movement of cargo vessels. Ahmet Arslan praised the high quality of the port, reaff irming that Hamad interest. Port will increase the trade co-operation between Qatar and Turkey.

OFFICIAL Defence minister meets Turkish counterpart

Emir condoles with president of Bangladesh

His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani have sent cables to Bangladesh President Mohamed Abdul Hamid, condoling the death of former president Abdur Rahman Biswas. HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani has also sent a cable to the Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, HE the Minister of State for Defence Aff airs Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah holding talks with Turkish Defence Minister Nurettin Canikli after inaugurating Qatar Emiri Air Force’s helicopter simulator training condoling the death of former Centre ‘Augusta AW139’, at Al Udeid Air Base yesterday. Right: HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah and Nurettin Canikli at the helicopter simulator training centre. president Abdur Rahman Biswas. Public security chief meets Somalia’s minister

HE the Director General of Public Security Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi met Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security, Ship’s visit ‘expected to boost’ Mohamed Abukar Islow Dualle, who is currently visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they discussed issues that concern Qatar and Somalia. Qatar-Germany Qatar-India maritime relations ties reviewed By Ramesh Mathew Staff Reporter Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi yesterday he visit of Qatar by Indian met the head of the Inspection Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Team of the Federal Ministry TSamarth is expected to of Foreign Aff airs of Germany, boost maritime relations with Ricarda Redeker. Qatar and other friendly coun- The meeting discussed bilateral tries in the Arab region, Indian relations and ways of boosting ambassador P Kumaran has said. ICGS Samarth berthed at Hamad Port yesterday. them, as well as issues of mutual The envoy said this while ad- interest. dressing visitors from the Indian India have the capability and The offi cer also mentioned community, defence attaches technology to build and deliver the role being played by Indian Armed forces of some of the foreign missions advanced patrol and other types maritime teams in strengthen- in Qatar and Qatari defence of- of vessels for the use of defence ing defence in the seas of the exercises fi cials on board ICGS Samarth forces from diff erent parts of the region and its neighbourhood. yesterday evening. world. Through such operations, they The Directorate of Moral The Coast Guard vessel, ICGS Samarth is under the provide eff ective security, safety Guidance announced that the which called on Hamad Port on command of deputy inspector- and stability to the whole region, Qatari Armed Forces will conduct Saturday morning, is scheduled general (DIG) K R Deepak Kumar. he said. parachute jumps from two C-130 to leave Qatar tomorrow. Earlier, while welcoming the Kumar said he and his team aircraft for the seventh session Ambassador Kumaran said P Kumaran and K R Deepak Kumar join Qatari defence off icials Brigadier Ali al-Jassim and Col Fahad in visitors, DIG Kumar said visits members were highly satisfi ed of parachuting instructors in the ICGS Samarth is the fourth In- cutting a cake to mark the arrival of ICGS Samarth at Hamad Port yesterday. to Qatar by Coast Guard vessels with the facilities at Hamad Port Sealine area from November 12 to dian Coast Guard vessel to arrive PICTURES: Jayan Orma from India would be mutually and thanked the Qatari offi cials 23. The exercises will be carried in Qatar in the last three years. benefi cial to the Coast Guard of for extending the team a warm out from 6am to 12pm. The Earlier this year, to coincide with Ships from the Indian Navy The ambassador stressed be- 100% indigenous ship, manu- both Qatar and India and, in the reception. Directorate of Moral Guidance India’s 68th Republic Day cel- too had arrived on friendship fore the gathering yesterday that factured at Goa’s shipyard on In- long run, would contribute to Today, students of some of the has advised visitors to the area to ebrations on January 26, a Coast missions in recent years, recalled the 105m-long ICGS Samarth dia’s western coast. discovering new areas in mari- Indian schools in Qatar will be take precautions. Guard ship had arrived in Doha. Kumaran. - an off shore patrol vessel - is a He noted that shipyards in time operations. received on the ship. National education panel’s activities highlighted

QNA international organisations, tion with national, regional Education minister meets Qatari students in Paris these organisations. mission’s references are rep- Doha explaining that the QNCECC and international partners to He pointed out that the resented in the Qatari consti- has joined a number of Arab, promote citizenship, human HE the Minister of Education about the academic and social QNCECC aims to meet the tution, Qatar National Vision regional and international or- rights, justice and human dig- and Higher Education Dr conditions of the students. The needs of the ministries and in- 2030 and the Cabinet’s Decision he Ministry of Culture ganisations, including (Unesco) nity. Mohamed Abdul Wahed Ali minister urged the students stitutions concerned with the organising the work of the com- and Sports organised yes- in 1972, the Arab League Edu- The QNCECC aims to make al-Hammadi yesterday met to strive for excellence. The activities and programmes of the mission, as well as the regional Tterday a seminar on the cational, Cultural and Scientifi c Qatar’s membership in inter- Qatari students studying in minister listened to the Qatari organisations related to educa- and international instruments activities of the National Com- Organisation (ALECSO) in 1975, national, regional and Arab or- France. During the meeting, students’ views during the tion, culture and science, and to and agreements related to the mission for Education, Culture the Arab Bureau of Education for ganisations a successful invest- which was held on the sidelines meeting. The students praised highlight the status of Qatar lo- work of organisations. and Science (QNCECC) and the the Gulf States in 1975 and the ment that benefi ts all aspects of of the 39th General Conference the meeting, which reflects the cally and internationally in the He added that the organisa- United Nations Educational, Islamic Educational, Scientifi c the educational, scientifi c and of the United Nations keenness of Qatar to address fi elds of education, culture, sci- tional structure of the commis- Scientifi c and Cultural Organi- and Cultural Organisation (IS- cultural activities in the country Educational, Scientific and the needs of Qatari students ence and communication. sion is headed by HE the Min- sation (Unesco) on the occasion ESCO) in 1982. and contributes to the national Cultural Organisation (Unesco), studying abroad and to help The QNCECC also seeks to ister of Education and Higher of the anniversary its founding He pointed out that the development process according currently being held in Paris, them overcome the obstacles open channels of communica- Education Dr Mohamed Abdul on 4 November 1945. QNCECC plays an active role to Qatar National Vision 2030, the minister was briefed they may face. tion with the Qatari public in all Wahed Ali al-Hammadi. During the seminar which in achieving the objectives of he added. its categories through diff erent Bu Sharbak said that the was held at the Ministry’s head- Unesco, which are consistent He addressed the important media outlets. Doha Secondary School for Boys quarters, Cultural Consultant with the objectives of educa- objectives of the commission, understanding and rapproche- offi cial bodies in the State con- On the values and principles was the only school to join the at QNCECC, Salem Bu Sharbak tion in Qatar on the one hand represented in strengthen- ment between the countries cerned with the programmes of on which the commission builds Unesco’s World Network of As- presented a detailed information and with the objectives of ing communication between of the world in general, and cultural, educational and scien- its work, Bu Sharbak said that sociated Schools, until 2014. about the commission since its the QNCECC on the other, regional and international or- Islamic and Arab countries in tifi c organisations, and provid- the QNCECC believes in belong- The number of schools that establishment on February 25, through the implementation ganisations and various bodies particular as well as provid- ing assistance to the competent ing, loyalty, good citizenship, have joined the network from the 1962. of many of its programmes, in Qatar, including familiarising ing advice to the delegations of organs of the State with a view commitment, responsibility, three educational levels so far is The committee joined a projects and activities in vari- the citizens with various activi- Qatar to the general conferences to enabling them to make maxi- truthfulness and honesty. 39 schools for boys and girls, he number of Arab, regional and ous fields and the co-ordina- ties of organisations calling for of the organisations, and to the mum use of the activities of He pointed out that the com- added. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 3 QATAR

Minister meets Singapore’s envoy QU, Qatar Rail sign accords atar University’s College of En- temporary issues related to railway and research services to industry and gineering (QU-CENG) yester- engineering through academic work. to drive the sustainable socio- Qday signed a memorandum of Both institutions will collaborate on economic development in Qatar. understanding (MoU) and two agree- providing academic and industrial “It also underlines QU’s ongoing ef- ments with Qatar Rail to establish col- inputs to support undergraduate and forts to fi nd solutions to the current laboration in the fi eld of research, con- postgraduate students to investigate, challenges in the fi eld of transporta- sultancy and exchange of information. plan and assess the diff erent designs of tion and to widen the scope of co-op- The MoU and agreements were railway tracks for future rail projects. eration with local institutions in line signed by QU president Dr Hassan al- The work will also include the op- with the national priorities towards a Derham and Qatar Rail managing di- eration, maintenance and investiga- knowledge-based economy.” rector and CEO Abdulla Abdulaziz T tion of the behaviour of slab and bal- Al-Subaie noted, “At Qatar Rail, we al-Subaie in the presence of offi cials lasted tracks and their impact on the place great value on the contributions HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali met yesterday with the ambassador of from both institutions. environment. of our future generation of homegrown Singapore, Jai S Sohan. In the meeting they discussed aspects of co-operation between Qatar and Singapore in The MoU aims to establish collabo- The second agreement aims to pro- talent. This partnership will act as the cultural and sports fields, and means of developing and enhancing them. ration between QU and Qatar Rail in vide sponsorship to the Engineering driver by which we reap the unparal- the fi eld of information exchange and Week that will be held by CENG in leled rewards of developing the Qatari consultancy, and its terms include col- April 2018. youth, building their capabilities and laboration between the two sides in ar- Dr al-Derham said, “The MoU and encouraging the students and alumni eas of education, research and student agreements help cement relations and to join the railways transport sector. training and support. enhance collaboration between QU “It is a new sector in the country and The fi rst agreement aims to estab- and Qatar Rail. This partnership will we strive to shape highly qualifi ed na- Katara signs MoU to build planetarium lish collaboration between both in- facilitate knowledge and technology tional competencies through partner- stitutions on the development of a transfer with Qatar Rail. It aligns with ing with leading academic institutions framework for research to tackle con- QU’s commitment to off er consultancy such as Qatar University.” atara – The Cul- cational and entertainment tural Village has tool – a dome”. Ksigned a memoran- He said establishing an dum of agreement (MoU) astronomical dome would with Petroleum Develop- raise understanding about ment Oman (PDO) to es- the wonders of our uni- tablish a planetarium and verse and attract local and the fi rst observatory “of its foreign tourists. kind” in Qatar, it has been The MoU will also train announced. some employees from Ka- The signing of agree- tara on relevant aspects re- ment was led by Katara Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and Abdulamir al-Ajmi sign garding the facility in Oman. general manager Dr Khalid the MoU. In 2000, PDO built bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti and Oman’s fi rst planetarium as PDO’s external aff airs ex- observatory, refl ects Ka- space and universe. an annex to the Oil and Gas ecutive director, Abdulamir tara’s interest in astronomy “Three years ago, Ka- Exhibition Centre as a gift al-Ajmi. and recognition of the sig- tara chose this branch of to the Omani nation. QU and Qatar Rail off icials after the signing ceremony. “This MoU is a signifi - nifi cance of this branch of science as a theme for The planetarium is suit- cant step in the co-oper- science, which has been its events and activities able for both children and ation, exchange of expe- mastered by our ancestors,” as a part of its grand an- adults and teaches them riences, workshops and he noted. nual festival held during about astronomy in an en- training between the two Dr al-Sulaiti added that Ramadan,” he stressed. gaging way. It gives chil- parties in the astronomy it is part of Katara’s role to Al-Ajmi thanked Katara dren the opportunity to fi eld,” Dr al-Sulaiti said. raise astronomical aware- for its keenness to enhance develop their minds and QA reaffi rms Buckingham “The new Katara project, ness and spread knowledge a fruitful relationship by es- foster an interest in modern the planetarium and the about the wonders of the tablishing a “valuable edu- science. Palace Declaration

atar Airways attend- said, “Qatar Airways remains e-learning package” to im- ed a meeting of the faithful to its commitments to prove the capacity of its Qsignatories to the the Buckingham Palace Dec- workforce to identify and ‘United For Wildlife Trans- laration. Since signing the manage suspicious activ- port Taskforce Buckingham declaration, we have ramped ity relating to illegal wildlife Palace Declaration’ hosted up eff orts on all fronts in the transportation. The train- by the United Kingdom’s fi ght against illegal wildlife ing, which will be rolled Foreign and Commonwealth traffi cking. out later this year, will be Offi ce and in the presence of Qatar Airways has a “policy “This month we launched targeted at staff most likely The Duke of Cambridge and of zero tolerance” towards an extensive passenger to encounter illegal wildlife the Lord Hague of Rich- the illegal transportation awareness campaign, and traffi cking, including cargo mond at Lancaster House in of endangered species our customers will start and customer-facing roles. London recently. through its network. to notice our new wildlife Qatar Airways Cargo, the Acknowledging the scale posters appearing at our third largest air cargo carri- and complexity of the chal- towards the illegal trans- Doha hub, Hamad Interna- er in the world, implements lenge of illegal wildlife portation of endangered tional Airport, and at stra- “rigorous procedures” in transportation, Qatar Air- species through its network tegically selected outposts their requirements of con- ways signed the Bucking- and is dedicated to deliver- worldwide. Passengers signors, in an enhanced ef- ham Palace Declaration in ing its commitment to the will fi nd more information fort to prevent and detect March 2016 as one of a small declaration, including rais- on-board with a new video misconsignment, one of the group of aviation industry ing employee and passenger appearing on our in-fl ight primary ways that this ille- leaders invited to attend the awareness of illegal wildlife entertainment system, Oryx gal trade is carried out. signing ceremony in Lon- transportation, improving One, and a feature length The illegal trade of wild- don, to demonstrate their detection of illegally trans- article included in the No- life is the fourth largest commitment to protecting ported wildlife and sharing vember issue of our in- black market in the world — wildlife from illegal trade intelligence and best practice fl ight magazine, Oryx.” worth approximately $20bn and transportation. within the industry. Qatar Airways is also in annually — and aff ects Qatar Airways has a Qatar Airways Group Chief the fi nal stages of devel- more than 7,000 species of “policy of zero tolerance” Executive Akbar al-Baker oping a “specially tailored animals and plants. Doha Souq Mall to promote local brands

By Peter Alagos mall, Doha Souq will focus on local brands. Business Reporter “Previously when you had an inter- national brand, it had more value and more weight. But now we have noticed he opening of Doha Souq Mall among retailers and restaurant owners in the second quarter of 2018 is that there a lot of initiatives that match Texpected to generate employ- international brand standards, so ment and increase the country’s job people are more educated and knowl- off erings, an offi cial has said. edgeable, and there are a lot of local At the same time, the new mall will concepts and production that meet in- focus on promoting local brands, said ternational standards,” he pointed out. Bandary Real Estate malls manager Bandary Real Estate malls manager Saleh also expressed optimism amid Amjed Saleh, who announced yes- Amjed Saleh delivering a presentation the political and economic climate in terday that Doha Souq is offi cially on Doha Souq Mall yesterday. the region. “Doha Souq is a good con- accepting tenants. PICTURE: Ram Chand tribution to the economy. We plan to Speaking to Gulf Times on the side- concentrate on good quality and serv- lines of the event, Saleh said: “Doha Located along Al Nasr Street, Doha ice, taking into consideration market Souq showcases many tenants, of- Souq spans a 15,000sqm land area and prices. fi ces and a supermarket, making it total buildup area of 63,000sqm. Its “Doha Souq will concentrate on a business destination, hence a se- gross leasable area for tenants will be services because it is located in a busy ries of hiring from both the local and 26,000sqm, Saleh said. area,” he said, adding that footfall is international markets. The mall features 20 food and bever- projected to be between 5,000 and “All these commercial activities are age outlets, three atrium lobby cafés, 9,000 per day. an opportunity for the country to in- 22 retail spaces, a supermarket, a play He added, “We are confi dent that crease job off erings. Because every as- area, 26 offi ce/clinic spaces, and two Doha Souq will be a good and posi- pect of service requires an increase in basement car parks with a capacity of tive addition to Doha by having a manpower, we are expecting to off er at 550 cars. Parking will be free to those new property that showcases pub- least 500 new jobs once the mall is fully who use the mall’s facilities. lic and private sector collaboration in operational.” Saleh also noted that as a community developing the country.” Gulf Times 4 Monday, November 6, 2017 QATAR QRCS observes Breast

Cancer Awareness Day Off icials mark the partnership. orkshops and panel discussions about can- Wcer marked the Breast Ezdan Hotels Cancer Awareness Day in Doha, organised by Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) recently. Under the theme ‘Early Detec- sponsors QCS tion Makes a Diff erence’, the event was organised in partnership with the Algerian Community League in Qatar and Golden Tulip Hotel campaign Doha. The event marked the end of the zdan Hotels, a sub- ber, we were committed Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dr Aisha Youssef al-Mannai at Abdel-Qadir Arada speaking at sidiary of Ezdan to supporting the eff orts which is marked by various coun- the event. the event. EHolding Group, of Qatar Cancer Society tries around the world every has sponsored the annual to reinforce the commu- October. benefi ting from both general and which pursues cultural, histori- breast cancer awareness nity’s knowledge about The activities highlighted theo- Honouring of QRCS at the event. women-specifi c projects, which cal, scientifi c, sports and health- campaign by providing the disease, through retical and practical precautions address their needs in socioeco- care engagement and partnerships support to Qatar Cancer spreading awareness of to reduce the risks. committee, Algerian Community One of QRCS’ major man- nomic empowerment, parenting with Qatari initiatives, utilising Society. the symptoms and meth- The event was attended by Dr League in Qatar; Amina Sabaa, dates, she added, is healthcare, education, professional qualifi ca- the community’s talent. The campaign aims to ods of prevention. Oc- Aisha Youssef al-Mannai, vice- wife of the ambassador of Algeria; which includes ambulatory, treat- tion and entrepreneurship. This “The Algerian Community raise community aware- tober is the global breast president, QRCS; Noura Rashid Aziza Gharbi, representative of ment, preventive measures and event is a further step towards League in Qatar is a nascent as- ness about the disease and cancer awareness month, al-Dosari, director of volunteer- Golden Tulip, and guests. awareness services. better controlled breast cancer. sociation. We are proud of work- promote eff orts and means and Ezdan Hotels believes ing and local development, QRCS; “The purpose of this day is to QRCS’ Patient Support Fund The outcomes are happier and ing with the leading QRCS, which to fi ght it. in the importance of par- Ahmed Ali al-Khulaifi , head of bring the disease into focus, mobi- covers the cost of treatment and healthier women,” Dr al-Mannai welcomed and sponsored our ini- Ezdan Hotels has set up ticipating in raising health general resource mobilisation, lise resources for early detection, surgery for poor patients, in co- said. tiative. Thanks also to the newly a dedicated booth in Ezdan awareness in the com- QRCS; Abdel-Qadir Arada, sec- provide care and treatment. Breast operation with Hamad Medical Arada remarked that Breast opened Golden Tulip Hotel, which Mall as part of its eff orts munity as one of the most retary of the Algerian Community cancer is one of the most common Corporation. Cancer Awareness Day is one believes in corporate social re- to spread health aware- important goals of social League in Qatar; Dr Maryam Da- cancers among women around the “Women are a top priority in item on the agenda of the Alge- sponsibility and community ness about breast cancer responsibility. hina, head of women and children world,” Dr al-Mannai said. QRCS’ development strategy, rian Community League in Qatar, service,” he noted. and provide various types “Ezdan Hotels spares no of support for people with eff orts to engage with vari- the disease, especially ous bodies and entities in Sheikh Faisal Museum to host series of concerts women, congruent with their endeavour to support the company’s goals to the community in all areas Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al- The concert is being and from around the globe, promote well-being in so- such as health, education Thani Museum has announced organised in collaboration aged between 10 and 18 ciety, according to a press and sports in line with the that it will inaugurate a series with Moving Young Artists, years, will reveal the musical statement. human development goals of concerts at its facilities, a Qatar-based non-profit talent developing in Qatar. Ezdan Hotels acting that fall under the found- notably its amphitheatre, foundation that has been Visitors are welcome to spend general manager Wael El ing provisions of Qatar bringing to visitors an nurturing and inspiring the afternoon exploring Telbany said, “In Octo- National Vision 2030.” “unforgettable experience” of young local talent for FBQ Museum and finish open-air concerts in the middle more than three years, and the day by listening to the of the FBQ Museum Farm. sponsored by Fifty One East. talented young musicians, The series will kick off on The concert programme will starting from 6pm at the November 10 with a concert be diverse and include Arabic amphitheatre, located in front featuring winners of the first as well as Western musical of the museum exit. Ooredoo marathon edition of the Qatar National Music performances, according to The concert is open to the Competition that took place in a press statement. Musicians public with free entrance on a October at Katara Drama Theatre. from Qatar, the Middle East first come, first served basis. registration opens oredoo has offi cial- ly opened registra- Otion for the 2018 Ooredoo Doha Marathon, A training session during the programme. which will take place on January 12, 2018. In its sixth year, the 2018 edition of the Ooredoo training and their year Doha Marathon is being or- with something they are QCS launches ‘our passion ganised to hold the “biggest proud of. As always, we’re number of runners yet, as working to ensure the best Ooredoo continues its push possible experience for to inspire Qatar’s commu- our competitors, so stay in our health’ programme nities to get fi t”, the compa- tuned for more marathon ny has said in a statement. announcements soon.” Registration has opened The marathon will once atar Cancer Society cer, cervical cancer, thy- detection, and unhealthy and fees will range de- again feature courses for (QCS) has launched roid cancer; educate them lifestyle behaviours and pending on the selected runners of all abilities – Qthe ‘Our passion in about risk factors related their modifi cation. course and age of the including a 10km run, our health’ programme at to cancer, warning signs The practical part off ers participant. half-marathon, full mara- Ooredoo Cancer Awareness and symptoms, methods of training on breast cancer Manar Khalifa al-Mu- thon and a special chil- Centre, which will last for prevention and early detec- signs and symptoms using raikhi, director of PR and dren’s 1km fun run. three months and target all tion; educate them about educational models - edu- Corporate Communica- Prizes will be awarded to women in the Qatari com- the importance of adopting cate the attendees on how tions at Ooredoo Qatar, the best runners in a range munity. a healthy lifestyle - healthy to detect breast cancer and said: “The Ooredoo Doha of categories, based on age Participants will receive food and physical activity, reinforce the concept of Marathon is a great chance and gender. certifi cates and giveaways, and how to switch from an healthy lifestyles through for us all to get fi t and run Anyone interested in run- according to a statement. unhealthy to a healthy life- nutrition, healthy cooking as a community. Families ning the 2018 Ooredoo Mar- The ‘Our passion in our style. workshops, practical dem- can run together, and even athon can fi nd more infor- health’ programme aims to The programme includes onstration of healthy dishes people who have never mation and register at http:// raise awareness about the two parts - theoretical and with a chef and nutritionist competed before can start ore.do/marathon2018 most common the types practical. The theoretical and by emphasising their of cancers among women part is about common can- role in the prevention of in Qatar - breast can- cers, prevention and early cancer.

HEC Paris hosts interactive Masterclass for executives

EC Paris is set to ment prospects in today’s host a public Mas- increasingly competitive Hterclass designed market. to educate senior business “Through this Master- executives across Qatar class, we will examine sev- on two signifi cant chal- eral best practice examples lenges facing industries of digitisation, explore their today – digitalisation and applicability to the Gulf disruption. region and give the partici- The session, which will pants crucial grounding in be held from 4.30pm to 7pm how they can implement tomorrow at the HEC Paris them into their roles to campus in Tornado Tower, achieve best results,” said Doha, will be taught by Prof Prof Hallowell. Roger Hallowell, HEC Paris The Masterclass, titled affi liate professor and aca- ‘Facing Today’s Challenges demic director of the Exec- and Opportunities in D2: utive MBA ‘Diff erentiation Prof Roger Hallowell Digitalisation and Disrup- and Innovation through tion’, will examine the im- Services’ Major. ard of teaching in the EMBA pact of digitalisation across The Masterclass will dis- programme, giving them an a range of industries. cuss the challenges global understanding of the topics Participants will engage and regional businesses they will encounter by en- in determining what can face in the age of digitali- rolling in an EMBA degree, a be learned and how it can sation and disruption and, statement notes. be applied to their organi- conversely, the opportu- The EMBA is one of the sations as well as how to nities they present. This two degree programmes analyse and respond to a session will provide par- off ered by HEC Paris to ex- legitimate threat of disrup- ticipants with a true ex- ecutives from Qatar and tion and be equipped with perience of the knowledge the region as it recognises the necessary skills to en- shared at HEC Paris and the importance of execu- sure their organisation is a serve as an insight into the tive education and degrees ‘disruptor’ rather than one core values and high stand- in enhancing employ- aff ected by disruption.

Gulf Times 6 Monday, November 6, 2017 QATAR

CMC recalls 2017 Veryca model

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce repairs. The MEC will co-ordinate with the (MEC), in collaboration with Doha Marketing dealer to follow up on maintenance and repair Services Company (Domasco), dealer of CMC works and communicate with customers to vehicles in Qatar, has announced a recall of the ensure that the necessary repairs are carried 2017 CMC Veryca model because the “chassis out. The ministry has urged people to report frame might crack and break”. In a statement, violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti- the ministry has said the recall campaign Commercial Fraud Department through the call comes within the framework of its ongoing centre: 16001, email: [email protected], Twitter: eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar and its car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and mobile app for Android and IiOS: MEC_Qatar.

The Global Showcase was hosted to highlight students’ international experiences and the impact these experiences have had on their lives and educational careers. Tamuq highlights impact of global trips on students exas A&M University at Qa- tar strives to provide as many inter- campus in College Station. Others you connect to the people you will tar (Tamuq) recently hosted national experiences as possible for travelled all over the world, includ- realise how similar we are. Maybe Tits fi rst Global Showcase to our students.” ing Morocco and Costa Rica as part we speak in a diff erent language, highlight students’ international Students who participated in of service-learning and volunteer- but on the human level we are very experiences and the impact these past programmes outlined what ism-based trips, and Greece as part similar.” experiences have had on their lives they learned, how they grew as in- of a faculty-led study abroad op- Mechanical engineering sen- and educational careers. dividuals and how the programmes portunity. ior Saad Moazam, who launched a Tamuq’s mission in educating exposed them to engineering in a Incoming freshmen had the startup at the European Innovation exemplary engineers champions global context. In total, 129 stu- chance to bond together in Italy Academy, said: “The European In- providing students a holistic edu- dents participated in 217 interna- before beginning their college jour- novation Academy programme that cational approach, and interna- tional experience opportunities neys. I attended this summer in Italy was tional experience is one factor that in the 2016-2017 academic year. Of her semester abroad at Texas — and continues to be a truly inspi- sets Aggie engineers apart. Faculty, staff and students learned A&M’s main campus, Abdalla said: rational experience. The amount of Dr Troy Bickham, assistant dean about the global programmes on “The four months of my stay passed knowledge I gained and the number for academic aff airs, said: “Engi- off er at Tamuq during the event. by very quickly. I learned that I en- of valuable connections I made in neering is increasingly a global pro- The programmes are varied. joy living on my own. The sense of the space of three weeks surpasses fession and nowhere is this more Some students, such as mechani- independence is a great one. Amer- everything I have done for the past apparent than in Qatar. Through its cal engineering junior Alaa Ab- ica is such a huge country with so three years.” unique position, Texas A&M at Qa- dalla, spent a semester on the main many cultures combined, but once

The visit includes trips to a number of key locations in Qatar. PICTURE: Dana Roesinger Qatari women’s soccer team to face Germans today at Aspire Zone female football team is visit- German and Qatari female football As the programme is aimed at in- ing Qatar for a friendly match history was highlighted when Monika tensifying relations between the two Awith a Qatari female team to- Staab trained the Qatari female na- teams, the visit includes a tour of the day to celebrate the Qatar Germany tional team in 2014. She was named Museum of Islamic Art as well as a 2017 Year of Culture. The match has ‘German Football Ambassador’ in joint desert trip. The guests from Ger- been organised by the German Foot- 2014 for her eff orts to introduce, to- many will also visit Aspire Academy. ball Ambassador in partnership with gether with the Qatar Football As- Peter Ziegler, deputy head of the the embassy of Germany and Goethe- sociation, eff ective structures for the German embassy in Doha, said: “The Institut – Gulf Region. training of female football players. friendly match between the German On the occasion of Qatar Germany Staab was nominated member of the and Qatari female teams is just one 2017 Year of Culture, the German Foot- board of trustees for Qatar Germany example of the excellent co-operation ball Ambassador initiated a special ex- 2017 by the Foreign Offi ce of Germany. between German and Qatari sport in- change by bringing female football play- Roland Bischof of the German Foot- stitutions, which not only covers stars ers from Germany and Qatar together ball Ambassador initiative said: “It but young talent as well.” for a joint training and friendly match is great to see how football connects Today’s match will take place at that is open to the public to attend. people worldwide and we are hon- the Qatar Women’s Sport Commit- Twenty-fi ve young female players are oured to contribute to the social-cul- tee main venue in Aspire Zone, at in Doha until tomorrow to meet their Qa- tural exchange between the Qatari and 6pm. It is open to the public and ad- tari counterparts at their home stadium. German teams.” mission is free.

Qatar ‘remains popular destination’

atar remains a popular des- differ- the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” he added. tination for people in Nepal ence to the Haqeeqat, which aims to engage and Qseeking work, Doha resident number interact with the large South Asian Mohamed Shakir Ali told Qatar Urdu of people expatriate community in Qatar, is a Radio’s live show Haqeeqat yesterday. applying joint venture of Gulf Times and Qatar “You will fi nd members of the Nepali for various Media Corporation Urdu Radio. It is community working in diff erent pro- jobs here. broadcast from Sunday to Thursday fessions here apart from construction “Qatar on FM107. and the truth is that Qatar remains a has become Mohamed Shakir Ali One can log on to Qatar Urdu Radio popular destination for many people stronger on Facebook and ‘@QatarUrduRadio’ in Nepal,” Ali said, adding that the after the blockade (began) and every- on Twitter for feedback and com- ongoing Gulf crisis has not made any one wants to see it successfully host ments about the show.

QFC launches annual football tourney

he Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) to a press statement. chance to come together and enjoy Authority has launched its third This year’s tournament brings to- a healthy and constructive environ- Tannual QFC Football Tourna- gether more than 100 players divid- ment away from the daily stress of ment at Qatar Sports Club in Doha. ed into 10 diff erent teams and fi rms, work. It is an opportunity to net- First held in 2014, the QFC Au- who will compete for eight weeks work and to strengthen the bonds thority Football Tournament culminating with the fi nal match for of business and friendship between “met with resounding success” the QFC Cup. us.” for bringing the QFC Authority Commenting on the launch, QFC The QFC Authority Football and QFC-licensed fi rms together Authority chief commercial offi cer Tournament comes as part of the to strengthen business bonds and Raed al-Emadi said: “This tourna- QFC’s “eff orts to engage its staff and networking opportunities outside ment, which is quickly becoming fi rms and create a unifi ed QFC com- the offi ce environment, according a QFC tradition, provides us with a munity”, the statement adds. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 7 QATAR NBK Automobiles sponsors Women of the Year Awards The event was held from November 2 to 4. asser Bin Khaled (NBK) Mercedes-Benz launched ‘She’s Automobiles, the au- Mercedes’, a platform dedicated Weekend Nthorised general distrib- to inspiring, connecting and em- utor of Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, powering women to unleash their has sponsored and supported the best. Our sponsorship of this im- fi rst ever Qatar Today Women of portant award is a testament to the Year Awards by Oryx Pub- our commitment to this worthy carnival at lishing & Advertising in partner- initiative as part of our local en- ship with Qatari Business Wom- deavours in the community.” en Association (QBWA). Sponsorship of the Women The awards ceremony was at- of the Year Awards “reiterates tended by businesswomen, en- Mercedes-Benz’s commitment BMW used trepreneurs and representatives to developing talent from Qatar of diff erent organisations. and the region, and aiding them In addition to being the Auto- in pursuing their careers by pro- motive Sponsor of the awards, viding them with optimal sup- Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles port and exposure”, according to car store and Mercedes-Benz presented a press statement. NBK Auto- their iconic award of ‘She’s Mer- mobiles presented the award of cedes’ and sponsored the Woman ‘She’s Mercedes’ to Asmaa al- lfardan Automobiles, had another great turnout of Engineer of the Year 2017. Thani while the Mercedes-Benz- the offi cial BMW Group existing and new customers.” Sheikh Faleh bin Nawaf al- sponsored award was presented Aimporter in Qatar, held All BMW premium pre- Thani, operations director – to Mariam al-Bishri. a weekend extravaganza in owned vehicles come with a Auto, NBK Holding, said: “Nass- ‘She’s Mercedes’ is dedicated which customers were invited host of benefi ts for buyers, in- er Bin Khaled Automobiles is to inspiring, connecting and em- to the BMW and MINI used cluding certifi ed vehicle his- proud to partner with this pres- powering women to be their best. cars showroom in Al Sadd from tory, 12-month warranty and tigious event that appreciates It is an Inspiration Circle; a place November 2 to 4. service inclusive, complete women in Qatar and highlights where women can connect and The event attendees were technical and optical check and their achievements. exchange ideas, share experienc- able to choose from a huge se- roadside assistance. Alfardan “Mercedes-Benz’s commit- es and learn from one another, a lection of BMW Premium Se- Automobiles also guarantees ment to women is an integral hub for sparking conversation, In addition to being the Automotive Sponsor of the awards, NBK Automobiles and Mercedes-Benz pre- lection Certifi ed pre-owned a “competitive trade-in off er”, part of the brand’s ongoing suc- off ering new perspectives and sented their iconic award of ‘She’s Mercedes’ and sponsored the awards of Woman Engineer of the Year vehicles and MINI pre-owned the statement adds. cess story. To recognise this, supporting ambitions. 2017. vehicles. A long list of cars was avail- The weekend extravaganza able, including the BMW 7 Se- was held as Alfardan Auto- ries, BMW 6 Series and BMW mobiles “continually caters to X6 – a model that is powerful its discerning customers”, ac- and athletic. This second- cording to a press statement. generation model has been a The event has been held for the favourite in the Qatari market fourth year running. for a number of years. It was Last year, the event was joined by other members of the “great success” and so was this X family, including the BMW year’s weekend extravaganza, X5, the vehicle that started it the statement notes. all, with the letter X symbol- Ziad Boghdady, marketing ising a completely new vehicle manager of Alfardan Automo- segment and a huge impact on biles, said: “Building on the the whole automotive indus- success of last year’s event, we try.

Polestar updates Volvo S60 and V60 with aero package

Michael Trick is the third dean since CMU-Q opened in 2004. olvo performance sub- a car with the duality of being at brand Polestar has re- ease in everyday driving as well Vvealed the latest versions as providing the driver with fur- of its ‘go-faster’ S60 and V60 ther control and feedback on an models. inspiring stretch of road or dur- The Swedish tuner has fi tted ing an evasive manoeuvre, for Carnegie Mellon University in the cars with additional carbon- example, the statement notes. fi bre aerodynamic components, Other visual changes include which improve the vehicles’ high-gloss black Polestar dia- downforce by 30%. This in turn, mond cut wheels, carbon fi bre aids in better performance and door mirror casings and a new Qatar installs dean Michael Trick handling, according to a press colour – Bursting Blue Metallic. statement issued in Doha by Do- The interior has been updated masco, the exclusive distributor with a new seat upholstery, blue arnegie Mellon University in Qatar remarkable institution,” Trick said. “Uni- strategic thinker, who will help us ensure ost and a close colleague of Trick’s for of Volvo in Qatar. contrast stitching and Polestar (CMU-Q) formally welcomed its versity is a transformative time for young that CMU-Q is contributing to the com- many years, spoke about his dedication to The new aerodynamic exte- embroidering. Cnew dean, Michael Trick, at an in- people, and I look forward to building an munity in ways that matter,” al-Jaber said. supporting students. rior package has been developed In all, more than 250 compo- stallation ceremony at its Education City educational experience at CMU-Q that is Carnegie Mellon interim president “I can attest to Michael Trick’s long- jointly by the engineers of Pole- nents have been changed in the campus. enriching, enlightening and inspiring.” Farnam Jahanian spoke at the ceremony: standing commitment to a nurturing re- star and Cyan Racing, the mot- 2018 Volvo S60 and V60. He is the third dean since CMU-Q Hessa al-Jaber, a member of CMU-Q’s “Carnegie Mellon is proud to be a part of search and learning environment,” Wein- orsport partner of Polestar, with The Volvo S60 Polestar opened in 2004. Joint Advisory Board, welcomed Trick on this community to deliver educational and gart said. “His commitment is driven by data and knowledge derived does the 0-100km/h sprint in Trick has been a faculty member at behalf of Qatar Foundation for Education, research programmes that will support excellence and his belief in the power of from the World Touring Car 4.7 seconds and has an elec- Carnegie Mellon University’s main US Science and Community Development and contribute to the long-term develop- collaboration to motivate and inspire oth- Championship, programme, tronically limited top speed of campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania since (QF). ment of Qatar’s knowledge-based econo- ers. These are values that will serve him where the team is involved in the 250km/h. The V60 Polestar 1989, and holds a PhD in industrial engi- “Dean Trick is in a unique position to my. The leader we have chosen to build on well in this role.” title fi ght. reaches 100km/h from naught neering. He is a researcher and educator lead this institution through its second this success is Michael Trick. Trick is the author of more than 50 pro- The aerodynamic enhance- in 4.8 seconds and the top speed in the fi eld of operations research, with a decade. He is an esteemed educator who “Under Dean Trick’s leadership, I am fessional publications and the editor of six ments include a new front remains the same at 250km/h. specialisation in computational methods will provide the guidance and leadership confi dent that CMU-Q will continue its volumes of refereed articles. splitter and side sills, all made Volvo has confi rmed that only in optimisation. He also has consulted to fulfi l the educational mission of CMU- development as an integral part of the The installation ceremony was capped in lightweight carbon fi bre, in- 1,500 such vehicles will be man- with professional sports leagues on sched- Q. He is an internationally recognised re- Qatar landscape, representing CMU’s dy- by the presentation of a ceremonial Qua- creasing downforce. The new ufactured worldwide and each uling. searcher, who will bring a new perspective namic global capacity,” he added. ich, a Scottish vessel traditionally symbol- components increase grip and car will have a unique number “I am honoured to be named dean of this to the research eff orts of CMU-Q. He is a Laurie Weingart, CMU’s interim prov- ising friendship, trust and new ventures. high-speed stability, providing on the tread plate. Qatar’s ‘fi rst’ Bridgestone Fleet Point centre launched

amal Trading and Distribution, wheel alignment and balancing and oil fi rst Bridgestone Fleet Point for fl eets a subsidiary of Aamal Com- changes, according to a press statement. and commercial vehicle owners. We are Apany, has offi cially launched a Equipped with the latest high-tech confi dent this new off ering will add tre- Bridgestone Fleet Point centre in Doha, machines and professional services, the mendous value to the local market while bringing for the “fi rst time to Qatar a Bridgestone Fleet Point centre aims to reinforcing our position as the market world-class facility for the provision of provide improved levels of tyre life, low- leader.” high-quality commercial tyre services”. ered rates of fuel consumption and en- Hassan said they are also investing Sheikh Khaled bin Faisal al-Thani hanced safety for its customers’ vehicle further in “our long-term partnership cut the ribbon to mark the opening fl eets. with Total Lubricants”, which provides of the new service centre on behalf of On the occasion, Sheikh Mohamed oil change services through their distinc- Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal al-Thani, said: “Through the opening of Bridge- tive Rapid Oil Change service centres. vice-chairman and managing direc- stone’s new fl eet point, we aim to expand The Bridgestone Fleet Point centre tor of Aamal Company, in the presence our operations to approach the market has already been operating successfully of a number of senior representatives of for heavy vehicles, and reach out to new in several countries in the Middle East Bridgestone. business channels that meet the growing and Africa region. With the opening of Businesses will now be able to access demand of the market.” this facility in Qatar, Bridgestone has ex- an “aff ordable and effi cient one stop Syed Rashid Hassan, general manager panded its service network to 10 shops Present during the opening were Sheikh Khaled bin Faisal al-Thani, on behalf of the Aamal board of directors; Syed shop” for all their truck and bus tyre- of Aamal Trading and Distribution, add- across fi ve countries in the region, the Rashid Hassan, general manager of Aamal Trading and Distribution; and Shinya Iwata, director, commercial channel related services, including tyre changing, ed: “We are proud to introduce Qatar’s statement adds. development, Bridgestone, and other dignitaries and off icials. Gulf Times 8 Monday, November 6, 2017 REGION/ARAB WORLD Al-Waleed among royals arrested in Saudi purge

AFP immediately after a new anti- four current ministers and doz- to the corruption cases will be Other detainees include ex-fi - tional carrier Saudia. tion on social media that the ar- Riyadh corruption commission headed ens of ex-ministers were arrest- registered as state property. nance minister Ibrahim al-Assaf They are purportedly facing rested fi gures were being held at by Crown Prince Mohamed bin ed as the commission launched Shares in Kingdom Holding, and ex-head of the royal court charges ranging from involve- Riyadh’s Ritz Carlton, a palatial Salman was established by royal a probe into old cases such as 95% of which is owned by Prince Khaled al-Tuwaijri. ment in dubious business deals, hotel. audi Arabia pursued a decree. fl oods that devastated the Red Al-Waleed, dived 9.9% as the Three former state offi cials, money laundering, embezzle- The hotel appeared to be sweeping purge of the Separately, the head of the Sea city of Jeddah in 2009. Saudi stock exchange opened who were sacked on Saturday, ment of public money and mis- closed off to the public yesterday Skingdom’s upper ranks Saudi National Guard, once a The government offi cial gave yesterday after reports of his ar- were also reportedly among handling state-owned enter- and its website said the property yesterday, saying it would freeze leading contender to the throne, AFP a list of 14 of the most high- rest. those detained in the clamp- prise for personal fi nancial gain, was fully booked. the accounts of dozens of princ- as well as the navy chief and profi le names including Prince The share price later recov- down. other Saudi media reported. The purge follows a wave of es, ministers and a tycoon ar- the economy minister were re- Al-Waleed, ranked among the ered some of its losses to end the One of them is a son of late An aviation source told AFP arrests of infl uential clerics and rested. placed in a series of high-profi le richest men in the world. day down 7.6 %. Saudi king Abdullah. that security forces had ground- activists in September. Prominent billionaire Al- sackings that sent shock waves The information ministry In a statement Kingdom Hold- The other detained include ed private jets at airports, pos- The latest purge saw Prince Waleed bin Talal was among the through the kingdom. separately said the bank ac- ing said it was “aware” of Satur- the former heads of the state sibly to prevent high-profi le Miteb bin Abdullah sacked as the princes arrested late Saturday, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya tel- counts of those arrested will be day’s developments but insisted agencies of investment, tel- fi gures from leaving the country. head of the National Guard, an a government source told AFP, evision reported that 11 princes, “frozen” and any assets related that it was “business as usual.” ecommunications and the na- There was fevered specula- elite internal security force. Saudi Arabia forced Hariri to quit, says Hezbollah

Reuters adding that Lebanon’s political Beirut leaders expected him to return to the country on Thursday “if he is allowed” to travel. ebanon’s Hezbollah group Hariri allies in Lebanon have yesterday accused Saudi denied suggestions that he had LArabia of forcing Leba- been detained. nese prime minister Saad al- Lebanese President Michel Hariri to quit, and called for Aoun will not accept Hariri’s calm in an eff ort to contain the resignation until he returns to political crisis unleashed by his Lebanon to explain his reasons, resignation. palace sources said yesterday, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the delaying for now the politically leader of Hezbollah, urged Leba- diffi cult consultations over his nese citizens against any po- successor. litical escalation in response to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper Men ride a bicycle in the eastern Syrian city of Deir Ezzor during a military operation by government forces against Islamic State militants. Hariri’s surprise declaration on cited unnamed sources close Saturday, which he made from to Hariri as speculating that he Saudi Arabia. would probably remain outside Hariri had said there was a Lebanon because of the security plot to kill him, and accused threat against him. Hezbollah and its Iranian back- Central Bank Governor Riad ers of sowing strife in the Arab Salameh sought to calm fears world. the political turmoil would hit “The resignation was a Saudi Lebanon’s already fragile econo- 75 displaced civilians decision dictated to Prime Min- my, issuing a statement to reaf- ister Saad al-Hariri and was fi rm the stability of its currency, forced on him,” Nasrallah said in which is pegged against the US a televised address. dollar. Nasrallah said he would not In Lebanon’s sectarian system comment on accusations lev- the president must be a Maronite elled against Hezbollah by Har- Catholic, the prime minister a killed in Syria IS attack iri, describing his resignation Sunni and the speaker of parlia- announcement as a Saudi state- ment a Shia. AFP vilians including children” and Fighting across Deir Ezzor Valley border area, which was Saturday’s bombing took place, ment. Hariri is Lebanon’s most in- Beirut wounded 140, said Observatory province has sent thousands of at the heart of IS’s so-called the Observatory said. Hariri’s resignation toppled fl uential Sunni politician. head Rami Abdel Rahman. civilians fl eeing for their lives, caliphate. It was not the fi rst attack at- a coalition government that in- His father, Rafi k al-Hariri, The scale of the attack some straight into the desert. The US-led coalition has es- tributed to IS and targeting ci- cluded Hezbollah, thrusting was prime minister after Leba- car bombing by the Is- showed that despite losing vast Saturday’s attack came a day timated that around 1,500 mili- vilians fl eeing Deir Ezzor. Lebanon back into the frontline non’s 1975-1990 civil war and lamic State group killed swathes of territory it held in after Russian-backed govern- tants are still in the area. On October 12, a car bombing of the Saudi-Iranian regional ri- was assassinated in a car bomb- Aat least 75 displaced ci- Iraq and Syria, the militant ment forces seized Deir Ezzor Syrian regime forces have in- in the northeastern province of valry and risking an open-ended ing in 2005. vilians who had fl ed fi ghting in group is still capable of mount- city from the militants. tensifi ed their assault on IS in Hasakeh killed at least 18 peo- political crisis and sectarian ten- A UN-backed tribunal has in- eastern Syria, a monitor said ing deadly attacks. IS, which in 2014 declared the area in a bid to seize Albu ple, including displaced people sions in Lebanon. dicted fi ve Hezbollah members yesterday, as the cornered ex- Abdel Rahman said “a new a “caliphate” spanning terri- Kamal close to the Iraq border. and Kurdish security forces, the The government was formed for the killing but the group de- tremists try to defend their last convoy of displaced people tory in Iraq and Syria roughly According to the Observato- Observatory said. late last year in a political deal nies any involvement. strongholds. joined the gathering at the time the size of Britain, has also lost ry, Iraqi militiamen have fought The militants have been re- that ended years of deadlock, Saudi media have published Syrian government troops of the attack”. most of the territory it once alongside Iraqi regime forces in peatedly accused of targeting and last month it produced Leb- reports of a plot to assassi- meanwhile moved closer to the The displaced had fl ed battles controlled in neighbouring Iraq, the area. those attempting to fl ee during anon’s fi rst budget since 2005. nate Hariri in recent days, but border town of Albu Kamal, the in the province, where Russian- including second city Mosul. Civilians caught in the fi ght- fi ghting. Nasrallah said he had thought all of Lebanon’s main security last urban zone still held by IS backed Syrian regime forces and On Friday, Iraqi forces retook ing have tried to escape. The United Nations on Thurs- things were going well and had branches have said they have no militant holdouts in Syria, the the US-backed Syrian Demo- the border town of Al-Qaim, Aid group Save the Children day said the group had executed not wanted Hariri to quit. information about such a plot. Syrian Observatory for Human cratic Forces (SDF) are fi ghting also on the Euphrates river. estimates that some 350,000 741 civilians in the battle for the He urged Lebanese citizens UN Secretary-General An- Rights said. the militant group in separate Iraqi Prime Minister Haider people have fl ed the recent Iraqi city of Mosul, accusing it not to hold protests in response tonio Guterres was concerned The regime’s forces “pro- off ensives. al-Abadi yesterday toured Al- fi ghting in the oil-rich prov- of “indiscriminate targeting of to the resignation, saying “this by Hariri’s resignation and gressed rapidly” and are 15km The Observatory, which re- Qaim and raised the national ince, half of them children. civilians trying to fl ee the city”. will not lead to any result”. hoped all sides in the country from the town, the Britain- lies on a network of sources on fl ag in the town centre. Some of those displaced had Despite being driven out of He said “legitimate ques- would back its state institutions, based monitor said. the ground inside Syria for its The militants who have lost sought refuge in a desert area large parts of Deir Ezzor, IS still tions” were being asked in Leb- his spokesman on Lebanon Saturday’s attack in the information, reported Satur- most of the territory they once controlled by the SDF, a Kurd- controls 37% of the province anon over whether Hariri had Stephane Dujarric said in an e- eastern province of Deir Ezzor day that dozens had died in the controlled are now confi ned to ish-Arab alliance, on the east- and its fi ghters are deployed on been detained in Saudi Arabia, mailed statement. killed “at least 75 displaced ci- bombing. a small stretch of the Euphrates ern bank of the Euphrates where the eastern side. Oman to be promoted as IS claims major ‘ideal tourism destination’ attack in Aden AFP province”, which said clashes Aden were “still ongoing”. man’s Ministry of Tour- tourism products at the WTM Security officials in the ism (MoT) will take part this year. southern province of Aden, Oin the 37th World Tour- A few new entities will be tak- he Islamic State group where the Yemeni government ism Market (WTM) from today ing part in the event for the fi rst claimed a major attack is based, said an explosives- until November 8 in London. time - such as Al Faiha Tours un- Ton Yemen’s government rigged car blew up outside the Through its participation in der the Royal Aff airs Court and bastion of Aden yesterday which investigations unit, killing six the event, the Sultanate aims to Sama Hotel in Jabal Al Akhdar. killed at least 15 people, wound- officers on the spot along with promote Oman as an ‘ideal tour- Mark Tours, Al Zahraa Travel ed 18 and sparked a hostage cri- the driver. ism destination all year round’ and Tourism, Shangri La Barr sis. Around 30 gunmen then by highlighting the most promi- Al Jissah, OAMC, Bahwan IS and its extremist rival Al stormed the unit and freed nent tourism projects and serv- Travel, Oman Companies and Qaeda have taken advantage of around 50 detainees from their ices, exchanging knowledge and Hotels group, Anantara Jabal the war between Yemen’s Sau- holding cells, some of whom expertise with the participants, Akhdar, Al Watania Travel and di-backed government and the took up arms to fi ght alongside as well as by building investment Maitha bint Saif al-Mahrouqi Tourism, Magic Arabia, Crown country’s Houthi rebels, to bol- the militants, according to a relations with leading compa- Plaza, Khimjis Travel and Tour- ster their presence across much high-ranking offi cial. nies from around the world in around the globe. The Sultan- ism, Shangri La Hotels and Re- of the south. The security offi cials said a to- the tourism sector, according to ate’s delegation will be spear- sorts, Al Baleed Resort Salalah, While Al Qaeda in the Arabian tal of four suicide bombers blew a press statement. headed by Maitha bint Saif al- The Chedi Muscat, Oman Royal Peninsula (AQAP) has for years themselves up during the attack, The Sultanate also seeks to Mahrouqi, undersecretary at the Opera House, Arabian Experi- been the stronger presence in one of them targeting the convoy bring to light the eff orts made MoT. ence Offi ce and Golden Tulip are southern Yemen, IS has recently of Yemen’s chief of security. by local tourism companies in Oman has a 255sq m pavilion among the other tourism com- come forward to claim attacks on The gunmen also took an un- Oman and the MoT’s constant at the WTM that has been de- panies that are participating, the both the army and the country’s known number of people hos- endeavours to promote these ef- signed in keeping with the Sul- statement notes. Shias. tage inside the unit yesterday forts. tanate’s culture and heritage. Last year, the WTM witnessed IS claimed yesterday’s attack afternoon. The event is expected to host Some 20 companies, namely more than 80 workshops en- on the criminal investigations Two policewomen were killed almost 5,000 organisations and tourism facilities, hotels and compassing a variety of topics in People look at a van damaged by an air strike on a parade square unit in an online statement re- execution-style by the attackers, participants from 186 countries craftsman are showcasing their the tourism sector. in Sanaa yesterday. leased by its “Aden and Abyan the offi cial said. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 9 AFRICA Renegade offi cer Rapprochement surrenders after east Congo clash leaves 7 dead

Reuters heavy weapons at Kanyonga’s house. Goma Security has been deteriorating across Congo since the end of last year, when President Joseph Kabila refused to step lashes yesterday between Congo- down despite his mandate expiring. lese troops and supporters of a ren- Surging militia violence in the east, Cegade colonel in Congo’s eastern which has for decades been a tinderbox city of Bukavu killed seven people before of ethnic rivalries fuelled by the region’s he surrendered and turned himself in to mineral wealth, and in the formerly peace- UN peacekeepers, the army said. ful central Kasai region, have raised fears Democratic Republic of Congo army the country could slip back to the multi- spokesman for South Kivu province, Dieu- faceted civil wars of the turn of the cen- donne Kasereka, said clashes had started tury. after police came to disarm Colonel Ab- Those wars killed hundreds of thou- bas Kayonga, who was sacked on Thursday sands directly in violence while millions from his post overseeing anti-fraud eff orts of others are thought to have died from of in local mines. hunger and disease. Kayonga, a former rebel from a group South Kivu has rich deposits of gold, tin that had been disarmed and integrated into and coltan, used in mobile phones, which the Congolese military, gave himself up at have long helped fi nance rebel groups and the local base for the UN mission to Congo. army offi cers. Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga shake hands during a ceremony at the All Saints Anglican Church in Nairobi. “He has just surrendered with 17 people The national electoral commission was at the base of the mission,” Kasereka said expected to announce a date for the elec- by telephone. tion to replace Kabila later on Sunday. Two army soldiers and three of Kanyon- Last month, it said the election cannot ga’s bodyguards were killed in the fi ghting take place until April 2019, raising fears of and two civilians were killed by stray bul- an escalation in militia violence and civil lets, he said. disturbances. Seventeen members of Kanyonga’s force US envoy Nikki Haley said during a visit surrendered to UN troops and nine others to meet with Kabila last month that the were captured by the army, Kasereka said, vote must happen in 2018 or it will lose in- adding that soldiers found about a dozen ternational support. Election delays divide

Burkina president presses Paris on already tense Liberia extradition of Compaore brother By Jennifer O’Mahony, AFP ever,” Rodney Sieh, editor of investi- said the talks were “consistent with jection by the voters,” alluding to the Monrovia gative newspaper FrontPage Africa, her constitutional role”. fact that the Liberty Party candidate told AFP. A hint of Boakai’s true motive in has now lost three successive presi- AFP French head of state in over 20 years. “Supporters of Weah feel Brum- supporting the fraud allegations, dential elections. Paris “It’s been more than 20 years since any- he extraordinary delay in skine and others are prolonging the critics say, was clear in a leaked early International donors have poured one has been executed,” Kabore added. electing Liberia’s new leader process while others feel the law draft of a speech given on October billions into Liberia since Sirleaf Francois Compaore is wanted over the Tamid claims of electoral fraud should take its course,” he added. 23. was elected in 2005, and are eager to urkina Faso’s president said yester- killing of journalist Norbert Zongo and is entrenching existing divides be- The National Elections Commis- The vice president was poised to complete what will be the country’s day that the existence of the death three companions, whose charred bodies tween the candidates and outgoing sion (NEC) has already made clear go public with a weeks-long com- fi rst democratic transition in seven Bpenalty in his country should not were found in a burnt-out car in the south President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, as the original date “does not look plaint by his supporters: that Sirleaf decades, while watching nervously stop France from extraditing the brother of of the country in December 1998. voters wait nervously for a resolu- possible to meet”, in the words of backs Weah, not the man who served from the sidelines. its ousted leader over the 1998 killing of a Zongo’s family have long accused Fran- tion. its Chairman Jerome Korkoya, after alongside her in government for 12 Diplomatic and political party journalist. cois Compaore of having had a hand in the The Supreme Court will today de- ballot paper shipments to the prov- years. sources told AFP over the last few French police detained Francois Com- killings, which triggered mass protests in cide the fate of a presidential runoff inces were recalled and training of “Individuals close to her and op- days that African Union Chairman paore, 63, at Paris’s Charles de Gaulle air- Burkina Faso and drew international con- vote originally scheduled for No- polling agents halted at the Supreme erating under her instructions are in and Guinean President Alpha Conde port late last month under an arrest war- demnation. vember 7, either by setting a new Court’s request. fact giving multiple forms of support and Togolese leader Faure Gnass- rant fi led by Burkina Faso. Kabore also said he hoped that France date or prolonging it indefi nitely un- The country is no stranger to elec- to our main opponent in the presi- ingbe, chairman of the Economic He was one of the most disliked fi gures would soon declassify its archives con- til a legal complaint by the opposi- tion disputes: The results of its two dential race, the Coalition for Dem- Community of West African States in the regime of his brother Blaise Com- cerning the killing of the revolutionary tion Liberty Party is resolved. post-civil war presidential votes in ocratic Change (CDC),” according to (ECOWAS), applied intense pres- paore, who was ousted in a popular revolt Burkina leader Thomas Sankara, who was The runoff , to be contested by 2005 and 2011 were both contested the draft, which was seen by AFP, sure to stakeholders to come up with in October 2014 after he tried to change the assassinated 30 years ago last month. former international footballer by Weah’s CDC, which ultimately before more diplomatic wording was a resolution quickly during a visit on constitution to extend his 27-year grip on “I think this would be a good thing, it George Weah for the Coalition for conceded defeat after going through added at the last minute. Wednesday. power. would be a sign of good faith toward un- Democratic Change (CDC) against a complaints process. Brumskine and Sirleaf have unre- Liberian voters, meanwhile, have But French courts might refuse his ex- covering the truth,” Kabore said. the incumbent Vice President This time, however, the CDC ac- solved grievances of their own. no choice but to play the waiting tradition because Burkina Faso still has the Sankara was killed in October 1987, Joseph Boakai for the governing Uni- cused Boakai of “trying to steal the He has called for the electoral game before they get a chance to pick death penalty on its books. along with 12 comrades, in a putsch that ty Party, is therefore on ice — and no elections from the Liberian people commission to be sacked even as their next leader while keeping an “I already consider it a major victory brought his close friend Blaise Compaore one knows for how long. after over 40 years in power,” in a she gave it her full backing, and this eye on tensions ramping up between that the arrest warrant has been executed to power. The Liberty Party’s Charles statement emailed to journalists on week he accused Sirleaf of having a the parties. on French territory,” President Roch Marc Several people have been charged in Brumskine came third in the fi rst October 31, after the vice president hand in starting the nation’s 1989- “We do not want no violence. Christian Kabore said in an interview with connection with Sankara’s assassination round of the presidential vote on announced he would back Brumsk- 2003 civil war, in which a quarter of Whomsoever that the court will rule French media outlets in Ouagadougou. as part of an inquiry opened in March 2015, October 10, and immediately al- ine’s actions. a million people died. in favour (of), that’s the decision “Even if it’s legal, the death penalty is including soldiers from the presidential leged that fraud and irregularities In parallel, Boakai and Brumskine Information Minister Eugene of the land, we cannot go against not applied in Burkina Faso,” Kabore said security unit. had tainted the results, claims which have accused Sirleaf of “interfering” Nagbe then called Brumskine’s alle- it,” said T Klon Maxwell, a security just a few weeks ahead of a state visit by “The case is evolving, there have been were backed soon afterwards by in the elections by meeting polling gations “the rants of a sore and self- guard eyeing the front pages at a French President Emmanuel Macron to 17 indictments,” Kabore said. “I think the Boakai but downplayed by Weah. offi cials at her residence ahead of the ish loser who is so blinded by ego and newsstand in Monrovia on Saturday Ougadougou this month, the fi rst by a case will be settled very rapidly.” “The country is more divided than vote, though her press secretary has arrogance...even after 12 years of re- afternoon. Chad’s ‘snake children’ turn carpenters and musicians

By Inna Lazareva, Reuters take food they grow home to not widely available, experts say. over the world are forced to close N’Djamena feed their families,” said Naiban, In Chad and other countries in because they run out of funding,” who waives school fees of about the region, children with disabil- said Koundja Mayoubila, Chad’s 70,000 CFA francs ($125) a year ities are sometimes called ‘snake programme manager for Reach hen Koutu Saimon’s for the poorest families. children’ because they often for Change, a Swedish charity son, Wheener, was Chad, the world’s third least- fi nd movement diffi cult, mean- which provided entrepreneurial Wborn almost four developed country, is also ing they crawl on the ground for funding and training for Naiban. months premature and “as small weighed down by drought and longer than other children. Pupils learn sewing, masonry, as a mouse”, friends and relatives fl oods, confl ict with the militant Like snakes, they are regarded furniture production and farm- in Chad turned to the new moth- group Boko Haram and some as troublesome, and often killed ing in workshops inside the er and, with sidelong glances and 400,000 refugees fl eeing the or abandoned in forests or near school and on its farm. in hushed voices, whispered to Lake Chad basin, Sudan and the river-beds where they are be- After they graduate, they use her to get rid of the baby. Central African Republic. lieved to turn back into serpents. their skills to earn money, often “They told me: ‘You need to Government resources are “If they don’t throw them out, as tailors, carpenters and on con- take him to the river, do an exor- hard-stretched and a domestic they hide them,” said Naiban, struction sites. cism ritual, leave him there. He’s law which prohibits discrimina- who was inspired to start the “One even plays in a local or- cursed, it’s a snake child’,” Sai- tion against people with disabili- school after seeing his young dis- chestra,” said Naiban, who has mon told the Thomson Reuters ties is not eff ectively enforced, abled niece suff ering. also set up parents’ groups sup- Foundation. experts say. “I wanted to do something to porting more than 2,000 children “They would kill a child like Nor has Chad has ratifi ed the help her,” he said, sitting among with learning diffi culties across that,” she added incredulously, 2006 Convention on the Rights stacks of papers, books and mu- the vast central African country. looking at her son. of Persons with Disabilities, sical instruments in his cramped “We explain to the communi- Wheener, now a lively eight- which requires governments to offi ce. ty: ‘No, it’s a congenital malfunc- year-old, squealed with delight promote, protect and ensure hu- When Naiban realised there tion, the cause is biological — it’s upon seeing his teacher, Adou- man rights for disabled people. was no trained teacher for men- malnutrition, maybe malaria, mkidjim Naiban, who founded It falls mostly to charities tally disabled children in the meningitis’,” he said. “We explain Chad’s only school for children to provide for those with spe- whole of Chad, he decided to that it’s not evil spirits, they’re with learning disabilities, the CE- cial needs, who often lack basic train himself. not ‘snake children’.” SER Centre, almost 20 years ago. equipment like corrective glasses A Swiss foundation cater- For Saimon, the centre serves Children with disabilities are or wheelchairs. ing to people with special needs, as a lifeline, enabling her to hold often neglected across central Negative beliefs about disabil- Les Perce-Neige, hosted him for down a job in a restaurant while Africa, where many believe their Koutu Saimon and her son Wheener stand in the courtyard of their house in N’Djamena. ity are common in rural commu- three months and then provided Wheener is at school. condition is caused by curses, nities across the world. money to buy land for the school. “It’s not easy for us, the moth- supernatural forces or as a pun- education with social entrepre- children die before their fi fth Centre’s 80-plus students, as This is partly due to the low But running costs, including ers especially,” she said, adding ishment. neurship. birthday, the charity Save the well as vegetables, eggs and cat- levels of education — in Chad, salaries for six of his 11 staff who that her husband left soon after The CESER Centre in the Almost half of Chad’s 14mn Children says. tle from its farm on the city’s over 90% of people cannot read are not paid by the government, their son was born. “But with Chadian capital, N’Djamena, population live below the pov- Sales from furniture and leath- outskirts, help keep it running. — and because information on proved a challenge. this education, he has a chance to only stays open by combining erty line and more than 10% of er goods produced by the CESER “Sometimes the pupils also the medical causes of disability is “Many centres of this type all make something of his life.” Gulf Times 10 Monday, November 6, 2017 AMERICA Militants Flag march fail to build signifi cant networks, act alone

AFP at the Foundation for Defence Washington of Democracies think tank, heavier prison sentences in terror cases in the US makes a ayfullo Saipov, the diff erence. radicalised Uzbek who US sentences are 15-20 years, Smowed down eight peo- compared to four to seven years ple on a New York bike path, in Europe, which releases terror apparently developed his plot convicts back into the commu- in relative isolation, like most nity much more quickly. That other militant attackers in the helps sustain dangerous Islam- United States. ist cells, he said. But in Europe many have That is not to say the United had community support, an States has not had its own cells underground network, or even or ringleaders, Gartenstein- a hardline Islamist to guide Ross notes. them, as in the twin attacks in Anwar Al Awlaki, one of Spain in August. the most infl uential militant Experts say that in part, a thinkers and propagandists, better rooted, more affl uent US was born and raised in the Muslim community shows no United States before he joined tolerance for anyone exhibiting Al Qaeda in Yemen and was Supporters of President Donald Trump assemble in Washington Square Park in New York City. sympathy for causes like the Is- killed in a 2011 drone strike. lamic State group or Al Qaeda. And in the late 2000s a cell And tougher and expansive that involved maybe 20 people US laws and more aggressive developed around the Somali law enforcement than Europe community in Minneapolis have also made a diff erence. that became an eff ective body Together, they leave aspiring to recruit people to join IS. militants in the United States “That was clearly a net- isolated with their social media work,” like those in Europe, he links and, at times, just a few said. “They have not been pre- friends in the know. vented, they still exist.” Saipov, who crashed a rented Clinton’s campaign truck down a busy New York Hughes said one bike path on Tuesday, is so far fundamental reason is believed by investigators to have distance: the country is been “self-radicalised” online much farther away from without any apparent support jihadist networks and it is inside the United States. much harder to travel to Analysts say that’s because the Middle East because it is much harder to safely fi nd of offi cial no-fl y lists ‘stupid and anaemic’ support. “We tend not to have large The Somali cell more resem- Brazile has alleged that Clinton won lieutenants, including one conference call democratic process because even the per- clusters in the US....For the bled those in Europe, rooted the primary unfairly where she complained of being treated like ception of impartiality or an unfair advan- most part you are talking about in a more recent, less wealthy, a “slave.” tage undermines our ability to win. That is ones and twos,” said Seamus poorly educated immigrant AFP “I’m not Patsey the slave,” Brazile, who unacceptable”. Hughes, deputy director of community. Washington is black, recalled saying. “Y’all keep whip- Sanders’ campaign manager Jeff Weaver the Program on Extremism at For the most part Ameri- ping me and whipping me and you never told CNN this week he thought the debate George Washington University. can Muslim communities are give me any money or any way to do my schedule was “rigged”. Hughes said one funda- wealthier, and better educat- he former Democratic Party chief damn job. I am not going to be your whip- Perez said the party will “decide the mental reason is distance: the ed on average than European seriously considered replacing Hil- ping girl!” debate schedule in advance, instead of ne- country is much farther away communities. Tlary Clinton with then US vice pres- Clinton has not responded to Brazile’s gotiating it after all our candidates have from militant networks and it That makes them less alien- ident Joe Biden as the party’s White House accusations. entered the race” and “any and all joint is much harder to travel to the ated and better-integrated, candidate after Clinton fell ill at a public The head of the Democratic National fundraising agreements will be transpar- Middle East because of offi cial according to Corey Saylor, an event, according to excerpts from a new Donna Brazile and Hillary Clinton. Committee has vowed to ensure all can- ent”. no-fl y lists. expert on Islamophobia at the memoir published on Saturday. didates have an equal chance to win the Leaked emails in 2016 suggested the European Muslims fi nd it Council on American-Islamic Donna Brazile also wrote that Clinton’s liberations to use her power as party chief Democratic presidential nomination after party had actively favoured Clinton over much easier to travel to areas Relations (CAIR) campaign was badly mismanaged, “ane- and begin the process of removing Clin- a former party chair accused the commit- Sanders. where radical groups like Is- US Muslim groups will more mic” and had taken on “the odor of fail- ton and running mate Senator Tim Kaine tee of rigging the process to aid Hillary Former Clinton campaign manager lamic State group operate. readily chase out of the com- ure”. She likened the campaign’s New York from the ticket, and replacing them with Clinton in 2016. Robby Mook on Friday denied the nomi- As a consequence, he said, munity and the mosque some- headquarters to a hospital ward where vice president Joe Biden and Senator Cory DNC Chairman Tom Perez said in a nation had been rigged in Clinton’s favour. “We don’t have the kind of one who espouses radical ideas. “someone had died”. Booker. statement the 2020 nominating process “Hillary Clinton won this primary with in-person recruitment done in “If somebody in the congre- The Washington Post published the Brazile thought they held the most ap- would be “unquestionably fair and trans- almost 4mn votes,” Mook told CNN. “The Europe”. gation is talking about it, they searing details after obtaining an advance peal to working class voters and could de- parent”. idea that the DNC could rig a contest Another factor is the expan- get pushed out fairly quickly. copy of Brazile’s book, which will be re- feat Trump. This was in the aftermath of Perez made his comments after former frankly is laughable.” sive use of the charge of “ma- There is no hospitality” for it, leased on Tuesday. Clinton’s collapse at a September 11 me- DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile said in Brazile replaced former DNC Chair- terial support of terrorism,” a he said. Brazile, 57, is a longtime Democratic morial event in New York that was cap- an opinion piece in Politico earlier this woman Debbie Wasserman Schultz last catch-all that “allows the FBI While neither side talks about strategist who served as the Democratic tured on amateur video that quickly went week that the nomination process had year after a furore over the contents of to interject themselves at an it much, US Muslim communi- National Committee’s interim chairwom- viral. been “rigged” in Clinton’s favour after she leaked e-mails. earlier stage than our European ties have been more willing to an during key months of last year’s presi- But Brazile never carried out the plan. signed a fundraising agreement with the In a soon-to-be published book, Brazile partners”, Hughes said. report possible threats to law dential campaign. “I thought of Hillary, and all the women DNC in 2015. recounts deliberations whether to initiate For critics, the FBI is too ag- enforcement than in Europe. Explosive revelations from Brazile ear- in the country who were so proud of and Clinton, a former US senator and fi rst the process of removing Clinton. gressive and stretches the law That was helped by outreach lier in the week, published by Politico, said excited about her. I could not do this to lady, beat Senator Bernie Sanders for the DNC rules give the party’s chair the with undercover schemes that programmes under president Clinton’s team essentially took over day- them,” she wrote. nomination but lost the election to Repub- ability to call a special meeting to con- entrap people who are not re- Barack Obama, according to to-day operations of the DNC, in essence As for Clinton’s campaign, it was poorly lican Donald Trump in November 2016. sider replacing a nominee in the event of ally threats. Gartenstein-Ross. rigging the system against Senator Bernie run and overconfi dent, taking minority Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachu- the death, resignation or disability after a But the net eff ect is to pre- That may have ebbed un- Sanders, who was challenging Clinton for votes for granted and putting out “stiff ” setts Democrat, told CNN this week that candidate has offi cially been nominated, vent them from establishing der President Donald Trump, the party’s nomination. and “stupid” messages, Brazile said. Perez needed to assure Democrats, includ- but only the full DNC has the power to fi ll connections and frightening however, given his open mis- Her allegations have convulsed the par- She charged that the DNC was side- ing supporters of Sanders, that the proc- vacancies. others thinking of trying to trust of Muslims. “The lack of ty as it struggles to rebuild, and whipped lined during the campaign, with Clin- ess was fair and she agreed that the 2016 Brazile’s book Hacks: The Inside Story build networks. trust has impeded co-opera- up accusations of cheating from President ton’s team controlling party finances nominating process was “rigged”. of the Break-ins and Breakdowns that Put According to Daveed Gar- tion; suspicion has likely in- Donald Trump. and strategy. Perez said he is “more committed than Donald Trump in the White House, is to be tenstein-Ross, a senior fellow creased,” he said. Brazile wrote that there were secret de- Brazile wrote of fi ghts with Clinton’s top ever before to restoring voters’ faith in our released tomorrow by Hachette Books.

Man held for assault on Rand Paul

A man has been arrested for assaulting US Senator Rand Paul at his Kentucky home on Friday and causing a “minor injury”, the state police said. Trump ratings lower than any Rene Boucher, 59, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, was arrested and charged with one count of fourth-degree assault causing minor injury, the Kentucky State Police said in a statement on Saturday. Paul and Boucher were acquaintances, said Jeremy Hodges, a state police spokesman, who declined to say what led to the incident. president in decades, says poll Paul’s off ice said in a statement the former Republican presidential candidate “was blindsided and the victim of an assault. The AFP both the worst marks of his presidency. ing he had accomplished “not much” or NBC, citing three sources famil- assailant was arrested, and it is now a matter for the police. Senator Washington The next highest disapproval rat- “little or nothing,” while only 35 % said iar with the investigation, said Muel- Paul is fine.” ing among presidents stretching back to he had achieved a great deal or a good ler was stepping up pressure on Flynn, His off ice did not immediately respond to questions about the Dwight Eisenhower was 41%, for Bill Clin- amount. who served in the White House for only extent of any injuries the 54-year-old senator may have suff ered or new poll, released a year after Don- ton, in 1993. The coming months off er Trump a 24 days before being fired amid reports the circumstances of the incident. ald Trump’s stunning electoral vic- The poll comes as Trump faces a daunt- chance, at least, to aff ect those views, about his communications with Russian Hodges said Paul’s injuries were minor and did not require Atory, shows the US president suf- ing array of political and legal challenges, as Congress works on a tax plan that the ambassador Sergey Kislyak and claims transport to a hospital. Boucher was booked into the Warren fering historically dismal approval ratings led by the investigation by special counsel president has insisted would primarily he had misled Vice President Mike Pence County Regional Jail. as the Russia investigation casts a contin- Robert Mueller into possible collusion be- benefi t middle-class Americans. about them. He was released on Saturday after posting a $7,500 bond, Captain uing shadow. tween Trump’s campaign and Russia. Whatever happens in Congress, Trump Investigators are examining whether Chip Olney of the facility said by phone. The Washington Post, which conducted Last week a federal grand jury had in- seems certain to be shadowed by the Rus- Flynn, in previous lobbying work, had Boucher is scheduled to appear in court on Thursday, Olney said. the survey with ABC News, said Trump’s dicted three former Trump campaign sia investigation for months to come. laundered money or lied to federal agents, It was unclear if Boucher has an attorney, and he could not be approval rating was “demonstrably lower aides or advisers, and NBC News reported A week after news that former Trump NBC said. reached for comment late on Saturday. than any previous chief executive at this that more charges could be coming. campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Two offi cials told NBC that Mueller’s Paul, an ophthalmologist, dropped out of the race for president in point in his presidency over seven decades Trump has also faced setbacks in Con- two other men had been indicted, NBC re- team was studying whether Flynn sought February 2016 and successfully ran for re-election as a senator. of polling.” gress, notably over his promise to repeal ported that federal investigators have suf- the removal from the United States of a In September, Paul opposed a partial repeal of healthcare reforms Just 37% of Americans approved of the Obamacare health programme and to fi cient evidence to bring charges against rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip adopted under former Democratic President Barack Obama, his handling of the job. The president’s build a wall on the border with Mexico. Trump’s former national security ad- Erdogan — the cleric Fethullah Gulen, angering President Donald Trump, a Republican. disapproval rating was 59%, with half of The poll showed voters sharply critical viser Michael Flynn and his son, who has blamed by Erdogan for inspiring a failed Paul last month played golf with Trump and discussed tax reform those saying they strongly disapproved, of Trump’s achievements, with 65% say- worked with him. coup — in exchange for millions of dollars. proposals. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 11 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA

Australia snubs New Zealand off er to take refugees on PNG

AFP resettle refugees increased after Turnbull. But the Australian cited fears the people-smug- Sydney the Australian centre on PNG’s leader replied that while he ap- gling trade could be restarted. Manus Island was shut tomor- preciated the off er – first made “Many of those people smug- row after the nation’s Supreme by Wellington in 2013 – “we are glers were trying to get people to ustralia yesterday Court ruled it unconstitutional. not taking it up at this time”. New Zealand,” he added. How- snubbed New Zealand’s About 600 detainees are refus- “We have an arrangement ever, Australia has come under Arenewed off er to resettle ing to leave citing safety fears if with the United States... so we fi re from the UN High Com- 150 refugees held at remote Pa- they move to transition centres want to pursue those, conclude missioner for Human Rights, cifi c camps, despite the closure where locals are reportedly hos- those arrangements and then in with a spokesman in Geneva of one detention centre in Papua tile. the wake of that, obviously we Friday calling on Canberra to New Guinea (PNG) which has But conditions in the camp can consider other ones,” he said move the men from Manus to triggered a stand-off between are deteriorating with limited at the joint press conference. “So Australia and criticising the off - detainees and the authorities. food and water and electric- the priority now is the US ar- shore asylum processing policy Canberra has been forced on ity cut off , with the United Na- rangement.” as “unsustainable, inhumane the defensive by the move from tions warning of a humanitar- Under the American deal – and contrary to its human rights Wellington’s new government, ian emergency. Under its tough struck with previous US presi- obligations”. with Prime Minister Malcolm immigration policy, Canberra dent Barack Obama and bit- “We urge the governments Turnbull saying Australia would sends asylum-seekers who try terly criticised by his successor of Australia and Papua New instead prioritise a similar deal to reach Australia by boat to two Donald Trump – just 54 refu- Guinea to fully respect their hu- with the US to resettle refu- camps, in Manus and Nauru, and gees have been accepted with man rights... and to enter into a gees in America, despite slow they are barred from resettling in 24 fl own to the US. The agree- dialogue with the men to ensure progress. Australia. ment had envisaged resettling these rights are duly respected, The issue re-emerged when Australia has struggled to up to 1,250 refugees from Manus protected and fulfi lled,” the the conservative Australian move the refugees to third coun- and Nauru to America, but the spokesman added. prime minister met his centre- tries such as Cambodia or PNG. vetting process has been slow. Despite widespread criticism, left New Zealand counterpart “The off er is very genuine and Turnbull said his government Canberra has defending its poli- Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull talks with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern before Jacinda Ardern for the fi rst time remains on the table,” Ardern had successfully stopped the ar- cy as stopping deaths at sea after their meeting in Sydney yesterday. yesterday in Sydney. Pressure to told reporters after meeting rival of asylum seeker boats and a spate of drownings. Trump in Japan stresses unity on North Korea; talks trade, too

Reuters Tokyo Abe duels with ‘long hitter’ Trump on golf course Golfing buddies Donald Trump S President Donald and Shinzo Abe relaxed with Trump ramped up his a beefburger lunch and a Utough rhetoric against quick nine holes on the course North Korea when he arrived in yesterday, ahead of a high- Japan yesterday, saying the Unit- stakes summit on the North ed States and its allies are pre- Korea crisis. After a business pared to defend freedom and “no lunch of burgers with US beef dictator” should underestimate — a possible cue to discuss US resolve. Trump kicked off a trade issues — the pair donned 12-day Asian trip and is looking golfing kit for a round at the to present a united front with Ja- Kasumigaseki Country Club, pan against North Korea through which will host the event at the meetings with Prime Minister Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Shinzo Abe amid heightened They played with Hideki tensions over Pyongyang’s nu- Matsuyama, one of the world’s clear and missile tests. top golfers, and Trump had He told reporters on Air Force warm words for his skills. One en route to Asia that North “He is the greatest player in the Trump talks with Abe as Japanese professional golfer Hideki Korea would fi gure prominently history of Japan. Possibly their Matsuyama (front left) looks on. in discussions, and also singled greatest celebrity... He’s a truly out trade, which he said had been great player, a great athlete,” white baseball cap and polo a grey jumper and white cap. US President Donald Trump and Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe meet with their wives Melania and “badly handled” in the region for Trump told reporters on Air shirt, high-fiveing Abe who was Trump also tweeted a video Akie for a dinner at a restaurant in Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. years. Trump has rattled some Force One. dressed in white pants and a of him playing a shot under allies with his vow to “totally de- Trump described Matsuyama navy blue cap. the caption: “Playing golf with tinguish between North Korea’s remarks, Trump said US-Japan in the last couple of decades to stroy” North Korea if it threatens as a “long ball hitter” but could The two have enjoyed a ‘near- Prime Minister Abe and Hideki leadership and ordinary people, ties were closer than ever. But solve this problem because the the United States and with his not resist adding: “I hit the bromance’ forged by a shared Matsuyama, two wonderful he said he thought North Kore- he added: “We’ll have dinner to- most important thing is to have dismissal of North Korean leader ball pretty long.” However, love of golf. Trump has praised people!” Abe told reporters ans were “great people.” night. I think we’ll insult every- the international community Kim Jong-un as a “rocket man” he graciously conceded that Abe’s “strong hands” and a after the game: “I think a golf “And I hope it all works out body by continuing to talk about completely united in order to on a suicide mission. A top aide Matsuyama was likely to tee off “very, very good chemistry” course enabled us to get for everybody.” Abe told report- trade.” really choke off the lifeline for said last week Trump intends further than him and warned between them. When they relaxed and to have candid ers before Trump’s arrival that Trump also said he planned to North Korea. It’s got to be the to tell Asian leaders the world is the press of possible fake news. met at the Country Club, they talks on various issues.” he welcomed the visit as a chance meet Russian President Vladimir way,” the offi cial said. Trade will “running out of time” in deal- “If I come back and say I was greeted each other warmly, The discussions also revolved to deepen bilateral ties by build- Putin during his trip, the longest factor heavily during Trump’s ing with the nuclear crisis on the longer than him, don’t believe grasping each other’s elbows around some “diff icult issues”, ing on the “friendship and trust” Asian tour by any US leader since trip as he tries to persuade Asian Korean peninsula. it.” under a clear blue Tokyo sky. Abe said, adding: “I think between the two leaders, fostered George H W Bush in 1992. allies to agree to policies more “No dictator, no regime, no Inside, the two leaders signed “It’s going to be a lot of fun,” President Trump enjoyed it by several meetings that included “I think it’s expected that we favourable to the United States, a nation should ever underesti- white caps that read, “Donald Trump said on the plane. very much. I had a very good a round of golf in Florida earlier will meet,” he said. “We want point Trump emphasised. mate American resolve,” Trump and Shinzo Make Alliance Even Abe also appeared to have time, too.” this year. “I hope we will be able Putin’s help on North Korea.” A centrepiece of the trip will told hundreds of cheering US and Greater.” enjoyed his round, tweeting: “A A senior Trump administration to have thorough discussions Trump wants a united front be a visit to the Asia Pacifi c Eco- Japanese troops in camoufl age Abe and Trump played golf round of golf with a marvellous off icial said the two leaders about international issues, in- with the leaders of Japan and nomic Co-operation summit in uniforms gathered at Yokota Air when the Japanese prime friend (President Donald talked trade and North Korea cluding North Korea,” he said. South Korea against North Korea Danang, Vietnam, where Trump Base, just west of Tokyo, soon minister visited the United J. Trump), full of spirited during their round. But the Trump and Abe greeted each before he visits Beijing to make will deliver a speech in support after he arrived. “Every once in States in February, with the conversation.” off icial was diplomatically coy other with a handshake at a golf the case to Chinese President Xi of a free and open Indo-Pacifi c a while, in the past, they under- Japanese leader keen to stress He posted a picture of the on the key question of who course to be used during the Jinping that he should do more region, which is seen as off ering estimated us. It was not pleasant that his skills were not on a pair apparently in earnest won. “I am told the three of 2020 Olympic Games, chang- to rein in Pyongyang. Separately, a bulwark in response to expan- for them, was it?” said Trump, par with Trump’s. At the time conversation strolling down the them did not keep score but ing clothes and heading out to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro sionist Chinese policies. who wore a bomber jacket as he Trump tweeted a photograph fairway, Abe in an indigo golfing had a very good time out play after what media said was Kono and US Secretary of State “One of the things we’re go- addressed the troops. in which he was wearing a jacket and blue cap, Trump in there.” a lunch of beefburgers. In an al- Rex Tillerson discussed that ing to be very focused on is North Korea’s recent actions, lusion to a Trump campaign slo- “now is the time to apply fi rm trade because trade has not been including several missiles that gan, they signed caps that said pressure on North Korea,” Kono done well for 25 years by the fl ew over Japan and Pyongyang’s US strategic bombers have fur- Force One that a decision would proach after years of what he “Donald and Shinzo Make Alli- told reporters. United States with this part of sixth and largest nuclear test, ther heightened tensions. “We be made soon on whether to add termed “total weakness.” ance Even Greater.” A senior US State Department the world, with any part of the have raised the stakes in the most will never yield, never waver reclusive North Korea to a list “It’s a big problem for our The two leaders and their offi cial travelling with Tillerson world,” he said on Air Force One. critical international challenge and never falter in defence of our of state sponsors of terrorism. country and the world, and we wives later dined on grilled Japa- said the pressure was having an “We’re going to be discussing of Trump’s presidency. Recent freedom,” Trump said. Trump said his administration want to get it solved.” nese premium beef at an upscale eff ect. “I think we have a bet- reciprocal trade. Fair, free but re- drills over South Korea by two He told reporters earlier on Air planned to take a diff erent ap- In an apparent attempt to dis- restaurant. In brief pre-dinner ter chance now than we’ve had ciprocal,” he said. 27 dead as Typhoon Damrey batters Vietnam

AFP area, leaving 27 dead and 22 re- est storm in central Vietnam, Donald Trump and China’s Xi The spouses of some APEC Danang, Vietnam ported missing, according to the including foreign tourists. Pho- Jinping. leaders are scheduled to pay a disaster management offi ce. tos showed residents wading “Now city people are joining visit to Hoi An next week, ac- Coastal Khanh Hoa province, through knee-deep fl oodwater hands with authorities to clean cording to the culture minis- t least 27 people have died home to the popular white sand in several cities as toppled elec- up the mess to make the city look try. and nearly two dozen are Nha Trang beach, was hardest tricity poles and trees blocked nicer for the APEC week,” said Vietnam has been pummelled Amissing after Typhoon hit with 16 dead and 10 injured, roads. Some 300 ships were Tran Huy, as dark clouds loomed by a dozen major storms since Damrey barrelled into Viet- the government said. Elsewhere wrecked, according to the gov- above. An hour’s drive south in the start of 2017. The country nam, authorities said yesterday, in the region Malaysia was also ernment, while local authorities Hoi An, an atmospheric port city has reported at least 240 people damaging tens of thousands of battered by bad weather, with said Phu Yen province’s Tuy Hoa and popular stop on Vietnam’s dead or missing in fl oods and homes and submerging high- fi ve people reported dead in Pen- city had never suff ered such dev- tourist circuit, a local resident landslides since the beginning ways days before the country ang following serious fl ooding astation before. said fl oodwater was up to 1.5m of the year. Some 80 were killed welcomes world leaders to the – including in the historic state There were also reports of deep in some parts of town. in the weeks after Typhoon Dok- APEC summit. capital George Town. More than lesser damage around 500km “Water has started to rise in the suri battered central provinces The storm, which made land- 3,000 people have been evacu- north in Danang, the coastal city Old Quarter,” resident Dinh Thi in September, destroying thou- fall on Saturday, is the worst in ated there and the military was which will host the Asia-Pacifi c Xuan Hoa told the state-run sands of homes and triggering decades to strike the country’s deployed to help fl ood victims. Economic Cooperation (APEC) VNExpress, referring to a sec- severe fl oods. southern coastal region, an area Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan summit next weekend. A local tion of the city recognised as a The World Bank said natural normally spared the typhoons Eng said the storm was probably resident told AFP strong winds World Heritage site for its archi- disasters have killed more than that typically hit further north. associated with Typhoon Dam- and rain had torn down signs tecture. 13,000 people and caused more More than 40,000 homes were rey. promoting the APEC gather- “Foreign tourists were trans- than $6.4 billion in property A woman rows a boat through floodwaters in the tourist town of Hoi damaged as heavy rains and More than 30,000 people ing, which will bring together ferred by boats to hotels in high- damage to Vietnam over the past An yesterday, one day after Typhoon Damrey made landfall in central 130kph winds tore through the were evacuated ahead of the lat- leaders including US President er area,” she added. two decades. Vietnam. Gulf Times 12 Monday, November 6, 2017 BRITAIN Focus on Johnson as questions raised over Russia’s UK infl uence

Guardian News and Media Tom Watson, deputy leader of viduals named in FBI indictments draising dinner in his constituency A Foreign Offi ce source said: possible foreign interference in have a much clearer picture from London the Labour party, called the rev- unsealed last week – George Papa- on October 19 this year, where he “The foreign secretary has not Britain last week and denied any America of how the Russian state elations “extraordinary” and said dopoulos, a foreign policy adviser had “briefl y greeted” him. knowingly met this person, knowledge. sought to infl uence the US elec- the government must say whether for Donald Trump’s campaign, and An e-mail from Mifsud to a col- planned to meet this person, or The revelation comes as the Ob- tion and I think there are multiple hree senior past and other ministers were targeted or a “London professor” with high- league, seen by the Observer and indeed ever heard of this person server investigation into foreign questions to be asked about how present Foreign Offi ce had meetings. The reports from level connections to the Russian uncovered by Byline, the crowd- before.” infl uence places him in a web of re- and in what ways the Russian state Tministers, including the the US had shocked MPs, he said, state, subsequently identifi ed as a funded independent journalism Sharma said: “I did not intro- lationships between a known Rus- may have been exerting infl uence Foreign Secretary, Boris John- and it was vital to know if the Rus- Maltese academic, Joseph Mifsud. site, revealed Mifsud had told a duce him to Johnson and I don’t sian spy, Sergey Nalobin, expelled in British politics. Given the grav- son, were targeted by individuals sian state had also sought to infl u- Alok Sharma, a Foreign Offi ce colleague he would be “meeting think anyone else did either.” But from Britain in 2015, and Matthew ity of the allegations against Papa- identifi ed by the FBI last week as ence British politics. minister until June this year and Boris Johnson for dinner re Brexit” indications of Russian eff orts to Elliott, the chief executive of Vote dopoulos, the government should central to their investigation into The Observer has learned of MP for Reading West, confi rmed on that date. Sharma confi rmed make contacts with British of- Leave, the offi cial Leave campaign make public any meetings these Trump-Russia collusion, the Ob- meetings and encounters between he had met Mifsud “a couple of Johnson was the guest speaker at fi cials could prove embarrassing headed by Johnson. two individuals had with British server has learned. British ministers and two indi- times” and he had attended a fun- the event. for Johnson, who was asked about Watson said: “We’re starting to offi cials and what was discussed.”

Bonfire Night celebrations Families of child abuse Green urged victims threaten to sue govt to resign as

Guardian News and Media London porn claims awyers acting for families whose children have been Lvictims of rape, sexual as- sault and harassment by fellow school pupils have stepped up action against the Education Sec- retary, Justine Greening, with a are probed letter threatening judicial review proceedings. Tory MP says source of inquiry into government leaks about the sort of things whips The Equality and Human allegations that porn was in 2008. knew and did,” said Rudd, who Rights Commission is funding a found on his Commons Green has strongly denied the was a junior whip briefly in 2013 legal challenge against the edu- computer in 2008 is ‘tainted claims, calling Quick “a tainted and 2014. “That isn’t the par- cation secretary, which accuses and untrustworthy’ and untrustworthy source”. liament I know. That isn’t the her of failing to act to protect Speaking on ITV’s Peston on whips’ office where I worked.” children from sexual abuse and Guardian News and Media Sunday show, the Tory back- As well as Green, the Con- harassment by their classmates, London bencher Heidi Allen said that servatives are investigating two the Guardian has learned. someone facing such accusa- MPs, Dan Poulter and Charlie A report published a year ago tions “in a regular industry” Elphicke; allegations against by MPs on the women and equali- wo Conservative MPs would step aside from their role the latter have been passed to ties committee revealed shocking have called for Dam- during an investigation. police. The Defence Secretary, levels of sexual abuse and harass- Tian Green to step down “In … the sort of companies I Michael Fallon, resigned last ment of schoolgirls who com- as Theresa May’s deputy while used to work in, that would be week amid claims of inappro- plained it was a part of daily life, claims of inappropriate behav- completely normal,” she said, priate behaviour. often dismissed as “banter” by iour against him are investigat- telling Green: “If you’re inno- Yesterday it emerged that some staff . ed by the party. cent and you have nothing to Fallon’s resignation came after Ministers have since accepted The suggestion came as the worry about, then let the proc- the journalist Jane Merrick told the need for fresh guidance to Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, ess take its natural course, and Downing Street he had lunged schools on how to handle allega- confirmed that a wider Cabinet the right will come out in the at her in 2003 after they had tions of rape, abuse and harass- Office inquiry into the conduct end.” had lunch. ment between pupils, but fami- of Green, the first secretary of Anna Soubry, another Con- Soubry told Marr that Mer- lies of victims are horrifi ed at the state, would look into allega- servative backbencher, said rick had initially contacted her delay in releasing the new guid- tions that pornography was Green should have stepped and the Labour MP Harriet ance, which might not come into found on his Commons com- aside when the first claims were Harman, before she spoke to No force until September 2018. puter. made, which would have meant 10. One mother, whose daughter Green – who vehemently the later allegations could have Soubry said: “To be very clear was the victim of a serious sex- denies any wrongdoing – has been considered as part of that. about this, we cannot have, to- ual assault, said: “The secretary become the focus of a wave of “This would have formed day, this going on any longer. of state’s failure to take action to allegations of abuse and harass- part of that inquiry,” she told People must have, today, a sys- protect children who have been ment in Westminster. Marr. “Instead we are pretty tem where they don’t have to abused frightens me. How can Rudd said yesterday she be- much having trial by the news- go to the press in order to make she sleep at night? This is a mas- lieved it was time for wrongdo- papers. This is not acceptable.” their complaint or happen sive, massive epidemic of child ers to be drummed out of par- Rudd said the pornography to find some MP’s telephone abuse and she’s doing nothing liament. “I think it is something allegations would form part number they know will take about it.” that will take place in terms of of the inquiry: “I know that these matters seriously.” The EHRC chief executive, Re- clearing out Westminster of the Cabinet Office is going to Labour also faces allegations becca Hilsenrath, said: “We hear that sort of behaviour, and I be looking at this today, along about several MPs, including the shock and dismay at the sto- think Westminster afterwards with the wider inquiry about Kelvin Hopkins, who was sus- ries of sexual abuse perpetrated – including the government – Damian, and I do think that we pended last week over allega- across sectors and industries, will be better for it,” she told shouldn’t rush to allege any- tions that he sent an activist from Harvey Weinstein to the BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show. thing until that inquiry has tak- inappropriate text messages. Westminster parliament. If we “When we are confident that en place.” The party is under pressure to really mean it, we need to use the men and women can work in More generally, Rudd said, explain why the Luton North same lens to look at the youngest a respectful environment and the abuse claims were part of “a MP was later promoted to the victims of all.” people who have been on the wholesale change taking place”. shadow Cabinet. The families are demanding receiving end of abuse of power She said: “What we’ve seen is Dawn Butler, the shadow to know the precise release date can come forward, that will be a the abuse of power in particu- equalities minister, told Marr for the new guidance to schools. positive thing.” lar, and the widespread cultural that while she could not discuss They want the government to The investigation into Green change that needs to take place individual cases, MPs would update its Keeping Children began earlier in the week when as we recognise that. And we only be promoted if whips told Safe in Education guidelines to he was accused of inappropri- will be recognising that. We are the leader’s office any com- include more robust advice re- ate behaviour towards a young going to be making changes and plaints or issues had been sort- quiring schools to protect the Conservative activist, Kate it has to stop.” ed out. victims and their right to educa- Maltby. However, Rudd rejected the She said: “If there was an is- tion, and to consider suspending The Sunday Times also re- idea that the Tory whips’ office sue and the issue has been re- the alleged perpetrator. Revellers parade through the streets of Lewes in Sussex, southern England, during the ported that a former Metro- kept a dossier of MPs’ misdeeds solved, that’s the end of the A preliminary letter was sent to traditional Bonfire Night celebrations. Thousands of people attended the parade through the politan police assistant com- that it used to enforce disci- matter. If there’s an issue and Greening almost two months ago. narrow streets until the evening came to an end with the burning of an eff igy representing missioner, Bob Quick, alleged pline. it’s ongoing, that’s something The EHRC says she failed to pro- Guy Fawkes, who died in 1605 after an unsuccessful attempt to blow up the Houses of “extreme” pornographic ma- “I was a whip myself and I very different.” This would duce an adequate response to that Parliament. terial was found on one of his don’t recognise some of those suggest “both sides were happy fi rst letter. Commons computers during an more lurid stories that are told with the outcome”, Butler said. Westminster politics ‘decaying before our eyes’

Guardian News and Media tate the timing of another referen- “But equally, no sane person London dum, repeating his belief that mem- would suggest that in Scotland we bership of the European Free Trade should replicate the empty white Association (Efta) would be the best sheet of paper that the pro-Brex- he former leader of the Scot- course for an independent Scotland. iteers advocated during the UK ref- tish National party, Alex Sal- “In that case the referendum must erendum. We have to get a balance Tmond, has said Westminster be held at the point of hard Brexit or between off ering a vision of a future politics is “decaying before our eyes” at the point of transitional agree- and having something which is so as he issued a rallying cry to support- ment beyond hard Brexit,” he said. detailed it goes into what should ers of independence. Such a position would off er an “is- properly belong in the manifestos The ex-fi rst minister of Scotland land of certainty in a sea of confusion of the political parties contesting told a conference of the Scottish In- and that would be of enormous value the fi rst independence election af- dependence Convention that the in winning the next independence ter our constitutional aspiration is timing had “never looked better” for referendum”. Salmond, who lost his achieved.” the cause. Salmond said: “Obviously Salmond: never seen the British state in more disorientation, chaos. Gordon seat in June’s snap general Salmond added: “There’s always our strength is great, look around the election, acknowledged that lessons an understandable reason that peo- hall, feel our strength as a movement We’re Johnny-No-Mates in Europe, also dictates the timing of the cam- had to be learned from the previous ple have to say ‘we’re not ready for but also understand the weakness of not a single friend across the conti- paign and that is another factor for campaign, highlighting the Scottish independence, we’re not ready for our opponents. nent. us to consider. I would say the timing government’s white paper on inde- another referendum campaign, we’re “I’ve been active in politics for 30 “The structures of Westminster has never looked better for the na- pendence. “The independence white not ready to move into that again’. years – elected politics – and I’ve politics are decaying before our eyes. tional cause of Scotland.” paper perhaps strayed too much into “The only way you overcome never seen the British state in a state So this is a matter not just of our Salmond said the platform the the form of a party manifesto as op- these reservations is by leadership of more disorientation and chaos. strength but their weakness. That movement decided upon would dic- posed to a national platform. going into the campaign”. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 13 BRITAIN

Council worker wins race row over plant pot placed on desk

London Evening Standard minster council put the plant on believed I was being unlawfully grown too high”. In 2015 Kenbata nation complaint arising from amined — and the tribunal has for what the tribunal described London her desk, blocking his view. He discriminated against.” went to London Central Employ- the existence of the overgrown now adjusted its fi ndings, ruling as a “one-off act of harassment”. complained to his boss that it was The row began in December ment Tribunal and made 29 alle- pot plant” and ordered him to pay his complaint “was not an act of But the tribunal ruled there was racial segregation and discrimi- 2013 when support offi cer Zinnie gations of direct discrimination, £10,000 costs. It backed Kenbata mischief after all” and “the dis- no racial discrimination as they council worker has won nation as it “restricted the ease Denby-Mann put a plant on her racial harassment and victimisa- on just one count, ruling the dis- cussion in the open-plan offi ce found no evidence “race was a claim that he suff ered with which he could hold discus- desk, opposite capital programme tion. It ruled against him, saying cussion about the complaint with was racial harassment”. an issue in the offi ce”. It said he Aracial harassment in a sions with colleagues”. manager Kenbata. A few months it was “quite satisfi ed that the his boss, which took place in an This was because his boss’s should still pay £10,000 towards row over an offi ce pot plant — Now, after a two-year legal later he complained to his boss. positioning of the plant and its open-plan offi ce, amounted to response to the allegation “was the council’s costs as he had act- landing taxpayers with a bill for battle, he has successfully sued Westminster’s human resourc- growth was not an act of direct victimisation as it should have capable of violating his dignity ed “unreasonably” with respect thousands of pounds. the council for racial harassment es department denied any racial discrimination nor harassment”. happened confi dentially. or creating a humiliating envi- to his other claims. Westminster Benyam Kenbata, 34, took legal and victimisation. connotations, saying the problem It found Kenbata “acted in bad Kenbata appealed and a judge ronment for him”. has spent “well over” £60,000 action after a colleague at West- Kenbata said: “I genuinely was simply that the “plant had faith in making the race discrimi- said the case should be re-ex- Kenbata was awarded £1,000 defending the claims. Six years after All lit up tremors halted fracking, UK to try again

Reuters most 95% by 2040 as known re- London serves in the North Sea run out. Weaning Britain off imports is one of the driving forces behind ix years after Britain’s fi rst government support for hydrau- fracking operation was sty- lic fracturing, which involves ex- Smied by earth tremors, its tracting gas obtained from rocks shale gas industry is poised to try broken up or fractured at high again with a technology that could pressure with water and chemi- transform the UK gas market and cals. drastically reduce its reliance on It’s impossible to know exactly imports. how much shale gas might be un- While environmental and com- derground — and more impor- munity concerns about fracking tantly, how much can be extracted have not gone away, changes to the — until fracking has started in ear- A firework display is seen behind the refurbished and illuminated chimneys of Battersea Power Station in London. energy landscape since 2011 have nest. The British Geological Sur- added even more complexity to vey estimates shale gas resources the eff ort to exploit Britain’s shale in northern England alone could gas. On the one hand, imports are contain 1,300tn cubic feet (tcf) of cheaper, at least for now. gas, 10% of which could meet the Global liquefi ed natural gas country’s demand for almost 40 (LNG) prices have more than years. halved from 2014 peaks as new The government is not banking supply from Australia and the US on a fracking bonanza, however, saturated key Asian markets. partly because there’s no urgency At the same time, last year’s given that global gas prices so low. Pentagon ‘misled UK vote to leave the European Union A BEIS study on gas supplies has stoked fears about the security published in October concluded of Britain’s energy supplies. that Britain would have secure Britain’s main gas storage site is supplies of gas up until 2037 even also due to close, which means the if no shale reserves can be exploit- market may be vulnerable to price ed. Shortly after fracking started in shocks over the winter months. Blackpool in April 2011, a tremor over case for Iraq war’ “Not a lot of people think about registering 2.3 on the Richter scale where gas comes from and what woke residents from their beds in Guardian News and Media He adds that the evidence in sion was taken”. ““It is astonishing that none “The Iraqis, it was reported, happens if (Russian President the middle of the night. London question was never examined He said that as chancellor he of us in the ever saw this Ameri- ‘lack the precursors for sus- Vladimir) Putin or others fall out Their homes shook, and they by the Chilcot inquiry into the had little more access to intel- can report,” Brown writes. “It is tained nerve-agent production’, with us,” said Francis Egan, the reported cracks in ceilings and a Iraq war, which concluded that ligence than other Cabinet min- now clear how forcibly this re- confi rming that US intelligence CEO of shale gas developer Cuad- cracked toilet basin. he US defence depart- Britain chose to join the invasion isters, but was reassured by MI6 port challenged the offi cial view: could not identify any Iraqi sites rilla, the fi rst company to attempt It was followed by another 1.4 ment knew that Saddam before “peaceful options for dis- that evidence about WMDs was ‘We’ve struggled to estimate producing the fi nal chemical fracking in the UK, near Blackpool. magnitude earthquake a month THussain did not have armament” had been exhausted. well-founded. However, hav- the unknown … We range from agent. And as for missiles and “They only begin to think about later. weapons of mass destruction Brown’s intervention will reo- ing reviewed the evidence since 0% to about 75% knowledge on the Iraqis’ ability to target coun- that when the prices are going up,” Cuadrilla said the quakes were but kept Britain in the dark, ac- pen the debate about Britain’s leaving offi ce, he writes that he various aspects of their (Iraq’s tries such as the UK with them, he said. caused by an unusual combination cording to an explosive new decision to join the US-led inva- now believes “we were all misled WMD) programme’,” the report which was to be the subject Natural gas is used to heat as of geological features at the site, claim from Gordon Brown. sion of Iraq. Tony Blair used the on the existence of WMDs”. stated. of dramatic claims only a few much as 80% of British homes, but they led to an 18-month ban In an extraordinary allegation, assertion that Iraq had weapons Brown points to a crucial “It conceded that US knowl- weeks later, Rumsfeld was in- which make up 35% of demand, on the use of fracking nationwide the former prime minister states of mass destruction to argue set of papers from September edge of the Iraqi nuclear weap- formed: ‘We doubt all processes closely followed by electricity while further research was carried that a secret US intelligence re- that Britain needed to join the 2002, commissioned by the ons programme was based are in place to produce longer- generation at 33% and 17% by in- out. port into Iraq’s military capa- military action. then US defence secretary, Don- largely – perhaps 90% of it – on range missiles’. dustry, according to data from the The government has since in- bilities was never passed to Brit- Brown makes the claim in his ald Rumsfeld, and held by the analysis of imprecise intelli- “This highly confi dential US department for business, energy troduced a traffi c-light system ain and could have changed the new book, My Life, Our Times, US defence department, which gence. These assessments, the evidence was a refutation not and industrial strategy (BEIS), which immediately suspends course of events. The revelation published this week. He writes was leaked last year. Accord- report said, relied ‘heavily on only of the claim that Iraq was which formulates energy policy. work if any seismic activity of 0.5 leads Brown to conclude that the that there was a “rush to war” in ing to Brown, it made clear that analytic assumptions and judg- producing WMDs but also of Around 60% of that gas is cur- or above on the Richter scale is “war could not be justifi ed as a March 2003, adding that he asks evidence of “the existence of ment rather than hard evidence. their current capability to do so.” rently imported, up from 40% less detected, and has increased moni- last resort and invasion cannot himself “over and over whether I WMDs was weak, even negligi- The evidentiary base is particu- Brown states that had the evi- than 10 years ago. toring standards such as ground now be seen as a proportionate could have made more of a dif- ble and in key areas non-exist- larly sparse for Iraqi nuclear pro- dence been shared, history could The fi gure is tipped to reach al- water checks. response”. ference before that fateful deci- ent”. grammes.’ have been diff erent. Bailout for crisis-hit social Film premiere Second teen held care providers demanded over acid attacks Guardian News and Media remains in a critical condition af- London ter inhaling the substance. He may Guardian News and Media would give providers 15 months to and I do think they need to get lose the sight in both eyes. London calculate the amount they think back to that discussion. So far, we Police have appealed for in- they owe their workers. However, are not at that point. To be fair to etectives investigating formation. Detective chief in- it did not give any guarantees that this government, it is an issue that two separate acid attacks spector Gordon Henderson of enior Tory MPs have joined state support would be available to has landed on their watch so I have Din London last week have Waltham Forest CID said: “This calls for a government bail- help them pay it. The concession some sympathy. But the parties arrested a second boy on suspi- attack has left a man fi ghting for Sout of social care providers, has been criticised as inadequate have to sit round the table, and cion of grievous bodily harm. his life and with terrible eye inju- after warnings that some will go by councils and charities facing there may need to be a fi nancial The 16-year-old was arrested ries. This was an innocent man bust as a result of a crisis over a big bills, while Tory MPs are also package put down,” he added. on Saturday night and remains in going about his work as a delivery £400mn bill for back pay. concerned. Kevin Hollinrake, Tory MP for custody at an east London police driver, who may never see again. Former Cabinet ministers are Some are demanding urgent Thirsk and Malton, said: “This station. A 14-year-old boy who “This is not a time to hesitate, among those concerned about the action in the chancellor’s budget needs resolving. Charities and was arrested on Friday on sus- if you have any information about government’s failure last week to later this month. Sarah Wollaston, other providers thought they were picion of GBH has been released this crime I would appeal that guarantee fi nancial aid to those chairwoman of the health select applying the rules correctly and under investigation. you immediately call police. Your aff ected. It comes at a time when committee, said: “Unless there is now fi nd they weren’t, so it is very At about 6pm on November 2 a phone call could save some other the social care sector is already government funding for the back- unfortunate and puts them in a fast food delivery driver was ap- innocent person; it is imperative under extraordinary fi nancial pay bill, many providers will go to very diffi cult situation. This could proached in Walthamstow by two that we arrest those responsible.” pressure. the wall, and there is also a huge cost the sector, to their reckoning, men on a scooter as he delivered Detectives are also investigating The crisis arose after a court issue here for those individuals £400mn, which would put some pizza. They demanded he hand a second incident at 6.30pm on the ruled that carers staying over- who receive direct payments. I of them out of the work of provid- over his keys, and during a subse- same night in nearby Tottenham, night, known as sleep-in shifts, hope this will be addressed in the ing care. It’s horrendous. We need quent struggle he was sprayed in in which a corrosive substance was were entitled to the minimum budget.” a permanent solution.” the face by a corrosive substance. thrown in a delivery driver’s face. wage, rather than a fl at-rate £30 Peter Aldous, Tory MP for Labour is also pushing the gov- The victim, a 32-year-old man, The second victim, also 32, which had been paid by care pro- Waveney, said ministers had “not ernment to draw up a fi nancial was wearing a helmet with the was approached by two men on a viders. Charities say they had been addressed the problem” and called package to ensure that social care visor up and received substantial scooter who attempted to steal his wrongly advised by government for fi nancial help: “The govern- providers are not forced out of injuries to his eyes and face. moped. The corrosive substance guidance. It means some face bills ment’s announcement just adds business. The suspects, one wearing a was thrown in his face before the for back pay covering up to six to the uncertainty overhanging Government offi cials say that white helmet and the other a black suspects fl ed on a moped. years, with many saying they will the sector,” he said. “I’m minded ministers are still considering Actor Hugh Bonneville (left) and actor Hugh Grant helmet, fl ed on their moped. The victim was treated in hos- simply fold without a bailout. that the government has said they what action to take and whether pose upon arrival to attend the world premiere of the The victim was treated at the pital but his injuries are not be- After months of delay, the gov- wanted to work with the sector fi nancial aid should be made avail- film Paddington 2 in central London yesterday. scene with water and taken to an lieved to be life-threatening or ernment announced a scheme that and providers to fi nd a solution, able. east London hospital, where he life-changing. Gulf Times 14 Monday, November 6, 2017 EUROPE

Italy probes fatal Puigdemont surrenders shipwreck with all-female victims

AFP to police in Belgium Rome

AFP he bodies of 26 women who drowned attempting Brussels the perilous crossing from Libya to Europe were Tbrought yesterday to Italy, where investigators launched a murder inquiry. atalonia’s sacked separatist A seemingly endless line of black plastic body bags leader Carles Puigdemont were lowered by crane from a Spanish ship onto the Cand four of his former min- portside in Salerno, southern Italy, where they were isters yesterday turned themselves placed in coffi ns and loaded onto waiting hearses. in to Belgian police after Spain is- Twenty-three of the women died on Friday after the sued a warrant for their arrest. infl atable dinghy they were travelling on sank, and their The fi ve, who face accusations of bodies were recovered by the Spanish ship Cantabria, rebellion and sedition in Spain, are which was operating as part of the EU anti-traffi cking due to appear before a judge who force Sophia. will decide within 24 hours wheth- A Sophia spokesman told AFP another three bodies er to detain or release them. had been discovered during other life-saving opera- It is the latest dramatic develop- tions in the Mediterranean last week, and transferred to ment in the crisis unleashed by the the Cantabria as it headed towards Italy with its grim Catalan separatists’ push to break cargo. away from Spain that sent shock- There was no immediate explanation as to why all waves across Europe. the dead were women, though the crossing is riskier for Puigdemont and his allies fl ed to them. Belgium last Monday after Spain For every fi ve men who drown in the rubber boats sacked the Catalan executive and trying to cross the Mediterranean, six women also die, imposed direct rule on the once according to migrant expert Sine Plambech, adjunct semi-autonomous region follow- professor at Columbia University. ing the declaration of independ- They can have poorer swimming skills compared to ence by the parliament there last men and their attempts to save their children often lead month. to their drowning, as does the heavier clothing they “They were taken into custody at wear, he said. 9.17am,” said Gilles Dejemeppe, a “It’s a tragedy. The prosecutor’s offi ce will begin spokesman for Belgian prosecutors. looking into it immediately,” Salerno’s prefect Salvatore Only the fi ve, their lawyer and Malfi said. an interpreter will be present at the “We will need to see whether there are suspects to court hearing. concentrate on or whether the murder inquiry will pro- Puigdemont wrote on Twitter ceed against persons unknown,” he said. on Saturday that he and his col- Investigators would be looking for signs of violence leagues — Meritxell Serret, Antoni against the women, who are believed to have been Ni- Comin, Lluis Puig and Clara Pon- gerian. sati — would “co-operate” with the Gilles Dejemeppe, prosecutor substitute and spokesperson of the public prosecutor’s office, addresses a press conference in Brussels yesterday. “They were on a dinghy that was also carrying men,” Belgian authorities. Malfi told Italian media in response to fears the doomed Spain issued European arrest He said he was not convinced by Puidgemont, who still describes During the last regional election ERC leader Oriol Junqueras has vessel may have been a sex-trade boat carrying victims warrants on Friday after Puigde- guarantees of a fair trial back home, himself as Catalan “president,” has in September 2015, Puigdemont’s been in custody since Thursday destined for prostitution. mont and his allies ignored a sum- denouncing the “enormous pres- also said he is willing to run as a PDeCAT and the left-wing ERC along with other members of Pu- “The sex traffi cking routes are diff erent. Loading mons to appear before a judge on sure and political infl uence on ju- candidate in the December 21 snap party stood together in a “Together igdemont’s dismissed government women onto a boat is too risky, the traffi ckers would allegations linked to the move to dicial power in Spain”. regional election called by Prime for Yes” coalition in Catalonia, a who did not fl ee to Belgium. not do it as they could lose all their ‘goods’ — as they declare Catalonia an independent The judge could “refuse to hand Minister Mariano Rajoy to “restore region of 7.5mn people. Opinion polls published in sev- describe them — in one fell swoop,” he said. republic. over Puigdemont if there is a prov- normality” to Catalonia. With the help of the separatist eral newspapers yesterday indi- The Cantabria was also carrying 375 migrants res- The judge in Madrid had on en serious risk to his fundamental “We want president Puigdemont far-left CUP party, they held an cated that the ERC would come cued from the waves, including 116 women — nine of Thursday put Puigdemont’s deputy rights,” said Anne Weyembergh, to be the person who leads the big absolute majority in the 135-seat fi rst in the December election, but whom were heavily pregnant. and seven other deposed regional president of the Institute of Euro- off ensive we will carry out on the Catalan parliament, which was that the independence coalition According to Italy’s interior ministry, more than ministers behind bars because of a pean Studies of the Free University 21st at the polls,” said Marta Pascal, swiftly dissolved by Madrid under as a whole could lose its absolute 111,700 people have reached the country by sea in the risk they would fl ee. of Brussels. spokeswoman for his PDeCAT party. a so-called “nuclear option” after majority. fi rst 10 months of 2017, 30% down on the previous year. Puigdemont, 54, insists that She said the court would need to She said the conservative, pro- the October 27 independence proc- But Puigdemont’s party, which Despite the drop, traffi ckers are still sending migrant Catalonia earned the right to de- see evidence of criminal off ences independence party was looking lamation. has been in power in the wealthy boats out into the Mediterranean: the International clare independence following a before executing the warrant. to put together a “big united list,” But there have been growing ten- northeastern region for much of Organization for Migration said Friday that more than banned referendum last month But cases of refusal are rare, ac- a day after Puigdemont himself sions between the two allies over Spain’s modern democratic era, 2,560 migrants had been saved over four days. In all, and has described his detained col- cording to several lawyers inter- called for separatists to unite in the strategy and it is not clear if they would come fourth, the surveys 2,839 people have died while attempting the crossing leagues as “political prisoners”. viewed by AFP. election. will stand together again. suggest. so far this year, it said.

Italy wiretaps bill would ‘benefi t the mafi a, harm press freedoms’

AFP the prosecutor considers ‘irrel- Rome evant’ for trial, but are extremely relevant for their news value”. “Publishing such transcripts contested wire-tapping will become extremely risky, bill in Italy risks landing with the real chance of ending up Ajournalists in jail for up to behind bars for revealing ‘secret’ three years and could see mafi a- wiretaps that the political sphere related crimes go undetected, above all does not want to end up critics said yesterday. in the papers,” it added. The bill, which was approved Leaving it up to policemen to by the cabinet last week and is decide what could be of inter- waiting for a green light from the est to the legal process was pure prime minister’s offi ce, is a bid by folly, Bongiorno said. the government to stop poten- “There will be an enormous tially incriminating but private amount of discretion in deciding, conversations being splashed in almost arbitrarily, what wiretaps the media. are relevant. Overworked Italian “It will be the last rites for judges won’t be able to perform criminal trials,” warned Giulia the necessary controls this law Bongiorno, one of Italy’s most demands,” she said. renowned lawyers. Bongiorno argued that Or- Under the proposed law, police lando had also ignored the “most offi cers listening to wiretapped obvious pitfall: the ambiguity of conversations will only be al- language”. lowed to transcribe and pass on “Perhaps he thinks that peo- to prosecutors “relevant” bits. ple always talk openly? Does he Any transcripts not used in know how many times the word trial would be sealed as “secret”. mozzarella is used instead of co- Successive governments have caine? Will mozzarellas be held attempted to change the law to be relevant or not?” she said. to protect against what former In one famous trial in 1983, prime minister Silvio Berlusconi judges convicted dozens of de- in 2010 dubbed “porno politics”, fendants for mafi a crimes after Environmentalist march close to the Hambach lignite open pit mine near Elsdorf, western Germany, during a protest against fossil-based energies like coal. where reputations are ruined and examining transcripts of con- trials jeopardised before courts versations in which “horses” was rule. used as a code word for heroin But each time their eff orts have and “green lemons” for US dol- been stymied by police, prosecu- lars. Protest at open-pit coal mine ahead of UN climate talks tors and the media, who say it Former anti-mafi a magistrate would hobble investigations and Antonio Di Pietro said the bill limit journalists’ ability to report “has big holes in it” and called AFP ducer RWE Power AG, the Hambach op- Janna Aljets, spokesperson for climate The world is today burning more coal on matters of public interest. for it to be modifi ed. Bonn eration mines lignite, a brownish, low- justice group Ende Gelande. than it ever has, with global demand in- Justice Minister Andrea Or- “The criticisms raised by grade coal. Its high carbon content makes So far, RWE have broken ground on creasing an average of 4% between 2000 lando said Thursday the bill magistrates, lawyers, jurists and it one of the most polluting of fossil fuels. about half of the area designated for and 2013. would “in no way hamper the journalists should convince the nvironmental activists wearing As dozens of police encircled a 30-sto- mining, and dug to a depth of more than Under current policies, growth in use possibilities for prosecutors and government to review the bill hazard suits yesterday marched rey high bucket-wheel excavator, the 300m below sea level. is expected to taper off over the next vefi police to use wiretaps as instru- and persuade parliament to call Eonto one of the world’s largest protesters unfurled banners reading, The company extracts 40mn tonnes of years, but not peak until about 2030. ments in their investigations”. for radical changes,” the Italian open-pit coal mines, near Bonn, on the “Welcome to COP23”, “Burn borders, not lignite every year, according to its web- At the same time, the UN said in a recent “Nor does it aff ect freedom of National Press Federation said. eve of 196-nation UN climate talks in the coal” and “Climate Justice”. COP23 refers site. The site holds reserves estimated at report that 80% to 90% of known coal re- the press or the right to inform,” Transforming it into law not west German city. to the 23rd “Conference of the Parties,” 2.5bn tonnes. serves would have to stay in the ground for he said. only risked “serious confl icts Some two hundred protesters crossed the formal name for the annual UN cli- Coal is responsible for 45% of global global warming to be held at under two But La Repubblica daily yes- with heavy consequences for a denuded no-man’s land and lined up mate summit. CO2 emissions from the energy sector, as degrees Celsius, the temperature target terday said it would mean “six freedom of the press” but would like guards at the edge of the 40sq km “On the international stage, politicians well as other greenhouse gas pollutants laid down by 2015 Paris climate treaty. months to three years for the also deny citizens “the right to Hambach opencast coal mine, the biggest and corporations present themselves as and small particles hazardous to health, The UN climate talks, tasked with journalist who, doing his job, know about mafi a, corruption manmade hole in Europe. climate saviours, while a few miles away according to the International Energy making the Paris Agreement operational, fi nds and publishes wiretaps that and crime cases,” it said. Operated by German electricity pro- the climate is literally being burned,” said Agency. open today and run through November 17. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 15 EUROPE

ANONYMOUS CALL SPAT SOLIDARITY COLOURFUL FARE Bolshoi, hotels evacuated Turkey prime minister to Thousands take to the streets Potsdam lights festival after Moscow bomb threats meet Pence in visa row for murdered French jogger attracts nearly 200,000

Bomb threats yesterday forced thousands of Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim will meet the Shocked locals in eastern France yesterdya Masses of people flocked over the weekend to people to evacuate Moscow’s Bolshoi theatre, US Vice President Mike Pence during a visit to the joined the family and distraught friends of a the German city of Potsdam to watch historic Metropol hotel, GUM department store on the United States from November 7 until 11, the prime murdered jogger for a silent march that saw up buildings dancing with coloured lights. On Friday Red Square and other public places, local media minister’s off ice said yesterday. In an e-mailed to 10,000 people take to the streets of the town and Saturday nearly 200,000 people visited the reported. A spate of anonymous phone calls statement, Yildirim’s off ice said the meeting with of Gray.. Alexia Daval, a 29-year-old bank worker, illumination spectacle, in which buildings around have caused disruption at shopping centres, train Pence would concentrate on a wide range of disappeared last weekend after heading out for the city were projected with coloured lights and stations and public buildings across Russia in the issues, covering Iraq and Syria, along with the a run from her home in the rural Haute-Saone even a portrait of a Prussian king, the organizer past two months. The calls have so far proved to “fight against terrorism, the issue of refugees and area to the northeast of France’s Burgundy wine- said yesterday. The number of visitors was nearly be false alarms and there have been no claims of the solution of the visa problem.” Yildirim’s visit is growing area. The identity of her attacker remains 10 times as high as at the premier of the event responsibility. RIA news agency, citing a source in expected to help “resolve the diff erence of opinion unknown. “With these sporting gestures, you are last year, when around 20,000 people journeyed the police, reported that as many as 5,000 people in some issues and strengthen cooperation,” the making Alexia into a strong symbol, one of the to the city just outside the German capital. While People stand outside as police officers block were evacuated from GUM and Metropol hotel. statement read. Both countries cancelled visa freedom for all women to enjoy running and to only one district was illuminated last year, by next a street near a GUM department store after TASS and RIA, also quoting police sources, said services to each other’s citizens last month after live,” her mother Isabelle Fouillot said through year’s festival buildings all around the city will be bomb threats in Moscow yesterday. the Bolshoi theatre was also evacuated. Turkey arrested a second US consulate employee. tears as she addressed the rally yesterday. adorned with projections, the organizers said. Le Maire heads to Red Square parade Germany to test Eurogroup waters

Reuters The post has been dubbed “Mr Euro”. Paris/Berlin Le Maire, 48, is regarded as sharp, ambi- tious and more than capable of leading the group. rench Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire But some euro zone offi cials are wary about will meet German offi cials in Berlin this the presidency ending up in the hands of ei- Fweek to discuss the future of the euro ther Germany or France, the two largest econ- zone and assess his own prospects of becom- omies in the single currency bloc and already ing the next chairman of the Eurogroup forum dominant forces in policymaking. of fi nance ministers. A further complication for Le Maire is French and German offi cials confi rmed Le France’s poor record of meeting its own defi cit Maire would be in Berlin on Wednesday, when targets over the past decade. he will meet acting Finance Minister Peter German offi cials are not ruling out Le Maire, Altmaier, a close ally of German Chancellor but they have also expressed a preference for Angela Merkel. giving the post to a smaller country. Le Maire is also due to see Christian Lind- Last week, one offi cial in Berlin mentioned ner, leader of the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), two possible alternatives: Pierre Gramegna of and Cem Oezdemir, co-leader of the Greens Luxembourg and Peter Kazimir of Slovakia. party. The offi cial also fl oated the idea of extend- Both are in discussions with Merkel’s con- ing Dijsselbloem, seen as a close ally of Berlin, servatives on forming a coalition government. even though he is not part of the new Dutch France’s Emmanuel Macron has made euro government. zone reform a central goal of his fi ve-year “It is still quite unclear who will come for- presidency. ward,” the German offi cial said when asked But any changes will require the support of about the presidency.”At this stage there does Merkel and her new government, which is not not seem to be one candidate everyone is ral- expected to be in place before Christmas. lying behind. Lindner has been critical of Macron’s idea to There is no natural candidate.” create a budget for the euro zone. The Eurogroup president will be chosen on “We want to follow up on the president’s December 4, an EU offi cial said last week, with Sorbonne speech and exchange views on the the formal call for candidates opening in mid- future of the euro zone,” a French fi nance min- November. istry offi cial said, referring to a speech by Ma- “It is not a done thing,” the German offi cial cron in September when he laid out his vision said of Le Maire’s candidacy. “He will only ap- for EU reform. ply if he gets the impression that he is the one.” While Le Maire’s visit — his fi rst to Ber- The talks in Berlin on Wednesday could Russian soldiers rehearse for a parade on Red Square in Moscow. Tomorrow’s event will mark the 76th anniversary of a 1941 parade, when Red lin since the German election — is about be decisive in determining whether he does Army soldiers marched past the Kremlin walls towards the front line to fight Nazi troops during World War II. strengthening contacts with likely members throw his hat into the ring. of the new government, offi cials indicated that If Le Maire were to get the job, it could have it would also be an opportunity to sound out repercussions for other top euro zone jobs. Berlin on the Eurogroup presidency, a power- Mario Draghi will end his term as president ful position that will be elected next month. of the European Central Bank on October 31, Since it was created in 2005, the Eurogroup, 2019, and Germany’s Jens Weidmann is al- which brings together the euro zone’s 19 fi - ready being mentioned as a potential succes- nance ministers, has had only two presidents: sor. Luxembourg’s Jean-Claude Juncker, who Euro zone watchers say that if the French served from 2005 to 2013, and former Dutch secure the presidency of the Eurogroup, it may fi nance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who is be harder for them to argue against a German Sicily votes, all eyes due to step down in January. candidate taking over the ECB. The position involves chairing monthly Still, as one senior French offi cial told Reu- meetings and driving policy around economic ters on condition of anonymity last month, and monetary union, including ensuring that Weidmann at the helm of the ECB “would be all member states stick to strict targets on def- a problem for a lot of countries, not just for icits and debt. France”. on populist party

AFP M5S candidate Giancarlo Can- All eyes were on turnout fi gures, beyond Italy’s northern regions. Catania, Italy celleri, 42, is expected to have just with low participation known to But the ruling Democratic Party Calm waters one real challenger for the vic- have rewarded M5S in the past. (PD) is braced for an embarrassing tory podium: Nello Musumeci, 62, Only 47% of Sicily’s eligible vot- defeat that could have serious im- icilians yesterday cast their who was leading the race in recent ers turned out for the last regional plications not just for the left na- ballots in a regional vote seen opinion polls and could snap up election in 2012, a record low. tionally but also for Matteo Renzi, Sas a barometer for Italy’s the region for the right. By midday, only 10.8% of vot- the former prime minister who general election next year, with A bitterly feuding left is expected ers had cast their ballots — down wants his old job back. the populist Five Star Movement to fail to get anyway near the top. nearly half a percentage point from “Renzi is preparing for the prob- (M5S) challenging a resurgent right Analysts say the political dy- the same time at the last election. able Sicilian nosedive like a man as a divided left fl ounders. namic on the Mediterranean is- A victory for Musumeci could whose enemies are at the door “The vote is considered deci- land mirrors the situation nation- be a boost for billionaire former and the supplies are running out,” sive not just by the party leaders ally, and the vote is being closely premier Silvio Berlusconi, who political commentator Tommaso pounding the streets of the main watched in the eurozone’s third- recently shrugged off scandals to Ciriaco said in La Repubblica daily. cities, and not just for the island’s largest economy for indications of return to the political fray, por- The 42-year old has been ac- future, but for the future of Italy how the general election, due be- traying himself as a pro-European cused of causing a debilitating rift and even Europe,” editorialist fore May, will go. moderate and the only real defence in the left, and has largely aban- Marcello Sorgi wrote in La Stampa Polls closed at 10pm and votes against populism. doned the party’s candidate, Fab- daily. will be counted today. His centre-right Forza Italia rizio Micari, 54, on the campaign A victory in Sicily would give “The polling stations open un- (Go Italy) party joined forces with trail. M5S its fi rst region, a boost sup- der a dark cloud, amid controversy its traditional rightist allies the The worst case for the PD would porters say could propel it all the over the risk of vote-rigging,” La Northern League and the Brothers see it beaten by Article 1 — Demo- way to national leadership. Repubblica daily said, referring to of Italy for the Sicily vote — a pow- cratic and Progressive Movement “The choice is simple: us or claims the decision to wait over- erful combination which pollsters (MDP), formed in early 2017 by a them, the future or the past, hope night before beginning the count say could steal the show at the na- leftwing split. or failure, citizens or traditional increased the chances of fraud. tional elections. The MDP’s Claudio Fava, 60, political parties”, comedian Beppe The interior ministry was tight- The anti-immigrant Northern was nipping at Micari’s heels in the Romania Navy corvette Counter Admiral Horia Macellariu sails in the Bosphorus in Istanbul. Grillo, the movement’s outspoken ening controls in response to the League, meanwhile, sees Sicily as a latest opinion polls, with just two founder, wrote on his blog. fears, it said. testing ground for expanding its reach percentage points between them. Neo-Nazi loses top regional post in Slovak vote

AFP emerged as the winners in Satur- region of Banska Bystrica to in- the political map of Slovakia has media campaign which “voters eral elections his LSNS party se- “You have started a revolution. Bratislava day’s vote, the Slovak statistics dependent candidate Jan Lunter, changed,” Grigorij Meseznikov, preferred to real achievements”, cured 14 seats in the 150-member The fi rst domino fell,” Igor Ma- offi ce said, and they will now who was backed by coalition and head of the Bratislava-based In- he told reporters yesterday. parliament. tovic, head of the opposition cen- govern in fi ve out of seven Slovak opposition parties which joined stitute for Public Aff airs, a think- “We fought a coalition of seven “We’ve got rid of evil,” the trist OLANO party, told voters af- lovak’s neo-Nazi politician regions. forces against the far-right gov- tank, told AFP. parties backing Mr Lunter. The Smer vice chairman Peter Pel- ter the election, in which OLANO Marian Kotleba has lost his Smer, led by Prime Minister ernor. Hostile to both the Roma mi- fi ght was unfair and even though legrini said in a Facebook post. won two governor’s seats. Sjob of regional governor Robert Fico, will have regional Only two of 336 LSNS can- nority and the established elite, media and candidates kept talk- But Smer, which leads a three- Saturday’s vote has “redrawn while the ruling leftwing Smer governors in the remaining two didates have been elected into Kotleba has spoken warmly ing about democracy and a free party governing coalition with the political map of Slovakia,” party also took a thrashing in regions, having lost four gover- regional assemblies in Slovakia, about former Slovak president society, it was all against one in the Slovak Nationalist Party said Meseznikov, the analyst. the Slovak regional election this nor’s seats in the vote, in which a eurozone member with 5.4mn Jozef Tiso, who agreed to deport the end,” Kotleba said. (SNS) and the Most-Hid Hun- “The poor election results of weekend, fi nal results showed turnout was just 30%. inhabitants. tens of thousands of Jews to Nazi Kotleba became governor in garian minority party, has suf- the once-dominant Smer party yesterday. Kotleba, head of the LSNS “The fascist party was defeat- Germany during World War II. 2013 by tapping into anti-Roma fered one of its greatest defeats in could turn it into a party with less Rightwing and centrist parties party, lost in his native central ed and it is also important that He attributed his defeat to a sentiment, and in the 2016 gen- recent history. signifi cance,” he said. Gulf Times 16 Monday, November 6, 2017 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup Tribal women take on timber mafi a in Jharkhand

By Umaima Shafiq IANS tionship - and have been able, members who patrol the jungle In her quest, she had to battle green-less future for herself and their habitat being slowly de- Jamshedpur, Jharkhand over the years, to successfully in shifts thrice a day: morning, against the mafi a that was chop- her community with no trees stroyed. conserve 50 hectares of for- noon and evening. And some- ping down trees for their pre- and forests to sustain or protect “I went on to speak to a few est land and its fl ora and fauna times even at night, as the mafi a cious sal timber with complete them. women in the village. I held rmed with just wa- deep in the heart of a territory set fi re to the forests in random disregard for the law or the tribal Jamuna’s clear understanding meetings with them several Men posing as ter bottles and sticks, that has also been a battle zone acts of vandalism and venge- tradition that prohibits cutting of the issue soon trickled down times to be able to convince Aa group of poor tribal between government forces and ance. of the trees. to the other women and even them that we needed to protect CBI off icers rob women in Muturkham village leftwing extremists. Jamuna’s fi ght has not gone Realising that she would get men in her village. our beautiful forests,” she said. businessman of Purbi Singhbhum district This group was brought to- unnoticed. The President of In- little help from authorities, “I was brought up with love Gradually, she mobilised a of Jharkhand trekked miles to gether by Jamuna Tudu, 37, who dia has honoured her conserva- who may well have been hand and respect for nature. My father group of 25 women from the vil- Eight men posed as Central the sal forest that surrounded has spent the last two decades of tion eff orts. in glove with the mafia, she used to plant numerous trees lage and armed them with bows Bureau of Investigation their habitat. Their mission: her life fi ghting against defor- “A few days after my mar- took matters in her own hands. in our farms in Odisha. That’s and arrows, bamboo sticks and (CBI) off icers and robbed a to save the forest from being estation. It was in 1998, after her riage, when my mother-in-law, She spoke to a few women of where I learnt the importance of spears, they marched into the businessman at his house in plundered and denuded by the marriage, that Jamuna took up sister-in-law and a few other the village who were aghast at the environment,” she said. forest to take on the forest pred- Ambattur in Chennai last week. “forest mafia”. this challenge of preserving the women from the village took me the task she had taken on. We Pointing out how the mafia ators. Ramaraj owns a second hand car Accompanied by just a dog for forest by making villagers de- to the forest to cut wood and get won’t do it; this will require us was exploiting the wood from With time, many men also business. their safety, these determined velop a stake in it. it to cook food, I felt that if we to fight the men in the village, Muturkham to fund their al- became part of the campaign The men visited Ramaraj’s house women made frequent forays Today, her Van Suraksha keep cutting the trees this way, they told her. cohol needs, she said she was against deforestation, but most early morning, flashed fake ID into the deep forest - with which Samiti (Forest Protection Group) all our forests will be wiped out,” But Jamuna, who has studied bewildered by the passive re- of the eff ort has continued to be cards to enter his house and they shared a symbiotic rela- has about 60 active women Jamuna said. up to Class X, foresaw a bleak sponse of the community at from women, said Jamuna. locked the door from inside. They then tied up Ramaraj’s wife and two children, while they took him upstairs at gunpoint to remove jewels and cash from a cupboard. Green Ride They left after tying up Ramaraj and locking the door from outside. The family’s shouts alerted the neighbours. The gang reportedly escaped in a car Won’t indulge parked near the house. Police suspect the involvement of Ramaraj’s clients. They are working on forensic and cyber clues. In another incident, police arrested a woman and seven in vendetta men for murdering a man and dumping his body in the Adyar river in Chennai. Acting on the complaint of the victim Ramachandran’s mother, police tracked the woman Selvi, who admitted to have murdered politics if BJP him with the help of hired henchmen. She said she became angry after Ramachandran refused to end their relationship. Police off icer wins: Dhumal arrested for cheating in exam IANS “People in the state feel they and also in the case of Hoshiyar Hamirpur are governed by mafi as. Forest Singh.” A trainee police off icer was mafi a is cutting trees. If offi - The court has ordered a CBI arrested for cheating in the cials try to stop, they are beaten probe in both cases. “These are Union Public Service Commission here will be no politics of up and killed. Mining mafi as are the issues which show the char- (UPSC) exams held at Egmore in revenge if the Bharatiya transporting minerals to other acter of this government.” Chennai last week. TJanata Party comes to states and locals are being de- Dhumal said common people Safeer Karim, 27, a native of power in Himachal Pradesh, prived.” have lost faith in the government Kerala, allegedly used a mobile says the party’s chief ministerial He said the liquor mafi a and and police because of such inci- phone and wireless earphones to candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal, the tender mafi a are also ruin- dents. get answers from his wife Joicy asserting that restoration of law ing the natural resources of the “My fi rst task would be to re- Joy in Hyderabad. Intelligence and order and eliminating the state. instate the confi dence of the Bureau (IB) off icials on exam mafi a in the state would be his “The state government had people in the government. My duty caught him red-handed. fi rst priority. formed a Beverage Corporation. priority will be to give right post- The following day Joicy and the “There will be no revenge. We Out of 29 such corporations, 27 ing to honest and effi cient police couple’s friend Dr Rambabu were will like to devote our time for the were running in losses. Sudden- offi cers so that confi dence is re- also arrested in Hyderabad. development of the state. We will ly, last year Beverages Corpora- instated and criminal elements IB off icials said Safeer had focus on restoring democracy tion of Himachal Pradesh was and mafi as feel insecure. The dev handed over his phone and and values for which the govern- constituted just to benefi t some bhumi will be brought to its old wallet before entering the exam ment is elected. Law and order people,” he said. glory.” hall, but had hidden another will be established so that drug “Through this, the govern- He said his government would cell phone, earphones and a mafi a, mining mafi a and all these ment started to supply liquor in form an anti-drug squad in the miniature camera in his shirt. mafi as are controlled,” Dhumal the state but no infrastructure name of Hoshiyar Singh that During interrogation, Safeer told IANS in an interview. was created. This gave birth to would be operative 24/7 in the admitted he had photographed Confi dent of winning the No- many new liquor mafi as. There is chief minister’s offi ce to note the question paper and sent it to vember 9 assembly elections, industry in the state for transfer every complaint. his wife through the devices, and Dhumal said he would reinstate and postings of government of- The BJP leader said he would she had relayed answers with the safety, security and self- fi cials. Tenders are given to fa- set up a squad of ex-service- Rambabu’s help. respect of the people, otherwise vourites.” men in the name of Himach- Safeer is an electronics engineer ruined by the Congress govern- Dhumal alleged that Hoshi- al Pradesh’s fi rst Param Veer and runs civil service training ment led by Chief Minister Virb- yar Singh, a forest guard, was Chakra winner Major Somnath institutes in Kerala. He also hadra Singh. killed just because he saw and Sharma to check anti-social ele- ranked 112 in the 2015 UPSC “Safety, security and self-re- recorded on his mobile phone ments and help the police. exams but failed in an oral spect of people are the main re- how some people were carrying Asked why the BJP changed its interview last year. sponsibilities of any government. out illegal felling of trees. But strategy and announced a chief In the last fi ve years, the law and the state government turned ministerial face in Himachal order has collapsed and the anti- his murder into a suicide case, Pradesh, Dhumal said: “In small Tamil writer social elements are dominant.” he said. states, people like to know the Ponnusamy Accusing the Congress gov- “There are many such exam- face with whom to interact later Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan participates in the ‘Green Ride’, a 5km cyclothon ernment of establishing a mafi a ples. For the fi rst time in the his- on. Everybody wants to have di- dies aged 66 which attracted over 5,000 people, including Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar and sports raj, Dhumal said that Virbhadra tory of Himachal Pradesh, the rect contact with the chief min- Award winning Tamil litterateur personalities, in New Delhi yesterday. The event was held to create awareness about Singh turned this “dev bhumi”, high court has intervened in the ister. Himachal election has al- Melanmai Ponnusamy died on ‘green rides’ through cycles. the land of gods, into “drug bhu- cases of Gudia, who was raped ways been fought by projecting a October 30. mi and crime bhumi”. and brutally murdered in Shimla, face.” Page 17 He was 66 and survived by wife and three children. A native of Melanmarainadu village in Virudhunagar district, Ponnusamy came from an Hazarika remembered agricultural family. He continued farming and also ran a grocery Subsonic cruise missile store in his village, besides a writing career. He was a Communist Party member, so most of his stories reflected the ready for its fi fth trial lives of the downtrodden. His first short story was published in Semmalar magazine IANS engine instead of the turbofan Nirbhay, which has the ca- in 1972 and later he wrote for New Delhi engine used so far. pability to strike deep into other magazines like Ananda Nirbhay’s December 2016 enemy territory, has been de- Vikatan, Kalki and Communist trial was aborted half-way as signed and developed by the Party of India (CPI) publications. ndia’s indigenous subsonic the missile changed its targeted DRDO at its Aeronautical De- In 2008, he was awarded the cruise missile Nirbhay, course. It had to be destroyed velopment Establishment in Sahitya Academy Award for his Iwhich failed its last test in within minutes of taking off Bengaluru. short story Minsara Poo. December 2015, is ready for its amid fears that it could hit land. The cruise missile is powered fi fth trial, the Defence Research The 750-1,000km-long by a solid rocket motor booster and Development Organisation range missile’s fi rst test on developed by the Advanced Missing IT chief S Christopher said yester- March 12, 2013 failed as it fell Systems Laboratory and is off icer found day. after 20 minutes of fl ight. The guided by a highly advanced in- “We are planning to have one second on October 17, 2014 was, ertial navigation system indig- A 38-year-old income tax probable trial (of the missile) however, successful. enously developed by Research off icer, who left home after next week,” Christopher said The third test on October 16, Centre Imarat. a quarrel with his wife in on the sidelines of a three-day 2015 saw the missile nose-dive Nirbhay is able to pick out a Coimbatore on October 13, international conference Fip- after covering 128km in the Bay target among multiple targets was found unconscious on the sphysiocon-2017, organised by of Bengal. and attack it, and also can go Bengaluru-Chennai highway near the Defence Institute of Physi- The cruise missile is expect- around a target and re-engage Krishnagiri last week. ology and Allied Sciences. ed to supplement the Indo- it. It can fl y at diff erent alti- S Sivakumar left without taking The DRDO chief said the Russian joint venture super- tudes ranging from 500m to his mobile phone, credit cards glitches that led to failure in its sonic cruise missile BrahMos, 4km above ground and can fl y and ID proof after a fight with his fourth trial in December last which can carry warheads up to at tree level to avoid detection wife Sridevi. The couple have two year have been removed. 290km. by radar. children. Police could not trace According to sources, the The two-stage missile has It is capable of delivering him despite a state-wide search, problem was related to the a length of 6m, a diameter of 24 diff erent types of warheads until a home guard found him software of the missile, and has 0.52m, a wing span of 2.7m depending on mission require- Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal pays floral tribute to legendary Assamese singer and identified him through police been resolved. This time, the and a launch weight of about ments and uses an inertial navi- Bhupen Hazarika in Majuli in Assam yesterday. Hazarika died on November 5, 2011 at the age of 85. photos. missile will also have a turbojet 1,500kg. gation system for guidance. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 17 INDIA

PEOPLE TECHNOLOGY PROTEST POLITICS AGRICULTURE N D Tiwari critical, App to predict if waitlisted Strike called by outlawed AAP is ‘B’ team of Odisha farmers to put on ventilator rail ticket can be confirmed party cripples Manipur Congress, says BJP get compensation

Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Narayan The Indian Railways is planning to launch an app A dawn-to-dusk general strike yesterday called The Bharatiya Janata Party yesterday attacked The Odisha government yesterday said Dutt Tiwari, who was admitted to Max Super that will predict if waitlisted tickets have any chance by an insurgent group has crippled life in the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi for compensation will be given to farmers whose Specialty Hospital in New Delhi in September, of getting confirmed, an off icial said yesterday. Manipur. The strike has been called by the Maoist appointing Congress leader P Chidambaram crops have been aff ected by the pest attack, has been put on life support system after his Railway Ministry spokesman Anil Saxena said the Communist Party, an outlawed underground to appear for it in the Supreme Court in a terming it a natural calamity. The state health deteriorated, a doctor said yesterday. prediction will be based on passenger operations organisation, demanding the resignation of case to decide Delhi’s administrative head government’s move came after farmers in various The 92-yer-old leader was shifted to the ICU of and booking pattern data of the last 13 years. Saxena Karam Shyam, minister of Consumer Aff airs, Food case and described it as the ‘B’ team of the places across the state burnt their paddy crops the hospital on October 26 after he developed said the Centre for Railway Information Systems and Public Distribution for alleged corruption. Congress. “Be it the news of Chidambaram following the pest attack. Besides, several farmers pneumonia. His blood pressure dropped is developing the complex application where a The minister has, however, denied the charge. defending Delhi’s Arvind Kejriwal government, have allegedly committed suicide as the pesticides significantly around 5pm, his other health user will be informed about the chances of the He said: “I shall resign if the charge is proved.” hiding property or other details from Election failed to contain the pest menace. Reviewing parameters have also deteriorated, a family waitlisted ticket getting confirmed at the time Police, however, said the strike had no impact. In Commission, nothing shocks us anymore,” the situation through a video conference with member said. Tiwari, a Congress veteran, was of booking. According to the railways, about a statement, the Maoist Communist Party said: Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari said. “Right district collectors, Development Commissioner admitted to the hospital after he suff ered a brain 1.3mn tickets are booked every day against a “Manipur is given 120,377 MT of rice per month. from the start we have said the AAP is the B R Balakrishnan stressed on various measures to stroke and a paralytic attack. A senior doctor reserved accommodation of 1.05mn berths across It should have been enough for the people.” team of Congress and the news reports of tackle the situation. He said the collectors have said the next 24 hours were extremely critical. all classes. A railway off icial said that the idea of However, the party alleged that only a fraction of Chidambram accepting Kejriwal government’s been urged to intensify diff erent awareness The veteran leader, a former federal minister, predicting chances of waitlisted tickets getting it is distributed to the people while the rest finds brief clears that now the Congress has decided drives and other grassroots level workers will be was also the Andhra Pradesh governor. confirmed was of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. its way to the black market. to openly defend its B team,” Tiwari said. “ mobilised for this exercise. Dance aims to spur audiences to climate action

Reuters Creations, and who developed an Kolkata early version of the dance in 2015 as part of a fellowship sponsored by Microsoft. lenty of words have been The fellowship off ered 18- to written and spoken about 25-year-olds a chance to ex- Pclimate change. periment with art projects on But residents of Kolkata and environmental issues aff ecting other Indian cities are being giv- Kolkata. en the opportunity to get to grips Mitra’s team created a with the issue in a new way: via 15-minute dance work entitled dance and music. Ekoboom, which was performed Ekonama: The Beginning in in 16 universities and schools in the End is a contemporary dance and around Kolkata and seen by work that challenges audiences around 6,000 young people. to consider what humans will Saha, the co-director of Sap- have to live for if the environ- phire Creations, said that Eko- ment is ravaged beyond sustain- boom’s impact on audiences ability. inspired her company to create The creators of the hour-long the longer version, with a more performance hope that the com- developed narrative and sophis- bination of dramatic choreogra- ticated lighting and music. phy, folk dance, vivid costumes The costumes worn by the and music will raise awareness dancers are made from textile and compel viewers to become off -cuts, to emphasise the need climate change activists. for recycling and reducing waste. “I fi nd art is extremely im- “For the general population pactful in cases where you want a journey of a ‘thing’ ends in Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to the crowd during an election rally ahead of state assembly elections in Una in Himachal Pradesh yesterday. the audience to have an emo- its being thrown into the bin or tional response,” Paramita Saha, on the road. What happens af- co-director of Sapphire Crea- ter is none of their concern or is tions Dance Company in Kolka- not even something they would ta, said in an interview with the think about normally. Such a Thomson Reuters Foundation. journey depicted through any The performance depicts artistic medium can be extreme- members of a secluded tribal ly thought-provoking for them,” community going about their Saha said. PM: Congress usurped lives, reliant on their masked Mahashweta Bhattacharya, gods to protect them. 20, who was part of the fellow- One day a storm comes and the ship team, said the play was a villagers fi nd themselves caught wake-up call, even for many of in the throes of extreme weather the cast. brought on by climate change. “We know that each of us is re- The dance depicts a future sponsible in some small way for subsidy of Rs570bn where hurricanes, droughts, the decay of our planet. fl oods and pollution have turned But we keep ignoring that IANS the leak. The leaders in Con- Playing the development benefi ted the transport sector. companies,” Modi added. the planet’s last survivors into voice and pushing it to the back Una, Himachal Pradesh gress cannot bear this, so they card by emphasising on promo- “This country has warmly Congress vice president half-naked creatures scrounging of our minds. are attacking me.” tion of tourism in the hill state, welcomed GST as it has im- Rahul Gandhi attacked the cen- and even killing for food, water After seeing Ekonama, we Criticising former prime the prime minister said his gov- mensely benefi ted the trans- tral government after prices of and shelter. couldn’t ignore our consciences rime Minister Narendra minister Rajiv Gandhi’s state- ernment was focusing on laying port sector. Truck movement cooking gas was again hiked, Their gods, stripped of their any longer,” Bhattacharya said. Modi yesterday hit out at ment that Re1 ends up as 15 roads in the state. between the states has gained and asked Modi to “vacate the regal costumes, turn out to be Sudarshan Chakravorty, ar- Pthe previous Congress- paise when it reaches villages, Donning a Himachali cap, pace.” ‘Sinhasan’ (throne)”. themselves only human. tistic director of the dance led government for abusing Modi said: “Rajiv was such Modi, on his third and last elec- Talking tough against black “Expensive gas, expensive “You could read three text- company, worked with Turkish, subsidy of Rs570bn meant for a doctor who diagnosed the tion tour of the state, said: “In money and holders of ‘benami’ ration. Stop making hollow book chapters on the environ- Singaporean and Canadian cho- the poor. problem of corruption but did the last 20 years, there has not or illegal properties, Modi said promises. Fix the rates and give ment and feel bored, but when reographers and composers to “People used to loot the not do anything about it.” been a single election where I after demonetisation at least employment or else vacate the the same subject is turned out as develop the piece. treasury in the name of subsi- Taking a dig at the Congress have not been involved. But this 300,000 companies came un- post,” Gandhi tweeted. an hour-long creative dance you “Because climate change is al- dies. In the past, 57,000 crore central leadership, Modi said is an unprecedented election. I der the scanner. Gandhi was referring to the get goosebumps, in awe when it ready deeply touching everyone used to get leaked due to ram- the party has already left the know where the wind is blow- “We did a sample survey price hike announced by state- ends,” said 22-year-old Anusaya on this planet, Ekonama’s mu- pant corruption in implement- battlefi eld and it was a one-sid- ing. of 5,000 companies and saw run oil fi rms on Wednesday. Mitra about the piece, which sic shows how art, when about ing subsidies,” Modi said at ed contest. “A storm is raging here that they at least transacted The price of the cooking gas premiered in Kolkata in 2016. a threat shared by all, can tran- an election rally here ahead of “I will regret one thing about against the corrupt Congress.” Rs4,000 crore worth of black cylinder went up by Rs4.50, Mitra was one of a group of scend cross-country borders, Himachal Pradesh’s November this poll. It isn’t fun because the Modi said his government’s money. I can only imagine while the non-subsidised rate university students who were genres and culture,” Chakravorty 9 assembly polls. Congress has accepted defeat,” biggest tax reform – the Goods what will happen if we look was hiked by Rs93 per cylin- also studying dance at Sapphire said. “Now our policy has stopped he said. and Services Tax (GST) – has at the transactions of all the der.

Nine drown Winged visitors arrive in Bihar At least nine people, Open to talk to anyone, including five children, drowned in two separate incidents in Bihar yester- day, police said. Five boys, says Kashmir interlocutor between the ages 8 to 12, and one woman from a single extended family IANS eff orts would result in “peace and the state. People have suff ered a lot drowned in the Ganges New Delhi prosperity” in Kashmir. there.” river while they were on “I am hopeful I will be able to However, National Congress a picnic near Patna. “One contribute towards peace and leader Farooq Abdullah said he of the children had fallen he central government’s prosperity in Kashmir,” he said. did not have much expectation into the river and the oth- newly-appointed inter- Asked who he planned to meet from the appointment of Shar- ers jumped to rescue the Tlocutor Dineshwar Sharma during his visit, Sharma said: “I ma. drowning child and lost will begin a six-day visit to the want to understand the pain and The former state chief minis- their lives. They were Kashmir Valley from today to open suff ering of Kashmiris. I know it ter said the central government swept away by the strong talks with “all stakeholders” and is not a problem that can be solved should devise a sound Kashmir current of the river,” police understand the “pain and suff er- overnight or in just one visit. It is a policy and termed the appoint- officer Naseem Ahmad ing” of the common Kashmiri. step one towards bringing peace in ment of the interlocutor as noth- said. Two more were miss- This will be Sharma’s fi rst trip to the state. ing new. ing. the valley after he was appointed “I am open to talking to eve- “I have very little expectations In the another incident, the government’s Kashmir points- rybody. Anybody who believes in from this new interlocutor. Like it three women drowned man on October 23 to begin “sus- peace and wants to come and give has been done before, he will come when a boat carrying some tained dialogue process... (and) me some ideas how to go about, I and meet people. In 2010, the then 20 people capsized in the understand the legitimate aspira- am willing to listen.” UPA government appointed a Baghmati river in Samas- tions of the people, especially the Sharma is expected to meet group of interlocutors who visited tipur district. Police said all youth” in the troubled state. political leaders, traders and stu- the state and had detailed discus- the remaining passengers “I am going there without any dents. However, separatist leaders, sions with every section here. swam to safety or were preconceived notions. Everyone is including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, “The process took more than rescued by villagers. Every welcome to meet me. I don’t want Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yaseen two months and after they were year, scores of people lose any new eff ort (to bring peace in Malik have declined to have par- done with meeting people, a re- their lives in boat capsizes Jammu and Kashmir) to be seen leys with the interlocutor. port was compiled. What hap- since they do not know from the prism of the past,” Shar- He said it was their choice pened to that report? Did the gov- Pintail ducks fly at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon ditrict of Assam yesterday. swimming or use life jack- ma said. whether they want to meet him or ernment discuss that report in any With the onset of winter season, migratory birds have started arriving in the northeastern ets, or due to poor main- He said he would return to Delhi not. “I can only suggest everyone forum including the parliament,” parts of India. tenance of boats and lax on November 11, hoping that his to contribute to peace building in Abdullah asked. safety rules. Gulf Times 18 Monday, November 6, 2017 LATIN AMERICA

OPINION CRIME WILDLIFE TRIBUTE OFFBEAT C Americans, Haitians don’t Seven arrested in Rare porpoise captured Macri to honour Presidential candidates need protected status: US cement import scandal in bid to save species truck attack victims hold debate in prison

The US state department says that more than Costa Rican authorities have arrested a Mexico said it had captured a rare vaquita marina Argentine President Mauricio Macri is set to travel Seven candidates to become Costa Rica’s next 300,000 Central American and Haitian migrants businessman and six senior executives at a state porpose — a female of reproductive age — as part to New York to pay tribute to the victims of the president went behind bars to hold an unusual no longer need special protected status, bank as part of a probe into influence peddling in of a last-ditch bid to save the critically endangered bike path truck attack and seek investments, his debate in a prison where they answered inmates’ potentially opening the door for their repatriation, relation to Chinese cement imports, prosecutors species. The vaquita, the world’s smallest porpoise, off ice said. Five of the eight people killed in the questions about their election platforms. “I hope The Washington Post reported. The news came said. Police and prosecutors apprehended Juan has been pushed to the brink of extinction by October 31 attack were friends from Argentina you feel at home,” one of the prisoners said as the ahead of an expected decision by the department Carlos Bolanos, the key figure in the unfolding illegal gillnet fishing and there are just 30 left in the celebrating the 30th anniversary of their high seven politicians were greeted in the gym of the of homeland security (DHS) on whether it would scandal, which involved pressuring off icials in wild. The Mexican government and conservation school graduation. An Argentine national is also country’s biggest penitentiary, La Reforma, just renew temporary protected status (TPS) for the the executive, judicial and legislative branches groups have launched an unprecedented plan among the 12 people injured, while four other outside the capital. Costa Rica holds its presidential migrants in question. Secretary of State Rex of government to obtain $30mn in loans to bring to save the species by transporting as many as Argentines — all from the same group — survived and legislative elections on February 4, and the Tillerson informed acting DHS chief Elaine Duke in the cement. Hours later, the executives of the possible to a protected marine reserve. “The the attack unscathed. The previously scheduled detention centre interaction was a way for the that economic, security and other conditions Banco de Costa Rica were arrested. Investigators @VaquitaCPR team has managed to capture two-day visit will include meetings with business candidates to raise their profiles. Prisoners have in those countries are no longer so dire that are seeking to determine whether irregularities another vaquita marina,” Mexican Environment people interested in invested in Argentina, as the right to vote. The prisoners taking part were the migrants need to stay on in the US, the Post occurred in the bank’s granting of the unsecured Minister Rafael Pacchiano tweeted, adding that well as UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, a either serving short sentences or had displayed reported, citing administration off icials. loans to Bolanos. the animal is in the care of veterinarians. government statement said. good conduct during their detention in Costa Rica. Mexico report fl ags failings in fi ght against corruption

Reuters data and independent research. Mexico City Part of a broader investiga- tion into illicit wealth in Mexico, the government concluded that he Mexican govern- Mexico needed “more effi cient ment has noted serious mechanisms” to prevent graft, Tshortcomings in its fi ght including new laws that would against corruption in a classi- complement the national anti- fi ed report which was prepared corruption architecture. ahead of an international evalu- Reuters contacted the min- ation of the country’s eff orts to istries of fi nance, economy and combat money laundering. the interior, as well as the navy, The undated government re- the attorney general’s offi ce and port estimated that the drug the central bank, all of which trade, tax fraud and other crimes were identifi ed as contributors were worth at least 1.13tn pesos to the report. ($58.5bn) a year in Mexico, with All either declined to comment all of that money susceptible to or did not reply. The report urged The leader of the Venezuelan opposition-held National Assembly, Julio Borges speaks during a press conference in Caracas yesterday. money laundering. the government to standard- In October last year the gov- ise laws at state level to iron out ernment published a much diff erences in how authorities shorter offi cial version of the deal with corruption, as well as fi ndings, which broadly de- improve collaboration between scribed the risks of money laun- agencies tasked with implement- dering without going into detail. ing policy and collecting data. The sum of illicit funds iden- Public policies should be over- tifi ed in the classifi ed report was hauled to “better understand the Venezuela politician seeks equivalent to 6.6% of the Mexi- phenomenon of corruption in can economy in 2014, when the Mexico,” the report said. data was compiled. Graft scandals have for dec- It did not include an estimate ades dogged the political elite in of the value of corruption and Mexico, which ranked 128th out several other crimes. of 137 nations for ethics and cor- The 321-page report was pre- ruption in the World Economic refuge in Chilean embassy pared ahead of an evaluation of Forum’s 2017-2018 Global Com- the country’s performance in petitiveness Index. Reuters leader of congress, entered the son charges for lobbying against leader, for taking refuge at the and as such should face trial. preventing money laundering by President Enrique Pena Nieto Caracas residence on Saturday and re- Venezuela’s government in glo- embassy. “Some people are very Amid the political crack- the Financial Action Task Force has been criticised for referring quested protection, the Chilean bal fi nancial circles. brave when it comes to calling for down, the Chilean residence in (FATF), a global group of gov- to corruption as a “cultural” government said in a statement. The opposition coalition and provoking violence, destruc- Caracas has played a signifi cant ernment agencies dedicated to problem in Mexico. Civil society rominent Venezuelan law- Guevara could become the condemned the threats against tion, and death. But when justice role, taking in fi ve magistrates tackling money laundering. groups and opposition lawmak- maker Freddy Guevara has highest-profi le Venezuelan Guevara as another sign that is done, they fl ee with embar- named by the opposition-run “The view is that the risk ers said this downplayed the Psought refuge in the Chil- politician to seek exile in recent Maduro has turned the Opec rassing cowardice,” tweeted For- congress after they were threat- represented by illicit funds sus- severity of the problem and the ean ambassador’s residence in years. member into a dictatorship. eign Minister Jorge Arreaza. ened with jail time, as well as ceptible to money laundering in government’s role in fi xing it. Caracas amid fears he could be A majority of opposition “This is an arbitrary and po- Guevara was often on the another opposition politician Mexico generated within the ju- In 2016, Mexicanos Contra la jailed, a development that leaves leaders are now unable to chal- litical decision that seeks to front lines of sometimes violent from party COPEI. risdiction is HIGH,” the report Corrupcion y la Impunidad, a the ailing opposition with even lenge unpopular Maduro, a weaken a congress that has the protests earlier this year to de- The magistrates fl ed over the said, capitalising the word. civil group, calculated corrup- fewer leaders to take on leftist 54-year-old former bus driver full support of the people. Ven- mand early elections, humani- border to Colombia last month The government said the FATF tion was worth between 2% and President Nicolas Maduro. and foreign minister whom they ezuela is hungry for food, but tarian aid to alleviate hunger, before fl ying to Santiago to be evaluation, which is not yet pub- 10% of Mexico’s gross domestic Authorities had sought to re- blame for the oil-rich nation’s also freedom, justice and dig- freedom for jailed dissidents, received by leftist Michelle lic, showed Mexico had made product, based on data from the move Guevara’s congressional economic downfall. nity,” said Borges at a news con- and respect for the opposition- Bachelet’s government, which “signifi cant” progress in com- World Bank, the International immunity so that he could be Anti-Maduro politicians have ference yesterday. led congress. has joined a chorus of major bating money laundering since Monetary Fund and others. tried for instigating violence. been barred from holding of- “Freddy Guevara has taken a The government says Latin American nations in de- the last evaluation in 2008. Tax evasion and associated The opposition and local me- fi ce, like two-time presidential personal decision. In my case I counters demonstrations were nouncing Maduro. The FATF did not immediately crimes accounted for the big- dia said that Sebin intelligence candidate Henrique Capriles; have to keep doing what I have in fact a US-backed armed cam- In the 1970s, several thou- reply to a request for comment. gest source of illicit wealth agents had surrounded Gue- arrested or placed under house to do,” added Borges, who did paign designed to oust Maduro. sand Chileans, including novel- The Mexican government re- identifi ed by the study at 484bn vara’s house over the weekend. arrest, like opposition leader not off er details on Guevara’s Authorities say opposi- ist Isabel Allende, who fl ed Au- port is the fi rst of its kind, ac- pesos ($25.3bn), followed by Guevara, a 31-year-old who Leopoldo Lopez; or threatened arrival at the residence. tion politicians are responsi- gusto Pinochet’s dictatorship cording to people familiar with it, trade in cocaine and marijuana runs the hardline Popular Will with trial, like congress leader Authorities yesterday mocked ble for the around 125 deaths found exile in then-booming and was assembled from offi cial at 404bn pesos. party and is also the deputy Julio Borges who could face trea- Guevara, a fi ery former student during four months of unrest, Venezuela.

Managua polls Pemex makes Mexico’s Phone company Oi to biggest oil fi nd in 15 years amend creditor terms Reuters on the company’s future. Sao Paulo The fi ling did not elaborate Reuters 40% of government revenue, uity partner, and he added that on which changes were made Mexico City that fi gure has dropped to under it is too soon to provide a pro- to the plan. 20% as oil prices have slumped duction forecast or a spending he board of Brazil´s The board also formally re- in recent years. plan for the field. Oi SA has approved a jected the alternative propos- exico’s national oil The onshore fi eld’s original “We’re just now announcing Tchange to the restruc- als by the groups of creditors company Pemex has volume in place is estimated at the fi eld’s discovery, and we still turing proposal of the debt- Ad Hoc Group of Oi Bondhold- Mmade its biggest on- 1.5bn barrels of oil equivalent. need to delimit it as well as es- laden telecom provider to be ers and International Bond- shore oil discovery in 15 years tablish a development plan,” said submitted to creditors today, holders Committee, advised by with a fi nd in the eastern state “We’re now announcing Gonzalez Anaya. the company said in a securi- Moelis & Company, G5 Ever- of Veracruz, President Enrique the field’s discovery, and The discovery is similar in ties fi ling. core and FTI. Pena Nieto said. we still need to delimit size to the field associated with Terms of the proposed These groups of creditors, Pena Nieto said Pemex made it as well as establish a the Zama well announced in changes will be fi led by the which together hold around the discovery by drilling its on- development plan” July by Britain’s Premier Oil, company with the court in Rio 23bn reais ($7bn) in debt, had shore Ixachi well, near the mu- along with partners, US-based de Janeiro that oversees Latin submitted a proposal that nicipality of Cosamaloapan, and The light oil field should Talos Energy and Mexico’s Si- America´s largest-ever bank- would leave them with 88% of that the overall fi eld is believed begin producing by the end erra Oil and Gas, the company ruptcy proceeding, which aims Oi’s equity in exchange for the to hold some 350mn barrels of of 2018 or the beginning of said. to restructure 65bn reais in debt. proven, probable and possible 2019, Pemex CEO Jose Antonio The energy reform cham- debt. In the fi ling, Oi said “their reserves. Gonzalez Anaya said in a phone pioned by Pena Nieto was de- The board on Friday ap- proposal treats stakeholders Pena Nieto, who pushed interview. signed to reverse a decade-long proved an agreement proposed unequally...and brings uncer- through Congress a sweep- The area near the discovery crude production slump by at- by a small group of creditors tainty and delay to the bank- ing energy reform in 2013 is located where infrastructure tracting billions of dollars in known as G6, which had been ruptcy protection process”. that ended Pemex’ decades- already exists which should al- investment via new foreign and negotiating with controlling Oi’s last proposal limited the long monopoly, made the an- low for quicker development, private producers. shareholder Pharol SGPS SA debt-for-equity swap to 25% nouncement at the company’s Pemex said in a statement fol- Mexico hit peak oil output and key minority shareholder of the company’s capital. Tula refinery. lowing the announcement, in 2014 with about 3.4mn bar- Nelson Tanure. The proposal was shunned He was fl anked by his Energy adding that the find could dou- rels per day (bpd). Pemex, still Once the terms have been by the largest creditors, who Minister, Pemex’ chief executive ble in size. responsible for nearly all of filed with the court, Oi will said it failed to address most and a range of other government Gonzalez Anaya said the Mexico’s current crude pro- A woman shows her ink-stained thumb after voting in try to gather support from the concerns. and union offi cials. company has not decided duction, expects to end 2018 the municipal elections at a polling station in Managua, creditors needed to approve it The largest creditors pro- While crude export revenue whether it will develop the dis- with average output of 1.9mn Nicaragua, yesterday. at a November 10 creditors’ tested on Saturday against the once contributed as much as covery by itself or with an eq- bpd. assembly, which will decide board’s decision. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 19 PAKISTAN Govt decides to Delayed rainfall leads refer 29 cases to to smog in Pakistan Internews Islamabad

ven though the La Nina eff ect appears to have military courts Ebeen neutralised, delayed rainfall in the region has led to Internews government not only took no- would be analysed and accord- smog conditions across Paki- Islamabad tice, but action as well, soon ing to relevance transferred to stan, including in the Potohar after Chief of Army Staff 11 military courts across the region, where shallow fog cou- General Qamar Javed Bajwa, country. pled with dust particles has he federal government of through a demi-official letter, The cases were originally sent cast a grey haze even during the Pakistan has decided to drew Prime Minister Shahid to the interior ministry by the daytime. Trefer 29 cases of suspect- Khaqan Abbasi’s attention to provincial governments as they However, localised rainfall is ed terrorists to military courts the matter. pertained to major incidents of predicted in the twin cities in two days after army chief Gen- terrorism in the respective con- the middle of November. eral Qamar Javed Bajwa voiced 29 approved cases would stituencies. Data compiled by the Met concern over drying up of cases be transferred to the Furthermore, a committee Offi ce shows that although the at the special courts. General Headquarters was formed under the interior La Nina phenomenon that de- An offi cial source said that in (GHQ) JAG branch soon, secretary to monitor and ac- veloped in early October and July the interior ministry had and from there they would cordingly send such cases to ei- prevented rainfall in South Asia considered recommending the be analysed and according ther military or anti-terrorism has fi zzled out, rainfall is not federal government to trans- to relevance transferred to courts. yet in sight. fer these cases to the military 11 military courts across the The committee has so far ana- La Ni?a is a phenomenon courts. country lysed more than 90 cases that where the sea surface tempera- However, as the ruling party will be presented in the next ture of the Pacifi c Ocean, off the was busy dealing with the Pan- The source said the 29 ap- federal cabinet meeting, so that coast of Peru, falls below the amagate case, it was unable to proved cases would be trans- they can be deliberated upon by 0°C mark, from -0.5°C to -1°C. give priority to transferring the ferred to the General Head- the federal government and then “International data has cases, the source said. quarters (GHQ) JAG branch transferred to military courts in shown that the sea surface tem- He went on to say that the soon, and from there they line with the law. perature is currently above 0°C -at the normal level — thus the La Nina pattern has neutral- ised,” a Met Offi ce offi cial said, adding that La Nina had pre- vented rainfall in October. Pakistan has not seen active Pakistanis fast adopting rainfall for almost two months, and precipitation in October was far below the country’s 32mm average. The Met Offi ce fears that digital modes of payment rainfall in November may be below the 12mm average as well. Satellite imagery on the Met Internews worth Rs31.1tn during the year This was a growth of 11.5% in Offi ce website also shows no Karachi via 143.6mn transactions during one year. sign of clouds the region, in- the year. As the use of Internet and cluding over Iran, Afghanistan, “Rs31.1tn was 23% of total e- mobile banking goes up, the Pakistan, Bangladesh or Myan- akistan is fast moving to- banking transactions by volume use of call centres/IVR (inter- mar. wards adopting digital and 84% by value,” the central active voice response) banking “This phenomenon is likely Pmodes of payment with bank said. has shown a fall, with a negative due to the impact of global the number of electronic trans- Internet banking increased growth of 63% in the last one warming over the Himalayas, actions registering a 17% year- 32% to 25.2mn transactions year. as the average temperature cur- on-year growth in 2016-17, stat- worth around Rs969bn in fi scal “It has been observed that rently was around 2°C above Students ride bicycles during heavy smog in Lahore. ed the central bank in its annual year 2017. customers prefer mobile bank- the traditional data,” the offi - performance review. Mobile phone banking surged ing and Internet banking over cial said, adding: “This is a two higher than normal.” Most of Punjab’s plains are to moderate fog. With the advent of mobile 12% to 7.4mn transaction valu- call centres/ IVR.” way process; the temperature Lack of rainfall has led to facing up to zero visibility, and However, traces of rainfall broadband technology, Pakistan ing Rs141bn in the year. E-Commerce (online shop- was high because there were no thick fog, which combined with the Potohar region — where to light rainfall are expected in has witnessed a surge in dig- “The initiation of projects ping) in Pakistan also started rains, and there is lack of rain dust particles and smoke is foggy conditions are limited — Rawalpindi and Islamabad on ital adoption with a number of like the development of Na- picking up with 571 merchants because the temperature was known as smog. is currently witnessing shallow November 15 and 16. e-commerce businesses as well tional Payment Gateway, on- offering their products on- as online methods of conduct- line collection of taxes and du- line. ing payments deriving immense ties and elimination of cheques During FY17, 1.2mn transac- UK orders removal benefi t. from government payments tions valued at Rs9.4bn were of anti-Pakistan Internet and mobile banking will have far reaching implica- processed through e-commerce. slogans from cabs emerged on the horizon while tions on banking system ef- In order to encourage the use ATM machines remained king of ficiency, effectiveness and ac- of point of sale (POS) machines, Days after Islamabad sum- Pakistan off ers excellent the ring in an otherwise, cash- cess,” SPB said. banks and third party provid- moned the British High based society. Some 25 banks off ered Inter- ers are being encouraged to in- Commissioner to lodge a “Following the global trends, net and call centres/IVR (inter- centivise merchants, by off ering protest over the display of the payment systems landscape active voice response) banking them associated value added anti-Pakistan slogans on investment opportunities in Pakistan has also transformed services, while 18 banks dealt in services. London cabs, transport rapidly during last 6-7 years mobile phone banking as on June In addition, more convenient authorities in the British with stellar growth in payment 2017. payment methods like QR codes capital have ordered the Internews said a perfect storm (for start- a layman’s guide to AI neural cards, mobile, Internet banking On the contrary, paper-based and mobile apps are also being immediate removal of of- Karachi ups) has been brewing in Pa- networks. transactions,” the State Bank of (cheques, pay orders, demand introduced in the market by pay- fensive advertisements. Ac- kistan with its 208mn popu- He charted how Google start- Pakistan (SBP) said in the annual drafts and others) transactions ment schemes and new fi ntechs; cording to Radio Pakistan, lation, which off ered endless ed building AI in the 1990s. performance review. were recorded at 451.8mn valued however, their uptake is still in the transport company f you want to deploy capital opportunities. Simplifying the lecture, he Banks, businesses and con- at Rs139.6tn in the year. infancy and limited to upscale confirmed initiating an in- in Pakistan, now is the time, In his presentation on ‘Hy- explained how AI neural net- sumers in the country made a “ATMs are the most frequent- outlets. quiry into the matter while Isaid Jeff ery Paine, founding per-scaling your start-up’, Re- work models learnt from ex- total of 625.8mn transactions ly used channel for withdrawal However, the total number of assuring disciplinary action partner of Golden Gate Ven- hman said that while business ample. via electronic banking chan- of cash,” the SBP said in the re- POS machines grew by 7.3% to against perpetrators of the tures, a Southeast Asian ven- models can be built to scale and “The AI trains through prac- nels worth Rs37.1tn in fiscal port. 54,490 during the year whereas malicious campaign. The ture capital fi rm, at a confer- grow, timing is essential. tice and this continuous learn- year 2017. A total of 397.7mn transac- the value of total transactions development came after ence yesterday. “Launch an imperfect prod- ing eventually allows the net- This number is 17%higher tions were processed on ATMs processed through the machines Pakistani social media users Speaking at the two-day uct but get to the market early. work to evolve,” he said. “At than 543.8mn transactions con- valued at around Rs4.6tn. grew by 23% to Rs246bn, the spotted the cabs in London. moot titled 021Disrupt, organ- Use the feedback to refi ne your Google, we now apply machine ducted in the prior year. “During Ramadan and the central bank said. On Friday, the Foreign Off ice ised by The Nest I/O, Paine said product.” Another important learning and artifi cial intel- However, the value of transac- ensuing Eid al-Fitr holidays in The number of payment/ issued a statement saying: Pakistan off ered excellent in- aspect was to ‘pivot quickly’ — ligence to pretty much every- tion remained fl at. 2017, a total of Rs442bn were plastic cards increased 8.8% to “Foreign Secretary Tehmina vestment opportunities. becoming skilled in breaking thing.” Commercial banks, via their withdrawn through ATMs,” it 36.6mn as on June 30, 2017. Janjua called in British High Sharing the experience of plans as one is in making them. Giving an example, he said real-time online branches said. These cards include over Commissioner Thomas investments in China, he noted In his talk, ‘Disrupting fi n- Google was able to cut down its (RTOB), deposited and with- A total of 32 banks operate 17.9mn debit cards, over 8mn Drew to convey Pakistan’s that huge rewards were reaped serv: survival of the most inno- energy bills with the help of its drew cash and transferred funds 12,689 ATMs across the country ATM-only cards and around serious concern over the by investors. vative’, Habib Bank Chief Inno- ‘Deepmind’-powered AI. through intra-bank facility as on June 30, 2017. 1.3mn credit cards. controversial slogans.” Reassuring the audience that vation and Financial Inclusion The AI was in charge of man- good data is available to see Offi cer Abrar Mir highlighted aging power usage and ultimate- which companies will fail, he that banks had a huge amount ly a 40% reduction was seen in stressed on investing smartly of data (gathered from custom- power consumption, leading to while focusing on the math. ers) and the bank was willing to savings worth millions of dollars. Rice exports surge Ali Mukhtar, CEO of Fatima partner with start- ups. He noted that 90% of the Ventures, a Pakistani seed- Mir urged banks to rethink data held by companies is un- stage investment fund, said in- their business model and open structured while urging entre- vestments in innovative, scal- up to allow for more fi nancial preneurs to take advantage of able companies were needed. inclusion. the deep learning off ered by his Giving an example from the Dr Umar Saif of the Punjab IT company. agriculture sector, he noted that Board shared his experience of In a session on ‘Entrepre- an increase in the production of working with the government neurial ecosystems’, Frederic 1mn bales translated into earn- after working as an academic Sicre, managing director of ings worth billions of dollars. abroad for years. the Abraaj Group, stressed that Faaris Naqvi of Bakery said Without sounding criti- companies with no purpose while investors coming into cal, he acknowledged that “the would not attract talent. the ecosystem are essential, government was not known for Hubspot Executive strate- equally important is ecosystem being innovative.” gist Sam Mallikarjunan in his development. He noted that transport, keynote address praised the Kulsoom Lakhani, CEO and banks, telecommunications resilience of Pakistan and its founder of Invest2Innovate, and pharmaceutical sectors people, stressing that ‘entre- highlighted the regulatory is- were undergoing rapid change preneurship required resilience sues faced by investors that and the government needed to to adversity and the willingness hinder start-up growth. keep up with legislation. to fail and try again’. Sharing While the start-up ecosys- “The government is sitting excellent insights on market- tem is being built from the on lots of funds, which can be ing, marketers and customer ground up, top-down regula- used for venture capital. This behaviour, he urged ‘for staying tory restrictions prevent inves- would help in creating an envi- on track. “The hardest part of tors from entering it, she said. ronment for start-ups.” disruption is focus.” Wamda Capital’s Fares Khurram Jamali, Google’s In her speech, Jehan Ara, Ghandour announced the com- country lead, gave an interest- president of P@SHA and The pany’s decision to invest in Pa- ing talk on ‘Artifi cial intelli- Nest I/O, said the conference kistan. gence: the revolution has be- aimed to provide the requisite Pakistani farmers harvest rice on the outskirts of Lahore on November 3, 2017. Pakistan’s rice exports surged by 28.74% during the first He noted that the country gun’. While many participants support to young entrepre- three months of the country’s current fiscal year starting from July 2017, according to a statement from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics off ered a thriving ecosystem expected it to be more of a run- neurs and spark meaningful (PBS). and good human resource. down around Hollywood fl ick conversations on the start-up Rozee.pk’s Monis Rehman ‘Ex Machina’, the session was ecosystem in Pakistan. Gulf Times 20 Monday, November 6, 2017 PHILIPPINES

Military helicopters prepare for deployment for security during the send-off ceremony for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit this month at Rizal park in Metro Manila, Philippines. Soldiers and members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) gather as they prepare for deployment for security. Four East Timorese Army calls for tighter delegates freed to attend Asean meet

Reuters security forces are deploying Manila nearly 60,000 army and police Asean border control personnel during the Novem- By Dempsey Reyes ber 10-14 Asean and East Asia Manila Times hilippine immigration au- Summit to ensure the safety of thorities freed four East 19 world leaders and thousands PTimor delegates after of delegates from 10 Southeast he head of the Armed holding them for 12 hours at Ma- Asian nations and 10 other dia- Forces of the Philippines nila airport in a security clamp- logue partners, including US Turged members of the As- down ahead of the Asean and President Donald Trump. sociation of Southeast Asian Na- East Asia Summit next week. “We have not monitored any tions (Asean) to fortify their bor- The four East Timorese were real and direct threat in the na- der security to curb transnational allowed into the Philippines but tional capital region, but we are crime and prevent the entry of authorities kept their passports not complacent,” national police terrorists. until a formal order is issued chief Ronald dela Rosa told re- In a statement issued before clearing their entry, said Rhoda porters after reviewing security next week’s Asean Summit in the Viajar, media relations of the preparations yesterday. country, Lt Gen. Rey Leonardo Asean Civil Society Conference/ “There could be threats but Guerrero stressed the need to en- ASEAN People’s Forum. we are ready and we are up to the hance regional border security Immigration authorities said challenge.” through co-ordinated border pa- the four were held upon arrival Police will deploy 400 mo- trols. Guerrero expressed hope on Saturday morning because bile patrol cars, 200 motorcyles, that the Philippines, Malaysia and they could not explain the pur- 22 armoured vehicles and 100 Indonesia will tighten security pose of their travel and were “not bomb-sniffi ng dogs to ensure through the Trilateral Co-oper- able to establish fi nancial capac- the security and safety of lead- ation Arrangement signed by the ity for the visit”. ers, offi cials and delegates to the three countries in June this year. “The civil society conference biggest regional summit in Ma- The agreement aims to halt organisers understand the more nila this year. crimes, including kidnapping, stringent security measures be- Some areas will be complete- traffi cking and the transit of ter- ing implemented due to the up- ly locked down, such as where rorists in the Sulu Sea. Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) and members of the Philippine National Police (PNP) gather as they prepare for deployment for security coming Asean summit,” Viajar heads of state and governments He said he is eyeing more co- during the send-off ceremony for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit this month at Rizal park in Metro Manila. said. She said they “remain con- will hold meetings. Main roads ordinated patrols with Asean cerned about the possibility of running from the former US air countries. “We will also increase gether with their counterparts, the three countries $40bn a year. and air space within the region. The AFP also seeks improve- similar incidents upon the arrival force base about 90km north the frequency of our co-ordi- launched a Trilateral Air Patrol Guerrero said the Philippine “For this, we will reinforce ments in the country’s inter- of many more participants from of Manila to the venues will be nated patrols with our Asean programme that aims to curb ter- military will be banking on a na- our Maritime Domain awareness national security engagements, other countries”. partly closed. counterparts in order to prevent rorism in the Philippines, Malay- tional policy and defence agenda on our maritime areas of inter- including the activation of the Since 2005, Asean leaders Interior Undersecretary Cata- the use of our common maritime sia and Indonesia. to develop a “credible defense est particularly our sea lanes of International Military Aff airs have held a dialogue with the lino Cuy said there was no plan borders for illegal activities,” The programme will also pro- force” by strengthening the communications. We will also Center. Guerrero also wants to region’s top civil society groups to jam mobile phone signals to Guerrero said in a statement. tect the maritime areas of the country’s naval and air capabili- push through with our capability shift the training methodol- to listen to development con- prevent potential crude bomb In October, Defense Secretary three countries and keep the ties. This, he pointed out, would build-up in order to enhance our ogy for AFP’s peacekeeping units cerns and address critical is- attacks because this would cause Delfi n Lorenzana and former Southeast Asian region safe from result in a “more eff ective” mon- maritime operations capability,” “involving temporarily formed sues such as poverty, health inconvenience for state offi cials AFP chief Gen Eduardo Ano, to- any threat. The project may cost itoring and control of sea lanes he explained. units to deploying existing units.” and education. Philippines and security personnel.

Indonesian wife of slain militant Estrada okays fourth reclamation project leader arrested Philippine security forces By Jaime Pilapil said during the signing of a venues such as casinos, accord- needed to secure required doc- In June, Estrada signed a yesterday arrested the Manila Times memorandum of understand- ing to Gatchalian. It will also umentation before initial recla- memorandum of agreement Indonesian wife of the slain ing with Philippine Reclama- house amusement parks, medi- mation works commence. “By with PRA and real estate fi rm pro-Islamic State militant leader tion Authority (PRA) Chairman cal centres, government offi ces, 2020 there’ll be huge physical J-Bros Construction Corp. for who planned and led the attack anila City Mayor Alberto Agra, General Manager schools, and other establish- movement, right now we’re the construction of a P100-bn, on Marawi City, authorities Joseph Ejercito Estra- Janilo Rubiato, and Waterfront ments such as art museums, at the documentation stage,” 419-hectare commercial dis- said. President Rodrigo Duterte Mda has approved an- Manila Premier Development aside from sports facilities and Gatchalian said. Rubiato said trict in another portion of Ma- declared last month the liberation other multi-billion-peso rec- Inc. President Kenneth Gatch- amenities for aquatic sports Waterfront Manila was given nila Bay. of Marawi City from the Maute lamation project in Manila Bay alian at the Manila City Hall. such as rowing and sailing. It 18 months to get permits, such “Horizon Manila,” the big- group, a pro-Islamic State militant – envisioned as a 318-hectare “They translate to more will have a port for internation- as the environmental compli- gest reclamation project in Ma- group which held the lakeside commercial and tourism hub lands, better infrastructure, al cruise ships. ance certifi cate from the De- nila Bay, involves the construc- Joseph Estrada town after the death of two top along the shorelines of Roxas more businesses and more jobs, “The inspiration here is ba- partment of Environment and tion of three islands between leaders, including the woman’s Boulevard. increased revenues, and better sically expanding what the city Natural Resources. the Manila-Pasay border in hectares) and the P7.4bn ex- husband Omarkhayam. Dubbed “Manila Waterfront opportunities for all,” Estrada of Manila has right now which The PRA, as the central the south and Roxas Boulevard pansion of the Manila Harbor The army announced the City,” the project is the fourth said, adding that it was only is its historic character… the regulatory body for reclama- in the east, stretching to about Centre in Tondo by the con- termination of combat operations reclamation venture approved through reclamation that Ma- concept is basically extending tion projects, will evaluate the 3.5km along the shores of Ma- struction fi rm R-II Builders, a week later, ending a five-month by the mayor in less than two nila could expand economically. Luneta (Rizal Park) and sticking requirements to determine the nila Bay. Inc. The construction of an- battle that killed more than 1,100 years. The new island will host to the historic content of Ma- “soundness and viability” of The two others are UAA other project, the 148-hectare people, including 165 soldiers. “Reclamation projects are commercial centres and resi- nila which in itself is what it is the project. Three other recla- Kinming Group Development “Solar City,” which was ap- Close to 400,000 people were the cornerstone of our urban dential buildings, hotels, enter- known for,” Gatchalian said. mation projects have been ap- Corp’s “New Manila Bay Inter- proved prior to Estrada’s term, also displaced as fighting renewal programme,” Estrada tainment facilities, and gaming A year and a half will be proved by the mayor. national Community” (407.42 will start soon. destroyed the city. National Police Chief Ronald dela Rosa said bomb-making materials were seized from Minhati Madrais, who was with her six children when security Peace campaign launched forces raided her home in Iligan City. “Her children, who are all minors, will be turned over to the against drug-related killings social welfare department,” he said, adding that rebellion and Reuters Philippine Catholic bishops armed suspects resisted arrest. illegal possession of explosive Manila have been stepping up opposi- Critics dispute that and say ex- devices charges were now being tion to killings blamed on a gov- ecutions are taking place, with prepared against her. ernment crack down on drugs. zero accountability, allegations He said Madrais, alias Baby, was top Catholic archbishop They are now asking the faith- the police reject. In a mass for among more than 100 people yesterday called for Fili- ful to pray for 33 days until De- families of victims of drug-re- ordered arrested by Defence A pinos to choose peace cember 8, an important Catholic lated killings, Villegas said that Secretary Delfin Lorenzana over violence and end a spate of feast of the Immaculate Con- if the killings continue “a curse after martial law was declared drug-related killings that have ception. awaits a nation that kills its own by Duterte on May 23. Madrais’ divided the nation. The new campaign follows people”. passport is also expired, another Archbishop Socrates Vil- the 40-day ringing of church Human rights lawyers, poli- violation of Philippine laws, he legas, president of the Catho- bells and lighting of candles ticians, civil society groups added. Sporadic gunfire were still lic Bishops’ Conference of the for thousands of people killed and opponents of the president heard in Marawi City yesterday, Philippines, was speaking as the in President Rodrigo Duterte’s joined the families of victims almost two weeks after combat church launched a new prayer 16-month war on drugs. in a religious procession after operations were formally campaign to “heal the nation More than 3,900 Filipinos the mass to the “People Power” terminated, Colonel Romeo and stop the killings” in the have been killed in what the monument, where they held a Brawner, deputy commander of country. police called self-defence after cultural show. Thousands of people participate in a healing protest in Manila yesterday. Task Force Ranao, told reporters. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 21 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL

Hydraulic Hasina seeks Commonwealth horns banned

By Mizan Rahman help to resolve Rohingya issue Dhaka

By Mizan Rahman boundary problem with India angladesh High Court Dhaka and Myanmar was also resolved (HC), after banning use of amicably.” Bhydraulic horns in vehi- But, she said, the inhuman cles plying on the capital Dhaka’s rime Minister Sheikh persecution infl icted on the streets, now has forbidden using Hasina yesterday urged Rohingya population in the Ra- such horns across Bangladesh. Pthe Commonwealth khaine state of Myanmar and A High Court division bench countries to force Myanmar their forceful expulsion from comprising Justice Quazi Reza- to stop persecution on its Ro- their homeland have created Ul Hoque and Justice Moham- hingya citizens and take them instability in the region and be- mad Ullah passed the order after back from Bangladesh at the yond. holding hearing on supplemen- earliest. Hasina said over 622,000 tary petition fi led by Human “I would like to request you Myanmar nationals fl ed to Rights and Peace for Bangladesh all to discuss the Rohingya issue Bangladesh to escape perse- (HRPB). with utmost importance and cution. “After 1978, another Earlier on August 23, the same exert pressure on the Myanmar 500,000 Rohingyas came to High Court bench had asked the government to stop persecution Bangladesh at diff erent times. government to stop use of hy- of its citizens (Rohingya) and We’ve given temporary shelter draulic horns in vehicles within take them back at the earliest,” to this huge number of people 48 hours on Dhaka streets. she said. on humanitarian ground.” The HC also directed the au- Hasina was inaugurating the The CPA and Bangladesh thorities concerned to confi s- 63rd Commonwealth Parlia- parliament known as Jatiya cate the vehicles, which use such mentary Conference (CPC) at Sangsad are jointly arranging horns after August 27. the Bangladesh Parliament in the conference with the theme: The court also directed to stop Dhaka. “Continuing to enhance the import of hydraulic horns and She said ‘Friendship to all, high standards of performance seize the existing ones available malice to none’ is Bangladesh’s of parliamentarians”. in markets within next seven days. policy in maintaining relations The eight-day conference Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with delegates of the 63rd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) at Dhaka yesterday. Police were also asked to sub- with foreign countries. “Espe- began on November 1 with the mit report on the development in cially, we’re eager to maintain meetings of diff erent commit- cratic rule in the country. “We’ve already been elevated of the government to eradicate General Akbar Khan, CPA treas- implementing the court’s order, good relations with our neigh- tees and sub-committees of the “Aiming to fulfi l the goal, to a lower middle-income coun- hunger and poverty. urer Vicki Dunn, and Common- within two weeks. bours.” CPA as well as conferences of we’ve framed Vision 2021 and try. We expect that Bangladesh “Thoughtless acts of a section of wealth youth representative Aiman The High Court on October 8 Hasina, also the vice patron small branches before the offi - now are implementing the same will emerge as a country of mid- people are claiming innocent lives. Sadique spoke on the occasion. had ordered owners and drivers, of the 63rd CPC, said Bangla- cial inauguration. devising specifi c plans.” dle income on the Golden Jubilee Militancy is not a problem of a par- Chaudhury read out the mes- who are still using hydraulic horns desh resolved long-standing Hasina said the main aim The prime minister said of our Independence in 2021 and ticular country, rather it became a sage of the patron of CPA Queen in their vehicles, to hand over problems of Ganges water shar- of the government is to build Bangladesh has been in a jour- as a developed one by 2041.” global phenomenon,” she said. Elizabeth and video message them to police within 15 days. ing and land boundary dispute a hunger- and poverty-free ney through the roads of peace, But, she said, a new campaign CPA president and Speaker of of Commonwealth Secretary- The court also ordered po- with India through signing Bangladesh through strength- democracy, development and of facing militancy and terror- Bangladesh Parliament Shirin General Patricia Scotland was lice to destroy the horns after treaties. “Similarly, maritime ening the foundation of demo- prosperity. ism has been added to the eff orts Sharmin Chaudhury, Secretary- screened at the programme. receiving those. Industrial zone Bangladesh signs pact to offi ce opens in boost electricity by 20%

Reuters Alam said the project would Nasrul Hamid, junior minister if no new gas fi elds are discov- Dhaka be implemented in three phases for power, energy and mineral ered and the consumption rate Hambantota and completed by 2021. It aims resources. remains at the present level, to produce 3,600 megawatts of He said that to become a de- energy offi cials said. state-run Bangladeshi electricity. veloped country Bangladesh Sunil Mathur, chief execu- IANS Sri Lankan Prime Minister power generation com- “This will be the largest sin- needs uninterrupted and qual- tive offi cer of Siemens for south Colombo Ranil Wickremesinghe said at Apany has signed a deal gle power project and it will also ity power supply all year round. Asia, said that it would ensure the launch ceremony on Satur- Prime Minister Ranil Wickra- with Germany’s Siemens to be the largest single investment The power generation will be Bangladesh acquired a world day that the offi ce was an impor- masinghe: “This is the begin- boost its electricity production from any European country,” he fuelled by imported liquefi ed class power plant. ri Lanka and China have tant milestone in the strong ties ning of a new chapter in the by more than 20% to help sup- added. natural gas (LNG) as the country At present Bangladesh has jointly launched the “Sri between both sides. Indian Ocean.” port the country’s economic The project will be set up in has no additional natural gas. the theoretical capacity to SLanka-China logistics and The Sri Lanka-China logistics development. Payra of southern Patuakhali “There is no additional gas produce power of up to 15,000 industrial zone offi ce” in the and industrial zone will trans- China soon,” Wickremesinghe “The project will cost $2.8bn district, 320km from (200 miles) in the country, and oil is too megawatts but it produces a southern port of Hambantota. form Sri Lanka into an important said. that comprised $2.4bn as loan Dhaka and from there power will expensive with volatile price maximum of 10,000. It cannot The offi ce will overlook the trading and logistics hub and at- Chinese ambassador to Sri and remaining $400mn will be transmitted to the capital. fl uctuation, moreover LNG produce to the optimum level of operation of the 50sq km indus- tract massive investments to the Lanka, Yi Xianliang, said the be equity participation of both “To be a middle income based power generation will be capacity due to a lack of natu- trial zone offi cially established in Hambantota area, he added. opening of the offi ce was an im- companies,” Khurshidul Alam, country by 2021 and a devel- cheaper and it will also ensure ral gas and the fact that some January and serve as a workplace “This is the beginning of a portant step as many enterprises managing director of North- oped economy by 2041 the clean energy,” Hamid said. plants need upgrade work. for the Sri Lankan and Chi- new chapter in the Indian Ocean from China and other countries West Power Generation Com- national demand of electric- At present Bangladesh has About 81% people of 160mn nese staff , Xinhua news agency and I believe Sri Lanka will also had expressed interest in invest- pany Limited (NWPGCL) of ity will be 24,000MW by 2021 only 12.68trn cubic feet of gas population in Bangladesh have reported. become a transitional point for ing in the zone. Bangladesh, said yesterday. and 60,000MW by 2041,” said and it will be exhausted by 2030 access to power.

Govt signs $457mn loan Chinese companies attend Nepal expo deal with WB The Bangladeshi government has signed two financing agreements IANS companies from northeast Chi- totalling $457mn with the Kathmandu na’s Jilin Province at the expo. World Bank (WB) to promote One of the companies is Jilin the country’s development Princes Network Technology, in infrastructure and labour- hinese businessmen which has its online shopping intensive industries, IANS reports participating in the Chi- portal. from Dhaka. Cna-South Asia Expo in According to Zhang Jing Biao, Kazi Shofiqul Azam, secretary of the Nepali capital Kathmandu manager of the company, they Bangladesh’s Economic Relations are eager to expand their mar- are seeking the presence of Department, and Qimiao Fan, kets in Nepal, with many set Nepali products in their online World Bank country director for to open outlets to sell their portal so that Nepali products Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal, products. could be sold in China through signed the deals on behalf of The four-day event is the the portal. their respective sides in Dhaka fi rst overseas tour of the “We are off ering a special yesterday. expo, and more than 100 space for Nepali products for The $357mn Investment Chinese companies, most- those booking the space,” she Promotion and Financing Facility ly from southwest China’s said. Project II will help build local Yunnan province, have been Yunnan commercial repre- financial institutions’ capacity to showcasing their goods and sentative offi ce in Kathmandu provide long-term financing to services. has said that the expo would private companies to undertake One of the Chinese com- open the door for more eco- infrastructure projects in diverse panies willing to expand their nomic co-operation between sectors, including power and markets is China Kunming China and South Asia under the energy, ICT, waste management, Beilite Technology, which has China-proposed Belt and Road water treatment, energy saving been manufacturing gates to Initiative. equipment, container terminals, be operated by using remote Shawn He, representa- land ports, roads, and bridges, controls. tive of the offi ce, said, “The said the bank. Xiu Feng Chen, general Yunnan based companies The other one, a $100mn manager of the company, have shown interest to in- Export Competitiveness said that they were examin- crease economic and busi- for Jobs Project, will help ing possible demand for their ness engagement with South create 90,000 more jobs by electric chain gates in Nepal Asian and Southeast Asian focusing beyond the ready- and based on the demand, countries.” made garment sector and they would decide whether to China-South Asia Expo diversifying exports in other open an outlet in the country. had been organised in Yunnan labour-intensive sectors. The company has priced the since 2003 and it is the fi rst The project will help firms electric chain gate at $300 per time that it is being organised access international markets, metre. outside China, according to overcome technology, According to the company, organisers. infrastructure and skills the chain gate can be opened The event is being organised shortfalls, and enable them or closed with a remote by China-South Asia Expo to comply with international control from as far as 30m. Secretariat and co-organised quality standards. These Schools, offi ces and hospi- by Yunnan International Ex- improvements will help tals are among their expected position Aff airs Bureau and Bangladesh increase the customers. Nepal-China Executives Nepal Minister for Information and Communication Mohan Bahadur Basent, centre, and Gao Shuxun, second left, front, head of China- number of exporting firms in There is the presence of seven Council. South Asia Expo executive committee, visit stalls of the China-South Asia Expo 2017 in Kathmandu. target sectors by around 30%. Gulf Times 22 Monday, November 6, 2017 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] Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) Fax 44350474 GULF TIMES Global nutrition crisis: millions either obese or malnourished

Almost every country in the world now has serious nutrition problems, either due to over-eating leading to obesity or a lack of food leading to undernutrition, according to a major study published on Saturday. Researchers behind the Global Nutrition Report, which looked at 140 countries, said the problems were “putting the brakes on human development as a whole” and called for a critical change in the response to this global health threat. More than 155mn children aged under fi ve are stunted due to lack of nutrition, and 52mn are defi ned as “wasted” – meaning they do not weigh enough for their height, the report said. At the other end of the spectrum, over-eating is taking a heavy toll on people of all ages worldwide: the Qatar plays vital role in report found that 2bn of the world’s 7bn people are now overweight or obese. In North America, a third of all men and women are obese. Worldwide, at least 41mn children under fi ve are reducing confl icts: UN overweight, and in Africa alone, some 10mn children are now classifi ed as overweight. “Historically, maternal QNA conjunction with the declaration in Doha Geneva. 2bn of the anaemia and child Al-Muraikhi urged the undernutrition have been donor countries to fulfil their world’s 7bn seen as separate problems N Secretary-General’s commitments and cooperate in the to obesity and non- Humanitarian Envoy Dr implementation of the UN plan, people are Ahmed bin Mohamed noting that this year’s plan have communicable diseases,” said Ual-Muraikhi underscored required $23.5bn, but only $6.2bn overweight Jessica Fanzo, a professor at Qatar’s distinctive and effective had been raised, leaving a large gap Johns Hopkins University role in supporting those in need in in funding and needs — only 26% of the region and the world through its the financial requirements for the in the United States who co-led the Global Nutrition assistance programmes and pledges current year — despite the generous Report. and through its various innovative pledges and resource mobilisation “The reality is they are intimately connected and and pioneering international efforts. initiatives as well as hosting and He noted that the United States driven by inequalities everywhere in the world. That’s organising humanitarian conferences is the largest donor to the United why governments need to tackle them holistically, not as and forums. Nations in 2017, contributing distinct problems.” In an interview with Qatar News 23.4% of global humanitarian Agency (QNA), the UN humanitarian needs, followed by the European Funding for nutrition needs to be turbocharged. envoy praised the role of the Commission (11.3%), the United International donor contributions rose by just 2% in 2015, to Education Above All foundation, Kingdom (6.6%), Germany (5.2%), $867mn, representing a slight fall in the overall percentage which includes the “Educate a Child” Japan (5.1%), Canada (4.7%), Sweden of global aid. Donors are allocating less than 0.01% of their initiative, and its great impact on the (3%), Norway (1.6%), Switzerland spread of education in conflict zones File picture of HE the Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid (1.2%), and Denmark (1%), while development spend to non-communicable diseases. in the world. al-Mahmoud presiding over the signing of the Darfur peace agreement in Doha. the rest of the world shares the But the quality of the response is also critical. We He also praised the Qatari initiative Qatar has played a key role in achieving peace in the Darfur region of Sudan. remaining 9.9%. will not succeed in tackling malnutrition unless our “QUEST’ to educate Syrian refugees, Al-Muraikhi spoke about the UN Silatech institution which aims to provide their pledges according to even a small proportion of financial strategic humanitarian plan for the eff orts encompass both the causes and the eff ects of to provide 2mn job opportunities emergency relief plans is one of the resources, is a loss of humanitarian next three years which was set for the malnutrition. by 2020, Reach Out To Asia (Rota) biggest challenges facing the United work and that the partnership coming three years and was approved That means rolling out proven and low-cost nutrition programme and others. Nations in its humanitarian work, with such organisations supports by the secretary-general, noting that Qatar, he said, is one of the adding that another challenge is how transparency in the implementation it relies on key themes, including programmes, such as food supplementation, while major donors and one of the major to reach those in need in conflict of projects and contributes to mobilising resources to implement simultaneously working across other sectors to improve countries that contribute to the and war zones and beyond as the raising capacities and exchange of humanitarian aid plans through healthcare systems, water and sanitation infrastructure, reduction of conflicts in the world, United Nations and its humanitarian experiences, as they are always aware genuine partnership between the referring in this regard to the Darfur convoys are often attacked by the of the internal situation more than United Nations and the government sustainable food production, peace and stability and Peace Agreement in Sudan. disputants in these areas. the UN. sector as well as non-governmental gender equality, all of which play a critical role in Dr al-Muraikhi said that the He added that the agreement On the United Nations deal organisations, civil society nutrition. meeting of the major donors group of some countries bilaterally with with humanitarian organisations organisations and the private sector, Malnutrition now costs the global economy $3.5tn for Syria, held in Doha on October the needy state and the lack of classified by some countries as while encouraging businessmen 18, was a platform to follow up co-ordination with the United terrorist, al-Muraikhi aid that the UN to contribute to the efforts of the a year, yet smart spending on nutrition, especially in the pledges made by countries on Nations often lead to the repetition is committed to the Security Council United Nations through activities, the fi rst 1,000 days of life, is one of the most eff ective assisting displaced Syrian people of humanitarian work and create classifications. These classifications events, initiatives and the provision investments any government can make. We know that and refugees and has adopted several surplus in an area and a shortage in are adopted immediately. of doctors, engineers, nurses and important resolutions, including another. The first goal of officials in the trainers for certain periods. a well-nourished child is a third more likely to escape urging the Security Council to extend For this reason, he said, the UN field of humanitarian work is how He added that the plan also poverty and good nutrition provides the brainpower resolution 2165 to ensure access of Office for the Co-ordination of to reach the needy and provide depends on raising awareness and needed to build economies of the future. We need to aid to those affected, trapped and Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) was assistance. communication with all actors and hard to reach within Syria and to find established and that the United Al-Muraikhi said that the United donors to highlight the work of move quickly, but there is still time to unleash nutrition’s a political solution to end the crisis Nations is studying the situation Nations is working closely with the United Nations on the ground, powerful multiplier eff ect across the Global Goals. there. and the needs on the ground to regional organisations, including the especially as donor countries believe Governments, international bodies, foundations and Participants in the meeting also identify priorities whether in shelter, Arab League, the Gulf Co-operation that the operating cost is high and agreed to make a field visit to the education, food, medicine, health Council and the Organisation of this is incorrect for the logistical businesses are making new pledges and learning from Syrian refugees on January 23, or water and accordingly develop a Islamic Co-operation, to create a expertise and potential on the recent successes. The message is clear: without a critical 2018, to know about the situation feasible plan. humanitarian “unit” within these ground. step change in the response to malnutrition, the world on the ground, he said, adding that The humanitarian envoy stressed organisations to facilitate interaction The plan also includes a “policy will not meet any of the global nutrition targets. there was also an agreement for the that the United Nations is concerned and exchange of information. development” by providing the European Union to host the meeting about the fatigue of the donor He added that the UN started necessary flexibility to deal with But beyond this, unless we address malnutrition, we of Syria’s major donors in Brussels countries in light of the increasing work with the Gulf Co-operation each country separately and each will not meet any of the Sustainable Development Goals next year, indicating that there is an conflicts and the spread of crises as Council last March to develop a region according to its own situation, by the 2030 deadline. We cannot aff ord not to act. intention to hold similar meetings for well as the growing needs, pointing “humanitarian unit” to support the explaining that it is not permissible donors to Yemen, Somalia and Iraq. out that the United States has humanitarian action and to promote to deal with Arab countries as The UN secretary-general’s recently reduced its support and this concentrated GCC efforts, thus European countries in writing humanitarian envoy pointed out is a serious indicator that other major enhancing the co-operation with the reports on grants. that in 2017, some 37 countries have donors should not follow. United Nations in this field. To Advertise been affected and are in need for Ten years ago, there was a The same thing happened with zAl-Muraikhi graduated from the humanitarian assistance, mostly conference or two of donors each the Arab League in April when al- Faculty of Engineering, Mechanical [email protected] from Arab countries, underlying that year, but now the conferences Muraikhi met with the Arab League Engineering, from Qatar University. Display 25 humanitarian response plans, four have increased significantly and secretary-general to activate the role He obtained a master’s degree Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 regional response plans for refugees needs have exceeded the amount of the “humanitarian unit”, organise and a doctorate in engineering and five urgent appeals have been put of allocated funds and that the UN and develop its departments and administration. He worked in the Classified in place. is making great efforts in setting link them to the UN humanitarian Ministries of Health, Municipality Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 He added that these cases need priorities and launching initiatives system. and Awqaf. $23.5bn to provide life necessities, from time to time to increase the aid The UN humanitarian envoy He was Director of the International Subscription from which $6.2bn have been and come up with political solutions stressed the need for donor countries Development Department at the [email protected] raised and the remaining is $17.8bn, to these protracted problems. to work in accordance with the plans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr Al indicating that only 26%, or 141.1mn, Al-Muraikhi told QNA that the of the United Nations, especially the Muraikhi was appointed as the of people in need have been assisted. UN promotes financial partnership global humanitarian action plan for United Nations Secretary-General’s 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved Furthermore, al-Muraikhi said with civil society organisations, the next year, which will be launched Humanitarian Envoy on December 8, that some country’s failure or delay stressing that the loss of any actor, at the end of this month in Qatar in 2016. Gulf Times Monday, November 6, 2017 23 COMMENT Puerto Rican teachers face hurdles

By Rebecca Beitsch teachers who evacuated the island, adding that the district was lucky to Washington he said. Several others are set to be be able to hire a husband and wife interviewed. who used to teach at the University Florida will waive the application of Puerto Rico to teach high school ith many teachers fee for a teaching certifi cate and chemistry and physics. among the thousands of will accept unoffi cial transcripts In Texas, the Dallas Independent residents fl eeing Puerto in order to expedite the hiring of School District has been recruiting WRico for the mainland Puerto Rican teachers. In New Puerto Rican teachers for years. This after Hurricane Maria, school districts York, the state is off ering one-year year, though, the district had to cancel in Florida, Texas and New York say teaching certifi cations for those with two recruitment trips because of they are working to streamline the certifi cates from Puerto Rico and Hurricanes Irma and Maria. certifi cation process in the hopes other US territories who meet basic Jordan Carlton, manager of talent of adding Puerto Rican teachers to requirements for teachers. acquisition for the district, said his their classrooms. But for many of the But those actions may not be team has tried to contact 200 or so teachers, the eff ort has hardly meant a enough for Puerto Rican teachers who people who had signed up for the quick ticket to employment. fi nd they must take additional tests recruitment session that was cancelled Those states already have large before they can work in the state. because of Irma. But the task was concentrations of Puerto Ricans, and Many who came to the mainland complicated by the island’s comprised the numbers likely will grow as people years before the hurricane say this infrastructure, and the district has yet displaced by the September hurricane has long been a problem. Elementary to make any hires. come to the mainland to stay with school teachers in particular may face A woman gestures towards a government off icial as he walks past them in Lares, Puerto Rico, while on a trip to assess Because Puerto Rican teaching family. Florida, for example, has seen challenges because the island breaks damage to the area from Hurricane Maria. certifi cates do not directly transfer to 58,000 people from Puerto Rico land up certifi cation into two categories: Texas, Carlton said, the district has in Orlando and the Miami metro area kindergarten through third grade the assumption that she could land That’s despite a reciprocity agreement for hard-to-fi nd special education, asked the Texas Education Agency to since October 3. More than 4,300 and fourth through sixth grade. This a job and get established before her that should make it easier for Puerto bilingual and high school teachers. expedite the review process for their Puerto Rican children have enrolled doesn’t perfectly align with Florida, husband joins them. Rican teachers to get their credentials “In our position,” she said, “we are candidates, as they are wary of off ering in its schools, as have more than 500 which certifi es teachers for either “They told me ‘in the meantime, in Florida, she said. encouraging teachers to stay in Puerto jobs to people before they get the from the US Virgin Islands. pre-K through third grade or all you can apply for something She has been lobbying Florida state Rico.” proper credentials. Some may need School administrators in Florida elementary school grades. noninstructional,’ like a teaching legislators to reduce or waive fees on Teaching on the mainland remains to take additional tests, something say they are eager to hire Puerto Rican Glenyarid Melendez-Rivera, a assistant or substitute teacher,” she the tests some teachers will be required a popular option for many, however, Carlton hopes can be done in Puerto teachers, teacher’s aides, substitutes 33-year-old English teacher from said. “That’s fi ne, but it pays a third of to take. due to the island’s education struggles. Rico once test centres reopen. and bus drivers in a state where a teacher Orocovis, Puerto Rico, has been trying what they pay teachers here. It’s even “If they could just get a temporary In May, before hurricane season even “We want to make sure before shortage will be compounded by a to get a job since she arrived in the less than what I made over in Puerto teaching certifi cate and job for just, began, the territory closed about 180 we say, ‘Yes you have a job with us,’ growing number of students. Just days Orlando area about two weeks ago. But Rico, so that’s a bit frustrating.” say, a year, at least you’d have money to schools in part due to Puerto Rico’s that they are certifi ed by the Texas after the hurricane made landfall, Sept her certifi cation in elementary English So far, it’s unclear how much of prepare for and take the test,” she said. budget crisis. Many teachers are Education Agency,” he said. “We want 20, several Florida school districts had doesn’t have an equivalent in Florida, an impact states’ eff orts have had on “Because no one’s waiving that $200 unsure when schools that closed after to make sure they can make a living set up booths at local airports to sign up and school offi cials told her she would Puerto Rican teachers. No teachers test fee.” Maria will reopen. Some have just when they get here.” students and recruit school staff . have to take a $200 test in order to have yet applied for the temporary White, in Osceola County, said it’s begun to open, more than a month Texas Education Agency “There’s a shortage of teachers get certifi ed as an elementary school certifi cates in New York, according up to the state, not districts, to push after the hurricane landed. And for spokeswoman Lauren Callahan, within central Florida, and this is a teacher. to state offi cials there. And Florida for further changes to the certifi cation many educators, particularly those meanwhile, said she had no details great opportunity to try and recruit Florida Department of Education has documented just 20 Puerto process. who teach middle and high school about the hiring process for Puerto and hire folks who really refl ect spokeswoman Audrey Walden said Rican teachers who have applied for Elementary English teachers students, the hiring process in Florida Rican teachers across the state and that our student body in terms of being the state had no plans to adjust a certifi cation fee waiver, though like Melendez-Rivera will be in the has been more straightforward. all hiring decisions are made at the bilingual and being of Latino or certifi cation requirements or waive offi cials there say their records are toughest spot as the state has no Bridget Williams, chief of staff local level. Hispanic background,” said Greg test fees at this time. likely incomplete since individual equivalent to that certifi cation, he said. for Orange County Public Schools, Melendez-Rivera thinks state White, recruitment specialist for Melendez-Rivera thought she would school districts handle hiring. A Puerto Rican teachers’ union, the school district for Orlando, said offi cials in Florida should be careful Osceola County schools, south of get work fast given the state’s need for Nancy Morales Benitez, director of Asociacion de Maestros de Puerto Rico, offi cials have hired about 20 teachers about how they advertise teaching Orlando. He said the district has bilingual educators and for those who Maestros Puertorriquenos en Accion is not pleased to see so many teachers and classroom aides, about 10 opportunities. openings for as many as 150 teachers teach English as a foreign language. (Puerto Rican Teachers in Action), attempting to leave. Grichelle Toledo custodians, and a few others to work in “I don’t want the same thing that throughout the school year and is She left her husband in Puerto Rico said she started the group two years Correa, the group’s secretary-general, school cafeterias since the hurricane. happened to me to happen to someone desperate for bus drivers. and arrived with her 20-month-old ago after seeing Puerto Rican teachers said a massive fl ight of teachers could “We’re talking about some very else,” she said. “It’s not as easy as they So far the district has hired fi ve daughter to stay with a cousin, under struggle to get licences in Florida. leave the island even more desperate qualifi ed people,” Williams said, say.” Weather report Three-day forecast

TODAY Iceland weary of tourist infl ux High: 32 C Low : 25 C Off shore: Fine and some clouds at Tourism brings money to industry, this is something to take in Reykjavik to be converted into involved for this to happen, said places at times. Iceland. But Icelanders seem seriously, she says. hotels, the number of new restaurants Arnadottir. “This is the biggest threat — to be built and the number of fl ats to be “The infrastructure like roads needs slowly to becoming more fed the tolerance of the inhabitants,” rented out. to be strengthened for this industry,” TUESDAY up with the crowds. Is the Arnadottir added. “These decisions must be made by she says, citing the need for roads to High: 32 C According to Arnadottir, tourism was the government,” she said. tourist destinations to be safe and Low: 24 C North Atlantic island nation a lifesaver for Iceland after the severe Locals complain mainly about passable even in winter. Sunny heading for an overdose? 2008 fi nancial and banking crisis. vandalism, the introduction of According to Islandsbanki, tourists Since 2010, the number of visitors entrance fees for national parks, price account for almost 40% of Iceland’s has more than quadrupled in the small hikes and hotel construction sites. foreign exchange income. WEDNESDAY DPA country of 330,000 people. And there have been weeks of Each visitor contributes around High: 32 C Reykjavik And this year, fi nancial institution discussion over the past year about the $1,860 to the domestic economy. Low: 24 C Islandsbanki forecasts around 2.3mn lack of public toilets that has forced Half of the jobs created since 2010 Sunny visitors — a healthy 30-% increase tourists to take advantage of shrubbery are directly or indirectly related to hough a steady stream of over 2016. and other public spaces when nature tourism. tourists has been a blessing According to Islandsbanki, every calls. Further risks to Icelandic tourism Fishermen’s forecast for Iceland after the fi nancial fi fth person in the country is a tourist But on the positive side, tourism over the past two years have been the OFFSHORE DOHA crash a decade ago, signs during the summer months. has enriched Iceland’s quality of life in unstable political situation and the Wind: NE-SE 03-12 KT T Waves: 1-3 Feet are emerging that local inhabitants In September, the national statistics some respects, said Arnadottir, noting exchange rate of the Icelandic krona, are beginning to tire of the infl ux, an offi ce counted 378,300 overnight visits, that there are restaurants all over the the head of the tourist association said. INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-SE 05-15 KT industry assessment said. with Germans being the most frequent country where there were once only “The tourists do not stay so Waves: 1-2 Feet “We are seeing some signs that the visitors followed by US nationals. hot dog kiosks. long because it is expensive,” said tolerance is getting lower, “Most Icelanders are still positive The aim of government and industry Arnadottir. Around the region especially in the most popular about tourism and understand its for visitors to come all year round — Statistics suggest that in 2015 the Weather Weather areas,” Helga Arnadottir, director importance,” Arnadottir said. even in the dark winter. prices for overnight stays and meals today Max/min tomorrow Max/min of the Icelandic Tourism Industry She suggests, however, that the And that they would travel all over were 44% above the EU average. Abu Dhabi Sunny 33/24 Sunny 33/26 Association told DPA. industry may need to set some limits, the country — not just to the south- Arnadottir therefore expects the Baghdad P Cloudy 31/21 P Cloudy 33/18 Dubai Sunny 34/23 Sunny saying that questions have to be west around the capital, Reykjavik. tourism boom to weaken soon and 33/23 As tourism is the North Atlantic Kuwait City Sunny 33/18 Sunny 32/18 island’s second most important answered as to the number of buildings But the government must be more settle into “normal growth” of 3 to 5%. Manama Sunny 32/26 Sunny 32/25 Muscat Sunny 29/23 Sunny 31/24 Riyadh Sunny 30/16 Sunny 29/16 Tehran M Sunny 24/14 Sunny 25/14 Live issues You are what you just ate

a wide variety of plant proteins including soy, beans, By Barbara Quinn grains and nuts to get the best mix of muscle building The Monterey County Herald amino acids. For most of us, about 20 grams of protein (the amount in 3-ounces of meat, poultry or fi sh) at every y favourite session at the 2017 Academy meal is enough to maximise muscle synthesis after of Nutrition and Dietetics Food and meals. Older folks and athletes may need more. Around the world Nutrition Conference was presented Timing is important as well. Studies have found Weather Weather by physiologist and researcher Dr Luc that three protein-containing meals a day stimulate today Max/min tomorrow Max/min M Athens Sunny 19/13 P Cloudy 21/14 Van Loon of Maastricht University Medical Centre more muscle building than just one or two protein in the Netherlands. (And by the way, the moderator meals a day. Beirut P Cloudy 22/17 Sunny 23/19 Bangkok Showers 26/22 S Showers 30/24 who introduced him was Roberta Anding - the sports And this was interesting. “Chewing has a huge Berlin P Cloudy 09/03 M Cloudy 09/05 dietitian for the Houston Astros.) eff ect on anabolic response (the ability of the body Cairo M Sunny 26/16 P Cloudy 26/15 “Take a look at your arm,” Van Loon began. “Your to make muscle from protein),” our speaker reported. Cape Town Cloudy 18/13 Cloudy 19/13 muscle tissues are constantly breaking down and build- Well-chewed food, he explained, is better digested Colombo Rain 29/25 S T Storms 30/25 Sunny 32/21 ing up. In fact, every 2 to 3 months, you have a new arm and available for building muscle. Dhaka 32/21 Sunny Hong Kong Showers 26/23 Showers 26/23 ... and other muscles throughout your body.” We can’t just eat protein and expect to form strong Istanbul P Cloudy 17/09 Sunny 17/10 Muscles can change, he explained. Throughout muscles, however. If you become less active, you are Jakarta S T Storms 33/26 S T Storms 32/25 life, we can either condition our muscles to grow or less than what you just ate, says Van Loon. Exercise Karachi Sunny 36/21 Sunny 34/21 decondition them. In other words, if we’re not syn- and food work together in the muscle building proc- London Sunny 11/06 S Showers 11/03 Manila I T Storms 32/26 M Sunny 32/25 thesising muscle, we’re losing it. ess. Moscow P Cloudy 06/01 M Cloudy 06/-2 What stimulates our muscles to grow? Food (espe- How much protein converts to muscle depends on Physical activity, especially before we eat, increas- New Delhi Sunny 31/18 Sunny 31/17 cially protein) and physical activity. Protein not only several factors, including the source. Whey pro- es our muscles’ ability to turn protein from our meal New York Showers 21/08 P Cloudy 13/06 provides the building material (amino acids) for new tein derived from milk, for example, stimulates a into muscle. “If you are physically active before you Paris M Sunny 12/00 P Cloudy 09/04 Sao Paulo Showers Cloudy 18/14 muscle; it also signals the body to get busy and start higher rate of muscle growth than casein, another eat, you are more than what you just ate,” he told us. 17/14 Seoul P Cloudy 16/08 P Cloudy 19/11 making muscle. milk protein. And research shows that protein from And good news for those of us a bit over the hill: Singapore S T Storms 31/25 T Storms 31/25 In fact, 3 to 4 hours after eating, protein from your animal sources generally has a bigger muscle building Older people can still build muscle ... if we exercise Sydney T Storms 24/13 Cloudy 19/14 meal is now you, says Van Loon. “You are what you response than plant proteins. No worries though. and get adequate amounts of protein. - Tribune News Tokyo Clear 21/09 Clear 21/11 just ate.” Vegetarians can easily compensate by eating more of Service Gulf Times 24 Monday, November 6, 2017 QATAR Qatar remains stronger than ever before: envoy

QNA one of its members is a Qatari. limit the freedom of our political and added that Qatar fi ghts the gurated a general consulate in Doha He noted that food security in movement,” he added. roots of terrorism by strength- Milan, and a military attaché in the country has been ensured The envoy went on to say that ening education, consolidating Rome. quickly, saying, “We import from the Italian Republic understood the principles of forgiveness and After three years of nego- mbassador of Qatar to It- other countries in the region, the crisis, and welcomed the Ku- dialogue and by creating job op- tiations, Qatar was able to reach aly Abdulaziz bin Ahmed but, with the closure of land bor- waiti mediation, and also encour- portunities for the youth, not an agreement with Meridiana Aal-Malki has said Qatar ders, as well as the suspension of aged direct dialogue to resolve the only in Qatar, but also around company, making the company remains stronger than ever be- fl ights and the freezing of politi- crisis. On the accusations that the world. a strategic asset to the air trans- fore. Despite the siege by Saudi- cal contacts and business, many the State of Qatar is supporting On foreign policy, the envoy port system that has already led bloc having completed fi ve families have been aff ected.” Hamas, ISIS in Libya and ele- clarifi ed that Qatar respects Iran been built by Qatar Airways. months, the country has been “We are working for this, too, ments of Al Qaeda, al-Malki said, as a partner in the region, adding He added that the Meridiana able to develop its international so that the siege can be lifted and the siege countries continue to that the statements regarding a company is an important con- relations on the world stage to we can improve the status of the accuse Qatar with no evidence full alliance between Qatar and tributor to Sardinia’s economy, protect its interests. 20,000 families, comprising Qa- whatsoever. This, he said, is done Iran was professionally fabri- however, Qatar will make it an In an interview with Italian taris and nationals of other Arab to undermine its leadership and cated through the campaign of Italian and European carrier that newspaper La Nueva Sardegna, states who have been aff ected by to win over the West. fake news and false accusations. is able to co-operate with the in- he said, “The State of Qatar, these measures,” he added. The Qatar ambassador Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki. However, the accusations have Al-Malki added if the point is frastructure established by Qa- since the beginning of the crisis, ambassador said that the crisis been ignored, since the Western economic exchange, Qatar does tar Airways. has been open for dialogue with was triggered after the hacking a plot that had been set up with the crisis with wisdom and ma- countries do not accept charges not have the highest economic The envoy said he would meet the blockading nations, on con- of Qatar News Agency web- the aim of blockading Qatar. turity, thanks to the leadership of terrorism funding arising out exchange with Iran in the GCC with the mayor and governor of dition that its sovereignty is not site. “We asked for assistance of “Our reaction has been to clarify of His Highness the Emir Sheikh of political diff erence between region. Sardinia, focusing on diversify- to be breached.” the FBI to fi nd out who did this the truth to the world,” he said. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.” the parties. Regarding the bilateral rela- ing investments, and through In response to a question hacking, and we are awaiting re- The ambassador explained, “This is a crisis that has been He further stated that Qa- tions between Qatar and Italy, the 49% from Meridiana, the about the repercussions of the sults of this investigation so that “there is a growing awareness fabricated by the siege countries tar combats terrorism in all its the ambassador said, the rela- goal is to develop the company siege on life in Qatar, the envoy our police will pass it to the At- in the world about Qatar’s po- without evidence against us, forms and hosts the US base tions are continuously develop- in order to become a carrier pointed out that 20,000 families torney General,” he said, adding sition, and many recognise the and also without a real political from which it fi ghts ISIS and ing, whereas on the diplomatic covering 150 European destina- have been aff ected only because that it was a provocation to start fact that our country is facing reason, other than the desire to other terrorist organisations and political level, Qatar inau- tions.

Moments from the 12th Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibition.

Young Qatari designers Mexico participates in Heya Mexico is taking part in the through accessories that print 12th edition of Heya Arabian a diff erentiating and unique Fashion Exhibition for the first touch.” time. The embassy of Mexico The brand has taken Mexican in Doha and ‘ProMexico’ and Latin American design brings to the country the to the five continents take Heya centre stage international brand Pineda through fashion shows, Covalin, one of the greatest exhibitions, fairs and cultural merging Qatari designers ity of home-grown design tal- to a platform for designers to ally benefi cial for an upcoming with Kay and Yezenia Navarro exponents of Mexican design, performances, which entails a are a key focus at the 12th ent, showcasing local expertise, learn and engage with indus- fashion label new to the market. will host a forum for guests on showcasing its new collection great responsibility becoming EHeya Arabian Fashion Ex- entrepreneurship and vision,” try experts and their peers,” the We have met with infl uencers, ‘Sketching Your Blogging Suc- at the event. Mexican the ambassadors of Mexican hibition, taking place at Doha Design Creationz’s spokes- spokesperson noted. buyers and have got lots of new cess: The Dos and Don’ts’. The ambassador Francisco design, the embassy noted. Exhibition and Convention Cen- person Esraa Abel said. “This Moudi al-Harbi from Moudi potential clients, we are glad we session aims to lay the right Niembro said, “Heya is an Pineda Covalin will have an tre until November 7, the organ- year, we have strengthened the Boutique said, “Heya is a very have participated in Heya 12.” foundations and will encourage opportunity for Qataris to get exhibition of its iconic products, isers have said. number of Qatari designers par- good opportunity to get to know At Heya today, visitors can listeners to blog correctly, shar- closer to our high quality and as well as to showcase its The event has been “very pos- ticipating at Heya, with a 25% designers from the region, as take part in a variety of engaging ing their own experiences. growing design industry.” Fall-Winter 2017 Collection at a itively received by visitors for the increase since the last edition.” well as here in Qatar. It serves workshops designed to nurture Held under the patronage of Pineda Covalin is an “innovative fashion show. quality and variety of collections The new partnerships with as a great platform to refl ect the local designers, including ‘VCU: HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint company, an attentive and The embassy added that the from Qatari entrepreneurs, as local fashion and business in- unique fashion styles and quality The Mood & Design Board’ and Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, creative look that reveals Mexican brand introduces well as the dynamism of forums stitutes have added signifi cant of Arabic designs to the public.” ‘Makeup Consultation with Wo- visitors are encouraged to attend luxury”, according to the a collection that speaks of and workshops on off er for visi- value for exhibitors and visitors, Displaying their collection jooh’. and browse a variety of more embassy. “The brand’s diversity and transition: a link tors”, according to a press state- according to Abel. “It is great to for the fi rst time, Pooja Adam, In addition, Qatar’s popular than 150 abaya and modest fash- products, more than a fashion and harmonisation between ment. see Heya evolve from a modest spokesperson for QLabel, said: social media fashion infl uenc- ion brands from emerging and proposal, are full of meaning past and present. “It is fantastic to see the qual- fashion shopping destination “The experience has been re- ers Fatma al-Ahmed, Creativity established designers at Heya. ‘Qatar Welcomes the World’ campaign to take off at Travel Market in London

atar Tourism Author- (ETA) system for visitors of all ments that make Qatar the most ing a comprehensive one-stop more about Qatar and its attrac- ity (QTA) is set to launch nationalities who hold valid res- open country in our region,” he showcase of the destination’s tions. Qthe country’s latest des- idence permits or visas from the noted. extensive offerings. At the QTA In addition, a social media tination promotion campaign, UK, the US, Canada, Australia, WTM, which kicks off today stand, visitors are invited to competition for the campaign dubbed ‘Qatar Welcomes the New Zealand, the Schengen in London, is the global tourism collect ‘Your Passport to Qatar’, encourages people in London World’, at the 37th World Travel countries, or the countries of the industry’s most anticipated an- a brochure clearly explaining to snap a photo of one of the Market (WTM) in London, it has Gulf Co-operation Council. nual event. The three-day event, the various visitor visa types branded taxis and upload to so- been announced. “‘Qatar Welcomes the World’ being held at the ExCel Cen- and the different systems that cial media tagging @VisitQatar The campaign, which capital- is the country’s largest destina- tre, brings together more than have been put in place to make and using the hashtag #Pass- ises on the country’s new visa fa- tion promotion campaign yet 50,000 senior travel industry a visit to Qatar – whether for portToQatar. cilitation measures, aims to lev- and comes as part of our eff orts professionals, tourism industry a stopover, a short break or as The most creative photo will erage WTM’s platform to extend to diversify Qatar’s visitor source leaders, government offi cials a final destination – a smooth win a three-night trip to Qatar its audience reach. markets,” QTA’s chief marketing and international press. Qatar’s and enjoyable process. for two, including accommoda- Qatar is now the region’s most and promotion offi cer Rashed delegation to WTM this year in- The campaign will also see tion at the luxurious Sharq Vil- open country with nationals of al-Qurese said. cludes 24 hotels and destination a fl eet of taxis branded ‘Qatar lage & Spa and fl ights with Qatar more than 80 countries eligible “We are particularly excited to management companies repre- Welcomes the World’ stationed Airways. WTM delegates gather for a free entry visa waiver, a be launching it at WTM where senting the variety and range of around the ExCel Centre and in each year to network and nego- statement noted. our stand’s visitors from across Qatar’s leisure tourism options. London during WTM and into tiate with representatives from To further facilitate visitor ac- the global tourism and travel QTA will be exhibiting 2018, encouraging those attend- global tourism destinations, and cess, the country introduced an industry have an opportunity to alongside these private sec- ing the show and those living in to discover latest investment op- Rashed al-Qurese Electronic Travel Authorisation learn more about the develop- tor partners at WTM, provid- and visiting London to discover portunities in tourism industry.