BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 1 Umaru’s late strike wins it for INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-10, 27 COMMENT 26 Masraf Al Rayan’s REGION 10 BUSINESS 1-7, 13-16 Qatar against 9-month net profi t 18,086.40 10,425.89 49.90 ARAB WORLD 10, 11 CLASSIFIED 8-12 -51.98 +58.15 -0.45 INTERNATIONAL 12-25 SPORTS 1-12 surges 3% to QR1.56bn Yemen -0.29% +0.56% -0.89% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

TUESDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10245 October 18, 2016 Muharram 17, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Emir meets Hamas leaders

In brief Doha Port to witness QR2bn QATAR | Weather Moderate daytime temperatures expected Moderate daytime temperatures are expected in the country today along with poor visibility (2km or development less) in some places in the early hours, the Qatar Met department The works will include extensive has said. The maximum temperature dredging in the area surrounding has dropped to the early-mid-30C the port to ensure the smooth levels at many places – reaching a arrival of large vessels, particularly high of 32C in the Qatar University cruise ships and Doha airport areas and 31C in the Hamad airport area yesterday – and nfrastructure development and reno- similar conditions are likely today vation works worth around QR2bn also. The maximum temperature is Iwould be taken up at Doha Port in the expected to be 34C in Doha and Abu second quarter of 2017, HE the Minister Samra today while the minimum of Transport and Communications Jas- will range between 22C and 27C in HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday met with the chief of sim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti said yesterday. diff erent areas. The detailed forecast the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement of Palestine (Hamas), The works will include extensive for inshore areas says hazy to misty/ Khalid Mishal, and the deputy of the Political Bureau of Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh, dredging in the area surrounding the foggy conditions are likely in some yesterday. The meeting, held at the Emiri Diwan, was attended by the delegation port to ensure the smooth arrival of places at first, followed by moderate accompanying the Hamas leaders on the occasion of their visit to Qatar. At the large vessels, particularly cruise ships. conditions during the day with some outset of the meeting, Mishal and Haniyeh expressed gratitude and appreciation HE the Minister made the observa- clouds. Hazy to misty conditions are to HH the Emir on the unlimited support provided by the State of Qatar to the tion while speaking to journalists on the also expected in off shore areas at Palestinian people, praising the ongoing and firm stands of the government and sidelines of the two-day Qatar Trans- times. people in supporting the Palestinian cause. HH the Emir reiterated Qatar’s firm port Safety Forum, which began in Doha HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti at the stance in support of the Palestinian cause for achieving its legitimate claims, yesterday. Qatar Transport Safety Forum yesterday. PICTURE: Jayan Orma YEMEN | Strife especially supporting Gaza Strip in its steadfastness against the Israeli occupation. As part of the development plans for Talks during the meeting also dealt with the latest developments in Palestine, the port, which are expected to be car- The move is part of the authority’s plan general cargo and movement from Doha Hadi agrees to particularly in the Gaza Strip. Page 2 ried out in two phases from April next to build and further develop infrastruc- Port to Hamad Port as of October 15, 2016”. 72-hour truce year, both maintenance of the facilities ture in the country to promote cruise During the welcome ceremony for Yemeni President Abd-Rabbu and canal deepening work will be car- tourism, QTA chief tourism development Hamad Port’s fi rst vessel in July 2015, HE Mansour Hadi has agreed to a ried out. When the works are under way, offi cer Hassan al-Ibrahim had said. al-Sulaiti had said the new facility was 72-hour ceasefire that could be most of the traffi c to Doha Port will be The offi cial had also expressed op- expected to handle more than 6mn con- extended, the war-torn country’s diverted to the new, larger Hamad Port, timism that Doha Port would soon be- tainers a year once all three phases of the foreign minister said yesterday, a Road accident fatality which lies to the south of Doha. come one of the leading cruise terminals project were completed. The minister, day after international calls for a There are plans to redevelop Doha Port in the region. who is also the chairman of the Hamad truce. “The president agreed to a 72 to make it a destination for cruise ships Recently, through an advertisement Port Steering Committee, explained that hrs ceasefire to be extended if the and receive more tourists, Gulf Times had published in local newspapers, the Min- Phase 1 of the project was expected to be other party adheres to it”, activates rate drops in Qatar reported earlier, quoting a senior Qatar istry of Transport and Communications completed by the end of 2016, allowing a truce observing committee and Tourism Authority (QTA) offi cial. announced “the start of operations on Hamad Port to handle 2mn containers. ends the siege of third-city Taiz, By Ramesh Mathew Minister of Transport and Communi- Abdulmalek al-Mekhlafi wrote on Staff Reporter cations Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti Twitter. The announcement comes in the presence of HE the Minister of after the United States, Britain and Municipality and Environment Mo- the UN peace envoy to Yemen on ff orts undertaken to make Qa- hamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi, Sunday urged the warring parties in tar’s roads safer saw “results HE Staff Maj Gen Saad bin Jassim the country’s civil war to declare a Eexceed expectations” during al-Khulaifi , director-general of Pub- ceasefire they said could start within the fi rst half of Phase 1 of the National lic Security; Brig Mohamed Saad al- days. Page 10 Traffi c Safety Strategy, with the road Kharji, director-general of the Traf- accident fatality rate dropping to 7.5 fi c Directorate and vice-chairman of AMERICA | Politics per 100,000 people in 2015. the National Traffi c Safety Commit- This was observed by a senior Min- tee (NTSC); Brig Mohamed al-Malki, Clinton widens istry of Interior (MoI) offi cial on the secretary of NTSC; Brig Mohamed lead in latest poll opening day of the two-day Qatar Marafi ya, director of the Traffi c En- Hillary Clinton has widened her lead Transport Safety Forum 2016 in Doha gineering and Safety Department at over Donald Trump nationally and yesterday. the Traffi c Directorate, and a number in key swing states three weeks The ministry is participating in the of offi cials and experts in the fi elds of before Election Day, a poll showed Qatar Transport Safety Forum, which transportation and traffi c safety. yesterday. Page 13 was inaugurated yesterday by HE the To Page 10

Minister inaugurates immunisation campaign

he National Immunisation Campaign against Measles, TMumps and Rubella (MMR) was inaugurated yesterday by HE the Min- ister of Public Health, Dr Hanan Mo- hamed al-Kuwari. The campaign runs until November 14. The inauguration took place at Raw- dat al-Khail Health Centre in the pres- ence of the Primary Health Care Cor- poration (PHCC) managing director Dr Mariam Abdulmalik, a number of top offi cials at the Ministry of the Public Health (MoPH), and Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The health minister urged parents to vaccinate children aged one to 13 and protect them from the infectious diseases which may cause dangerous health complications. “The campaign is a part of Qatar’s eff orts to eradicate measles by 2020. A child is administered the MMR vaccine yesterday as HE the Minister of Public Qatar is keen on providing a healthy Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari and other off icials look on. environment free from targeted dis- eases through the vaccination. In Care Centres and a number of private ordination with MoPH, is playing a 1979, the National Immunisation Pro- health facilities. significant role in combating all the gramme was established and it con- The fi rst day of the campaign wit- diseases through the various vacci- tained the latest and most effi cient nessed the vaccination of children in nation campaigns and by giving the approved vaccines for children and 18 independent and private schools, chance to all people to take the vac- adults. The programme had a great while the health centres received the cines against all types of infectious impact on eradicating a number of in- below-age children. The vaccination diseases. fectious diseases in Qatar.” will continue in all the health centres The vaccination is carried out by Dr al-Kuwari pointed out that medi- throughout the campaign in the morn- about 400 members of PHCC includ- cal teams will be available in all schools ing and evening shifts with no need for ing physicians, nurses, pharmacists across the country for the vaccination prior appointment. and various logistic support teams to of the school-going children and it will Dr Abdulmalik observed that the ensure that all targeted groups have also be available at the Primary Health PHCC, through the constant co- taken the vaccinations.” Gulf Times 2 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 QATAR

Seven new envoys Hamas leader calls on Emir Official present credentials

Culture minister meets French and Brazilian counterparts

HE the Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali yesterday met French Minister for Cities, Youth and Sports, Patrick Kanner. Talks dealt with means of enhancing co-operation in the fields of sports and culture between the two countries. The French minister extended an invitation to the Minister of Culture and Sports to attend the Literary, Sports and Film Festival, which takes place in France in January 2017. Minister of Culture and Sports welcomed the invitation. The meeting was attended by French ambassador to Qatar, Eric Chevallier. The Minister of Culture and Sports also met Brazilian Sports Minister Leonardo Carneiro Picciani. The meeting discussed means of enhancing co-operation between the two countries in the field of sports and the development of bilateral relations. The meeting was attended by Brazilian ambassador Roberto Abdullah. Qatar-Sri Lanka ties discussed

HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari met Sri HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received Hamas leader Khalid Mishal and the Lanka’s Minister of Health, Nutrition and Indigenous Medicine Dr Rajitha accompanying delegation in Doha yesterday. The delegation expressed gratitude to HH the Emir Senrathne, who is currently visiting Qatar. for the support provided by Qatar to the Palestinian people. The Emir reiterated Qatar’s firm stance During the meeting they discussed the two countries’ relations and supporting the Palestinian cause. Talks during the meeting also dealt with the latest developments means to develop them, particularly in the health sector. in Palestine, particularly in the Gaza Strip. The meeting was attended by the Sri Lankan ambassador to Qatar WM Karunadasa. Minister inspects underground garbage containers project

E the Minister of Munic- ipality and Environment HMohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi conducted on Sun- day morning a fi eld visit to the Doha Corniche area to review the development of the experi- mental project of underground garbage containers. The project is part of the Min- istry of Municipality and Envi- ronment (MME) programmes and eff orts to develop and up- date its various services, in- cluding public cleanness. The underground garbage containers concept is considered environ- ment friendly, as the sealed sys- tem traps foul smell and does not allow animals such as cats to go inside it. Further, the containers have a large capacity, making it practi- cal to empty them once daily in the evening. The new system would be implemented at com- mercial streets, multi-storey buildings, towers, souqs and shopping malls areas. The Minister has instruct- ed that the project should be monitored closely in prepara- tion for further implementation HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi and other off icials during a field visit to Doha Corniche throughout the country after the area to review the development of the experimental project of underground garbage containers. The platform holding the containers can be success of the experiment. lowered, leaving only the lids exposed.

Joyalukkas unveils Aspire Academy holds meeting with parents of student-athletes Diwali campaign spire Academy for Sports academic advisers, teachers and and athletic performance. We Excellence, has recent- coaches are always keen to ad- are also able to plan and keep eading jeweller Joyaluk- a fabulous new collection on the Aly held its fi rst parents dress any concerns or issues they track of their development kas has announced that its days leading up to Diwali”. meeting in the new academic wish to discuss with the Acade- with their academic advisers, LDazzling Diwali initiative Besides the chance to win up year 2016-2017. my’s staff .” and address any shortcomings is under way to celebrate the fes- to 15kg of gold, customers can Aspire Academy’s deputy di- Abdulrahman al-Suwaidi, with student care services at tival of lights. also avail of other off ers such as rector general Ali Salem Afi fa, parent of a student-athlete, the Academy.” Through the campaign, Joyaluk- zero deduction on old gold jew- and school principal Jassem al- praised Aspire Academy for the In the new academic year kas is giving customers a chance to ellery exchange and guaranteed Jaber, welcomed parents and role it plays in developing Qa- 2016-2017, a total of 265 stu- win up to 15kg of gold with a mini- gold rate protection with a 10% spoke about the Academy’s lat- tar’s sport portfolio, and said dent-athletes marked the fi rst mum spend on gold and diamond down-payment. Also on off er est developments, particularly such meetings help open the line academic year after receiving jewellery, according to a press is a free quarter gram gold coin the recent awarding of accredi- of communication between par- the Accreditation by the Coun- statement from the company. with every jewellery purchase on tation by the Council of Interna- ents and the school’s teachers cil of International Schools. The Joyalukkas Dazzling Di- Dhanteras day, October 28. tional Schools. and coaches. Student-athletes were accepted wali initiative will run until No- “Diwali is a celebration of Subsequently, parents took “Our children spend most after successfully completing vember 5 across the jeweller’s positivity and goodness. It is a part in a lively panel discussion of their days at the Academy, the elaborate talent identifi ca- showrooms in Qatar, the UAE, time to share happiness, and of with department representa- which might make parents tion process. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait course gifts, with families and tives, followed by a Q&A session. feel left out of their academic Established in 2004, Aspire and Oman. friends,” said John Paul Alukkas, Afi fa urged parents to pay progress. These regular meet- Academy aims to identify and “Diwali, the festival of lights, executive director, Joyalukkas close attention to their chil- ings, however, enable parents transform talented young ath- is one of the most important Group. “Because our custom- dren when they are home for the to be more involved in student- letes with real potential into festivals for the Indian com- ers are at the heart of everything weekend and reminded them it athletes academic and athletic world-renowned champions munity around the world. Many we do at Joyalukkas, every year is important for students to feel development, as we are able to who represent Qatar in national rituals and traditions are as- we try to off er them something they are getting the support both inquire about any questions teams across a wide range of sociated with the celebration, extra special for this most spe- at school and home. we might have related to their sports, while promoting a sports most prominently the lighting of cial occasion. We wish our most “Our student care providers, grades, training schedules culture in Qatar and the region. lamps and candles - or diyas - to loyal and supportive patrons a usher in prosperity,” the state- very happy Diwali. We hope that ment noted. For the jeweller, “it the amazing prizes, gifts and of- has also become a tradition to fers make your festivities even give away big prizes and launch brighter.” HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani received the credentials of seven new ambassadors to Qatar at his Emiri Diwan off ice yesterday. Ambassadors of Kuwait, Djibouti, the Lexus RX350 model recalled Netherlands, Austria, Greece, India and Sierra Leone – Hafeez Mohamed Salem al-Ajmi, Tayeb Dbd Robleh, Bahia Tahzib, The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in collaboration with Abdulla Dr Willy Kempel, Constantinos Orphanides, P Kumaran, and Abdulghani & Bros Company, has announced the recall of Lexus RX350, Siray Alpha Timbo, respectively, presented their credentials model year 2016, over a potential defect in the front passenger airbag to the Emir. The ambassadors conveyed the greetings of the inflator. leaders of their countries to the Emir. The Emir welcomed the The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the framework of new ambassadors and wished them success in their missions its ongoing eff orts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers and the relations between Qatar and their countries further follow up on vehicle defects and repairs. progress and prosperity. The ambassadors were accorded an The MEC will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the off icial reception at the Emiri Diwan. maintenance and repair works and communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out. Parents and Aspire Academy off icials interact at the meeting. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 3 QATAR

Deputy PM meets ambassadors

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid al-Mahmoud held separate meetings with Sudan’s ambassador to Qatar Fath al-Rahman Ali Mohamed and Kazakhstan’s ambassador Askar Shokybayev, in Doha yesterday. Bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in various fields as well as issues of mutual interest were discussed. The meetings were attended by off icials at the Cabinet’s General Secretariat. Safety barrier upgrade saw ‘reduction in traffi c deaths’ By Peter Alagos Business Reporter

he upgrading programme for safety barriers along Tmajor highways in Qatar has led to the “extraordinary” reduction of traffi c accident deaths in the last six years, ac- cording to an expert. Speaking at Qatar Transport Safety Forum yesterday, Bernd Wolfgang Wink, senior manager, International Division at Volk- mann & Rossbach Germany, said Qatar has made “extraordinary progress” in roadside and me- dian safety after authorities up- graded safety barriers, otherwise referred to as vehicle restraint systems (VRS). In 2009, Wink pointed out that statistics showed high road accident frequency and fatali- ties, but in the same year, Wink said authorities concerned like Ashghal decided to implement a VRS upgrading programme in Qatar. Citing the Al Shamal Road Main Carriageway and side roads, Wink said: “This pro- gramme was based predomi- nantly on the EU Performance HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti inaugurating yesterday the Qatar Transport Safety Forum as HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah Standard EN 1317 with minimum al-Rumaihi, Director General of Public Security HE Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi and other off icials look on. containment levels in median (H2) and lateral (H1), according “For specialists, these are im- in the world by installing VRS projects include the Al Hu- duction of fatalities and serious road network in terms of the is giving them the advantage to to EN 1317 (Part 2) and the instal- portant because they are directly or safety barriers,” Wink further wailah Link Road, Al Khor Link injuries is to avoid, by all means, level of the VRS application are demonstrate much better than lation guidelines (RPS) coming comparable to the highest levels explained. Road, and the Umm Bikrah Link vehicle crashes to rigid objects at par with countries with the any Western country in terms from Germany, but widely ap- in the world for road protection He also said other ongoing Road. alongside or in median of our highest performance on a glo- of the high level of safety by the plied in the EU region and other using VRS. With this […] Qatar application of “high-level” and “The main target to improve roads,” Wink stressed. bal scale. The ability of Qatar application of suitable safety parts of the world.” has decided for the highest level “efficient” VRS on Qatar road signifi cantly road safety by re- He added: “Today, Qatar’s authorities to build new roads barriers.” Works on Doha Metro underground stations start

he works on many of the underground stations of the Doha Metro have begun Tafter the recent completion of the tun- nelling of the entire 53.25km distance, a sen- ior Qatar Rail offi cial said yesterday. The total distance of the Metro is a little over 111km. Off icials from the Ministry of Interior visiting an exhibition held on the sidelines of the Qatar Transport The Red Line North (11.30km), Red Line Safety Forum. South (12.05km), Green Line (16.60km) and Gold Line (13.30km) are the four major un- derground alignments of the Doha Metro. This is apart from the nearly 38km of mainly underground light transit rail being devel- oped in Lusail. Malabar Gold & Diamonds showcases “The electro-mechanical works have commenced in many of the stations on the four lines have started,” revealed Qatar Rail Rashid Taleb al-Nabet addressing the latest collection to celebrate Diwali managing director Abdulla Abdulazeez al- Abdulla Abdulazeez al-Subaie at the Qatar opening session yesterday: Subaie on the sidelines of the Qatar Trans- Transport Safety Forum yesterday. PICTURES: Jayan Orma port Safety Forum. eading jeweller Malabar gold jewellery worth QR2,500 lected gold jewellery, the state- Speaking earlier at the forum, Ministry ing round-the-clock to build an integrated The ministry, according to al-Nabet has Gold & Diamonds has an- via ‘Scratch N Win’ coupons,” ment notes. of Transport and Communications’ Road transport system that would eventually con- achieved several safety-related accomplish- Lnounced that its Delightful the jeweller said. In addition, Further, customers can avail of Transport Planning Department director tribute to making a quantum leap in the fi eld ments, which included the launch of the Qa- Diwali campaign will be held in they will get a 2gm gold coin on the zero deduction off er on 22K Rashid Taleb al-Nabet said both communi- of mobility and transportation of interna- tar Traffi c Control Manual and Qatar High- Qatar from tomorrow. diamond jewellery purchases (GCC) gold jewellery exchange cations and transport were among the sec- tional standards in Qatar. way Design Manual. Malabar Gold & Diamonds is of QR5,000 and a 1gm gold coin as well. tors that contributed signifi cantly to the de- “The ongoing developments in the trans- “The two manuals are among the contri- showcasing the latest collection on diamond jewellery worth The off ers are valid until No- velopment of the national economy. port and communications sector, supported butions that enriched transport and traf- of gold, diamond and precious QR3,000. vember 5. The two sectors are the main backbones by cutting edge technologies are therefore fi c safety concepts with a commitment to gems jewellery at its outlets to Other off ers that customers Malabar Gold & Diamonds has of the country’s economic, industrial and everyone to see. The developments in rail, enforcing the best worldwide criteria and celebrate the festive season, ac- can avail of during the campaign also unveiled the latest collection social developments, he said while recall- roads, ports and airport have begun to un- practices in the sector, “ said the offi cial. He cording to a press statement are no making charges for 8gm of jewellery specially designed ing some of the major initiatives made under fold and each of them is built ensuring in- also remembered the support extended for from the company. gold coins. Also, customers can for Diwali in gold, diamonds and the stewardship of Minister of Transport and ternational safety standards,” said the offi - the success of the ministry’s programmes by “Customers win a guaran- protect the gold rate at Malabar precious gems to ‘suit the tastes Communications HE Jassim Seif Ahmed al- cial while reminding the gathering that the the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Mu- teed gold coin, or up to 500 gold Gold & Diamonds on payment of of its multicultural and multina- Sulaiti. ministry has accorded top priority to highest nicipality and Environment and the Public coins, instantly on purchase of 10% of the entire amount on se- tional customers”. Al-Nabet said the ministry is work- safety standards. Works Authority (Ashghal). Gulf Times 4 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 QATAR

Two experts to speak on US election at CIRS event today

he Centre for In- 2016 US presidential elec- “This is an election in a political theorist con- Theory at Georgetown Uni- and electoral behaviour. He ternational and Re- tions, featuring two experts which two deeply fl awed cerned with ideas.” versity, Mitchell is an author has authored or co-authored Tgional Studies (CIRS) on politics and electoral be- candidates battle over the “Every day, this election of numerous books, includ- books on interest groups in at Georgetown University haviour in the United States. post-1989 order, in which gets stranger and stranger,” ing on religion and freedom American elections, fund- in Qatar will today host a As part of the CIRS ‘globalisation’ and ‘identity said Wilcox. “The Trump in the US. His research in- raising in presidential cam- Clyde Wilcox Joshua Mitchell public discussion on the monthly dialogues series, politics’ have been the cen- candidacy defi es a lot of our terests lie in the relationship paigns and the intersection professors Joshua Mitchell tral concerns,” said Mitch- political science wisdom, between political thought of religion and politics. and Clyde Wilcox will off er ell. but there are many reasons and theology in the West. The CIRS monthly dia- their perspectives and in- He explained how the au- why the race remains much Wilcox is a professor in the logue series is an opportuni- sight into the current presi- dience at the CIRS event can closer than it should be. At Government department at ty for members of the public dential race. The event will “expect to hear two decid- this event, audience mem- Georgetown University, with and research community in be held at 6pm in the Au- edly diff erent takes on the bers can gain greater insight a research background in a Qatar to meet with respected ditorium, Georgetown Uni- current election: one from a into the strangest election in number of topics in Ameri- scholars to discuss topical versity in Qatar building, political scientist concerned American history.” can politics, including cam- issues and recent academic Education City. with data and another from A professor of Political paign fi nance, public opinion endeavours. Qatari inventor seeks to change world of animation

li al-Sulaiti, a young Qatari, is demonstrating a Mid- Adle Eastern contribution to pioneering animation technol- ogy at the Stars Of Science, leading edutainment television reality show initiated by Qatar Foundation for Education Science and Community Development. Ali’s invention ‘The 3D Drawing Generator’ transfers 2D drawings into 3D models with the capabil- ity to produce an animated movie in just 90 minutes. “I have always been fascinated by animated fi lms,” Ali said. “When I discovered that 3D ani- mation movies can take up to fi ve years to produce, my imagination was really fi red, and I started to Ali al-Sulaiti facing the jury in the prototyping selection episode. think how I could help streamline this process for the benefi t of ani- produce a movie within one year, Ali “I am learning so much about Ali has demonstrated his deter- mators and spectators alike.” also believes his invention will allow business and programming. Not mination and self-belief as a young Ali hopes his invention will dra- children to enjoy the gift of drawing; only do I have exposure to the dif- entrepreneur; returning from a re- matically cut unnecessary produc- using software that allows them to ferent aspects of product develop- jection in Season 7 to participate in tion time, saving on budget and re- create their very own 3D characters ment, but I am constantly receiving Season 8. sources, and enabling companies to with the ability to produce unique invaluable advice from my fellow Ali credits the initial disappoint- produce more fi lms for children to videos and bespoke toys. contestants and Qatar’s industry ment of being voted out by the judg- love and learn from. The young inventor highlighted and thought-leaders, who are help- es as the fuel behind his motivation Apart from its commercial use, the value of the show which has ing me refi ne my product even fur- to return with new ideas and new enabling animators to potentially helped kick-start his career. ther.” ways of thinking. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 5 QATAR QA launches new amenity kits for First Class passengers

atar Airways, in Armani Crema Nera Ex- partnership with trema (20ml). QGiorgio Armani, The First Class male has launched its newly de- amenity kits feature Armani signed range of Giorgio Ar- Eau Pour Homme Shampoo mani Fragrances and Beauty (75ml), Armani Eau Pour amenity kits, available to Homme EDT (20ml), Ar- First Class passengers on mani Men Master Lotion select A380 fl ights. (40ml) and Armani Men Designed exclusively for Perfect Master Serum (5ml). Qatar Airways, the First Both amenity kits include Class amenity kits come in Amenity kits reflect the latest Giorgio Armani “Fall-Winter a comfort bag consisting of “timeless black, the signa- 2016-2017 collection.” lip balm, socks, eyeshades ture colour of Giorgio Ar- and ear plugs while the mani, and feature golden travelling for business or our passengers, they receive women’s kit also includes a accents refl ecting the latest leisure, passengers will fi nd the highest levels of luxury, hair brush. Giorgio Armani Fall-Winter that the amenity kits meet sophistication and comfort The new range of Gior- 2016-2017 collection”, the both their in-fl ight and and I’m pleased to be able gio Armani Fragrances and Doha-based carrier has said post-fl ight needs, the state- to provide our customers Beauty amenity kits are in a press statement. ment notes. with refreshed Giorgio Ar- available exclusively on Women travelling with Qatar Airways Group chief mani Fragrances and Beauty overnight services on all Qatar Airways will receive a executive Akbar al-Baker amenity kits designed exclu- First Class long-haul and Giorgio Armani Fragrances said, “Giorgio Armani has an sively for our Qatar Airways’ ultra-long-haul fl ights on and Beauty amenity kit that illustrious history of provid- First Class passengers.” the airline’s Airbus A380. doubles as a make-up or ing discerning passengers The First Class Ladies Qatar Airways’ Airbus jewellery bag post-fl ight, with an unrivalled level of Giorgio Armani Fragrances A380 operates on select while men will receive a style, comfort and luxury and Beauty amenity kit in- services to Paris, London, smart travel bag made with and it is this brand synergy cludes SÍ Lotion (75ml), SÍ Bangkok, Guangzhou in a ribbed fabric that refl ects that is also synonymous EDT (75ml), Giorgio Armani China, and now on the daily the latest trends in male with Qatar Airways. When Perfection Eye Makeup Re- A380 service to Sydney, style and luxury. Whether we go places together with mover (40ml), and Giorgio Australia.

Vodafone launches new edition of its World of Prizes

odafone has launched the fi fth is also off ering a premium edition to fi rst, not only in Qatar but also in the GCC edition of its popular SMS- Vodafone customers who can com- region, from a telecom operator whereby Vbased competition, World of pete for the chance to win the ultimate our customers can now play for free and Prizes. The competition, which runs cash prizes of QR500,000 or monthly get rewarded with valuable prizes.” for 90 days from October 12, gives cus- QR100,000 at QR5 per day. “World of Prizes is our way to show tomers the chance to play for free for a Customers joining the premium edi- our customers that Vodafone goes be- chance to win QR50,000. tion of the competition will get an ad- yond the daily products and services Vodafone customers can join World ditional daily bonus of 10 local minutes. that we off er to introduce excitement, of Prizes by sending an SMS with the Luke Longney, director of marketing, fun and highly rewarding experiences code FREE to 98895. World of Prizes Vodafone Qatar, said: “This is another throughout the year,” he added. Gulf Times 6 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 QATAR

Online registration now open for ‘Ladies Walk the Park’ event on October 20 Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), in collaboration with the Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), has opened online registration for the “Ladies Walk the Park” breast cancer awareness cam- paign to mark this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The event is set to take place at Aspire Park on October 20 from 4pm to 6pm and aims to encourage participants to em- Cebu Pacifi c presents brace a healthier lifestyle and become familiar with both the causes of breast cancer and eff ective prevention methods. Female residents of all ages are encouraged to participate in a 1-2km walk around Aspire Park and attend a breast cancer awareness seminar presented by the QCS. Registration is free and can be done through the website www.lifeinaspire.qa Last year, dignitaries taking part included Qatar Women’s new products in Doha Sports Committee president Ahlam al-Mana, Qatar Centre for Voluntary Activities chairwoman Aisha al-Kuwari, QCS hon- By Joey Aguilar orary ambassador Asma al-Hamadi, and Fatima al-Kuwari, Staff Reporter director of public and community relations at Ooredoo. Lolwa al-Marri, head of events at AZF, said: “We are proud to collaborate with the Qatar Cancer Society again this year to ebu Pacifi c (CEB), the Phil- organise the ‘Ladies Walk the Park’.” ippines’ leading airline, has QCS director general Mariam Hamad al-Nuaimi said: “The Cpresented its new products ‘Ladies Walk the Park’ event ... is an extensions of the QCS’ in Doha as part of its 20-year anni- ongoing awareness campaign, ‘For You’, taking place versary celebration this year. throughout the month of October. The airline has rolled out its re- “The event is organised for women particularly, and the wards programme for frequent fl i- community more generally, as it focuses on breast cancer ers, dubbed “GetGo”, which now awareness, addressing its seriousness, prevention methods, allows friends and family members and the important role of exercise in boosting the body’s as well as groups of people, to pool immune system.” their points together to earn free fl ights. Speaking at the event, CEB ac- count executive for long-haul sales Moises Hernandez III said GetGo also allows members to top up their points with cash. “What’s more? The rewards points do not expire,” he said. “They can use the points as long as it is active.” The programme is part of the airline’s objective of rewarding its more than 1.4mn club members and 63 corporate accounts with free fl ights. The airline is also expected to off er more opportunities to earn points in the future. Hernandez noted that they also recently received the delivery of three new Airbus A320s and one Off icials from the Philippines embassy, Regency Travel, and Cebu Pacific join travel agents at the airline’s product presentation recently. ATR 72-600. PICTURE: Jayan Orma According to Cebu Pacifi c, the ATR 72-600 will be operated by bus A320, 30 Airbus A321neo, and 150 countries worldwide. tive Tareq Abdullatif Taha, other ment further develops its halal Cebgo, its wholly owned subsidi- 16 ATR 72-600 aircraft. The airline, together with seven CEB offi cials, and travel agents in infrastructure, we hope to see an ary. CEB and the United Nations other market champions in Asia Qatar. increase in the number of Muslim The aircraft features advanced Children’s Fund have partnered to Pacifi c, has also formed the world’s Santos underscored CEB’s con- travellers from Qatar and the rest avionics, enhanced performance introduce the “Change for Good” largest low-cost carrier alliance, tribution as the embassy’s partner of this region,” he said. in hot and high environments, and programme in the Philippines, de- named the Value Alliance. in promoting the Philippines as The envoy also stressed on the increased cabin space along with signed to collect donations from CEB’s product presentation was a tourism destination in various role of Filipino expatriates as “cul- additional seating capacity. passengers and convert these into attended by Philippines ambassa- countries it operates, particularly tural ambassadors” in helping the Between 2016 and 2021, CEB will life-saving materials and services dor to Qatar Wilfredo Santos, Re- in Qatar and the GCC region. embassy and CEB promote the also take delivery of three new Air- for children in need in more than gency Travel & Tours chief execu- “As the Philippines govern- Philippines in Qatar. Gulf Times 8 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 QATAR A joyride that few can match

By Joe Koraith ate exhilarating and interactive As you come around turn 16 and Staff Reporter experiences, such as the BMW enter the back straight, you fl oor M drive event, where our cus- the accelerator and the experi- tomers can unleash the power of ence is truly rewarding. Despite riving any car around the each of the M models we have on being an SUV, the X6M more Losail International Cir- off er,” said Ihab Allam, general than holds its own when tackling Dcuit is a delight in itself. manager, Alfardan Automobiles, the corners. Sport Plus steering Add three letters, BMW, and that about the event. mode is what you need to explore experience is enhanced greatly. “We are excited to be putting the the full potential on the track. Add one more alphabet – M and BMW M2 Coupé on the track for We were instructed to keep the you experience a joyride that few the fi rst time, making its regional traction control switched on can match. debut here in Qatar. The vehicle and this meant a lot of squealing The BMW M Adrenaline Days has proved its mettle in the per- tyres and smiling drivers. was an aptly titled drive two- formance stakes and has garnered After a couple of laps, we were day event at the Losail Circuit mass appeal since its reveal less asked to switch cars and this conducted by Alfardan Automo- than a year ago,” he added. time it was behind the wheel of biles where thrill-seekers were We were divided into two the M6 coupe. Switching from able to experience a range of groups of three cars each and the SUV to a sedan immedi- BMW vehicles with the revered had an instructor lead the way. ately makes you feel more track- The BMW M range at the Losail International Circuit. M moniker – from the M2 Coupe The fi rst car that we got was the equipped. The M6 produces the to the M4, M3, M6 and even the X6M. Not a great choice for the same power as the X6M but this from losing the tail completely. meant is that just three cars went proper gleeful laughter inside As we were walking away from X6M and X5M. track, one would think but that a car meant to tackle the corners The normal practice was that out, the instructor out front and the helmet. All the 16 corners of the track, we noticed the M2 “At Alfardan Automobiles we would be a wrong thought. This better. Naturally, you feel more you exchanged drivers after two M6s following his lines. the Losail Circuit were met with Coupe and the M3 GTS in the always put the customer at the beast is powered by a 4.4-litre confi dent in this and you begin one lap but in my case, the co- With braking and turning points gusto and on the back straight garage. We didn’t get our hands forefront of our business. It is V8 which produces an impres- to push more. The traction con- passenger didn’t want to drive. marked with cones, we went for the accelerator pedal never left on them. But maybe we can con- the cornerstone of our success sive 567hp. You can go from trol again plays the protective And the bloke in the X6M didn’t an all-out lap. The squeals got the fl oor till the braking point vince Alfardan Automobiles to and we continually look to cre- 0-100kmph in just 3.7 seconds. role in preventing you want another lap. But what that louder and the smiles turned into arrived. conduct another track day. State-of-the-art facility at new building for HMC’s Trauma Intensive Care Unit

amad General Hospital’s “The new TICU has a dedicated Mosa said with 19 beds, the of the newly expanded facility and Trauma Intensive Care entrance for families and visitors TICU provides advanced care for provides advanced trauma life sup- HUnit (TICU) has moved to to patients in the unit,” said As- critically ill trauma patients who port and post-operative care for the new surgical services build- maa Mosa, director, nursing for need constant monitoring and trauma patients in a superior ing – a newly-built multipurpose, trauma services. “They can ac- close observation in a healing environment,” she said. state-of-the-art facility. cess the service only through this sophisticated environment. “As it was purpose-built, we The TICU’s cutting edge entrance.” This includes those with severe have been able to ensure it has a equipment utilises the most su- Located next to the new surgical trauma to the chest or abdomen, calm and restorative atmosphere. perior and advanced technolo- services building, the multistory with complex multiple fractures, We also have dedicated male and gies in a more spacious and calm- parking provides space for 800 and patients with severe head and female visitor lounges so fami- ing environment for patients and cars and has a covered access link spinal injuries. lies can have some comfort and One of the rooms in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. families. for visitors. “The TICU is a key component privacy.” Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 9 QATAR Qatar

joins UN Students with QU-CPH off icials at the 7th Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. meet on Pharmacy college holds breast cancer awareness campaign atar University well as wear pink to rec- ribbons and information College of Pharma- ognise and support peo- brochures, and invited organised Qcy (QU-CPH) held ple suff ering with breast them to add their pink its seventh Annual Breast cancer and their families fi ngerprint to the “Ribbon Cancer Awareness Cam- in Qatar and around the of Hope” and take pho- paign, in support of Breast world. tos at the “selfi e booth” in Cancer Awareness Month. A total of 27 CPH stu- support of breast cancer Organised by the newly- dents contributed to an survivors. crime elected executives of Qatar awareness booth set up in CPH dean Dr Mohamed Pharmacy Undergraduate Women’s Science Build- Diab, associate dean for Re- Qatari delegation led and establish eff ective, eq- Society, the event invited ing atrium to brief stu- search and Graduate Stud- by an offi cial from the uitable, humane, and ac- QU students, alumni, fac- dents and visitors on breast ies Dr Feras Qasem Alali, A Ministry of Interior countable criminal justice ulty and staff , to learn more cancer, its detection and and assistant dean of stu- Major General Dr Abdullah Yusuf al-Maal at the eighth session of the Conference of Parties attended the eighth session systems. about the disease, its de- prevention. They provided dent aff airs Dr Alla El Awaisi to the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime in Vienna. of the Conference of Par- He also expressed “ex- tection and prevention, as over 100 visitors with pink lauded the organisers. ties to the United Nations treme happiness” about Convention against Tran- the “great eff orts” made snational Organised Crime by member states in the being held in Vienna until implementation of the October 21. recommendations of the Speaking at the high- Doha Declaration, noting level opening session held the ambitions of Doha to yesterday, Major General strengthen co-operation Dr Abdullah Yusuf al-Maal, in prevention programmes adviser to HE the Prime and the fi ght against Minister and Minister of emerging crimes, as well Interior Sheikh Abdullah as corruption, drugs, and bin Nasser bin Khalifa al- terrorism. Thani, stressed on the keen- Al-Maal stressed on the ness of the state of Qatar in “extraordinary eff orts” of achieving the objective of the state of Qatar for the the Conference of the Par- implementation of the ties, which aims to improve recommendations of the the capacity of Party States Doha Declaration and fi ght to combat transnational or- the “serious challenges” ganised crime and promote posed by organised crime, the implementation of the prompting Qatar to donate agreement and review them. funds for projects and pro- Al-Maal shed light on the grammes to implement the Doha Declaration released recommendations of the at the 13th UN Congress on Doha Declaration, ranging Criminal Justice and Crime from the integrity of the Prevention held in Doha last judiciary, prisoner reha- year, which refl ected the ef- bilitation and their reinte- forts of the state of Qatar to gration into society, crime address transnational or- prevention among young ganised crime and related people through sport and crimes such as terrorism, education for justice.

Majidah Darwish, Nayef Mohamed al-Ibrahim, and Hamad Omar al-Mannai during a press conference. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil 80 students to take part in Sanea science competition

By Joey Aguilar critical thinking to solve a Staff Reporter challenge they identifi ed. “Students can design or sketch something, do it us- ome 80 students from ing all available tools such 10 schools in Qatar will as a 3D software, and then Stake part in the second print it,” he said. “They can Sanea science competition, use, for example electronic which aims to encourage kits to make their proto- students to become more types function.” creative and innovative Part of the competi- using new technologies. tion includes evaluating the Organised by ibTechar and progress in producing the sponsored by Es’hailSat (Qa- output of each team, who will tar Satellite Company) and also receive feedback from Ministry of Education and evaluators on each stage, Higher Education, the four- according to al-Ibrahim. month long annual competi- Out of these feedbacks, tion started yesterday. he said participants will “As part of our corporate have the chance to learn and social responsibility and in get more ideas to improve line with Qatar’s National their output. Vision 2030, we want to “At the end of the com- help in enhancing the skills petition you will see four and talents of young stu- prototypes of the same dents, and give them the product but you will see the opportunity to prove their transformation and devel- abilities through this con- opment, which refl ects the test,” Es’hailSat execu- knowhow the students had tive director Hamad Omar adopted through these for- al-Mannai said. mats,” he pointed out. He noted that the com- Education expert Ma- petition will also involve jidah Darwish from the teachers who will super- Ministry of Education and vise high school students Higher Education said they in coming up with a “tan- will continue to support the gible output” based on their national contest as it aims to ideas (theory). A total of 20 further enrich the students’ projects are expected to be knowledge on science and presented to a panel of ex- technology, engineering, perts during the fi nal stage and mathematics. set in January next year. She believes that the con- ibTechar founding part- test also helps in identifying ner and CEO Nayef Mo- talented students, enhance hamed al-Ibrahim stressed their capacity to innovate, that students will undergo and give them an avenue a series of tests and stages, “to turn their ideas into which will require their tangible creations.” Gulf Times 10 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 QATAR/REGION/ARAB WORLD Kuwait sets snap polls

Brigadier Mohamed al-Malki speaking at the opening session of the Qatar Transport Safety Forum 2016 in Doha yesterday. for Nov 26 PICTURES: Jayan Orma HE Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi addressing the media. AFP Registration for candidates turmoil due to disputes between Kuwait City wishing to run in election will lawmakers, mainly from the op- open immediately after the publi- position, and the government. cation of the decree in the offi cial This is the seventh time a Ku- Road safety initiatives uwait will hold snap elec- gazette, expected in the coming waiti parliament has been dis- tions on November 26, the few days, a statement said. solved either by the emir or by Kgovernment said yesterday The election is expected to see courts since 2006. a day after the Gulf state ruler dis- heated contests, mainly as many Kuwait was the fi rst state in the solved parliament following a dis- opposition groups have decided Gulf to adopt parliamentary de- exceed expectations pute over hiking petrol prices. to participate after boycotting mocracy in 1962. The move to dissolve parlia- the previous two polls in protest Parliament enjoys legislative ment, a year before its term ex- against changing the voting sys- and monitoring powers but the From Page 1 per 100,000 people by 2022. and support stakeholders in the committed to adopting vari- pires, came after lawmakers fi led tem. government is formed from out- Brig al-Malki pointed out 92 This involves the implementa- state and the NTSC has also got ous UN resolutions to provide three requests to grill ministers The cabinet also accepted the side elected MPs and is headed by of the 166 projects contained tion of the objectives of sus- membership of the United Na- a safe, secure and sustainable over a cabinet decision to raise resignation of three ministers a senior member of the Al-Sabah in the operational plan of the tainable development, adop- tions (UN) road safety collabo- transport system, featuring an petrol prices and alleged fi nancial who want to run in the polls, ac- ruling family. strategy were implemented by tion of a demand management ration initiative. array of advanced technologi- violations. cording to the statement pub- The Opec-member – which various stakeholders between system in the fi eld of transport, Meanwhile, he observed – cal solutions and travel options Like other Gulf Arab states, Ku- lished by the offi cial KUNA news pumps about 3mn barrels of oil 2013 and 2015. The remaining aimed at reducing traffi c con- citing a report – that Qatar was to meet the needs and require- wait adopted a number of auster- agency. per day – is known for its cradle- projects are to be completed gestion, and developing cities in the 49th position globally ments of its growing popula- ity measures to face the slump in Kuwait enjoyed relative stabil- to-grave welfare system that has by July 2017 while a portion and road & transport networks and fi rst in the Middle East in tion. A comprehensive traffi c oil revenues including raising fuel ity in the past three years follow- pampered its nationals, who make has been shifted to the 2018- - thereby improving traffi c implementing the sustainable safety programme and an action and power prices. ing almost seven years of political up 30% of its population of 4.7mn. 2022 plan, which will start six safety, according to a statement development goals of the UN. plan, aimed at providing safety months ahead of schedule. from the MoI. Brig al-Malki said the coun- and security to the population The offi cial stressed that the Further, the offi cial said ma- try - a leader in traffi c safety ad- is currently under way in the UAE renews its stance on Turkey, rejects coup bid safety initiatives undertaken by jor changes have been under ministration in the region - was country, it was observed. the NTSC and MoI have contrib- way since last year in the traf- UAE Minister of Foreign Aff airs and Turkey to resolve the crises in the its stance to stand by Turkey and uted to a signifi cant reduction in fi c sector. “Senior offi cials have Pedestrian safety International Co-operation Sheikh region, especially in Syria, Iraq, emphasised the need to co- the number of road traffi c fatali- been appointed to advise the Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan Yemen and Libya. ordinate eff orts to face regional ties since the committee began stakeholders on diff erent pro- HE the Minister of bridges will be constructed has reiterated the UAE’s stance, He said the recent meeting challenges. its work. “While there were 13 grammes of the MoI and re- Municipality and in Doha and its suburbs as in rejection of the failed coup between the GCC countries and He also highlighted the to 14 deaths per 100,000 people views are conducted at regular Environment Mohamed part of urban development attempt in Turkey, saying he was Turkey in Riyadh was a crucial importance of the consultations, at the start of the decade, now intervals on the ministry’s ini- bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi plans to develop the city and pleased to see the Turkish people step to strengthen strategic ties, currently under way between the the number has fallen to 7.5 per tiatives,” he said. yesterday said a number its neighbourhood. This is rallying behind their leadership. given the growing responsibilities GCC and Turkey. 100,000,” said Brig al-Malki. He noted that the 10-year of projects would be being done in consultation Speaking at a joint press of the two sides in addressing the On the commercial relations Speaking on the challenges strategy, launched by HE the implemented in the coming with stakeholders such conference with the Turkish challenges and facing the region between the UAE and Turkey, ahead, he pointed to the need to Prime Minister in January period to enhance pedestrian as the Public Works Foreign Minister Mevlut and threatening its security and Sheikh Abdullah referred to the reduce the number of traffi c ac- 2013, has been divided into two safety in crowded city areas Authority (Ashghal) and the Cavusoglu in Ankara on Sunday, stability, Emirates News Agency huge potentials for increasing cident deaths from 227 in 2015 phases of fi ve years each. A new as well as along highways. Ministry of Transport and Sheikh Abdullah stressed the (WAM) reported. trade and joint investments to 130 by 2022 and also lower National Traffi c Safety Offi ce As many as 15 pedestrian Communications, he said. importance of co-ordinating with Sheikh Abdullah also renewed between the two countries. the annual mortality rate to six has been opened to follow up on Saudi ready for ceasefi re

Reuters yesterday,” Jubeir told reporters in cials from the United Arab Emirates on London London. “Everybody wants a ceasefi re Sunday and said the confl ict in Yemen in Yemen, nobody more so than the was causing increasing international kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the coali- concern. audi Arabia is prepared to agree tion members.” “The fatalities that we’re seeing to a ceasefi re in Yemen if the He accused the Houthis of reneging there are unacceptable,” Johnson said. SIran-allied Houthis agree, Saudi on previous deals. Since March 2015 Saudi Arabia and Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said “So yes, we come at this with a lot its allies have carried out air strikes in yesterday, adding that he was sceptical of cynicism. But we are prepared, the support of the government of Abd- about eff orts for peace after previous Yemeni government is prepared, to Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Houthi ceasefi re attempts had failed. agree to a cessation of hostilities if fi ghters, who are backed by troops loyal The United States and Britain called the Houthis agree to it. The coalition to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh. on Sunday for an immediate and un- countries will respect the desire of the Saudi Arabia and Hadi’s government conditional ceasefi re between Houthis Yemeni government,” Jubeir said. accuse Iran of supplying weapons to and the Saudi-backed, internationally British Foreign Secretary Boris the Houthis to help spread Tehran’s in- recognised government. Johnson, together with US Secretary of fl uence at the expense of Riyadh. Iran “We would like to see a ceasefi re State John Kerry, met Jubeir and offi - denies the charge.

Sudan relief aid Sudanese port workers unload US aid from the World Food Programme from the US-flagged bulk carrier, Liberty Glory, docked in Port Sudan yesterday.

Court overturns jail sentence

AFP cluding an Emirati offi cer in a bomb tions of “harbouring terrorism”. Dubai attack more than two years ago. Al-Wefaq had the largest bloc in Salman had been sentenced in July parliament before lawmakers walked 2015 to four years in jail after being con- out in February 2011 in protest over a top court in Bahrain yesterday victed of inciting hatred in the kingdom. deadly crackdown on Arab Spring-in- overturned a nine-year jail term But the appeals court in May more spired protests. A against Shia opposition chief than doubled his jail term to nine years In the other ruling, the court of cas- cleric Ali Salman, convicted of inciting after reversing an earlier acquittal on sation ordered a retrial of the case of 10 hatred and calling for forceful regime charges of calling for regime change by defendants found guilty of planting a change. force. bomb in March 2014 in Deih Shia vil- The court of the cassation ordered Salman’s arrest in December 2014 lage, which killed an Emirati police of- a retrial of the head of the Al-Wefaq sparked protests in Bahrain. The cas- fi cer and two Bahraini policemen. political formation before the appeals sation court had rejected a request to The Emirati offi cer was part of the court, said a judicial source. release the cleric earlier this month. Saudi-led Gulf force. Appeals court The same court overturned three His jail sentence came during a had on May 31 upheld the three death death sentences and seven life im- crackdown on the Gulf nation’s larg- sentences and life terms for the other prisonment sentences against a group est opposition group, which has been seven who were also stripped of their convicted of killing three police, in- dissolved by a court order over accusa- citizenships. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 11 ARAB WORLD Tensions high in Tripoli as faction challenges govt

Reuters by taking over a parliamentary member state, and people-smug- former premier Khalifa Ghwail, Brigades have been more heav- former parliament and Ghwail Tripoli is controlled by a Tripoli building and demanding a new glers and Islamic State militants and their armed brigades took ily armed than usual around the were stationed along with ar- patchwork of rival armed groups, government, triggering a stand- have been able to expand their over a parliament offi ce in the capital. moured military vehicles. some of whom who are assigned off among rival brigades operat- operations, a source of concern for Rixos Hotel that was supposed “What has happened is un- Traffi c has been fl owing nor- to interior or defence ministries ibyan armed brigades al- ing in the city. Europe and the United States. to provide offi ces for the State fortunate and disgusting. It is an mally in the city, though shops in a quasi-offi cial role. lied with rival political Since a 2011 uprising toppled The GNA arrived in Tripoli in Council, one of the legislative individual cause that represents around the Rixos were closed. Some are Islamist-leaning, Lleaders in Tripoli have ex- autocrat Muammar Gaddafi , Lib- March as part of Western eff orts bodies in the new unity govern- no group,” said Fathi Bashagha, Sporadic clashes broke out at others allied with cities outside changed sporadic gunfi re and ya has fallen into factional fi ght- to end Libya’s instability after ment agreement. security co-ordinator with pro- the weekend between two armed the capital. set up checkpoints in areas they ing among battalions of former competing factions operated two Heavy gunfi re rattled the capi- government forces, referring to groups in Tripoli’s Zawiyat Dah- With no national army, these control, challenging the author- rebels who have turned against rival governments in Tripoli and tal on Saturday and Sunday and the takeover of the building. mani district, but no one was hurt. brigades are key power brokers. ity of the United Nations-backed one another, backing competing the east. new checkpoints quickly ap- “We did not see any city, mu- Shooting was heard all over the Armed battalions have often government. political leaders in a struggle for But it has struggled to extend peared, including west of Tripoli nicipality, or political party sup- city during the evenings. stormed ministries, government Opponents of the UN-sup- control. its infl uence over hardliners. near the Sooq Toulata area as porting this desperate attempt.” Yesterday, Tripoli was calm offi ces and even parliament to ported Government of National Amid the chaos, oil produc- On Friday, leaders from the old rival brigades positioned them- In front of the Rixos Ho- with businesses and shops oper- exert political pressure or de- Unity (GNA) defi ed it on Friday tion has been slashed in the Opec Tripoli government, including selves, witnesses said. tel, armed brigades loyal to the ating as usual in the city centre. mand higher salaries. At least 60 killed as fi ghting surges in South Sudan

AFP fi ghters and twenty were wound- Malakal, South Sudan ed.” Forces loyal to Kiir invited jour- nalists to the region on Sunday to t least 56 rebels and four show they were in control of the government troops were area, and an AFP photographer Akilled in heavy weekend reported seeing up to 40 bodies in clashes in northeastern South the places he could access. Sudan, in a worrying surge of However Major Dickson Gatl- violence in the world’s youngest uak with the rebel SPLA In Op- nation. position (SPLA-IO) insisted his Sudan People’s Liberation forces were in control of the two Army (SPLA) spokesman Briga- towns as well as the northern dier General Lul Ruai Koang said part of Upper Nile state. yesterday that rebels aligned “What we are trying to do now with former vice president Riek is, our forces are trying our level Machar attacked government best to try to march to Malakal Iraqi forces hold a position yesterday in the area of Al-Shura, some 45km south of Mosul, as they advance towards the city to retake it from the Islamic State (IS) group militants. Some troops near the country’s second town. So our forces are not yet 30,000 federal forces are leading the off ensive, backed by air and ground support from a 60-nation US-led coalition, in what is expected to be a long and diff icult assault on IS’s last largest city of Malakal. displaced from those areas and major Iraqi stronghold. Violence between Machar’s this is not true,” he said. supporters and troops loyal to his Malakal is the closest town to bitter political foe President Salva the oil fi elds in the Upper Nile Kiir, has blighted the nation for region which bring in govern- much of its hard-won independ- ment’s biggest revenue. ence from Sudan, achieved in 2011. Gatluak said fi ghting was ongo- “The rebels of Riek Machar at- ing, although the AFP photographer tacked us in two places of our de- reported it was calm on Sunday. fence, that is Wajwok and Lelo, “It is just a matter of time Iraq forces advance on and we heavily impacted on them. (before) our forces will take The dead bodies of the rebels Malakal...we have realised that confi rmed after count was 56,” there is no political settlement the spokesman said, adding in Juba, there is not any politi- that the clashes began on Friday cal space in Juba so we have to evening and ended on Saturday. organise ourselves because the IS stronghold of Mosul “On our side we lost four SPLA government has failed,” he said.

AFP operation as a “decisive mo- in and around Mosul. forces fi red artillery and rockets “It could add fuel to the sec- Al-Shura, Iraq ment” in the fi ght against IS, But they have had months as smoke rose from houses in the tarian fi res raging in the region but the US-led coalition’s top to prepare and will seek to use distance. and so we have urged the Iraqi commander warned it could last hit-and-run tactics, ambush- The United Nations and other government not to use the Shia Syria security chief in raqi forces advanced yester- weeks or more. es, snipers, bombs, berms and aid organisations warned that a militias. That is the greatest day in an off ensive aimed at Prime Minister Haider al- trenches to slow down and bleed huge number of civilians were in danger that we see,” he said. Iretaking Mosul and dealing Abadi announced the beginning Iraqi forces. immediate danger. Iraqi forces advancing on public visit to Egypt a death blow to the Islamic State of the assault in a televised ad- In an online statement after “I am extremely concerned multiple fronts are some dis- group’s “caliphate” in the city dress early yesterday. the assault began, IS claimed it for the safety of up to 1.5mn peo- tance from Mosul and are ex- where it was declared two years “Today I declare the start of launched a series of deadly sui- ple,” the UN deputy secretary pected to eventually take up AFP Damascus said that Mamluk had ago. these victorious operations to cide car bombings against Iraqi general for humanitarian aff airs positions on the city’s edge and Damascus “met with Egyptian offi cials in The start of the long-awaited free you from the violence and forces. and emergency relief, Stephen lay siege before breaching its Cairo previously, but this is his assault raised deep concerns for terrorism of Daesh (IS),” Abadi Early yesterday, federal forces O’Brien, said. boundaries and directly engag- fi rst public visit.” hundreds of thousands of civil- said. moved from their main staging The UN’s humanitarian co- ing die-hard militants. yrian security services Earlier this month, Cairo voted ians trapped in Iraq’s second- IS seized control of large parts base of Qayyarah, south of Mo- ordinator in Iraq, Lise Grande, “This operation to regain chief Ali Mamluk met with in favour of a UN Security Coun- largest city, with aid groups of Iraq and neighbouring Syria sul, as peshmerga forces from told reporters that an exodus control of Iraq’s second-larg- SEgyptian offi cials in his cil resolution drafted by regime warning of a massive humani- in mid-2014, declaring a cross- the autonomous Kurdish region could begin within a week and est city will likely continue for fi rst public foreign visit in fi ve ally Russia on halting violence in tarian crisis. border “caliphate” and commit- advanced from the east. some aid groups worried about weeks, possibly longer,” warned years, state media in Damascus Syria. Some 30,000 federal forces ting widespread atrocities. Around 4,000 Kurdish pesh- preparedness. Lieutenant General Stephen said yesterday. Mamluk was appointed as the are leading the off ensive, backed The militants have suff ered a merga took part in a push to re- “It is estimated that as many Townsend, commander of the State news agency SANA said head of national security in 2012 af- by air and ground support from string of territorial defeats this claim villages once inhabited by as 200,000 people could fl ee US-led coalition. Mamluk met with Egyptian head ter a major explosion in Damascus a 60-nation US-led coalition, in year in both countries, and the members of the Christian and from the city in these fi rst weeks, Most of the coalition’s sup- of general intelligence Khaled killed four top security offi cials. what is expected to be a long and retaking of Mosul would all but Kakai minorities, a statement though there are currently only port has come in the shape of Fawzy and other “high-level se- He is considered to be a key diffi cult assault on IS’s last ma- end their presence in Iraq as a said. 60,000 tents available in seven air strikes and training, but US, curity offi cials” during his one- member of President Bashar al- jor Iraqi stronghold. land-holding force. Several villages were prompt- emergency camps,” the Interna- French and British special forces day visit. Assad’s inner circle and is black- Iraqi forces readied weapons Iraqi forces have been closing ly recaptured and peshmerga tional Rescue Committee said. are also on the ground to advise The Syrian and Egyptian of- listed under EU sanctions. and ammunition as columns of in on Mosul in recent weeks but forces had moved to the edges In London, Saudi Foreign local forces. fi cials “agreed to co-ordinate on Mamluk’s last public appear- armoured vehicles headed to- the battle begun yesterday could of Qaraqosh and Bartalla, two Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Riy- “This is a decisive moment in political positions and strength- ance was in May 2015 in a meet- wards Mosul from the town of be the toughest yet against IS. Christian towns IS seized in Au- adh had urged Iraq’s government the campaign to deliver ISIL a en co-ordination on fi ghting the ing between Assad and the head Al-Shura, some 45km (30 miles) IS forces are vastly outnum- gust 2014, commanders said. not to let Shia militias enter lasting defeat,” US Secretary of terrorism faced by both coun- of the Iranian parliament’s na- south of the city. bered, with the US military esti- At a staging area near Khazir Sunni-majority Mosul, fearing Defence Ash Carter said, using tries,” SANA said. tional security and foreign policy The Pentagon described the mating 3,000 to 4,500 militants village east of Mosul, Kurdish “mass atrocities”. an alternative acronym for IS. A Syrian political source in committee, Alaedin Boroujerdi. Russia to ‘halt’ Aleppo strikes as EU warns of ‘war crimes’

AFP wounded and withdrawal of ture, as well as the use of bar- announcement but stressed the Aleppo, Syria fi ghters,” senior Russian military rel bombs, cluster bombs, and “need for a longer pause in order offi cer Sergei Rudskoi told a press chemical weapons, constitute to get the aid in”. briefi ng in Moscow. a catastrophic escalation of the Once Syria’s thriving commer- ussia yesterday announced The ceasefi re would run from confl ict and may amount to war cial hub, Aleppo has been rav- an eight-hour “humani- 0800 to 1600 local time (0500 crimes,” they said in a statement. aged by air raids and intensifying Rtarian” ceasefi re in Aleppo GMT to 1300 GMT) “in the area The EU ministers said they clashes as regime forces fi ght to later this week, as the EU warned of Aleppo”, Rudskoi said. would also press ahead with ex- capture the rebel-held east. that the Syrian regime’s Mos- “During this period the Rus- tending sanctions against Syrian Russian air support for the on- cow-backed assault on the city sian air force and Syrian govern- President Bashar al-Assad’s re- slaught – which has destroyed could amount to war crimes. ment troops will halt air strikes gime, but stopped short of threat- hospitals and other civilian in- The United Nations and Eu- and fi ring from any other types ening measures against Russia. frastructure – has spurred the ropean Union welcomed the of weapons.” EU foreign aff airs chief Fed- accusations of potential war announcement, but said Thurs- Russia’s announcement, to erica Mogherini called Moscow’s crimes. day’s planned pause in fi ghting which there was no immediate announcement “positive” but Yesterday’s air strikes on Alep- needed to be longer to allow the reaction from rebels, came as the not long enough to allow human- po killed 13 civilians in the rebel- delivery of humanitarian aid. EU condemned the ferocious air itarian aid to reach the besieged held district of Marjeh, including In the latest violence, dozens war waged on Aleppo over the city. 12 members of the same family, of civilians including 12 members past three weeks. “It can be a start for sure it is said the Syrian Observatory for of the same family were killed in “Since the beginning of the of- a positive step,” she told report- Human Rights. heavy bombardment of rebel- fensive by the regime and its al- ers at the close of the ministerial “Nine of the family members held eastern sectors of the em- lies, notably Russia, the intensity meeting in Luxembourg. were minors, including a 17-year- battled city, a monitoring group and scale of the aerial bombard- “The latest assessment from old girl and her newborn,” said said. ment of eastern Aleppo is clearly the aid agencies (however) is the Britain-based group’s head “We have taken a decision not disproportionate,” EU foreign that 12 hours is needed so work is Rami Abdel Rahman. to waste time and to introduce ministers said in Luxembourg. needed to fi nd common ground,” The deaths brought to 47 the ‘humanitarian pauses’, mainly “The deliberate targeting of she added. number of people killed since for the free passage of civil- hospitals, medical personnel, UN spokesman Stephane Du- Sunday morning in east Aleppo, People remove belongings from a damaged site after an air strike on Sunday in the rebel-held besieged ians, evacuation of the sick and schools and essential infrastruc- jarric also welcomed the truce the Observatory said. al-Qaterji neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria yesterday. Gulf Times 12 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 AFRICA Boko Haram Off track claims attack on soldiers

AFP Boko Haram has been waging a seven-year up- Kano rising against the Nigerian state, claiming more than 20,000 lives with the insurgency spilling over the west African nation’s borders into neigh- oko Haram yesterday claimed it killed 20 bouring states. soldiers in northeastern Nigeria, in violence ISWAP is a faction of Boko Haram, whose lead- Bmarring the celebrations following the re- er Abu Musab al-Barnawi was appointed by the lease of some of the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls. Islamic State extremist group in August. The group, using the name Islamic State West Boko Haram’s longtime chief Abubakar Shekau Africa Province (ISWAP), said in a statement still claims he is in charge, however, as rival fac- that it “stormed a joint position of the armies of tions vie for control. Nigeria and Niger” in the town of Ghashghar in News of the raid came less than a week after 21 northeast Borno State. schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram from the It claimed it killed 20 soldiers and wounded northeast Nigerian town of Chibok in 2014 were dozens of others in “fi erce clashes” that erupted released. during the attack on Sunday, highlighting the Even as town residents celebrated the girls’ re- threat the group still poses in the region. turn, experts warned the nation must brace for A community leader in the Ghashghar area more violence as the government negotiates for confi rmed the raid, saying soldiers were taken by the others. surprise when Boko Haram militants fi red rocket- The remaining 197 girls appear to be spread out propelled grenades. “I was called by two of my con- in diff erent jihadist camps, though Shekau has tacts...informing of an attack late yesterday on the claimed in the past that several died in Nigerian Members of communities living next to the Nairobi National Park take part in a demonstration outside the People’s Republic of China joint military personnel from Nigeria and Niger sta- air strikes. embassy in Nairobi, to protest against the planned route of standard gauge railway (SGR) being built by Chinese government which is tioned in Asaka village, around 15km from Ghash- Nigerian presidency spokesman Garba Shehu to cut through the middle of the Nairobi National Park. ghar,” a community leader from the area said. has said that the ISWAP faction of Boko Haram “According to them, Boko Haram launched an has claimed to have “83 or more girls to release on attack with heavy guns and rocket-propelled gre- negotiation.” nades on the soldiers. The attackers came in eight “Whenever the Nigerian government will be vehicles,” said the leader, who asked to remain negotiating with one faction, the other one will anonymous fearing reprisal from the military. be calling for attention,” Martin Ewi, a researcher “The soldiers suff ered huge casualties because at the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Stud- they were taken off -guard. They never anticipat- ies, told AFP. Last Rwanda king dies at 80 ed such an attack,” he said, adding that the mili- “You will be hearing about negotiations and tants stole six military vehicles and weapons. you’ll be hearing about attacks.” AFP “He was a devout and dedicat- nian magazine, found him living by the legacy of the genocide. Kigali ed believer and the last anointed in subsidised housing, on food “We are very saddened by his African Roman Catholic king to stamps and donations, in Oak- passing away before he could re- reign over a full country.” ton, Virginia, happy to hand out turn to his country,” party chair he last king of Rwanda, Funeral arrangements, and de- chocolates to neighbours’ chil- Frank Habineza told AFP yester- Niger repels attack on prison Kigeli V, who ruled the tails on the heir to the throne will dren. day. Teast African nation for less be announced at a later date, the “They call me the King of Afri- Habineza had asked the Rwan- than a year before being forced statement said. ca,” Kigeli said of the neighbours, dan government to ensure that unmen yesterday attacked a high-security Militants have also crossed from Mali to its into exile, fi nally settling in the King Kigeli had come to power in that report. “Ah, it’s good.” the king could return to Rwanda prison in Niger in an apparent bid to free west and Libya’s confl ict to its north threatens the United States, died early Sunday after succeeding his half-brother For decades he spoke of re- with an offi cial role of “safe- GIslamist militants but the assault was re- whole region. according to his offi cial website. Mutara III, who died in unclear turning to his tiny, landlocked guarding Rwandan culture,” en- pulsed and no inmates escaped, authorities said. “We heard sustained gunfi re coming from the He was 80. circumstances on the eve of the east African homeland. joying the benefi ts of a former Suspected members of Boko Haram and other prison just as we were going for (early morning) Born Jean-Baptiste Ndahin- Hutu “social revolution” which Since 1994 and the rise to head of state. groups are held at the prison at Koutoukale, 50km prayers,” the director of the Koutoukale school, durwa, King Kigeli came to pow- sent hundreds of thousands of power of current President Paul Some observers suggested northwest of the capital Niamey. Abdoul Razak Ali, said by telephone. er in 1959 and was forced to leave ethnic Tutsi fl eeing. Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Kagame’s government was de- Boko Haram has carried out raids into Niger The attack came days after gunmen raided the the country the following year Most of them did not return Front (RPF) — which emerged liberately preventing Kigeli’s re- from its bases across the border in northeastern house of a United States aid worker in central after clashing with the Belgian home to Rwanda until after the from a former Tutsi rebellion — turn, fearing that respect for his Nigeria. Niger, killed his guards and drove him across the colonial power. 1994 genocide, which left some the issue of a potential return by traditional authority could chal- “I can confi rm one dead among the attackers. desert towards Mali. In 1961, the monarchy was 800,000 dead, mostly from that the king was regularly brought lenge the hegemony of the ruling He was wearing a suicide vest,” Interior Minister Gunmen also attacked a refugee camp earlier abolished. minority. up. party. Mohamed Bazoum told Reuters by telephone. this month in Niger’s western Tahoua region bor- The king began a life of exile Kigeli V is a Tutsi, but the tra- Yet every eff ort failed: the RPF Only three constitutional “The situation is now under control and our dering Mali, killing 22 soldiers. in east Africa, including Kenya dition is that the monarchy rep- authorities have always said they monarchies remain in Africa, in forces are combing the area to try to catch the at- An Amnesty International offi cial who visited and Uganda, before leaving for resent all Rwandans of all eth- were ready for him to return, yet Morocco, Lesotho and Swaziland tackers still at large,” he said. the prison in June said it held around 550 inmates, America, where he settled in the nicities. only as a private citizen. — whose King Mswati III is one of A ministry spokesman said no prisoners es- more than double the prison’s capacity, and the suburbs of Washington in 1992. In September 1961, the mon- The former monarch held the last remaining absolute mon- caped. overwhelmed court system had too few judges to Details of his death were not archy was abolished by referen- out hope he could return to the archs in the world. Bazoum said the most likely culprits were the bring them to justice properly. immediately known. dum and Rwanda gained inde- throne. However hundreds of tradi- Mali-based Movement for Unity and Jihad in Most inmates were suspected members of Boko “It is with a very heavy heart pendence the following year. The issue got a new boost tional kings still play an impor- West Africa (MUJWA), one of a number of armed Haram, which has waged an insurgency based in that we announce that His Maj- While in the United States, in May from the Democratic tant role across the continent and groups operating in the widely unpoliced Sahara. northeastern Nigeria. esty King Kigeli V Ndahindurwa, the exiled monarch led the King Green Party, a small Rwandan in some cases, like South Africa’s The landlocked West African country is sur- A small number were suspected of belonging to the last King of Rwanda, died Kigeli V Foundation to aid Rwan- opposition group which argued Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini rounded by unstable states, most of them strug- Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and other mili- early this morning,” read a state- dan refugees. that the king might be a force kaBhekuzulu, receive hefty al- gling with Islamist insurgencies. tant groups, the offi cial said. ment on his website. A 2013 profi le in Washingto- of unity for a country still torn lowances from the state.

Troubles in Tuareg heartland of Kidal jeopardise latest Mali peace initiatives

Reuters Tens of millions of dollars in Western aid to and have always exploited their grievances. separatist Coordination of Azawad Movements Today, transporting cocaine and migrants through Mali to Kidal address the root causes of cyclical Tuareg up- “There’s no chance of taking the fi ght to Is- (CMA) — have broken out repeatedly since July, Niger and Algeria is more lucrative and attempts to dominate risings in the north are on hold until tensions lamic terrorists if the Tuareg confl ict is not re- killing 39, the United Nations says. routes leading there from Kidal have been a major source of between the armed groups, symbolised by the solved fi rst,” said Sean Smith, West Africa Po- “The fi rst violations of the ceasefi re...in Ki- tension between the two Tuareg-led armed groups. few stale and mouldy loaves are all Kidal blockade, have eased. litical Risk Analyst at Verisk Maplecroft. “We’ve dal have endangered the peace process, pushing Security sources say GATIA, led by Malian army gen- that is left in the main bakery of Mali’s The absence of a legitimate army in the seen the limits of foreign intervention and Tu- back the appointment of interim administra- eral El Hadj Ag Gamou, is also driven by historical griev- Anorthern desert town of Kidal. The north has left a gap allowing bands of Islam- aregs need to be part of the security solution.” tions and the launch of mixed security patrols,” ances, since members are drawn mostly from the Im- owners abandoned it when fl our prices dou- ist militants, who were scattered but not de- Already, Islamic militants are launching UN peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous said this ghad clan which for decades were “vassals” to the noble bled after armed fi ghters from a mostly Tu- feated by a 2013 French military operation, to more sophisticated attacks on UN peace- month, referring to patrols meant to incorpo- Ifoghas leading the CMA. areg group blockaded the town, which sits at become increasingly brazen. keeping force MINUSMA and are blamed for rate Tuaregs as well as the Malian army. Kidal, which has been beyond the authority of the a critical smuggling crossroads, last month. Addressing the grievances of secular Tuar- multiple strikes in neighbouring countries, Mali’s semi-nomadic Tuareg population southern government since the last Tuareg rebellion in The blockade is part of a bitter feud between eg armed groups, thought to comprise thou- such as a prison attack in Niger yesterday. of fewer than 1mn have survived on the edges 2012, was due to be jointly administered by the two sides. rival Tuareg clans which is undermining at- sands of fi ghters, is seen as an essential step Clashes between fi ghters from the two heav- of the world’s largest desert by dominating Instead, CMA seized back the town in August. tempts to implement a 2015 peace deal and sta- towards countering roaming jihadists, who ily-armed sides — the pro-government Plat- trans-Saharan smuggling routes for smug- On the dusty streets, their turbaned fi ghters roll past bilise northern Mali and, by extension, the Sahel. are tied to them both in kinship and business, form coalition, led by the GATIA militia and the gling goods from gold to spices. abandoned shops in heavily-armed pick up trucks, deco- rated with the colourful fl ags of their longed-for state known as Azawad. Residents say GATIA are turning away food and hu- manitarian supplies at make-shift checkpoints outside town in what one security source called an attempt to “asphyxiate” Kidal. Food, in short supply in the arid region, cannot be fl own in because the airport is closed.”They are trying to crush Kidal,” said Ilad Ag Mohamed, a CMA spokesman. Haballa Ag Hamzata, deputy Secretary General of GA- TIA, confi rmed the group was controlling most roads into town. “We said that we would no longer accept humanitar- ian aid into Kidal if the Platform is not associated with distributing it,” he told Reuters. For now, UN and French troops are there to deter any GATIA attempt to take back Kidal. They patrol the eerily quiet streets daily in armoured vehicles, past worn-out posters promoting lapsed aid projects. But the death of CMA commander Cheikh Ag Aoussa last week in an alleged assassination attempt near the MINUSMA camp shows their vulnerability even within their stronghold. Tit-for-tat killings are common in ar- eas beyond the reach of patrols and the United Nations says it is investigating allegations of serious human rights violations. Takdiss Walet, a resident of Intachdayte, 80 kilome- tres away, told Reuters she fl ed to Kidal last month after GATIA fi ghters killed two male family members. A spokesman for the government, which has always denied links to the group, was not available for comment. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 13 AMERICA

Customers pile in and Trump doubles down analysts fret as banks off er rich card awards

By David Henry, Reuters The other two banks New York among the four biggest in the United States, Bank of Amer- on voter fraud claim ica Corp and Wells Fargo & orrie Low, a Co, have also been looking for AFP 27-year-old Seattle more card business, but less New York Mcocktail server, has aggressively. found an unlikely new source Citigroup intensifi ed the of pleasure: credit card com- card war last year by giving acing sinking poll numbers panies. retailer Costco Wholesale and accusations of sexual After working off card bal- Corp such a sweet deal for Fassault, Donald Trump yes- ances he built up during col- running its Costco card that terday doubled down on charges lege, Low started collecting it took the business from that the presidential campaign is new cards in May specifi cally American Express Co, which being rigged, warning of “large to reap the increasingly lu- said the winning terms were scale voter fraud” in the US elec- crative travel awards banks uneconomical. tion. are off ering to encourage Citigroup said on Friday With just three weeks to go spending on their cards. that its Costco deal drove in the rollercoaster presidential In August, Low snagged a spending on its cards to race, the brash billionaire Trump new Sapphire Reserve card, $73bn in the latest quarter, sharpened his message that the from JPMorgan Chase & Co, 57% higher than a year earlier. election system is plagued with which has become a mag- JPMorgan said spending on deep problems, despite vehement net for millennials willing its cards rose 10% to $139bn. denials by members of his own to pay the $450 annual fee Bank of America said yes- party. for a sign-up bonus worth terday spending on its credit The Republican nominee takes as much as $1,500 in travel, cards was up 8%, adjusted the stage tomorrow with his plus $300 in annual spending for some divestitures late last Democratic rival Hillary Clinton credits and more freebies. year. in their fi nal debate. Now Low is planning a trip The bank’s chief execu- But neither candidate has fo- to Germany with his girl- tive, Brian Moynihan, told cused much on policy in recent friend on JPMorgan’s dime. “I analysts that “one of the great weeks, as Trump intensifi es criti- have never been to Europe, so debates we have in the com- cism of the election system, rais- that is something pretty cool pany” is over giving up too ing concerns about possible post- about this hobby,” he said. much, or too little, in incen- election unrest should he lose. The Reserve card opens up tives on cards. “Of course there is large scale a new front in the war among The banks do not report voter fraud happening on and be- banks to build up their lucra- clear and mutually compara- fore election day,” Trump wrote tive credit card businesses. ble fi gures for actual profi ts on Twitter, without backing up While it may be fun for from cards. his charge. customers, investors and an- But executives say cards “Why do Republican leaders alysts worry that battle will are among the most profi t- deny what is going on? So naive!” eat away the fat profi t mar- able of any business, with In a series of tweets the previ- Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) speaks during a protest against Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for his ‘treatment of gins that made the sector so returns on equity of as much ous day, Trump also railed against women’ in front of Trump Tower in New York City. attractive to banks in the fi rst as 25%, about twice banks’ the media, as tensions mount place. recent overall return. ahead of the November 8 election. tion operations in his state, Ohio trying to blame that on the sys- over his comments questioning The RealClearPolitics average “You have fi ve or six big Citigroup’s Costco deal “Polls close, but can you be- Secretary of State Jon Husted, a tem. This is what losers do.” the validity of the election proc- of recent polls gave her a 6.3% national players and they are fueled a round of concessions lieve I lost large numbers of Republican, insisted yesterday But Trump’s warnings may be ess. advantage over Trump in a four- going around killing one an- by banks to renew contracts women voters based on made that Trump was being “irrespon- having an impact. Ryan was “fully confi dent the way race including third-party other,” said Chris Kotowski, with other retailers, hotel up events THAT NEVER HAP- sible” for warning of voter fraud. A new poll by Politico and states will carry out this election candidates Gary Johnson and Jill an analyst at Oppenheimer and airline companies for co- PENED. Media rigging election!” “If there is a systemic problem, Morning Consult reveals that with integrity,” his spokeswoman Stein. & Co. branded cards. Trump wrote. please identify it. Don’t just make some 41 % of voters believe the AshLee Strong said. Clinton is lying low ahead of Low illustrates the prob- JPMorgan’s new deals with After the fi rst debate, Trump an allegation on Twitter. Tell me,” election could be “stolen” from Underscoring how divisive this the fi nal debate, apparently rely- lem. Southwest Airlines, United said he would respect the election Husted said on CNN. Trump through massive voter election campaign has been, a ing on Trump self-destructing. JPMorgan won’t know if Airlines, online retailer Ama- result. “They’re not going to be fraud. Republican Party offi ce in North “She is trying to avoid issues he will become a profi table zon.com and others, for ex- But he backtracked in an in- rigged,” he said of the election. More than seven in 10 Repub- Carolina was fi rebombed over- for the next 22 days in the hopes customer for another year ample, will cut revenue by terview with The New York Times “I’ll make sure of that.” licans believe the election could night Sunday, with the message that this will just end up being because the up-front rewards about $900mn annually, the last month, saying, “We’re going Clinton’s campaign manager be taken from them, while 17% of “Nazi Republicans leave town about Mr Trump,” his campaign are so great. He may drop the bank said earlier this year. to see what happens.” Robby Mook told reporters that Democrats agree with the poten- or else” sprayed on an adjacent manager Kellyanne Conway told Reserve card before the next Now, with the Reserve Trump’s running mate Mike Trump’s warnings about election tial for serious ballot box fraud. building. CNN yesterday outside of Trump annual fee. card, JPMorgan has “funda- Pence sought to ease tensions, in- rigging are meant to divert the The poll of 1,999 registered No one was hurt in the attack, Tower in New York. He has already acquired mentally changed the cal- sisting his camp would accept de- public’s gaze from the candidate’s voters was conducted October 13 swiftly condemned by both can- Conway also added fuel to her two more cards and now is culus for what makes a pre- feat if voters reject the Republican own shortcomings. through 15. didates. boss’s contention that the elec- spending on those to meet mium credit card,” said Sean ticket at the polls. “He’s desperately trying to The nation’s top elected Re- Two polls released Sunday tion could be stolen. their requirements for more McQuay, who tracks card of- “We will absolutely accept the shift attention from his own dis- publican, House Speaker Paul — taken after a slew of sexual “If there’s compelling evidence sign-up bonuses. fers at online personal fi nance results of the election,” he told astrous campaign,” Mook said Ryan, who has declared that he misconduct allegations against of voter fraud, obviously as early And he doesn’t intend to website NerdWallet.com. CBS Sunday. during a press call yesterday. would no longer “defend” the Trump emerged last week — put voting goes on...certainly we borrow on his cards. Citigroup, he said, needs to One offi cial who oversees elec- “He knows he’s losing and he’s party’s nominee, rebuked Trump Clinton ahead. would take action,” she said. That could be bad for JP- respond with more givebacks Morgan because credit card on its Prestige premium card. companies historically have Citigroup Chief Financial made about three-fourths of Offi cer John Gerspach disa- their revenue from interest. grees. Pumpkin plot The rest has come from The Prestige card is already Trio charged after fees, which are being whittled a “strong off ering,” he told away by the rising costs of the reporters on Friday. givebacks. JPMorgan, he said, has “a teen is shot dead Still, JPMorgan execu- very attractive off er on the tives say they are thrilled that table right now. We will see many more young people whether or not that is sus- Reuters applied for the Reserve card tainable.” Lexington, Kentucky than they ever expected. Earlier this month, Ameri- That’s especially true with can Express increased re- millennials — people who wards on its Platinum card, uthorities in Kentucky have charged three men, reached adulthood around the traditional leader among including a father and son, in connection with 2000 — who are the next high-fee cards. Athe shooting death of Olympic sprinter Tyson generation of depositors and American Express spokes- Gay’s 15-year-old daughter outside a restaurant over borrowers. woman Charlotte Fuller said the weekend, police said. “It has been a huge suc- the move was not a competi- Trinity Gay was caught in an exchange of gunfi re be- cess,” said Kevin Watters, tive response, but a coinci- tween the occupants of two vehicles at about 4am local the bank’s chief executive for dental improvement for cus- time on Sunday in the parking lot of a fast food restau- cards. tomers. rant in her hometown of Lexington, police said. The bank so underestimat- The intense competition She was transported by private vehicle to a local hos- ed the demand that it quickly over card rewards has its pital where she was pronounced dead, police said. ran out of its initial stock of roots in the fi nancial crisis of Father Chazerae Taylor, 38, and son D’markeo, 19, metal cards and had to resort 2008. were charged with wanton endangerment in connec- A Star Wars display made from illuminated pumpkins is showcased at the #Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns’ show in Los to plastic for a while. Post-crisis reforms re- tion with the shooting. Angeles. The four day show featured thousands of carved pumpkins on the eve of the Halloween festival. To make money from the duced the profi tability of Dvonta Middlebrooks, 21, was charged with wanton card, JPMorgan has to have other businesses such as endangerment and possession of a fi rearm by a con- the right mix of customer mortgages and capital mar- victed felon, Lexington police said in a statement late spending, annual renewals kets trading, encouraging on Sunday. and borrowing with repay- banks to turn to cards for “Investigators determined that Middlebrooks was in ments, said John Grund, a profi ts. the parking lot and fi red multiple shots at the time of partner at card industry con- And, within that business, the incident,” the police statement said. ‘Bridgegate’ defendant says he is innocent sulting fi rm First Annapolis. the reforms pushed banks A homicide investigation is ongoing. Marianne Lake, JPMor- from people with lower credit Condolences poured in from track stars and offi cials, gan’s chief fi nancial offi cer, ratings toward creditworthy including Olympic sprinter Lolo Jones and the USA Reuters thority executive who last year plead- calls from Democratic Mayor Mark declined to say how much customers who respond to Track and Field organisation. Newark ed guilty and testifi ed earlier as the Sokolich. card debt the bank needs cus- incentives. “Sending our thoughts and prayers to (Tyson Gay) prosecution’s star witness. In a telephone conversation, Wild- tomers to take on. And lately, the banks have and his loved ones as they mourn the tragic & sense- Baroni testifi ed yesterday that he stein told him not to call the mayor back “I am not going to give you had the means to bid more less loss of his daughter, Trinity,” USA Track & Field, former associate of New Jer- believed Wildstein had closed down because Baroni would “wimp out” and the details of our business for customers because loan the sport’s national governing body, wrote on Twitter. sey Governor Chris Christie the lanes as part of a legitimate traffi c ruin the study, according to Baroni. case, but I will tell you that losses have declined to record Like her father, Trinity attended Lafayette High Ayesterday denied any involve- study to see whether conditions at toll “He said to me, ‘Let me handle it,’” we obviously have a lot of ex- lows. School, where she was a promising track competitor. ment in the “Bridgegate” scandal at booths could be improved, contra- Baroni said. “I have regretted it ever perience in a number of dif- At the same time, card- “Our hearts are broken,” the school district said in a his criminal trial, portraying himself dicting Wildstein’s assertion that the since.” ferent (card) products,” Lake holders have become more statement. as a duped victim of another Christie two men concocted a bogus study as Wildstein earlier described a coor- told reporters on Friday after savvy about working the in- Gay, 34, who was born in Lexington, won three gold political appointee who has already a cover story. dinated eff ort between himself, Baro- the bank posted results. centives. medals at the World Championships in 2007 in Osaka, pleaded guilty. Baroni also testifi ed that the con- ni and Kelly to create a massive traffi c Historically, airline travel Ivan Drucker, a New York Japan, taking titles in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m Bill Baroni, a former executive at versation Wildstein described with jam in Fort Lee, New Jersey, as politi- award cards have been suc- City-based consultant to Ap- relay. the Port Authority of New York and Christie was focused on the study and cal payback for Sokolich. cessful, with about 50% of ple computer users, recently He set the US record in the 100m sprint two years New Jersey who was Christie’s top ally whether it would allow the governor He also testifi ed that he and Baroni customers borrowing, said used awards from a strategi- later. at the organisation, and Bridget Kelly, to take credit for solving traffi c prob- discussed the closures with Christie Grund. cally managed mix of credit Gay, who made his Olympic debut in 2008, won a Christie’s former deputy chief of staff , lems at the bridge’s toll lanes. as they were ongoing. High-fee cards used by the cards to travel in luxury to silver medal with the 4x100m relay team at the 2012 are charged with conspiracy and other “Was there any mention of punish- The governor has denied any wealthy have worked with Finland. Games in London. But he lost the medal after testing counts for closing down access lanes ment?” asked Jennifer Mara, one of knowledge of the plot either before or less borrowing, but with less Drucker, 46, said he bor- positive for a banned substance in 2013. in 2013 at the busy George Washing- Baroni’s lawyers. during the traffi c tie-up. valuable incentives than the rowed on cards at high rates He has since competed in multiple Summer Olym- ton Bridge to punish a local mayor for “No,” he replied. The resulting scandal hampered his Reserve card. in years past, but he’s deter- pics, most recently in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. refusing to back the Republican gov- Baroni also attempted to address bid for the Republican presidential Like JPMorgan, Citigroup mined not to do it again. In an interview with the sports editor of NBC-affi li- ernor’s re-election campaign. some of the prosecution’s most nomination and has continued to dog Inc also has been spending “For me, there’s personal ate Lex 18 television early on Monday, Gay appeared to Lawyers for the defendants have damning evidence, including an him as he serves as an advisor to Don- hundreds of millions of dol- redemption in this,” Drucker be in shock. argued they are scapegoats by pros- email exchange in which Wildstein ald Trump, the party’s nominee. lars to encourage additional said. “They got the better of “She didn’t make it. I’m so confused,” Gay said. “She ecutors for a scheme orchestrated by instructed Baroni to maintain “radio Kelly is expected to testify later in spending and borrowing on me. Now I hope to turn those was just here last week for fall break. It’s so crazy.” David Wildstein, another Port Au- silence” in response to frantic phone the trial. its cards. tables.” Gulf Times 14 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 ASEAN China to help Cambodia modernise its armed forces

Reuters and United States vie for infl u- strengthen stronger capacity of The Chinese leader also can- Phnom Penh ence. our national defence,” Defence celled around $89mn in debt and Cambodia has shielded China Minister Tea Banh, who returned pledged another $14mn in mili- from criticism by the Associa- from an offi cial visit to Beijing tary aid to Cambodia. hina has agreed to help tion of Southeast Asian Nations over the weekend, told reporters Banh said that Cambodia modernise Cambodia’s (Asean) over the South China yesterday. plans to acquire fi ghter jets from Cmilitary, Cambodia’s de- Sea. His comments follow a visit to China in the long term but that fence minister said yesterday, Asean members Vietnam, the Cambodia by Chinese President the military needs to focus now after the two countries signed Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei Xi Jinping last week in which Xi on strengthening its airspace. new agreements to boost mili- are in disputes with China over praised the close ties between Cambodia has had border dis- tary aid. rival claims to the waters. the two countries. putes with neighbouring Viet- Cambodia is China’s loyal ally “We signed some protocols China and Cambodia signed nam and Thailand. in Asia, routinely backing Bei- with each other in providing 31 agreements during the visit, A border dispute with Thai- jing’s position at international supplies in order to modernise including soft loan deals worth land has in recent years resulted Captain Wang Hong Li (left), Commanding Off icer of the 23rd Chinese Naval Escort Task Force, smiles as forums in a region where China our work and as a contribution to around $237mn. in sporadic exchanges of fi re. Cambodia’s Defence Minister Tea Banh speaks during a meeting in Phnom Penh yesterday. Govt fi res border police chief 32 bodies found after over deadly rebel attacks Myanmar ferry disaster AFP Yangon Reuters stan and elsewhere, and also Yangon blamed it for later attacks on security forces in the Mus- earchers have recovered 32 lim-majority region. bodies after an overloaded yanmar has fi red Since the attacks, several Sferry sank in central My- the police offi cial videos have circulated on- anmar and expect to fi nd dozens Mcharged with guard- line, showing armed men de- more dead, offi cials said yester- ing its troubled border with claring jihad in the language day, as workers began raising the Bangladesh, offi cials said yes- of the Rohingya. boat from the riverbed. terday, after deadly attacks Reuters has not been able A total of 154 people were res- that sparked fi ghting with in- to verify their authenticity, cued alive after the ferry sank surgents allegedly inspired by but government officials say early Saturday on the Chindwin militants. they believe they show mem- River, about 72 kilometres north Nine police officers were bers of an insurgent group of the city of Monywa. killed when three police posts with about 400 fighters. But rescuers have found only in northern Rakhine State The army has designated bloated corpses fl oating in the were overrun on Oct 9 by at- the region an “operation water since then, and fear the tackers wielding automatic zone” and troops have fanned toll could reach 100 once they weapons, sticks and knives, out to track down attackers raise the craft. and believed to belong to the who made off with dozens “So far we have recovered mostly stateless Rohingya of weapons and more than 32 dead bodies,” said Sa Willy Muslim group. 10,000 rounds of ammuni- Frient, director of the local relief “Necessary action will be tion in the Oct 9 assault. and resettlement department taken against the responsible In a statement yester- who is overseeing the operation. police officials for their neg- day, the government said 30 “We are trying to raise the ligence, which led to the loss people have been killed and boat using a crane after tying it of the lives of police person- 12 suspects detained in the with strong ropes. After we lift it nel and the loss of weapons,” operation, in which five sol- out, the death toll will be higher.” said Major General Aung Soe, diers were killed. In the latest Sa Willy Frient estimated deputy minister for home af- reported killings of alleged 240-250 people – around 100 fairs. Aung Soe did not give attackers, two women and a more than its capacity – were on specifics, but Police Briga- man were shot dead on Sat- the boat, along with heavy cargo. dier General Maung Maung urday after they ambushed Survivor Hnin Lei Yee, a Khin, the border chief in police officers conducting 27-year-old schoolteacher, was Maungdaw township, the a “clearance operation,” the travelling with her husband and site of the attack, has been military-run Myawady news- one-year-old daughter to cel- fired, said an official at police paper said. ebrate the Buddhist Thadingyut In this handout photograph released yesterday, government rescue personnel from the Myanmar Fire Services Department transport a victim’s headquarters and an official International human rights festival with her family. body during a search operation after a ferry capsized on the Chindwin River near Monywa city in Sagaing region. of the Rakhine State govern- groups and advocates for the Her baby was killed in the dis- ment. Rohingya have raised con- aster. was a dead child in the hospi- of Myanmar’s teachers’ federa- ferry’s owner. Local lawmaker prone river systems rely heavily A replacement, Thura San cerns that extrajudicial kill- She still does not know her tal and I went there. I saw my tion. “This incident has terrifi ed Shwin Htay said people were on often overcrowded ferries for Lwin, has already been named, ings may be taking place. husband’s fate. daughter dead,” she said, weep- us very much.” devastated by the scale of the transport. said the two offi cials, who re- About 1.1mn Rohingya “It happened very fast,” she ing. “The teachers often have to disaster as he called for the boat At least 21 people, including quested anonymity because live in Rakhine State, where told AFP. “The window was Some 30 teachers were use such unsafe transportation, operators to face justice. nine children, died in April af- they were not authorised to they face restrictions on open so I had a chance to get out thought to be among the pas- especially when they (come to) “I have never known of a boat ter a boat capsized off the coast speak to the media. their movements and access of the boat.” sengers, along with dozens of get their monthly salary.” sinking where so many people of Myanmar’s western state of The government has said to services. They constitute “I cannot swim so I had to students from Monywa univer- Four of the boat’s staff have have died in this area,” he said. Rakhine. the assault was orchestrated most of the 125,000 residents hold on to a plastic fl oat and fi - sity and workers heading home been arrested and will face legal Boat accidents are common in In March last year at least 52 by the little-known “Aqa Mul of displacement camps since nally the rescue boat came to for Thadingyut. action. Myanmar. people lost their lives off the Mujahidin”, alleged to have communal clashes with eth- save my life.” “I am really so sorry,” said Sai Authorities are still hunting People living along the na- west coast when an overloaded links to Islamists in Paki- nic Buddhists in 2012. “In the morning, I heard there Khaing Myo Tun, vice president for one crew member and the tion’s long coastline and fl ood- ferry sank in rough waters.

CRIME Indonesian police Woman screams seize tiger skin, in pain during pangolin scales Thailand king’s death will not delay election caning in Aceh

Three Indonesian men have been Reuters A young woman screamed in arrested for allegedly trading in Bangkok pain as she was caned yesterday protected species, with police seiz- in front of a jeering crowd in ing animal parts including a tiger Indonesia’s Aceh, the latest person skin, deer genitalia and pangolin he death of Thai King to be punished for breaking the scales, an off icial said yesterday. Bhumibol Adulyadej will province’s strict religious laws. The suspects were caught over Tnot aff ect plans to hold a People can face floggings in Aceh the weekend after an undercover general election in 2017, media for a range of off ences – from police operation at a hotel in the reported yesterday, dismissing gambling, to drinking alcohol, to city of Medan on Sumatra island, speculation that the military gay sex. The woman was among which is close to national parks government would delay the 13 people – seven men and six that are home to a panoply of poll as the country enters a year women aged between 21 and exotic animals. Police posing as of mourning. 30 – who were caned yesterday at buyers met one of the men, who Thais continued to fl ock a mosque in the provincial capital agreed to sell a tiger skin for 70mn from across the country to the Banda Aceh, as a baying crowd rupiah ($5,350) before he was Grand Palace in Bangkok to pay cheered the spectacle. Six couples arrested. Authorities later found their respects to the king, a be- were found guilty of breaking reli- three kilograms (6.6 pounds) of loved father fi gure who died on gious laws that ban intimacy, such scales from critically endangered Thursday after seven decades Thailand’s Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn takes part in a ceremony honouring Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand as touching, hugging and kissing, pangolins in his car, which he said on the throne. Palace in Bangkok yesterday. Right: Thai commuters wearing mostly black clothes in a sign of mourning wait for a ride at a metro train between unmarried people. he planned to sell for 36mn rupiah Offi cials said they expected platform while heading to work in Bangkok. A man was caned for a less serious to two friends. Pangolins, known tens of thousands every day at off ence described as spending as “scaly anteaters”, are the world’s the palace and, with so many tary government, declined to days to consider it,” Wissanu coronation will take place af- since the king’s death, and time with a member of the op- most heavily traff icked mammal arriving in Bangkok from the comment. said. King Bhumibol earned the ter the king has been cremated strict lese-majeste laws that posite sex in a hidden location in a and a global wildlife conference provinces, the city administra- “This is not the time to dis- devotion of Thais for his eff orts following a year of mourning, forbid insults to the monarchy fashion that could lead to adultery. last month voted to ban all trade tion has ordered youth centres cuss politics,” he told Reuters. to help the rural poor, includ- he said. The Thai baht and the have discouraged discussion of One 22-year-old woman due to be in the creatures. The two friends and public gyms to provide free The government has ing agricultural development stock market, which fell sharp- the succession. flogged was given a temporary were then caught, and were found accommodations. stressed since the king’s death projects. ly last week as investors wor- On social media, however, reprieve as she was pregnant – but to be in possession of genitalia The death of the world’s that the economy and govern- He was also seen as a stabil- ried about the country’s stabil- some Thais voiced anxiety. Aceh Deputy Mayor Zainal Arifin from protected deers, snake skins, longest-reigning monarch had ment will work as normal, and ising fi gure in a country often ity after King Bhumibol, were “I’m afraid for only one thing: pledged: “The punishment will and turtle shells, police said. The raised questions over whether it has sought to dispel uncer- racked by political turmoil. stable yesterday. Thailand’s future,” @SABEN- be handed down after she gives men are accused of breaking the junta would delay elections tainty over the succession. Crown Prince Maha Vaji- “We think that market vola- ZZ said in a post on Twitter. birth. “The off icial added that he laws on possessing and trading in paving the way for a return to Thais voted overwhelmingly ralongkorn is expected to be tility will ease as the govern- The government has height- hoped the canings would serve protected animals. civilian rule. in August to accept a military- the new king but he does not ment continues to communi- ened censorship of foreign me- as a deterrent: “We hope there are “They face up to five years in jail However, the Bangkok Post backed constitution, which command the same adoration cate clearly and cautiously to dia since the king died. no more people in Banda Aceh and a fine of up to 100mn rupiah,” newspaper reported the poll critics say could enshrine mili- his father earned over a lifetime the public on how the transi- Coverage on Thailand by who break the law in future.” More Toga Habinsaran Panjaitan, from would proceed as planned. tary power for years to come. on the throne. tion will be, and reaffi rms that BBC World television was re- and more people are being caned the local police special crimes unit, “The government has reaf- Deputy Prime Minister Wis- The head of the royal advi- general elections will con- peatedly blocked over the in Aceh, with a particular increase told reporters. Indonesia, the world’s fi rmed its commitment to fol- sanu Krea-ngam told report- sory council will stand in as re- tinue under the roadmap,” Pi- weekend. in recent times in the number of biggest archipelago of over 17,000 lowing the roadmap for general ers the constitution would be gent for an unspecifi ed period monwan Mahujchariyawong, Thailand’s foreign ministry in women being flogged. Aceh, on islands, is one of the world’s most elections scheduled for late sent to the palace for approval until the crown prince is in- deputy managing director of a note at the weekend criticised Sumatra island, began implement- biodiverse nations and its vast next year,” the newspaper said. – considered a formality – no vited by parliament to become Kasikorn Research Center, foreign journalists’ coverage, ing Shariah law after being granted expanses of jungle are home to Weerachon Sukondhapati- later than early November. king, Wissanu told reporters on said. Media have stuck to rig- describing some reports as “ma- special autonomy in 2001. numerous endangered animals. pak, a spokesman for the mili- “The crown will have 90 Saturday. The prince’s formal orous reporting guidelines nipulative and provocative”. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 15 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA Matchmaking Japan PM Abe sends off ering to war shrine

AFP Abe visited in December Tokyo 2013 to mark his fi rst year in power, a pilgrimage that sparked fury in Beijing and apan’s Prime Minister Seoul and earned a diplomatic Shinzo Abe sent a ritual rebuke from close ally the US, Joff ering to a controversial which said it was “disappoint- war shrine yesterday, drawing ed” by the action. fi re from China which sees it as But he has since refrained a painful reminder of Tokyo’s from going, sending ritual of- warring past. ferings instead. The conservative premier Scores of conservative law- – who has been criticised for makers, possibly including what some see as a revisionist cabinet ministers, are expected take on Japan’s wartime record to go to the shrine to mark the – sent a sacred “masakaki” tree autumn festival today. bearing his name to Yasukuni Six members of a govern- Shrine at the start of a four- ment panel gathered in the of- day festival. fi ce of Prime Minister Shinzo The shrine honours millions Abe in Tokyo yesterday to hold of Japanese war dead, but also their fi rst meeting on the pos- senior military and political sible abdication of Emperor Participants wearing surgical masks talk to each other during a masked match-making event in Tokyo. fi gures convicted of war crimes Akihito. after World War II. The panel was set up last The site has for decades month after the 82-year-old been a fl ashpoint for criticism emperor suggested his wish in by countries that suff ered from a rare video message in August Japan’s colonialism and ag- to relinquish his role, citing gression in the fi rst half of the concern about his age. 20th century, including China The panel members are ex- and the two Koreas. pected to interview experts on More controversial than the the constitution, history and shrine is an accompanying the imperial system and com- Australia Nauru camp museum that paints Japan as a pile a proposal on Akihito’s liberator of Asia and a victim of abdication for Prime Minister the war. Shinzo Abe’s government early “The Yasukuni Shrine hon- next year. ours class A war criminals of Japan’s modern imperial law WWII who were directly re- has no provision for the em- sponsible for the war,” said peror to step down. ‘amounts to torture’ Chinese foreign ministry Abe’s government report- spokeswoman Hua Chunying, edly wants to create a special Asylum seekers have been left in limbo anguish” and the use of off shore process- “I met children as young as nine who speaking in Beijing. law that allows Akihito’s abdi- on Nauru ing as a deterrent. had already tried to kill themselves and “We oppose this ritual of- cation as an exceptional case, Amnesty also accused Australia of op- were talking openly about ending their fering and we urge Japan to thereby avoiding an amend- AFP erating the camp “behind a fortress of se- lives,” said Neistat. refl ect on its aggressive history ment to current imperial law Sydney crecy”. Only a handful of journalists and “Their parents were talking about hid- and take concrete actions to that would require discussing refugee advocates, including Neistat, have ing everything, sharp objects, pills, and win back the trust of its Asian complicated issues such as gained access to Nauru in recent years. not allowing them to leave the house, be- neighbours and the interna- possible female succession. ustralia’s detention of asylum- Some of those interviewed by Amnesty cause they were so worried their children tional community.” South Ko- Akihito ascended to the seekers on a remote Pacifi c island said their time on Nauru was more diffi cult would end their lives,” said Keistat, who rea did not immediately issue Chrysanthemum Throne in A“amounts to torture” under inter- than the confl icts they had fl ed in Iraq and spent six days in Nauru in August. an offi cial response. January 1989 following the national law, Amnesty International said Syria. Amnesty said that 58 detainees, or Abe and other nationalists death of his father, Hirohito, yesterday in a report that alleged wide- “I cannot go back. about 15% of the total on Nauru, to whom say Yasukuni is merely a place who was regarded as a deity spread abuse and an “epidemic of self- But here I am dying a thousand times,” it spoke for its report, had either attempt- to remember fallen soldiers until he renounced the status harm”. said an Iraqi man, identifi ed only as Edris. ed suicide or have had thoughts about and compare it with Arlington following the country’s defeat Canberra sends asylum-seekers who try An undated image from Amnesty “In Iraq, you get just one bullet or a harming themselves. National Cemetery in the US. in World War II. to reach the island continent by boat to the International claiming to show children bomb, and it’s over, and here I am slowly Many of the 410 men, women and chil- Pacifi c islands of Nauru and Papua New playing near a fence at the country’s dying from the pain.” dren Australian fi gures show to have been Guinea’s Manus, where they are blocked Australian-run detention centre on the Another, 19-year-old Ali Kharsa, who in detention on Nauru by August 31 have from being resettled in Australia even if Pacific island nation of Nauru. was held on Nauru for three years, said: been confi rmed as refugees and have been found to be refugees. “We fl ed Syria, but Nauru was the hardest there for several years. The Nauru facility – which holds just health issues that many said started after thing I ever had.” Despite the refugee status, they contin- over 400 men, women and children – has being transferred to the camp. The Australian government was not im- ue to be confi ned to poor accommodation been under scrutiny after allegations of Contributing to their feelings of despair mediately available for comment. with little access to medical care, Amnesty thousands of incidents of abuse and self- were inadequate medical care, exposure of But Canberra has strongly defended its said, adding that children, who make up harm were leaked to the Guardian Aus- children to abuse, and attacks and threats tough policies towards “boatpeople” in little more than a tenth of the number of tralia in August. by some Nauruans outside the centre, it the past, saying it has prevented deaths at detainees, suff er disproportionately. Amnesty’s senior director for research said. sea and secured the nation’s borders. Amnesty joins a chorus of criticism of Anna Neistat said interviews she conduct- Asylum-seekers on Nauru have been Nauru’s government in August dis- Australia’s immigration policy from hu- ed with more than 100 people, including free to roam around the tiny nation since missed the leaked incident reports that man rights groups, and comes just weeks asylum-seekers, refugees, and current or last year, no longer forced to remain locked asylum-seekers faced violence, abuse and after the United Nations said Nauru was former detention centre staff , between up, but the report alleged that some who humiliating treatment as “fabricated”. failing to protect children. July and October “paint a picture of people ventured outside the camp were attacked Just over 800 asylum-seeker men are Australia seeks to organise resettlement driven to absolute despair”. and raped. held in the Manus camp, with Australia of the asylum seekers, Prime Minister The rights group’s report said there was “Australia’s off shore processing regime in August agreeing to close it following a Malcolm Turnbull has said. an “epidemic of self-harm” among those fi ts the defi nition of torture under interna- Papua New Guinea Supreme Court ruling But with Australia unable to convince a held on Nauru, with nearly all the asylum- tional law,” Amnesty said in a statement, declaring that holding people there was third party to take them, the future of the seekers interviewed reporting mental pointing to the refugees’ “severe mental unconstitutional and illegal. detainees remains in question. A visitor in a kimono bows at the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo.

China sends two astronauts to Yoshikimono orbiting space lab: Xinhua

AFP The mission should work to ensure “the Chinese peo- Beijing ple will take bigger steps and march further” in space, and contribute “to the building of China into a space power”, Xinhua cited him as saying. hina launched two astronauts into space yester- The Tiangong-2 lab is in orbit 393km above Earth day, offi cial media said, on a mission to its orbit- and has two cabins – an hermetically sealed experiment Cing laboratory as the country works towards set- chamber that doubles as the living quarters, and a re- ting up its own space station. sources store holding supplies such as solar panels, en- The Shenzhou-11 spacecraft blasted off early in the gines and batteries. morning from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Russian space system design expert Aleksandr Gobi desert, the offi cial Xinhua news agency reported. Zheleznyakov told Xinhua that the lab’s structure indi- Astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong will take two cated China’s design plans for its future space station, days to reach the Tiangong-2 space lab, or Heavenly Pal- which he expected would have a core cabin with multiple ace-2, which was launched in September. docks for diff erent modules. They will remain on board for 30 days – the longest The two astronauts on the Shenzhou-11 mission will stay thus far by Chinese astronauts – to conduct tests on test their own health in zero gravity, cultivate rice sam- spacecraft-related technologies and scientifi c and engi- ples, and conduct research on cold atomic space clocks neering experiments, Xinhua said. that use laser cooling technology to improve accuracy, Jing, the mission commander, was on his third trip among other projects, China Daily said. into orbit and will celebrate his 50th birthday in space. They will be allowed a two-hour break every evening “Although the job is challenging, risky and dangerous, to watch movies, listen to music and make video calls there is nothing else I’d rather do,” he said, according to home, it added. the China Daily. “We prepared more than 100 kinds of food and bev- China is pouring billions into its military-run space erages for them in space,” deputy director of China’s programme and working to catch up with the US and Eu- manned space engineering offi ce Wu Ping told the paper, rope, with hopes to have a crewed outpost by 2022. adding that they had access to a treadmill and exercise Beijing sees the programme as symbolising the coun- bike. try’s progress and a marker of its rising global stature, Chen, a 37-year-old from central Henan province with but so far China has largely replicated activities that the twin sons, idolised his older colleague earlier in his own US and Soviet Union pioneered decades ago. career. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory “I used to watch Jing on television and he always A model presents a creation by designer Yoshiki, leader of Japan’s band X Japan, from his Spring/Summer 2017 collection for message to the mission yesterday, urging them to aim at seemed so far away,” he said. “But when I met him in per- his brand YOSHIKIMONO during Tokyo Fashion Week in Tokyo, yesterday. taking great leaps for the Chinese nation, Xinhua said. son, my worries and anxieties disappeared.” Gulf Times 16 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 BRITAIN/IRELAND

INITIATIVE DECISION FORECAST CLARIFICATION DECISION £40mn fund to tackle Huge new station for Ilford End in sight for £120,000 Harry denies slamming Private-hire taxi drivers homelessness unveiled ‘to meet Crossrail demand’ homes in the capital war crime inquiry ‘must prove English skills’

Theresa May yesterday vowed to help tackle Plans for a huge new glass-fronted station Buying even the smallest London home for Prince Harry yesterday denied claims that London’s transport bosses yesterday said homelessness in the capital with a £1mn fund at Ilford were submitted yesterday as part £120,000 or less will be impossible by the end he had “blasted the war crimes witch-hunt” all drivers of private hire vehicles must for a trailblazing new project in Southwark. The of a package of improvements for the of the year as prices continue to rise across against British troops. The Sun said the speak, listen to, read and write English to a prime minister said “too many people sleep start of Crossrail services. A new ticket hall much of the capital, it was forecast yesterday. former Army air corps helicopter pilot “told set level, intensifying a battle with taxi app rough in London every night”, adding that we flooded with natural light and designed by Only a tiny handful of cramped studios on campaigners he wants more support for Uber which says the expected standard can no longer ignore the “injustices on our architects Atkins will replace the Cranbrook the eastern and southern fringes of London heroes facing prosecution”. He was reported is too high. Earlier this year, the capital’s doorstep”. Yesterday, Southwark became part Road station, which has been criticised as are still on the market at that price, which is by the paper to be “deeply concerned about transport authority said it would introduce of a £40mn national pilot scheme that focuses a “ghetto” by some passengers. There will 3.3 times workers’ average pay of £36,258, the treatment of British troops hounded by the measure as part of a series of stricter on people who are imminent risk of being also be new lifts for step-free access to all and there will be none at all within months, spurious war crimes claims”. According to The rules on apps such as Uber and private hire forced onto the streets. The national scheme platforms from street level, longer platforms, according to agents Jackson-Stops. The sub- Sun and its sources, Harry “came to the view firms like Addison Lee whilst supporting the provides £20mn for local authorities to pilot improved lighting, signage, customer £120,000 band is the latest to be driven to that Iraq Historical Allegations Team (IHAT) city’s iconic black cabs. Yesterday, regulator new initiatives to tackle homelessness, £10mn information points, CCTV and overhead extinction by the steady rise in house values and Operation Northmoor — set up to probe Transport for London (TfL) said drivers will to help people at immediate risk of sleeping information screens. Network Rail’s proposed since the mid-Nineties — apart from a short alleged abuses in Afghanistan — was a joke”. have to take either an English proficiency rough or those new to the streets and £10mn improvements come after Transport for dip during the financial crisis of 2008 and However, the former frontline soldier issued a test or provide proof, such as a British school in Social Impact Bonds to help long-term rough London opened a new ticket hall in York Road 2009 — that has wiped out many affordable statement saying that he had not expressed qualification, that they can meet the required sleepers. as part of its station upgrades. price levels, it says. views on the issue. level.

Heathrow Minor migrants arrive runway Britain cannot decision delayed revoke EU London Evening Standard London

opes of a government de- cision on Heathrow today divorce once Hwere dashed as Theresa May decided to take the runway issue to the wire. A special Cabinet commit- tee set up to make a fi nal recom- mendation is now not expected to meet until next week, pushing begun: govt the decision close to its deadline of October 31. Reuters Brexit negotiations: Whether Brit- 50 is based on an analysis of the Whitehall sources denied there London ain could at some point decide to authority for EU law in the United had been any slip in the timetable, revoke its intention to leave after Kingdom. saying that media reports that the negotiations begin. Under this reasoning, EU law committee had pencilled in today nce Britain triggers its for- Article 50 of the European Un- applies in Britain because of the for its decisive meeting were spec- mal divorce from the Eu- ion’s 2009 Lisbon Treaty, which European Communities Act of ulative. A source stressed that the Oropean Union by invoking was drafted by a former British 1972, so the executive cannot un- prime minister was determined to Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, ambassador to the EU, has never dermine rights given by parlia- settle the vexed runways issue and there is no going back on the deci- been used, providing no legal ment by triggering Article 50. ensure London and the South- sion, the government’s top lawyer precedent for how it works. Government lawyers dispute East get an increase in aviation told the High Court yesterday. Turnout in Britain’s June 23 ref- that and say the executive alone capacity. “We are going to show As Britain moves towards exit- erendum on EU membership was has the right to notify the EU of we are taking Brexit seriously and ing the world’s biggest trading bloc 72.2%. Britain’s intention to leave. The that means being ambitious with after a vote that spooked global A total of 17.41mn people, or government has rejected a peti- our trade links and airport capac- fi nancial markets, there is con- 51.9%, voted to leave the EU; tion signed by more than 4mn ity,” said the source. siderable debate over how one of 16.14mn, or 48.1%, voted to re- people demanding a second ref- Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is the most complex negotiations in main. erendum. expected to back a free vote of his recent European history will work. May, who has said “Brexit Wright said there was an estab- MPs after key trade unions and The government is facing a legal means Brexit” and that she will lished principle that governments leading backbenchers demanded challenge by claimants who say make a success of Britain’s exit, had the right to make or withdraw they be allowed to support ex- that only parliament can decide suggested earlier this month that from international treaties using pansion at Heathrow, which is when, how and whether to trigger those arguing that parliament the ancient power known as royal seen by the unions as better for the formal divorce by invoking Ar- should fi rst approve triggering the prerogative. jobs and apprenticeships. ticle 50. divorce were “not standing up for He said the argument from the In a signifi cant move yesterday Prime Minister Theresa May’s democracy, they’re trying to sub- claimants was not a narrow legal morning, the new shadow trans- government says it has the right vert it”. challenge and suggested they were port secretary Andy McDonald to decide when to start the divorce The argument for parliamentary seeking to overturn the referen- appeared to endorse Heathrow and that Article 50 will be invoked approval before invoking Article dum result. in an article. He wrote: “It is be- by the end of next March, ushering yond doubt that additional ca- in a two-year negotiating period to pacity is needed... I start from the decide Britain’s exit terms. N Ireland ‘should push for special EU status’ premise, having asked the Air- At a hearing of the challenge, at- ports Commission to carry out torney general Jeremy Wright told Northern Ireland should push the does. “As things sit at the moment its report, there would have to be the High Court that a notifi cation EU to grant it special associate or we are going to suff er big time,” overwhelming evidence that the invoking Article 50 — probably even membership status to avoid McGuinness said. “Theresa May report and its conclusions were with a letter from May — was ir- the “devastating” consequences says ‘Brexit means Brexit’, but so fundamentally fl awed for parlia- revocable. of Brexit for Irish people, Martin far as we are concerned Brexit ment to depart from it.” “We do not argue that an Article McGuinness has said. The deputy means disaster for the people of Heathrow was backed by the 50 notice can be revoked and we first minister and Sinn Fein leader Ireland.” He said he was encour- Airports Commission last year would like the court to proceed on told the Guardian that leaders in aged that the Democratic Union- after an extensive study, but a the basis a notifi cation is irrevoca- Belfast and Dublin needed to work ists, with whom his party shares fi nal decision was delayed for a ble,” Wright told the court. together to make the case for power in Belfast, also agreed that year by David Cameron. Asked from the judges’ bench special rules to apply to Northern Ireland needed to be treated as a Three options are on the table: if that meant there was no such Ireland. The province voted 56:44 special case by Brussels because a third runway at Heathrow; a thing as giving conditional notice, in favour of staying in the EU in of the importance of the potential second at Gatwick; and the Hea- UK Border Force staff escort the first group of unaccompanied minors from the Jungle Wright said: “We accept that.” June’s referendum, but will be problems – borders, trade, peace throw Hub option of extending migrant camp in Calais to be brought to Britain as they arrive at an immigration centre in His guidance appears to resolve forced to pull out when Britain and security – presented by Brexit. one runway. Croydon, south London, yesterday. one of the biggest questions of the Abuse inquiry head Leicester lights up Knife attacks leave one dead, two critical

London Evening Standard teenager was stabbed in his home. vows to ensure justice The 18-year-old, named lo- London cally as Mumin, was described as London Evening Standard But Labour MP Chuka Umunna, about the composition of the in- a “peaceful and loving boy” who London who campaigns on behalf of survi- quiry’s staff in response to the fears teenager was killed and had never been in any trouble. He vors of abuse at children’s homes of some, including the Shirley another boy is fi ghting for was pronounced dead at the scene in Lambeth, said major changes Oaks Survivors’ Association from Alife after a series of stab- shortly before 2pm. he head of the troubled remained necessary and called for Lambeth, that it includes too bings in London at the weekend. One neighbour moved in to child sex abuse inquiry yes- the 13 elements of the inquiry to be many offi cials from the Home Of- An 18-year-old was stabbed to Wembley at the same time as the Tterday vowed to ensure that turned into “fully-fl edged mini- fi ce and thus lacks independence. death in a suspected family row at teenager’s family, who are from victims receive justice as a Lon- inquiries” with their own inde- Some victims have called for a house in Wembley on Saturday Iraq. She said: “They are lovely don MP called for major changes pendent heads. He said the reform Professor Jay — the fourth person while a boy aged 17 was attacked people and he would never hurt an- to ensure that the full truth about would allow quicker progress and to head the inquiry since it was set in Clapham. yone. We are all very close around past paedophile off ending is un- address survivors’ concerns about up by Theresa May — to be sacked A third young man, in his early here — we are in absolute shock.” covered. Prof Jay’s independence by leaving over the “shambolic” conduct of twenties, is also critically ill after A friend of the teenager, who Professor Alexis Jay said she was her with an oversight role, rather the probe and her lack of legal ex- being stabbed in Tottenham. had studied at Alperton Com- determined that the probe would than responsibility for the day-to- perience. The incidents come as the Met munity School, said: “He was the deliver results as she gave the fi rst day conduct of all elements of the In a letter to Home Secretary launched a new drive to tackle nicest boy and never, ever in any update on its progress since the probe. Amber Rudd, lawyer Imran Khan, knife crime codenamed Opera- trouble. He loved computer games resignation of its previous chair, “They should adopt a federal who represents 47 victims, said tion Sceptre. Police will conduct and had a close circle of friends. Dame Lowell Goddard, in August. model, beef up the 13 separate in- they felt Professor Jay did not have weapon sweeps, intelligence-led We all look after each other around Her promise follows calls by quiries and turn them into fully- the expertise to cross-examine or stop and search, and proactive here and I can honestly say he was some survivors for Professor Jay fl edged mini-inquiries, each with question witnesses. operations to tackle gangs and a good boy and a family boy.” A to be sacked because they fear a named head, and leave Alexis Khan also expressed concern individuals wanted for stabbings man, aged 19, thought to be related her background as a former social Jay at the top as head of the over- that she might show “bias” and and blade off ences. to the victim, was arrested in con- worker could give rise to a poten- all inquiry. It would be much more face a confl ict of interest because Detective chief superintendent nection with the murder and re- tial confl ict of interest. Others have manageable,” he said. of her previous career as a social Jim Stokley, head of the Met’s Tri- mained in custody. threatened legal action over the in- The MP added that any attempt worker and said that some of his dent unit, said: “Too many fami- Detectives are also investigat- quiry’s bungled conduct so far. to alter the focus of the inquiry clients felt the inquiry had been lies have been devastated by knife ing the stabbing of a 17-year-old The update is intended to reas- onto future risks, which might di- “set up to fail” and should now be crime, with even one person be- boy near a Sainsbury’s supermar- sure critics that the inquiry is on vert attention from past wrongdo- suspended pending a review. ing attacked being one too many.” ket in Triangle Place, Clapham track and to counter negative pub- ing, would be “wholly unaccept- Professor Jay and other senior In Buddings Close, Wembley, at 7.10pm on Friday. Police found licity — including contested claims able”. inquiry staff are due to before the neighbours described how dozens the teenager with stab wounds to that Dame Lowell made racist re- He said victims also wanted Commons Home Aff airs Select Women wait for the Diwali lights switch on in Leicester. of police and ambulances were the chest and leg and he was taken marks while in post. “reassurance” from Professor Jay Committee today. scrambled to the scene after a to a south London hospital. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 17 BRITAIN

VERDICT DEMAND ACCIDENT MUSIC COMMENT Eight men convicted Family wants probe into Hiker dies trying to Phil Collins announces Show zoo gorillas more of child sex off ences conspiracy theorist’s death find Lake District cave European comeback tour respect: Attenborough

Eight men were yesterday found guilty of The family of a British conspiracy theorist found A hiker has died in the Lake District after falling Singer Phil Collins announced he is coming out of Sir David Attenborough has spoken out over the waging what prosecutors called an “utterly dead in a flat in Poland have called for an inquiry. nearly 500ft while trying to reach a remote cave retirement with a comeback tour next summer, escape of London Zoo gorilla Kumbuka – urging abhorrent” campaign of sexual violence The body of Max Spiers, 39, was found on a sofa made popular by a BBC television series. The despite battling with injury and alcoholism. The visitors to show more respect towards the animals. and intimidation against young girls in the in an apartment in Warsaw, where he was due to 50-year-old man was with a group of friends who former “Genesis” frontman will play five nights in Visitors to the zoo described fearing for their safety Rotherham area of northern England 13 give a talk about UFOs and conspiracy theories. It had planned to spend the night in the Priest’s London followed by two dates each in Paris and as they were ordered to take cover in buildings years ago. The defendants faced charges is claimed he died after “vomiting a black liquid”. Hole cave when the accident happened. The Cologne, as part of his European tour in June. The when the primate got out of its den last week. Sir including rape, sexual assault and false Days before, he texted his mother to say: “Your “secret” beauty spot, on Dove Crag near the Cum- 65-year-old has spoken openly about his struggle David, 90, said: “They are wonderful animals, gorillas. imprisonment relating to three victims aged boy’s in trouble. If anything happens to me, inves- brian village of Glenridding, has become increas- with alcoholism since his last tour almost 10 years They are animals which guard their privacy. “In the as young as 13 at the time. Those convicted tigate.” His last interview, with a Polish YouTube ingly popular with hillwalkers since it featured ago. “I stopped work because I wanted to be a dad forests they don’t live out in the open. They aren’t at Sheffield Crown Court yesterday were: channel, was uploaded two weeks before his death on the BBC series Secret Britain earlier this year. at home. As bad luck would have it, as soon as I re- stared at by people. They value their privacy. Some- Sageer Hussain, Mohamed Whied, Ishtiaq in June. The father-of-two, from Canterbury, was Cumbria police said mountain rescue workers tired, my family split up,” he told a press conference times visitors to zoos are not respectful and start Khaliq, Waleed Ali, Asif Ali, Masoued Malik, ruled to have died from natural causes. But his were alerted following a 999 call reporting that at London’s Royal Albert Hall, where the tour will shrieking to get the gorilla to do something. That Basharat Hussain and Naeem Rafiq. They mother Vanessa Bates, 63, claims a post-mortem the man, who has not been named, had slipped kick off . “I didn’t have anything to go home to really. finally the alpha male, the big gorilla, got fed up with will be sentenced on November 4. examination was not carried out. from a ledge and fallen down. That’s when I started drinking.” it, is hardly surprising.”

Shaving foam fight Frontline police offi cers get body cameras

London Evening Standard been fitted to the Met’s prison London vans. The move follows a trial which saw 550 body cameras used cotland Yard yesterday across 10 London boroughs as launched the world’s big- well as armed response teams. Sgest roll out of body-worn The Met said they had already video cameras to frontline police proved successful in bringing offi cers. about speedier justice for vic- Around 22,000 cameras are tims, and have been particularly being issued to all neighbour- successful in domestic abuse hood and response offi cers in the cases. The force said there has capital at a cost of nearly £10mn. been an increase in earlier guilty The fi rst of the cameras were pleas from off enders who know deployed in Lewisham yesterday their actions have been recorded. with further boroughs being is- A video recording of the arrest sued with the equipment each of a violent suspect was issued week. Once completed next sum- by the Met as part of yesterday’s mer, the Met will have the largest launch. Last month, a study by number of offi cers equipped with the University of Cambridge body-worn video cameras of any found a 93% decrease in com- force in the world. plaints made against offi cers Students dressed in costumes chased each other with shaving cream in a massive foam fight at the University of St Andrews yesterday, as part of a decades old tradition The Met hopes the cameras clearly wearing body cameras. for newcomers. Each year, freshers at the Scottish university join so-called academic families where they are adopted by older students for mentoring. Several weeks into will help restore trust among Sir Bernard added: “Our expe- the first term, the university holds its annual “Raisin Weekend”, during which the academic parents hold parties for the new students. The weekend culminates in “Raisin communities angered by stop- rience of using cameras already Monday”, when they dress the new students in costumes and send them into the university main’s lawn for a shaving foam fight. and-search and incidents such shows that people are more likely as the police shooting of Mark to plead guilty when they know Duggan in 2011. we have captured the incident on Commissioner Sir Bernard a camera. Hogan-Howe said: “The cam- “That then speeds up justice, eras will support our offi cers puts off enders behind bars more in the many challenging situa- quickly and most importantly tions they have to deal with, at protects potential victims. Vid- the same time as building the eo captures events in a way that public’s confi dence. What we can’t be represented on paper in do every day will be seen by the the same detail, a picture paints a public – that has to be good.” thousand words, and it has been Missing toddler died Sir Bernard was joined at the shown the mere presence of this launch in Lewisham yesterday type of video can often defuse po- morning by Mayor Sadiq Khan, tentially violent situations with- who said the technology brings out the need for force to be used. the police force “into the 21st People have pleaded guilty when century”. seeing evidence on fi lm rather than He added: “This will lead to challenging what our offi cers said in accident, say police more transparency and account- happened. It’s powerful because ability. I hope this will lead to the it captures the emotional state of Reuters The fi nd came during a three- of an accident near to the farm- child may have died after being hit searching two days ago was principle of policing by consent everyone at the scene. It will cap- Athens week excavation funded by the house here... where he was last by a heavy vehicle, leading police thought to be in Ben’s possession being more meaningful. By its ture the suspect, the victim or how Home Offi ce as part of what has seen playing,” detective inspector to focus their search on two spe- around the time he went missing. nature police need public con- children appear aff ected. This is come to be known as Operation Jon Cousins of South Yorkshire cifi c locations. He said that was their initial fi dence to move forward. The a vital piece in the chain to make British toddler who disap- Ben. Two sites on the island were police told journalists. It is unclear why this informa- understanding, and that item had more confi dence that the police sure what we do is transparent.” peared on a Greek island searched, with the team carrying It is the fi rst time the British tion never surfaced before. been shown to the child’s family. have from the public, the safer The cameras will be attached A25 years ago may have died out 3,600 hours of work to sift police have been so explicit on There was activity in the area at “Ben’s family have been pro- our streets will be.” to the offi cer’s uniform and will as the result of an accident on the through 1,200 tonnes of material. what they think may have hap- the time of Ben’s disappearance, vided with a full and thorough The cigarette pack-sized not be permanently recording. day he went missing, British in- The team will soon return to the pened to the child on the day he with the use of heavy machinery account of the events which we cameras are being issued to the Police said members of the pub- vestigators said yesterday. UK, along with some of the items disappeared. and a large digger. know to have taken place and also 32 boroughs and a number of lic will be told as soon as practi- In a dramatic turn to what is recovered during the search. Despite repeated appeals and Police and forensic experts had the speculations that we have frontline specialist roles, in- cal that they are being recorded, one of Britain’s longest-running Ben was 21-months-old when hundreds of possible sightings, searched two locations, one in the been able to discount,” Cousins cluding overt firearms officers. and when the camera is recording missing person inquiries, the he disappeared while playing out- few fi rm clues have emerged pre- immediate vicinity of the farm- said. However, the cameras are not it is highly visible – notable by a police wrapped up a search on side a farmhouse his family was viously on the toddler’s disap- house, and a second where it was “Our drive has always been the yet being deployed to covert fl ashing red circle in the centre of the island of Kos saying they had renovating as a holiday home in pearance. thought earth was transferred and family, and their welfare. Ben’s firearms or surveillance teams the camera and a frequent beep- recovered an item during a dig 1991. Fresh information surfaced af- dumped. family have never given up on the because their size could give ing noise when the camera is ac- thought to belong to the child, “It is my professional belief ter another public appeal in May. Cousins said an “item” found team and I am incredibly thankful them away. Cameras have also tivated. Ben Needham. that Ben Needham died as a result It suggested the possibility the at one of the sites police were for their constant inspiration”.

‘Weeping Window’ Musician pleads for ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ return of stolen violin

London Evening Standard Primal Scream and Radio X DJ groper faces jail term London John Kennedy are among those who have joined a social media search for information about the London Evening Standard Markets, which is based on the was pictured meeting Princess musician who has per- theft, which took place last Thurs- London 21st fl oor of the City’s Heron Anne, signing sponsorship deals formed with Primal day afternoon in Retreat Place, Tower – denied attacking both with Chelsea FC and backing a AScream and Fleet Foxes near Mare Street in Hackney. women. He claimed one of them team in the MotoGP. has been left devastated by the Thieves drilled through the van’s fi nance boss who sexu- had made up the allegations to His Greek Cypriot father Aris- theft of her antique violin. lock and emptied it of musical ally assaulted two wom- seek a six-fi gure payout from tos arrived in the UK in the Six- Melanie Wise was rehearsing equipment in six minutes. Other Aen during Wolf Of Wall him. ties, building a fashion empire in for a charity concert in east Lon- items stolen include violin bows, Street-style drunken parties at But an Old Bailey jury found the capital and moving the family don when thieves snatched more a drum kit and a red glockenspiel. his City headquarters is facing him guilty of two counts of sex- to a seven-bedroom mansion in than £10,000 of musical equip- Wise lives in Holloway with her jail. ual assault after deliberating for The Bishops Avenue, dubbed Bil- ment from her tour van, which was husband Sam, 34. On the day of Anthony Constantinou, 34, almost 14 hours. Constantinou, lionaire’s Row. parked nearby. the theft she had been due to play kissed one of his victims after who was cleared of one sexual In 1985, however, Aristos was Among the items stolen was a charity gig with her band, Thank plying her with alcohol at an assault, with the jury failing to shot dead there in the notorious Wise’s 200-year-old German Pablo. She said: “I found out about event to celebrate making £1mn reach verdicts on three further “Silver Bullet murder”, so called violin, which she received as a gift it at about 6pm, my husband rang profi t on the trading fl oor. charges, wiped his eyes as the due to the use of nickel-jacketed from her parents when she was and I thought he was joking. It was He force-fed another woman guilty verdicts were delivered, bullets in the killing. The case re- 15. She estimates it is worth about awful, but there’s nothing I can do. wasabi during a volatile board- bending over and letting out a mains unsolved. £6,000. “It’s so old and with violins, the room meeting, before pinning deep sigh. Constantinou followed his fa- The classically trained musi- older it is the better the sound is. her against a wall “like a piece of His barrister Miranda Moore ther’s path as an entrepreneur, cian, 33, who has also collaborated The equipment is all stuff I have meat” and kissing her. After the QC said “eff ectively they are two building the CWM brand, which and performed with My Bloody collected over my tours in America attack he boasted: “You can’t say kisses”, but judge Nicholas Cooke made signifi cant sums in foreign Valentine and MC5, has pleaded and New Zealand. no to a Greek man.” QC shot back: “It’s more serious exchange trading. His sex attacks for the instrument to be returned. As a musician you collect stuff The victim likened Constanti- than that – it is sexual assault on have now left him with a crum- She said: “I’m absolutely devas- to make your sound and now it’s nou’s behaviour at the meeting to two diff erent women in circum- bling business empire. tated. I’ve toured round the world all gone.” Leonardo DiCaprio’s outrageous stances where there’s signifi cant One victim told the Old Bai- with it. I’ve had it my entire play- Wise has been calling auction trader character in Martin Scors- aggravation.” ley she was plied with vodka and The poppy sculpture ‘Weeping Window’, a cascade ing life. As a musician, if you have houses across the capital to try to ese’s hit 2013 movie The Wolf Of Constantinou, of Hampstead, orange drinks at a party in Con- of thousands of handmade ceramic poppies by artist your instrument taken away it trace the instrument. She said: “In Wall Street. is free on bail but faces jail when stantinou’s offi ce, while music Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper on display at feels like someone’s cut your arm the music world everybody wants Constantinou – at the helm he is sentenced on November 11. blared out because “the dealers Caernarfon Castle, Wales, yesterday. off . You can get another violin but to help. Primal Scream have been of fi nancial group Capital World At the height of his success, he made a £1mn profi t”. it’s not the same.” (posting) about it”. Gulf Times 18 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 EUROPE Bosnian Serb elected

Merkel: has not revealed whether she was running in next year’s mayor of Srebrenica election or not.

AFP courts – Bosnian Serb forces car- Mehmedovic who lost her hus- children and who are trying to community, stressing that the Sarajevo ried out the executions of some band and two sons and heads a rebuild something in Srebrenica, town hall would continue to help Signs mount that 8,000 Muslim men and boys, de- survivors’ organisation. fi rst of all trust.” commemorate the events of July spite the enclave being under UN She said that Grujicic “could The defeated candidates now 1995. Bosnian Serb has been protection. not run” the town “because his have three days to lodge a com- Speaking to AFP before the elected mayor of Sre- And outgoing Muslim mayor idols are war criminals such as plaint, which Durakovic pledged vote, Grujicic admitted that “the Merkel will run Abrenica, triggering alarm Camil Durakovic has refused to Radovan Karadzic”, the Serbs’ to do. crime against the Muslims took among relatives of thousands of concede defeat, crying foul and political leader during Bosnia’s Speaking to reporters in Sara- place” but like most Serbs, re- Muslim men and boys who were pledging to lodge a complaint. brutal 1992-1995 civil war, who jevo, he said that his legal team fused to recognise it as genocide, massacred there by Bosnian Serb Two decades later, Muslims was jailed for 40 years in March would fi le a complaint by tomor- saying: “I leave (it to) competent for fourth term forces in July 1995. and Serbs live side-by-side in by a UN tribunal for his role in row, citing “a number of irregu- institutions to qualify it.” According to offi cial results Srebrenica, but by no means to- the violence, including the Sre- larities”. Bosnia’s 1992-1995 war pit- released yesterday, Mladen Gru- gether – and many Muslims feel brenica genocide. But Bosnian Serb leader Mi- ted Bosnia’s ethnic Serbs, Croats Reuters In an interview with Ta- jicic will become the fi rst ethnic uneasy over the prospect of a The late Serb president Slobo- lorad Dodik said the result was and Muslims against each other, Berlin gesspiegel newspaper on Sun- Serb mayor of the eastern Bos- Serb mayor. dan Milosevic played a key role done and dusted. claiming 100,000 lives and dis- day, Tauber pointed to Merkel’s nian town since 1999 after win- Relatives of those killed in Sre- in supporting Serb rebels led by “Our candidate won,” he said placing 2mn people. view that one person should fi ll ning 54.4% of votes in local elec- brenica said they felt “betrayed” notorious military leader Ratko in Belgrade, adding that Grujicic The confl ict ended with the enior party allies of Ger- the roles of both party chair tions on October 2. by the election of a Serb candi- Mladic, who is currently on trial would lead a politics of “reality Dayton peace accords, which man Chancellor Angela and chancellor. The news was greeted with date. for genocide and war crimes, in- in Srebrenica” and would respect split the country into two semi- SMerkel are increasingly Defence Minister Ursula outrage by relatives of those “We were betrayed by the in- cluding in Srebrenica. everyone, Beta news agency re- independent entities – the Serb- indicating that they expect her von der Leyen, a CDU member killed in Europe’s worst atrocity ternational community in 1995 “I do not fear for myself. They ported. run Republika Srpska and a Mus- to run for a fourth term in offi ce who is often rumoured to be since World War II. when they left us to the murder- killed me a long time ago with Grujicic, a 34-year-old chem- lim-Croat federation. in 2017 even though her popu- a possible successor to Mer- In the slaughter – deemed ers, and they just betrayed us for my sons,” she told AFP. “But I do istry professor, has also sought Srebrenica has remained in the larity has dipped under the im- kel, told a gathering of senior genocide by two international the second time,” said Hatidza fear for the young ones who have to allay the fears of the Muslim Serbs’ entity. pact of the migrant crisis. military leaders yesterday that Merkel, 62, who has been she hoped to continue serving chancellor since 2005, has re- in her current role beyond the peatedly declined to comment election. on whether she will run in 2017, CDU member Annegret saying only that she will make Kramp-Karrenbauer, who is Schools in Germany her intentions clear in due premier of the state of Saar- course. land, said of the vote for party In September she said she chair: “There will be one fe- get e-mailed threat was still motivated. male candidate.” But a senior ally of Mer- She added that the party kel’s said he did not see any would elect that candidate DPA relevant authorities said. other realistic alternative for with a big majority. Berlin Though many schools were the post of chairwoman of the Though Merkel is seen as placed on lockdown and hun- Christian Democrats (CDU) – one of the most successful dreds of pupils were sent home, a a role which is likely to be fi lled chancellors of post-unifi ca- ver a dozen schools in police spokesman in Leipzig said by the party’s top candidate for tion Germany, her popularity Germany received threats that lessons had resumed in most chancellor. has declined since her decision Oof violence by e-mail cases. “As far as I know, there’s no last year to allow hundreds of early yesterday, forcing some of “There is no evidence of an one else who is preparing to thousands of migrants into the them to lock down or send pupils acute danger at this point,” the run for this offi ce,” said Peter country. home, police and education au- spokesman said, adding that of- Tauber, secretary general of But an Infratest dimap thorities said. fi cers would continue monitor- the CDU, when asked whether poll published on October 6 Two schools in Magdeburg and ing aff ected schools throughout he expected candidates other showed that 54% of Germans 11 in Leipzig – both cities in the the day. than Merkel to run for party were satisfi ed with her work, eastern state of Saxony – as well Police have not confi rmed the chair at its conference in De- up nine points compared with as other schools in Saxony An- exact number of schools that re- A police off icer stands in front of a grammar school in Leipzig, eastern Germany yesterday. Several cember. September. halt, Lower Saxony and Bavaria, ceived the e-mail, nor have they schools across Germany were being searched after they received threats by e-mail yesterday, police said, received the e-mailed threat, the commented on its content. although off icials did not believe that the threats constituted a serious danger. Migrant babies boost Two Danish airports, shopping centres evacuated German birthrate

Reuters over the whole country,” Danish Copenhagen police said on Twitter. Reuters demographers defi ne as the The Copenhagen Business Berlin minimum fertility rate needed School was briefl y evacuated to ensure a population replaces spate of bomb threats in but allowed students back after itself. Denmark forced the evac- checks, according to the news- he birthrate in Germa- Germany and other ad- Auation of two provincial paper Ekstra Bladet. ny reached the highest vanced European economies airports and two shopping malls An airport outside Roskilde, a Tlevel in 33 years last year, have some of the world’s low- yesterday and briefl y closed a province about 35km (22 miles) boosted mainly by babies born est birthrates. university campus in Copenha- from Copenhagen, was evacu- to migrant women, the Fed- Twenty-eight per cent of gen, police said. ated at midday as well as RO’s eral Statistics Offi ce (FSO) said the German people are aged 60 It was unclear who was behind Torv, a shopping mall in central yesterday. years or over, leaving Germany the threats. Roskilde, police said. The rate was 1.5 births per with the world’s second most Additional threats were sent A shopping mall in Slagelse, woman in 2015, up from 1.47 aged population, after Japan. to other locations in the capital near Roskilde, was evacuated births a year earlier, and the The birthrate among mi- area, including Copenhagen Air- along with a domestic airport in highest fi gure since 1982 when grant women only was 1.95, up port, but were deemed hoaxes northeast Denmark. it was 1.51. from 1.86 in 2014. partly because they were all from “It wasn’t chaotic or hectic, It was also the highest rate Some 70% of the almost the same sender, the police told but there was this feeling of ap- recorded since the 1990 reuni- 900,000 migrants who en- Danish broadcaster TV2. prehension,” Anton Bestle, an fi cation of east and west Ger- tered Germany last year seek- Members of the bomb squad arrives at RO’s Torv shopping mall in Roskilde, which had been evacuated “There have been a number of eyewitness who was evacuated many. ing asylum were Muslims, who following a series of bomb threats. bomb threats in a short period from RO’s Torv, told Reuters. Years of economic growth tend to have larger families and government support have than widely secular, Europe- helped raise the birthrate in an-born citizens. Germany. The rate rose to 1.43 births But the fi gure is still below per woman from 1.42 among Suicide blast at TV centre in breakaway Georgia region the 2.0 births per woman that Germans. Man admits off ering his baby on eBay AFP sian news agency RIA Novosti as Sukhumi prosecutor Rus- KGB intelligence agency, told In- as independent following a brief Moscow saying that a man who was “ob- lan Tyrkba told Interfax that a terfax. confl ict with Georgia in 2008 A man accused of trying to sell his infant daughter online has viously” carrying a bomb had criminal investigation had been As a precautionary measure over another breakaway region, admitted to posting the ad, which off ered the girl in exchange for detonated it yesterday morning opened into a possible terror at- Khajimba ordered boosted secu- South Ossetia, and has thou- €5,000 ($5,500), police said yesterday. eparatist authorities in Ab- on the premises of the TV station tack. rity around public places, includ- sands of troops stationed there. The 28-year-old man admitted to posting the ad last week on eBay khazia, a Russian-backed in the capital Sukhumi. Earlier, the region’s president ing schools and kindergartens, Georgia insists that the two re- Kleinanzeigen, a popular online platform for buying and selling Sbreakaway region of Geor- Interfax news wire reported Raul Khajimba insisted that it in the Black Sea region of some gions are under de facto Russian household items, but said it was intended as a joke, police said. gia, said yesterday that they had that the blast occurred at the en- was “too early to talk about an 250,000 people. occupation. The man and his wife, who are being investigated on suspicion of opened a terrorism probe after trance to the TV channel’s main attempted terrorist attack”. Abkhazia has claimed inde- Abkhazia has seen a protracted human traff icking, initially denied posting the ad, which went up an unidentifi ed man blew him- building. “Let’s wait for the results of the pendence from Georgia since an political stand-off between the late last Tuesday, prompting employees at the website to contact self up at the state-run TV head- It cited the separatist region’s investigation. We have not even armed confl ict in the early 1990s region’s self-declared authori- police. quarters. emergency services ministry as managed to identify the man who following the collapse of the So- ties and the opposition since Police said that the family that posted the ad were refugees, Abkhaz interior minister Aslan saying the “corpse of a bearded blew himself up,” Khajimba, a viet Union. former leader Alexander Ankvab without giving details as to their nationality. Kobakhiya was quoted by Rus- man” was found at the scene. former offi cer in the Soviet-era Russia recognised the region was ousted in 2014. The child has been taken into care.

Austria to convert or destroy house Hitler was born in

Reuters Now a committee of experts includ- munity either for charitable or offi cial decades was that it was that its people Vienna ing historians, offi cials and the head of purposes.” were the fi rst victims of Nazism. Austria’s main Jewish organisation has A spokesman for Sobotka said that Though it has long abandoned that recommended that a “thorough ar- might involve tearing the building stance, critics are likely to see this as ustria plans to convert and chitectural rearrangement” be carried down. a case of an uncomfortable episode possibly tear down the house out, and Interior Minister Wolfgang “A demolition is one possibility,” the of history being swept away without AHitler was born in to prevent Sobotka intends to follow their sug- spokesman said, adding that the aim trace. it becoming a pilgrimage site for neo- gestion, a spokesman for the minister was for the building to “not be recog- “We have a functioning culture of Nazis, the interior ministry said yes- said. nisable”. memory, for example at the Mau- terday. Austrian newspaper Die Presse, It should also not include empty thausen concentration camp,” Sobotka Austria had already ordered the which fi rst reported the decision, said spaces, he said. told Die Presse when asked if Austria compulsory purchase of the building that the house would be torn down. Austria, which was annexed by Hit- was missing an opportunity to con- in Braunau am Inn, a town on the bor- “A new building will be erected,” Die ler’s Germany in 1938, has confronted front its Nazi past. der with Germany where Adolf Hitler Presse quoted Sobotka as saying. “The its Nazi past far less directly than its He also cited museums in Vienna was born on April 20, 1889. house will then be used by the com- larger neighbour, and its offi cial line for and nearby St Poelten. The house in which Hitler was born is seen through a fence in Braunau am Inn. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 19 EUROPE Mars explorer duo on course, says space agency

By Mariëtte Le Roux, AFP In the early hours of yesterday, The TGO, with 600kg (1,300lb) turn, is to test entry and land- Since the 1960s, more than ters could spell doom. pensive rover to follow. Paris the TGO completed a planned Schiaparelli on board, travelled ing technology for a subsequent half of US, Russian and Europe- Schiaparelli should reach With a 10-minute delay – the manoeuvre to change course to seven months and 496mn km rover which will mark the second an attempts to land and operate the atmosphere at an altitude time it takes for a message to avoid joining Schiaparelli on the (308mn miles) from Earth before phase and high point of the Ex- craft on the Martian surface have of 121km and a speed of nearly reach Earth – Schiaparelli will uropean-Russian space- Martian surface, the European Sunday’s separation. oMars mission. failed. 21,000kph (13,000mph) tomor- send data on temperature, hu- craft were on course for Space Agency (ESA) said. It then headed for Mars orbit After a two-year funding de- The last time Europe tried, row. midity, density profi le and elec- EMars yesterday after deep- “Firing its engine for about while the paddling pool-sized lay, the rover is due for launch in the British-built Beagle 2 dis- The extreme ride through trical properties. space manoeuvres in preparation 1m 46s raised the TGO’s orbit lander began a million-kilometre 2020, arriving about six months appeared without a trace after Mars’ atmosphere will take six Battery-driven and without for a daring mission to fi nd evi- by several hundred km ‘above’ descent to the surface, where it is later to explore the Red Planet separating from the Mars Express minutes. solar panels, the lander should dence of life on the Red Planet. the planet, ahead of its planned scheduled to arrive tomorrow. and drill into it, in search of mothership in December 2003. A discardable “aeroshell” will last for two or three days. The Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) orbit insertion on Wednesday,” ExoMars is Europe’s fi rst at- extraterrestrial life. It was fi nally spotted in a Nasa protect the lander against the Tomorrow the TGO will enter mothership dispatched the tiny the agency wrote on its ExoMars tempt at reaching our neigh- While any life is unlikely to be photo in January 2015. heat generated by atmospheric an elongated and erratic Mars Mars lander called Schiaparelli blog. bouring planet’s hostile surface found on the barren, radiation- Mars landers must be built to drag, while a supersonic para- orbit. on Sunday on a three-day trek to And deputy fl ight director after its fi rst failed bid 13 years blasted surface, scientists say survive a long trip from Earth, chute and nine thrusters will It will then start a 12-month the Martian surface in a key phase Micha Schmidt tweeted from ago to place the fi rst non-Amer- traces of methane in Mars’ at- then a supersonic, scorching brake it. process of “aerobraking” – skim- of the joint ExoMars project. mission control in Darmstadt, ican rover on Mars. mosphere may indicate there is journey through Mars’ carbon A crushable structure in the ming the Martian atmosphere to There were nervous moments Germany: “On track for next The TGO’s job will be to sniff something underground, possi- dioxide-rich atmosphere. lander’s belly is meant to cushion bleed off energy – to change its for ground controllers when the big event: orbit insertion #Ex- the Red Planet’s thin, carbon bly single-celled microbes. They require protection the fi nal impact. orbit into a more regular, circular TGO, designed to enter Mars’ oMars.” dioxide-rich atmosphere for Mars has become a graveyard against a heat of several thou- It is the fi rst time this entry one. orbit to analyse its atmosphere The TGO and Schiaparelli, gases possibly excreted by liv- for many a mission seeking to ex- sand degrees Celsius generated and landing combination is used, Once this is achieved, in early for signs of life, stopped sending launched into space in March, ing organisms, however small or plore a planet that has captured by atmospheric friction, extreme and the lessons learnt will be 2018, it will begin its work of status updates for about an hour comprise phase one of the Ex- primitive. the human imagination for mil- braking, and a soft touchdown in crucial to plan a safe landing for sniffi ng the Mars atmosphere before coming back online. oMars mission. Schiaparelli’s purpose, in lennia. terrain where jagged rocks or cra- the much bigger and more ex- from about 400km for methane. Dutch regulator: Tesla’s ‘Autopilot’ Blast, fi re at chemical usage a concern

Reuters the company had always made Amsterdam it clear to customers that the system required drivers to pay facility in Germany attention at all times. he Dutch agency that In 2015, the RDW approved AFP can happen and they’re ready for approved electric car- Tesla’s “Autopilot” feature for Ludwigshafen, Germany it.” Tmaker Tesla’s “Autopi- use throughout Europe. The Landeshafen Nord site lot” driver assistance system The agency’s concerns only where the explosion took place is for use throughout Europe is relate to the name and not to t least one person was a harbour used for the transpor- concerned the name could be the system itself. killed and six others were tation of combustible fl uids and misleading, a spokeswoman De Vroomen said that there Amissing after an explosion liquefi ed gases. said yesterday, after Germany had been discussions within yesterday at a chemical plant at “We don’t know exactly what asked the company to stop us- the RDW about whether the BASF’s headquarters in west- was in the pipe systems” that ing the term in advertising. name was appropriate, but was ern Germany, the company said, caught fi re, BASF’s Liebelt told Therese de Vroomen add- unsure whether it would, like advising local residents to stay reporters, but fi refi ghters were ed, however, she was not sure Germany, ask Tesla to stop us- indoors. assuming it was the most dan- whether the agency – the ing it. The blast, which occurred gerous substance handled on- Dutch Road Traffi c Service The Dutch Advertising Code around 11.30am (0930 GMT) site, liquefi ed ethylene gas. (RDW) – would take any action Authority, which oversees and triggered a huge fi re, hap- On its website, the company to follow up on its concerns. standards in the advertising in- pened during work on a pipeline describes the site as a “very im- Tesla’s “Autopilot” driver dustry, said it had not received that transports raw materials, portant for BASF’s supply of assistance system has been the any complaints about Tesla’s the global chemicals giant said in raw materials”, where more than focus of intense scrutiny since use of the name “Autopilot”. a statement. 2.6mn tonnes are handled each a Tesla Model S driver was Germany’s KBA road trans- “We regret to announce one year. killed while using the technol- port authority has told Tesla dead, at least six injured and at The goods are unloaded from ogy in a May 7 collision with a owners that the “Autopilot” least six missing,” BASF execu- ships into the production plants truck in Florida. function does not mean the ve- tive Uwe Liebelt told reporters in via a system of pipelines. Over the weekend Germa- hicle can be operated without Ludwigshafen. The company employs 36,000 ny’s transport ministry said it the driver’s constant attention. “Firefi ghters are among the people in Ludwigshafen. had asked Tesla to stop using German consumer protec- missing,” added city fi re chief BASF was also grappling with the term “Autopilot” in adver- tion agency vzbv said yesterday Peter Friedrich at the same press a second, smaller incident at its tising because it might sug- however the “Autopilot” sys- conference. A long plume of smoke rises from the BASF chemical plant in Ludwigshafen, western Germany. Several nearby Lampertheim plant yes- gest drivers’ attention was not tem should not be on the roads. A large fi re and a huge column people were missing and others were injured after the explosion at the chemical plant at BASF’s terday where four people were needed. “A letter to Tesla drivers urg- of grey smoke could be seen ris- headquarters in western Germany, the firm said. injured in a gas explosion and had Tesla said in response to that ing them not to use the Autopi- ing into the overcast sky from the to be taken to hospital, DPA news request that “Autopilot” had lot is not suffi cient. That shifts site, a vast industrial complex other parts of the plant,” Lud- The site’s steam cracker units town and encountered no elevat- agency reported. been used in the aerospace in- to consumers the responsibil- with a harbour on the Rhine river. wigshafen city authorities said in – used in a chemical procedure ed readings, offi cials said. BASF said the two incidents dustry for decades to describe ity for a failure that happened “We have not been able to es- a statement earlier in the day. to produce lighter hydrocarbons Local authorities set up an were not related. a system operating in conjunc- in the approval,” the vzbv said tablish any danger to the popu- Firefi ghters, including a fi re- – have been shut down for safety emergency hotline for worried The company employs more tion with a human driver, and in an e-mailed statement. lation,” Liebelt added, after boat crew, were still trying to reasons, it added. residents. than 110,000 employees world- residents in Ludwigshafen and extinguish the fl ames hours after Ludwigshafen is a city of some “It’s pretty scary when some- wide, with sales of more than nearby Mannheim were told to the explosion, while police had 160,000 people located around thing explodes here,” local win- €70bn ($77bn) last year. Women share stories from ‘sexist’ parliament remain inside and shut doors and blocked off nearby roads, an AFP 80km (50 miles) southwest of dow cleaner Thomas Storzum In its deadliest incident to windows. reporter at the scene said. Frankfurt. told AFP. “Something can just date, nearly 600 people were Sleazy French MPs beware. With sexual harassment in parliament Local authorities had also “We hope to have the fi re un- On its Twitter account, Lud- leak out of a pipe and catch fi re killed in 1921 in an explosion at in the spotlight after recent scandals, a new website was launched asked nurseries and schools to der control by this evening,” Frie- wigshafen said that some resi- like that, it’s pretty serious.” an ammonia plant near Ludwig- yesterday that encourages female staff ers to recount lewd behaviour keep children indoors, but no drich said. “People should stay dents had complained of respira- “BASF is relatively good, they shafen. or unwanted advances. evacuations were ordered. indoors until the fi re is put out.” tory irritations. react quickly with their own In 1948, 200 people died and The women behind the initiative said sexist remarks and conduct “Emergency services from the BASF said that it was still in- Both BASF and emergency fi refi ghters,” student Stefan Veit more than 3,800 were injured were a daily occurrence in the halls of power in Paris, with recent whole region are on the scene vestigating the precise cause of services have been checking for said. “Like any big chemical when a rail tanker exploded, also cases documented in the media examples of a much wider problem. to prevent the fi re spreading to the blast. pollutants in the air around the company they know these things at the Ludwigshafen complex. In May, one of the deputy speakers of the lower house, Denis Baupin, resigned after being accused of harassment over several decades, while minister Jean-Michel Baylet was accused in parliament last week of hitting a female colleague. Both men deny the allegations, but the publicity surrounding the Baupin case created an opening for female MPs and their staff to Kremlin-funded RT TV says speak out about the macho culture of parliament. Writing in yesterday’s Le Monde newspaper, the four women behind the website said that “sexist language and behaviour occur on a daily basis for women in politics, whether they are elected or staff ”. UK bank closing its accounts Their site, Chaircollaboratrice.com, is a French pun which sounds like “Dear co-worker” but which actually translates as “flesh of my co-worker”. AFP sible and without warning”, add- must answer in kind and freeze It already hosts several anonymous testimonies from women report- Moscow ing that it followed “countless the accounts of the BBC in Rus- ing mostly unwanted comments about their appearance or sexually measures” from Britain and Eu- sia.” charged remarks. rope to “ostracise, shout down, RT, formerly known as Russia In one case, a woman recounted being in a meeting with an MP who remlin-funded television or downright impede the work Today, has the slogan “Question broke away from off icial business to remark to her: “You know, it’s network RT said yester- of RT”. more” and was set up to present funny, I’ve never slept with an Arab...” Kday that Britain’s NatWest RT published on its website a news from the perspective of the And her reply? RT editor-in-chief Simonyan is seen at the meeting with journalists bank is closing all its accounts in letter from NatWest dated Octo- Kremlin. “You know, it’s funny, I’ve never slapped an MP!” in Moscow. In the background is Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the a unilateral decision that Moscow ber 12, saying that it has reviewed It has been criticised as a slav- Saviour. decried as politically motivated. its banking arrangements with ish propaganda tool for President “They have closed our ac- RT and “reached the conclusion Vladimir Putin. counts in Britain. All the ac- that we will no longer provide Ties between Russia and the counts,” wrote RT editor-in- these facilities”. UK are at their lowest since chief Margarita Simonyan on The letter from NatWest, the Cold War over the crisis in Twitter. owned by Royal Bank of Scot- Ukraine and Moscow’s bombing Pro-Russia rebel commander dies in bombing She later said that NatWest has land, does not give any reason for campaign in Syria. not blocked RT’s access to the this decision, which it says is “fi - Foreign Secretary Boris John- accounts and it can still with- nal” and not open to discussion. son said on October 1 that there AFP It was the latest in a string said he suspected former pro- man Andriy Lysenko said yes- draw its funds. The bank says it will close RT’s was evidence that Russia’s Donetsk of assassinations of insurgent Kiev volunteer fi ghters incorpo- terday that Pavlov’s death Simonyan told Tass state news accounts by December 12. bombing of Aleppo qualifi ed as a commanders, with rebel chief rated into the Ukrainian forces meant he had escaped “inevi- agency that “we consider this Simonyan told the RBK busi- war crime. Alexander Zakharchenko blam- of the hit and pledged retalia- table punishment in the form of decision to be absolutely politi- ness news site that she had “no The foreign-language network kraine’s pro-Russian ing it on Kiev, describing it as a tion. life imprisonment”. cal”. idea” of the reason for the closure that is primarily aimed at audi- rebels announced three declaration of “war” by Ukrain- “We will make an eff ort to An army veteran from Rus- The Russian foreign ministry of the accounts, but suggested it ences in Europe and the United Udays of mourning yes- ian President Petro Poroshenko. fi nd out who it was and take tar- sia’s Komi region, Pavlov – who said in a statement that it would could be linked to the fact that States broadcasts 24-hours a day terday after notorious rebel But other separatists told AFP geted revenge,” he told AFP. fought in the second Chechen “demand the British authorities “we are expecting new British in English, Arabic and Spanish. commander Arseny Pavlov, that the bombing may have been Ukrainian far-right group war – joined the fi ghting that explain the situation”. and US sanctions against Russia”. It has a British outlet called RT known as “Motorola”, was killed part of an internal power strug- Pravy Sektor, which has fought broke out in east Ukraine in It suggested this could be “an “Possibly it’s linked to this,” UK that broadcasts from London. in a lift bombing. gle among the rebels. alongside the Ukrainian army in April 2014 as a volunteer, rising act agreed with offi cial London to Simonyan said. Simonyan said on Saturday The 33-year-old Russian died “Either it’s an operation the east, denied responsibility. to prominence after appearing eliminate a news resource incon- The RT editor-in-chief told that RT journalists working late on Sunday when a home- staged by the Ukrainian services Another fringe neo-Nazi on Russian TV broadcasts. venient for British offi cialdom”. Rossiya-24 state television that abroad were under “monstrous made device exploded in the lift or it was one of us,” said a fi ghter group rubbished a video that Fighting in east Ukraine This would be a “gross breach the decision included some per- pressure”. at the entrance to his block of in the Sparta battalion which surfaced purporting to show its – which has claimed nearly of the basic principles of freedom sonal accounts of senior staff “They are summoned to em- fl ats in the de facto rebel capital had been led by Pavlov. masked members taking credit 10,000 lives – has dragged on of speech”, it warned. working in Britain. bassies, questioned, threatened Donetsk, separatist authorities A commander with another for the killing. despite a peace plan brokered by In a statement sent to AFP, RT Senator Igor Morozov told RIA and pressured,” she said on a said. rebel battalion Akhra Avidzba Ukrainian military spokes- Germany and France. called the move “incomprehen- Novosti state news agency: “We Russian television talk show. Gulf Times 20 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 INDIA

CONTROVERSY APPEAL DISCLOSURE TRAGEDY RANDOM CHECK SC seeks report on Check menace of ‘paid 31 skeletons found Teacher, daughter Omar Abdullah stopped minister’s pictures news’, media urged near Kedarnath: CM commit suicide in Delhi for 2 hours at US airport

The Supreme Court yesterday asked judge in Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore yesterday The Uttarakhand government yesterday A 48-year-old government school teacher and Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Bihar to submit a report whether two murder called upon the media to develop a self- admitted that many skeletons had been her 18 year-old daughter committed suicide in Abdullah was stopped at a US airport for two suspects photographed with Bihar minister Tej regulatory mechanism to project before the recovered from near the Kedarnath temple New Delhi by hanging themselves, police said. hours after a “random secondary immigration Pratap Singh were proclaimed off enders on government the right picture of the issues that was hit by flash floods and heavy rains in They were identified as Anita and her daughter check” on Sunday night. “Another random the day the pictures were taken. The court was relating to people. Addressing the Regional 2013. Chief Minister Harish Rawat confirmed Siya. According to police, Anita, a teacher at secondary immigration check upon landing in referring to the photographs of Mohamed Kaif Editors’ Conference in Chandigarh, Badnore said: that 31 skeletons had been recovered and a government school in Najafgarh, and was the US. Thrice in three visits, the randomness and Mohamed Javed seen along with Bihar “The media’s role is important to raise issues that 23 had been cremated. The shocking residing in a flat with her family. Her daughter is growing tiresome now,” Abdullah tweeted. “I health minister and Lalu Prasad Yadav’s son. concerning the common people.” He also cited discovery was made at Triyuginarayan, a Siya was a student of Class 12. “A call was just spent two hours in a holding area and this Tej Pratap Singh and the Bihar government examples of “paid news” and urged the media to spot on the Kedarnath trek which was hit by received at 7.35am. Anita and Siya were found happens every time,” he added. Abdullah was had told the court that on the day the two come forward to check this “menace.” Director flash floods and heavy rains in June 2013. The hanging in separate rooms from ceiling fans,” supposed to speak at an event organised by were seen with the minister, they were not General of Press Information Bureau A P Frank DNA of the skeletons has been preserved Deputy Commissioner of Police Surendra Kumar New York University. “I almost wish I’d stayed proclaimed off enders and the meeting was Naronha, who was also present on the occasion, for forensic tests and identification at a later said. “The house was locked from inside. We have at home instead. Ah well, that’s two hours well a matter of chance. The court said that the said: “Media has an onerous responsibility both stage, he added. The disclosure comes after also recovered a three-page suicide note,” Kumar and truly wasted. Unlike Shah Rukh Khan, I report should reach it before November 28. as a facilitator and as a watchdog to ensure that sketchy and unconfirmed reports of recovery added. Anita’s husband Satpal Yadav is also a don’t even catch Pokemon to pass the time,” he Of the two accused, Kaif has surrendered and the fruits of development are distributed to the of several human skeletons in the Kedarnath government school teacher, while their son, said referring to the actor’s detention at the US Javed is on the run. deserving.” region. Aditya, is a second year medical student. airport in a similar way earlier this month.

Lalu Prasad, Sharad silent over Nitish’s Muslim sects projection as PM candidate unite to slam IANS Patna

ashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad and former RJanata Dal-United presi- dent Sharad Yadav have refused govt move on to comment on the projection of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Ku- mar as prime ministerial material ahead of the 2019 general elec- tion, fuelling speculations about their unhappiness over the mat- ter. personal laws The RJD is part of Bihar’s rul- ing Grand Alliance along with the Eff orts to impose a Uniform “The government should re- sion’s move is the thin edge of the JD-U and the Congress. Sharad Civil Code in the name of social spect this position of the Muslims wedge in the attempt to impose a Yadav is known as the only heav- reform and gender justice will instead of conspiring to forcibly uniform personal law on the com- yweight leader of the JD-U at the prove counterproductive, say put an end to it,” said Darul Uloom munity. A call given by the AIM- national level. Muslims Mohamadiya’s president Maulana PLB for a country-wide signature While Lalu is a former rail- Sayed M K Ashraf. campaign against the civil code way minister and former Bihar IANS “It cannot force Muslims to is receiving good response, with chief minister, Sharad Yadav is a Mumbai follow other communities in is- groups belonging to various sects former federal minister and cur- sues related to personal laws as it working together. rently the JD-U’s Rajya Sabha tantamount to an infringement On the other hand, there are member from Bihar. n a display of solidarity, Is- on their fundamental rights,” many Muslim women’s organisa- Soon after senior JD-U leaders lamic scholars and clerics of Ashraf said. tions in the country that are tak- formally began to campaign for Iall Muslim sects yesterday He said that Muslims clamour- ing a stand against the triple talak Nitish Kumar as the prime min- attacked the government for try- ing against triple talaq and de- issue which is before the Supreme isterial material candidate dur- ing to introduce a Uniform Civil manding a ban on polygamy “are Court. ing the two-day JD-U national Code. a miniscule minority who do not Various organisations are col- council meeting at Rajgir in Na- The scholars and clerics from represent the sentiments of the lecting signatures of both men and landa district on Sunday, it was Sunni, Shia, Barelvi, Deobandi majority of Indian Muslims.” women to oppose any move “to in- expected that Lalu and Sharad and Ahlehadi sects registered All Indian Ulema Association terfere with Muslim personal law”. Yadav will extend their support. their protest against what they president Maulana Sayed Athar The campaign has been taken up Contrary to these expecta- termed was “the government’s Ali urged the government to re- at various mosques in Hyderabad tions, Sharad Yadav preferred to interference in personal laws.” frain from interfering in the be- with men and women signing a remain silent despite repeated In a joint statement issued after liefs and religions of all citizens. form prescribed by AIMPLB, said attempts by the media to get his a brainstorming session, the lead- “Muslims consider divorce, to be apex body representing Mus- comments. ers slammed the government’s polygamy and other personal laws lims in the country. Lalu said: “If Nitish Kumar is proposals on triple talaq and as an intrinsic part of their reli- The form women in part reads: being projected as a prime minis- other practices which they said gion and are obliged to follow the “We the undersigned Muslim terial candidate by his party, it is would violate their personal laws. Shariah in these matters,” Maula- women do hereby declare that we their (internal) matter. Let them “Any interference in Muslim na Ali said. are fully satisfi ed with all the rul- do it. I do not speak on all issues.” personal law will not be tolerated. The latest move comes shortly ings of Islamic Shariah, particu- Last month, Lalu and his Any eff orts to impose a Uniform after the All India Muslim Per- larly Nikah, inheritance, divorce, younger son Tejaswi Prasad Ya- Civil Code in the name of social sonal Law Board (AIMPLB) said it khula and Faskh (dissolution of dav, who is also Bihar deputy reform and gender justice will would oppose the civil code. marriage). We deny that these chief minister, had backed Nitish prove counterproductive,” they The meeting in Mumbai was need any reform or there is any Kumar for the prime minister’s said. chaired by Maulana Ashraf and scope for change therein.” post and dubbed him “more ca- The president of All India Ule- attended by AIUC president Imams at mosques, in their pable than Modi.” ma Council, Maulana Zaherudin Maulana Khan; Mushwarat presi- sermons, are speaking about what JD-U spokesman K C Tayagi, Khan, condemned the move to dent Naveed Hamid; AIMPLB they see as a fi rst step towards considered close to Nitish Kumar, ban triple talaq as a conspiracy executive committee member imposing the Uniform Civil Code. said: “The chief minister is capa- to impose a Uniform Civil Code Maulana Sayed Athar Ali; All In- They are exhorting Muslims to ble for the prime minister’s post; which he said was opposed by dia Jamiat Islami vice-president unite to defeat the proposal. he possess all qualities to be the most Muslims. Maulana Nusrat; Imam of Mum- On October 19, the Muslim prime minister and the country’s “We will boycott this question- bai’s Haji Ali Dargah Maulana United Forum is organising a people are looking up to him to naire. No Muslim will respond to Mohamed Islam; Shiah scholar protest meeting at Darussalam, provide dynamic leadership.” it because it is misleading and de- Maulana Asgar Haideri and Ahl- the headquarters of the All India However, Tayagi admitted that ceitful. The Uniform Civil Code ehadis scholar Maulana Asgar Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen the JD-U national council meet- is divisive and will lead to social Imam Salfi . (AIMIM) to show unity on the ing has so far not passed a resolu- unrest,” he cautioned, referring Meanwhile, Hyderabad has issue. AIMIM chief Asaduddin tion to project Nitish Kumar as the questionnaire sent by Law emerged as hub of campaign Owaisi and leaders of other con- the party candidate for the top Commission to all stakeholders, against Uniform Civil Code. stituents of the forum represent- political post in the country. Muslims stage a demonstration against Uniform Civil Code in New Delhi yesterday. seeking their opinion on the de- Many Muslim organisations in ing various sects will address the sirability of a civil code. Hyderabad feel the Law Commis- meeting. Cauvery protest ‘Mafi a’ paid media to get IIT students develop me ousted: former minister indigenous drones IANS The ARK initiative aims to By Ashraf Padanna Balakrishnan last week told re- Jayarajan had signed to appoint Kolkata develop a fl exible aerial robotics Thiruvananthapuram porters that Jayarajan had admit- his and other CPM leaders’s rela- framework, which can be easily ted his mistake to the party and tives as managing directors of used to control aerial vehicles sought permission to resign. state-run enterprises. group of students at and eventually move to multi- enior Communist Party of A member of the central com- The Congress-led opposition the Indian Institute of ple decentralised aerial robot India (Marxist) leader E P mittee (CC) of the party, Jayarajan also trained their guns on the A Technology-Kharagpur swarms in an outdoor setting. SJayarajan, who had to resign was considered No 2 in the cabi- chief minister saying Jayarajan is developing drones using in- “The ARK initiative intends as industries and sports minister net seated next to Chief Minister would not have done anything digenous hardware and soft- to develop drones using indig- last week over nepotism charges, Pinarayi Vijayan. He shifted his without his knowledge. When ware, offi cials said yesterday. enous hardware and software. yesterday came down heavily on position to the second row when Vijayan denied it, Chennithala The drones, being developed These have various applica- media saying they were running the assembly met yesterday. fl ashed an appointment order under the institute’s Aerial tions, including tracking dur- paid news against him. “The No 2 in this cabinet had to carrying a note by principal sec- Robotics Kharagpur (ARK) ini- ing search and rescue opera- He said they (opposition and quit in just 142 days in offi ce over retary (industries) referring it to tiative, are being given shape tions,” Kumar said. the media) were after his blood, corruption. Still, he’s justifying the chief minister. at the Centre for Excellence in “There are several areas as they were backed by a mafi a, his action. It’s a shame on this “He immediately resigned Robotics, funded by the Spon- where aerial robots can be de- which was against the changes government,” Congress leader when he found the appointment sored Research & Industrial ployed, such as agriculture that he undertook during the four Ramesh Chennithala said. was improper,” Vijayan said. Consultancy (SRIC) facility of technology, mine surveying, months he was in charge of the “He made all these appoint- “If it were you, things would the institute. surveillance, etc. Aerial robots industries portfolio. ments keeping an expert panel’s have been diff erent. When an al- “Under the ARK initiative, can be deployed in all those ar- “They took money from the list as a scarecrow. It’s corruption legation comes up, you will say drones are being developed eas where human interaction mafi a and were running stories everywhere. Even the chief of the there’s no evidence. When the which would be capable of au- is impossible either because against me,” he said in the Kerala vigilance (the anti-corruption po- court pulls you up, you will leave tonomous fl ight, localisation in of life risks or because of inac- Assembly yesterday. lice) is facing corruption charges.” it to the court of conscience.” GPS-denied environments, and cessibility,” said Gaurav Gardi, “I was working hard for the Jayarajan resigned after com- Chennithala countered that tracking and interacting with a fourth-year student of MSc country, rooting out corruption. ing under attack for appointing none of the allegations against the mobile ground robots as well as Physics working on the project. But the opposition was baying for two relatives to top posts in Kerala ministers in the previous Con- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam activists led by party leader M K other drones, and much more,” The group participated in my blood. There’s a big mafi a be- state public sector enterprises. gress-led government was proved Stalin stage a rail blockade in protest over the Cauvery water said Somesh Kumar of the De- the International Aerial Ro- hind them.” Chennithala distributed among whereas Jayarajan was caught red issue, in Chennai yesterday. partment of Mathematics, who botics Competition in Beijing, CPM secretary Kodiyeri journalists copies of four orders handed. is heading the initiative. China, in September. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 21 INDIA As Punjab exhausts groundwater, farmers eye new crops

Reuters That has left farmers like heavy heart after I realised that pulses, maize, vegetables and alarming levels in recent years. Jain added that Punjab gets is 4.76mn hectare metres (mhm) Chandigarh Ajmir Singh struggling as their drawing water for all my land is sugarcane to safeguard the Thirty years ago farmers in less than 700mm of rainfall an- against a total annual supply irrigation wells dry up. beyond my means,” Singh said. state’s agricultural economy. most parts of the state could nually. This compares to a na- of 3.48mhm from canal and “We are not able to fi nd water According to Aggarwal, Rice and wheat make up 81% draw water at a depth of 10m tional average of 1,083mm, ac- groundwater resources. t is hailed as India’s granary, even if we go down to 200ft or groundwater has been over-ex- of Punjab’s irrigated crops, ac- but by 2015 this was 20m, while cording to the World Bank. The defi cit is met by over- but Punjab faces a drastic de- more at some places,” said Singh, ploited in 110 of the state’s 138 cording to a report by PAU. farmers in some central parts of Amit Kar, an economist at exploitation of deeper ground- Icline in agricultural output who has farmed for 35 years in administrative blocks. “This is Although the state accounts the state are unable to fi nd water the Indian Council of Agricul- water by farmers using nearly unless it halts the rapid depletion Jalandhar, 150km north of Chan- alarming given that more than for only 1.5% of India’s geo- even at 30m or deeper, he said. tural Research, attributed the 1.4mn tube wells, which exacer- of its groundwater, experts warn. digarh, the state capital. 73% of irrigation is taken care of graphical area, over the past two “There has been a substantial groundwater shortage to gov- bates the loss of more accessible Groundwater irrigates almost His neighbour, Pawanjeet by groundwater,” he said. decades it has contributed 35% rise in groundwater utilisation, ernment policies such as free groundwater. three-quarters of Punjab’s agri- Singh, said lack of irrigation water Experts say dealing with the of the nation’s rice production which has mainly happened electricity for irrigation, credit According to the PAU report, cultural land, but groundwater has forced him to sell part of the problem, in the region that led and 60% of its wheat. because of the fact that Punjab facilities and subsidies for dig- 3.5mn of Punjab’s 9.1mn workers levels are dropping by 40 to 50cm land that has been in his family for India’s Green Revolution in the According to Sunil Jain, region- gets less rainfall. Since paddy ging wells and buying pumping make a living from agriculture or a year, according to Rajan Aggar- generations to a large-scale farm- 1970s, will require a rapid shift al director of the Central Ground (rice) requires a lot of water, the equipment, as well as heavily associated activities. wal, head of the soil and water er who has the resources to drill away from crops that require Water Board for northwest India, farmers resort to heavy usage of subsidised diesel fuel for pumps. Jain said the statistics suggest engineering department at Pun- for water at much deeper levels. large amounts of water, such as groundwater started dropping in groundwater for irrigating the The PAU report said annual Punjab’s agricultural success jab Agricultural University (PAU). “I took this decision with a rice and wheat, to less-thirsty 1985 in Punjab, and has sunk to paddy fi elds,” he said. demand for irrigation in Punjab may not be sustainable. Mumbai fi lm Getting ready for Diwali festival drops Pakistan movie after threat

Agencies the Indian army respond with Mumbai “surgical strikes.” Following the militant at- tack the Indian Motion Picture fi lm festival in Mum- Producers’ Association, which bai dropped a Pakistani represents a number of Hindi Adrama from its pro- fi lm industry employees, passed gramme yesterday after pro- a motion banning Pakistani art- testers threatened to disrupt the ists until relations between New screening – the latest movie to Delhi and Islamabad improve. fall foul of heightened tensions MAMI runs from October 20- between the nuclear-armed 27. neighbours. Jago Hua Savera, a black and Organisers of the MAMI white fi lm, tells the story of a Mumbai Film Festival said they fi shing village near Dhaka, now A man paints earthen lamps which are used to decorate temples and homes during Diwali, the festival of lights, in Kolkata, yesterday. The festival will be celebrated would not show the 1959 clas- the capital of Bangladesh. across India on November 30. sic Jago Hua Savera following a India is ready to help Pa- complaint from an Indian NGO kistan take action against terror- called Sangharsh, which means ists in Pakistan, including in Pa- struggle in Hindi. kistani-administered Kashmir, Sangharsh had said it was in- federal Home Minister Rajnath appropriate to show the fi lm, Singh said. which was Pakistan’s offi cial Os- Calling upon Pakistan to “close cars entry in 1960, following an down the factory of terrorism,” attack by militants that killed 19 Singh said the army’s ‘surgical Indian soldiers in Kashmir. strikes’ was a “pre-emptive ac- “Given the current situation, tion against Pakistan.” British PM to lead trade the Jio MAMI 18th Mumbai Film “India does not have any ill Festival with Star has decided will against the people of Paki- not to programme Jago Hua Sav- stan. India is ready to help Paki- era as part of the Restored Clas- stan take action against terror- sics Section,” organisers of the ists in Pakistan,” he said. festival said in a statement. The minister said Pakistan The move comes after a group needed to act against terrorists mission to India in Nov of Indian cinemas said last week on its territory. that they would not screen any He said some countries and May pins hopes on Delhi to As the pound falls, the country the full range of British busi- India, starting with the capital fi lms featuring Pakistani artists groups were trying to destabilise heal Brexit wounds is looking for long-term trade ness,” she added. “So this time New Delhi, where she will in- in protest at the raid on the army India as New Delhi’s economic deals and business associations we will be focusing on small and augurate the India-UK TECH base Uri in Jammu and Kashmir clout was growing in the world. IANS to stabilise the economy. medium sized businesses – and, Summit alongside Modi. The last month. Referring to steps being taken London “The UK will be the most importantly, the delegation will summit, South Asia’s largest The ban by India’s Cinema to seal the international border passionate, most consistent, include representation from technology conference, will Owners and Exhibitors Asso- with Pakistan, the minister said and most convincing advocate every region of the UK. I want provide a platform for promot- ciation (COEA) applies to single this would be achieved by De- eeking to create jobs at for free trade,” May said in a to create an economy that truly ing technology-intensive trade screen cinemas in four states cember 2018. home and stabilise the statement prior to the visit. works for everyone – and this between the two countries. and is likely to aff ect the forth- “There is about 181.85km Seconomy following the “As we leave the European new approach to international The visit will mark the British coming release of movies Ae Dil stretch in which construction Brexit vote, British Prime Min- Union we have the chance to May: boost for ties trade missions will help achieve prime minister’s fi rst trade mis- Hai Mushkil, Dear Zindagi and of physical barrier is not feasible ister Theresa May will be lead- forge a new global role for the just that. sion, with a business delegation Raees. due to geographic constraints ing a trade mission to India next UK – to look beyond our conti- The British prime minister “The relationships between drawn from regions across the The ban came as Hindu groups like riverine, low-lying, creek, month in her fi rst major offi cial nent and towards the economic will hold discussions with her our two countries are strong, UK due to accompany her to pile pressure on the makers of Ae marshy areas. visit outside Europe. and diplomatic opportunities in Indian counterpart Narendra and the Indian diaspora plays India. It will consist predomi- Dil Hai Mushkil to drop Pakistani “In this stretch, advanced May will be taking along some the wider world,” she added. “I Modi during her visit on de- a vital role in our national life. nantly of small and medium actor Fawad Khan from the ro- technology solutions including of the best of British businesses am determined to capitalise on veloping the strategic partner- In my talks with Prime Minis- sized businesses, including mantic drama. cameras, sensors, radars and la- to India during her three-day those opportunities, and as we ship between the UK and India, ter Modi I want to build on our Geolang, an innovative cyber The fringe but noisy rightwing sers will be deployed.” visit beginning November 6, embark on the trade mission to “building on the deep links and relationship for the benefi t of security company based in Car- Maharashtra Navnirman Sena He said the Border Security aimed at boosting India-UK bi- India we will send the message co-operation we already share.” both our countries, generating diff ; Torftech, a creative energy party has threatened to stall the Force (BSF) was testing avail- lateral ties. that the UK will be the most “In the past, the focus of jobs and wealth and maintain- company based in the South- October 28 release of the movie. able technologies through pilot Her visit is signifi cant be- passionate, most consistent, trade delegations has been big ing co-operation on defence East, and Telensa, a company India blames Pakistan for the projects in Jammu, Punjab and cause of the ripple eff ect created and most convincing advocate businesses, but I want to take a and security.” focused on smart city solutions raid on September 18 which saw Gujarat. by the Brexit referendum vote. for free trade.” new approach that recognises May will visit two cities in based in Cambridge. Maersk defends sending Suu Kyi in Delhi Man arrested over ships to Indian yard US tax scam case AFP posing as tax offi cials from the Mumbai United States’ Internal Rev- Reuters of its vessels for decommission- safety rules for this kind of work, enue Service. Copenhagen ing this summer to the Shree which it says are being followed They operated from a hand- Ram yard in Alang in Gujarat. in India, but when you see how it olice said yesterday they ful of fi ctional call centres and “We have established a co- actually works, they don’t abide had made a key arrest in would telephone victims, ac- hipping conglomerate A P operation with Shree Ram and by them,” said Peter Hasle, a Pa multi-million dollar cuse them of failing to pay tax- Moller-Maersk said yes- brought our ships to Shree Ram professor at Alborg University in tax scam targeting US citizens, es and threaten them with jail Sterday it was striving to yard, knowing that the standards Denmark and a specialist in oc- which they hope will soon lead if they did not cough up imme- improve workers’ rights at ship- were not yet at the level of our cupational health and safety. them to the mastermind. diately, it is alleged. breaking yards it uses in India standards,” Maersk spokesman He cited exposed gas cables, Jagdish Kanani, 33, was ar- Police, who initially detained after criticisms of hazardous Simon Mehl Augustesen said. poor ventilation and a lack of rested in Mumbai on Sunday at least 770 people during the conditions. “We consider our active pres- safety equipment at Shree Ram and is suspected of helping operation, say the scam was op- The Danish company also ex- ence in Shree Ram and Alang to as examples of non-compliance. main suspect Sagar Thakkar, erating for over a year and the pressed regret that a ship it sold improve conditions faster and The shipbreaking business known as “Shaggy,” run bogus fraudsters were making around this year, the “North Sea Pro- more eff ectively, than waiting is considered to be one of the call centres in Mumbai that Rs10mn ($150,000) a day. ducer”, had then been taken to a for our standards to be complied world’s most hazardous occu- were defrauding US citizens. Police suspect that Thakkar, shipbreaking yard in Bangladesh, with,” he said. pations and highly polluting, “We believe Kanani was in- a 23-year-old from Ahmeda- after Danish media last week Shree Ram says that it safe- according to the International volved with ‘Shaggy’ in run- bad, fl ed India following the showed workers using precarious guards workers’ rights. Labour Organisation. ning the call centres,” Thane raids in Thane. India became rope ladders to climb the hull. But a lack of employment Shipbreaker yards use a meth- Police Commissioner Param- the call centre capital of the Most shipping companies contracts and toxic fumes were od called “beaching”, whereby bir Singh said. world early this century. send old ships to shipbreaking among fi ndings by the Danish large ships are propelled forward “With Kanani’s arrest and US and other foreign fi rms, yards in India, Bangladesh or media watchdog Danwatch and at high tide, leaving them high interrogation we are hopeful of drawn by India’s large, edu- Pakistan because they will dis- two Danish media outlets, TV 2 and dry at low tide, ready to be solving the case soon,” Singh cated and cheaper English- mantle container ships almost and Politiken, in a collaborative cut up. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Nirmala added. speaking workforce, farmed as long as three soccer pitches at report documenting conditions “The working conditions are Sitharaman welcomes Myanmar’s State Counsellor Aung Earlier this month Thane out a wide range of jobs from relatively cheap prices. for Indian workers at the ship- far more dangerous and less or- San Suu Kyi upon her arrival at the airport in New Delhi, police in several raids arrested answering bank client calls Maersk Line, the world’s big- breaking yard. ganised in Bangladesh, than in yesterday. more than 70 people suspected and train timetable inquiries to gest container shipper, sent two “Maersk has a decent set of India,” Hasle said. of defrauding Americans by IT support. Gulf Times 22 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 LATIN AMERICA Migrants ‘being sent back to their death in invisible crisis’

Thomson Reuters Foundation Every year violence at the refugee agency UNHCR have Such violence has made El Sal- To maintain control, gang stepped up security and police the same violence,” Shetty said. Bogota hands of gang members drives described as a largely invisible vador and Honduras among the members use extortion at gun- patrols along the country’s po- For some, this can mean tens of thousands of people, in- “refugee crisis”. world’s deadliest countries out- point, rape against women and rous border since 2014, with death. Saul, a bus driver, who cluding children, to fl ee their “People are living in confl ict side a war zone, the UNHCR says. girls, murder, and forced recruit- increasing numbers of migrants spoke to Amnesty following his ang violence has become homes in El Salvador, Honduras conditions. The violence is be- Powerful gangs — the Barrio ment of children, Amnesty said in being deported back to Central deportation to Honduras, was so deadly in parts of Cen- and Guatemala — countries with coming unbearable,” said Salil 18 and their bitter rivals the Mara a report. The number of refugees America, Amnesty said. killed soon after his return. Gtral America that many the world’s highest murder rates, Shetty, head of Amnesty. “Peo- Salvatrucha (MS-13) — have and asylum seekers from El Salva- The number of people deported The 35-year-old father-of- people are living in what is a war the rights group said. ple are leaving because there is carved up city neighbourhoods dor, Guatemala and Honduras ex- from Mexico to El Salvador rose by fi ve, one of dozens of migrants zone, Amnesty International said, Most migrants travel through an option of being killed,” he told in these Central American coun- ceeded 108,000 in 2015 — a more 231% between 2010 and 2015, ac- interviewed by Amnesty, said he adding that some migrants who Mexico to reach the US in the the Thomson Reuters Founda- tries in their fi ght for territorial than fi ve-fold increase in three cording to Mexican government had fl ed Honduras last year after have fl ed danger are killed within hope of refuge and a better life, tion in a telephone interview control, drug traffi cking routes years, UNHCR fi gures show. fi gures quoted by Amnesty. surviving a shooting along with weeks of being deported home. in what Amnesty and the UN from Honduras. and extortion rackets. Authorities in Mexico have “People are thrown back into his two sons. Owners fret as Protesters demand fair elections Havana pauses licence issuance for restaurants

Reuters we have little choice,” said the Havana owner of one of Havana’s more popular restaurants, like others asking to remain anonymous for avana’s city government fear of reprisals. has temporarily sus- “They were civil about it all Hpended issuing licences and made no mention of what for new private restaurants in the they planned to do, but we as- city and warned existing ones sume a big wave of inspections is to obey tough regulations, ac- coming,” he said. cording to several owners of the Paladares (privately run ea- businesses popular with foreign teries) may only have a maxi- tourists. mum of 50 seats and must buy The tougher line could put a all their supplies at state-run crimp in Havana’s food off ering retail stores and markets, often during the upcoming tourism at huge mark-ups, unlike state- Opponents of Daniel Ortega’s government hold a banner that reads “No to the electoral circus” during a protest demanding fair elections at Diriamba city, some 40kms season when both Americans run competitors which have ac- from Managua. Nicaragua will hold presidential elections on November 6, with incumbent Ortega widely seen as the favourite. and Europeans are expected to cess to wholesale markets and no fl ock to the city in record num- seating restrictions. bers. Many experts inside and out- It is also a new sign that Cu- side Cuba consider the tax bur- ba’s Communist-run govern- den on successful small busi- ment is hesitant to further open nesses onerous. up to private business in a coun- The list of violations that offi - try where it still controls most cials read out included paladares economic activity. not paying taxes, buying sup- Last year, Cuba backtracked plies on the black market, labour on a series of market-oriented code violations and having more reforms in agriculture and this than 50 seats, according to two Inmates beheaded in year has imposed price controls restaurant owners who attended on private transportation serv- meetings. ices. Other alleged violations were Since President Raul Castro running bars masquerading as loosened restrictions on small restaurants and contracting businesses six years ago, pri- entertainment outside offi cial vate restaurants have fl ourished, channels, staying open after especially in the capital where 3am, disturbing neighbours, du- Brazil prison riots income is higher and an increas- bious sources of capital and ille- ing fl ow of tourists demand bet- gal purchases of buildings. AFP 10 on Sunday, regional govern- local police spokesman said. prison when the riot broke out in a state that borders Venezuela ter fare and service than what is Reading from notes, the local Rio de Janeiro ment media spokeswoman Jes- “There are thought to be told news channel G1. and Guyana. available in most state-run es- entrepreneur quoted the chair of sica Laurie said. eight people dead but the bodies Roraima state Secretary of Joana Moura, head of the tablishments. one meeting stating: “We are not “The inmates were armed are burnt and the medical au- Justice Uziel Castro said that union of Roraima penal work- There are hundreds of private going to authorise licences for ioting inmates beheaded with stones and pieces of wood thorities will have to confi rm” the fi ght erupted during visiting ers, told the Folha de Boa Vista restaurants in Havana and more now, so that when we do in the their rivals and bodies that they ripped from the walls. the toll, he said. hours, and some 100 relatives of newspaper that the incident “is than 1,700 across the country, future these problems will have Rwere burned in an explo- They used those bits of wood to Human rights groups have inmates were briefl y held hos- a refl ection of the lack of inter- the tourism ministry says. been taken care of.” sion of violence in two Brazilian decapitate their rivals. It was long complained about the de- tage. est from the state government” Over the last six weeks, own- Neither the national nor local jails that left at least 18 people very brutal,” she said. plorable conditions in Brazilian The rioters demanded that towards the prison system. ers of some of the better-known government responded to a re- dead yesterday, authorities said. “At fi rst, the police thought prisons, where fi ghts and riots a judge come to hear their de- According to Moura, “there eateries have been called to quest for comment. Prisoners also took women there were more dead,” she are frequent. mands. is no security equipment, there meetings where Havana city Paladar owners are bracing visitors hostage, a regional of- said. “Seven bodies were found In the fi rst riot in the Rorai- Instead, special operations are not enough personnel for the offi cials fi rst praised their con- for inspections. “We are check- fi cial told Brazilian television. burned and three others behead- ma state capital Boa Vista, the police stormed the prison, freed tasks, and the prison offi cers are tributions to the economy and ing everything, doing a total au- It was the latest eruption of ed. Three inmates were lightly bloodshed began when inmates the hostages and regained con- working beyond their capacity.” tourism, then listed all the regu- dit, fi guring out what to do if we gruesome violence to hit the wounded and were treated.” of one wing of the Agricola de trol of the site by sundown. “All As of the end of 2014, there latory violations some commit, don’t have a receipt for a piece country’s underfunded and Yesterday a fresh riot, thought Monte Cristo prison broke into the hostages were released,” were 622,000 people impris- warning them to cease and de- of equipment,” said one paladar overcrowded prison system. to be linked to the Roraima car- another wing. Castro said, adding that most of oned in Brazil, according to sist. owner in Havana’s upmarket Ve- The clash between two rival nage, broke out at a jail in the Prisoners were armed with them were women. a ministry of justice report, “Of course they are techni- dado district, as he sat in a back factions in a prison in the far northwestern state of Rondo- knives and wooden clubs, an The prison, some 3,400kms which added that most of the cally right, we all bend the rules, offi ce with his accountant. northern state of Roraima killed nia on the Bolivian border, a inmate’s wife who was in the northwest of Rio de Janeiro, is prisoners are black males. Venezuela probes reports Habitat conference Concern over attacks of jail cannibal deaths on Haiti aid convoys AFP fected by Hurricane Matthew Port-au-Prince which crashed ashore on Oc- Reuters and said he had to tell me some- claims might be exaggerated. tober 4 with winds of 230kms San Cristobal, Venezuela thing very painful: ‘Your son was “The criminal investigation per hour. one of those they killed and ate’,” bodies must say what happened, he United Nations is In one violent scene — she said from a house where she based on scientifi c proof,” she concerned at the rise in which occurred shortly before enezuelan authorities are was in hiding for fear of reprisals was quoted as saying in local Tlooting and attacks tar- UN Secretary-General Ban investigating gruesome for telling the story. media. geting emergency aid deliver- Ki-moon arrived at the base Vaccusations that two men An offi cial investigator in the ies in hurricane-ravaged Haiti, via helicopter — Senegalese were murdered, mutilated by a “The criminal investigation town, however, told Reuters that a UN offi cial said. Food, medi- UN peacekeepers used tear gas confessed cannibal then fed to bodies must say what interviews with prisoners had cine and other essential aid has to disperse the crowd, which fellow prisoners in a riot at a po- happened, based on given credence to the families’ been slow to reach many hard- responded by throwing rocks, lice detention centre. scientifi c proof” version. hit areas. Wahba said. Families of the two victims, “The detainees we spoke to Some desperate Haitians “Any attack on a humani- Anthony Correa and Juan Carlos Both families said a self- said Dorangel ate some body have taken to blocking parts of tarian convoy is an attack on Herrera, said they died earlier confessed serial killer Dorangel parts,” he said, asking not to be the road crossing the southern those who are suff ering, on in October towards the end of Vargas, known to Venezuelans named. peninsula to intercept human- those who are most in need,” a month-long disturbance and as “People-Eater” because of “They (the gang) cooked the itarian convoys, in some cases said Ban on his return to Port- siege at the overcrowded jail in reports he cannibalised victims, (remaining) fl esh and gave it to looting them. au-Prince. the western city San Cristobal. had been used by a gang at the the rest of the inmates with rice. “It’s obviously a concern “When trucks with medi- “They stabbed my son, hung jail to dismember the bodies of They ate without realizing it was for the co-ordination and de- cine are attacked and looted, him to bleed him, then called this their rivals. two of their companions,” he livery of aid,” said Mourad when food and water are loot- man to cut him up. They did the The government has con- said, adding the men’s intestines Wahba, the UN humanitarian ed, this only increases the dis- same with the other young man,” fi rmed two deaths but not the were tossed in pipes and bones co-ordinator in Haiti. “But the tress and discourages interna- Herrera’s father, also called Juan circumstances. It has also ar- burned. response must focus on more tional aid,” he said. Carlos, told reporters, saying rested six policemen accused of The gang also force-fed some than security.” “People are The UN estimates at least other prisoners had described it helping prisoners. body parts to captured rival pris- hungry and we must success- 1.4mn people of the impover- to him. Local opposition member of oners and cut the fi ngers off fi ve fully unblock the roads to help ished nation’s more than 10mn Correa’s mother, Luz Sepulve- congress Franklyn Duarte said inmates who refused to eat the them.” residents need urgent assist- da, said at the end of the siege, he has a video proving the can- fl esh. Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro delivers a speech On Saturday, a World Food ance, after towns and villages she noticed her son was neither nibalism and would hand it to Gang rule is common in Ven- during the opening ceremony of the Habitat III conference Program truck with relief sup- were almost wiped off the map. in the list of detainees nor in a authorities with other evidence. ezuela’s jails, where weapons on housing and sustainable urban development in Quito, plies was looted at the entrance At least 546 people were group being transported away. Prisons Minister Iris Vare- and drugs are rife, often with the Ecuador, yesterday. Page 26 to the UN base in the port city killed, and more than 175,000 “A public prosecutor came out la suggested the cannibalism connivance of offi cials. Les Cayes, one of the worst af- people have lost their homes. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 23 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

Modi misleading Brics, says Sartaj Aziz India-Pak tensions hit IANS “The Indian leadership is des- in the relevant UNSC reso- appreciated by the leadership of Bilawal calls Modi an ‘extremist’ Islamabad perately trying to hide its brutal- lutions. most countries in the world,” he ities in Jammu and Kashmir, an He said the UN High Com- said. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) forward four demands to the cotton trade internationally recognised dis- missioner for Human Rights in Aziz further said that Is- Chairman Bilawal Bhutto government and said that he top Pakistani aide, accus- pute on the UN Security Council Geneva and the Secretary Gen- lamabad is a victim of Indian Zardari referred to Indian Prime would announce a long march ing Indian Prime Min- agenda, where innocent people eral of the Organisation of Is- “interference and subversive Minister Narendra Modi as the on December 27 if they were IANS Aister Narendra Modi of are being killed and injured by lamic Co-operation (OIC) have activities” which, he claimed, butcher of Gujarat and Jammu not fulfilled. Islamabad “misleading” Brics and Bimstec security forces daily with impu- called for sending a fact-fi nding were aimed at destabilising Pa- and Kashmir. The first demand of the PPP nations, has asserted that New nity,” said Aziz. mission to Kashmir. kistan. “Modi is an extremist and there Chairman was the formation of Delhi has no moral ground to talk The Kashmir valley has been “The UN and OIC have re- “Unfortunately, in complete should be no hope attached a new parliamentary committee he tensions between In- about counter-terrorism as it gripped with violence for the jected Indian attempts to equate disrespect of international law to him,” Bilawal said while on national security; the second dia and Pakistan have is itself involved in terrorism in past 100 days following the July Kashmiris’ movement for self- and the UN Charter, the Indian addressing a rally yesterday. was for the passage of his Thit their cotton trade — Kashmir. 8 killing of top militant Burhan determination with terrorism,” government is pursuing its he- He said the Indian Prime party’s bill on Panama Papers; worth $822mn a year. “Modi is misleading his Brics Wani in a clash with the security the adviser said, adding that the gemonic designs.” Minister blames Pakistan the third was implementation The Dawn yesterday quoted and Bimstec colleagues and has forces. UN has emphasised that people The adviser called upon the so that he could divert on former President Asif Pakistan’s Cotton Commis- no moral ground when his own More than 90 persons have fi ghting for their self-determi- international community, espe- attention from atrocities being Zardari’s resolution on the sioner Khalid Abdullah as saying government is involved in state been killed and over 12,500 in- nation cannot be categorised as cially the Brics leaders, to “ask committed in Kashmir, Geo TV China Pakistan Economic that a low quantum of trade was, terrorism in Kashmir,” Radio jured since the violence — the terrorists. India to stop the bloodshed in reported. Corridor (CPEC); and the fourth however, still taking place. Pakistan quoted Sartaj Aziz, Ad- worst since the 2010 unrest — According to Aziz, Pakistan Kashmir immediately, release The PPP Chairman highlighted demand was the immediate But most Pakistani buyers viser to Pakistan Prime Minister began on July 9 between the se- joins all the members of Brics Kashmiri leaders and thousands the plight of the Kashmiris, appointment of a foreign were not buying cotton from In- on Foreign Aff airs, as saying on curity forces and protestors in and Bimstec in condemning of Kashmiris taken away forcibly saying they were struggling for minister, Geo News reported. dia “as a gesture of national soli- Sunday. Kashmir. terrorism and reaffirms its full and address the humanitarian their right to self-determination. Referring to the show of darity” in the wake of India-Pa- Aziz’s remark came in re- Aziz said the people of commitment to fighting the crisis” in the valley. He regretted that some parties strength during the rally, kistan animosity, the daily said. sponse to Prime Minister Modi’s Kashmir Valley were being menace without discrimina- Earlier on Sunday, while ad- had boycotted the joint session Bilawal said this was just the Indian exporters too were re- statement at the Brics Summit in “subjected to genocide by tion. dressing Brics leaders in Goa, of parliament on the Kashmir trailer. fusing to sell cotton, it added. Goa in which the Indian premier India” for demanding their “Pakistan’s sacrifi ces in the Modi called for a strong united issue. “The party has just begun,” he Pakistani spinning mills were said Pakistan was the “mother- fundamental right to self- war against terrorism are well stand against terrorism in South In his address, he put added. the biggest buyers of Indian fi - ship of terrorism”. determination, as promised acknowledged and repeatedly Asia. bre, the Dawn said.

“For Pakistan’s industry, buying the raw material from other sources may prove costly owing to long Dostum escapes distance freight” “Fewer imports by Pakistan this year could hurt Indian ex- ports, raise their prices and help At least 30 killed unhurt after rival cotton exporters like Brazil, the US and some African coun- tries.” “For Pakistan’s industry, buy- Taliban ambush ing the raw material from other sources may prove costly owing to long distance freight,” Dawn Reuters mote areas from where they added. as buses collide Kabul frequently stage attacks on The suspension in cotton government forces. trade comes at a time when Pa- Reuters Dostum, a war-hardened kistan’s cotton crop has recorded Karachi fghan Vice-President ethnic Uzbek, was in an ar- an overall decrease of 15 % over Abdul Rashim Dos- moured vehicle, accompanied last year, according to the daily. A tum escaped unhurt by well-armed security forces, Pakistan, the world’s third- from an ambush by Taliban when dozens of insurgents at- largest cotton consumer, starts t least 30 people were insurgents as his convoy tacked the convoy, another of- importing from September but killed in Pakistan when returned from overseeing fi cial said. this time there has been little ac- Atwo buses collided in fighting at a northern bat- Five men on Dostum’s side tivity so far. southern Punjab province, po- tlefield, Afghan officials and several insurgents have But India-Pakistan trade in lice said yesterday. said yesterday. been killed, said a security of- other commodity goods was not Images from the crash site In their eff ort to topple the fi cial who did not want to be aff ected, the Dawn said. showed a bus on its side with its Western-backed government identifi ed, because he is not “The inward fl ow of Indian windows shattered, and another in Kabul, Taliban fi ghters have authorised to talk to the me- goods into Karachi’s major com- bus with its roof partly caved in. battled their way into the out- dia. modity and grocery markets... Offi cials said the buses col- skirts of Lashkar Gah, the cap- It is not the first such at- continues uninterrupted with- lided at about 6am near Rahim ital of the southern province of tack in the same area on out any increase in prices or Yar Khan, a Punjab city about Helmand, in recent weeks. Dostum, whose convoy was shortage of goods,” it said. 600km south of provincial capi- Sunday’s ambush took also targeted last year, when “Shopkeepers selling Indian tal Lahore. place during a frontline visit about 20 insurgents opened cosmetics and jewellery are do- “Death toll has climbed to 30,” to Faryab province by Dostum, fire on it. ing business as usual because Hassan Iqbal, police inspector of who has recently been spend- Dostum, who has close of their smooth fl ow and easy Rahim Yar Khan, said. ing more time on his northern protection from hundreds of availability.” Rescuers earlier said more home turf than in the capital, bodyguards and leads per- “Pulses, spices and dried than 30 people were injured in Kabul, offi cials said. sonal militias, is accused of fruits continue to land in Paki- the crash. “General Dostum was on war crimes by human rights stan (from India),” it added. Rescue workers were attempt- the way back from overseeing groups. The bilateral trade balance fa- ing to pull people out of the the fi ghting when his con- He joined the politi- vours India. wreckage, with fears that the voy came under ambush,” in cal mainstream as President In 2015-16, exports from Paki- death toll could rise, Iqbal said. the Ghormach district of the Ashraf Ghani’s running mate stan to India dropped to $400mn Local police chief Mehar Arsal province, said Bashir Ahmad in bitterly contested presiden- from $415mn in 2014-15. said the buses slammed into Tayanj, a spokesman for Dos- tial elections in 2014. India’s exports to Pakistan trees after colliding with each tum. Since then he has swapped surged 27% to $1.8bn over the other. “Both sides received casu- his suit for a military uniform same period. Pakistan has one of the world’s alties, but General Dostum to accompany Afghan security worst records for fatal traffi c ac- was not hurt,” he added. forces and militiamen against cidents, blamed on poor roads, There was no immediate the Taliban fi ghting in his badly maintained vehicles and comment from the Taliban. northern heartland. reckless driving. Taliban militants have Afghanistan’s govern- Fatal road accidents are com- spread their insurgency from ment has been investigat- Two Pakistani mon in Pakistan, where traf- the southern strongholds to ing alleged abuses by mi- fi c rules are rarely enforced and the once peaceful northern litiamen loyal to Dostum roads in many rural areas are parts of the country in recent and Atta Mohammad Noor, soldiers dead poor. years. the acting governor of the Prime Minister Nawaz Shar- Afghan troops launched northern province of Balkh, if’s offi ce said he has “expressed an operation in Faryab at the following repeated clashes in border clash deep grief and sorrow over the Pakistani rescue off icials gather around the wreckage of a passenger bus after an accident in Khanpur, weekend as the Taliban fi ght- between both sides in re- loss of precious lives”. some 800km south of Islamabad. ers have gained ground in re- cent months. AFP Peshawar

Anti-polio drive wo Pakistani soldiers were killed and one injured in Latest Taliban off ensives kill Tcross border fi ring near the Afghan border in the restive northwest, offi cials said yester- day. “Two soldiers were martyred dozens, displace thousands and one injured when militants from Afghanistan opened fi re on Pakistani troops,” a senior secu- AFP Lashkar Gah, but the city re- of 37,000 IDPs alone — more mand province over the past rity offi cial said on condition of Lashkar Gah, Afghanistan mains surrounded after the in- than 10% of the year total in two weeks,” Tooryalai Hemat, anonymity. surgents launched one of their just one week,” Danielle Moylan the Helmand governor’s adviser, He said the incident took most brazen off ensives. a spokeswoman for the United said. place in the Barmal area of South he Taliban’s latest of- A centre of illicit opium pro- Nations Offi ce for the Co-ordi- Shir Mohamed Akhunzada, a Waziristan, which shares its bor- fensives in the north and duction as well as a traditional nation of Humanitarian Aff airs, parliamentarian, told parliament ders with Afghanistan’s Paktika Tsouth of Afghanistan have Taliban stronghold, Helmand said. around 70 soldiers had surren- province. killed dozens of people and dis- has been one of the areas that The total number of internally dered to the Taliban. The incident was confi rmed by placed tens of thousands, offi - suff ered the most violence in the displaced people due to fi ghting In Uruzgan, another volatile local administration offi cials and cials said yesterday. insurgents’ battle to topple the since the start of the year stands province north of Helmand, 150 other senior security sources. Earlier this month the mili- Western-backed government in at 323,500. soldiers surrendered last week No one immediately claimed tants launched a full-fl edged at- Kabul. at Tarin Kot, senior local offi cial responsibility for the attack. tack on Kunduz, briefl y entering “Our forces, backed by for- “Our forces, backed by Mohamed Zahir Naderi said. In May this year, the Pakistani the northern city and trigger- eigners, have killed hundreds foreigners, have killed “They surrendered with their army claimed to have cleared ing fi erce fi ghting with Afghan of Taliban fi ghters during night hundreds of Taliban weapons and ammunition and the last militant stronghold in forces that forced thousands of raids in the last 24 hours,” said fi ghters during night raids 20 Humvees,” Zahir said, refer- the country’s northwest after a residents to fl ee. General Wali Mohamed Ahmad- in the last 24 hours” ring to US-built light-armoured three-month long operation. Last week the militants zai, commander of the army’s vehicles. The army launched the op- also launched a new attack on 215th Corps in Helmand. In Helmand, which has seen The Taliban have intensi- eration in mid-2014 to wipe out Lashkar Gah, the besieged capi- Afghan soldiers and police, in some of the worst fi ghting since fi ed attacks across the war-torn militant bases in the area and end tal of volatile Helmand province some cases aided by American the Taliban began their insur- country in recent months, pres- the near decade-long insurgency in the south. air strikes and special forces ad- gency against the western- suring Afghan forces stretched that has cost Pakistan thousands They killed dozens of security visers, are now working to try to backed Kabul government in on multiple fronts. of lives. forces personnel before being push the Taliban back from the 2001, authorities reported doz- Apart from their assaults on The operation was intensifi ed An Afghan health worker administers the polio vaccine to a pushed back when government city limits, said senior police of- ens of troops had been killed and Kunduz and Helmand, they have after the Taliban massacred more child during a campaign on the outskirts of Jalalabad reinforcements arrived. fi cial Mohamed Hakim Hangaar. more captured. attempted to overrun other pro- than 150 people, the majority of yesterday. Polio, once a worldwide scourge, is endemic in just Afghan government troops “Due to hostilities in Kunduz “Around 50 Afghan security vincial capitals, from Baghlan in them children, at a school in the three countries now - Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan. say they have fought Taliban and intensifi ed fi ghting across forces were killed, and the same the north to Farah in the west, northwestern city of Peshawar in forces to a standstill outside the south we have seen a jump numbers went missing in Hel- but have so far been repelled. December 2014. Gulf Times 24 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 PHILIPPINES President Duterte says no sense in open to war combat ahead of China visit games with President says talks over disputed South China Sea ing his war on drugs, which has are far better; Set to sparked concerns in Western visit China with at capitals about extrajudicial kill- least 200 business leaders ings, with Philippine police Beijing saying it has killed nearly 2,300 Reuters people. Beijing “China never criticises,” Du- terte said in the Xinhua inter- view. “They help us quietly.” and Russia here is no sense in going The unpredictable president’s to war over the disputed moves to engage China, just a TSouth China Sea as talks few months after the arbitral AFP colonial ruler and mutual de- are far better, Philippine Presi- award sparked fears in the region Manila fence ally. dent Rodrigo Duterte told Chi- of a backlash by Beijing in the Duterte has repeatedly na’s offi cial Xinhua news agency, South China Sea, mark a strik- expressed anger over Amer- praising China for not criticising ing reversal in Philippine foreign hilippine President Rod- ican criticism of his war on his country, unlike Western na- policy since he took offi ce on rigo Duterte is willing to crime, which has claimed tions. June 30. Duterte told Xinhua his Phold military exercises more than 3,700 lives and Duterte goes to China today grandfather is Chinese. with China but not longtime raised fears of mass extraju- with at least 200 members of the “It’s only China (that) can ally the United States, Chinese dicial killings. Philippine business elite to pave help us.” China’s Foreign Min- media quoted him yesterday He has used expletives the way for what he calls a new istry earlier sought to downplay as saying on the eve of a state against US President Barack commercial alliance, amid dete- In this handout photograph released yesterday, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and the Philippine Duterte’s Sunday remarks on the visit. Obama. But, signalling his riorating ties with longtime ally President Rodrigo Duterte sit prior to their meeting after Duterte’s official welcoming ceremony at the arbitration. Duterte heads to Beijing shift to China is also for prag- the United States. Istana Nurul Iman in Brunei Darussalam. Asked about his comments, today for a four-day trip matic reasons, Duterte has On Sunday, Duterte said he Chinese Foreign Ministry that appears set to cement repeatedly ridiculed the Unit- would raise a controversial ar- fused to recognise the case and over a body of water,” Duterte was weakened or eroded during spokeswoman Hua Chunying his dramatic foreign policy ed States for what he sees as bitral ruling on the South China has chided any country telling it said. In Brunei, Philippine For- the past administration,” Yasay said Duterte would make his tilt away from United States, its weakening economic and Sea with China’s leaders and to abide by the ruling. eign Secretary Perfecto Yasay told reporters. policy in the best interests of his which he has railed against military infl uence around the vowed not to surrender any In the Xinhua interview pub- said the South China Sea issue “But then we should not also country and people. for criticising his deadly war world. sovereignty or deviate from the lished yesterday, Duterte said he was not the sum total of the rela- miss out on the opportunities “China’s door has always on crime. Asked if he would seek to July award by the tribunal in the wanted negotiation, not con- tionship between China and the for trade and economic relation- been open to the Philippines, “It’s only China (that) can buy military equipment from Hague. frontation, over the South China Philippines, but the time was not ship that we would need as much and I think you’ve also noticed help us,” China’s state-run China during his visit, Duterte The ruling dealt a blow to Sea. yet right to discuss resolving it. as China.” that President Duterte has many Xinhua news agency quoted told Phoenix Television: “Yes, China’s extensive claims in the “There is no sense in going to “We still have to build up the Duterte also expressed grati- times said he wants dialogue Duterte as saying in an inter- but not really in (large) num- South China Sea. Beijing has re- war. There is no sense fi ghting lost trust and confi dence that tude to China for not criticis- with China,” she added. view ahead of his visit. bers.” Duterte said he would also Asked if he would need small, fast attack boats DEMAND seek to buy military from China to fi ght “terror- Lawmaker equipment from ism”. “If China does not help Indigenous groups protest harassment China during his visit, us in this endeavour, we will seeks cap Duterte told Phoenix have a hard time fi ghting ter- on surge pricing Television: “Yes, but not rorism,” he said without elab- really in (large) numbers” orating, according to Phoenix Transport network services Grab Television. and Uber should put a cap in their Duterte also told Hong Bilateral relations wors- “surge” prices during rush hours Kong-based Phoenix Tel- ened under Duterte’s prede- and rainy days to prevent passen- evision he was willing to hold cessor, Benigno Aquino, who gers from paying exorbitant fares, joint military exercises with tried to challenge China’s a lawmaker has said, Manila Times China and Russia. expansionism in the South reported. Rep. LRay Villafuerte of “Yes, I will. I have given China Sea. Camarines Sur said the Land Trans- enough time for the Ameri- China claims nearly all of portation Franchising and Regula- cans to play with the Fili- the strategically vital sea, even tory Board should move swiftly in pino soldiers,” Duterte said waters approaching the Phil- reviewing the surge policy of Grab when asked if he was open ippines and other Southeast and Uber. Higher than normal fares to war games with those Asian nations, and has in re- under surge pricing entice Grab and two nations, as he reiterat- cent years built artifi cial is- Uber drivers to pick up passengers ed he would no longer hold lands in the disputed areas that despite heavy traff ic on the roads. any more with the United are capable of hosting military “The LTRFB should come up with States. bases. a formula that would put a cap on “This will be the last. It has To counter China, Aqui- the surge or higher pricing scheme been programmed. I do not no allowed a much greater to protect passengers from being want my soldiers to be humili- American military presence virtually scammed. Their surge ated,” Duterte said, in refer- in the Philippines and started pricing makes them even worse ence to one set of war games in joint patrols in the sea with US than taxicab drivers who victimise the Philippines that ended last forces. hapless passengers by … asking the week. He also filed a legal case at passengers to pay a fixed amount Duterte has sought to re- a UN-backed tribunal, which (rather than the metered fare) shape his nation’s foreign re- made a landmark ruling in during rush hours or rainy days,” lations since taking offi ce on July that China’s claims to Members of indigenous groups shout slogans during a protest in front of the Justice department off ice in Manila yesterday. Hundreds Villafuerte said. These firms should June 30 by pivoting towards most of the sea had no legal of members of various indigenous groups, part of thousands who travelled from the southern island of Mindanao and northern Luzon, be regulated so they won’t end up China and Russia while mov- basis. trooped to the justice department off ice, asking the government to dismiss what they claim to be trumped-up charges against their copying the bad practices of some ing away from the United Beijing refused to accept the leaders and prosecute members of para-military groups whom they say have been harassing their communities. taxi operators and drivers who over- States, the Philippines’ former ruling. charge passengers, Villafuerte said. Daughter of former dictator Marcos urges forgiveness

AFP Manila

he daughter of late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos Tcalled for forgiveness yester- day as she led a rally at the Supreme Court urging it to approve a contro- versial hero’s burial for her father. About 1,000 supporters gath- ered with Imee Marcos at the court, which may announce today whether it approves President Rodrigo Du- terte’s order to allow the burial at Manila’s National Heroes’ Cemetery 27 years after the strongman died. Imee, governor of the fam- ily’s northern stronghold of Ilocos Norte, cited Pope Francis as she called for human rights victims and other critics of the dictatorship to abandon their campaign against the burial plan. “To those who are criticising and Imee Marcos (centre), daughter of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos and governor of the family’s northern stronghold who are not allied with us, I hope of Ilocos Norte, walks with supporters at the start of a vigil in front of the Supreme Court in Manila yesterday. you set aside your grievances. All of us have anger and bitterness in our great, others have many criticism, family requests for him to be buried Opponents of the Marcos regime hearts but we should set that aside but let us no longer debate,” she said. at the heroes’ cemetery, even as the have insisted this would just help to because, as the Pope said: ‘When we The dictator and his wife Im- Marcos clan enjoyed a remarkable whitewash his crimes, and fi led the forgive, you will be free and happy’,” elda led their family into US exile in political comeback. petition with the Supreme Court Marcos told reporters outside the 1986 after a military-backed “Peo- Imelda Marcos is a congress- to ban it. One prominent opponent Supreme Court. ple Power” revolution toppled him woman and her son, Ferdinand who was detained under the Marcos However she maintained her from power. Marcos Jnr, remains a powerful pol- regime, Satur Ocampo, yesterday family’s longtime position that Marcos died in Hawaii three years itician with presidential ambitions dismissed Imee Marcos’s appeal for her father, accused of plundering later. after narrowly losing the election forgiveness. billions of dollars and overseeing His embalmed body was brought for the vice presidency this year. “It’s unfair that they are asking widespread human rights abuses back to the Philippines in 1993 and Duterte, who was elected in a people to forgive and forget without during his 21-year rule, was a posi- placed in a glass-topped casket at landslide this year, has close ties to them making a formal acknowl- tive force for the country. his northern Philippine home. the Marcos family and has pushed edgement of the crimes of the Mar- “If in our view my father was Presidents since then refused for the burial. coses to the people,” he said. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 25 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Lanka’s top corruption prosecutor resigns Dilrukshi Wickramasinghe last year promising to end cor- the family of former president fence secretary were hauled into ernment led by Prime Minister quits after President ruption and restore rule of law, Mahinda Rajapakse. court,” the president said. Ranil Wickremesinghe, which Maithripala Sirisena slams took the unusual step of publicly There was no immediate com- The goal of establishing in- oversees the FCID and the CID. the anti-graft commission condemning Dilrukshi Wick- ment from Sirisena, who said dependent commissions was to The two men are from rival for taking three former navy ramasinghe last week over the last week that military com- restore freedom and democracy, parties, but made common cause commanders and former prosecution of three retired ad- manders who led the success- and protect democracy and to to topple former strongman Ra- defence secretary to court mirals and the former defence ful campaign to crush separa- build a corruption-free country, japakse, whose entire family and earlier this month over a secretary. tist Tamil Tiger rebels in 2009 he said. closest associates face allega- probe Yesterday, Wickramasinghe should not be humiliated in such “These commissions cannot tions of corruption as well as resigned as head of the Com- a manner. carry out political agendas. They murder. AFP/IANS mission to Investigate Allega- The president accused Wick- must understand their remit,” Members of the former regime Colombo tions of Bribery or Corruption ramasinghe’s CIABOC of work- the president added. are accused of siphoning billions (CIABOC), commission member ing according to a “political “As defence minister and of dollars from the country dur- Neville Guruge said. agenda” and vowed to take un- president, I am disgusted.” ing Rajapakse’s decade in power ri Lanka’s top anti-cor- Sources close to her said specifi ed “stern action” against Sirisena’s comments were that ended on January 8, 2015. ruption prosecutor re- the president’s public com- it and two other anti-corruption widely criticised by the civil so- The new government is yet Ssigned yesterday after ments last week prompted her bodies, the Financial Crimes In- ciety and minor political par- to deliver on promises to the President Maithripala Sirisena decision. vestigations Division (FCID) and ties who urged the president to UN that it will investigate al- accused her of launching polit- Wickramasinghe, a senior the Crime Investigations Divi- refrain from making statements legations that troops under ically-motivated investigations prosecutor from the state attor- sion (CID). that would weaken criminal in- Rajapakse’s command killed into former military offi cials, ney general’s department, has “I am expressing my disgust vestigations and prosecutions. at least 40,000 Tamil civilians including the brother of his launched several high-profi le at this turn of events. Three navy Analysts said the president’s while battling separatists in the predecessor. investigations against mem- commanders who served dur- remarks signalled a rift between fi nal months of an ethnic war PRESIDENT IN GOA: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena visits Sirisena, who came to power bers of the former regime and ing the war and the former de- him and the national unity gov- that ended in 2009. Bom Jesus church and Se Cathedral in Goa, India yesterday. Outages W Bank gives $1bn to fi ght Trials of in Lanka after plant Bangladesh malnutrition extremists

breakdown DPA with Bangladeshi Finance Min- South Asian country since 1992. its population of 160mn are still Dhaka ister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith in The fund will be disbursed living below the poverty line, it Dhaka. during the course of the next adds. accelerated Rates of malnutrition in Bang- two years to improve child health “We are with Bangladesh. We ri Lanka yesterday an- aced with a country ladesh are among the highest and help tackle malnutrition, continue to assist Bangladesh in nounced nationwide power where millions of pre- in the world, with nearly 6mn the visiting chief of the lending several areas including climate AFP including bomb attacks on a Scuts following a breakdown Fschool children suff er preschool-age children stunted agency said. change, infrastructure develop- Dhaka court complex outside Dhaka, in the island’s only coal-fi red stunted growth and are under- and underweight, according to The World Bank says Bang- ment,” said Kim. a cultural function in a north- power plant. weight, the World Bank yester- offi cial documents. ladesh maintained an impres- Kim is scheduled to visit a ern town and a new year’s The power and energy min- day announced a special $1bn Kim arrived in Dhaka on Sun- sive record on growth and World Bank project in south- angladesh said yester- festival in the capital. istry said the power cuts will be fund to fi ght malnutrition in day on a three-day visit to rec- development in the past dec- ern Barisal district today to day it is fast-tracking Police spokesman Shahidur imposed across the country, but Bangladesh. ognise Bangladesh’s success in ade, with nearly 6 per cent see the progress Bangladesh Btrials of Islamist ex- Rahman said there were “at not in capital Colombo, Xinhua World Bank Group president poverty reduction. gross domestic product (GDP) has made in transitioning suc- tremists, hours after a senior least 64” Islamist extremists news agency reported. Jim Yong Kim made the an- More than 15mn people have growth. cessfully to a lower-middle leader of a militant group was on death row and their appeals The electricity will be cut for nouncement after a meeting moved out of poverty in the Nonetheless, nearly 45mn of income country. hanged for a 2005 blast that were being heard in the higher 2.5 hours in the morning from killed two judges. courts. 8am and for one hour in the Asadul Islam, also known as But Human Rights Watch evening from 6pm. Arif, was a senior leader of the said there was no conclusive However the power and energy banned group Jamayetul Mu- evidence the death penalty ministry said that electricity will jahideen Bangladesh (JMB), acted as a deterrent. not be cut in hospitals. which the government has “When terror attacks hap- Sri Lanka was forced to impose blamed for a deadly siege on an pen, governments often feel power cuts after the coal power upmarket Dhaka cafe on July 1. under pressure to show that plant broke down on Saturday. Bangladeshi security forces they are doing something,” The Norochcholai coal power launched a crackdown against Human Rights Watch’s South plant contributes to a major portion Islamist extremists following Asia director Meenakshi of Sri Lanka’s electricity demand. the cafe attack, which shook Ganguly said. The power plant had malfunc- the image of Bangladesh as a “What is needed instead is tioned several times in the past as moderate Muslim nation. careful investigation to identi- well resulting in similar power cuts. Since July, police have shot fy and prosecute perpetrators Since it was commissioned in dead nearly 40 suspected ex- with proper evidence.” March 2011, the Norochcholai tremists including JMB’s new JMB was founded in the late plant has shut down on nearly leader Tamim Chowdhury, a 1990s and seeks to impose Sha- 30 occasions for a variety of Canadian citizen of Bangladeshi riah law on Bangladesh, a Mus- reasons. descent who allegedly master- lim majority but offi cially secu- minded the cafe carnage. lar nation of 160mn people. Bangladesh’s courts have It shot to prominence when India-Nepal to also accelerated the pros- it carried out a co-ordinated have joint panel ecution of Islamist extrem- bombing attack in August ists, sparking concern among 2005, that involved more than meeting soon rights activists who say such 400 small blasts across the India and Nepal will have a actions may be politically country. joint commission meeting at motivated. Arif’s body was buried amid the end of this month in New Attorney General Mah- tight security in his home Delhi to discuss the expedite bubey Alam said the govern- town shortly after his execu- implementation of all ongoing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with visiting World Bank Group president Jim Young Kim at a function in Dhaka yesterday on the occasion of ment was “trying to fast-track tion, local police chief Pankaj projects between both countries. International Day for Eradication of Poverty. all the militant-related cases”, Chandra Roy said. The agreements were reached between both the countries in the bilateral meeting of Brics- Bimstec Outreach Summit held in Goa. “India and Nepal have agreed to EU to discuss reconstitution expedite implementation of all Suspect in activist ongoing projects particularly in the developmental and energy sectors and also the community of Bangladesh poll panel based projects,” said Indian ministry of external aff airs (MEA) murders arrested off icial spokesperson Vikas By Mizan Rahman Mayaudon said, “(the year) tion Mission ahead of the last Swarup. Dhaka 2019 is still far away but it’s not national election boycotted by “The next meeting of India-Nepal so much far actually.” Bangladesh Nationalist Party AFP idun Nabi took part in Samad’s Ansar is one of two homeg- joint commission will be held The EU ambassador was (BNP) saying the EU remains Dhaka killing,” said Monirul Islam, rown extremist outfi ts accused in New Delhi later this month n a signifi cant develop- speaking at a function in Dhaka. nonetheless ready to observe head of Dhaka police’s counter- in the recent wave of murders, to review comprehensively all ment, the European Union Mayaudon said co-opera- the elections should the po- terrorism unit. and had claimed responsibility aspects of the bilateral co- I(EU) will discuss reconsti- tion between the EU and Bang- litical conditions allow for the angladesh police said “They all carried sharp weap- for Samad’s killing. operation,” he added. tution of the election commis- ladesh is driven by modernity holding of ‘transparent, inclu- yesterday they have ar- ons and one carried a fi rearm. Nabi’s arrest was announced Swarup also said that Prime sion (EC) in Bangladesh at its and at the same time by a sense sive and credible elections.’ Brested the main suspect They hacked Nazimuddin with hours after Bangladesh executed Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal December joint commission of sharing common values The present election commis- in the murders of a gay activist the sharp weapons and later shot a militant leader of the outlawed Dahal also shared Nepal’s eff ort meeting in Brussels as the ten- with the people of Bangladesh, sion in Bangladesh has whopped and a secular blogger who wrote him when people started to gath- Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangla- to form broad consciences from ure of the current EC expires in namely democracy and human up bitter criticism among all cir- against radical Islam. er around,” he told reporters. desh (JMB) over a 2005 blast that the Himal Pahar to the Madhesi February next year. rights as enshrined in article cles including development part- They say Rashidun Nabi is killed two judges. region in the summit. “We’ve a history of co-oper- 1 of the EU-Bangladesh 2001 ners as various elections super- the main suspect in the murder “They all carried sharp The government has blamed He further said that Dahal also ation between the EU and the co-operation agreement. vised it were marred by massive of 26-year-old law student and weapons and one carried JMB for a deadly July 1 attack in raised the concern of Nepal on election commission in Bang- In line with the commit- rigging by ruling party muscle- blogger Nazimuddin Samad and a fi rearm. They hacked an upmarket Dhaka cafe where 22 anti-dumping investigation on ladesh. So this is very much on ments undertaken by the EU men and partisan poll offi cials ap- gay activist Xulhaz Mannan, Nazimuddin with the sharp people, mostly foreigners, were jute products. top of our agenda,” said Pierre and Bangladesh under the co- pointed by the EC on being recom- who were brutally hacked to weapons and later shot killed by suspected militants. In September, India and Nepal Mayaudon, the EU ambassa- operation agreement on part- mended by the party in power. death in April. him when people started to Bangladesh security forces signed three agreements, dor and head of delegation to nership and development, the As the next general elec- Bangladesh has seen a spate gather around” have launched a deadly new including new dollar credit line Bangladesh, yesterday. seventh EU-Bangladesh Joint tion in Bangladesh is due in of gruesome attacks on secular crackdown against Islamist ex- agreement of USD 750 million for He mentioned about the EU Commission was held in Dhaka 2019, the election commission, activists, religious minorities, Dhaka police spokesman tremists following the cafe siege, post-earthquake reconstruction. subcommittee on democracy, in November 2015. which is to supervise the cru- bloggers, gay rights activists Masudur Rahman said Nabi was which has shaken the image of The other two agreements governance and human rights The joint commission cial polls, has to be neutral and and foreigners, many of whom also a suspect in Mannan’s mur- Bangladesh as a moderate Mus- include a memorandum issues under which the issue meeting took place aiming at independent acceptable to the have been hacked to death with der, and in an attack on publish- lim nation. for project management of future election commission strengthening partnership in opposition parties. machetes. er Ahmedur Rashid Tutul. Since July, police have shot consultancy services for will be discussed at the joint the areas of governance, human Analysts said, for the last Counter-terrorism offi cers A police statement said Nabi dead nearly 40 suspected ex- upgradation/improvement of commission meeting sched- rights and migration; trade and several years, more than half of said they detained Nabi at a bus was a member of Ansar al-Islam, tremists including JMB’s new road infrastructure in Tarai of uled for December 20. economic co-operation and Bangladesh’s total exports have station in the capital Dhaka, al- also known as Ansarullah Bangla leader Tamim Chowdhury, a Nepal and first amendatory dollar Responding to a question development co-operation. gone to the EU. In 2015, Bang- leging he was the ringleader in Team, which purports to be the Canadian citizen of Bangladeshi credit line for post-earthquake on the next general election The EU refrained from de- ladesh exported goods worth Samad’s killing. Bangladesh branch of Al Qaeda descent who allegedly master- reconstruction projects in Nepal. in Bangladesh, ambassador ploying any Election Observa- more than 15bn euro. “Five people including Rash- in the Indian subcontinent. minded the cafe carnage. Gulf Times 26 Tuesday, October 18, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: C P Ravindran UN urban plan needs

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar targets to measure success [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), The world’s fast-growing technology and fi nancial resources that 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) cities from Dhaka to Lagos can be deployed to recycle waste or Fax 44350474 build greener transport systems, among face the same challenges other things. But collaboration has been – from managing waste to inadequate, Solheim said. easing congestion and air “They must be a partner in the thinking from day one,” he said. pollution When it comes to dealing with climate GULF TIMES change, the best way to reduce planet- By Megan Rowling warming emissions from cities – which Thomson Reuters Foundation/Barcelona account for more than 70% of the global total – is by addressing concerns over Unfashionable Murray UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is public health, Solheim said. major summit on cities taking seen in a big screen as he delivers a “The more cities focus on local place in Ecuador this week speech during the opening ceremony pollution, the more likely they are to must consider setting targets Erik Solheim: executive director of the of the Habitat III conference in Quito succeed (in tackling climate change)... looking good for Ato measure the success of UN Environment Programme. yesterday. It is the strongest driver for change,” pledges outlined in an ambitious 20- he said, noting this has been the case in year plan for urban development, the targets, otherwise it will be very “There are any number of solutions China. world number one United Nations’ environment chief said diffi cult,” he told the Thomson Reuters to all these problems... and since the A study issued on Monday by the yesterday. Foundation on his way to Ecuador. “You problems are so similar, it would be an Organisation for Economic Co- In Quito, some 140 governments are need to compare, and (for that) you enormous waste if we don’t do more to operation and Development (OECD) Andy Murray has never been the most fashionable expected to sign up to a non-binding need targets.” compare notes,” the former Norwegian said annual deaths in Africa from member of tennis’ ‘Big Four’, but he fi nally looks the part vision for sustainable cities that UNEP plans to push for objectives development and environment minister outdoor air pollution – mostly caused includes 175 commitments, but analysts and targets on improving air and said. by road transport, power generation as he zeroes in on the world number one spot. have criticised it for lacking specifi c water quality in cities, reducing Solheim, who was in Rwanda at the and industry – rose by 36% to around Winning back-to-back titles in China without goals or timelines. waste, boosting renewable energy and weekend to help secure a global deal to 250,000 between 1990 and 2013. dropping a set tells its own story, and underlines the More than 45,000 government expanding green spaces – but Quito may cut greenhouse gases, cited the example The death toll rose in tandem with the leaders, academics, planners and not yield fi rm decisions, experts say. of Kigali’s waste management system, continent’s steady and rapid urbanisation, consensus that Murray is currently the world’s best campaigners have gathered for the UN Solheim said indicators being which he said was the best in Africa “a megatrend set to continue to unfold player. Habitat III conference which is tasked developed to measure the new UN thanks to a combination of personal and throughout this century and which makes with working out how the “New Urban Sustainable Development Goals agreed municipal action, spurred by top-level bold action to tackle and reverse the The 29-year-old swept past Roberto Bautista to win Agenda” will be put into practice over last year – which include cities – could political leadership. impact of air pollution even more urgent”, his third Shanghai Masters title on Sunday, lifting his the next two decades. be used, as well as new ones set by a He also recently visited Mumbai in the OECD said. sixth trophy in what has been his best season yet. Erik Solheim, who took the reins range of organisations. India, where he said residents have Solheim said the key to cleaner, safer as executive director of the UN He urged city offi cials attending the joined weekly clean-ups to help rid the cities lay with good urban planning – It could get better for Murray, who can overtake Novak Environment Programme (UNEP) in Quito conference to look for innovative city’s beaches of plastic waste. including allowing for green spaces, Djokovic at the top of the rankings with wins in Vienna August, said targets would be needed ideas that could be applied back home. “When citizens are involved like providing public transport, and and Paris, provided the Serb doesn’t reach the Paris so that cities could see whether their The world’s fast-growing cities from that, it also puts pressure on business preventing urban sprawl. eff orts were successful, and learn from Dhaka to Lagos face the same challenges to act, and on city governments to start “If you allow cities to grow fi nal. one another. – from managing waste to easing curbing the problem,” he said. unplanned in all directions, there is no It hasn’t done Murray any harm that Djokovic has “We need defi nitely to move towards congestion and air pollution, he noted. The private sector has substantial limit to your problems,” he said. suff ered a sudden and perplexing dip in form, and that Roger Federer is sidelined by injury. Rafael Nadal is also a fading force but Murray would be a deserving successor as the last of the four, who have 46 Grand Slam titles between them, to reach number one. Stop alienation Weather report What’s more, Murray, often marked out for his Three-day forecast anguished demeanour on court, is growing into the role TODAY of eminent tour-leader in the mould of Djokovic and High: 34 C of immigrant Low : 25 C Federer before him. Expected poor horizontal visibility at places at first. The one-time gawky kid still berates himself during matches but he is far more comfortable with the media, WEDNESDAY giving fulsome and intelligent answers to all questions. communities High: 34 C He is also prepared to defend and mentor younger Low: 24 C players such as the wayward Nick Kyrgios, whose latest Sunny By Salam al-Marayati arrival of more Muslim immigrants on-court meltdown resulted in a fi ne in Shanghai and Los Angeles Times/TNS or refugees from Syria but rather the a ban from the alienation of immigrant communities. THURSDAY Marginalisation and stigmatisation of High: 36 C It hasn’t done governing body ATP. hen Aliou Niasse, a particular populations endangers us Low: 24 C Physically, Muslim immigrant from all, not only because we lose invaluable Sunny Murray any harm too, Murray is Senegal, noticed and allies in the fi ght against homegrown reported smoke coming terrorism, but also because these at his peak, with W that Djokovic has from a car parked in Times Square in very factors create disaff ection and Fishermen’s forecast May 2010, he prevented a terrorist exacerbate anti-social behaviour. supreme fi tness OFFSHORE DOHA suff ered a sudden attack and saved lives. Police were able Stigmatising Muslim immigrants Wind: NE-NW 03-13 KT and acceleration to disarm a car bomb before it caused and refugees – and those of other Waves: 1-3 Feet and perplexing dip that can shift his any casualties. Niasse was working as religions and national origins – INSHORE DOHA a street vendor, not an unusual job for fractures society and gives our Wind: E-NE 05-12 KT now-hulking frame Waves: 1-2 Feet a new immigrant in the US. “If I see a enemies an edge. It threatens in form, and that around the court at terrorist,” he said then, “I am going to the stability and the resilience Around the region Roger Federer is frightening speeds. catch him before he runs away.” of the United States. Resisting Weather Weather He has reached Six years later, on September marginalisation makes us more united today Max/min tomorrow Max/min sidelined by injury 16, 2016, a homemade bomb was against terrorist threats; it enriches Abu Dhabi Sunny 37/25 Sunny 37/24 three Slam fi nals detonated in New York’s Chelsea society and makes us safer. Baghdad M Sunny 36/17 Sunny 36/17 district, and was soon linked to other Earlier this month, the Chicago Dubai Sunny 35/26 Sunny 35/26 this year, winning Kuwait City devices found in Manhattan and New Council on Global Aff airs and the Sunny 35/21 Sunny 35/21 his second Wimbledon title and also becoming the fi rst Manama Sunny 33/24 Sunny 33/24 Jersey. Afghan immigrant Mohamed Bipartisan Policy Center released Muscat Sunny 32/24 Sunny 33/26 man to successfully defend the Olympic singles gold. Rahami, the father of the suspect, said a report examining immigration, Riyadh Sunny 36/19 Sunny 34/19 Murray hired British coach Jamie Delgado this year he had called authorities to report his national security and public safety. Tehran P Cloudy 23/12 Sunny 22/13 son’s erratic behaviour. “Two years The “best inoculation” against and Ivan Lendl’s return to his team in June was quickly ago, I called the FBI,” Rahami said. immediate and future security threats followed by victory at Wimbledon. He hasn’t looked “My son he’s doing really bad, OK?” comes from “co-operation and During the second presidential building trust with immigrant and back since. debate, Donald Trump called on other communities”, it concluded. Obstacles remain though, and Murray is wary of a Muslims who come into the United Rather than seeking security by return to form by Djokovic, conservatively predicting States to “report when they see blocking immigrants with border something going on”. As Niasse and walls and restrictive policies, the that February or March represent his best chance of Rahami illustrate, and as the FBI report suggested that rationalising reaching the world number one peak. has attested, Muslim immigrants the immigration system with “I will try and fi nish this year as strong as I can. And have already stepped up as allies to comprehensive reform will make law enforcement. Newcomers to America’s immigrant culture into a next year if the opportunity is there to reach number this country from the Middle East strong national security asset. one, then I want to try and take it,” he says. “It’s going to and South Asia, many of whom fl ed The election season has confl ated violence and tyranny when they came terrorism, immigration and refugee be a tough thing to achieve that. I’m aware of that. I’m here, are especially aware of the threat resettlement in ugly ways. But it has close-ish right now, but it’s going to be really tough still.” posed to America and to Islam by also sparked a productive dialogue It has been some journey for Murray, who survived terrorism. about the need for reforming Yet paradoxically, even as immigration policies and creating the 1996 Dunblane school massacre when he was eight immigrants and refugees are stronger systems to welcome and and moved to Spain to further his tennis career when invaluable in the fi ght against resettle newcomers as neighbours, terrorism, they are subject to anti- colleagues and contributors to our he was 15. But if he keeps his current trajectory, it won’t Around the world Muslim bias and stereotypes that see communities, and as partners with – Weather Weather be long before he becomes Britain’s fi rst world number all Muslims as potential terrorists. not suspects of – law enforcement. today Max/min tomorrow Max/min one under the ATP’s computerised rankings, which were That image is projected on refugee and The Islamic State spreads the lie Athens P Cloudy 19/12 Sunny 21/12 immigrant communities by violent that Muslims do not belong in the Beirut M Sunny 27/22 Sunny 26/19 introduced in 1973. extremists in the Middle East and West, especially in America. And Bangkok T Storms 32/26 M Cloudy 32/26 Berlin Showers 14/09 Showers 11/06 xenophobes in the United States, yet Muslim citizens, refugees and Cairo P Cloudy 31/19 P Cloudy 29/18 and it is based on a false narrative – a immigrants know that the United Cape Town Cloudy 22/14 Sunny 28/15 To Advertise speech that Islam and the West are at States can be for them what it has been Colombo S T Storms 31/25 S T Storms 30/25 war, and always will be. for so many others: the last best hope. Dhaka Sunny 33/24 Sunny 33/24 28/26 [email protected] Muslim immigrants and refugees The narrative that we in America Hong Kong T Storms 27/27 Rain Istanbul Cloudy 16/11 M Cloudy 18/12 Display – as well as native-born Muslims as a country choose will not only Jakarta P Cloudy 32/25 P Cloudy 32/25 – shouldn’t be viewed as a security demonstrate this nation’s values, it Karachi T Storms 32/25 S T Storms 32/25 Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 risk. The Qur’an tells us to protect will determine the trajectory of our London Showers 13/07 M Sunny 14/08 life, not to destroy it. Like every good national security and our struggle Manila S T Storms 32/25 I T Storms 31/26 Classified Moscow Cloudy Cloudy 04/01 American and person of faith, when against terrorism. 04/01 Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 New Delhi Sunny 35/19 Sunny 36/19 we see criminal activity, we report it to New York Sunny 28/21 M Sunny 28/19 Subscription the authorities. Everyone appreciates zSalam al-Marayati is president of Paris M Cloudy 17/07 P Cloudy 15/07 the eff ectiveness of neighbourhood the Muslim Public Aff airs Council Sao Paulo P Cloudy 34/21 I T Storms 34/21 [email protected] P Cloudy Sunny 23/11 watch programmes; they aren’t about which seeks to improve public Seoul 22/11 Singapore S T Storms 32/26 S T Storms 32/26 spying on each other but collective understanding and policies that impact Sydney Cloudy 26/13 Sunny 21/12 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved protection. American Muslims by engaging the US Tokyo Cloudy 26/17 Cloudy 24/16 What threatens America isn’t the government, media and communities. Gulf Times Tuesday, October 18, 2016 27 QATAR

Exhibition focuses on key moments in Iraq’s history

atar Museums (QM) a lasting memory of all that has opened ‘Frag- has been lost. In an interview Qments, an exhibition by between Obaidi and art cura- Mahmoud Obaidi,’ yesterday tor, critic and historian of art, at QM Gallery in Katara – the Hans Ulrich Obrist, published Cultural Village, Building 10. in an accompanying exhibition Presented under the leader- publication, Obaidi recalled he ship of its QM chairperson HE did a study of what has been The new Porsche models were launched yesterday at Porsche Centre Doha by Salman al-Darwish and other officials. PICTURE: Thajudheen Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Ha- looted from Iraq and what has mad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the been destroyed. major solo exhibition, running Khalid Yousef al-Ibrahim, until January 30, 2017, by the chief strategic planning offi cer contemporary Iraqi-Canadian at QM, recalled that Obaidi is artist is a response to the de- a longstanding friend of QM. struction of Iraq after the in- “He has made a signifi cant im- vasion of 2003. pact to the development of arts New Porsche models reveal Fragments sees Obaidi try- and culture in Qatar, through ing to recreate all that has both his great work at the Fire been stolen or destroyed in Station Artist in Residence the country as he grapples initiative and now through his with the loss of 7,000 years solo exhibition.” of history in a fraction of that “Fragments is one of technological upgrades time. Obaidi’s most striking and In this major exhibition, he thought-provoking exhibi- orsche Centre Doha chairman and CEO, Salman time and thanks to the new Dy- engine specifi cally tailored to sills showcasing “Platinum traces the trail of destruction tions yet.” launched in Qatar the all- al-Darwish, said: “Porsche is namic Boost function, react as the vehicle. The turbocharged Edition” lettering, are com- through a series of installa- Highlights of the exhibition Pnew 718 Cayman, Macan always at the cutting edge of spontaneously as naturally aspi- two-litre engine delivers 252hp plemented further by leather tions, each connected by a include artworks such as the with a four-cylinder engine technological advancement rated engines. and comes standard with a sev- sport seats, Alcantara centre rope representing the ‘organ- ‘Untitled,’ which addresses the and the Cayenne Platinum Edi- and this instance is no dif- When equipped with the en-speed PDK dual clutch trans- panels and the Porsche crest on ised chaos’ let loose upon Iraq. signifi cance of the fall of the tion yesterday, representing the ferent. The new 718 Cayman, optional, seven-speed Por- mission. all headrests. From installations recount- statue of Saddam Hussein in brand’s latest developments in Macan and Cayenne Platinum sche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe The base model is capable of The models’ expanded range ing signifi cant moments in April 2003. performance, comfort and ef- Edition models showcase en- (PDK) and Sport Chrono Pack- reaching 100km/h in 6.7 sec- of features improves comfort Iraq’s recent history such as It was described as marking fi ciency across a range of seg- hanced attributes embedded age, the 718 Cayman sprints onds, reduced to 6.5 seconds and safety. Standard equipment a toppled statue of Saddam the symbolic conclusion of the ments. with the signature Porsche from 0-100km/h in 4.7 seconds, with the optional Sport Chro- in the Cayenne Platinum Edi- Hussein, through to installa- Battle of Baghdad. As the latest mid-engine DNA to ensure the sportiest whilst the S version achieves no-Package. Its top speed is tion includes Bi-xenon head- tions off ering a perspective on The Remains of a Ravaged coupe from the Stuttgart-based drive in its segment, whilst at the same in 4.2 seconds. The 229km/h with a fuel consump- lights with the Porsche Dynam- the life of a modern day Iraqi City installation, which spans manufacturer, the 718 Cayman is the same time offering com- top speed for the base model is tion between 7.4/100km and ic Light System, Power Steering family, and installations car- almost eight metres, is a state- now stronger and sportier than fort and exclusivity.” 275km/h; its sibling tops out at 7.2/100 km/h. Plus and ParkAssist in the front rying remnants of ancient Iraqi ment on a large scale about ever before. The model range The base model 718 Cayman 285km/h. Designed to be particularly and rear. culture, the exhibition off ers the destruction of Iraq and the features newly turbocharged en- is now driven by a newly de- The new model has under- sporty and effi cient, the Macan A non-metallic black or white artist’s sense of loss. Behind gines, reworked design and an veloped, 2-litre, 300hp engine gone comprehensive design features a powerful 370 Newton fi nish is standard, with Deep the aggressively applied black improved chassis. with innovative turbocharging, enhancements with only the metres of torque ranging be- Black, Purpurite, Mahogany, brush strokes, Obaidi depicts Macan with a four-cylinder as well as a substantial torque luggage compartment lid, roof tween 1,600 rpm and 4,500 rpm, Carrara White and Rhodium Sil- a riot of partially obscured fi g- engine is the newest addi- increase of 35% to 380 Newton and windscreen left unchanged. capable of converting engine ver metallic paints available as ures, evoking a sense of men- tion to Porsche’s compact SUV metres. Inside, a newly developed in- power into exceptionally sporty an option. ace and unease. range. As the entry-level model The 718 Cayman S boasts 2.5 strument panel redefi nes the conditions. Standard Porsche Additional high-end stand- Obaidi was born in 1966 in for Porsche in this segment, it litres of engine displacement cockpit. Traction Management, agile ard features include the latest Iraq. His artistic career has boasts the brand’s typical sports and 350hp, with a maximum The latest generation of Por- suspension and precise steering generation PCM system and the been marked by transition, car performance. torque at 420 Newton metres, sche Communication Man- all add to the dynamic perform- BOSE Surround Sound speak- confl ict, fragmentation and The Cayenne Platinum Edi- all resulting in more power right agement (PCM) with a state- ance of the car. ers. exile, and his work encom- tion represents elegance and from the start and additional of-the-art touchscreen is also The new Cayenne Platinum The basic retail price of the passes sculpture, conceptual sophistication, featuring exclu- output for cornering fun, at en- included as standard. Edition model features large new models is as follows: 718 objects, fi lm and painting, sive design elements and an en- gine speeds between 1,900 and Merging true sports car per- 20-inch wheels in RS Spyder Cayman – QR208,000; 718 Cay- forming a series of politically- hanced sporty appearance. 4,500 rpm. formance with everyday drive design, housed in wider wheel man S – QR235,100; Macan – charged fragments which are Speaking of the new ar- With the new turbo engines, comfort, the new Macan now arches. The exclusive interi- QR184,100; Cayenne Platinum brought together within this rivals, Porsche Centre Doha the coupes accelerate in record features a four-cylinder turbo ors, with stainless steel door Edition – QR286,700. exhibition. In conjunction with the show, QM will also publish a book on this exhibition, docu- menting Obaidi’s work and ca- reer. Saleh Al Hamad al-Mana Co. is the offi cial sponsor of Wakrah Municipality in pact with QGBC Operation Freedom Iraq Family the Mahmoud Obaidi exhibi- sculpture. tion. to spread awareness on sustainability

l Wakrah Municipality and Qatar Green Building Council (QGBC), Aa member of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, yesterday signed a memo- randum of understanding (MoU) in the fi eld of sustainable development. The MoU was signed by Al Wakrah Municipality director Mansour Ajran al-Buainain, and QGBC director Meshal al-Shamari. The MoU is aimed at spreading aware- ness on sustainability in urban environ- ment, providing training and exchange of technical support to benefi t each other through expertise and experiences of lo- cal and international partners. In addition, the MoU would aim at conducting related researches for the Meshal al-Shamari and Mansour Ajran al-Buainain exchanging papers after signing an MoU yesterday. benefi t of all the involved parties. Remains of a Ravages City sculpture. DIFI grant for research on confl ict and Arab families

By Joseph Varghese conference, held under the Staff Reporter theme, ‘The Impact of Wars and Confl icts on Arab Families’, ex- plored family formation, socio- he Doha International economic impact of wars on Family Institute (DIFI), families, and gender dimensions Twill provide funding up during confl icts. to $50,000 a year for research- Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa ers from Qatar and other Arab al-Thani, special envoy of the countries to conduct studies on Arab League Secretary Gen- the impact of wars on the family eral for Humanitarian Aff airs; structure. Rami Khouri, senior fellow, Is- “The Osra Research Grant is sam Fares Institute, American off ered in collaboration with the University Beirut; Luay Shaba- Qatar National Research Fund,” na, regional director of Arab announced Noor al-Malki al- States, United Nations Popula- Jehani, executive director of DIFI tion Fund; and Nahla Haidar, at the second annual conference member of the Convention on on Family Research and Policy The panellists at the inaugural plenary session. PICTURES: Shemeer Rasheed the Elimination of all Forms of that was opened yesterday. Discrimination Against Women “This is the second edition of explained. Al-Jehani also under- impacts of wars and confl icts. well as policymakers. At the end Committee, took part in the the grant to fund research on the scored the importance of putting “The conference provides a of the conference we will have fi rst plenary session, moderated impacts of confl ict on family for- families, the smallest units in the platform for policy debate. The a session dedicated to research by Amal Mohamed al-Malki, mation and breakdown, parent- society at the core of research confl icts all over the Arab world methodologies in such situa- founding dean, College of Hu- child relationships, and the poli- initiatives, discussions, debates and its eff ects on families should tions,” she added. manities and Social Sciences at cies related to these topics,” she and policymaking in tackling the be a priority for researchers as The fi rst day of the two-day Hamad Bin Khalifa University. Noor al-Malki al-Jehani