BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Abbas’ triple brings Pakistan closer to win QNB’s 9-month profi t jumps 6% to QR10.8bn over Australia published in QATAR since 1978

THURSDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10968 October 11, 2018 Safar 2, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Deputy Amir honours outgoing Kenyan envoy Qatar Chamber Our Say underscores private sector’s important role By Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka By Peter Alagos Editor-in-Chief Business Reporter

Gulf Times atar Chamber will continue to forge ties with local and inter- Qnational partners to continue fl ies high with its bid to strengthen the country’s pri- vate sector, which is leading the drive Aviation page towards economic diversifi cation, ac- His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani met yesterday at the Amiri Diwan with the outgoing cording to its chairman, Sheikh Khalifa The invention of the hot air balloon Kenyan ambassador to Qatar Galma Mukhe Boru, who called on him to greet him. The Deputy Amir granted the ambassador bin Jassim al-Thani. in the 18th century gave wings to the Decoration of Al Wajbah in recognition of his role in enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries, and wished Speaking to Gulf Times on the side- the indomitable human desire to him success in his future assignments and further progress and prosperity. For his part, the ambassador extended thanks and lines of the International Product Ex- fly. Since that time, revolutionary appreciation to the Deputy Amir and the State’s off icials for the co-operation he received which contributed to the success of hibition and Conference (IPEC 2018), technological advancements have his work in the country. which concluded yesterday, Sheikh transformed the way human beings Khalifa underscored the importance of Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa move from place to place. Though expanding private sector ties with local bin Jassim al-Thani. initially a prerogative of the rich, and international partners. flying has now become accessible He also lauded Qatar’s international 69 local companies and 294 interna- and aff ordable to almost all people partners, especially countries that had tional businesses to the Doha Exhibi- the world over. It is a major form of supported the country immediately af- tion and Convention Centre. cargo transport as well. QFFD announces $150mn ter the economic blockade was imposed In a speech delivered after inaugu- Today aviation enables the free by four Arab nations on June 5, 2017. rating the event, HE the Prime Minis- movement of people and goods “Qatar’s private sector had played an ter and Interior Minister Sheikh Ab- around the globe. It helps people important role in mobilising eff orts to dullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani live better lives and is a catalyst for aid to ease crisis in Gaza bridge the gap and cushion the impact stressed on the “vital role” played by development. of this unjust siege. We were able to the private sector in executing national It plays a unique role in connecting QNA negatively aff ects the vital facilities, The United Nations and its various meet the needs of the market, prevent- strategies and plans to achieve Qatar business to markets, uniting family Doha including educational and healthcare institutions have issued numerous ing any shortages in essential goods, National Vision 2030. and friends, discovering new institutions, especially in the hot sum- calls warning of the consequences of particularly food products,” Sheikh “We count on its capabilities and po- cultures and lands, bringing people mer months and in the cold winter. what is happening in Gaza and leaving Khalifa emphasised. tential as it proved its aptitude for de- together to solve problems, building pon the directives of His High- Over the past 10 years, the Strip the humanitarian situation to explode. Underlining its role as a private sec- veloping many economic sectors of the understanding and developing ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin has been subjected to two wars that It also called on the international tor leader, Sheikh Khalifa stressed that economy and limiting the repercus- global insights. This year alone the UHamad al-Thani, Qatar Fund for destroyed the infrastructure, includ- community to rush to relief the Pal- Qatar Chamber signed 15 memoran- sions of the unjust blockade on Qatar. global airline industry will transport Development (QFFD) has announced ing educational and health projects in estinians and to fi ll the defi cit caused dums of understanding (MoUs) with Similarly at the event’s panel dis- 3.78bn passengers and 52.7mn $150mn in emergency aid to alleviate which Qatar contributed to along with by violation by some states of their of- other international chambers. cussion, HE the Minister of Finance tonnes of cargo, according to IATA, the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip the international institutions and Eu- fi cial and humanitarian obligations to Aside from hosting a number of for- Ali Sherif al-Emadi said private sector the global body of airlines. which has been besieged for years. ropean countries. the Palestinian people. eign trade delegations, Sheikh Khalifa growth stood at more than 4%, “which Better economic prosperity across About 2mn people live in the Gaza This support comes within the con- QFFD in compliance with the direc- said Qatar Chamber also organised in- exceeded offi cial expectations.” the globe, especially in emerging Asia Strip in an area of only 365sq km and text of alleviating the suff ering of the tives of His Highness the Amir, and his ternational business trips to connect In another panel discussion, QNB means more people are now able to cannot move beyond this narrow geo- brotherly Palestinian people, who affi rmation that Qatar will continue Qatari companies with foreign counter- Group CEO Ali Ahmed al-Kuwari fly. The global air transport sector graphical area, where they are also lost many of their children, youth to support the Palestinians, will work parts and expand Qatar’s trade network. noted that private sector contribution supports 65.5mn jobs and $2.7tn in prohibited from many items necessary and women either in confrontations urgently to activate this package of as- Private sector contribution to eco- to GDP stood at 68%, an achievement global economic activity, according for a decent life, in addition to the daily with the Israeli occupation forces or sistance through the United Nations nomic development and diversifi ca- that runs parallel to the objectives of to new research released by the Air suff ocating conditions, where elec- because of poor living conditions and Development Programme and the tion had been the central theme at the Qatar National Vision 2030. Page 2, Transport Action Group (ATAG). tricity is cut off most of the day, which poor healthcare. concerned international bodies. three-day IPEC 2018, which gathered Business Page 1 The direct contribution of travel and tourism to Qatar’s GDP was nearly QR20bn, 3.3% of the country’s total GDP in 2017, which according to World Travel & Tourism Council may rise by 8.7% annually to QR44.9bn in the 2018-2028 period. Over the last US raises pressure on Saudi over missing journalist 20 years, the national carrier Qatar Airways has been one of the aviation Reuters wanted to get the bottom of what he Pressure appeared to be building re-appeared. Turkish sources said they industry’s biggest success stories. Washington/Istanbul called “a very serious situation.” worldwide on close US ally Saudi Ara- believe Khashoggi was killed inside the Following the illegal blockade on In a fresh clue, a pro-government bia on the whereabouts of Khashoggi, a building and removed, allegations that Qatar, the national airline provided Turkish daily yesterday published pre- prominent critic of Saudi policies, who Riyadh dismisses as baseless. a “lifeline through Qatar Airways S President Donald Trump in- liminary evidence from investigators it was last seen entering the Saudi consu- Trump, in comments in the Oval Cargo” by maintaining critical creased pressure on Saudi Arabia said identifi ed a 15-member Saudi in- late in Istanbul to get documents for his Offi ce, told reporters he had raised medical, food and manufacturing Uyesterday to provide informa- telligence team involved in Khashog- planned marriage. Khashoggi’s case with Saudi Arabia “at supplies to the country. To Page 7 tion on what happened to missing Saudi gi’s unexplained disappearance on His Turkish fi ancée, Hatice Cengiz, the highest level” and more than once in [email protected] journalist Jamal Khashoggi and said he October 2. Jamal Khashoggi who was waiting outside, said he never recent days. To Page 16 Sidra Medicine surgeons separate conjoined twins in a Qatar fi rst

By Joseph Varghese tion was possible, a multidisciplinary “The twins were born on May 25 Hamad and Tamim are recovering and to all for the tireless eff orts to save the Staff Reporter team from HMC and Sidra Medicine at 33 weeks and fi ve days. They were are back to normal feeds and expected lives of our boys.” arranged for the delivery and care for transferred to Neonatal ICU at Sidra to live normal, independent lives. Mali ambassador Cheick Ahmed the separation. Medicine after they were stabilised by “By successfully separating con- Tidiany Diakite was also present dur- aking huge strides in Qatar’s Soon after birth at HMC, the twins June 3. The fi rst procedure was tissue joined twins, one of the most complex ing the announcement ceremony and healthcare sector and provid- were transferred to Sidra Medicine, un- expansion by plastic surgery on July 24. surgical procedures there is, we are thanked the government of Qatar, Sidra Ming the most advanced surgi- der the care of a highly specialised team Two months later on September 24, the proud to showcase the calibre of our Medicine and HMC for the great feat. cal expertise, Sidra Medicine has con- of neonatal ICU physicians, nurses, actual separation took place,” explained multidisciplinary teams less than a year Dr Abdulla al-Kaabi, chief medical ducted its fi rst separation surgery of paediatric surgeons and allied health- Dr Zarroug. since we opened our inpatient facility. offi cer of Sidra Medicine, noted: “It is conjoined twins. care professionals. Led by Dr Mansour The physician also told that the twins The surgery is both a milestone for the a proud moment for the team at Sidra Hamad and Tamim – born to the Ali, chair of the Department of Paedi- The conjoined twins. were conjoined at the liver and lower hospital and the healthcare sector in Medicine and the healthcare network Mali nationals, Ousmne Ag Mohamed atric Surgery and Dr Abdalla Zarroug, sternum – considered one of the riskier Qatar,” said Dr Mansour. in Qatar. Today’s case is indicative that and Fatimatou – were separated on division chief of Paediatric General and ment of over 150 medical and support types of fusion, as each baby needs a Mohamed, father of the twins, said: we remain committed to our mission to September 24 after months of prepara- Thoracic Surgery, the four-month-old staff undergoing over 30 hours of simu- fully functional liver and gastrointesti- “We tried to explore international op- provide children and women with out- tion and expert consultations. male twins were separated by a team lation to minimise the risks and im- nal tract of their own without compro- tions for surgery until we found out standing tertiary healthcare services in The twins’ mother was seen during of 10 surgeons and anaesthesiologists, prove patient outcomes. We rehearsed mising the other. Omphalopagus twins, about Sidra Medicine. We found that an innovative and ultramodern facility her 29th week of pregnancy at Hamad during a nine-hour procedure that the actual surgery multiple times until those who are connected at the belly Qatar has the right resources, technical specially designed to promote healing. Medical Corporation (HMC) while on went without any complications. everyone in the team was convinced and liver, are some of the most complex expertise and above all the humanitar- It also establishes Sidra Medicine as a a visit in Qatar. After confi rming that “The surgery was planned and re- that it was going to be ok,” said Dr to separate. ian aspect to set aside any commercial key contender in the region to handle the twins were conjoined and separa- hearsed for months with a full comple- Zarroug. Less than 10 days after separation, interests. We are immensely grateful complex paediatric diseases.” Page 7 Gulf Times 2 Thursday, October 11, 2018 QATAR Cabinet praises Chief of Staff meets Turkish, French military officials Amir’s South

HE the Chief of Staff of Qatar Armed Forces Major General (Pilot) Ghanim bin Shaheen America tour al-Ghanim has met separately with Chief of the Main Directorate for Inspection The Cabinet approves draft ing. The second was on fi nal retariat of the cabinet and the and Assessment of the Land Forces of the laws on financial contracts, settlement of payments and membership of the designated Turkish Armed Forces Brigadier General financial guarantees and securities. The draft laws aim authorities, to examine Qa- Faruk Yildirim and Director of International clearing; and final settlement to apply the best standards in tar’s legislations and how ap- Development of General Directorate for of payments and securities those fi elds, as they are one of propriate they are compared to Armament in the French Republic General the most important building The International Covenant on Thierry Carlier. During the meetings, they E the Prime Minis- blocks of the banking and fi nan- Economic, Social, Political and discussed issues of common interest and ter Sheikh Abdullah cial system of any state. These Cultural Rights. ways of strengthening and developing Hbin Nasser bin Khalifa standards govern the transfer of The Cabinet also approved them. al-Thani chaired the Cabinet funds between individuals and the holding of a Qatari-Chinese meeting yesterday at the Amiri institutions. economic forum on the sidelines Diwan. The Cabinet also approved a of China International Import Following the meeting, HE draft law amending some provi- Expo (CIIE), which will take the Minister of Justice and Act- sions of law no. 12 of 1998, regu- place on November 5-10. ing Minister of State for Cabinet lating the Central Municipal The seventh item on the Aff airs Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr Council. agenda saw the Cabinet dis- Chamber to launch e-portal al-Mohannadi stated that the The third subject on the cuss two subjects and take the Cabinet reviewed several topics agenda was approving a draft appropriate decisions regard- on the agenda. Amiri decision to establish ing them. The fi rst subject was The Cabinet praised the out- and regulate the Mohamed the 21st report on the work to develop services sector comes of the tour of His High- bin Ghanem Al Ghanem Mari- of the Qatar National Coun- ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim time Academy. The academy ter Terrorism Committee. The bin Hamad al-Thani to South is under the supervision of the Ministry of Interior formed atar Chamber will soon in the national economy,” al- “The committee comprises America, which included Ec- Ministry of Defence and the the committee. It is charged launch an interactive Misnad said, adding that the all bodies that are concerned uador, Peru, Paraguay, and minister. It has a budget inde- with placing policies, plans, Qelectronic platform e-portal will be available soon with developing the services Argentina. pendent from that of the min- and programmes concerned aimed at develop the coun- on https://qatarchamber.com/. sector of the country. The com- The Cabinet said that the vis- istry. It will also have its own with counter-terrorism. It try’s services sector in Qatar, Yesterday’s meeting mainly mittee’s mandate is to study its His Highness the Amir made fl ag and logo. also co-ordinates the eff orts board member Ali Abdullatif revolved on the restructuring of and discuss all issues related and the talks held with offi cials The academy specialises in of all designated authorities al-Misnad announced during a the Services Sector Committee, to the services sector, as well there, as well as the agree- teaching maritime science and to implement the UN Security meeting held in Doha yesterday. according to al-Misnad. as to seek the development Ali Abdullatif al-Misnad, board ments signed were successful other maritime disciplines. Council resolutions, and all UN Al-Misnad, who is the chair- It was attended by executive of the sector, in line with the member, Qatar Chamber. and helped propel ties between The fourth item on the agenda resolutions related to counter- man of Qatar Chamber’s Serv- representatives from the Min- economic development Qatar Qatar and the four countries to was approving a draft decision terrorism. The report included ices Sector Committee, said the istry of Municipality and Envi- is witnessing under the wise propriate recommendations to new levels. “The tour refl ected by the Minister of Interior to the eff orts of the committee, e-portal will enable business- ronment; Ministry of Interior; leadership of His Highness the the authorities concerned. the strength of ties Qatar has amend some of the provisions including the participation in men to communicate with the Ministry of Administrative De- Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad It also aims to study the chal- internationally, and the success of decision no. 11 of 2007, de- a number of Arab and interna- committee and off er their sug- velopment, Labour and Social al-Thani,” al-Misnad said. lenges that reduce the sector’s of its strategic partnerships with termining the conditions and tional meetings on the subject. gestions, proposals, and ideas Aff airs; Ministry of Transport He noted that the Services contribution to GDP and fi nd countries all over the world.” lengths of special vacations of- The committee highlighted that could contribute to the de- and Communications; Minis- Sector Committee aims to fol- appropriate solutions to ob- The Cabinet discussed its fered to some of the offi cers at Qatar’s commitment to main- velopment of services sector in try of Economy and Commerce; low-up the implementation of stacles faced by representa- agenda as follows: The Cabinet the ministry. taining security and counter- the country. Public Authority of Customs; strategic plans prepared by the tives of the private sector, as fi rst approved two draft laws, The fi fth subject involved ing terrorism and extremism “This portal is an initiative by Qatar Ports Management Com- government for the services well as attend or hold seminars, the fi rst on fi nancial contracts, approving to form a commit- through bilateral and multilateral Qatar Chamber to help enhance pany – Mwani Qatar; and other sector, review, activate the laws conferences, and workshops, fi nancial guarantees and clear- tee chaired by the general sec- co-operation.(QNA) the role of the services sector private sector stakeholders. and legislation, and make ap- al-Misnad added. ‘Qatar capable of off ering strong entrepreneurship ecosystem’

By Joey Aguilar the country’s economy, according to Staff Reporter Dr Khalil. “Even the trend of entrepreneurship went up since the blockade and a lot atar is progressing well in en- of new ideas popped up to accommo- trepreneurship development date our current situation,” he pointed Qcompared to the other GCC out. “There are a lot of opportunities countries, providing better opportu- but we need to educate them (aspiring nities for both aspiring and full-time entrepreneurs) and disseminate infor- entrepreneurs, an assistant professor mation about its availability so people at Qatar University’s (QU) College of will be aware of.” Business and Economics has said. Dr Khalil said Qatar is also progress- Speaking to Gulf Times on the side- ing extremely well in diversifying its lines of the International Products Ex- Dr Mahmoud M Abdellatif Khalil economy, which is expected to benefi t hibition and Conference (IPEC) 2018 speaking at IPEC 2018 yesterday. the business sector. which concluded yesterday, Centre for “If you look at the fi gures of Qatar’s Entrepreneurship director Dr Mah- Kuwait (43, 39th), and Saudi Arabia economic outlook, you will fi nd the moud M Abdellatif Khalil explained (40, 45th), and is capable of off ering a share of non hydrocarbon sector, in that Qatar created not only numer- “strong entrepreneurship ecosystem”. comparison to hydrocarbon, it starts ous opportunities but also a suitable Dr Khalil said the “current geopolit- to increase, which refl ects that the environment for entrepreneurs. ical situation” also boosted the coun- government’s eff ort is successful in “Qatar is performing better in try’s entrepreneurship drive, creating terms of diversifi cation,” he stressed. this fi eld than other neighbour- more startups and an array of initia- According to the QNB economic ing countries. If you look at Global tives in various sectors, especially in commentary, the country’s econo- Entrepreneurship Index 2018, the the area of agriculture. my grew by 1.6% in 2017 despite the country is ranked among innovation The director also highlighted self- blockade by some of its neighbours driven countries,” stressed Dr Khalil, suffi ciency eff orts of Qatar in the face of and described its non-hydrocarbon who was one of the three QU speakers in a blockade (which started in June 2017), GDP growth as solid with 3.8%. yesterday’s session at the conference. inspiring entrepreneurs to be more In the fi rst quarter of 2018, Qatar’s A recent study by Qatar Develop- competitive through innovative ideas. total non-hydrocarbon GDP growth ment Bank showed that Qatar scored The ‘unjust siege’ also encouraged was a robust 4.9% year-on-year (y-o- 55 and ranked 22nd in the index, be- and motivated aspiring young entre- y), starting the year on a strong foot- sting the UAE (score: 53, rank: 26th), preneurs to pursue their career with ing. For 2019, QNB forecasts a 5.3% Oman (47, 33rd), Bahrain (45, 35th), the aim of helping to contribute to non-hydrocarbon GDP growth. Over 360 companies from 11 countries attended IPEC The three-day International facing the Middle East, Products Exhibition and North Africa and Central Conference (IPEC) 2018 Asia, as well as the focus concluded at Doha Exhibition on managing sustainable and Convention Centre economic growth, inter- yesterday. country economic co- The event provided “the operation, growth and ideal platform for presenting innovation in the travel Qatar’s attractive business sector around the world and environment to investors, financing partnerships to highlighting strong growth promote prosperity, as well as rates in the national economy fostering innovation across and eff orts to enhance co- the region through emerging, ordination and co-operation small- and medium-sized between all government enterprises. IPEC 2018 provided “the ideal platform for presenting Qatar’s attractive agencies and institutions”. Pavilions at IPEC 2018 business environment to investors”. PICTURE: Jayan Orma IPEC 2018 was attended by provided presentations on government delegations and investment opportunities in through the role of Qatar and foreign companies in more than 360 companies the participating countries, Airways, new opportunities free zones, supporting small from Qatar and 11 other the nature of projects, and companies in the tourism and medium enterprises to countries – Turkey, Iran, partnerships, trade and sector in Qatar, and initiatives participate in State projects, Pakistan, Tunisia, Oman, economic alliances, and the and strategies to achieve strong indicators of the Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, various incentives off ered. Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatari economy, prospects Kuwait, Morocco, Jordan and The event witnessed A panel discussion was also for the global economy, Azerbaijan. several panel discussions held during the event on opportunities and challenges The exhibition highlighted on sustainable economic the role of infrastructure for Qatar, attracting and the current global economic growth in Qatar with business in enhancing trade strengthening investments challenges and discussed the partners, Qatar’s presence competitiveness, import and through public-private obstacles and opportunities on the international scene export, establishing Qatari partnerships. (QNA) Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 3 QATAR

Lebanese PM holds UN urged to appoint talks with Qatari envoy rapporteur on piracy against human rights activists readiness to host an interna- He pointed out in the same tional human rights institutions QNA and organisations in the world tional conference to combat context that many civil society play a major role in spreading Marrakesh and to expand the functions of electronic piracy and espionage activists and Qatari media have the declaration of defenders of the Special Rapporteur on hu- in an international dialogue to been exposed to piracy and es- these rights and training law en- man rights activists and defend- develop national legislation, pionage from outside parties. He forcers, and to submit proposals ational Human Rights ers, especially in the environ- activate the adoption of the noted in a related context that for the amendment of national Committee (NHRC) ments and possible situations of relevant convention and sup- the committee addressed several legislation. Nchairman HE Dr Ali bin such violations. port the mandate of the Special special rapporteurs of the United Dr al-Marri described the ex- Smaikh al-Marri has called for This came during his speech Rapporteur on the protection of Nations and relevant intergov- perience of Qatar in this regard the establishment of a post of at the opening of the 13th con- human rights defenders, point- ernmental and non-governmen- as a good experience, after tak- Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri met with special UN rapporteur on the ference of national human rights ing out that the NHRC has been tal organisations in this regard, ing the proposal of the commit- ambassador of Qatar to Lebanon Mohamed Hassan crimes of electronic piracy and institutions in the Moroccan subjected to many harassment stressing the committee’s sup- tee to issue a law regulating the Jaber al-Jaber in Beirut yesterday. During the its impact on human rights city of Marrakesh under the ti- this year from foreign parties as port for the adoption of an inter- political asylum, thus becoming meeting, they discussed bilateral relations, and means and placing these crimes on tle “Expansion of civic space a result of the blockade, where national convention to protect the fi rst Arab country to issue of enhancing them besides issues of common interest. the permanent agenda of the and promoting and protecting its website witnessed more than human rights defenders. legislation of its kind. Human Rights Council. of human rights defenders with 735,000 attempts to piracy, He stressed that the crises and He called on all Arab countries He also called on the Offi ce of a specifi c focus on women: the along with campaigns and other confl icts witnessed in the Arab to take similar steps, stressing the United Nations High Com- role of national human rights distorting practices to disable region have provided the envi- that the political refugee has a missioner for Human Rights institutions”. the performance of its functions ronment, elements and land to special status that distinguishes to establish a specialised unit The NHRC chairman praised as a national institution or indi- transform human rights defend- him from ordinary refugees and to combat the crime of piracy the initiative of Qatar and its viduals defending human rights. ers into victims, adding that na- requires special protection. Qatari ambassador presents credentials thiopian President Mu- the people of Ethiopia further Mental heath sector witnesses Minister attends latu Teshome has re- progress and prosperity. Eceived the credentials For his part, the Ethiopia of Hamad bin Mohamed al- president entrusted the am- London summit Dosari as ambassador extraor- bassador to convey his greet- major breakthrough: minister dinary and plenipotentiary of ings to His Highness the Amir Qatar to the country. wishing the Qatari people atar is participating in the Global Min- The ambassador conveyed more prosperity and progress. E the Minister of ing specialised studies in grammes and strategies to tion to the role Wayak plays isterial Mental Health Summit currently the greetings of His High- He also wished the ambas- Administrative this fi eld. overcome the challenges in raising awareness of the Qbeing held in London. Qatar is being rep- ness the Amir Sheikh Tamim sador success in his new du- HDevelopment, La- Speaking at an event held faced by those concerned. dangers of mental illnesses, resented by HE the Minister of Public Health Dr bin Hamad al-Thani to the ties to promote and strength- bour, and Social Aff airs by Society of Mental Health The minister said that saying that the ministry ful- Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari. Ethiopia president, wishing en the friendly relations and Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al- Friends (Wayak) to observe event similar to this helps ly supports such activities The two-day summit will be attended by pol- him best of health and happi- co-operation between Qatar Nuaimi said yesterday that World Mental Health Day, raise awareness among the carried out by NGOs. iticians, experts and civil society from around ness, and the government and and Ethiopia. (QNA) the mental health sector in the minister stressed the people on the dangers of For his part, Wayak vice the world. The summit will discuss the devel- the country has witnessed importance of holding con- things like stress, and its chairman Hassan bin Ab- opment of mental health services, psychosocial a major breakthrough in ferences and specialised relation to other diseases. dullah al-Ghanem said that obstacles and other important issues, notably Malaysian off icial meets Qatari envoy terms of providing compre- studies in the fi eld of mental He added that the world the event sheds light on the children and youth, the current generation and hensive mental health serv- health, to increase aware- has begun to feel the impor- importance of having a men- the conditions of prevention and welfare, men- Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Mohammed Kafoud. During ices, particularly in placing ness of mental illnesses and tance of mental health as an tally-healthy society, adding tal health services around the world, research Aff airs Secretary-General Dato’ the meeting they discussed plans aimed to change the the negative eff ects it has on important aspect and a basic that it would contribute to and the future of mental health, mental health Ramlan Ibrahim met yesterday bilateral ties and means stereotype and social stig- the health of the individual requirement for the health realising Qatar National Vi- economics and investment, as well as show- with the ambassador of Qatar to support them as well as ma related to the concept of and society and to develop of the individual in general. sion 2030 by preparing youth case innovations in these areas from around in Kuala Lumpur, Fahd bin matters of common interest. mental health and conduct- plans and specialised pro- He also expressed apprecia- ready to lead. (QNA) the world. (QNA) Qatar Airways to host events to raise mental health awareness

atar Airways, in partnership Qatar Airways’ Group medical di- with Hamad Medical Cor- rector Dr John Roberts said: “Encour- Qporation (HMC), will host a aging an awareness of practices that programme of activities and events can lead to greater emotional well- throughout October designed to raise being in the workplace is a key part of awareness on good mental health and this campaign.” well-being in the workplace, it was An initiative of the World Federa- announced. tion of Mental Health and supported The programme, as part of World by the World Health Organisation, Mental Health Day, which was ob- World Mental Health Day has the ob- served yesterday, will include a series of jective of raising awareness of mental educational awareness presentations health issues and promoting greater and displays, social media discussion emotional well-being. sessions, mental health-themed draw- Among the Qatar Airways events ing and photography competitions for and activities include a photogra- staff and their families, as well as a phy competition, dubbed as ‘Mental special health and wellness VIP event Health through my Lens’, inviting Qa- on the day itself. Akbar al-Baker speaking at an event. tar Airways Group employees to sub- “Qatar Airways has always been a mit a photo with a description of how strong advocate for promoting better ken down into fi ve themes of ‘Be Ac- the image connects to one of the fi ve mental health and well-being among tive’, ‘Connect’, ‘Take Notice’, ‘Keep themes. its staff through its ‘Priority 1 – Your Learning’ and ‘Give’” Young children of staff can also get Health & Wellness’ campaign,” Qa- “Our message is that, by redirecting involved by drawing a picture to il- tar Airways Group chief executive your energies towards boosting your lustrate the theme ‘Happiness in my Akbar al-Baker said. physical health, reaching out to those world’, and a series of presentations “A healthy mind is every bit as im- around you, becoming more aware of will be on display at all main Qatar portant as a healthy body, but the your feelings, trying new things and fo- Airways offi ces to promote greater stigma associated with mental health cusing on kindness and sharing, you can awareness of key mental health issues. issues is often a huge factor is pre- combat many of the negative emotions The airline hosted a World Men- venting those struggling, from seek- and behaviours that aff ect our everyday tal Health Day event yesterday, fea- ing the right kind of help and support,” lives,” al-Baker said. “We are delighted turing discussion sessions with the he noted. “We aim to tackle this by to partner with HMC to champion this medical division employees and encouraging people to view as bro- important global initiative.” representatives from HMC.

Qatar Airways and HMC to launch events for staff and their families, encouraging greater mental health awareness. MADLA implements programme for govt employees Following the directives Social Aff airs, represented The five-day programme is provided by the state. of HE the Prime Minister by the Institute of Public part of a series of training The programme includes and Minister of Interior Administration, will courses for government participants from various Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser implement on Sunday the employees whose work government departments bin Khalifa al-Thani, the first edition of the “Excellence requires direct interaction working in the centres Ministry of Administrative in Service Delivery to the with the public in order to of government service Development, Labour and Public” programme . provide excellent services complexes. (QNA) Gulf Times 4 Thursday, October 11, 2018 QATAR First Qatar Visa Malabar anniversary logo unveiled Centre opens in Sri Lanka today he fi rst overseas Qatar Visa Centre (QVC) will be launched Tin Sri Lanka today as part of a series of such centres to be opened in eight countries in the fi rst stage. The initiative is aimed at simplifying the procedures for recruiting expatriates and preserving the rights of all parties involved in the recruitment process, Malabar Group has unveiled their 25th anniversary celebration logo at an event at Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) said in a India, in the presence of chairman M P Ahammed, executive director Abdul Salam KP, and Malabar Gold & statement yesterday. Diamonds managing director – international operations Shamlal Ahamed. The project is overseen by the Re- cruitment Support Services Depart- ment at the General Directorate of Passports, in collaboration with an as- signed company that will act a service A view of the Qatar Visa Centre in Sri Lanka. provider to collect the fi ngerprints and vital data of expatriate workers, con- tract. The centres will ensure that these gerprinting and registration of vital duct their medical examinations and procedures are simplifi ed in order to data as well as the medical examina- Traffi c authority highlights complete the signing of contracts for document the employment contract in tions in order to reach the stage of fi nal work. the worker’s country and avoid cases of approval and issuance of visa. These A number of government offi cials workers returning to their country due procedures will take maximum of one will attend the inauguration ceremony to their incapacity to work. The new hour and the results of the tests will be achievements in road safety from Qatar and Sri Lanka, as well as system will also enable expatriates to known after 48 hours. members of the Qatari embassy and start work immediately after entering The project is being implemented in media representatives in Colombo, ac- Qatar, the statement adds. partnership with the Ministry of Admin- By Ramesh Mathew the support of various stake holders.” cording to the MoI statement. This and The centre in Sri Lanka, along with istrative Development, Labour and Social Staff Reporter Such initiatives are being initiated the other QVCs will enable govern- the others, will allow both the recruiter Aff airs, Ministry of Public Health and to promote Qatar’s standing to the ment, private and recruitment enter- and expatriate worker to play their re- the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs. It will be highest position at the global level in prises in the country to complete the spective roles accurately through an in- implemented in several phases and new atar’s traffi c authorities hope the area of road safety. process of bringing expatriates for work tegrated recruitment system. services will be added in the future. there would be a signifi cant Brigadier al-Kharji recalled that from abroad through a single channel, The role of the employer is to register The MoI is seeking to expand the Qreduction in road traffi c ac- during the fi rst operational phase of in order to speed up all procedures. the worker through the MoI website. scope of the project in order to make cident (RTA) deaths in the country the National Strategy (2013-2017), According to earlier reports, QVCs The ministry will assess the registra- it mandatory for any visa applicant to to less than 130 annually by the end Qatar had achieved fruitful results in will be opened in Sri Lanka, Indonesia, tion process and the employer will then conduct the medical examinations, of the second phase of the ongoing Brigadier Mohamed Saad al-Kharji reducing the death rate from traffi c Nepal, Tunisia, Pakistan, India, Bang- pay the service costs through the MoI record fi ngerprints and conduct all road safety strategy campaign (2018- speaking at the opening of the confer- accidents. ladesh and the Philippines in the fi rst website. This will followed by the ap- other tests before entering the country. 2022). ence yesterday. The top traffi c offi cial sought the stage. The services to be provided by proval and extraction of the reference The authorities have called on all This was announced by the Gen- wholehearted co-operation of the the Sri Lanka QVC and other centres, to number. companies operating in the country eral Directorate of Traffi c’s director- “With the implementation of bet- country’s residents and various stake- be opened later, include fi ngerprinting The role of the worker is to go to the and providing Sri Lankan manpower to general Brigadier Mohamed Saad ter traffi c plans and improving the holders involved in the National Traf- of the expatriate worker, registration QVC in his/her country, register his/ learn more about the new recruitment al-Kharji yesterday at the opening road networks and transport infra- fi c Safety Strategy for the successful of biometric data, medical examina- her entry, receive the contract of em- mechanism through the MoI website session of the ‘Conference on traffi c structure in the country, there would implementation of the second phase tions and the signing of the work con- ployment and sign it, then go for fi n- and Metrash2 service. accidents and enhancing traffi c safe- be a 5% reduction in the road traffi c in of its fi ve-year campaign launched ty’. The two-day event is hosted by the Qatar in the next few years.” earlier this year in line with the in- Mowasalat and International Road Brigadier al-Kharji said Qatar is one structions of HE the Prime Minister Transport Union (IRU), under the pa- of the world leaders in implementing and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah tronage of HE the Minister of Trans- plans to improve road traffi c safety. bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. port and Communications Jassim Seif “Qatar is the fi rst to establish a Yesterday at the conference, the Ahmed al-Sulaiti. The top offi cial ex- National Traffi c Safety Committee Ministry of Interior outlined the some plained that a remarkable fall in the (NTSC) and also one of the fi rst to set of the eff ective actions taken by the number of cases of serious injuries up a National Traffi c Safety Bureau Traffi c Directorate to reduce and pre- in road accidents to less than 400 per (NTSB) to carry out evaluation of the vent road accidents as part of Qatar’s year through a reduction in the annual road traffi c. Necessary follow up is National Strategy for Traffi c Safety in road traffi c is also expected. being done on a day-to-day basis with its second phase 2018-2022. IRU offi cial praises Qatar’s eff orts in traffi c safety

he International Road Trans- ic growth and sustainable develop- port Union (IRU) has lauded ment.” Tthe achievements of Qatar in In his speech the IRU offi cial said the fi eld of traffi c safety and also com- road safety is the main focus of their plimented the eff orts being made by plans and eff orts and they consider the authorities to reduce road traffi c the topic as one of the fundamen- accidents in a big way. Speaking at the tals of economic growth, community ‘Conference on traffi c accidents and prosperity and a decent life for one enhancing traffi c safety,’ yesterday and all. Philip said traffi c accidents IRU’s associate director Patrick Philip cause nearly 1.2mn deaths annu- said relevant studies have proved Qa- ally across the world with developing tar has shown a strong commitment countries having the highest mortal- to attain the United Nations’ goals of IRU’s Patrick Philip speaking at the ity rates. He added that the number of sustainable development. conference yesterday. deaths was particularly high among The IRU offi cial said the traffi c those in the age group 15 -29. While safety achievements in the last few goals set as part of its National Traffi c calling for stronger measures to re- years have made Qatar a leader in the Safety Strategy. duce road traffi c accident deaths, the region. Philip said their forum is com- “Together with Qatar, we are com- IRU offi cial stressed the need to lay mitted to working with the competent mitted to build a safe and sustainable more emphasis on the human factor authorities in Qatar to achieve the traffi c system that promotes econom- in traffi c accidents.

Road closure to increase lane capacity

he Public Works Authority, Ash- ghal, has announced that it will Tclose from tomorrow (Friday) for two months the existing U-turn and in- stall a new temporary traffi c signal at the junction of Al Busayer Street and Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street. The closure, which will allow Ashghal to increase the lane capacity from two to four in each direction along Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street, has been designed in co- ordination with the General Directorate of Traffi c. As shown on the map, road users travelling eastbound on Al Rayyan Al Jadeed Street will be required to use the new temporary signal to turn left on to Al Busayer Street and head towards Al Rayyan Municipality and Al Shaqab area, or make a U-turn to travel towards Bani Hajer. They can also access Al Nayef Pet- rol Station from Al Busayer Street. Ash- ghal has requested all road users to abide by the speed limit, which has been re- duced from 80kph to 50kph along the di- version routes, and follow the road signs to ensure safety. Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 5 QATAR QIB introduces WPS portal to process salary accounts

atar Islamic Bank (QIB) towards the digital era, the WPS application form found on QIB by SMS to the designated users. the fi le is processed to ensure has introduced an on- Online Portal marks a new mile- website or Fanar service centre The WPS online portal was soft accuracy of the fi le. WPS is an Qline automated solution stone in QIB’s ongoing commit- and identify the key users and launched a couple of months electronic salary transfer system for the Wages Protection System ment to enhance the customer their respective responsibilities. ago, and is now being used by that allows institutions to pay (WPS) to bring further conven- experience. Customers can submit their over 600 companies processing workers’ wages via banks. ience and enhance banking ex- The new incorporated system application and familiarise over 6,000 salaries per month in The system had been initi- perience for its corporate and enables QIB to better serve its themselves with the WPS online a secured, fast, and instant man- ated by Qatar Central Bank and small- and medium-sized en- corporate and SME customers system by visiting Fanar service ner from the comfort of their enables the Ministry of Labour terprise (SME) clients. in a timely manner as the sub- centre during its extended work- desks. to create a database that records The new WPS portal has been mitted salary fi les are processed ing hours: Sunday to Thursday QIB’s WPS new online portal wage payments in private sector added to QIB’s online platform instantly.” from 7.30am to 1pm; Sunday to is multi-users friendly, where to guarantee timely and full pay- to ease the monthly salaries QIB encourages all its corpo- Wednesday from 5pm to 7.30pm as one user can prepare the WPS ment of contract agreed wages. process, which was a result of rate and SME customers who are (open between the 25th of each Salary Information File (SIF) The WPS covers all institutions the increased demand from cor- enrolled in the WPS to register month until the 10th of next and another user can approve registered in the Ministry of La- porate clients for QIB’s expertise in the new online WPS system, month); and Saturday from 9am the fi le and process it online. In bor without regards of their ex- in helping them manage their as it eliminates the need for cli- to 12 noon. Once the application addition, once all the informa- pertise sector. fi nances. ents to visit QIB service centre is completed and signed by all tion has been inputted, the WPS For further information and to QIB encourages all its corporate and SME customers who are enrolled QIB general manager of and will be available to clients authorised signatories, a user- system will validate the infor- download the WPS online reg- in the WPS to register in the new online WPS system, as it eliminates the Wholesale Banking Group Tarek 24/7. Clients can register to this name and one-time password mation and notify the employer istration form, visit www.qib. need for clients to visit QIB service centre and will be available to clients Fawzi said, “With QIB’s move service for free by fi lling out the will be auto generated and sent if any errors are found before com.qa. 24/7. ‘Buy 2 Get 1 Free’ promotion at LuLu

he ‘Buy 2 Get 1 Free’ promotion is once again being launched at TLuLu outlets today, and will con- tinue until November 3. The promotion will include a number of international brands of menswear, ladieswear, churidars, saris, children’s wear, footwear and ladies’ bags, the company has said in a statement. Stocks of leading international brands such as Lee, Wrangler, Crocs, Skech- ers, Reebok, Louis Philippe, Arrow, Eten, Cortigiani, De Backers, John Louis, Marco Donateli, Van Heusen, Allen Solly, on Nestle products in co-ordination and Brooke Bond brands. On every pur- Peter England, Oxemberg, Zero, Dash, with Nestle Qatar. Under the title ‘Buy chase of Lipton or Brook Bond products Hush Puppies, Liberty, Dickies, Joseph Nestle products for QR50 and get a worth QR20, customers are entitled to Seibel, etc, are on display. chance to win LuLu gift vouchers worth get a chance to win LuLu gift vouchers The promotion entitles customers to QR40,000’, the promotion is being held worth QR40,000. The promotion runs get the lowest-priced product for free at all LuLu outlets until October 21. until November 25. when they buy three of any of the above The promotion started on Septem- Moreover, Rayyan Water — in co- items irrespective of the brand. Latest ber 27 and there will be a total of eight ordination with LuLu — has launched summer and winter collections of in- winners. Customers those who buy any a promotion titled ‘Buy Rayyan natu- ternational brands and a trendy range Nestle product worth QR50 are enti- ral water product for QR10 and get a of fashionwear and footwear to suit all tled to get a chance to enter the e-raffl e chance to win LuLu gift vouchers worth age groups are on off er, keeping in mind draw to win LuLu shopping vouchers QR50,000’. This promotion will have 25 the growing demands of customers, worth QR40,000. winners in a mega e-raffl e draw, which the company has said. Simultaneously, Meanwhile, LuLu stores are also is scheduled to be held on October 31 LuLu Hypermarket Group is conduct- conducting a promotional campaign in at LuLu Hypermarket, D-Ring Road ing an exclusive ongoing promotion association with Unilever on the Lipton branch.

Blue Salon introduces top Fendi timepieces

lue Salon has introduced gerfeld, this timepiece perfectly in Qatar the new Run Away combines the highest watch- BDiamonds Collection from making expertise with the Fendi Fendi timepieces. DNA. The watch features white dia- The curved off -centered black monds elegantly decorating the or silver-white dial of the Run upside-down letter F and the Away Diamonds watch is de- bezel, adding a touch of sophisti- signed to convey a unique eff ect cation to its streamlined design. of depth as well as to highlight The Run Away Diamonds watch the F insert standing out in the explores the feminine shapes of overall case design. the 28mm case featuring bril- Proposed with a black strap liant-cut white diamonds for a in genuine calfskin leather, the bold yet cultured appeal. Run Away Diamonds Collection Inspired by the F is FENDI is refi ned with a timeless beauty, logo distinguished by its surpris- embodying the Roman Maison’s ing upside-down position and values as daring creativity and so-called F en Folie by Karl La- highest savoir-faire. Fendi Run Away Diamonds watch.

QAF, British Council partner for IELTS

he British Council growth and empowerment and Qatar Armed of their vision and person- TForces Language In- nel. As the international stitute have partnered to language for communica- deliver IELTS (International tion, English is a core skill, English Language Testing and by investing in inter- System) for all Ministry of national quality testing for Defence and Ministry of their personnel, the Qatar Interior personnel and their Armed Forces are taking a families. lead in ensuring their staff “The British Council have the best support and confi rms its intent to recog- preparation they need for nise and authorise the Qa- the future.” tar Armed Forces Language Brigadier General (Staff ) Institute as an independent Ibrahim K al-Mannai – IELTS test centre in Qatar,” Off icials from Qatar Armed Forces Language Institute and the Language Institute Com- it was announced in a state- British Council at the agreement signing ceremony. mander said: “The Qatar ment. Armed Forces Language In- The signing ceremony at sion of the Qatar Armed Qatar said: “The strength stitute intends to work hand Qatar Armed Forces Lan- Forces to develop and iden- and continuing success of in hand with the British guage Institute was attend- tify capabilities in English the British Council rests on Council. The centre aims ed by members from Qatar language skills. The new strategic collaboration with to provide IELTS exami- Armed Forces and the Brit- test centre is located in Al our partners in Qatar in nations to all personnel of ish Council. Sheehaniya. the fi elds of Education and the Qatar Armed Forces as The collaboration also Sam Ayton, country di- Culture. We aim to build well as to the State Security supports the strategic vi- rector at the British Council, connections which support Agencies in Qatar.”

Ooredoo Money customers can now enable recurring Hala top-ups

Ooredoo Money customers new feature is available for can now set up recurring Hala customers setting up their top-ups via their Ooredoo own recurring top-up as well Money Wallet, thanks to the as Ooredoo Money users latest feature from Ooredoo. designed to save Hala users’ Top-Up’ and then “Schedule wishing to pay for a diff erent New and existing Ooredoo time, as they will no longer New Hala Top-Up” to begin Hala user’s top-up. Money customers can now need to visit an Ooredoo registration for the service, The Ooredoo Money app is ensure that their Hala line is shop or top-up via an Oore- the statement explains. Once available via the Apple App always active and avoid Hala doo self-service machine. the service is selected, Hala Store and Google Play store service disruptions with their Ooredoo Money customers customers have to follow and has seven language op- Ooredoo Money Wallet ac- with a Hala account simply the instructions on screen, tions -- English, Arabic, Hindi, count, the company has said have to log in to the Ooredoo enter the recurring top-up Malayalam, Bengali, Tagalog in a statement. Money app or dial *140#, se- amount and date to schedule and Nepali. Visit http://www. The new feature has been lect ‘Ooredoo Services, ‘Hala a recurring Hala top-up. The ooredoo.qa/en/omm. Gulf Times 6 Thursday, October 11, 2018 QATAR QTA-Traffi c Dept deal to regulate 4x4 tourist cars atar Tourism Authority employees who are charged with (QTA) and the General Di- co-ordinating with the Traffi c De- Qrectorate of Traffi c have partment and offi cials from other signed a memorandum of under- relevant government departments, standing (MoU) to regulate the use will regularly inspect tourism and renting of tourist 4x4 vehicles, agencies who are licensed to rent including cars and quad bikes, 4x4 vehicles to tourists and visi- which are used in desert adventure tors to the area. and safari activities. “This agreement comes as part According to the new regula- of a broader collaborative initia- tions, only tour guides licensed by tive, involving various public and QTA to drive 4x4 vehicles will be private sector entities, to enhance permitted to take tourists out on the desert experience while ensur- desert safaris. ing maximum safety and security Vehicles cannot be rented out for citizens, residents and visitors,” after dark, except with a permit QTA’s acting chairman Hassan al- Representatives from QTA and the General Directorate of Traff ic at the agreement signing. from QTA, which will be provided Ibrahim said. in the case of special events held in “Enhancing the visitor experi- come at the expense of us meet- is necessary to protect the lives of The agreement comes as QTA specifi ed areas. ence is a cross-sectoral endeavour ing the international standards of our visitors to Qatar’s desert ar- and its partners prepare for the In addition, and as part of a set and is at the heart of the tourism safety and security,” he added. eas. A key element of the agree- launch of Al Enna, a project that of safety standards, the regulations sector strategy for the next fi ve Major General Mohamed Saad ment is also the organisation of aims to enhance the winter cam- specify a minimum age for those years. That is why the conditions al-Kharji, director general of the awareness campaigns during the paign and desert experiences in who rent quad bikes, and the areas and regulations have been put in General Directorate of Traffi c, winter camping season to ensure Sealine and Al Adaid areas. where quad bikes can be ridden, place after a series of discussions said: “There can be no compla- that campers, visitors and all serv- Quad biking and dune bash- which include tracks that are cur- between QTA, the General Direc- cency when it comes to the safety ice providers in the desert area are ing are key tourism products that rently being set up in desert areas torate of Traffi c, tourism business- of our citizens, residents and visi- aware of the safest ways to operate have are popular in the northern for that purpose. es and youth groups, to ensure that tors.” 4x4 vehicles and quad bikes,” he and southern desert areas of the To enforce the regulations, QTA the visitor experience does not “This collaboration with QTA added. country. Mobile app registration open for Al Furjan Markets draw

atar Development Bank (QDB) Al-Khalifa said: “Upon the citi- system of the raffl e draw and a com- has announced the 30-day zens’ requests, QDB has managed to mittee from various government Qregistration for Al Furjan link the market’s PIN number with sectors has been formed to oversee Markets Phase 1 raffl e draw to award the applicant’s PIN number, giving all rules and regulations related to retail space. Interested Qatari citizens priority to applicants who are within the raffl e.” QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa during a press may apply using the Al Furjan mobile the market zone. In order to be in- The Al Furjan Markets project is conference held to announce the registration for Al Furjan app from October 21, QDB noted. cluded the priority list, the applicant a unique initiative launched in col- Markets. PICTURE: Thajudheen QDB said this is the fi rst raffl e draw must attach property ownership pa- laboration with a number of the to be held under its wing, while the pers or other similar documents.” government sectors, in co-operation previous draw was conducted by the He added: “In compliance with with QDB, which is handling all con- Ministry of Economy and Commerce the principle of equal opportunity, struction and administrate work for (MEC). Using the mobile App, which and in order to give a chance to peo- the project. is available on Google Play and Ap- ple who have not yet benefited from The initiative is considered one ple Store, interested parties could the project, the raffle draw numbers of Qatar’s strategic projects and is compete over 45 retail stores during were linked to the personal phone intended to support the country’s Phase 1. numbers and identity cards of the commercial sector as part of the de- QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser applicants. Existing tenants can- velopment of a sustainable economy al-Khalifa said the mobile applica- not apply to this raffle as their reg- in line with the Qatar National Vi- tion ensures the proper application of istered IDs will be verified through sion 2030 to create a diverse perma- governance procedures and the sys- the application process and thus nent economic environment. tematic acceptance of applications. rejected. The motivation behind the project It also features new procedures to “Our aim through this project is is the predicted increase in popula- facilitate the submission process and to provide and establish all values of tion within the city of Doha and its convert it to an integrated electronic transparency and integrity, therefore surroundings. The retail mix has system, without preference for older an external auditing fi rm has been been devised to cater to the most im- applicants. appointed to oversee the electronic portant needs.

Dr Willy Kempel speaking at the event along with the diplomats of the participating countries and Dr Julia Gonnella. PICTURE : Shaji Kayamkulam First EU fi lm fest to take place from Oct 18

By Joseph Varghese den), Bulgarian embassy ny, Italy, Portugal, Roma- Staff Reporter counsellor Plamen Delev, nia, Spain, and Sweden. French embassy’s cultural Cinema lovers will have attache Thomas Penot, the opportunity to enjoy he European Cul- Portuguese embassy’s the screenings of the best tural Cluster (EU- cultural attache Alexan- European fi lms. The en- TNIC) will organise dra Esteves, along with trance is free and all fi lms the fi rst edition of the the Museum of Islamic are in original language European Film Festival in Art (MIA) director Dr Ju- with English subtitles. Doha, in partnership with lia Gonnella were also And the all the fi lms are the Museum of Islamic present. 15+. Art, from October 18-23. “Culture has many lan- EUNIC is Europe’s net- “The festival will start guages and one major such work of national cultural with the screening of medium is cinema which institutes, with 35 mem- a selection of Austrian conveys the multifaceted bers composed of the na- short fi lms from the 2017 aspects of a country. Next tional cultural institutes Ars Electronica Anima- year we will see more fi lms and other main cultural tion Festival. There will and more variety from the organisations from the 28 be two screenings daily, participating countries,” EU member states, estab- at 5pm and 8pm with the explained Dr Kempel. lished in over 150 coun- exception of the opening “Our fi lms are on di- tries. day and on October 21,” verse topics. We are proud The EUNIC cluster in Dr Willy Kempel, ambas- to screen these fi lms at Qatar is the fi rst of its kind sador of Austria and the the prestigious MIA,” he to be established in the local EU chair in Qatar, added. GCC. It gathers EU coun- said at a press conference MIA’s Dr Gonnella tries represented in Qatar yesterday. hoped the initiative will with the aim to promote Ambassadors Bart De lead to many more such cultural and linguistic Groof (Belgium), Hans- activities from the these diversity and develop ex- Udo Muzel (Germany), countries. changes between Euro- Pasquale Salzano (Italy), The participating coun- pean and Qatari youth and Dr Cristian Tudor (Ro- tries are Austria, Belgium, foster European and Qa- mania), Ewa Polano (Swe- Bulgaria, France, Germa- tari artists exchanges. Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 7 QATAR Woqod opens new petrol Sidra Medicine surgeons separate conjoined twins station in Old Slata

atar Fuel (Woqod) opened and energy needs of the coun- gasoline and diesel products for a new petrol station in try. Members of the Woqod team light vehicles. QOld Slata yesterday as part would like to extend their grati- He added that Woqod is cur- of its ongoing expansion plan to tude to the all governmental and rently working in the construc- serve all areas around the country. private entities concerned, which tion of 30 petrol station projects, The Old Slata pump brings Wo- contributed to the completion of most of which are expected to be qod’s total petrol station network this project.” operational this year. He said Wo- to 65. Old Slata petrol station is qod currently has seven new sta- Woqod CEO Saad Rashid al- spread over an area of 3,500sq m tions in the tendering phase and Muhannadi said: “We are pleased and has four lanes with eight dis- 10 stations in the design phase. He Doctors at Sidra Medicine have successfully separated conjoined twins, marking a first for Qatar. Picture shows the separated twins to open a new petrol station in pensers that will serve Old Slata assured the opening of two new and their parents along with the entire medical team that conducted the whole procedure. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil Old Slata. Woqod aspires to ex- and its neighbourhood. In ad- fi xed petrol stations in Hamad pand its petrol station network dition, the number of dispens- International Airport and Foxhill in the country to meet the rising ers was increased to enhance the (Luwsail) this month. demand for petroleum products quality of the service and reduce Al-Muhannadi said Woqod, in and achieve the goal of providing vehicle congestion at the petrol furtherance of customer’s satis- customers with access to best- stations. faction and the decrease of traffi c in-class products and services at Al-Muhannadi said the new congestions in petrol stations, is their convenience and comfort. petrol station off ers round-the- currently working on the disman- Qatar Duty Free launches “Woqod will also announce the clock services to residents and in- tling of diesel dispensers in Wadi opening of new petrol stations cludes a Sidra convenience store, Albanat, Bufassaila, and Rowdat during this month to meet the fuel sale of LPG cylinders, and sale of Al Hamama petrol stations, and will replace them with petrol dis- pensers. ‘Prada Voyage Experience’ He further said Woqod is re- placing the dismantled diesel dis- pensers with three mobile diesel atar Duty Free (QDF) has ence under one roof. stations and will be placed in some launched the ‘Prada Voy- Luxury brands also available at areas near the three abovemen- Qage Experience’ at Ha- the fi ve-star airport include Tif- tioned petrol stations. mad International Airport (HIA). fany & Co, Gucci, Bulgari, Her- “As part of its strategic expan- Passengers will be able to cap- mès, Hugo Boss, Moncler, Rolex sion plan, Woqod is targeting to ture their favourite moments at a and Harrods. achieve a total of 120 fuel stations Prada Voyage photo booth locat- QDF was recently awarded by the end of 2020,” al-Muhanna- ed in front of the confectionery ‘Airport Retailer of the Year’ at Woqod’s new petrol station in Old Slata. di added. area at HIA. The podium will also the 2018 DFNI Global Awards. feature an interactive fragrance In addition, in April, the leading discovery area as well as a gift airport retailer was recognised wrapping station. at the PAX International Read- “This launch is a new step ership Awards, when Qatar Air- towards further enhancing the ways won ‘Best In-Flight Duty Gulf Times fl ies high with Aviation page passenger experience at QDF,” Prada Voyage will off er passengers a unique experience with a Free Programme’ for the Mid- vice president – operations Tha- personalisation stand that will enable them to customise their dle East and Africa and was ac- From Page 1 ing manufacturers – Boeing and state’s GDP. bet Musleh said. perfume bottle with a Saff iano leather tag stamped with their knowledged as an industry leader Qatar Airways Cargo, which is Airbus. Qatar Airways, which is now Prada Voyage will off er pas- initials. for its outstanding in-fl ight duty the world’s second largest cargo Qatar’s international fi ve- a global connector, can signifi - sengers a unique experience with free service, which is operated by operator now, has seen its rev- star gateway, Hamad Interna- cantly enhance the local econo- a personalisation stand that will decorate with exclusive QDF dy collection inspired by Prada’s QDF. enue making impressive growth tional Airport (HIA) handled my in the coming years. enable them to customise their stamps and mail to their loved femininity in a set of bold and HIA the home of QDF, has of 34.4% in fi scal 2018. The air- 34,212,750 passengers and Keeping in mind the huge im- perfume bottle with a Saffi ano ones. lively scents. already met a number of signifi - line lifted nearly 1.36mn tonnes 211,658 aircraft movements from portance of this vital sector and leather tag stamped with their Prada’s diverse fragrance col- QDF boasts more than 90 cant milestones in 2018, includ- of cargo in fi scal 2018, Qatar Air- April 2017 to March 2018. the interests of the large number initials. lection available at QDF includes: elegant boutiques and luxury, ing being ranked fi fth ‘Best Air- ways fi gures show. Usually, national airlines and of air passengers, Gulf Times is The Prada Voyage photo booth the iconic duo of La Femme Prada high-end stores, as well as more port in the World’, fourth ‘Best Qatar Airways has more airports signifi cantly contrib- introducing a weekly “Aviation” will be available for passengers and L’Homme Prada; Prada Luna than 30 restaurants and cafés Airport for Shopping’ and fi fth than 300 aircraft worth more ute to the local economy of the page in the Business section. Bon to capture, print and share their Rossa for men with powerful and covering an area of 40,000sq m ‘Best Airport for Dining’ at the than $90bn on order, includ- country. Singapore Airlines con- voyage! favourite moments, along with fresh scents exploring man and at HIA, providing travellers with Skytrax World Airport Awards ing planes from both the lead- tributes about 6% of the city [email protected] postcards that customers can nature, as well as the Prada Can- a world-class shopping experi- 2018.

Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 9 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD

UN chief praises Syria buff er zone free of heavy Qatar’s fuel aid arms as militants face deadline for Gaza AFP “As long as HTS stays on Tur- Beirut key’s good side, it has a golden opportunity to set permanent QNA roots in Idlib,” Heras said. New York planned buff er zone in In recent weeks, Turkey has northwest Syria has been dispatched convoys of troops to Acleared of heavy arma- monitoring posts in the region N Secretary-General An- ments, Turkey said yesterday, as and its soldiers are expected to tonio Guterres expressed a new deadline loomed for the patrol any future buff er zone. Uhis deep appreciation for tougher task of Ankara convinc- Forces loyal to President Qatar’s contribution to provide ing militants to pull out. Bashar al-Assad have retaken fuel to the Gaza Strip to gener- The demilitarised zone ring- large parts of Syria from opposi- ate electricity, in order to help ing the Idlib region is the result tion fi ghters and militants since reduce human suff ering and re- of a deal reached last month be- Russia intervened in September spond to public health needs. tween rebel backer Turkey and 2015. “The Secretary-General ex- government ally Russia to stave After a series of victories near presses his deep appreciation off a regime assault on Syria’s Damascus and in the south of to the Government of Qatar for last major rebel stronghold. the country earlier this year, a its $60mn contribution, which The accord called for a com- similar Moscow-backed assault made this delivery of the fuel plete withdrawal of all heavy had been expected against Idlib possible and provide a welcomed weapons from the planned before the Russia-Turkey deal supply of electricity in the Strip buff er by yesterday, and rebels was announced. for the coming months,” UN and militants appeared to have Despite progress in imple- spokesman Stephane Dujarric met that deadline. menting the accord, Assad in- said in a statement in New York. “The pullout of heavy weap- sisted on Sunday it was a “tem- “Fuel for the Gaza Power Plant ons from the de-militarised porary measure” and that Idlib remains the fastest and most zone was completed on October would eventually return to state immediate way to increase elec- 10,” the Turkish defence minis- control. tricity to help decrease the hu- try said. Heras said Damascus and manitarian issues and provide Rami Abdel Rahman, who Moscow could use the grace pe- related public health needs for heads the Syrian Observatory Syrian rebel-fighters with the National Liberation Front (NLF) walk in a trench overlooking the regime areas in the northwestern countryside riod to focus on reconstructing the region,” Dujarric added. for Human Rights, said no heavy of Aleppo province. Syria’s war-ravaged infrastruc- weapons were visible in the ture. buff er already from Tuesday. Observatory said militants qui- inside the planned buff er area withdrawing forces from the battled for years in Syria under “The Russians want to freeze CAPTURE He was unable to confi rm etly followed suit. and showed no sign of leaving. area.” Syrian Foreign Minister various groups and are keen to the war in western Syria and get Egypt arrests son any pullout from a part of the Despite the relatively speedy HTS, which controls more Walid Muallem had expressed keep their infl uence in the war- on with the business of rebuild- planned zone that falls inside implementation of the accord’s than two-thirds of the planned confi dence in Turkey’s ability ravaged country’s largest re- ing Assad’s zone of control,” he of former Latakia province but said any fi rst deadline, observers say a zone, has not offi cially respond- to fulfi l its side of the deal “be- maining rebel bastion. said. president Mursi such weaponry was not out in thornier task lies ahead. ed to the Turkey-Russia deal. cause of its knowledge of fac- “HTS is playing the long “Assad might want to recon- the open. Under the deal, the zone must Haid Haid, an associate fel- tions” on the ground. game in Idlib,” said Nicholas quer Idlib, but for now he does A son of Egypt’s jailed former presi- “They could have been moved be free by October 15 of all mili- low at the Chatham House HTS, militants from the Heras of the Center for a New not have a better option than dent Mohamed Mursi was arrested to trenches or secret locations,” tants, including those of Hayat think-tank, said HTS had made Turkestan Islamic Party (TIP) American Security. this deal,” he said. yesterday morning for belonging he said. Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the re- the “pragmatic” move of pulling and current Al Qaeda outfi t “It is making the assessment The Syrian war has killed to a banned group and spreading The Turkey-backed National gion’s dominant force led by out its heavy weapons. Hurras al-Deen control more that Turkey will allow it to con- more than 360,000 people since “fake news”, judicial and security Liberation Front (NLF) rebel al- former Al Qaeda fi ghters. “Of course implementing the than two-thirds of the planned tinue to operate in northwest it erupted in 2011 with the brutal sources said. Abdullah Mursi, the liance said it had pulled out all With fi ve days to go, HTS and heavy weapons point is easier,” buff er zone. Syria, so long as HTS keeps a repression of anti-government youngest son of the deposed presi- heavy arms by Monday, and the other militant fi ghters remained he said. “The harder point is Many of HTS’ fi ghters have low profi le,” he added. protests. dent, was arrested at dawn and is set to face prosecution, the sources said. His father became Egypt’s first freely elected leader in 2012, but was overthrown by the military a year later and imprisoned following 15 Saudi reporters arrested in Rare compromise raises major protests against his rule. In an interview with the Associated Press news agency published earlier this past year: press freedom group month, Abdullah complained that hopes for UN cultural agency his family has only been allowed to visit his father — who faces the AFP He disappeared in December 2017, but his de- death penalty — three times in five Paris tention was not revealed until his conviction and Reuters ering the protection of Jerusa- the compromise “reminds us years. He also said prison authori- sentence were announced in the kingdom, the or- Paris lem’s Old City and Palestinian of the need to sit around the ties had failed to provide the former ganisation added. education. table here at Unesco and show president with suff icient medicines. t least 15 Saudi journalists and bloggers Economist and citizen-journalist Essam al- The texts promote schools goodwill. have been arrested over the past year, Re- Zamel was put on trial this month for criticising sraeli and Arab diplomats and training programmes, These are the foundations porters Without Borders (RSF) said yes- the government’s economic strategy in a series agreed resolutions on Je- while divisive issues were set of the consensus reached PREPAREDNESS A terday, following the disappearance of Saudi col- of tweets and reports. It was only then offi cially Irusalem and Palestinian aside in annexes of the agree- again today.” Schools in southern umnist Jamal Khashoggi. confi rmed he has been in jail for the past year. education at the UN cultural ments. Israeli-Palestinian peace “In most cases, their arrests have never been Another journalist and commentator, Turad al- agency yesterday, a rare show Two European diplomats talks have been suspended Oman close offi cially confi rmed and no offi cial has ever Amri, has been missing since November 2016 af- of consensus as Unesco seeks said the compromises had since 2014 and efforts to re- ahead of cyclone said where they are being held or what they are ter protesting in a tweet to a clampdown on Saudi to convince Israel to change its raised hopes that Israel could vive them have not been suc- charged with,” RSF, which defends press freedom media, including the blocking of an online news- mind about quitting. be persuaded to postpone or cessful. Oman announced schools in Dho- around the world, said in a statement. paper for which he had written. The United States and Is- even cancel its decision to The Palestinians were ad- far governorate will close today Cases included that of Saleh al-Shihi, a jour- Fayez bin Damakh, another reporter and poet, rael announced a year ago that quit. mitted to Unesco in 2011, as a cyclone gathers strength in nalist whose arrest was only confi rmed in Feb- has also been reported missing since September they would quit Unesco at the In the meanwhile, passing a against objections from Israel, the Arabian Sea, five months after ruary when his family learned he had been sen- 2017 when he was about to launch a TV news end of 2018 over what they resolution would allow stalled which argues that Palestine Cyclone Mekunu killed 11 people in tenced to fi ve years in prison, RSF said. channel in neighbouring Kuwait. described as persistent anti- Unesco projects to continue should not be admitted as a the Sultanate and Yemen. Cyclone Israeli bias. by setting aside the disputes. member state of UN bodies Luban is expected to hit southern France’s Audrey Azoulay, “Unesco is playing on dip- until it achieves statehood parts of Oman and Yemeni islands, who was named days later lomatic ambiguity to get the through an agreed process at including Socotra, with winds as the head of the body, has ball rolling again,” said one of the end of talks. expected to reach 120 kilometres Tunisia parliament adopts anti-racism law sought to persuade them to the diplomats. A Unesco diplomatic source per hour. “Schools will be shut as Tunisia’s parliament has adopted a law criminalising said Messaoud Romdhani, head of the Tunisian reconsider. When asked whether Israel said the compromise showed precautionary measure and to racist speech, incitement to hatred and discrimina- Forum for Economic and Social Rights. Slavery was She has pledged to restore would reconsider its decision that Israel and the United protect the students and staff ... tion, in a vote hailed as a historic first in a country abolished in the North African country when it was the relevance of the Paris- to quit Unesco, an Israeli For- States should reconsider quit- and in case residents need shelter with a significant black minority. a vassal of the Ottoman empire, in 1846. “It’s a giant based body but has been hob- eign Ministry spokesman de- ting, given years of previous during that time,” the educa- The legislation was approved on Tuesday night after step, but there’s still a lot of work to be done to make bled by regional rivalries and a clined to comment. stalemate at the body. “There tion directorate in Dhofar, 950 a lengthy debate with 125 members of parliament this law a reality in a society where there is racism lack of money. The texts are set to be re- is a real question here for the kilometres south of Muscat, said voting for it, one against and five abstaining. against the 10% of black Tunisians and sub-Saharan Under Unesco’s mediation, viewed again in April, after Americans and especially for in a statement yesterday. Luban is “This is a very important turning point in the history Africans who suff er from insults and sometimes the Israeli, Palestinian and Israel is due to leave the or- the Israelis to see what con- currently considered a category of Tunisia, equivalent to the abolition of slavery,” violent attacks,” said Romdhani. Jordanian delegations com- ganisation. clusions they draw from this one tropical cyclone. promised on resolutions cov- In a statement, Azoulay said decision,” the source said.

In Iraq’s city of bookshops, theology and poetry compete on the shelves

AFP lessons in Arabic, law and reli- (knowledge of) one does not Iraq’s legislative elections in Najaf gious morals”, he added. preclude the other”. May.Until the 1950s, second- The 19-year-old avidly seeks Iraqi poet Mohamed Mahdi hand bookstores held weekly advice on books on religious al-Jawahiri could be found in meetings for students in Najaf, n the covered alleyways of law, religious principles and Najaf’s alleyways and book- according to Hassan al-Hakim, old Najaf in Iraq, poetry and other lessons. stores in the 1920s, as he pro- an expert in history and Islamic Iphilosophy books compete Several decades Reda’s sen- gressed from strict religious civilisation. on laden shelves with economic ior, Mohannad Mustapha Jamal instruction to militant journal- They “gathered near Imam treatises, the Holy Qur’an and el-Din — a religious student ism in Baghdad. Ali’s tomb and every Friday other theological tomes for stu- turned teacher — also feels at Twenty-one years after his they sold works at auction, dents’ attention. home among the bookstalls. death, his collections sit on including many original edi- Since leaving his native Bang- Najaf’s 750-year-old market shelves that heave with a splen- tions”, said the professor of ladesh for the holy city three helps make it a “city apart”, he did array of titles, stretching Kufa University, who has set up years ago, religious student Mo- enthused. to the arcane such as “Islamic a heritage association for Najaf. hamed Ali Reda has regularly Located 150km south of economy — Marxist or Capital- Famed British archaeologist frequented secondhand book- Baghdad, the city welcomes ist?” Other one-time students Gertrude Bell “visited the Najaf stores. millions of pilgrims every year. have found their calling in the book market” in the early 20th There are many like him in They come to visit the tomb maze of Najaf’s old city, and century, Hakim added proudly. Najaf. of Imam Ali, son-in-law of the become famous in their own The academic contends that Some wear turbans. “I am Prophet Muhammad. right. the city’s special status should still at the start of my appren- Najaf “is like no other city in Examples include the Grand not be threatened by the shift ticeship”, said Reda, in one of Iraq — (it’s) steeped in religion Ayatollah Ali Sistani, a spirit- of much academic literature the dozens of bookshops in the and literature”, said Jamal el- ual leader, and Mohamed Bakr online. city’s Howeish market. Din, sporting the black turban. Sadr, a great thinker. “We want our students to Wearing a simple white robe Among the crowds of reli- Sadr was killed by former view books as their primary and scarf, he speaks in hesi- gious students, there are also dictator Saddam Hussein’s re- source, ahead of the Internet” tant Arabic, like his Iranian, poetry lovers. gime, and was an uncle of po- for verified information, Hak- Pakistani and Turkish student Some, like Jamal el-Din, have litical heavyweight Moqtada im said. And “by looking for a peers. a foot in both camps. “One Sadr, whose electoral list won book, we can find others that “For the moment, we have can be versed in both fields — the largest number of seats in interest us”, he noted. Iraqis check books at the Howeish book market in the holy city of Najaf, 150 kilometres south of Baghdad. Gulf Times 10 Thursday, October 11, 2018 AFRICA

Ebola 50 killed in Kenya bus crash death toll

AFP rises in Nairobi DR Congo t least 50 people were killed when the bus they Awere travelling in over- AFP turned and its entire roof was Beni ripped off in an accident in western Kenya early yesterday, police said. he death toll from an Eb- The bus was travelling from ola outbreak in eastern Nairobi to the western town TDemocratic Republic of of Kakamega, police said, and Congo has risen to 118, author- footage from the scene showed ities have said, with three chil- the vehicle lying on its side with dren among the recent victims. the seats and mangled bits of The outbreak was first de- metal exposed to the air. tected on August 1, with the The faded red bus, emblazoned health ministry confirming the with the name “Home Boyz”, was latest toll on Tuesday and say- later righted. The torn-off roof ing seven new cases had been could be seen lying at a distance. confirmed, six of them in Beni, “It is unfortunate that we have not far from the Ugandan bor- lost 51 people,” Kenya’s police der. chief Joseph Boinnet told Capi- More than 15,000 people tal FM radio. However James have now been vaccinated Mugera, the Kericho County Po- against the virus, it said. lice Commander, said there were This latest outbreak — the 50 fatalities: “Those who per- 10th in DR Congo since Ebola ished include 31 male passengers, was first detected there in 1976 12 women and seven children. — emerged in a highly-restive There are about 10 others who northeastern region home to a have been rushed to various hos- clutch of armed groups which pitals with serious injuries.” lies near the border with Ugan- Offi cers said the bus had a ca- da, Rwanda and South Sudan. pacity of 52 passengers. The authorities in Beni have The bus was reportedly de- announced measures to protect scending a steep hill when it hit a health workers from attacks af- guard rail before plunging down a Residents look at the wreckage of a bus that crashed, near Fort Ternan along the Londiani-Muhoroni road in Kericho county, yesterday. ter a number of incidents where few metres. response teams were assaulted. Dozens of people milled vestigation into the tragedy. Kericho County this morning to avoid such catastrophic inci- the World Health Organisation tween a bus and a lorry. In 2016 Ebola response teams will be around the accident site and “My heartfelt condolences to and wish those in hospital quick dents.” estimates the fi gure could be as more than 40 people died when able to “call on law enforce- goods were strewn over a large the families of fellow Kenyans recovery,” he wrote on Twitter. Offi cial statistics show that high as 12,000. an out-of-control fuel tanker ment officers for safe and dig- area, footage showed. President who lost their lives in a tragic “I would like to remind driv- around 3,000 people die annually In December 2017, 36 people ploughed into vehicles and then nified collections and burials,” Uhuru Kenyatta called for an in- road accident at Fort Ternan in ers to always exercise caution in road accidents in Kenya, but died in a head-on collision be- exploded on a busy highway. the ministry said.

SA gets $35bn in investment Militants’ attack kills two teachers pledges towards $100bn goal Reuters Nairobi

Reuters from companies and govern- decade, the government had Pretoria ments at an investment summit borrowed heavily to fund spend- wo Kenyan teachers were killed in Johannesburg on October 26, ing on poorly executed in- when suspected Al Shebaab part of eff orts to fulfi l Ramapho- frastructure projects and pay Tmilitants threw an explosive outh Africa has investment sa’s promise to create jobs. public sector wages, but tighter device at a house at a school in Man- commitments of $35bn “You’re also going to have a controls were needed to ensure dera county near the Somali border, Sas part of plans by Presi- stream of announcements at the returns on investments. police said. dent Cyril Ramaphosa to attract investment conference,” Ma- “Signifi cant fi scal spend- Al Shebaab claimed responsibility $100bn over the next fi ve years khaya said. She said the summit ing in the last ten years did keep for the attack overnight. to revive the country’s fl agging would connect investors with us away from the brink, but it “Last night we killed two non- economy, his economic adviser projects, and also be an oppor- didn’t alter the economy fun- Muslim Kenyan teachers after we at- told Reuters yesterday. tunity to convince investors the damentally,” she said, adding tacked their school in Arabow village Ramaphosa has appointed a country was on a stable policy that spending to try and boost of Mandera county”, Abdiasis Abu team of investment envoys — path. the economy would not work in Musab, Al Shebaab’s military opera- bankers, former ministers, busi- “We need to keep doing the the long run.“We’ve seen that it tions spokesman, told Reuters yes- ness people as well as economist work of raising investments doesn’t work,” Makhaya said. terday. Trudi Makhaya, his economic leading up to next year’s elec- Pretoria’s debt burden has The teachers were killed in a fi re adviser — to scour the world’s tion to show investors policy doubled to nearly 60% of gross caused by the explosion in the attack fi nancial capitals for new inves- isn’t going to change (even if the domestic product in the past at Arabia Boys Secondary School, po- tors. ruling ANC party lost the vote),” decade, while growth in the lice said on Twitter. “There is about $35bn that has she told Reuters in an interview. same period averaged around Police reservists guarding the been pledged,” Makhaya said. The polls are due to be held in 2%, well short of government’s school “engaged the attackers who “We’ve had $10bn committed the middle of the next year and target of 5% annual expansion. then fl ed as more reinforcements were from Saudi Arabia. About $10bn the African National Congress is “The president has articu- mobilised”, police said. from the UAE, and around $15bn battling to increase its majority. lated his economic vision very The Al Qaeda-linked Al Shebaab committed from China when Ramaphosa faces an uphill clearly. It’s investments, job cre- aims to topple Somalia’s UN-backed you’re looking at government to battle to secure public and in- ation and fi xing up governance,” government and impose its own strict government deals.” vestor support after a decade of Makhaya said from a meeting interpretation of religion. They have Security off icers carry the body of a teacher killed at Arabia Boys Secondary School after The South African govern- scandals under Jacob Zuma. room, near Ramaphosa’s offi ce intensifi ed attacks in Kenya since it suspected Al Shebaab militants threw an explosive device at a teacher’s house in Mandera ment hopes to raise more money Makhaya said over the past in Pretoria. sent troops into Somalia in 2011. county, Kenya yesterday. Empty shelves, rationed bread ring alarm bells in Zimbabwe

AFP Harare

n one of the biggest super- markets in Harare, Zimba- Ibwe’s capital, cooking oil, rice and Coca-Cola are all out of stock while a notice on the bread rack tells shoppers they can only buy one loaf each. Outside, a small crowd mills around hoping for a delivery of goods that may never come. A currency crunch and a new tax on electronic transactions has spawned fears that Zimba- bwe’s wrecked economy is about to endure a fresh bout of chaos. “It looks like we are heading back to 2008,” said Pardon Mur- Pharmacist Luckmore Bhunu speaks with an AFP journalist in Harare, about drug shortage in Zimbabwe as many essential drugs, including those for diabetics and hypertensive patients, are unavailable. ingani, a shopper in OK Super- Right: A picture shows empty shelves, including those for bread, in a groceries store in Harare. market, recalling how shops ran out of goods when hyperinfl a- after the vote, the dire fi nan- hours for rationed petrol and can’t continue like this,” Yvonne and hypertension. “We don’t venes,” blared the headline in the Bond notes were introduced in tion peaked, destroying savings cial problems of the Mugabe era those with money stock-piled Makoni, a property consultant, manufacture many drugs. We state-owned Herald newspaper 2016 — in theory equal to the US and forcing the country to aban- have returned to haunt the new any food for sale. said while waiting for petrol. have to import these and we yesterday, with the main article dollar, but they were soon trad- don the Zimbabwe dollar. leader. “There is no need to panic. Often each driver can fi ll up need foreign currency,” Lucky- accusing retailers of triggering ing at a far weaker rate, and the “We just hope a solution is The latest crisis erupted last The government is guaranteeing with only 20 litres and must pay more Bhunu, secretary for the stock-piling and shortages by gap has widened in recent weeks. found soon, so that we don’t get week when Finance Minis- the availability of all essential cash. A local franchise of Ken- Retail Pharmacists Association, raising prices. Public anger at the state of there,” he said. ter Mthuli Ncube announced a commodities including fuel,” he tucky Fried Chicken has shut its told AFP. “As a result of lack of confi - the economy was a contributory President Emmerson Mnan- 2%tax on all electronic transac- said in a statement. restaurants, posting signs on the Many other shops have been dence, we see panic buying of factor in November’s military gagwa took over from veteran tions to increase revenue. “The road is long, winding doors saying it was unable to buy closed in the capital and second commodities including fuel,” intervention that fi nally top- autocrat Robert Mugabe last Many Zimbabweans rely on and at times bumpy but there is meat without US dollars, while city Bulawayo in recent days. Prosper Chitambara, of the La- pled Mugabe, then 93, after 37 year and won disputed elections electronic payments as US dol- no other way.” other food outlets have followed The main trade union has bour and Economic Develop- years in offi ce. Mugabe’s reign as in July. lars, which function as the main The shortages have created a suit. called for a national strike to- ment Research Institute of Zim- the head of the ruling ZANU-PF Mnangagwa had campaigned currency, are scarce, and the lo- thriving black market, with a li- Many pharmacies have also day over the country’s renewed babwe, said. party was marked by corruption on a pledge to revive the econ- cal “bond note” currency is little tre of cooking oil being sold on shut. economic woes — though police “Businesses that need to ac- and mismanagement that led omy, attract foreign investment trusted. the street for up to $12 (10.40 Those still open often can- have banned marches in Harare quire foreign currency have to go to an exodus of investors, mass and create jobs. Mnangagwa urged citizens to euros) instead of $3.70. not off er essential medicine for due to a cholera outbreak. to the black market where pre- emigration and collapse of many But less than three months stay calm as drivers queued for “Measures should be taken.We chronic conditions like diabetes “Price madness: Govt inter- miums are 200%.” public services. Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 11 AMERICAS

COMMENT LEGAL SPECULATION LAW AND ORDER CRIME Powell one of many being Trump appointees key to Murdoch ‘in line to replace Limo company operator Man who sold stolen eyed for UN, says Trump immigration case verdict Musk as Tesla chairman’ charged with homicide identities gets jail

President Donald Trump yesterday said his ad- The outcome of the latest immigration case involv- Outgoing Twenty-First Century Fox Inc chief execu- The operator of a limousine company that owned A California man accused by US special counsel ministration was talking to his former adviser ing President Donald’s Trump administration to tive James Murdoch is the lead candidate to replace the vehicle involved in a crash that killed 20 people Robert Mueller’s off ice of operating an online and Goldman Sachs executive Dina Powell come before the US Supreme Court could hinge Elon Musk as Tesla chairman, the Financial Times in upstate New York was taken into custody and auction service for stolen identities was yesterday about possibly succeeding Nikki Haley as the on his two appointees, conservative Justices Neil reported yesterday, citing two people briefed on charged with criminally negligent homicide, New sentenced to one year in prison in a federal district US ambassador to the United Nations, but that Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. The nine justices the discussions. Tesla and Musk reached a settle- York State Police said yesterday. Nauman Hussain, court. Richard Pinedo, who pleaded guilty to one Powell was just one of many people under yesterday heard the administration argue for sweep- ment with US Securities and Exchange regulators the operator of Prestige Limousine, was taken into count of identity fraud in February, could serve half consideration. Asked whether Powell was the ing government authority to detain immigrants last month in which they agreed to pay $20mn custody following a traff ic stop near Albany, police the sentence at home, US judge Dabney Friedrich front-runner, Trump told reporters at the White awaiting deportation after they complete sentences each to financial regulators and that the billionaire said in a statement. He was charged in connection said. The criminal charge against Pinedo was House: “No, but she’s somebody we’re talking for criminal convictions, even years after leaving would step down as chairman but remain as CEO. with the deadly crash. The company’s lawyer, Lee announced in February by Mueller’s off ice at the to.” “We’re looking at many people,” Trump prison. The administration, which has taken a hard Murdoch, who is a non-executive director of Tesla, Kindlon, told a news conference yesterday that same time it announced an indictment against 13 said, adding that some of the people under line toward immigration, has appealed a lower court had signalled he wants the job, the report said. The Hussain’s girlfriend and brother were at the police Russians and three Russian companies on charges consideration were currently in his administra- ruling in favour of immigrants that the government son of Fox mogul Rupert Murdoch, he joined Tesla’s barracks earlier for some “initial questioning.” It was they adopted fake online personas to push divisive tion. “There are some tremendous, talented has said undermines its ability to deport immigrants board last year after years of work with media not immediately clear if other family members were messages, travelled to the US to collect intelligence people.” who have committed crimes. companies. questioned. and staged political rallies.

Bloomberg rejoins Democrats ‘Monster’

Reuters Washington

ormer New York City hurricane mayor Michael Bloomberg Frejoined the Democratic Party yesterday, going back to his political roots weeks before the November 6 congressional elections and amid speculation that he might run for the White House in 2020. slams into Bloomberg, the billionaire founder and chief executive of global media company Bloomberg LP, said in a post on social media he was re-registering as a Demo- crat, citing a potential constitu- tional crisis under Republican President Donald Trump, a fellow Florida New York businessman. “At key points in US history, AFP Hundreds of thousands of said. “Citizens in Georgia need to one of the two parties has served Panama City, US people were ordered to evacu- wake up and pay attention,” Long as a bulwark against those who ate their homes and the governor said. threaten our Constitution. Two told residents that if they have Mike Thomas, the mayor of years ago at the Democratic urricane Michael not already done so it was now Panama City Beach, a resort west Convention, I warned of those slammed into the Florida too late. of Panama City, said he expected threats,” Bloomberg wrote in Hcoast yesterday as the “The time to evacuate the there would be casualties and post on Instagram. most powerful storm to hit the coastal areas has come and that emergency personnel would “Today, I have re-registered as southern US state in more than gone...Hunker down, and be not go out when winds get over a Democrat — I had been a mem- a century as offi cials warned it careful,” he said. “Don’t go out 80kph. ber for most of my life — because could wreak “unimaginable dev- in the middle of this. You are not “It’s going to be horrible,” we need Democrats to provide astation.” going to survive it. It’s deadly.” Thomas told CNN. “We’re going the checks and balance our na- Michael made landfall as a “This is, unfortunately, a to get some people hurt.” An es- tion so badly needs.” monstrous category 4 storm historical and incredibly dan- timated 375,000 people in more Bloomberg, 76, was a longtime near Mexico Beach, a town about gerous and life-threatening than 20 counties were ordered or Democrat who became a Repub- 32kms southeast of Panama situation,” said Ken Graham, advised to evacuate. lican before running for mayor of City, around 1pm Eastern time director of the Miami-based The National Weather Service the largest US city in 2001. (1700GMT), the National Hurri- NHC. “It’s going to be incred- offi ce in the state capital Talla- He left the Republican Party to cane Centre said. ibly catastrophic.” hassee issued a dramatic appeal become an independent in 2007 As the eye of the hurricane Long, the head of the Federal for people to comply with evacu- and served three terms as New came ashore, winds of up to Emergency Management Agen- ation orders. York’s mayor, stepping down in 250kms per hour and driving rain cy (FEMA), said many Florida “Hurricane Michael is an un- 2013. He has considered running pounded beachfront communi- buildings were not built to with- precedented event and cannot be for president in the past as an in- ties on the Florida Panhandle, stand a storm above the strength compared to any of our previous dependent but never did. the fi nger-shaped strip of land of a category 3 hurricane on the events. Do not risk your life, leave The Guardian newspaper re- along the Gulf of Mexico. fi ve-level Saffi r-Simpson Hur- NOW if you were told to do so,” it ported in August that he was “Hurricane Michael is forecast ricane Wind Scale. said. considering running in 2020 as a to be the most destructive storm As it came ashore, Michael was The NWS said it had found no Democrat. to hit the Florida Panhandle in a just shy of a category 5 — defi ned record of any previous category 4 Representatives for Bloomb- century,” governor Rick Scott said. as a storm packing wind speeds hurricanes that made landfall in erg could not be immediately Briefi ng President Donald of 157mph or above. “We’re go- the Panhandle or the “Big Bend” reached for comment yesterday. Trump at the White House, top ing to see a lot of wind damage,” coastal region. A frequent critic of Trump, emergency management offi cial Long said, and some residents “This situation has NEVER Bloomberg has donated $80mn Brock Long said Michael was the could expect not to have power happened before,” it said on to help Democrats gain control most intense hurricane to strike restored for weeks. Twitter. of the House of Representatives the area since 1851. Speaking before the hurricane Trump issued an emergency and $20mn to help Democrats “Along our coast, communi- made landfall, Long said “this declaration for Florida, freeing running for US senate, which ties are going to see unimagina- is the fi nal call for anybody that up federal funds for relief opera- Republicans now narrowly con- ble devastation,” governor Scott needs to get out. Those who stick tions and providing the assist- trol 51 to 49. said. around to experience storm surge ance of FEMA, which has more Democrats are aiming to pick “The National Hurricane Cen- don’t typically live to tell about it than 3,000 people on the ground. up 23 seats in the House to win tre is expecting storm surge to unfortunately,” he said. State offi cials issued disas- a majority in the lower cham- be between nine and 13 feet,” he Residents of the neighbour- ter declarations in Alabama and ber, something political analysts added. “Water will come miles in ing state of Georgia should also Georgia and the storm is also ex- have said is more likely than Waves crash into houses along the shore at Alligator Point in Franklin county, Florida, US, yesterday as shore and could easily rise over expect to be heavily impacted pected to bring heavy rainfall to gaining an edge in the Senate. Hurricane Michael intensifies. the roofs of houses.” by the storm, the FEMA head north and south Carolina.

Threats from drones to Top of the world Canada errors ‘helped US escalating, warns FBI prompt Saudi row’ Reuters The tweet in question was a Ottawa translation of a message initially Reuters to evaluate emerging threats that eas or suspicious activities has sent out from the foreign minis- Washington drones may pose to state or pri- jumped from eight incidents in try in Ottawa. vate critical infrastructure enti- 2013 to an estimated 1,752 inci- anada made mistakes in Horak, now retired, said he ties and domestic airports. dents in 2016, citing federal sta- its dealings with Saudi did not know the tweet was go- BI director Christopher Wray said the risk has “only tistics. CArabia which helped ing to be issued and would have Wray told a US senate panel increased in light of the public- The American Civil Liberties spark a diplomatic dispute, the advised against it. Fyesterday that the threat ity associated with the apparent Union criticised the drone pro- former Canadian ambassador to “The urging of immediate re- from drones “is steadily esca- attempted assassination of Ven- vision, saying it “amounts to an Riyadh said in remarks yesterday. lease I think went too far,” he said, lating” even as Congress gives ezuelan President Maduro using enormous unchecked grant of In August, Saudi Arabia froze and described the Saudi govern- agencies new tools to address explosives-laden” drones. authority to the government to new trade with Canada, expelled ment’s response as a “serious threats. Wray noted the FBI had dis- forcefully remove drones form envoy Dennis Horak and ordered over-reaction”. Gulf sources said Wray told the senate homeland rupted a plan in the US to use the sky in nebulous security cir- all Saudi students home after the Riyadh considered the tweet to be security committee that the FBI drones to attack the Pentagon cumstances.” embassy issued an Arabic lan- a break with diplomatic norms. assesses that “given their re- and the Capitol building. The FBI has said drone threats guage tweet urging the immediate Analysts say the Saudi re- tail availability, lack of verifi ed In 2012, Rezwan Ferdaus was could include surveillance, release of women’s rights activists. sponse shows the limits of re- identifi cation requirement to sentenced to 17 years in prison chemical, biological or radiologi- “It was a situation that didn’t forms by Crown Prince Mo- procure, general ease of use, and for attempting to conduct a ter- cal attacks or attacks “on large need to occur...to sort of yell hamed bin Salman, who runs its prior use overseas, (drones) will rorist attack. open-air venues” and attacks from the sidelines I don’t think is day-to-day government. be used to facilitate an attack in Ferdaus, who held a degree in against government facilities. eff ective,” Horak said in a phone Horak, noting the two na- the US against a vulnerable tar- physics, obtained multiple jet- Since 2017, federal offi cials have interview. tions have not had a particularly get, such as a mass gathering.” powered, remote-controlled banned drones over US military Horak’s comments mark the strong relationship in recent Wray made his comments days model aircraft capable of fl ying bases, national landmarks, nuclear fi rst time a senior Canadian of- years, said whether or not ties after President Donald Trump 100 miles per hour and planned sites and other sensitive areas. Suspended more than 300 metres above downtown fi cial has conceded Ottawa was improved would depend to a signed into law legislation that to fi ll the aircraft with explosives The defence department pre- Toronto, six new Canadians took the oath of citizenship partly responsible for the row. large extent on Riyadh. gives the department of home- and crash them into the Pentagon viously was given authority to from the edge of one of the world’s tallest structures. Horak also said the Liberal Saudi Arabia Foreign Minis- land security (DHS) and the FBI and the Capitol using a GPS sys- address drone threats to military Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen administered government of Prime Minister ter Adel al-Jubeir, speaking on new powers to disable or destroy tem in each aircraft. facilities. the oath to the new citizens, hailing from six diff erent Justin Trudeau — which con- the sidelines of a United Na- drones that pose a threat to gov- Senator Ron Johnson, who More than 1mn US drones have countries, as they were held in cables off the tinually stresses the importance tions meeting, asked Canada on ernment facilities. chairs the committee, said ear- been registered, the federal avia- 116-story-high platform known as the EdgeWalk, on the of human rights — should have September 26 to apologise for its The new law also requires DHS lier this year that the number of tion administration said in Janu- side of the landmark CN Tower. spent more time trying to im- actions and to stop treating the to conduct several assessments drone fl ights over sensitive ar- ary. prove ties with the Saudis. kingdom as “a banana republic”. Gulf Times 12 Thursday, October 11, 2018 ASIA

Thaksin’s Bangladesh sentences 19 son granted bail in case of money to death over 2004 attack laundering AFP ing the opposition?” judge landslide victory in elections in Dhaka Shahed Nur Uddin said over a December 2008. portable loudhailer as he fi rst Death sentences are common Reuters read out the verdict and then in Bangladesh, with hundreds Bangkok Bangladesh court yes- handed down the sentences. of people on death row. All exe- terday sentenced 19 peo- “We thank God for the ver- cutions are by hanging, a legacy Aple to death over a 2004 dict,” prosecutor Mosharraf of the British colonial era. Thai court yesterday grenade attack on the current Hossain told reporters. At least nine top Islamist granted bail of 1mn baht prime minister, although a top “We hoped that Tarique Rah- extremists, fi ve leaders of the A($30,000) to the son of opposition leader escaped with man would get the death sen- country’s largest Islamist party fugitive former prime minister a life sentence. tence,” he said, adding the court and a senior opposition leader Thaksin Shinawatra after he was The opposition staged pro- observed that Rahman played a have been hanged since 2007. indicted of money laundering, a tests and slammed the sen- key role in the attack. Home Minister Asaduz- case his supporters condemned tences as “political vengeance” Hossain said two former zman Khan said justice had as politically motivated. as police went on high alert ministers, including a power- been done. Supporters of the Shinawat- across the South Asian country, ful ex-home minister, and two But Rahman’s lawyer Sanaul- ras, backed by poor, rural voters, with a bus in the north allegedly former heads of the country’s lah Mia said the charges were accuse the military government, fi re-bombed. powerful intelligence agencies politically motivated. which took power after a 2014 The 2004 attack in Dhaka on were among others handed the He questioned the timing of coup, of seeking to hobble the a rally by Sheikh Hasina, at the death sentence. the verdict, saying it was aimed at family and its allies ahead of a time in the opposition and now A total of 15 Islamist extrem- keeping Rahman out of elections general election set for next year. prime minister, left her injured ists from the banned Harkat-ul expected for December. The government denies that. and killed 20 people. Jihad al Islami (HuJI), whose “There was no evidence or Panthongtae Shinawatra, 38, Tarique Rahman, son of leader was executed in April last witness against him. No witness also known by his nickname then-premier and Hasina’s year with two others, were also could say that conspiracy was “Oak”, went to the attorney gen- ally-turned-archrival Kha- sentenced to death for planning hatched at Hawa Bhaban,” he Police inspect pedestrians near the special court, following verdict in the cases filed over August 21, eral’s offi ce to face the indict- leda Zia, was among 49 people and carrying out the attack. said, referring to a former BNP 2004 grenade attack, in Dhaka yesterday. ment, accompanied by both his on trial, with Rahman charged Prosecutors said former BNP offi ce used by Rahman. sisters and many senior members with criminal conspiracy and minister Abdus Salam Pintu Convicted former home min- of political vengeance”. Latiful Islam said an alleged BNP “No anarchy will be of the Thaksin-backed Puea Thai multiple counts of murder. colluded with HuJI and handed ister Lutfozzaman Babar said BNP activists staged pro- youth wing activist was arrested tolerated,” he said. Party. Rahman, 50, was however over grenades for the attack. that his death sentence was tests in the capital Dhaka and at for the attack. Zia was transferred to hospital “The court has set Nov. 5 as tried in absentia after he fl ed the Hasina was addressing the “completely unjust” and that several towns across the coun- “He was trying to create last weekend from the 19th cen- the date for my client to accept country for London in 2008. rally when the grenades explod- he was punished for refusing to try, moments after news of the anarchy,” he said. tury Dhaka Central Jail, where or deny the charge,” his lawyer, He now leads the main oppo- ed and suff ered severe injuries testify against Zia and her son. verdict spread. Police Commissioner she is the only prisoner. Chumsai Sriyaphai, told Reuters. sition Bangladesh Nationalist in one ear. Among the dead was “Allah knows it’s injustice,” Two people were injured as Asaduzzaman Mia said police She has been on trial in a spe- “Oak has always rejected any Party (BNP) from exile after Zia the wife of a former president. he said. a motor biker allegedly fi re- were on high alert across the cial room of the prison on ad- wrongdoing in this case.” was jailed in February for fi ve Four years later, Hasina BNP spokesman Fakhrul bombed a public bus in the country and would do “whatever ditional graft charges that her Panthongtae declined to speak years for corruption. stormed back to power after Islam Alamgir called the northern town of Shahjahanpur. is needed to provide safety to the supporters say are politically to reporters. “Does politics mean attack- leading a secular coalition to a verdict “a naked display Shahjahanpur police chief people”. motivated. After granting bail, the court ordered Panthongtae not to leave the country without permission. In a statement earlier, the at- torney general said, “Panthong- tae Shinawatra will be pros- ecuted...on charges of money Lanka enacts legislation to laundering and conspiring to launder money of the amount of 10 million baht.” Last year, authorities for- mally charged him with having compensate war victims received a cheque for 10mn baht ($304,000) in 2004, in relation The offi ce will decide on to a prior corruption case over AFP Lanka says no Chinese military base at port Colombo potentially tens of thousands fraudulent loans of 9.9bn baht of compensation claims made by state-owned Krungthai from those affl icted by fi ght- Sri Lanka rejected yesterday including neighbouring India. Bank when his father was prime ri Lanka’s parliament yes- ing that ended in 2009 with US claims that China might Last week US Vice-President minister. terday passed legislation the defeat of the Tamil Tiger establish a “forward military Mike Pence said Hambantota If found guilty, Panthongtae President Abdulla Yameen filed a legal challenge yesterday Sto pay compensation to rebels. base” at a strategic port leased “may soon become a forward could face a jail term of up to 10 against his recent landslide election defeat. victims of the island’s brutal President Maithripala Sirise- to Beijing by the indebted military base for China’s years. The 15-year statute of lim- civil war, nearly a decade after na has faced international criti- Indian Ocean island nation. growing blue-water navy,” itations on the crime was set to the end of the confl ict which cism for the lack of progress Sri Lanka last year granted according to US media. expire next year, had he not been claimed 100,000 lives. towards reconciliation since his a 99-year lease on the But Sri Lankan Prime Minister taken to court. The legislature voted 59-43 election three years ago. Hambantota deep-sea port to Ranil Wickremesinghe’s off ice said “I believe that Oak did not Maldives’ president to approve a broad reparations The United Nations Human Beijing, after it was unable to that there would be no foreign know the money he received bill which seeks to establish Rights Council (UNHRC) has repay Chinese loans for the military presence at Hambantota, came from wrongdoing,” party an independent offi ce that will led a chorus pressing Sirisena $1.4bn project. and that the US State Department member Watana Muangsook told challenges poll rout compensate survivors as well as and his administration to take The port, situated along key had been briefed. reporters. victims’ next of kin. urgent steps towards address- shipping routes, is one of a “Our navy’s Southern Thaksin, whose populist Former president Mahinda ing war-era abuses, including string of infrastructure projects Command is being relocated movement’s struggle with the AFP Yameen, 59, who has bor- Rajapakse’s followers voted punishing soldiers and rebels in Asia, Africa and Europe in Hambantota to control port Thai establishment has domi- Colombo rowed heavily from China for against the bill, arguing that accused of atrocities. being funded under China’s security,” Wickremesinghe’s nated politics for more than a infrastructure projects, did it amounted to compensat- After years of delay the gov- Belt and Road Initiative that off ice quoted him as saying in decade, lives in exile after fl eeing not accept the result. ing separatist Tamil rebels who ernment bowed to international has rattled the US and its allies, Britain on Monday. (AFP) Thailand to escape a jail sentence aldives strongman Yameen had reluctantly said were crushed in a no-holds- pressure in March and estab- for corruption following his President Abdulla he would leave offi ce in No- barred military campaign in lished an offi ce to trace the tens overthrow in a 2006 coup. MYameen fi led a legal vember but he has been pub- May 2009. of thousands still missing since The previous Rajapakse re- Tigers’ quest for independence His sister, Yingluck Shinawat- challenge yesterday against licly urging his supporters to The long-delayed legisla- the end of the war. gime, which ruled with an iron came to a bloody end. ra, overthrown as prime minister his recent landslide election challenge the results. tion had been a key demand of Sirisena’s pledge upon elec- fi st, refused to even acknowl- International rights groups in 2014, fl ed Thailand in August defeat despite international Constitutionally, he can re- international observers urging tion in January 2015 to investi- edge war-era abuses. have called for the prosecution last year to avoid conviction in a pressure for him to go quietly. main in offi ce till November 17 reconciliation in the island na- gate the war and compensate its Sri Lankan forces were ac- of both the military and the criminal negligence case she said Yameen, whose main po- when he has to hand over to tion where divisions between victims saw Sri Lanka narrowly cused of killing up to 40,000 Tigers, who were notorious for was politically motivated. litical rivals were either in jail Solih, barring any last minute minority Tamils and majority avoid being slapped with inter- Tamil civilians during the fi nal suicide bombings and enlisting Later, she was sentenced in or in exile for the September court intervention. Sinhalese persist. national sanctions. months of the war when the child soldiers. absentia to fi ve years in jail. 23 vote but was unexpectedly Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, beaten by a unity opposition spokesman for the Maldivian candidate, had already con- Democratic Party (MDP), said ceded defeat. the challenge was “an attempt But lawyers for Yameen’s by Yameen to create unrest” Progressive Party of Maldives but that the Supreme Court (PPM) told reporters that they would likely throw it out. “Since the elections results Three journalists arrested in Myanmar are alleging the poll was rigged by the independent election were released, he has tried to commission in a challenge get people to protest outside AFP ter a case was fi led against them fi led with the Supreme Court. the Election Commission and Yangon under section 505(b),” defence “We reviewed the numerous was unable to get more than lawyer Kyee Myint said. complaints fi led by President 25 to 30 people,” said Ghafoor, The trio could be fi ned and Yameen’s supporters before who like much of the oppo- yanmar police yester- jailed for up to two years if a deciding to fi le this challenge,” sition is based in nearby Sri day arrested three jour- court rules that their story was Yameen’s lead lawyer Mo- Lanka. Mnalists after their paper published with intent to cause – hamed Saleem said. “By going to court, he is try- criticised the fi nancial manage- or was likely to cause – “fear or “So in light of that, Presi- ing to create an issue and get ment of Yangon’s government, alarm to the public”. dent Yameen decided that the people to join his protests,” he which is overseen by a protege of Their arrest is an “aff ront to challenge must be fi led for the said. leader Aung San Suu Kyi, in the press freedom” and a sign the rights of his supporters,” he “Given the fact that the latest case to spark concern over government is “close to becom- added. transition is going on smooth- press freedom. ing an authoritarian regime,” It was however unclear ly and the international com- Rights groups criticised the Ravi R. Prasad from the Vien- whether the Indian Ocean ar- munity has accepted the ver- detention of the three from na-based International Press chipelago nation’s Supreme dict of the people, we don’t Eleven Media, which comes as Institute said. Court would agree to consider think the courts will entertain the latest in a long series of cases “The whole media industry is the challenge and the oppo- this petition to overturn the brought against the media under under threat,” said Hlaing Thit sition expressed hope that it results.” vague and outdated laws. Zin Wai, founder of the Protec- would be thrown out. Last week, former Maldives Executive editors Kyaw Zaw tion Committee for Myanmar The election in the hon- leader Mohamed Nasheed Lin and Nayi Min and chief Journalists. eymoon paradise, which has announced he would return reporter Phyo Wai Win were “I even have a bag packed at seen a tussle for infl uence be- home two years after going hauled in before a Yangon court home as we cannot predict when Detained Myanmar journalists Kyaw Zaw Lin, (front), Phyo Wai Win (4th, left) and Nayi Min (left) leave the tween India and China, was into exile. in handcuff s yesterday morn- it will be our turn,” he added. courthouse escorted by police after appearing before the court yesterday. won by Ibrahim Mohamed So- He was barred from con- ing to hear the charges against The arrests came just a few lih with 58.4% of the vote. testing the election won by his them before being carted off weeks after the sentencing of against the stateless minority. news outlet NHK published on then editors were jailed over a Solih was little known be- party’s nominee Solih, who to jail. two Reuters journalists to seven Civilian leader Suu Kyi – a Tuesday, Suu Kyi said “there is column that accused a govern- fore the election but was defeated Yameen despite what Defence lawyer Kyee Myint years in jail at the end of what fi gure once lionised by the in- a lot of press freedom in Myan- ment offi cial of receiving a watch backed, in a remarkable turn critics said was a biased media said the case was fi led over an ar- was widely seen as a sham trial, ternational community for her mar”, and suggested that those worth $100,000 from a busi- of events given the Maldives’ and a rigged system. ticle published on Monday about during which a police offi cer tes- commitment to human rights criticising her government nessman who later won plum turbulent recent political his- Nasheed was the country’s the funding behind the city’s bus tifi ed that they had been set up. – has caught ire over the jail- “study what the press is doing contracts. tory, by all opposition parties. fi rst democratically elected network, a scheme run by Yan- Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe ing, with the UN blasting My- from day to day in the country”. Yangon authorities said they The United States and the president but was sentenced gon chief minister and Suu Kyi Oo, 28, had been investigat- anmar for waging “a political It is not the fi rst time Eleven were unable to comment on the European Union had threat- to 13 years in prison for terror- confi dant Phyo Min Thein. ing the extrajudicial killing of campaign against independent Media Group has been targeted latest charges at this stage. ened sanctions if the vote ism in 2015, in a trial the UN “All three of them were sent Rohingya men during a violent journalism”. by the authorities. The next hearing will be on was not free and fair and if said was politically motivated. to Insein prison this morning af- military crackdown last year In an interview with Japanese In November 2016, the paper’s October 17. Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 13 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA/PHILIPPINES Taiwan pledges to enhance national security

Reuters 2020. “At this time, China’s as a wayward province, has in- defend democracy, Tsai said, Tsai came into offi ce in 2016, Taipei intimidation and diplomatic creased military and diplomatic thanking the European Parlia- with China suspecting that she pressure not only hurts re- pressure on Taipei, leading to ment and the United States for wants to push for formal inde- lations between both sides, a diffi cult period for the presi- their support. Last month, the pendence, a red line for Beijing. aiwan President Tsai but seriously challenges the dent and her independence- US State Department approved For her part, Tsai has repeat- Ing-wen vowed yester- peaceful stability in the Taiwan leaning Democratic Progressive the sale to Taiwan of spare parts edly emphasised maintaining Tday to boost national se- Strait,” she said in a National Party (DPP). for F-16 fi ghter planes and oth- the status quo since coming to curity, saying her government Day speech in Taipei. Three former allies – El Sal- er military aircraft worth up to power. would not submit to Chinese Taiwan will increase its de- vador, Burkina Faso and Do- $330mn, a move China has said Yesterday she called for a suppression as Beijing ramps up fence budget every year to minican Republic – switched jeopardises Sino-US co-opera- multi-national eff ort to fi ght pressure to assert its sovereign- ensure it can defend its sover- their allegiances to Beijing this tion. some types of infi ltration, such ty over the self-ruled island. eignty, Tsai said, by upgrading year, and the Chinese military China has never renounced as the circulation of fake news Tsai’s remarks came weeks military capabilities and self- has stepped up encirclement the use of force to bring Taiwan by certain countries, which she ahead of island-wide local suffi ciency, including resum- drills around Taiwan, which under its control and regularly did not name. elections in late November that ing domestic development of Tapei has denounced as intimi- calls the island its most sensi- “I would like to pledge to are seen as a bellwether for her advanced training aircraft and dation. tive issue in its ties with the everyone that we will not rashly ruling party’s performance in submarines. Taiwan must work with other United States. Relations with increase antagonism, but we Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen gestures as she attends National Day presidential elections due in China, which views Taiwan countries to build a coalition to Beijing have nosedived since won’t submit or yield,” she said. celebrations in front of the Presidential Palace in Taipei. Hong Kong will ‘take action’ against independence talk

AFP the importance of territorial in- year agreement made when Brit- gal, business and media sectors Hong Kong tegrity. ain handed the city back to China and calls for explanation from “I will not tolerate any acts in 1997. governments around the world that advocate Hong Kong’s in- But there are serious concerns including Britain and the United ong Kong will “fearlessly dependence and threaten the those rights are under threat. States. take action” against in- country’s sovereignty, security Lam repeatedly emphasised the Chan’s tiny party has been Hdependence calls and and development interests,” Lam notion of “One Country” in her banned since his press club talk protect China’s interests, leader told legislators in a televised ad- speech and made no reference to in August on the grounds it is a Carrie Lam said yesterday, as dress. “We will fearlessly take ac- freedom of expression and free- national security threat, the fi rst concerns grow that the city’s tion against such acts according dom of the press, a departure such ban since 1997. freedoms face an unprecedented to the law in order to safeguard from last year’s address when she Lam said yesterday the ban challenge from Beijing. the interests of the country and described those rights as “con- was “strong testimony” that Lam’s annual policy ad- Hong Kong.” stitutional bulwarks”. the government will use exist- dress came as her government Before the speech began, pro- Lam and her government have ing laws to suppress independ- stood accused of attacking press democracy lawmakers were es- refused to explain why the city ence activism until controversial Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam arrives at a press conference after delivering her annual policy freedoms for barring a Financial corted from the legislative cham- denied a visa to the FT’s Asia anti-subversion law Article 23 is address at the Legislative Council (Legco) in Hong Kong yesterday. Times journalist from working in ber after shouting “Protect press news editor Victor Mallet. Bei- introduced. Article 23 is part of Hong Kong after he chaired a talk freedom” and waving placards. jing regularly denies visas to for- Hong Kong’s mini-constitution sibility to introduce the law and sues, primarily the city’s pressing outside the Legislative Coun- by an independence activist at Hong Kong is governed under a eign journalists on the mainland but has never been implemented said the government would con- housing shortage. Lam pledged cil building ahead of the speech, the city’s press club. semi-autonomous “One Coun- but it has not been a tactic used due to public fears it would cur- tinue to “create a favourable so- to reserve 70% of new residential protesting against a range of is- Any talk of independence in- try, Two Systems” set-up, with in Hong Kong. The move has tail freedoms. cial environment” for the legisla- units for public housing, includ- sues including pension reform censes Beijing as President Xi freedoms unseen on the main- sparked considerable disquiet Lam has long said it is Hong tion. The majority of yesterday’s ing on artifi cial islands. and expensive infrastructure Jinping increasingly emphasises land that are protected by a 50- and anger among the city’s le- Kong’s constitutional respon- speech focused on domestic is- Dozens of protesters gathered projects.” China prescribes use of Huge marlin sinks Filipino fi shing boat AFP ‘vocational’ centres to Manila t reads like a modern day take on The Old Man and the combat extremism ISea — fi ve Filipino fi shermen cast adrift for days on a make- shift raft after a huge marlin Reuters rest between Uighurs and mem- ally be halal” was fuelling hostil- sinks their boat. Beijing bers of the ethnic Han Chinese ity towards religion and allowing The men were fi shing in the majority. Islam to penetrate secular life. South China Sea last week when The three new clauses are the As part of the anti-halal cam- a six-foot (1.8m) marlin punc- hina’s far-western Xin- fi rst time the regulations, which paign, Ilshat Osman, Urumqi’s tured their boat’s wooden hull jiang region has inserted fi rst came into eff ect in April last ethnically Uighur head pros- with its giant bill, vessel master Cinto its anti-extremism year, refer to vocational training ecutor, penned an essay entitled: Jimmy Batiller told AFP yester- regulations new clauses that centres. “Friend, you do not need to fi nd a day. prescribe the use of “vocational “Governments above the halal restaurant specially for me”. Their 12-m boat quickly training centres” to “educate and county level can set up educa- According to the WeChat post, dipped beneath the waves in transform” people infl uenced by tion and transformation organi- government employees should the early evening of October extremist ideology. sations and supervising depart- not have any diet problems and 3, leaving the crew with lit- Reports of mass detentions ments such as vocational training work canteens would be changed tle drinking water or food until and strict surveillance of ethnic centres, to educate and transform so that offi cials could try all kinds their eventual rescue by the US Philippine fishermen, whose boat was sunk by a marlin, being rescued by US Navy personnel onto a craft Uighurs and other Muslims have people who have been infl uenced of cuisine. The Urumqi Commu- Navy on Monday. “It (the fi sh) from the USS Wally Schirra in the South China Sea. sparked a growing international by extremism,” one of the clauses nist Party leaders also said they hit the bottom of our boat, leav- outcry, prompting the United said. would require government offi - ing two big holes. We suspect nited with his family in Subic, a spotted the fi shermen,” the which it uses to stun prey and States to consider sanctions Separately, the capital of Xin- cials and party members to fi rmly it was chasing a smaller fi sh. It port about 80km northwest of Wally Schirra’s master Keith was famously a leading char- against offi cials and companies jiang has launched a campaign believe in Marxism-Leninism, swam around the sinking boat Manila. Sauls added. acter in Ernest Hemmingway’s linked to allegations of human against halal products to stop and not religion, and to speak for a while, apparently disorien- The US Navy said the men “The individuals were wav- short novel The Old Man and the rights abuses. Islam penetrating secular life standard Mandarin Chinese in tated,” Batiller said. were lucky to survive, especially ing their arms and a flag in the Sea. Chinese offi cials have denied and fuelling “extremism”. In a public. The fi shermen salvaged what given the crew said they had air. They were also flashing a Erman Besana, a coast guard enforcing arbitrary detention and meeting on Monday, the Com- Chinese citizens are theoreti- they could, removing the out- drunk seawater. white light that was previously operations offi cer for Subic, political re-education across a munist Party leaders of Urumqi cally free to practise any religion, riggers, planks and barrels to “On average, death results thought to be fishing buoy,” said they had not encountered network of secret camps, instead led cadres to swear an oath to but they have been subject to create a makeshift raft. “Our two to three days after a diet of Sauls added in an account car- a marlin sinking a ship before. saying that some citizens guilty “fi ght a decisive battle against increasing levels of surveillance water ran out after two days. drinking undiluted sea water or ried by the Defense Visual In- “This is the fi rst such incident of minor off ences were sent to ‘pan-halalisation’,” according to a as the government tries to bring We waved at passing commer- urine in survival-at-sea events formation Distribution Serv- we have encountered here. Most vocational centres to provide notice posed on the city’s offi cial religious worship under stricter cial vessels but no one came to as it takes more water than is ice. of the time it’s bad weather future employment opportuni- WeChat account. Everyday halal state control. The Communist rescue us. But we did not lose consumed for the body to proc- The blue marlin is one of the sinking fi shermen’s boats in the ties. China says Xinjiang faces products, like food and tooth- Party in August issued a revised hope,” the 42-year-old father of ess the waste and salt out of the open ocean’s fastest, strongest open seas,” he told AFP. a serious threat from militants paste, must be produced accord- set of regulations governing its one said, adding the crew also kidneys,” Leon Hadley, the ci- predators and is also one of the Despite the near-death ex- and separatists and has rejected ing to Islamic law. members’ behaviour, threaten- ate raw rice and drank some sea- vilian chief mate from the ship largest species of bony fi shes. perience, Batiller said he and his all accusations of mistreatment The offi cial Global Times said ing punishments or expulsion water. which conducted the rescue, the It can grow up to 5m in length crew plan to go back to sea after in an area where hundreds have yesterday that the “demand that for anyone who clung to religious “When we were rescued, that USNS Wally Schirra, said. and weight as much as 820kg. a few days’ rest, provided they been killed in recent years in un- things be halal which cannot re- beliefs. was when our tears fell,” said “Luckily, we were going at It is known for its long bill that can fi nd a new boat. Batiller, who has since been reu- a slow enough speed to have grows from the front of its head “This is our job,” he added. Oxfam rejects Singapore defence of low taxes Australia, Japan urge improvement in US-China relations

Oxfam yesterday rejected Singa- Finland as the top three. mond Lee said on Tuesday public pore’s defence of its low taxes after Oxfam’s head of inequality policy, service in terms of the standard of Australia and Japan urged China and the differences. “Our view is always that these seeking to interfere in US domestic politics, the NGO ranked the wealthy city Max Lawson, said the impact education and healthcare, as well United States to settle their differences over things are best resolved within the rules con- comments that elicited a strong condemna- state among the 10 worst-off end- of Singapore’s tax policy went as aff ordability of housing, spoke trade and political issues using existing rules, struct that has been used over very many tion from China. ing countries in fuelling inequality beyond its borders, serving as loudly about Singapore’s social instead of sparking a new “cold war.” The years around the WTO and similar,” she told Australia and Japan also agreed to keep with its low-tax regime. Oxfam’s a tax haven for the rich and big policy accomplishments. foreign and defence ministers of the two reporters in Sydney. pressure on North Korea to abandon its Commitment to Reducing Inequal- corporations. “Yes, the income tax burden on countries made the comments after meet- “So we would encourage both parties to do nuclear and missiles programme by enforc- ity (CRI) index ranked Singapore “Singapore’s harmful tax practices Singaporeans is low. And almost ing in Sydney yesterday for bilateral talks. US that.” Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono ing sanctions. 149th of 157, below Afghanistan, mean that they are eroding the half the population do not pay President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs said that for countries to prosper they need “We need to see real steps to complete, Algeria, and Cambodia, and mar- revenue of other countries in the any income tax,” Lee said in a worth billions of dollars on Chinese products to abide by the international rules-based verifiable irreversible denuclearisation” of the ginally higher than Haiti, Nigeria region and globally, revenues that statement. in recent months, and Beijing has retaliated order. Korean Peninsula, Payne told reporters. and Sierra Leone. those countries could be investing “Yet, they benefit more than pro- with similar tax hikes. “No country wishes for a new cold war,” he Japanese Defence Minister Takeshi Iwaya The index assesses social spend- in schools and hospitals,” Lawson portionately from the high quality Australia’s Foreign Minister Marissa Payne said. Earlier this month, US Vice President said the “international community must ing, taxation and labour policies. told Reuters. Singapore Social and of infrastructure and social support said bodies like the World Trade Organisa- Mike Pence delivered a speech accusing Bei- remain united” to achieve the dismantling of It ranked Denmark, Germany and Family Development Minister Des- that the state provides,” he said. tion (WTO) were best able to deal with the jing of stealing US intellectual property and North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction. Gulf Times 14 Thursday, October 11, 2018 BRITAIN May announces mental health checks for all pupils

Daily Mail fold over the past two decades and O The appointment of the on child mental health will be Downing Street stressed that Offi ce for National Statistics to ment of the £1.9bn plan to trans- London one in 10 children now has a diag- world’s fi rst minister for suicide published annually. although the classes will be man- gauge the nation’s mood, but form mental health services in nosable condition. Girls are most prevention; May said: “We can end the stig- datory, it will be up to each school adjusted for the age of the child. schools, outlined in a green paper at risk, with self-harming report- O £1.8mn to allow the Samari- ma that has forced too many to suf- whether they deploy the new as- The surveys ask people how published by the government ear- upils are to be given rou- ed among a fi fth of those aged 14. tans helpline to remain free for the fer in silence. We can prevent the sessments. happy they are on a scale up to lier this year. tine mental health checks, May said half of all mental next four years; tragedy of suicide taking too many But all teachers will be ‘encour- 10, how they rate their satisfac- Dr Marc Bush, policy director PTheresa May said. health problems arise by that age O 8,000 mental health spe- lives. And we can give the mental aged’ to use the tests to highlight tion with life, and how worth- at the YoungMinds mental health Specialists will carry out ‘well- yet only a third of children receive cialists are to be trained to work wellbeing of our children the prior- issues they can better target. And while they think their daily ac- charity, said: “While there are being’ assessments at primary the right treatment. in schools, with the fi rst intake ity it so profoundly deserves.” offi cials envisage that most pupils tivities are. still big questions to be answered and secondary schools to spot po- The new checks are part of a starting late next year; The assessments are to be made will be assessed every year from If issues with particular chil- on future funding for NHS chil- tential issues among children as £1.9bn plan to transform mental O Every school is to have a sen- available to all schools as part of the age of four. dren arise as a result, it will be up dren’s mental health services, it’s young as four. health services in schools. ior staff member responsible for classes on ‘mental resilience’ that They expect the assessments to the teacher whether to fl ag it good news that the government is Mental health problems in The prime minister also an- mental health; will be on the curriculum from to be in a similar form to the with parents. committing to further support for young people have increased six- nounced: O A ‘state of the nation’ report 2020. ‘wellbeing’ surveys used by the The assessments are a new ele- schools.” DUP may vote down budget if May crosses Brexit red lines

Guardian News and Media ter, had earlier said the party’s London confi dence and supply arrange- ment with the Conservatives was “party to party” and not with he DUP has stepped up May herself – prompting specu- the pressure on Theresa lation the DUP might be willing TMay over its demands for to force May from No 10. Brexit, by briefi ng that it could Foster reiterated her party’s vote against this month’s budget stance during meetings in Brus- if the prime minister breaches sels on Tuesday. “I am the leader the party’s red lines on the issue of the Democratic Unionist par- at next week’s EU summit. ty. The clue is in the title,” Foster The threat – which could in said after a meeting with the EU’s theory topple May, or even bring chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. down the government – has not “I am a unionist, I believe in been made publicly, but was the union of the United King- briefed to the BBC and Sky News dom, all four elements of the by sources in the Northern Irish United Kingdom. We do not want party. Northern Ireland going off in a According to the reports, if the diff erent direction from the rest DUP feels May has given away of the UK.” An anti-Brexit placard is fixed to traff ic barriers opposite the Houses of Parliament in London. too much at next week’s crunch The Treasury Minister Mel meeting in Brussels, the party Stride said: “The prime minister’s could withdraw the support of its position has always been crystal 10 MPs for the vote on the budg- clear on this issue of no border et, thus risking it being defeated. down the Irish Sea. We have said Traditionally, budget votes it many, many times.” The DUP were seen as issues of confi dence has vowed to oppose any fresh in a government, triggering a barriers to trade between Great general election if one was lost. Britain and Northern Ireland. Brexit deal ‘within reach’ This is no longer the case under Stride told BBC Radio 4’s the fi xed-term parliament act, World at One: “I’m not going to but such a defeat could fatally get into the specifi cs of what may undermine May’s position and or may not be going on in the ne- would bring calls for a vote on gotiations at the moment, other calling an election. than to say that I am extremely The DUP, which has had a so- confi dent from all that I know next week, says Barnier called confi dence and supply and have seen, and all the discus- agreement to support May’s gov- sions that I have had, that there Reuters Barnier said was 80%-85% ready gered because a future EU-UK and animal-derived products the border and cover all of that ernment since last year’s elec- will be a very, very fi rm position Brussels but on which obstacles remain, trade deal was not suffi cient in it- would still have to take place on trade. tion, has expressed regular alarm taken on this. notably on how to keep the new self to ensure the land frontier was at the prospect of any Brexit deal “The prime minister made it EU-UK land border with North- not a “hard border”. avoiding the possibility of a hard very clear no UK prime minister Brexit deal is “within ern Ireland from reviving confl ict For customs and VAT, Barnier Workers being hired to handle post-Brexit fallout Irish border by instead making is ever going to put him or herself reach” next week, EU ne- in the British province. said, “we propose using the exist- Northern Ireland’s regulatory in the position where they start Agotiator Michel Barnier The European Union is doing all ing customs procedures to avoid A team of civil emergency workers division (Red) posts are billed as regime more closely allied to the to unpick the economic and sov- said yesterday, even as he rammed it can to ensure checks on goods doing checks at the transit points”. are being recruited on salaries of “exciting and challenging” and EU, creating a de facto customs ereign integrity of the UK.” home his insistence that Britain moving across Northern Ireland’s He said customs declarations up to £50,000 a year to help the come with a £45,938 salary, rising border in the Irish Sea. May has also faced the threat must accept possible checks on borders would be made “in the could be done online in advance. country cope with any fallout to £50,006 in London. At the Conservative confer- of parliamentary guerrilla tactics trade between its mainland and least intrusive way possible”, for “The only visible systematic from Brexit. The government Applicants are told Red helps ence last week, Nigel Dodds, the from Brexiters within her own Northern Ireland. example on ferries, at ports or in checks between Northern Ire- has posted adverts looking for communities across the UK to leader of the DUP in the House party who are understood to be “An agreement is within reach factories of origin, he said. land and the rest of the UK would resilience advisers to handle “respond to and recover from civil of Commons, said the party seeking an opportunity to stage a for October 17, next Wednesday, if But veterinary and food securi- involve scanning the bar codes any “disruption” caused by the emergencies of all types”. The would vote against May if she show of strength in protest at her we succeed to the end of this ne- ty controls will have to take place on lorries or containers, which various permutations of Britain’s job advertisement, posted by the returned from Brussels with a Brexit plans. gotiation now,” Barnier said in a at the border. should be done on ferries or in exit from the European Union ministry of housing, communities deal that involved new checks on The former Brexit minister speech to business leaders at the Barnier said Brexit would trig- transit ports.” next year. The specialists would and local government (MHCLG) goods coming into Northern Ire- Steve Baker has claimed 40 of European Parliament. ger the need for customs, VAT For industrial goods, he said it be employed until June 2019 but calls for three resilience land from Britain. “We will vote his colleagues were determined EU leaders are due to meet for and compliance checks with EU could be done by “market surveil- “with the possibility of extension advisers for “EU exit readiness against it. We will vote for our to vote against the Chequers dinner in Brussels next Wednes- standards between Ireland and lance authorities”, on-site in the or permanency”. and response support to local red lines,” he said. proposal, whatever the conse- day and hope to agree a with- Northern Ireland in the event that companies. The resilience and emergency preparedness”. The DUP leader, Arlene Fos- quences. drawal treaty with Britain that a planned “backstop” were trig- But he said checks of animals Consultation on Lower Royal visit 17,000 babies taken into care in nine years Thames Crossing to begin fants “aged less than one year”. Guardian News and Media London The study was led by Prof Guardian News and Media between the M25 and the M2, portunities in Kent and Essex Karen Broadhurst, the director of London which serves the Channel ports, and unlock productivity across the Centre for Child and Family will run through a 2.4 mile tun- the UK … and cut congestion at he number of newborn Justice Research, who fi rst high- nel under the Thames, the long- the Dartford Crossing and im- babies removed from their lighted the dramatic rise in new- major new road incorpo- est road tunnel in the UK and the prove connectivity from our in- Tparents in care proceed- borns taken into care in 2015. rating the Lower Thames third widest bored tunnel in the dustrial heartland to our ports in ings in England has increased by She said: “The lack of data is A Crossing will be a three- world. the south-east.” 136% in the past nine years, ac- surprising, given the controversy lane dual carriageway through- It is expected to divert 14mn An automated Dart Charge cording to a report. that surrounds compulsory ac- out to almost double road vehicles a year from the Dartford scheme to pay the £2.50-£6 ve- Evidence published yesterday tion at birth, which will often lead capacity across the river, High- Crossing, the only road crossing hicle toll has helped cut conges- has revealed that 2,447 newborns to infant removals within hours ways England has announced, as east of London, cutting north- tion at the Dartford Crossing, were subject to care proceedings or days of delivery – whether the revamped £6bn scheme goes bound journey times around the but it remains a notorious traffi c within one week of birth from such decisions are proportionate out to fresh public consultation. M25. blackspot. The Highways Eng- 2016 to 2017. or fair – after care for the mother. The government says the The preferred route was ap- land project director, Tim Jones, Over the nine-year period, a This is a hugely contentious is- controversial link from Essex proved by the Transport Sec- said it remained a vital gateway total of 16,849 newborns were sue, with published family court to Kent, billed as Britain’s most retary, Chris Grayling, in April but carried more traffi c than it subject to care proceedings. judgments evidencing the legal ambitious road scheme since the 2017. Since an initial consulta- was designed for. “Drivers there The research also found that and procedural challenges.” M25 motorway orbiting London tion attracted 47,000 responses, suff er from regular delays, sev- almost a third – 32% – of all in- The report has been produced was built, will boost south-east the plans have been revised with ering communities and holding fants coming before the courts in by the development team work- England’s economy and tackle some mitigation measures for back economic growth.” care proceedings did so as new- ing to establish the Nuffi eld congestion across the Thames local communities, including Hauliers and motoring or- borns in 2007-08. By 2017-18, Family Justice Observatory, due east of London when it opens in extending the tunnel by 600 me- ganisations have strongly this proportion had risen to 42%. to launch in spring 2019. 2027. tres to move the entrance in Kent backed the new crossing. The Newborns have been invis- By far the largest proportion of Campaigners and coun- further south and lowering parts Freight Transport Association ible in national data before this infants coming before the courts cils have strongly opposed the of the new road by more than fi ve said congestion at Dartford was report: there are no fi gures on fell into the newborns category. scheme, which threatens to de- metres to reduce its visual im- “unbearably high” and that the infants subject to care proceed- If the categories “newborns” and stroy wetlands and increase car pact. The new consultation will M2-M25 route needed to work as ings, despite government policy “one to three weeks” are com- use and is being pushed through run until December 20. smoothly as possible to ensure Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, signs a guest book next to his emphasising the developmental bined, proceedings were being immediately after UN warnings Grayling said the crossing that British companies could wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex prior to a meeting with importance of children in this issued in less than four weeks of catastrophic climate change. would “help transform jour- trade domestically and interna- Lithuania’s president in Vilnius, Lithuania, yesterday. age group. National data reports from birth for at least 50% of all The planned 23.3km road neys, create new business op- tionally. only on the single category of in- infants in the sample. Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 15 BRITAIN Leeds lorry drivers face £50 daily air pollution levy

Guardian News and Media London, will cover more than half The proposal has drawn criti- along with Birmingham, Derby, clean air fund to support local and the environment. based on “fl awed logic”. London of Leeds and will see drivers mon- cism from hauliers, who say that Nottingham and Southampton. businesses to upgrade or retrofi t He said the proposal was based He said the £50 fee could dis- itored using a network of cameras it will likely increase pollution Leeds has published an inter- aff ected vehicles through grants on achieving results “as quickly courage hauliers from using lor- from January 2020. Lorries, buses and congestion because fi rms will active map of the zone, plus the and interest-free loans. It wants as possible” and had been “care- ries, instead switching to vans, rivers of the most pol- and coaches would all face the dodge the charge by switching likely £50 daily charges for heavy a further £13mn to cover costs as- fully developed following months “likely boosting pollution and luting vehicles, could be maximum charge. from lorries to vans, which are not goods vehicles (HGVs), buses and sociated with the infrastructure of consultation with thousands of congestion”. Dcharged up to £50 a day The council hopes it will dras- subject to the charge. coaches and £12.50 for taxis and and operation of the zone. residents and local businesses”. Lewis acknowledged these to enter Leeds under radical new tically reduce levels of nitrogen In 2016 the government or- private hire vehicles. Light goods Leeds hopes to gain govern- Three-quarters of Leeds residents criticisms, but said the coun- plans to cut air pollution in the dioxide (NO2), which contributes dered the fi ve local authorities vehicles (LGVs) and private vehi- ment approval by Christmas, agreed with the proposal, he said. cil hoped to provide a one-time Yorkshire city. to about 29,000 UK deaths each with the worst record on NO2 to cles would not be charged. according to councillor James But Paul Mummery of the Road grant of up to £16,000, paid to the The Clean Air Zone (CAZ), year, according to Public Heath implement air quality charging Leeds council is requesting Lewis, an executive member with Haulage Association said the owner of a vehicle, to retrofi t or which could be the fi rst outside England. schemes. Leeds was on the list, £27mn from the government’s responsibility for sustainability scheme, while a good idea, was replace polluting vehicles.

Designer Scenic Scotland IVF babies High-spending scandal ‘ignored for 15 years’ banker’s wife

Daily Mail London targeted by ertility regulators ignored warnings about British doc- Ftors helping ‘illegal’ gender selection for 15 years, Lord Win- ston alleged. Britain’s leading fertility expert said he has long warned about wealth order couples being sent abroad to choose the sex of their baby, only Guardian News and Media Hajiyev, the former chairman of gued in court that she should not for his concerns to fall on deaf ears. London the state-owned International have to prove the source of her Lord Winston says he ‘repeat- Bank of Azerbaijan, who was wealth because she is not a “politi- edly’ raised the scandal and ac- sentenced to 15 years in jail for cally exposed person” and said her cused the Human Fertilisation and he woman at the centre of defrauding the bank out of 5bn husband was not a state employee Embryology Authority (HFEA) the UK’s fi rst McMafi a- manat (£2.2bn). overseeing a state bank but simply of being ‘extremely slow’ to act. Tstyle “dirty money” in- The NCA claims that Zamira is a “fat cat” banker. He spoke out after a Mail inves- vestigation who has a £1.6mn-a- also wanted by Azerbaijani author- If she is unable to prove the tigation revealed that UK doctors year Harrods spending habit has ities in connection with avoiding legitimate source of the funds, are helping couples with gender been unmasked as Zamira Haji- the investigation into fraud at her Zamira risks having the properties selection, including an NHS con- yeva, the wife of an Azerbaijani husband’s former bank. She is one seized. sultant acting in a private capacity. banker jailed for defrauding his several family members whom the Zamira husband’s offi cial sal- Allowing IVF couples to choose state-owned bank out of as much authorities claim Jahangir used to ary at the bank between 2001 and the sex of their baby is illegal in the as £2.2bn. take money out of the country. The 2008 was a maximum of £54,000. UK except when a child risks in- The court of appeal has lifted family deny the allegations. However, Werner Capital, a fam- heriting a serious disease. But un- a veil of secrecy allowing details The high court heard that Zami- ily offi ce that manages property dercover Mail reporters found the of the country’s fi rst unexplained ra spent £16,309,077.87 on three investments for wealthy people, British doctors assist gender se- wealth order (UWO), in which the Harrods customer loyalty reward produced a report in 2011 that lection for social reasons by com- National Crime Agency alleges cards over a decade. stated he was worth £55mn. pleting preliminary tests and scans that stolen funds were used to buy The NCA said it had found that Jonathan Hall QC, who is repre- in the UK before sending patients her a £11.5m fi ve-bedroom prop- she used 35 diff erent credit cards senting the NCA, said: “as a state to clinics in North Cyprus, Crete erty in Knightsbridge only 100 issued by her husband’s bank to employee between 1993 and 2015, and Dubai for the fi nal treatment. yards from the doors of Harrods. fund the Harrods spending spree. it is very unlikely that such a posi- Following the expose, the HFEA The court heard that Zamira spent On one trip to the department tion would have generated suffi - launched an investigation, saying £16.3mn at Harrods between 2006 store she spent £150,000 on jew- cient income to fund the acquisi- it would be ‘extremely concerned’ and 2016. ellery. tion of the property.” The Zamira about anyone promoting and fa- The NCA also claims that sus- The court also heard that Zami- case is being closely watched and cilitating such treatment. pect cash funded the £10.5mn ra fl ew on a private jet. if the NCA succeed, it is expected But Lord Winston, who works purchase of Mill Ride golf and Justice Supperstone has ordered to launch up to nine new UWO in- for the Genesis Research Trust at country club in Ascot. Zamira de- that Zamira must comply with the vestigations. Imperial College London, said: “I nies that the purchases were made UWO and explain how she came Donald Toon, the director for have repeatedly raised concerns with fraudulent funds. She has upon the funds used to fund the economic crime at the NCA, said: about this so it is surprising to now made an application to discharge property purchases. “The NCA fully supports an open see the HFEA throw up its hands in the UWO but was unsuccessful. UWOs – which have been and transparent justice system horror when it didn’t do so before. Her lawyers are appealing that dubbed McMafi a laws after the that helps demonstrate our deter- “The law on gender selection in judgment. hit BBC1 drama – are a new tool to mination to ensure that the UK is this country has to be upheld or it Zamira’s lawyers had convinced help investigators crackdown on not seen as a soft target for the in- makes a complete nonsense of the a judge to impose reporting re- the £90bn tide of “dirty money” vestment of illicit fi nance. Where fertility regulator. The HFEA has strictions, which prevented the fl ooding into London by forcing we cannot determine a legitimate been extremely slow in acting on woman, her husband, his bank or suspected corrupt government- source for the funds used to pur- it. their nationality from being re- linked offi cials to prove that their chase assets and prime property “Women who go abroad for IVF ported. wealth is legitimate. it is absolutely right that we ask can come back with complica- Up until the lifting of an “ano- The UWO is part of the NCA’s probing questions to uncover their tions, such as multiple embryos, nymity order” yesterday lunch- investigative process, is not a origin. which the NHS then needs to deal time, Zamira could only be re- criminal procedure and does not “Unexplained wealth orders with. This is just another example ferred to as “Mrs A”. involve the fi nding of any criminal have the potential to signifi cantly of how the fertility regulator has A woman stands on the footbridge over the river Garry near Pitlochry, Scotland, yesterday. It can now be revealed that off ence. reduce the appeal of the UK as a failed.” Zamira is the wife of Jahangir Lawyers for Zamira have ar- destination for illicit income.” Policing offi cials probed Wildlife protection Dyson launches £400 hair styler

over interest-free loans Agencies The vacuum cleaners were London followed by the AirBlade hand dryer, the Air Multiplier fan and Guardian News and Media quiries: a criminal investigation to eration say: “Interest-free car the Supersonic hairdryer. London see if the police offi cers broke the loans are available and will be ritish vacuum-cleaner mak- The company reported an law and should stand trial; and an provided from the services ac- er Dyson is making a second annual profit of more than inquiry to see if police disciplinary count for all full-time offi cials of Bpush into the high-end £801mn last year on £3.5bn of hree senior offi cials at a Po- charges should be brought. the joint branch board. The loans beauty market with a $500 hair sales of products like its air pu- lice Federation branch are The Police Federation said the will be agreed without the need styling tool that it has engineered rifiers and its battery-powered Tunder criminal investiga- West Mercia branch was believed to bring them before the manage- to create curls, waves and smooth cleaners. tion over their handling of funds, to be the only one of 43 local feder- ment committee, under the un- blow dries without extreme heat. Dyson entered the hair market including receiving interest-free ations that off ered senior offi cials derstanding the loans are repaid The Dyson Airwrap Styler har- two years ago with a dryer pow- loans worth tens of thousands of interest-free car loans. and a loan agreement is signed, nesses a phenomenon known ered by one of its digital motors. pounds, the Guardian has learned. The Police Federation of Eng- which the trustees can examine at as the Coanda eff ect, whereby a The Supersonic dryer — which An investigation has begun into land and Wales (PFEW) represents any time. high-speed jet of air attaches it- is priced at $399 — had been a the former secretary of the West rank and fi le offi cers and its funds “Each loan agreement must be self to a surface, to curl, wave or “runaway success”, it said. Mercia branch Jamie Harrision, come from members’ subscrip- approved by a minimum of three smooth hair, Dyson said. “We have been obsessively who has been suspended from his tions. members of the management A clever switching mechanism manipulating airfl ow for more role with the federation. Car loans given to Harrison, committee, one of which must be directs airfl ow so that no matter than 25 years,” James Dyson said The two others under investiga- Yeomans and Mortimer from the chairman or secretary, together which way you brush, the air fl ows yesterday. tion are the former chair Sergeant members’ money are included in with two from the executive com- in the direction of the hair. “Harnessing the power of Russ Yeomans and another offi - the investigations. mittee. The loan applicant cannot The company claims this Dyson’s digital motor we have cial, Sergeant Nigel Mortimer, who Harrison was loaned £20,000 be one of the persons making the achieves a better curling eff ect and engineered a unique styling tool led on conduct for the branch. in October 2017. Documents ob- decision on the application.” also reduces the risk of heat dam- which prevents extreme heat The inquiries started following tained under a freedom of infor- John Apter, the chair of the age to the hair of more conven- damage when styling.” an internal audit by the national mation request show that as of PFEW, said: “We identifi ed an is- tional tongs, which work by wrap- Dyson, which is working on Police Federation, which high- May 31 this year the outstanding sue earlier in the year which we ping hair around a hot central bar. its fi rst electric vehicle, said it lighted “business practices and balance was £18,800. Yeomans reported to West Mercia police for Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, sits alongside The company, which was had taken six years and £24mn policies” that aroused concerns, a was granted a loan of £19,500 in their initial investigation. Follow- former foreign secretary, Lord William Hague of founded by entrepreneur James to develop the Airwrap Styler. spokesperson said. The expenses February 2015, and the remaining ing our own internal investigation Richmond, as he hosts the signing ceremony of Dyson in the 1990s to make his The Airwrap will be avail- claimed are also being examined. balance was £10,000 three years a member of the West Mercia fed- United For Wildlife’s Financial Taskforce Declaration revolutionary bagless dual-cy- able in two variations priced at The Police Federation has re- later. Mortimer owed £3,200 from eration branch was suspended as a at Mansion House in London yesterday ahead of the clone vacuum cleaners, is one of £399.99 in Britain and $499.99 ported the concerns to West Mer- a loan of £12,000 dating to Sep- federation representative and two 2018 Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference which opens Britain’s most successful manu- in the US, or in one package cia police’s professional standards tember 2014. others also placed under investi- today. facturing start-ups of the last that includes all accessories for department, triggering two in- Rules for the West Mercia fed- gation.” three decades. £449.99 or $549.99. Gulf Times 16 Thursday, October 11, 2018 EUROPE Saudi government planned Khashoggi hit: NYT

Al Jazeera & Agencies volvement in Khashoggi’s disappear- by a sense of outrage, and that is only But since the emergence of the ance and alleged murder, saying he growing as each story reveals new in- Crown Prince, 33, as the centre of op Saudi leaders deployed a left the consulate on October 2. Tur- formation,” she said. power in the kingdom last year, 15-man hit squad to lie in wait key’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Meanwhile on Tuesday, the Wash- Khashoggi has been openly critical Tfor dissident writer Jamal has demanded that Riyadh prove his ington Post — for whom Khashoggi of the monarchy. He assailed the Khashoggi inside Riyadh’s consulate departure from the building. wrote columns after fl eeing Saudi prince’s reforms as hollow, accus- in Istanbul, the New York Times said The Turkish government hasn’t Arabia over fears of retribution for his ing him of introducing a new Saudi in an explosive story. provided formal evidence that could critical commentary — reported that era of “fear, intimidation, arrests Among the assassination team was back up the spate of anonymous al- US intelligence had intercepted com- and public shaming”. a forensic expert who brought a bone legations that the Saudi writer was munications of Saudi offi cials plan- Robert Pearson, a former US am- saw to dismember Khashoggi’s body killed inside the Istanbul consulate. ning to abduct the prominent jour- bassador to Turkey, said the case after killing him, the Times reported Daily Sabah, a Turkish newspaper nalist. could change the relationship be- on Tuesday, citing an unidentifi ed with close ties to the government, “Saudis wanted to lure Khashoggi tween the US and Saudi Arabia. “senior offi cial” as saying. named and published photos on Tues- back to Saudi Arabia and lay hands “They must give a transparent Al Jazeera could not immediately day of the alleged 15-member Saudi on him there,” the Post quoted a per- explanation very quickly, oth- verify the news report. assassination team accused of travel- son familiar with the information as erwise the tide will quickly turn The hit squad fi nished the murder ling to Istanbul on the day Khashoggi saying. against them. It’s now been a week operation within two hours and de- disappeared. It was not clear whether the Sau- and nothing has been shown to parted Turkey for various countries, The suspects are wanted by Turkish dis intended to arrest and interrogate prove about his (Khashoggi’s) safe- said the Times’ source, citing infor- authorities for questioning. Khashoggi or to kill him — or if the US ty,” he told Al Jazeera. mation from “top Turkish offi cials”. American Senator Bob Corker, warned Khashoggi he was a target, the He noted 47 US senators recently “It is like Pulp Fiction,” the senior chairman of the Senate Foreign Re- source told the newspaper. voted to ban US arms sales to Saudi Turkish offi cial was quoted as saying, lations Committee, said on Tuesday Khashoggi entered the consulate Arabia — four short of a majority. referring to the graphically violent that “everything today points to” on October 2 to handle a routine “It is beginning to reach a genu- 1994 Hollywood movie by director Khashoggi’s murder last week inside paperwork issue but he never came ine crisis point now, which can be Quentin Tarantino. the Saudi consulate. out, according to family and friends, solved very quickly if the Saudis Accusations the Saudi leadership Corker told The Daily Beast his view as well as Turkish authorities. are really on the spot,” said Pear- directly ordered the alleged assassi- was reaffi rmed after viewing classifi ed The US resident has written articles son. nation of Khashoggi will put further intelligence about the disappearance. Photos of the alleged 15-member Saudi hit squad, published by Turkish newspaper over the past year during his self-im- “The arms sales bill, the war pressure on the United States and “It points to the idea that whatever Sabah. (Obtained from a video posted on Al Jazeera website) posed exile that were critical of Saudi in Yemen - those are the kinds of other allies to demand a transparent has happened to him, the Saudis — I Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman. things that can turn very quickly investigation, with possible serious mean, they’ve got some explaining of news reports will increase pressure small group of the intelligence elite Khashoggi, 59, has had a long ca- into a political statement that will repercussions to bilateral relations if to do,” Corker was quoted as saying. on the US government to act. in Washington, DC, and they are reer as a senior journalist in Saudi damage Saudi’s relationship with it does not come to fruition. Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane, reporting “This was a prominent American speaking out. This story is making Arabia and also as an adviser to top the United States, and damage Saudi offi cials have denied any in- from Washington, DC, said the deluge columnist who is beloved among a front-page news. It is being greeted officials. Saudi’s reputation worldwide.” US raises pressure on Saudi over missing journalist From Page 1 to Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed nia Trump to “help shed light on The Saudi consulate referred since then wrote columns for the counts yet of what they say is the of what it said was a van arriving bin Salman on Tuesday. Jamal’s disappearance.” Reuters to authorities in Riyadh Washington Post. Turkish government’s investigation at the consul general’s residence “We’re demanding every- The White House also said US Trump made Saudi Arabia the who have not responded to ques- Britain’s foreign minister into Khashoggi’s disappearance. two hours after Khashoggi en- thing,” Trump said when asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo fi rst stop on his fi rst foreign trip tions about the 15 Saudis, who called for urgent answers and the Sabah newspaper published tered the consulate, about 250m if he was demanding information followed up with his own call as president in May 2017, but in arrived in the city hours before chairman of the US Senate For- the names and years of birth of (820ft) away. from the Saudis. “We want to see to the Crown Prince, who had recent weeks has appeared to Khashoggi disappeared on Oc- eign Relations Committee Bob the 15 Saudis it said arrived at Is- Aksam newspaper also pub- what’s going on. It’s a very seri- forged close ties to the adminis- sour a bit on Riyadh, complaining tober 2. Corker, who has seen classifi ed tanbul’s Ataturk airport. lished blurred photos of a jet ar- ous situation for us and for this tration, especially Kushner. directly to King Salman about the A Turkish security source had intelligence on the case, said in- Twelve of them arrived early riving in Istanbul before dawn on White House. We want to get to “In both calls they asked for cost of American support for the previously told Reuters that the 15 formation pointed to Khashoggi on Tuesday, based on photos October 2, carrying what it said the bottom of it.” more details and for the Saudi Saudi military and for Opec oil Saudis, including some offi cials, being killed. captured at passport control were nine members of the Saudi He said he and his wife, Mela- government to be transparent price increases. left Turkey later the same day. “They’ve got some explaining which it published. team, as well as images of some of nia, expect to invite Cengiz to the in the investigation process. We One of the 15 Saudis identifi ed The Washington Post reported to do,” he said of Saudi Arabia. The 15 departed at four diff er- them checking in at a hotel. White House soon. will continue to monitor this by name and photo in the report on Tuesday that US intelligence Corker said he doubted ac- ent times, Sabah reported. Aksam said they left their hotel “People saw him go in and situation and provide updates as by Turkey’s Sabah newspaper is had intercepted the communica- counts from Saudi offi cials that It did not say how it obtained later in the morning. didn’t see him come out. We’re available,” White House spokes- a forensic expert who has worked tions of Saudi offi cials discussing security cameras at the consulate the pictures and data. Shortly after midday it said going to take a very serious look woman Sarah Sanders said in a at the Saudi Interior Ministry for a plan to capture Khashoggi, cit- did not record any images. The Sabah report said that the several cars entered the consulate at it. It’s a terrible thing,” Trump statement. 20 years, according to a Linke- ing an unidentifi ed person famil- “To me it feels very much some Saudis stayed at the Wyndham building. said. “This is a bad situation. We Khashoggi’s fi ancée Cengiz dIn profi le and Saudi media, and iar with the information. nefarious activity has occurred and Movenpick hotels in Istan- A picture of Khashoggi en- cannot let this happen, to report- was surprised when an Ameri- serves on the board of the Saudi Yesterday, State Department by them. But I don’t want to rush bul, in the same neighbourhood tering the consulate shows the ers, to anybody. can friend told her of Trump’s Society of Forensic Medicine. spokesman Robert Palladino said to judgment,” Corker said on as the Saudi consulate. time-stamp 13.14. We can’t let this happen.” comment about inviting her to Other names and photos of the the United States “had no ad- Tuesday. Both hotels declined to com- About two hours later Aksam And in another sign the White the White House, the friend told 15, who Sabah said travelled on vance knowledge” of such a plan. US Vice-President Mike Pence ment. showed two vehicles, one of them House was stepping up pressure, Reuters. “I think she’s in shock, diplomatic passports, match of- Khashoggi left Saudi Ara- said yesterday the United States Turkish NTV also broadcast a black Mercedes Vito van with White House national security now even more,” her friend said. fi cers in the Saudi Army and Air bia last year saying he feared was ready to help in any way in security camera footage yester- tinted windows and diplomatic adviser John Bolton and White In an essay in the Washington Force, as identifi ed by previous retribution for his criticism of the investigation. day that it said showed the men plates, leaving the consulate and House senior adviser Jared Kush- Post on Tuesday, Cengiz im- Saudi media reports and in one Riyadh over the Yemen war and Yesterday’s Turkish media re- arriving at the airport and check- entering the car park of the resi- ner, Trump’s son-in-law, spoke plored the president and Mela- case a Facebook profi le. its crackdown on dissent, and ports were the most detailed ac- ing into a hotel, as well as videos dence shortly afterwards.

CCTV footage showing the moment missing Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the kingdom’s consulate in Istanbul, as well as the movements of a team suspected of involvement This video grab shows Saudi journalist Khashoggi (R) in his disappearance, was released yesterday in Turkey. arriving at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October This video grab, made yesterday based on CCTV footage from 2. Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, vanished on Turkish news agency DHA, shows the Saudi team suspected October 2 after entering the consulate to obtain off icial Another video grab shows Khashoggi’s fiancee in front of the Vehicles arriving at the Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul of involvement in Khashoggi’s disappearance at the airport in documents ahead of his marriage to his Turkish fiancee. Saudi Arabian consulate in Istanbul on October 2, the day on October 2, the day Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi went Istanbul on October 2, the day he vanished. AFP/DHA AFP/DHA Khashoggi went missing. AFP/DHA missing. AFP/DHA Britons among 10 dead in Bulgarian arrested in Germany, charged with journalist’s murder

Majorca flash floods Reuters Bulgaria has charged him in ab- her own show, Detector, on local Sofia sentia with rape and premeditated television station NTV, would murder with extreme cruelty and carry out similar investigations. AFP paper he had to swim out of his their deaths in Spain, and will do warned that rainfall and storms Germany was expected to extra- No link has been established Sant Llorenç des Cardassar car through a window to safety. all we can to assist them at this were set to get worse in the ar- Bulgarian man has been dite him for trial in Bulgaria, chief between the crime and Mari- “I swam 500 metres (1,650 deeply diffi cult time,” it said in a chipelago “in the coming hours.” detained in Germany prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov said. nova’s work so far. feet) through the torrent until I statement. In Majorca, the worst aff ected Aover the rape and murder German authorities con- Borissov, speaking at a news t least 10 people died, in- got to a house,” Manuel Torres- Emergency services sent out area lay 60 kilometres east of the of television journalist Viktoria fi rmed a 20-year old suspect conference, criticised people cluding two Britons, and cusa told the Diario de Mallorca. tweets in Spanish, Catalan, Eng- capital Palma de Majorca. Marinova, offi cials said yester- had been arrested in Stade at the who he said had rushed to men- Aa boy remained missing “I hardly had any clothes on me lish and German in an indication Sergio Mantas, a local police- day, as Prime Minister Boyko home of relatives’ on Tuesday tion Bulgaria in the same breath yesterday after fl ash fl oods hit as they all got caught on a metal of the prevalence of tourists and man, told the Diario de Mallorca Borissov defended his govern- night and was due to be brought as Malta and Slovakia, where the Spanish holiday island of fence when I was swimming.” foreign residents on the island. that the situation in Sant Llorenc ment’s record on press freedoms. before a magistrate yesterday. journalists had been killed re- Majorca, tearing through village Emergency services in the Last year, 13.8mn foreign des Cardassar, one of the worst- The suspect was identifi ed by Marinova, a 30-year-old pre- cently for their work. streets and sweeping away cars. Balearic archipelago tweeted tourists visited the Balearic Is- hit villages, had been “devastat- Bulgarian authorities as Severin senter on a local TV station with Tsatsarov told the news con- Muddy waters rushed down that the death toll had risen to 10 lands, according to offi cial sta- ing.” Krasimirov from Ruse, Marino- a seven-year-old daughter, was ference that he could not say roads, houses were fl ooded and ve- and a little boy remained miss- tistics. “The village was a torrent.” va’s hometown where her body raped, beaten and suff ocated, po- at this stage if the murder was hicles piled up on top of each other ing. The biggest numbers came Javier Martinez told the daily was found in a park near Danube lice said. On her last TV show, on linked to Marinova’s work as a after the Mediterranean island was Britain’s foreign offi ce said from Germany and Britain. he had to leave his fl ooded home. River last Saturday. September 30, Marinova intro- journalist. The collected evi- pounded with rain in just a few two British nationals had died. Many more foreigners live in the “I don’t have anything with me, Krasimirov, who lived near duced two journalists who were dence so far pointed to a spon- hours, video footage showed. “We are supporting the family archipelago. just my pyjamas,” he was quoted the park, left the country on investigating suspected corrup- taneous attack and sexual as- One witness told a local news- of two British people following Spain’s meteorological offi ce as saying. Sunday, they said. tion involving EU funds and said sault, he said. Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 17 EUROPE

Health watchdog Royal visit calls for ban on sunbeds in France

AFP aged 18 and under from using Paris commercial tanning parlours, and has outlawed advertis- ing for them.A total ban is now he French health watch- needed, Merckel said. dog yesterday urged the “Scientifi c data is growing, Tgovernment to follow there isn’t any doubt any more. the example of Australia and We have solid proof. The risk of Brazil by banning sunbeds and cancer is proven, we have fi g- tanning parlours because of the ures on the risk to young people, “proven” risk of skin cancer to everyone, so now we’re call- caused by exposure to artifi cial ing for action from the authori- UV light. ties,” he added. “We recommend banning People under 35 who resort at all activities linked to artifi cial least once to artifi cial tanning tanning, along with ultravio- increase the likelihood of devel- let sunlamps sold for aesthetic oping skin melanoma by 59%, purposes,” said Olivier Mer- according to ANSES. ckel, an expert at the Agency Commercial tanning activ- for Food, Environmental and ity in France has already been Occupational Health and Safe- halved since 2009, according to ty (ANSES).Of 10,722 cases of the National union of tanning malignant melanoma — the professionals which represents deadliest form of skin cancer — some 300 specialised salons and reported among French adults 4,500 beauty parlours off ering over age 30 in 2015, 382 could tanning in the country. be directly linked to the use of Some 10,000 jobs will go if sunbeds and sunlamps, ANSES the government were to follow estimated recently. ANSES’ “inept recommenda- Skin specialists, the French tions,” it said yesterday in a academy of medicine, and some statement. French health and politicians have already spoken safety inspectors have criticised out in favour of a ban, but the tanning salons for breaching French government so far has standards, saying UV emissions only tightened regulations. on some sunbeds were not reg- Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands wave from a boat in Oberwesel during a three-day visit to Germany, yesterday. France already bans those ularly checked.

Eight dead, 25 missing as migrant Amid criticism, Macron boat sinks off Turkey delays cabinet reshuffl e Reuters Reuters up a team in a calm and profes- the reshuffl e process was taking fi gure with diminished star Ankara Paris sional way,” the Elysee Palace longer than expected because power. said in a statement announcing Macron had redrawn the po- “That they cannot replace the reshuffl e’s delay. litical landscape and brought in the interior minister highlights ight people died after a rench President Em- Government spokesman faces from outside politics. chaos inside the Macron ad- boat fi lled with migrants manuel Macron put off a Benjamin Griveaux, a member “We’re no longer in an age ministration,” said Valerie Boyer Esank off the western coast Fgovernment reshuffl e yes- of Macron’s inner circle, denied where because someone has 15 of the centre-right Les Repub- of Turkey and another 25 were terday, raising new questions the Macron administration was years of service under their belt licains party.”Either there’s a missing, the Turkish coast guard about the depth of political in disarray. they deserve to become a minis- lack of names or a lack of candi- said yesterday. experience in his party and his “There is no division in the ter,” the offi cial said. dates in whom the president can It was not clear where the boat own ability to keep his admin- government or the parliamen- Macron’s rivals are not trust and who will stay loyal to was headed or where it left from. istration on track after several tary majority on the political convinced.“Macron’s ability his programme.” Hundreds of thousands of mi- resignations. line we are pursuing,” he said. to attract is pretty weak,” hard While Macron doesn’t face grants crossed the sea channel The president and his prime Ministers had been expecting left lawmaker Alexis Corbiere re-election until 2022, Europe- from Turkey to Greek territory minister have been weighing the rejig before a cabinet meet- told BFM TV.”Many are ask- an Parliament elections in May in 2015 before Ankara curbed the the reshuffl e for a week follow- ing yesterday morning. ing themselves: ‘What should next year and municipal voting fl ow under a deal it struck with ing the departure of three min- But in the event, the Elysee we do in this mess?’ They don’t in France in 2020 could turn into the European Union. isters since late August, includ- said it would not happen un- want to be fi nished politically by a semi-referendum on his mid- The coast guard said the boat ing interior minister and early til after Macron returns from a becoming a minister in a gov- term performance. sank off the coast of Turkey’s Iz- Macron backer Gerard Collomb. visit to Armenia late on Friday. ernment that risks descending Particularly damaging to mir province after water began The resignations have chal- Macron’s popularity has sunk into crisis in less than a year.” Macron in recent weeks were leaking shortly after its departure. lenged the president’s author- in recent months as frustra- In winning power in May comments made by ex-interior There were initially around 35 ity and stalled his reform ambi- tion has welled up over a leader 2017, Macron and his En Marche minister Collomb. migrants on the boat in total, the tions. many voters see as arrogant and movement demolished France’s An early convert to Ma- coast guard said in a statement. Macron, 40, faces multiple the architect of policies that fa- traditional mainstream parties. cronism, Collomb said the Search and rescue operations challenges in carrying out a sig- vour the wealthy. He went on to poach senior president and his team “lacked for the missing migrants were nifi cant revamp. Opponents branded the re- politicians from both poles and humility” and warned of hubris continuing, the coast guard add- Not only must he try to main- shuffl e a “tragi-comedy” that draft in newcomers to build — a viewpoint which opinion ed. One helicopter, an aircraft tain the left-right balance that exposed a shortage of political Macron: postponing cabinet reshuff le a government “neither of the polls show is shared by many and three boats were carrying he made a hallmark of his cen- experience in the ruling party. right nor left”.But as the lustre voters. “The issue here is not the out the operations off the coast trist movement, but also fi nd Macron’s Republique En position is divided, meaning he administration committed to has worn off his young presi- government but the president, a of Izmir’s Karaburun district, it strong candidates from among a Marche party, though, holds faces no immediate threat. social and economic reform in- dency, and the impact of early president who is seen by French said, adding that gendarme and relatively shallow and inexperi- a commanding majority in Prime Minister Edouard cluding an overhaul of the pen- reforms to the labour code people as someone who doesn’t security forces were also carry- enced pool of loyalists. the National Assembly (lower Philippe told baying opposition sion and unemployment benefi t and tax rules have yet to fi lter listen to them, and even belittles ing out eff orts on the ground. “The president wishes to take house), his presidential term lawmakers there was “no anxi- systems. through, rivals have sought to them,” said Jean-Daniel Levy of Turkey became one of the all the time necessary to draw runs until 2022, and the op- ety, no restlessness” inside an A senior Elysee offi cial said depict an increasingly isolated pollster Harris Interactive. main launch points for more than a million migrants taking the sea route to EU territory in 2015, many fl eeing confl ict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa. EU to act on visa-for-sale schemes after Five religious group The infl ux of migrants was drastically curtailed by a 2016 accord between Ankara and the members detained in EU, after hundreds died crossing warnings of money laundering risks to Greek islands a few miles off the Turkish shore. Russia: investigators Reuters the place you stole from isn’t “including on necessary back- financial crimes. “The trade Brussels just appealing, it’s sensible,” ground checks for applicants”. in passports and visas by EU Naomi Hirst of rights group Acquiring these documents states must be stopped as soon AFP banned the Jehovah’s Wit- Italy motorway Global Witness said. costs on average 900,000 as possible. Moscow nesses from operating in operator chief faces he European Commis- She said checks on individu- euros, but Cyprus’ passport These programmes are a Russia. jail for bus crash sion said yesterday it als that bought EU citizenship could cost up to 2 millions, the gateway to criminal money,” “They had been conduct- Twill provide guidance or residency permits were not report said. he added, echoing the view of ive Jehovah’s Witnesses ing meetings and called on Italian prosecutors called yesterday to EU states on how to manage satisfactory and exposed coun- Cyprus has raised 4.8bn eu- other EU lawmakers. have been detained in others to join their organi- for the head of the country’s be- national schemes to sell pass- tries to corruption and money ros ($5.51bn) from its scheme, The report said in Malta, FRussia and charged with sation,” said Yevgenia Voro- leaguered Autostrade motorway ports and residency permits laundering risks. while Portugal could earn which has raised 718mn euros possessing weapons and run- zhtsova, a spokeswoman for operator to serve 10 years in jail to wealthy foreign citizens, as The joint report by Global nearly a billion euros a year, from its scheme, applicants ning an extremist group, in- regional investigators. for a bus crash in 2013 in which 40 campaigners and lawmakers Witness and Transparency according to figures cited in who have criminal records or vestigators said yesterday, in She said officials were in- people died. The tourist bus, which warned of money laundering International urged the Euro- the report, called “European are under investigation could the latest case targeting the vestigating how the members was carrying around 50 people, risks. pean Union to set standards Getaway — Inside the Murky still be considered eligible “in banned religious movement. of the Jehovah’s Witnesses rammed several cars after failing Government schemes to for managing the schemes and World of Golden Visas”. special circumstances”. They were arrested in the had obtained the ammuni- to brake on a bend near Avellino trade citizenship or residence to extend anti-money laun- EU states generated around “Poorly managed schemes Kirov region northeast of tion, but declined to provide in southern Italy. It then smashed rights for large investment dering rules, applied so far to 25bn euros in foreign direct allow corrupt individuals to Moscow, where authorities further details. through the safety rail of a viaduct are currently applied in 13 EU banks or gaming firms, to all investment in a decade from work and travel unhindered said they found two grenades Yaroslav Sivulskiy, a mem- and plunged into the void, falling countries: Austria, Cyprus, those involved in the visa-for- selling at least 6,000 pass- throughout the EU and under- and a landmine in searches of ber of the European Asso- some 30 metres (100 feet). The Luxembourg, Malta, Greece, sale industry. ports and nearly 100,000 resi- mine our collective security,” their homes. ciation of Jehovah’s Christian prosecutors said chief Giovanni Latvia, Portugal, Spain, Ireland, The European Commis- dency permits, the report said Laure Brillaud, anti-money The Jehovah’s Witnesses Witnesses, said it was the Castellucci and 11 other Autostrade Britain, Bulgaria, the Nether- sion will publish a report on using what it called conserva- laundering expert at Trans- are a Christian denomination first time the Russian au- (ASPI) employees should get 10 lands and France. schemes in EU countries by tive estimates. parency International, said. that originated in the United thorities had accused mem- years for failing to upkeep the rail. Hungary has terminated its the end of the year, commis- “Money must not be the All the countries who run States in the late 19th cen- bers of the movement of pos- The US-imported Jersey concrete programme. sioner Dimitris Avramopoulos criterion for citizens’ and these schemes, except Britain, tury. sessing ammunition. barrier, corroded by salt used to “If you have a lot of money said yesterday. residents’ rights in the EU,” Cyprus, Ireland and Bulgaria, The Russian authorities “We were shocked,” he keep the road ice-free in winter that you acquired through du- He said the report would of- said EU lawmaker Sven Gie- are part of the Schengen free- consider the movement a to- said from the Latvian capi- months, shattered on impact. bious means, securing a new fer guidance to member states gold, who sits on the assem- movement area which com- talitarian sect and last year tal Riga.”It is both funny and place to call home far away from on managing the programmes, bly’s special committee on prises 26 European states. the country’s supreme court strange. Why mines?” Gulf Times 18 Thursday, October 11, 2018 INDIA It’s now for the courts to decide, says Teesta Setalvad

IANS and government offi cials for al- reports from the Gujarat state van (who is now ambassador to submitted in the case of Zakia Ja- of the army”, based on testimony by IANS on the phone, said New Delhi leged “complicity” in the riots, police”, which included affi davits Cyprus) was a travesty of an in- fri. One of the the 30 allegations of Ashok Narayan, additional that he was “not prepared to said yesterday. of police offi cers and home de- vestigation. It disregarded hard, made by Zakia Jafri, widow of late chief secretary. talk”. Questions sent to him “The account by Lt General partment records. contemporary documentary evi- Congress legislator Ehsan Jafri – The SIT never called the Lt and his attache at the Indian evelations made by a top Zameer Uddin Shah corroborates She further said that all the in- dence,” she said. who was killed in a mob attack General for questioning. It looks High Commission in Nicosia former army offi cer about what we have been saying in the vestigation papers, 24,000 pages “Despite statements of Zakia in Gulbarg Housing Society was apparent from its report that seeking his views on whether Rthe deployment of troops Zakia Jafri case (still pending of records, were quoted in the Ahsan Jafri and myself (as co-pe- that “there was an undue delay the SIT did not look at Shah’s the army or it’s after action during the 2002 Gujarat riots in the courts) since 2006,” the ‘protest petition’ fi led before a titioners) recorded in 2009, they in requisition and deployment of ‘after action report’ submitted report was considered before “corroborates what we have been 56-year-old civil rights activist magistrate on April 15, 2013. did not record Zameer Uddin army”. to the then army chief, Gen S reaching the conclusion that saying”, Teesta Setalvad, a pe- told IANS. “Now we have his (Shah’s) ac- Shah’s statement. Why not? Now The SIT report, that had Padmanabhan, which was later there was “no delay in requi- titioner seeking a criminal trial She said that at the time of fi l- count,” she said. it is left to the courts of India to cleared Modi’s name, had con- submitted to the central govern- sition and deployment of the of then chief minister Narendra ing the complaint, on August 8, “The SIT (special investiga- decide.” cluded that there was no delay ment. army” have not been answered Modi and 62 other politicians 2006, they had detailed “ground tive team) headed by R K Ragha- The SIT inquiry report was “in requisition and deployment Raghavan, when contacted so far.

Doctors urge Star attraction delay of Delhi marathon More lions test as pollution surges positive for Reuters New Delhi

octors in India have called for the postpone- Dment of Delhi’s half mar- virus after 23 athon set for October 21, as air pollution has worsened sooner in the year than usual, posing a risk to runners. The air quality index, which measures the concentration of poisonous particulate matter, deaths at Gir has hit 331 in parts of Delhi on a scale where anything above 100 Reuters location,” the agency said in its Pregnant women in the area is considered unhealthy by the Ahmedabad latest press release. are being monitored by the Na- Central Pollution Control Board. But the Gujarat government tional Health Mission, a body Offi cials said the burning of has refused to part with any of set up by the government to some crop stubble in the north- t least 21 more Asiatic li- the lions, saying they would not improve healthcare across the ern breadbasket states of Punjab ons, an endangered spe- be safe anywhere but inside the country. and Haryana drove up pollution Acies found only in India, state. “The situation continues to levels, even though the practice have tested positive for a highly D T Vasavada, the chief con- be monitored regularly,” the was banned and federal authori- contagious virus that has been servator of forests at Gir, said ministry said in a statement. ties have threatened to punish blamed for recent lion deaths. yesterday he had not received The Toronto-based Interna- off enders. Tests on samples of 27 Asi- the ICMR press release, and tional Association for Medi- The Heart Care Foundation of atic lions living at the Gir sanc- there was no plan to move any cal Assistance to Travellers India said runners were at risk of tuary in Gujarat showed 21 of lions. said it was advising pregnant lung infections and other com- them were positive for the Ca- “We are monitoring the travellers to postpone trips to plications from the deteriorat- nine Distemper Virus (CDV), health of the lions,” he said, the area, part of India’s tour- ing air. the Indian Council of Medical adding that vaccinations were ist “golden triangle” of Delhi, “This is also the time when Research (ICMR) said in a note ongoing. Jaipur and Agra, home to the Taj pollution levels are likely to be dated Tuesday. A spokesman at the Gujarat Mahal. extremely high, with poor air It was posted on the agency’s chief minister’s office referred First discovered in 1947, the quality,” it said in a statement, website today. queries to the state forest min- zika virus reached epidemic warning that this could aggra- This follows earlier tests that ister, who did not answer calls proportions in Brazil in 2015, vate asthma or other lung dis- revealed at least five of 23 lion seeking comment yesterday. when thousands of babies were ease, such as chronic obstructive deaths at Gir over the past three “At one level it is too late to born with microcephaly, a brain pulmonary disease. weeks were due to the virus. try and separate the healthy defect affecting speech and More than 32,000 people “This indicates active disease and uninfected lions,” Ravi motor function. competed in the race last year, transmission among the Gir li- Chellam, a wildlife expert and It is the third such out- some wearing masks. ons,” the ICMR said. member of a government panel break in India, with the first A high level of PM 2.5, or tiny Roughly 600 Asiatic lions formed move some of the lions, in Ahmedabad in January 2017 particulate matter that can reach live in the 850sq mile expanse said. and the second in Tamil Nadu in deep into the lungs, can increase of the Gir sanctuary, a popular “Given that CDV is airborne, July 2017. blood pressure and even cause a tourist attraction in the west- it is very likely that the entire Both outbreaks were “suc- stroke, the foundation added. ern state. population would have been cessfully contained”, the gov- Another pollutant, PM10, was The Supreme Court ordered exposed but not infected.” ernment said. a direct threat to runners, as it is in 2013 that some of the lions to A government-appointed The latest cases – in the mid- inhaled in large amounts when be moved out of the sanctuary committee of experts has been dle of the country’s festival sea- people breathe through the after wildlife experts for years working on determining the son where many Indians travel, mouth while running, although advocated for such a move – cause of the deaths, Vasavada increasing the risk of transmis- it is fi ltered out through the nose called ‘translocation’ – to pro- said. sion – come amid a spike in when breathing normally. tect the lions against calamities Meanwhile, the federal gov- other mosquito-borne diseas- “In light of this, the Heart like disease outbreaks. ernment has sent experts to try es, that kill thousands across Care Foundation of India has The ICMR called on the gov- to contain an outbreak of the India each year, according to called for the immediate post- ernment last week to take im- zika virus in the popular tourist the World Health Organisation. ponement of the Delhi Half mediate steps to place the lions destination of Jaipur, capital of The capital Delhi has re- Marathon to a later date, when in two or three different sanc- Rajasthan, with a close watch ported a rise in cases of dengue the air quality is better,” it said. tuaries to save them from ex- on pregnant women. fever, with 169 reported in the Vehicle exhaust emissions in tinction. Twenty-two people in the first week of October and tak- a city with limited public trans- “Since CDV is transmitted city have tested positive, the ing the total for the year to 650, port, emissions from thermal by airborne route as well as in- health ministry said. according to NDTV, citing fig- power stations and swirling fected body secretions, healthy There is no vaccine to the vi- ures from the South Delhi Mu- construction dust are New Del- Hollywood star Will Smith gestures as he visits the Taj Mahal in Agra yesterday. lions from Gir forest may be rus which can cause severe birth nicipal Corporation that tracks hi’s main pollutants. shifted to an alternate suitable defects in unborn children. mosquito-borne diseases. SC seeks details of Rafale 7 die as train derails decision-making process in Uttar Pradesh Agencies One passenger who did not Lucknow give his name told journalists IANS aircraft concerned the national Addressing the court, PIL pe- that he woke up after hearing a New Delhi security and described the peti- titioner advocate M L Sharma loud thud and realised that many tion as a “political interest litiga- referred to the pricing of the air- even people were killed compartments had gone off the tion” which had been fi led when craft that had been quoted at dif- and at least 30 were injured tracks. he Supreme Court yes- the government and opposition ferent points of time before dif- Swhen a train derailed in Ut- “Two coaches turned turtle,” terday asked the govern- were locked in severe political ferent forums to drive the point tar Pradesh yesterday, police of- the passenger said. “The fi rst to Tment to disclose details of fi ght. that price being paid by India fi cials said. come to the help of the trapped the decision making process for Urging the court not to enter- was high. Eight coaches of the New Far- passengers were fellow passen- the purchase of 36 Rafale fi ghter tain the plea as the purchase of He also took the court through akka express train went off the gers as well as villagers.” jets in a fl y-away condition from Rafale aircraft was not judicially the history of deal initially start- tracks near the city of Raebareli Railways Minister Piyush France’s Dassault Aviation. reviewable, the attorney general ing in 2008, the involvement of shortly past 6am, senior police Goyal announced compensation A bench of Chief Justice Ran- said: “It is not a PIL but a ‘politi- a corporate house before fi nally offi cer Anand Kumar said. of Rs500,000 for the families of jan Gogoi, Justice Sanjay Kishan cal interest litigation’ coming on the deal for purchase of 36 Rafale The train was travelling from each of the dead and Rs100,000 Kaul and Justice K M Joseph clar- the eve of elections to state as- aircraft in a fi t-to-fl y condition Malda in eastern West Bengal to those seriously injured. ifi ed that the information sought semblies of Rajasthan, Madhya was signed. state to national capital New It may take another 24 hours to was not related to pricing or suit- Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telan- However, the court asked an- Delhi. clear the tracks and trains on the ability of the jets. gana and Mizoram.” other petitioner to limit his sub- At least nine of the injured route were suspended, NDTV The information should be The AG told the court that mission to the issues raised in were in critical condition, Kumar news channel reported citing furnished in a sealed cover and answers to the questions in par- his petition and not to “digress” said. railways offi cials. reach the court by October 29 liament were being selectively from it. Personnel from the National Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister – the next date of hearing, the quoted to fi le the PIL which were Meanwhile Congress president Disaster Response Force and Yogi Adityanath also announced bench said. politically coloured. Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at Prime police had rescued all the pas- a compensation of Rs200,000 The court also made it clear When Chief Justice Gogoi Minister Narendra Modi, saying sengers who are trapped in the each for the families of the dead. that it was not issuing a notice to asked “if we ask you to give de- the “processes to justify his deci- coaches. Prime Minister Narendra Modi the respondents. tails minus technical details”, the sion are yet to be invented”. The cause of the derailment and Congress president Rahul The court sought information AG said that this could not be “The Supreme Court has was not immediately known, Gandhi expressed condolences. from the government as Attorney shown to anyone given the na- asked for the #RAFALE decision Rescuers move a damaged engine of a passenger train after it Kumar added. Accidents are common on In- General K K Venugopal said the tional security and other issues making process. It’s quite simple derailed in Harchandpur, in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Most passengers were asleep dia’s railway network, which is purchase of the French fi ghter of defence involved in it. really...” yesterday. when the disaster occurred. among the biggest in the world. Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 19

INDIA Akbar must quit, says Congress

IANS yesterday refused to answer any New Delhi question other than those per- taining to cabinet decisions. Chaturvedi also demanded I’m not a he Congress Party yester- an apology from Bharatiya Ja- day asked Minister of State nata Party MP Udit Raj, who on Tfor External Aff airs M J Tuesday sought to question why harasser, Akbar to either come clean fol- women were coming out with lowing sexual harassment charg- their stories 10 years after the al- es against him or resign. leged incidents and had dubbed it says author The opposition party also as the “beginning of wrong prac- sought an independent probe tice”. IANS into the charges against the Meanwhile, three more women New Delhi former editor. journalists came out with al- “Akbar has a stature as a jour- legations of sexual harassment nalist, apart from being a min- against Akbar. estselling author Chetan ister. He should off er a satisfac- Journalists Ghazala Wahab, Bhagat, who is under fi re tory explanation either through a Saba Naqvi and Shutapa Paul Bafter screenshots of his statement or personally, or resign narrated their ordeal of work- WhatsApp conversations were forthwith,” Congress spokesman ing under Akbar. Gazala Wahab leaked on social media, claimed S Jaipal Reddy told the media wrote a piece in the news web- yesterday that he was being “at- here. site The Wire narrating what she tacked and vilifi ed”. “How can he be in the minis- called was her “nightmare.” “I want you to know that I am try with such serious allegations “In my third year at the Asian suff ering because my name is be- levelled by responsible journal- Age, the offi ce culture hit home. ing dragged into needless con- ists who have worked with him. His eyes fell on me. And my troversies, and my family and I Let there be an inquiry. We de- nightmare began. My desk was are being harassed. In the garb of mand an inquiry against Akbar,” shifted to just outside his cabin, the #MeToo movement, which said Reddy. perpendicularly opposite his defi nitely has genuine cases, I am At least six women journal- desk, so that if the door to his being attacked and vilifi ed. Let ists have accused Akbar of sexual room was left slightly open, I me tell you upfront - I am not a harassment and inappropriate was face to face with him. He harasser. Never was, never will behaviour when he was an editor. would sit at his desk and watch be,” Bhagat said in a four-page The Congress also targeted me all the time, often sending statement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s me lewd messages on the Asian The author, whose latest book government, including External Age intranet network. Thereaf- The Girl in Room 105 released on Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj, ter, emboldened by my obvious Tuesday, said that the screen- for keeping mum on the issue. helplessness, he started calling shots in question were of “a fl ir- “We had hoped that women me into his cabin (the door to tatious, but friendly and polite cutting across political lines will which he would always shut) for Minister of State for External Aff airs M J Akbar talks to the media at the United Nations in New York in this file picture of September 29, 2018. conversation”. come out in support of these conversation, most of which was At least six women journalists have accused Akbar of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour when he was an editor. He maintained that such brave women who have now come personal in nature. Things like “baseless allegations” aff ect his out and revealed their ordeal and my family background and how success rate in pinning down his nalists working together often tor-in-chief of the magazine. she said it was “a case of total wife, 70-year-old mother, his tragic stories. Unfortunately, Su- I was working and living alone prey. His genius and talent was ‘grew close’ and things could She said it was at the Asian Age harassment and nastiness” by elderly in-laws and his twin teen- shma Swaraj, to whom many look in Delhi against the wishes of my made an excuse for his behaviour happen between them. He told that “one became aware of his Akbar. aged sons. “Each of them suff ers up to for inspiration, has cho- parents,” Wahab wrote in the ar- but when the moral centre is hol- me I should accompany him on growing interest in younger girls, “She says she spoke to me, and in their own way,” he added, be- sen to stay quiet,” said Congress ticle. low, even cleverness wears thin, his foreign visits. I told him about and while many joined and stayed I am sure she is right. If she spoke fore mentioning that #MeToo leader Priyanka Chaturvedi. She said she had told the Asian as it has done with the Badshah.” my mother, my recently deceased the course there were no com- to me she did not share the de- movement “is leading to some “It also raises a fi nger at the Age Chief of Bureau, Seema Naqvi said that she was writ- father & the committed relation- plaint from the Bureau.” She said tails as she has written them now. positive change”. Bhagat said that government that talks of women Mustafa, about the editor’s be- ing the account to ensure that ship I was in at that time.” it seemed to be a diff erent story My full support and solidarity for the #MeToo movement has its empowerment and safety but haviour, who told her, according more male bosses are deterred Mustafa, who headed the re- on the desk, as all his favourites - Ghazala Wahab who had obvi- “good parts” and has some “good maintains a dubious silence on to Wahab, that it was “her call”. from acting as sexual bullies. porting section in the Asian Age male colleagues included - were ously gone through hell and has people with genuine grievances”. the matter,” she said. Naqvi, who wrote a piece in Shutapa Paul, then Kolkat cor- for ten years, and to whom Wa- there and he would party with come out of it,” Mustafa said. “I am with them. However, the While Swaraj on Tuesday DailyO, talked about what she respondent for India Today nar- hab complained against Akbar, them, drink with them, mix with She said Wahab’s article had movement is already getting cor- ducked media queries on the al- experienced in her fi rst job. rated her account in a series of expressed her personal opinion them while keeping a long dis- given the proof of Akbar’s behav- rupted and genuine survivors will legations against Akbar, Law “I was dealing with a preda- tweets. in a piece in the online magazine tance from the Bureau. iour for which he needs to lose his suff er if people don’t take it seri- Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad tor, who would have had a high “MJAkbar told me how jour- The`Citizen. Mustafa is the edi- Referring to Wahab’s account, job. ously,” he said. Bollywood director threatens to sue fi lmmakers over claims

Agencies A legal notice released to the media Vinta Nanda accused veteran fi lm actor Mumbai said Bahl “denies all allegations”. Alok Nath of raping her 19 years ago. “Vikas Bahl issues defamation no- “Neither I am denying this nor do I tice to Anurag Kashyap and Vikrama- would agree with it. It (rape) must have prominent Bollywood director ditya Motwane threatening civil and happened, but someone else would accused of sexual harassment criminal action,” it added. have done it,” Nath told a news channel. Adenied the allegations yesterday The notice accused Kashyap and Mot- Also yesterday singer Sona Mohap- as he threatened to sue two fellow fi lm- wane of “professional rivalry and jeal- atra accused singer-composer Kailash makers for defamation over the case ously” and of trying to jeopardise the Kher of sexual misconduct. which has helped fuel India’s #MeToo release of Bahl’s upcoming fi lm Super 30. Mohapatra, who is married to sing- movement. It called for them to withdraw the er-composer Ram Sampath, tweeted Vikas Bahl is accused of assaulting claims and issue an apology or face be- about Kher’s misbehaviour during an an employee of Phantom Films - an ing sued. offi cial meet. edgy production house behind Netf- The year-old #MeToo movement Questioned by social media users lix’s fi rst original Indian series, Sacred has fi nally gathered steam in India in why she was recounting the experience Games — in a hotel in 2015. recent days with Bollywood fi gures, a now, she explained: “To all the peo- In accusations published on Huff - government minister, several come- ple accusing me of being so late about Post India on Saturday, the unnamed dians and top journalists among those bringing up Kailash Kher’s bad behav- woman said Bahl had insisted on es- accused of abusing their positions to iour, I say... my life. My choice.” corting her to her room and pretended behave improperly towards women. Kher’s name cropped up in the on- to pass out drunk on her bed, only to The spark was Hindi fi lm actress going #MeToo movement for the fi rst awaken and misbehave with her. Tanushree Dutta, who in a recent in- time earlier this week after a female Anurag Kashyap and Vikramadi- terview accused well-known Bolly- journalist recounted how he allegedly tya Motwane, who along with Bahl and wood actor Nana Patekar of inappro- misbehaved with her during an inter- another fi lmmaker founded Phantom priate behaviour on a fi lm set 10 years view. Films, released statements on Twitter ago. At the time, Kher said he was “ex- later that day backing the woman. He denies the allegations. tremely disappointed” to hear the ac- The report came after they had an- A Mumbai comedian, Utsav cusations, and that he was neither nounced they were dissolving the pro- Chakraborty, last week found himself aware nor remembered the incident. duction company on Friday. at the centre of a Twitter storm accus- “For all those who know me and have Bahl, director of Queen, a 2014 hit ing him of sending lewd messages and come across me, will know how much movie about female empowerment, requests for topless photos to women I respect humanity, especially women, issued a denial through his lawyer yes- and young girls. even more for the ones who work in terday in his fi rst public statement re- He later apologised. media since their work is diffi cult,” he sponding to the allegation. On Monday, writer and producer said. Tharoor’s book on ‘paradoxical’ Modi to hit stands this month

IANS he depends for political support. An- books, sets out to inquire “who is the New Delhi other paradox is how a prime minister real Narendra Modi”. who prides himself on eff ective gov- The book is divided in fi ve sections ernance has, through his silence, ap- comprising 50 chapters. ongress MP Shashi Tharoor yes- peared to condone the worst aspects of “A noble, selfl ess leader who acts terday said his new book The misgovernance - communal riots, eff ectively in the interests of all his CParadoxical Prime Minister: lynchings, the violence of gau- countrymen or an autocratic, right- Narendra Modi And His India will rakshaks and so on. A third wing bigot who is interested only in hit the stands on October 26. paradox is his talk of soar- power and converting plural India into “Narendra Modi is a para- ing ambitions for the country a Hindu Rashtra? Or something in be- doxical man. He says one thing when his government’s per- tween?” and does another. He gives formance is underwhelming,” The publisher has billed The Para- voice to a number of the publisher Aleph doxical Prime Minister: Narendra Modi liberal ideas while at Book Company said And His India as a “brilliant study of the same time pan- in a statement. Modi and the eff ect he has had on our dering to some of In the 400-page country”. Aleph said that the book an- the most illiberal exhaustive work, swers questions about a leader who is elements in Indian Tharoor, who has au- “reviled and worshipped in equal meas- society, on whom thored 17 previous ure”. Gulf Times 20 Thursday, October 11, 2018 LATIN AMERICA Mexico couple claim to have murdered 20 people

AFP some of his women victims and killed 10 other people as well, ac- “He wants people to see his pic- and his wife, Patricia “N,” in ac- right and wrong,” Gomez added. he and his wife lured their victims, Mexico City selling some of their body parts, cording to Gomez. ture, to know his name... I would cordance with Mexican law. The couple were living with many of whom were young moth- said state prosecutor Alejandro Prosecutors are now trying to obviously classify this person as a He has “a mental disturbance their three children, including a ers, with off ers of discount cloth- Gomez of Mexico state. establish whether that is true, or murderer, a serial killer.” consistent with psychosis and a baby. ing for their babies. “They were couple detained in Mexico The man and woman were ar- the boast of a “psychopath” and The couple also admitted to personality disorder,” while she When authorities searched their single mothers... and they needed while transporting hu- rested last week in Ecatepec, a “serial killer,” he said. selling the two-month-old baby has been “mentally disabled since two houses, they found human someone who could help them fi nd Aman body parts in a baby violence-hit suburb northeast of “He described it in a completely of one of their victims to another birth, and also has acquired in- remains in cement-fi lled buckets inexpensive baby clothes,” said carriage has admitted killing 20 Mexico City, on suspicion of kill- natural way...I would say he actu- couple, who was also arrested, ac- duced delirium,” said Gomez. and wrapped in plastic bags inside Gomez. people, twice the number origi- ing 10 women. ally seemed happy to have done cording to the newspaper El Uni- He cited a psychiatric exam pre- a refrigerator, as well as articles of Investigators tracked down the nally suspected, the chief inves- The man gave detailed accounts this,” Gomez said in an interview versal. sented by prosecutors at the man’s clothing apparently belonging to couple by tracing cell phone calls tigator on the case said. of those 10 murders, and told in- with Mexican radio network For- The arrested suspects are being initial court appearance. “But some of their victims. the missing women had placed to The man also admitted raping vestigators that he and his wife had mula. identifi ed only as Juan Carlos “N” both can distinguish between The man told investigators that them, he said.

Balancing act Police arrest Keiko Fujimori in graft probe

AFP However, he was forced to step Lima down earlier this year when im- peachment seemed certain after he failed to shake off suspicions olice in Peru have arrested over millions of dollars in Ode- Keiko Fujimori, the oppo- brecht payments to his companies Psition leader and daughter before he took offi ce. of disgraced ex-president Alber- Prosecutors are also investigat- to Fujimori, for alleged money ing former president Ollanta Hu- laundering involving Brazilian mala for allegedly taking $3mn in construction giant Odebrecht, bribes from Odebrecht. her lawyer said yesterday. The investigation stems from The 43-year-old was arrested questioning of Jorge Barata, a on the orders of prosecutors in- Brazilian who was a former Ode- vestigating contributions to her brecht boss in Peru. campaign when she ran for presi- He told Brazilian investiga- dent in 2011, her lawyer Giuliana tors that he doled out millions of Loza said. dollars to Peruvian presidential The leader of Popular Force, the candidates between 2001 and biggest party in Congress, Keiko 2016. was arrested after giving evidence In the 2011 elections, Ode- at the public prosecutor’s offi ce to brecht gave money to four a judge investigating alleged party candidates, Barata told pros- funding from Odebrecht. ecutors: $1.2mn to Keiko Fuji- Her husband has accompanied mori, $700,000 to Toledo and Tightrope walker Mustafa “Danger” of Morocco performs during a circus promotional event in downtown Santiago, Chile, yesterday. her to the hearing in Lima before $300,000 to Kuczynski. judge Richard Concepcion Carhu- Up to her shock arrest yester- ancho. day, Keiko Fujimori had not been However, in a shock develop- directly under investigation, as ment, she was arrested and placed most of the prosecutors’ atten- in preventive detention for 10 tion was on two of her senior days, said Loza, who described 2011 campaign aides. the arrest as “an outrage and an The two aides, Jaime Yoshi- abuse.” A further 19 people have yama and Augusto Bedoya, were been arrested in the case linked among the 19 others placed un- to contributions to Popular Force der arrest yesterday. Bolsonaro’s senior aide during Keiko Fujimori’s 2011 pres- Barata has previously identi- idential campaign. fi ed both men as intermediaries. “She has placed herself at the Their homes were raided in disposal of the prosecutor’s of- March. fi ce,” said Loza. He told Peruvian prosecu- Her arrest comes a week after tors who questioned him in Sao her 80-year-old father’s presi- Paulo that — in addition to the accused of funds misuse dential pardon for crimes against money he gave to the two Popu- humanity was revoked by a top lar Force offi cials — he made an- Reuters minister, was fi rst made public praised Brazil’s 1964-85 military which Guedes was the control- marks the fi rst time that a mem- court, which ordered him back to other contribution of $200,000 Sao Paulo/Brasilia by the Folha de S.Paulo news- dictatorship and consistently ling shareholder, along with ber of Bolsonaro’s inner circle of prison. to Keiko through Peru’s business paper. voted to give government more tens of millions of reais in pay- advisers has been the subject of Prosecutors have since June confederation CONFIEP. An investigator with direct control over the economy dur- ments made as speaking fees to a major corruption investigation. been investigating allegations The Peruvian candidates as he chief economic ad- knowledge of the case as well ing three decades in Congress, unknown parties using some In the past four years, Brazil- that three former presidents took well as the business federation viser to Jair Bolsonaro, as the federal prosecutor’s press Guedes has convinced investors of this money, the source said, ian investigators have discov- bribes disguised as campaign all denied receiving Odebrecht TBrazil’s far-right presi- offi ce confi rmed the inquiry. that the 63-year-old former confi rming the details of the ered what some have called the funds from Odebrecht, which is contributions. dential front-runner, is under It alleges Guedes misman- army captain had reversed his Folha report. world’s largest political corrup- at the centre of political scandals The prosecutor in charge of a federal investigation for al- aged 1bn reais ($266.6mn) that thinking on economic policy. Bolsonaro, who met Guedes tion schemes ever found, put in across Latin America. the case, Jose Domingo Perez, leged fraud tied to the pen- public pension funds put in his Brazil’s benchmark Bovespa for the fi rst time last year, is not place under the Workers Party’s Former presidents Pedro Pa- has said Keiko Fujimori was sion funds of major state-run investment vehicles starting in stock index and the country’s accused of any wrongdoing. governments from 2003 to 2016 blo Kuczynski, Alan Garcia and leading a “criminal organisa- companies, prosecutors said 2009. currency, the real, have rallied The newspaper, citing court and involving several mainstream Alejandro Toledo all took unde- tion” inside Popular Force for yesterday. Bolsonaro almost won an as Bolsonaro’s candidacy gained documents, said Guedes alleg- political parties. clared campaign contributions in the purposes of receiving illicit The investigation of Paulo outright majority in Sunday’s strength. The Bovespa was edly worked with executives at The extent of the graft schemes exchange for pledges to have the funding. Guedes, a University of Chica- presidential election and is ex- down 1.8% and the real slipped the pension funds with strong has fuelled Brazilian voters’ out- Brazilian construction giant win An extended investigation go-trained economist credited pected to beat leftist rival Fern- 1% against the US dollar yester- ties to the leftist Workers Party, rage at traditional parties, helping local tenders, prosecutors said. into the Popular Force leader with nudging Bolsonaro toward ando Haddad in the October 28 day. whose candidate in the run-off is to propel the anti-establishment Kuczynski narrowly beat Keiko could leave an expected 2021 run market-friendly policies and run-off vote. Prosecutors are probing a de- Haddad. Bolsonaro to the top of the presi- Fujimori to the presidency in 2016. for the presidency in tatters. tapped as his future fi nance Although Bolsonaro has cision to invest in a company in The investigation of Guedes dential fi eld. Maduro govt involved Castro attends event UK military exercises in Falklands opposed in politician’s death: US after President Mauricio Macri AFP Buenos Aires warned Argentines late last month Reuters On Tuesday, the United Na- attacked those he said were tak- that they face painful months Washington/Caracas tions, European Union and US ing advantage of Alban’s death ahead after his government embassy in Caracas called for to criticise Maduro’s govern- rgentina has made a for- pledged tough austerity measures an independent investigation. ment. mal protest with the Brit- to meet the terms of an enlarged he White House yesterday The White House condemned He said there was no evidence Aish embassy in Buenos crisis loan from the International accused Venezuelan Pres- Alban’s death and noted he had of physical harm before the fall. Aires to reject Britain’s military Monetary Fund. Argentina’s cur- Tident Nicolas Maduro’s died “while in the custody of One of Alban’s lawyers, Joel exercises in the Falkland Islands, rency has lost half its value against government of involvement in Venezuela’s intelligence serv- Garcia, told reporters on Tues- the foreign ministry said. the dollar in 2018, hurting the pur- the death of an opposition politi- ice.” day that an autopsy conducted The two countries fought a war chasing power of millions of ordi- cian whom authorities say killed The statement also called for at the national morgue showed in 1982 in the South Atlantic is- nary Argentines. himself while in custody but the release of all Venezuelan signs of severe trauma to the lands ruled by Britain, and known Infl ation is forecast to reach whose party says he was mur- political prisoners and for Ma- skull, chest, and hips. in the Spanish-speaking world as more than 40% by the end of the dered. duro’s government to take steps Garcia said Alban appeared the Malvinas. Buenos Aires has year. The war began when troops Fernando Alban was jailed on “to re-establish democracy in “fine” when he last saw him on “taken notice” that these exercises dispatched by then Argentine dic- October 5 for alleged involve- Venezuela and to prevent fur- Sunday. will take place from October 15-29 tator Leopoldo Galtieri occupied ment in the explosion of two ther suffering and bloodshed.” Saab said witnesses told inves- and will include missile launches, the archipelago, prompting Britain drones in August during a mili- “The Trump administration tigators that Alban had abruptly the ministry said in a statement. to dispatch an expeditionary force tary parade led by Maduro, Ven- will continue to increase pres- got up from a table on the 10th “Argentina rejects the holding which took back the territory. ezuelan authorities say. sure on the Maduro regime and fl oor, where he was having lunch, of these exercises in Argentine Argentina suff ered 649 fatali- Investigators had concluded its insiders until democracy is and asked to go the bathroom. territory illegally occupied by the ties in the 74-day war, while 255 that Alban committed suicide on restored in Venezuela,” it said. He then ran towards a pano- United Kingdom,” it said. British troops and three islanders Monday by jumping out of a win- Venezuela’s information ramic window by a corridor and The ministry added that the died. dow on the 10th fl oor of the state ministry did not respond to threw himself out, Saab said. United Nations and other inter- Argentina argues it inherited intelligence agency headquarters a request to comment on the “All the criminal evidence col- national bodies have urged both the windswept islands from Spain (SEBIN), chief prosecutor Tarek statement. lected up until now reveals the countries to resume negotiations when it gained independence in Saab said yesterday. Maduro’s government has regrettable circumstances of the for “a peaceful and defi nitive solu- the 19th century. Alban’s First Justice party says denied that it holds political suicide of Alban,” he said. Former Cuban president Raul Castro arrives to tion to the sovereignty dispute.” Britain refuses to negotiate the the 56-year-old municipal law- prisoners and has said those Alban was arrested on his re- attend celebrations for the 150th anniversary of the Argentina made a similar pro- status of the Falklands, as de- maker, a devout Roman Catholic who have been imprisoned turn from a trip to New York, beginning of the independence war against Spain, in La test two years ago and Britain ar- manded by Argentina, arguing and family man, could not have sought to destabilise the gov- where he denounced human Demajagua farm, Manzanillo, Granma province some gued that the exercises were rou- that the nearly 3,000 people liv- killed himself and accused au- ernment. rights violations in Venezuela at 750kms east of Havana yesterday. tine. ing there voted in a referendum in thorities of covering up a murder. Saab, in a news conference, the UN General Assembly. The latest complaint comes 2013 to remain part of Britain. Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 21 PAKISTAN

Fuel prices feared to rise Govt to seek loans from 15% on rupee depreciation

Internews to close at 133.64 yesterday. Lahore An estimate showed that price of super petrol, which is cur- rently hovering at Rs93/litre, etrol prices are feared to could be increased by Rs11 to IMF, friendly nations: PM increase by up to 15% af- Rs14/litre with the start of next Pter the latest rupee freefall month. Reuters Khan, who took offi ce in July, December. This took total rupee that could unleash infl ation- People should be ready for new Islamabad has been seeking alternatives losses since then to about 26%, ary pressures on almost all the prices ranging between Rs104 to to a second IMF bailout in fi ve a level seen as a prerequisite for goods and services, traders and Rs107/litre if the government years – which would be likely another IMF rescue package. industry offi cials said yesterday. passes through the impact. Sim- akistan will go to the In- to impose tough conditions on In his fi rst offi cial state visit, “Prices of petroleum prod- ilarly, diesel price, which pres- ternational Monetary government policy, limiting his Khan and Umar fl ew to Saudi ucts would go up and up from ently stands at Rs106.60, could PFund (IMF) and friendly vision of an Islamic welfare state Arabia and the government November 1,” a senior offi cial of jump by Rs13. countries for fi nancial help to – but decided on Monday to later announced Riyadh would Pakistan State Oil (PSO) said, re- Massive devaluation of rupee avert a looming balance of pay- open talks with the international be investing in Chinese-funded questing anonymity. against dollar brought the dol- ments crisis, Prime Minister lending body. development projects. With string of devalua- lar up to Rs136 in open market Imran Khan said yesterday. Finance Minister Asad Umar Beijing has pledged $60bn to tion plus impact of Brent in- yesterday. Such a drastic devalu- His comments suggest the is due to meet offi cials at this build infrastructure and energy crease, high prices of petroleum ation is going to heavily impact government will approach both week’s annual conference of the projects to help turn Pakistan into products are around the corner. the import bill. Saudi Arabia and China for loans IMF and the World Bank in Bali, a major overland route linking Since the country is predomi- Imports of petroleum prod- alongside any assistance provid- Indonesia, to discuss a potential western China to the world. nantly oil-import dependent to ucts soared 32.1% to $14.43bn ed by the IMF. Beijing and Riya- package. Chinese Foreign Minister meet fuel needs, “there will be in the last fi scal year of 2017/18. dh have provided Pakistan with Pakistan’s foreign reserves Wang Yi visited Islamabad last signifi cant increase in the fuel The oil import bill is almost a fi nancial assistance in the past. dropped by $627mn in late Sep- month when he met Khan and prices,” the offi cial reiterated. quarter of the country’s annual Khan said the current account tember to $8.4bn, barely enough reiterated that Chinese invest- The offi cial is expecting a li- imports of $61bn. defi cit was about $18bn. “We do to cover sovereign debt pay- ment would help revitalise In this file photo, Imran Khan speaking after voting in the general tre price of petroleum products An expert said the present not have enough dollars to pay ments due through the end of Pakistan’s economy. election in Islamabad. to balloon by about 12-15% from government has promised to take the instalments of our loans,” the year. Khan described ironically the the present level, with dollar steps for making local industry he said in a speech. “We debated On Tuesday, the Pakistani ru- $18bn defi cit as “a gift from the “I want to tell all of you to stay In the past, Khan had said hovering around Rs135. viable amid cut-throat competi- and decided to go both the IMF pee plunged 7% in an apparent previous government”. strong and not to panic. This is a going to the IMF for assistance Rupee lost around 8% of its tion in the region. “The impact and countries which are our central bank devaluation, the “This is the biggest ever defi - very short period of time which and taking loans would be a last value against the dollar in the of oil prices would be same for all friends.” country’s fi fth devaluation since cit of Pakistan’s history,” he said. will go away.” resort for his government. interbank market the oil consuming countries.” Dropout high Bureaucrats reject proposed despite massive spending on civil service reforms body Internews fi cers termed the meeting an Services (PAS) cadre. promotions of hundreds of PCS Peshawar “eyewash and a sham,” and an- Moreover, the association offi cers were long overdue. nounced that they will reject said that when the matter was Moreover, the PCS offi c- education reforms which the task force raised in the meeting, Hussain ers questioned the legal- n a surprising turn of may suggest to the civil services reportedly responded less than ity of posting of PAS offi cers to events, provincial bureau- in Pakistan. positively to it, noting that the provinces on provincial posi- Internews of interest and shortage of Icrats have refused to co- In a statement issued to me- issue can be resolved through a tions, especially after the 18th Asim Munir Peshawar schools. operate with a task force cre- dia, the PCS Offi cers Associa- consultative process. constitutional amendment. The offi cials said that of the ated by the prime minister on tion said that their representa- The rest of the meeting, they According to the PCS offi c- Rs130bn budget being spent reforming the civil services, tives including Ghafoor Beg, claimed, mostly pertained to ers, Hussain did not respond is named hyber Pakhtunkhwa on the development side of stating that unless their issues Mutahir Zeb, Qaiser Khan and the illegal and unconstitution- positively to these issues and (KP) province has re- the education department, were addressed, they would Fahad Ikram Qazi had attended al apportionment formula of stated that he did not con- Kported high school Rs100bn was allocated as part reject the committee’s pro- the meeting where Hussain ex- 1993 formula distributes seats sider them as issues of the civil ISI chief dropout rate despite massive of the annual development posed reforms. plained his plan for reforming among the PAS and PMS/PCS service. education spending in the last programme in the provin- The announcement came the civil service and restructur- offi cers in the province where This sparked some fi reworks Internews some years. cial budget during the last six after Ishrat Hussain, who is ing the national and provincial the federal government had in the meeting between the Islamabad The government has years. heading Prime Minister Imran executive service. usurped slots in the provincial PCS offi cers and Hussain but pumped a whopping Rs130bn They said of the total devel- Khan’s civil service reforms The PCS association said government. in vain. The PCS offi cers stood into the province’s education opment outlay, the education taskforce, met with repre- that their reservations of being He was further told that the their ground on the inclu- t General Asim Munir, sector during the last six years. department used Rs14.366bn sentatives of the Provincial ignored proved to be true with province was suff ering an ad- sion of PCS representatives in pictured, has been ap- Also, the district govern- in 2012-13, Rs20.263bn in Civil Service (PCS) in Peshawar the entire reforms committee ministrative crisis with as many the committee and for ending Lpointed as the director ments have released billions 2013-14, Rs19.926bn in 2014- yesterday. comprising only offi cers from as 200 positions reserved for the apportionment formula general of Pakistan’s intelli- of rupees to the government 15, Rs11.4bn in 2015-16, An association of PCS of- the Pakistan Administrative PAS offi cers lying vacant and of 1993. gence agency Inter-Services schools from own budgets in Rs18.185bn in 2016-17 and Intelligence (ISI), replacing Lt the last three years for ensur- Rs15.182bn in 2017-18. General Naveed Mukhtar. ing basic facilities on campus. The offi cials said the funds In a statement, the Inter- The 2017-18 annual statis- in question were mainly spent 200 citizens issued notices for properties abroad Services Public Relations (ISPR) tical report of the education for putting up buildings for said that Lt Gen Azhar Saleh department prepared two new schools and upgrad- The Supreme Court of came to the court’s notice that Mansoor further said that in Abbasi has been appointed as months ago shows that the ing existing ones, providing Pakistan was informed a large number of Pakistani the first stage after receiving the chief of Logistics Staff at school dropout rate is 44 and free textbooks to students, yesterday that 895 Pakistanis citizens were maintaining all aff idavits, the FIA would Pakistan Army’s General Head- 40% at primary and second- purchasing furniture, off er- have been identified as bank accounts in foreign carry out an investigation quarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi ary levels, respectively. ing stipend to girl students, owners of properties in the countries without disclosing and, after being convinced and Lt General Nadeem Zaki According to the report, establishing information United Arab Emirates (UAE) it to the local authorities or that illegality had been has been appointed as the Corps 685,000 students got admis- technology labs, standardis- and 200 of them have been paying taxes on the money committed, the authority Commander Mangla. sion to preparatory classes in ing higher secondary schools, issued notices for justifying deposited in the accounts. concerned would enter into Likewise, Lt General Shaheen 2012-13 but the schools had training teachers, paying hard acquisition of properties At the last hearing on the next stage of initiating Mazher has been appointed as 369,163 students after six areas allowance to teach- abroad. September 19, the apex court the process for recovery the Corps Commander Pesha- years in 2017-18 as 315,837 ers, establishing community Attorney General Anwar had given green signal to the of the assets made abroad war, Lt General Abdul Aziz as dropped out. girls schools, and monitoring Mansoor told a three-judge Federal Investigation Agency through the use of money the Military Secretary GHQ, Lt The dropout rate at second- schools. bench headed by Chief (FIA) to inquire from owners allegedly looted in Pakistan. General Muhammad Adnan as ary schools stood at 40% as The offi cials said every dis- Justice Mian Saqib Nisar of the recently identified The court declined to the Vice Chief of General Staff 298, 000 students were en- trict government allocated that aff idavits were being properties about the source accept the AG’s request to Musharraf (VCGS-B), and Lt General Wa- rolled in sixth grade in 2013- 20% of its ADP funds for solicited from those who that had led to acquisition of allow the agency to access seem Ashraf as the IG Arms. 14. However, the students the respective government had been issued notices to such assets abroad. the information, which the Except Lt General Abbasi, reaching 10th grade after schools in line with the guide- explain about the properties. In response, the AG stated Federal Bureau of Revenue allowed other six Pakistan Army gener- fi ve years in 2017-18 totaled lines of the planning and de- On a suo motu notice, the that the agency had received is seized with, about the als were promoted to lieutenant 169,782 after the dropout of velopment department. top court has taken up aff idavits of 642 owners of details of those people general from major generals on 128, 218. They said the education de- the case relating to illegal diff erent properties in the who had opted for the to record September 28. A survey of the education partment had no data of how transfer of money from UAE and the aff idavits of rest amnesty scheme so that Lt General Munir is the department released in May much funds had been spent so Pakistan to foreign countries. of the 253 aff idavits were still an investigation could take former director general of Mili- 2018 blamed alarming school far by the districts on public The case was initiated when it awaited. place. (Internews) statement tary intelligence (MI). dropout rate on poverty, lack sector schools. via Skype

special court in Pakistan yesterday said that ab- As groundwater levels plunge, Lahore Asconding former president Pervez Musharraf, pictured, can record his statement via Skype as “it is vital to the ongo- ing treason case against him”. residents begin turning off taps The former military ruler’s counsel Salman informed the two-member bench, head- Thomson Reuters Foundation Lahore relies on groundwa- from approximately 4am to director who is supervising the Ahmad Rafay Alam, an envi- the city’s parks authority to ed by Chief Justice of Lahore Lahore ter to fi ll its taps but ground- 9am, noon to 2pm and 5pm to campaign. ronmental lawyer and activist, recycle used ablution water High Court (LHC) Yawar Ali, water levels are now falling at 10pm, offi cials said. Aziz said the changes were described the city’s groundwa- from the city’s mosques to that he would seek his client’s a rate of about 2.5 to 3ft (0.7 The water agency also in- aimed at encouraging water ter as “thoroughly exploited, water parks and green strips permission regarding the matter. ive mornings a week, Sai- to 0.9m) a year, according to creased water tariff s by about conservation in a city where extracted and poisoned” by along city roads. The former president’s coun- ma Azeem helps her chil- WWF-Pakistan. 20% for households and about waste is common. pollution. He said the new water re- sel sought time from the court, Fdren wash and prepare for The water table in the centre 400% for commercial users. A petition fi led by a lawyer He said the new water agency strictions and changes were saying that he would have to school. But this week has been of the city is now 130ft (40m) Previously, water prices had and being heard before the La- rules are a reasonable move, causing an outcry among visit Musharraf personally to diff erent: She has had to use her down and is expected to fall be- been frozen since 2004. hore High Court, for instance, aimed at shoring up Lahore’s some car wash owners but discuss the matter. He said that few bottles of drinking water to low 230ft (70m) by 2025, WWF The water agency also has seeks to stop the city using water security. were necessary “as they’re the former president was not get them ready. researchers noted in 2017. disconnected the water sup- 30,500 litres of water each day “Everywhere in the world, shaking up the status quo avoiding court proceedings but “It’s been a diffi cult morning. “If the trend continues the ply to more than 280 petrol to wash its streets. sensible city managers have im- and challenging our wasteful was unable to travel due to health I’ll have to schedule my chores situation will become even station car washes across “Fresh underground water is posed sensible rules and regula- habits”. reasons. according to the new water sup- worse by 2040,” they predicted. Lahore, ordering them to a precious resource, which we tions on the use and disposal of Some water users – such as “My client is a 75-year-old ply timing,” the mother of four To try to avoid a crisis, install, within two months, can’t allow anyone to misuse,” water,” he said. Azeem – said they can see the sick man,” Salman said. The said. Lahore’s Water and Sani- more effi cient mechanised Aziz told reporters. “What the WASA is asking days of water waste need to end. court adjourned the hearing till Faced with fast-depleting tation Agency (WASA) on washing facilities with water “The agency is working on service stations to do is correct, “When you get something October 15. groundwater supplies, Lahore – Tuesday began turning off recycling systems. various projects to conserve as it owns the groundwater,” uninterrupted, you are not Supreme Court has ordered Pakistan’s second biggest city 2 the city’s 700,000 water Disconnection notices have water as well as to replace un- Alam said. cautious about its worth,” the hearing of the Mushar- this week began rationing water connections 12 out of each been sent to another 290 pet- derground water with surface Among new conserva- she said – just as water began raf treason case to be con- and instituting a range of new 24 hours. rol stations as well, said Zahid water” that will be run through tion measures being put in fl owing through her dry tap ducted on a daily basis from conservation measures. Users will now get water only Aziz, the agency’s managing a fi ltering plant, he said. place, the agency has asked again. October 9. (Internews) Gulf Times 22 Thursday, October 11, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Growing attacks on reporters show free press is under threat

Twenty-one years ago, the rising toll of attacks on journalists – and the fact that almost all of the crimes went unpunished – led Unesco to pass a resolution condemning violence against the media. It stressed that assassinations not only cut short individual lives, but attack freedom of expression, exacting a broader toll on society. Today, those concerns are more serious and widespread than ever. Nine in 10 of the more than 1,000 killings Apple watch, hired jet fi gure in condemned by Unesco between 2006 and 2017 remain unsolved. Almost all were local journalists rather than foreign correspondents. Some were killed by criminals, armed groups and terrorists; but others by or on behalf of politicians or parts of the state. Last week, Bulgarian journalist Viktoria Marinova, who search for missing Khashoggi had been reporting on alleged corruption, became the third investigative journalist to be murdered in the EU in By Orhan Coskun, Sarah Dadouch and And investigators are trying to trace He asked if he could get the document paperwork he needed, Khashoggi fl ew under a year. Her death followed those of Slovakia’s Jan Stephen Kalin a vehicle that left the Saudi consulate at from the Saudi embassy in Washington, to London later the same day to attend a Kuciak (and his fi ancee) and Malta’s Daphne Caruana Istanbul the same time as two cars destined for the according to a friend in Europe, but was conference. airport, one of the offi cials said. told the consulate in Turkey was better He was asked there by colleagues Galizia. This vehicle didn’t turn towards placed to help. about the threat he faced from the Saudi In the same week, amal Khashoggi believed he was safe the airport, but set off in the opposite Cengiz said Khashoggi wouldn’t have authorities for his work, according to Saudi Arabian journalist in Turkey. direction. applied for the document in Istanbul if he some of those present. They will remain Jamal Khashoggi Khashoggi, a veteran Saudi This story is based on interviews with could have avoided it. “One of my colleagues at dinner vanished after Jjournalist and newspaper editor, Turkish offi cials, Khashoggi’s fi ancee Asked to comment, a Saudi offi cial said asked if he saw a possibility that his a target as long had lived in exile in Washington for more and more than a dozen of his friends, it was “not accurate” that Khashoggi was citizenship would be withdrawn,” said visiting his country’s than a year, writing a column for the who gave insight into the columnist’s told to go to Istanbul. Daud Abdullah, director of Middle East as their attackers consulate in Istanbul; Washington Post in which he regularly state of mind in the days leading up to The friend recounted how he warned Monitor which organised the conference. Turkish offi cials said criticised his country’s crackdown on his disappearance, and explained why he Khashoggi against getting the paper in “He discounted that – he didn’t think get away with it. they believed he was dissent, its war in Yemen and sanctions went to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Istanbul for fear the Saudis might arrest the authorities would go that far.” murdered or abducted. imposed on Qatar. not the embassy in his adopted home of him if he set foot in the consulate. A friend, British-Palestinian activist He said he could write freely in Washington. “He told me there is no solution Azzam Tamimi, who saw Khashoggi Many more have lost their lives this year, including the 10 the United States in a way that was The case threatens to drive wedges except to arrange for this paper with the during that trip to London, said he Afghan reporters killed in April. impossible at home, according to friends between Saudi Arabia and Turkey and consulate in Turkey,” said the friend, who “didn’t seem scared at all. The opposite. These are the most extreme and frightening and colleagues, but he was increasingly between Riyadh and its Western allies. was in frequent contact with Khashoggi He was relaxed and calm.” manifestation of broader pressures. In Myanmar, Wa worried that Riyadh could hurt him or his US President Donald Trump said on in the days before he disappeared. Tamimi saw Khashoggi off at the Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo of Reuters are serving seven years family. October 9 he plans to speak with Saudi Khashoggi reassured him, he said, that airport in London. In Turkey, though, Khashoggi had Arabian offi cials about Khashoggi’s his good connections in Turkey meant Khashoggi fl ew back to Istanbul from on state secrets charges; they had been investigating friends in high places, including some of disappearance. “no one can do anything to harm me in London on Monday evening, October 1. the killing of Rohingya villagers by state security forces. President Tayyip Erdogan’s advisers. Khashoggi met his Turkish fi ancee, Istanbul.” The following morning, he spoke again The Philippines has revoked the licence of independent So when he walked into the Saudi Hatice Cengiz, who is 23 years his junior, Khashoggi visited the consulate with consul worker Sultan, who told him website Rappler, though it continues to operate. Founder consulate in Istanbul at 1pm on Tuesday, in May at a conference in Istanbul, without an appointment on Friday, to collect the document at 1pm the same Maria Ressa called the environment for journalists in the October 2, he hoped the appointment according to Cengiz and a close friend of September 28. Cengiz waited outside. day. would be brief, a simple bureaucratic the Saudi journalist. That fi rst meeting went smoothly. Outside the consulate, a low rise region the worst in three decades. task that would allow him to marry his Their relationship quickly evolved, and Khashoggi told Cengiz and several building at the edge of one of Istanbul’s Donald Trump’s vicious rhetorical attacks on “fake Turkish fi ancee, whom he had met four Khashoggi spoke about wanting to start a friends that offi cials in the consulate had business districts, Khashoggi handed news” and the media as “the enemy of the people” have months earlier. new life with her. treated him politely. They explained the Cengiz his two mobile phones, the fi ancee also been a gift to strongmen, and have raised the risk of “He said the safest country in the By August, the couple had decided to paperwork would take time to prepare. told Reuters. physical attacks on the press by his supporters at home, world for Saudi Arabians was Turkey,” marry in Turkey, where Cengiz lived, and Khashoggi exchanged phone numbers He left instructions that she should said Yasin Aktay, an Erdogan aide and spend much of their time there. with a consulate offi cial named Sultan call Aktay, the Erdogan aide, if he didn’t as UN experts warned this summer. close friend of Khashoggi. “Jamal bought an apartment in so he could call and check on progress, reappear. Authoritarian leaders and others do not only turn Friends and family have not seen him Istanbul and we were furnishing our new according to three friends. Khashoggi was wearing his black Apple upon critical media from vanity. It is also because they since. home,” Cengiz told Reuters on October 9. Sultan said the document would be watch, connected to one of the phones, know that to silence journalists is to silence the voices Turkish offi cials have said they believe “We were planning to marry this week ready early the following week. when he entered the building. of all those who speak through the media, or who might Khashoggi, 59, was killed inside the before Jamal fl ew back to Washington.” Reuters has not been able to locate A senior Turkish government offi cial consulate. The decision to marry in Istanbul, Sultan or confi rm his role at the and a senior security offi cial said the two be tempted to speak in future. Courageous journalists Saudi Arabia has strongly rejected the whose mosques reminded Khashoggi consulate. inter-connected devices are at the heart are often among the few forces defending democracy accusation. of his hometown Medina, set off a The consul declined to comment on of the investigation into Khashoggi’s or at least off ering some check on power: the people to The kingdom’s ambassador to the paper chase that ultimately ended in who Khashoggi spoke to. disappearance. whom citizens turn when police and courts and political United States, Prince Khalid bin Salman, Khashoggi’s disappearance. “He came out smiling. He told me “We have determined that it was on institutions fail them; the people who can inform citizens said reports suggesting Khashoggi went Turkish law required that Khashoggi, ‘inshallah I will receive this paper after I him when he walked into the consulate,” missing in the Istanbul consulate or who was divorced, provide proof that he come back from London,’” Cengiz said. the security offi cial said. of what is really happening. that Saudi Arabia had killed him “are did not have a wife. Confi dent he would soon have the To Page 23 They will remain a target as long as their attackers get absolutely false and baseless” and a away with it. This much was clear in 1997, when Unesco product of “malicious leaks and grim stressed the need to pursue and prosecute killers. Yet rumours.” too often no action is taken; or those charged are the “Jamal is a Saudi citizen who went ones accused of taking orders to kill, rather than those missing after leaving the consulate,” the ambassador said in a statement. who gave them – as in Galizia’s case at present. Her Saudi Arabia has sent a team of family are still pursuing a public inquiry. The European investigators to work with Turkish commission, Germany and others have rightly urged authorities and “chase every lead Bulgaria to investigate Marinova’s murder and bring to uncover the truth behind his her killers to justice. But without sustained pressure disappearance.” In interviews, Turkish offi cials – including for independent or joint investigations, provided new details of their should domestic ones fall short – those responsible investigation into the missing journalist. for journalists’ deaths will go unpunished, and more Two senior Turkish offi cials revealed journalists will die. the existence of an object that may provide important clues to Khashoggi’s fate: the black Apple watch he was wearing when he entered the consulate. The watch was connected to a mobile To Advertise phone he left outside, they said. Investigators are also focusing on 15 [email protected] Saudi men who entered the consulate Display around the same time as Khashoggi and left a short time later. 44466621 44418811 These men had arrived hours earlier from Riyadh, most of them by private Classified plane, the offi cials said. 44466609 44418811 By the end of the day, they were on their way back to the kingdom. Subscription Turkish newspaper Sabah said yesterday it had identifi ed the 15 as [email protected] members of a Saudi intelligence team. They included a forensic expert. A Turkish offi cial did not dispute the Protesters hold pictures of missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a demonstration in front of the Saudi Arabian © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved report. consulate in Istanbul. Gulf Times Thursday, October 11, 2018 23 COMMENT Brits brace for ‘the other’ royal wedding

By Dmitry Zakis expressing wonder at the commotion London over the security bill. “It is a major royal event,” the source insisted. ive months on from Prince Harry Beatrice and Eugenie are the daugh- and Meghan Markle’s fairytale ters of the queen’s second son, Prince nuptials, the time has come for Andrew the Duke of York. F“the other” royal wedding – the The groom mixes in London’s glitzy one no one seems to want to pay for or social circles but is unknown to most watch. outside the celebrity gossip world. When Queen Elizabeth II’s grand- Eugenie’s mother, Sarah Ferguson, daughter Princess Eugenie walks down said her future in-law works as the Eu- the aisle tomorrow in Windsor Castle to ropean manager for an “ultra-premium” marry Jack Brooksbank, a “commoner” brand of drink co-founded by George with blue-blood friends, the critics will Clooney. be out. “He’ll just hand me a drink and say, For Britain is still gaga over Meghan, ‘Come on, mother-in-law, down it’,” she the glamorous US actress who married told the BBC. the queen’s grandson in a Windsor wed- Press reports say Jack, 32, skipped ding watched by the masses in Britain university and became a waiter, working and around the world in May. his way up to manage Mahiki, a posh Some even reminisce about the sunny London cocktail bar frequented by afternoon in 2011 when Prince William, royalty. second in line to the throne, married The couple were introduced in 2010 Kate, whose grace stirred memories of by friends in a Swiss ski resort, where the late Princess Diana. Jack was waiting tables. Princess Eugenie of York, along with Most recently, in 2016, he became a her 30-year-old sister Beatrice, are by wholesale drinks distributor. contrast unhappily famous for wearing “I’ll need to take a few minutes for peculiar hats, with the fl amboyant num- myself before the speeches,” Jack told the bers they picked for Prince William’s Daily Mail, “because I’m terrifi ed.” wedding making a particularly lasting Theodora Williams, the six-year- impression. old daughter of singer Robbie Wil- The 28-year-old princess Eugenie is liams and his wife Ayda Field is to be a the ninth in the long line of succession. bridesmaid at the wedding of Princess One public petition protesting the In this file photo taken on January 22, 2018 Britain’s Princess Eugenie of York poses with her fiance Jack Brooksbank in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace in Eugenie, Buckingham Palace announced wedding’s cost – the security bill is London, after the announcement of their engagement. yesterday. estimated at £2mn ($2.6mn) – dismissed Former Take That star Williams and her as a “minor royal”. Adding to the ignominy, a pub hotel and chocolate cake – “traditional, (but) strong emotions in the British press. beating us up - we just need to shine Field are friends with Eugenie and her The BBC, which takes its royal wed- directly opposite the castle that sold out with a modern feel” – and the post-cer- Eugenie’s own attempts to win over light and love in the world.” sister Princess Beatrice, and are expected dings seriously, reportedly caused a long in advance for Prince Harry and emony brunch for 850 invited guests. the nation’s aff ections have not gone The Guardian, a left-leaning paper to attend the wedding, British newspa- Buckingham Palace ruckus by refusing to Meghan was actually discounting rooms But just like the fi lm star and her particularly well. with a stern view of the royals as a whole, pers reported. broadcast this one live, fearing a ratings for tomorrow night. prince, Eugenie and Jack are also plan- She and Beatrice gave a pre-wedding concluded that the interview displayed Three-year-old Princess Charlotte, fl op. The public is focused instead on who ning their own horse-drawn carriage interview to British Vogue explaining the “vanity, foolishness and lack of self- daughter of Prince William and his wife “No comment on whether we did or is paying for what and there is resent- parade around town, creating logistical hardships of being princesses. awareness”, but ultimately would do Kate Middleton, will also be a brides- didn’t turn it down,” a BBC spokesman ment over taxpayers getting stuck with challenges. Posing in couture dresses with terriers little to dent the monarchy’s gleaming maid, the palace said, while her brother told AFP. the security bill. Petitioners want the 15-minute on their laps at a Gothic royal lodge, Eug- image among royal fans. Prince George, 5, will be a page boy. The live feed was picked up by the “A royal wedding is a private, personal excursion scrapped, saving the expense enie recalled how she once had “a wob- The Telegraph, which caters to more Eugenie has asked Princess Beatrice, smaller, commercial ITV – but only, event, dressed up as a national occasion,” of having to install rooftop snipers and ble and started crying” over a “horrible” traditional views, was gentler. to be her Maid of Honour, the palace according to The Times, after being sniff ed one protest petition signed by jamming devices that disable drones. article about one of her sister’s hats. “Who is Princess Eugenie?” it asked, said, while Brooksbank has asked his badgered into it by Eugenie’s father, nearly 40,000 people. The happy couple is not budging, The princess then conceded: “There’s seemingly reading its subscribers’ brother, Thomas Brooksbank, to be his Prince Andrew. The palace will pay for the red velvet causing “outrage”, “fury” and other no point being angry with anyone for minds, before quoting a family “insider” Best Man.

Apple watch fi gures in search for Khashoggi Three-day forecast TODAY Maximum Temperature : 360c From Page 22 and they believed he was still inside. He said the fi rm was owned by a In 2007, he was named editor-in-chief Minimum Temperature : 310c Investigators are trying to determine Saudi authorities countered that their private company registered in Saudi of Al Watan for a second time but was FRIDAY what information the watch transmitted. citizen had left the consulate and that Arabia. forced to resign three years later after Maximum Temperature : 360c “Intelligence services, the they were investigating. Two industry sources said the fi rm publishing an article that challenged Minimum Temperature : 300c prosecutor’s offi ce and a technology Two Turkish security sources told belongs to the Saudi government. The some elements of Salafi sm, a branch of SATURDAY team are working on this. Turkey does Reuters that security camera recordings Saudi government did not respond to a Sunni Islam. Maximum Temperature : 360c not have the watch so we are trying to do showed Khashoggi had not left the request for comment. Khashoggi was also the consummate Minimum Temperature : 290c it through connected devices,” he said. consulate by either of its two exits. insider, as an adviser to former The other six men arrived on Fisherman's forecast Tech experts say an Apple watch can They said that 15 Saudi men had commercial fl ights, the security source intelligence chief Prince Turki al-Faisal provide data such as location and heart entered the building at around the time said. and a confi dant of billionaire investor rate. Khashoggi went in, having fl own into WARNING The 15 men checked in, briefl y, to two Prince Alwaleed bin Talal. Inshore : Nil But what investigators can fi nd out Istanbul earlier in the day, most of them hotels, the Movenpick and Wyndham, Yet by early 2017, he was feeling the Offshore : Nil depends on the model of watch, whether on a private aircraft from Riyadh and which are close to the Saudi consulate. heat again. The authorities ordered it was connected to the Internet, and some on commercial fl ights. The hotels declined to comment. him to stop writing and tweeting, then WEATHER Inshore : Hot daytime with some whether it is near enough an iPhone to The men left after “some time” in As pressure built on Saudi Arabia he watched as other writers, including local clouds by after- synchronise. two cars and returned to the airport, the to locate their missing citizen, Saudi several friends, were detained in a noon, relatively humid When Khashoggi did not emerge sources said. offi cials in Istanbul showed a Reuters crackdown on dissent in September, by night quickly, Cengiz said she at fi rst hoped he They said a third vehicle left at the reporter around the consulate on 2017. Offshore : Misty at first & partly had got the document and was talking same time but turned in the opposite Saturday, October 6, opening cupboards “He was outside (the country), so he cloudy at times with consul staff . direction. Investigators are trying to and inviting him to inspect the ladies’ didn’t return,” said his friend, Tamimi. WIND “But when time passed and employees trace its route by analysing surveillance bathroom. In the United States, he felt he could Inshore : Northeasterly 05-15 KT started leaving the building and he still cameras. A few hours later, Turkish authorities speak freely. Offshrore : Northeasterly-South- wasn’t out, I panicked,” she said. The Istanbul consulate referred said they believed Khashoggi had been Karen Attiah, his editor at the easterly 03-13/20 KT She called Aktay, the Erdogan aide, questions about the 15 men and the killed. Washington Post, said it was as if he had Visibility : 4-8 KM around 4.30pm and told him her fi ance vehicles to Saudi authorities, who did A Saudi source told Reuters that rediscovered journalism. was missing. not respond to a request for comment. British intelligence believed there had “When he was in the newsroom, when Offshore : 1-3/6 FT As soon as he received the call, Aktay “It is a very mysterious situation. been an attempt to drug Khashoggi I brought him the fi rst time, he became told Reuters, he contacted Turkish Diplomats that came in private jets, stay inside the consulate that culminated in energised. He took a selfi e and said, ‘I Around the region security forces and intelligence offi cials. in Turkey for a few hours, and leave. an overdose. He said the information miss this. I miss being in a newsroom.’ Weather “Of course I also called the offi ce of It is also very easy for them to pass came from a British intelligence source. We spoke about editing and what it was Weather tomorrow Max/min the president, who was in a senior party through security due to their diplomatic Contacted by Reuters, British like to talk to writers. He just lit up,” she today Max/min P Cloudy 38/24 committee meeting at that point,” Aktay immunity,” one of the security sources intelligence did not comment. Asked said. Baghdad P Cloudy 39/24 Sunny 37/25 said. said. about this account, a Saudi offi cial said: An acquaintance said Khashoggi was Kuwait City Sunny 39/26 Sunny 37/29 “After about half-an-hour, everybody According to Flight Tracker, an online “This death is not true.” considering launching new projects from Manama Sunny 36/29 Sunny 31/24 was informed and ready to take the fl ight tracking system, a private plane Khashoggi’s message in his columns Washington. Muscat M Sunny 31/24 M Sunny 28/17 measures needed in this case. And of that brought nine of the men in the early for the Washington Post was one of Attiah, the global opinions editor of Tehran M Sunny 27/17 course then, a long period of tension and hours of October 2 was registered to reform, not revolution. the Washington Post, said Khashoggi expectation started.” a company called Sky Prime Aviation In 2003, he was fi red as editor-in- rarely expressed fears for himself but he Local and international media Services. chief of newspaper Al Watan, less was “really torn up” about the pressures reported Khashoggi’s disappearance the A company offi cial confi rmed that Sky than two months into his tenure, on his family. next day, Wednesday, October 3.Turkish Prime Aviation owned the plane and that after publishing columns critical of “I did worry about Jamal,” she said. “I authorities said there was no evidence to it was in use on October 2, but gave no the growing infl uence of the religious just thought, ‘Who would be so brazen to suggest Khashoggi had left the building, further details. establishment in Saudi Arabia. go after him?’” – Reuters

Live issues Around the world Weather Weather ‘Antidepressant withdrawal symptoms severe’ today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Athens M Sunny 23/17 M Cloudy 21/17 Beirut S T Storms 26/22 S T Storms 25/22 Guardian News and Media London say the high rate of with- tal accounts of withdrawal symp- “In the UK, usage has risen since Bangkok S T Storm 33/26 P Cloudy 33/26 London drawal symptoms may be part of toms, which include dizziness, ver- 2000 by 170%, with over 7mn adults Berlin Sunny 24/12 Sunny 24/11 the reason people are staying on the tigo, nausea, insomnia, headaches, (16% of the English adult popula- Cairo Sunny 29/19 M Sunny 28/19 pills for longer. They cannot cope, tiredness and difficulties concen- tion) being prescribed an antidepres- Cape Town P Cloudy 18/12 Cloudy 17/12 alf of all those taking so carry on taking the drugs, or their trating. But the Nice guidance said in sant in England alone last year,” says Colombo T Storm 28/24 T Storm 28/24 antidepressants experi- doctors assume they have relapsed 2004 that the withdrawal symptoms the review. Dhaka Rain 27/24 T Storms 29/24 ence withdrawal problems and write another prescription. were slight and short-lived and was About half of antidepressant users Hong Kong Cloudy 26/21 M Cloudy 25/22 Hwhen they try to give them The review was commissioned by re-adopted without further evidence have been taking the pills for longer Istanbul Showers 21/17 S T Storms 21/17 up and form millions of people in the all-party parliamentary group in 2009. It is similar to the US guid- than two years. In England, that is Jakarta P Cloudy 34/26 S T Storms 34/26 England, these are severe, according for prescribed drug dependence and ance, which says symptoms usually 3.5mn people – 8% of the popula- Karachi M Sunny 34/23 M Sunny 36/24 to a new review of the evidence com- follows a long debate about the Nice resolve within one to two weeks. tion. In the US, 13% of the popula- London Showers 21/13 P Cloudy 21/18 missioned by MPs. guidance, which critics say is out of The review, published in the journal tion (37mn adults) were on them by Manila S T Storms 32/26 I T Storms 33/25 Guidance from the National date. Addictive Behaviors, focused on 14 2011-2014, official data shows. Half Moscow Sunny 13/03 Sunny 15/06 Institute of Health and Care Excel- Modern antidepressants of the studies of antidepressants that had have been taking them for five years New Delhi M Sunny 31/21 M Sunny 32/21 lence (Nice), which says withdrawal SSRI class, such as Prozac (fl uoxetine) relevant data on withdrawal symp- or more. New York T Storms 25/17 S Showers 19/10 symptoms “are usually mild and and Seroxat (paroxetine), were mar- toms. The studies, which were di- “This new review of the research Paris P Cloudy 26/14 P Cloudy 26/16 self-limiting over about one week” keted in part on their safety. People verse, showed that between 27% and reveals what many patients have Sao Paulo Cloudy 22/18 S T Storms 27/19 urgently needs to be changed, say the were unable to harm themselves by 86% of people suff ered from them, known for years – that withdrawal Seoul P Cloudy 15/04 Sunny 17/04 review authors. overdosing as they could on benzodi- with a weighted average of 56%. from antidepressants often causes Singapore T Storm 30/26 T Storm 29/26 Dr James Davies from the Univer- azepines like valium and stopping the Antidepressants are now some of severe, debilitating symptoms which Sydney Cloudy 16/13 Cloudy 16/13 sity of Roehampton and Prof John drugs was said to be easier. the most commonly prescribed drugs can last for weeks, months or longer,” Tokyo Cloudy 24/21 Cloudy 23/18 Read from the University of East There have been plenty of anecdo- in the UK and US, say the authors. said Dr James Davies. Gulf Times 24 Thursday, October 11, 2018 QATAR Sheikha Hind graces QAK celebrations n the presence of HE conflict resolution techniques, sage from the Holy Qur’an. Ai- Sheikha Hind bint Hamad and help to eradicate bullying. sha al-Megbali, director, Qatar Ial-Thani, vice chairperson Highlights of the tour also Academy Al Khor, delivered a and CEO of Qatar Foundation included a musical perform- speech to attendees at the an- (QF), Qatar Academy Al Khor ance in English and Arabic by niversary celebration, express- (QAK) celebrated its 10th anni- primary schoolchildren; a solo ing her pride and appreciation versary yesterday. reading given by Afraa Saad for those who have helped the The celebration, attended by al-Qubaisi, a Grade 8 student; school on its journey over the members of QF’s senior leader- a debate presented by Grade 11 last 10 years, including QF, ship, began with a tour of the students titled ‘Education in QAK teachers, and the school’s school, which is part of QF’s the Past and the Present’; the administrative staff. Pre-University Education. opportunity to watch a science Highlighting the achieve- Attendees were given a lesson; and an art exhibition ments, al-Megbali praised the chance to learn more about showcasing the students’ crea- students, saying: “Our young QAK’s recently-launched Safe- tive skills. people are passionate about HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani observes the activities of the students. ty Officers Club, which aims to The group then gathered in pursuing knowledge. develop students’ leadership the Recreation Center Sen- They have an incredible abil- methodology, coupled with their second home.” During the academy was shown, and staff honoured before the celebra- skills, raise awareness of the ior Gym, where student Abdul ity to adapt and respond to the support from their families ceremony, a short animated members who have complet- tions concluded with a com- importance of safety, highlight Rahman Dandrawi read a pas- changes with a self-generated and Qatar Academy Al Khor, infographic video about the ed 10 years at the school were memorative photograph.

HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad al-Thani with Qatar Academy Al Khor faculty and staff during the celebrations.