BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 8 Legendary Pakistan batsman Hanif INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 IEA sees oil market ARAB WORLD BUSINESS Mohamed 3, 4 1-12 rebalancing despite 18,613.52 10,953.31 43.37 INTERNATIONAL 5-16 CLASSIFIED 9 +117.86 -41.10 +1.66 ISLAM 17 SPORT 1-8 record Gulf output dies +0.64% -0.37% +3.98% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

FRIDAY Vol. XXXVII No. 10178 August 12, 2016 Dhul-Qa’da 9, 1437 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Qatar draw with Tunisia

In brief Number

REGION | Justice of hotel Saudi puts 14 on trial over deadly crane crash Trial has begun for 14 people in connection to a crane collapse in Saudi Arabia last year that killed 110 people and injured more than 200 rooms set at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, local newspapers reported yesterday. The defendants face charges of negligence, damaging public and private properties, and violating safety rules, the Saudi newspaper Okaz reported. The trial, to rise which is taking place in Jeddah, began on Wednesday but was only made By Joey Aguilar four-star segment in 2015. Across the public yesterday. The case is related Qatar Olympic Committee president HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani (second from right), secretary-general Dr Thani Staff Reporter entire hotel segment, average room to the fall of a 1,350-tonne crane amid Abdulrahman al-Kuwari (third from right) and Qatar Handball Association president Ahmed Mohamed al-Shaabi attend Qatar’s rates (ARR) fell by 5.7% year-on-year fierce winds in September 2015. handball match against Tunisia at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro yesterday. The match ended in a 25-25 draw. while revenue per available room See sport pages 1-6 for more on Olympics. he number of hospitality options (RevPAR) dropped by 8.8%. in Qatar is set to increase further Five-star hotels and deluxe hotel REGION | Weather Tas 20 new properties are due apartments raised ARRs by 3.8% but Kuwait’s temperature to open this year, the Oxford Business earned 2.6% less in RevPARs as occu- Group (OBG) has said. pancy dropped by four points last year. to break 50C mark With this, some 4,000 rooms will be The recently-issued tourism per- Kuwait will reach a high temperature added to the local market, OBG has ob- formance summary of QTA revealed a of over 50C by the end of the France ‘concerned’ by Syria served in its 2016 report. drop in occupancy levels in the fi rst half week, according to the off icial at “As Qatar prepares to host major of 2016 compared to the same period Directorate General of Civil Aviation events, such as the 2022 FIFA World last year. An average of 64% occupancy (DGCA). Kuwaiti news agency Cup, room supply is on track to more was recorded across all hotels and hotel KUNA reported yesterday that the chemical attack reports than double with 56 hotels and 13 ho- apartments in the country in the fi rst maximum temperature will be tel apartment buildings planned for the six months of 2016. between 48 and 51C with light to next fi ve years, bringing an additional “The drop was generated in part by a moderate northwesterly winds with AFP to verify such reports but that “there arms stockpile had been completely estimated 26,650 rooms,” the report 10% net increase in the number of avail- a speed of 12 to 32 kilometres per Paris is a lot of evidence that it actually did destroyed. pointed out. “Of these, 20 properties able rooms, as four new properties have hour, and a minimum temperature take place”. But concerns remain that unde- are due to open in 2016, increasing opened their doors since the end of June of 33 to 36C. Tomorrows’s maximum “If it did take place, it is a war crime clared amounts of sarin gas and other room supply by 4,000.” 2015,” QTA had said in a press statement. temperature could reach up to 53C. rance yesterday expressed alarm and as such it would require everyone chemical weapons are still being used. The rise in hotel stock this year will QTA fi nds the occupancy rate across at reports of a deadly chemical to address it immediately,” he added. Last week, the defence ministry of mark a continuation of the trend seen all hotels steady over the past two years Fattack Wednesday in the Syrian In the past two years there have Russia, a staunch ally of Assad, ac- in 2015, when supply increased by 5,000 despite the increasing number of prop- ASEAN | Explosions battleground city of Aleppo. been numerous allegations of chemi- cused rebels in Aleppo of killing seven to reach over 20,700 rooms with the erties in the hospitality sector. Bombs in Thai resort Foreign Minister Jean-Marc cal weapons being used against civil- people in an attack using a “poisonous opening of some 20 new properties in “We recognise that the number of Ayrault said in a statement he was ians, both by President Bashar al-As- agent”. the country, the report observed, citing visitors will peak during the 2022 FIFA kill one, injure nine “concerned by reports of a new sad’s regime and the rebels trying to The Russian claim came on the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) records. World Cup in Qatar, and our strategy Two bombs exploded in the Thai chemical attack that is said to have oust him. heels of reports that two dozen people There was an increase of around 30% aims to deliver everything needed for a seaside resort of Hua Hin yesterday, claimed four lives and left dozens The United Nations and the Organi- had suff ered breathing diffi culties in last year compared to 2014, OBG said. successful World Cup while safeguard- killing one woman and injuring injured.” sation for the Prohibition of Chemical the rebel-held town of Saraqeb, after However, the rising stock and grow- ing all the local and foreign investors 10 people, Thai police said. The He added: “I strongly condemn all Weapons (OPCW) are due to report a barrel bomb attack there that resi- ing competition saw the occupancy by ensuring that they only build what explosions happened ahead of a attacks on the civilian population, later this month on their investigation dents claimed used chlorine gas. rate decrease from 73.1% in 2014 to can be sustained overtime,” QTA’s chief public holiday today to mark the particularly those in which chemical into nine chemical weapons attacks in Ayrault laid the blame for the fi ve- 70.7% in 2015. “Hotel performance in tourism development offi cer Hassan birthday of Queen Sirikit. Hua Hin weapons are used.” 2014 and 2015. year war that has cost nearly 300,000 2015 showed prices, earnings and oc- Adbdulrahman al-Ibrahim said in an is a popular upscale Thai resort Asked about the reported attack Ayrault said he would be “particu- lives on “the cynical attitude of the cupancy all down for the year as new interview with OBG. south of Bangkok and many yesterday during a news conference in larly attentive” to their fi ndings. (Assad) regime and its supporters who stock came online and competition He noted that they were planning to people will have gone there for Geneva, the UN envoy to Syria, Staff an In January, the OPCW announced are preventing any political solution in tightened,” the report said. use cruise ships as temporary accom- the holiday weekend. The second de Mistura, said it was not in his remit that all of Syria’s declared chemical Syria.” Page 4 Meanwhile, OBG noted a 0.7-point modation that would add to the current bomb exploded near a bar at about rise (to 76.5%) in occupancy in the stock of hotel rooms. 10:20pm (1320 GMT), killing a Thai woman and injuring eight foreigners and one other Thai person, the local deputy police chief said. Erdogan approval rating soars Paris slams Israeli demolition EUROPE | Tensions Ukraine puts troops AFP rise of 21 points over the previous poll ing his third term as prime minister, of French-funded buildings Ankara in late June, Ankara-based Metropoll Metropoll said. on combat alert research company said. In August 2014, Erdogan was elect- Ukrainian President Petro The failed grab for power by part of ed president with 52% of the vote. Reuters stallations in Nebi Samuel last week, Poroshenko has ordered the military urkish President Recep Tayy- the military on July 15 has unleashed a His opinion polls since that election Paris was the third time this year that build- to be on combat alert on the de ip Erdogan’s approval rating surge in national unity, of which Er- had, until now, been less than 50%. ings funded by French humanitarian facto border with Crimea and in the Tsoared by over 20 percentage dogan has been the benefi ciary. Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet aid had been demolished or confi scated country’s two easternmost regions points after last month’s failed coup, All opposition parties denounced Simsek said the rating surge showed rance yesterday condemned by Israeli authorities, a foreign minis- amid tensions with Russia. “I have reaching the highest level since his the putsch, and many of the public are “strong public support for his han- the Israeli army’s demolition try spokesman said. ordered all forces in the regions election two years ago, a poll said yes- tired of the coups which have dogged dling of the coup attempt” on his of- Fof French-funded buildings in Among them, in February, was a of the administrative cordon with terday. Turkey since 1960. fi cial Twitter account. a Palestinian village in the occupied school. “We urge Israeli authorities to Crimea and all contact lines in the In a survey of 1,275 people conduct- Based on its surveys since 2012, Er- Prime Minister Binali Yildirim also West Bank, saying it was a violation of stop these operations, that are in con- Donbass to maintain increased ed between July 28 and August 1, Er- dogan’s highest approval rating was received a boost, with approval rising international law. travention of international law,” the combat readiness.” Page 10 dogan’s approval rating was 67.6%, a 71.1% in late 2013 when he was serv- by 18 percentage points to 58%. The demolition of agricultural in- spokesman said. Guns, tractors threaten wildlife more than climate: study

AFP rhinoceros – prized in China for bogus extinction crisis,” said lead author Sean a month before a crucial meeting of the warming impacts such as rising seas, tered a “mass extinction event” in Paris medicines made from its horn – over Maxwell, a professor at the University International Union for Conservation drought and superstorms. which species are disappearing 1,000 the edge. of Queensland in Australia. of Nature (IUCN), a policy-oriented The agreement – which could be rat- to 10,000 times more quickly than a And more than half of the 8,688 spe- These threats, rather than climate umbrella grouping of governments, ifi ed as early as this year – calls for the century or two ago. he main driver of wildlife extinc- cies of animals and plants evaluated are change, “must be at the forefront of industry and NGOs that meets every mobilisation of hundreds of billions of There have only been six such wipe- tion is not climate change but suff ering due to the conversion of their the conservation agenda,” he said in a three or four years. dollars in the coming decades. outs in the last half-billion years, some Thumanity’s rapacious harvesting natural habitats into industrial farms statement. The IUCN also manages the gold- The Nature analysis acknowledges of them claiming up to 95% of all life of species for food and trophies, along and plantations, mainly to raise live- A group of 43 top conservation ex- standard Red List of endangered spe- global warming could become an in- forms. with our ever-expanding agricultural stock and grow commodity crops for perts, meanwhile, issued a public ap- cies, tracking and cataloguing the creasingly dominant menace for biodi- “It is hard to exaggerate just how footprint, said researchers pleading for fuel or food. peal recently to save the world’s dwin- health of Earth’s fl ora and fauna. versity in the coming decades. dramatic the threat to Earth’s species a reset of conservation priorities. By comparison, only 19% of these dling terrestrial megafauna, from big Climate change has overshadowed “But, overwhelmingly, the most im- really is,” Watson said. In an analysis of nearly 9,000 species are currently aff ected by cli- cats to elephants to giant apes. more traditional conservation pri- mediate threat comes from agriculture Other conservationists were critical “threatened” or “near-threatened” mate change, they reported in a study “They are vanishing just as science orities over the last decade, siphoning and over-exploitation,” said co-author of both the Nature analysis, and the ac- species, the scientists found that three- published in the peer-reviewed journal is discovering their essential ecological limited resources – and cash – away James Watson, a biodiversity expert at companying appeal. quarters are being over-exploited for Nature. roles,” they wrote in BioSciences. from more urgent needs, the authors the Wildlife Conservation Society. “There is no need to see tradeoff s commerce, recreation or subsistence. Conservation budgets, the research- Unless funding to save them increas- argued. “Unless we tackle these problems among diff erent conservation priorities Demand for meat and body parts, ers argued, must refl ect this reality. es at least tenfold, they “may not sur- In December, 195 nations inked the now, many species may disappear by – we need them all,” Peter MacIntyre, for example, have driven the Western “Addressing the old foes of overhar- vive to the 22nd century,” they added. Paris Agreement, the fi rst global pact the time the full impacts of climate an expert on the ecology of fresh-water gorilla and Chinese pangolin to near vesting and agricultural activities are The provocative appeal in Nature – to curb greenhouse gas emissions and change really kicks.” systems at the University of Wisconsin, extinction, and pushed the Sumatran key to turning around the biodiversity which elicited sharp reactions – comes help poor countries cope with global Earth, he pointed out, has now en- said. Gulf Times 2 Friday, August 12, 2016 QATAR

Chief of Staff meets Turkish PM Official Envoys present credentials

Emir sends cable of congratulations to Chad president

HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, HH the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno on the anniversary of his country’s Independence Day. Public security chief meets envoy of Singapore

HE the Director General of Public Prime Minister of Turkey Binali Yildirim received HE the Chief of Staff of the Qatari Armed Forces Security Staff Major General Major General Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem in Ankara yesterday. During the meeting, they Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi met reviewed bilateral ties in the area of military co-operation between Qatar and Turkey, and ways yesterday with the outgoing of further enhancing them. The meeting was attended by Chief of General Staff of Turkish Armed ambassador of Singapore to Forces Gen. Hulusi Akar, and Qatar’s ambassador to Turkey Salim bin Mubarak al-Shafi, HE the Qatar Wong Kok Bonn in Doha Chief of Staff also held separate meetings with Minister of National Defence of Turkey Fikri Isik and yesterday. Chief of General Staff of Turkish Armed Forces Gen Hulusi Akar. Talks dealt with bilateral relations and means of enhancing them. Motorists urged to keep safe distance between vehicles he Ministry of Interior on various traffi c-related issues. more important during challeng- stopped or slowed down. (MoI) has reminded mo- The advisory states that a mo- ing weather conditions such as fog The advisory reiterated that Ttorists to keep adequate torist should maintain enough and dust storms, which lead to a the driver of the car that hits an- distance between vehicles in or- distance from the vehicle in drop in visibility. Motorists should other vehicle from behind would der to avoid accidents. front as this constitutes a key el- be extra careful in such situations. be considered the off ender as s/ A distance of around 5-10m ement of safe driving practices. In a related advisory on its he did not maintain adequate needs to be maintained between This can help prevent accidents website, the MoI said statistics distance and was therefore un- two vehicles, and drivers should – in case the vehicle in front indicated that traffi c accidents able to stop on time. increase the gap if travelling at suddenly stops or slows down often took place due to the lack a high speed, the ministry has – as the driver of the car behind of suffi cient space between ve- stressed in a Facebook post. it will have adequate time and hicles, with the drivers involved Traffi c congestion The tips on safe distance come space to slow down or stop. going at a high speed and being due to accident as part of the MoI’s eff orts to raise Maintain a safe distance from unable to avoid a collision when In an update on its Twitter page awareness among people in Qatar the car in front becomes even the vehicle in front suddenly yesterday morning, the Ministry of Interior said traff ic conges- tion was reported from the Al Gharafa bridge (Immigration) on February 22 Road due to an accident. Noting that patrols were present at the site, it added: “February 22 Road users are requested to take alternative routes to avoid traf- fic disruptions and reach their destinations.” Image courtesy of MoI. HE the Minister of State for Foreign Aff airs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi received copies of the credentials of the ambassadors of Cambodia, Afghanistan and Finland to Qatar - Tan Bunpa, Faizullah Kakr and Riitta Swan, respectively, in Doha yesterday. The Minister wished the new Low visibility due to fog in the early hours today ambassadors success in their missions and bilateral relations further progress and prosperity.

ow visibility is expected in weekend, with the sea state be- Visibility may drop to 2km was 47C in Batna, followed by the northern parts of Qa- ing “slight to moderate”. or less in some places towards 46C in Sheehaniyah, Karanah Ltar in the early hours today The detailed forecast for in- the north in the early hours to- and Turayna, and 45C in the due to fog, the Met department shore areas today says hazy to day, according to the weather Qatar University area and Ju- NU-Q faculty present research has said. misty/foggy conditions are like- report. mayliyah. The weather offi ce also ly in the northern areas at fi rst, Hazy conditions, meanwhile, Today, the mercury level is ex- tweeted yesterday that suitable followed by a hot day with some are expected in off shore areas. pected to reach a high of 42C in weather conditions for off shore clouds. It will be relatively hu- Yesterday, the maximum Doha and Abu Samra, and 41C in at journalism convention in US activities were expected over the mid and hazy by night. temperature recorded in Qatar Mesaieed, Wakrah and Al Khor.

aculty members from www.mideastmedia.org/indus- Instruction; the Freedom of In- Northwestern University try/2016/). formation Act 50 Years Late: Is Fin Qatar (NU-Q) have pre- The panel also discussed the The US Law Still Serving as the Wakrah Beach clean-up drive sented their research at the an- fourth annual media use sur- Touchstone?; and the Interna- nual Association for Education vey, which examines media and tionalisation of Media Law and in Journalism and Mass Com- communication behaviour, and Policy. munication (AEJMC) conference political and cultural attitudes Martin also presented a pa- in the US. in the Middle East. Among the per, “Media use predictors of “Research conducted by key fi ndings in this year’s survey online political effi cacy among NU-Q faculty continues to con- are that soaring Internet con- Internet users in fi ve Arab coun- tribute signifi cantly to inter- nectivity in the region has pro- tries”, which was developed with national research taking place vided for more digital options, NU-Q students Ralph Martins among the leading universities and consumers in the region now and Shageaa Naqvi. Martins, a in the world. From our leading use more Arabic content and less graduate of the Class of 2016, research on communications in English (http://www.mideast- joined Prof Martin for the pres- the Middle East through usage media.org/survey/2016/). entation. and by industries, to the broader Also presenting a paper on a topics on freedom of expres- “Research conducted by faculty/student research project sion and media law and policy, NU-Q faculty continues to is Susan Dun, assistant profes- our faculty are leading voices in contribute signifi cantly sor in residence, and Syed Ow- communication and journalism to international research ais Ali, a recent NU-Q graduate. research,” said Everette E Den- taking place among the The paper, “Enabling Tailored nis, dean of NU-Q. leading universities in the Message Campaigns: Discover- During a panel titled “Media world’’ ing and Targeting the Attitudes Use & Media Production in the and Behaviours of Young Arab Middle East: Results from Lon- Joining Schöenbach on the Male Drivers”, is based on a study gitudinal Surveys and an Inven- panel will be Justin D Martin, as- aimed at discovering the driving tory of Media Industries”, Klaus sistant professor, journalism; Il- attitudes and behavioural inten- Schöenbach, associate dean for hem Allagui, associate professor, tions of young Arab men. research at NU-Q, discussed journalism; and Marium Saeed, Dun also participated in a NU-Q’s region-wide study, research assistant. panel on women, sports and me- Media Industries in the Middle Amy Sanders, associate pro- dia – “From Kane to Cooky and East, 2016, which showed an in- fessor in residence, journalism, Beyond: Research on Women, creased and continued consoli- also participated in several pan- Sport and Media”. dation of media production in els at the convention. Sanders AEJMC is the premier asso- The beaches and islands section at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) has conducted a clean-up drive at the Al Wak- Arab media hubs such as Cairo, participated in three panels: ciation in the US for journalism rah beach. In a tweet, the MME requested people to use garbage bins to ensure cleanliness. Pictures courtesy of MME Twitter page the UAE and Lebanon (The full Comparative Law in the Class- and mass communication edu- report can be found at http:// room — Internationalising Your cation and research. Gulf Times Friday, August 12, 2016 3 REGION/ARAB WORLD Coalition Summer fun! jets pound Yemen rebels for third day AFP But the UN suspended the talks last week Sanaa after the rebels appointed a so-called “su- preme political council” comprising 10 members to run Yemen. audi-led coalition jets yesterday In July the Houthis and their allies reject- pounded Shia rebel positions in and ed a UN peace plan that called on them to Saround Sanaa for a third consecutive withdraw from territory they had occupied day, as shelling from Yemen killed a woman and give up heavy weapons seized from the in Saudi Arabia. army. The coalition has been fi ghting the Houthi The rebels said the plan did not meet their rebels since March 2015, after they overran key demand for a unity government. the capital and drove south forcing inter- Rebels and pro-government forces nationally recognised President Abedrabbo clashed again in the Naham region north Mansour Hadi to fl ee the country. of Sanaa, where 22 rebels and four loyalists In the morning, coalition warplanes struck have been killed since Wednesday, a pro- the Al-Dailami airbase near Sanaa airport government spokesman said. and a military school inside the Yemeni capi- A Saudi woman was killed yesterday and tal, the pro-rebel Saba news agency reported. seven other people wounded by shelling Military sources loyal to the Hadi govern- from Yemen, the Saudi civil defence said. ment said the air raids targeted only military It came hours after a civilian was killed positions held by the Houthis and their al- and seven others wounded late Wednesday lies, supporters of ousted president Ali Ab- in the Saudi province of Hazan also in shell- dullah Saleh. ing from Yemen, it added. But Saba said civilian homes were also The United Nations says more than 6,400 A boy jumps into the sea at sunset in Gaza City. struck, and reported other raids on the people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Houthi stronghold of Saada, a northern Yemen since the coalition air campaign be- province near the borders with Saudi Arabia. gan in March 2015. It said Sanaa airport had been closed since The fi ghting has also driven 2.8mn people the coalition on Tuesday launched a wave from their homes and left more than 80 % of of air raids in and around the capital, for the the population needing humanitarian aid. fi rst time in three months. Around 100 members of the Saudi forces The raids had been halted as Kuwait and civilians have been killed in skirmishes, Sirte battle in ‘fi nal phase’ hosted UN-brokered peace talks between by artillery fi re or landmines inside the king- and the Yemeni government and the Iran- dom’s borders since the coalition launched backed Houthis and their allies. its campaign. AFP signifi cant breakthrough Wednes- pus just south of the Ouagadougou at least 20 fi ghters had died in fi ght- Tripoli day in their nearly three-month- conference centre as well as the Ibn ing for the university campus. old off ensive to retake Sirte, seizing Sina Hospital to the north. Nine pro-GNA fi ghters were Swiss court backs Iran in decades-old Israel oil row a conference centre where IS had Yesterday, they removed IS fl ags wounded yesterday and taken to a ro-government forces yes- set up a base. from the conference centre and the hospital in Misrata, 190km to the witzerland’s highest court has ordered Pipeline Co (EAPC), a joint venture set up in terday battled to clear the “The battle for Sirte has reached university, burned them and re- northwest, the hospital said. Israel to pay Iran around $1.1bn plus 1968, when the two nations were friendly, to PIslamic State group from its its fi nal phase, after the success- placed them with Libyan fl ags, said More than 300 pro-government Sinterest in a decades-old dispute over transport Iranian oil to the Mediterranean. main Libyan stronghold of Sirte, af- ful off ensive by our heroes,” said their command centre. fi ghters have been killed and 1,800 a secretive oil pipeline company predating For a decade, the pipeline successfully ter dealing a major blow to the mili- spokesman General Mohamed It said they had seized a hotel wounded in the operation, said the 1979 Islamic revolution which made the carried oil from the Red Sea for export to Eu- tants by seizing their headquarters. Ghassri. near the city’s port and were clear- medical sources Misrata, where countries enemies. rope. But since the Islamic revolution that IS still controls several areas of The advance comes after the ing a complex of luxurious villas the operation’s command centre in The Swiss Federal Tribunal rejected an brought the ayatollahs to power, Iran has the Mediterranean city, whose cap- United States launched air strikes used for hosting dignitaries in the based. appeal, citing lack of due process, against an been demanding its share of revenues and ture in June 2015 sparked fears the on IS positions in Sirte on August 1. Gaddafi era. They have faced determined re- arbitration ruling last year. assets that remained in Israel. extremists would use it as a spring- The US military said 36 strikes Television aired images of sol- sistance from the jihadists who The verdict, dated June 27, was available Since the partnership collapsed, EAPC board for attacks on Europe. had been carried out against IS diers in recaptured areas waving have struck back with sniper fi re, on the Lausanne court’s website. has grown into a complex of energy assets, Sirte’s fall would be a huge set- since the start of “Operation Odys- fl ags and fl ashing victory signs. suicide attacks and car bombings. It also awarded Iran 450,000 Swiss francs now mostly handling oil from former Soviet back to the militants’ eff orts to sey Lightning”. IS took advantage of The pro-GNA forces said 16 of Reda Issa, another spokesman for ($461,302) in court costs and lawyer fees. states. expand their self-proclaimed the chaos that followed the ouster their fi ghters were killed and doz- the pro-government forces, said mili- It remains unclear whether Israel will pay How much profi t it has made or how much “caliphate” beyond Syria and Iraq and killing of longtime dictator ens wounded Wednesday in Sirte, tants still controlled residential neigh- up given restrictions its “trading with the it is worth is unknown, largely because it is where they have also suff ered loss- Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Gaddafi ’s hometown just across the bourhoods in Sirte next to the sea. enemy” laws. protected in a similar way to Israel’s intelli- es. Forces allied with the Government Mediterranean from Italy. “The liberation of Sirte will only Lawyers for each side had been locked gence agencies, including by gag orders re- Forces loyal to Libya’s UN- of National Accord on Wednesday It was unclear how many mili- be announced when the whole city in an arbitration over the Eilat-Ashkelon stricting coverage of its activities. backed unity government made a seized the University of Sirte cam- tants were killed, but the centre said is recaptured,” he added. Yemeni confl ict points to society broken beyond repair

By Noah Browning, Reuters fellow Gulf states, into exile last and administrative positions tack on the tomb of Abdul Hadi Meanwhile, the economy is Dubai year. throughout Yemen, of members al-Soudi, a 15th-century scholar deteriorating on both sides of Pro-government forces largely of Hashemite families, who trace from the more mystical and tol- the divide — shops and factories from the Shafi ’i Sunni majority in their lineage to the Prophet. erant Sufi school of Sunni Islam. lie idle or in ruins, electricity and he whitewashed dome of the south and east made gains last The families, making up about “The most powerful forces fuel are in short supply and vital a Sufi shrine in the Yem- year, but appear far from victory 10% of Yemen, were important fi ghting for the government in Taiz institutions shudder. Teni city of Taiz gleamed for despite arms and air cover from administrators in the Zaydi the- are Al Qaeda and the Salafi mili- The internationally recognised centuries until a band of hardline the Saudi-led military alliance. ocracy that ruled the north for a tias,” a senior security offi cial said. government last week asked Sunni Islamist gunmen blew it up Saudi Arabia fears the Houthis millennium before being largely “Hashemites are being tar- international fi nancial institu- last month, victim to a civil war represent a foothold on the Ara- marginalised in the wake of a geted just for their names, and tions to cut off the Sanaa-based that may have disfi gured a once- bian Peninsula for political Shia 1962 republican revolution. dozens have been assassinated in central bank, alleging that state tolerant society beyond repair. Islam inspired by Iran. “The new political council Taiz alone.” funds were being used to fuel the After a year and a half of fi ght- Frustrated by generations of brings together the Houthi base Despite gains, Yemen’s recog- Houthi war eff ort. ing, rivalries based on tribe, re- coups, corruption and cronyism and the traditional tribal elite nised government operates from Bank sources have denied the gion and sect have deepened and that have left the country one of the loyal to Saleh and strengthens Saudi Arabia and is therefore charges and have suggested the Yemen appears no longer able poorest in the world, some Yemenis them,” said Farea al-Muslimi, an fi nding it hard to build a power moves may be a form of eco- to resist the hatreds that have welcomed the Houthis’ takeover of analyst at the Sanaa Centre for base inside the country. nomic warfare on the Houthis, as fuelled wars without end in other Sanaa in 2014, billed by the Houthis Strategic Studies. The southern port city of state salaries paid by the bank go Middle Eastern countries. A Yemeni paints the face of a child on a wall in the capital Sanaa to as a popular revolution. “It unifi es the interests and Aden, where the government mostly to Houthi-run areas. “Before the war, there was no raise awareness about the death and exploitation of children in war. The group has built alliances loyalty of the most powerful has pledged but so far failed to But with the central bank interest in denominations and The writing in Arabic is part of the lyrics of a Lebanese song about with poor but heavily armed military and political actors in establish itself, is out of reach of guaranteeing food imports as family. Now, people scrutinise children. northern tribes, and made the northern society.” the Houthis but is still plagued by Yemen approaches famine, one your name to see where you come capital into a bulwark that has The sudden power shifts have militant attacks. senior Western diplomat won- from,” said Ahmed Saleh al- added. “We’ve arrived at such a As three months of UN-me- weathered thousands of air unleashed demons, however, es- It is run by militias and army dered whether the government Matari, 40, a civil servant in the dangerous situation.” diated peace talks collapsed over strikes by a Saudi-led alliance pecially in Taiz, the southern city offi cers who seek secession for had put its war aims before ordi- capital Sanaa. War has reduced much of the weekend, nationwide fi ght- wielding some of the most ad- that was once a bastion of com- southern Yemen, once an inde- nary people’s needs — something Unusually in a Muslim country, Yemen to battle zones, laced with ing and coalition air strikes ac- vanced Western weapons. merce and secularism. pendent socialist state, and dis- the government has denied. Yemen’s Sunni and Shia schools landmines and roamed by mili- celerated once more. The Houthis formalised their Artillery duels between Houthi trust the government, in which “A good government should care of thought had few doctrinal dif- tias whose quarrels seem to defy The armed Houthi group, once rule last week by setting up a gov- forces and a loose alliance of the Sunni Islamist Islah party is for the well-being of the entire na- ferences and worshippers often any resolution. an obscure revivalist movement erning council in league with al- mostly Sunni Islamist pro-gov- the strongest. tion, its people,” the diplomat said. shared the same mosques. Around half the 27mn popula- of Zaydi Shias, predominant in lies of the powerful ex-president ernment militias have reduced Political sources close to the “There are real concerns that That has also changed. tion have no access to healthcare the north, controls the capital Ali Abdullah Saleh, in a move de- much of the city to rubble with- failed UN-backed talks in Kuwait the government does not seem to “Even mosques were not as and are unable to put enough Sanaa along with many other cit- cried by both the United Nations out giving either side proper say that both the Houthis and the care much... Trying to bring down they are now, with the (Sunni) food on the table, while around ies and pushed President Abd- and the government in exile. control, and street clashes beset recognised government appear the Central Bank in a country like Islah party and Salafi s running 80% need some form of humani- Rabbu Mansour Hadi’s interna- But more subtle than their much of the city. to believe that time favours them Yemen is like prompting a heart some mosques and the (Shia) tarian aid, according to the Unit- tionally recognised government, overt takeover of the state is the Hardline Islamist gunmen and the other side may soon ex- attack in a body already suff ering Houthis running others,” Matari ed Nations. backed by Saudi Arabia and its Houthis’ installation, in military are thought to be behind the at- haust themselves and implode. from multiple organ failure.” Gulf Times 4 Friday, August 12, 2016 ARAB WORLD

‘Iraq row Renewed fi ghting in Aleppo, won’t derail off ensive Russia opens aid ‘windows’ on Mosul’ Reuters AFP it had documented six strikes by re- Baghdad Aleppo gime or Russian warplanes on health facilities in the north that killed 17 people in the past two weeks. raq’s off ensive to dislodge Islamic resh fi ghting hit Syria’s Alep- “With heavy bombing continuing State from its de facto capital Mosul po yesterday, the fi rst day of a relentlessly in Aleppo especially, hos- Iis on track despite a spat between Fpromised Russian aid window pitals and clinics need to be treated two senior politicians over alleged cor- the UN said was insuffi cient to bring as the sacred life-saving places they ruption in the military, the US envoy to relief for the city’s desperate residents. are, not as additional bombing tar- the coalition fi ghting the militant group Even as Moscow pledged to pause gets,” said deputy Middle East director has said. strikes around the divided second city, Nadim Houry. Defence Minister Khaled al-Obeidi it carried out raids further east on the French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc and parliament speaker Salim al-Ja- Islamic State group bastion of Raqa Ayrault said in a statement yesterday bouri last week exchanged accusations that a monitor said killed 24 civilians. he was “concerned by reports of a new of bribery over defence contracts, lead- Russia was meanwhile off ered the pos- chemical attack...that is said to have ing to judicial investigations and spark- sibility of joint operations against IS by claimed four lives people and left doz- ing concerns that the off ensive could be Turkey, which has backed rebel groups ens injured.” delayed. against President Bashar al-Assad. Activists accused government forc- The two men are high-profi le Sunni The off er came one day after cru- es on Wednesday of carrying out an at- allies of Shia Prime Minister Haider al- cial talks between President Vladimir tack using chlorine gas on a rebel-held Abadi, who is spearheading the eff orts Putin and Turkish counterpart Recep residential neighbourhood in Aleppo. to root out the Sunni militant group. Tayyip Erdogan aimed at ending a cri- Further east, Russian raids hit the IS Asked about how the spat had aff ect- sis in ties. stronghold of Raqa, killing at least 24 ed the Mosul campaign, Brett McGurk A longtime ally of Damascus, Russia civilians and wounding 70 people, said told a news conference in Baghdad: has provided air cover for pro-govern- the Britain-based Observatory. “We’ve seen no impact in terms of the ment forces for nearly a year, including The monitor said another six people overall timeline.” in the escalating battle for Aleppo. were also killed but it had not yet con- The US is leading the coalition pro- The city has been rocked by a re- fi rmed how many of them were civil- viding air and ground support to the cent surge in violence, with residents ians or IS militants. Iraqi army in the war on Islamic State, on both sides of the front line living in Russia said the raids destroyed a whose forces swept through northern fear of being trapped by renewed hos- “chemical weapons factory” on Raqa’s and western provinces inhabited most- tilities. outskirts as well as a weapons storage ly by Iraq’s Sunni minority two years The United Nations said Russia was facility and IS training camp to the ago. considering expanding three-hour north and southeast. The army and the elite units that will pauses in fi ghting every morning to Its defence ministry said the mili- lead the off ensive are gradually taking up bring in desperately-needed aid. tants suff ered “signifi cant material positions outside the city, from whose “Any pause obviously should always damages” in the strikes and that “a Grand Mosque in 2014 IS leader Abu be seen and looked at with great inter- People gather to buy fresh produce that was brought into rebel held areas of Aleppo yesterday by private traders from a large number of fi ghters have been Bakr al-Baghdadi declared a caliphate est, because a pause means no fi ghting, newly opened corridor that linked besieged opposition held eastern Aleppo with western Syria. killed”. spanning parts of Iraq and Syria. but three hours is not enough,” said A senior Russian senator said yes- Mosul is the largest urban centre un- UN Syria envoy Staff an de Mistura. week government siege of the city’s east army troops yesterday seized territory “Unless a permanent lifeline to terday Moscow was planning to ex- der the militants’ control, with a pre- Jan Egeland, who heads the UN- on Saturday, opening a new route for south of Aleppo, adding that rebel fi re Aleppo is opened it will be only a pand its Hmeimim airbase on Syria’s war population of nearly 2mn. backed Syria humanitarian taskforce, goods through the southern outskirts. killed four civilians in a government- matter of time until we are again sur- coast into a permanent facility. Its fall would mark their eff ective said he was “hopeful” talks with Rus- AFP’s correspondent in the east said held district. But it made no mention rounded by regime troops, hunger “After its legal status is agreed upon, defeat in Iraq, according to Abadi, who sia could lead to aid entering the city. trucks carrying food were unable to of the “humanitarian windows” an- takes hold and hospitals’ supplies run Hmeimim will become a Russian mili- has said he aims to retake the city this But rebels and regime forces clashed enter the city yesterday because of in- nounced by Russia. completely dry,” the letter said. tary base. The appropriate infrastruc- year. yesterday in southern Aleppo, includ- tense bombardment. Fifteen of the only remaining doc- “We do not need tears or sympathy ture will be built and our servicemen “The conditions are now being set for ing during the period when the pause An estimated 1.5mn people live in tors in the eastern half implored US or even prayers, we need your action. will live in worthy conditions,” Frants the liberation of Mosul,” said McGurk, was meant to take hold, said the Syrian Aleppo, including about 250,000 in President Barack Obama Thursday Prove that you are the friend of Syr- Klintsevich, the deputy head of Rus- adding the coalition was focused on Observatory for Human Rights. rebel-held districts. to protect civilians from atrocities in ians,” they wrote. sia’s senate committee for defence, both the military and humanitarian di- Rebels and militants broke a three- Syrian’s state news agency said their city. Human Rights Watch said yesterday told Izvestia newspaper. mensions of the campaign. New Tunisian PM tries to break economic reform curse

By Tarek Amara, Reuters He is now negotiating to form his sacrifices and austerity reforms he is Tunis cabinet. promising. “Chahed has been handed a poi- The IMF has approved a $2.88bn soned chalice, the fi nancial situation four-year loan programme for Tunisia. unisia has gone through fi ve is pretty catastrophic. He is going to However, release of much of this is prime ministers in as many years fi nd the coff ers empty and lots of de- subject to reviews of the government’s Tsince its revolution, each push- mands,” said Jamel Arfaoui, a local progress on economic and fi nancial re- ing a widely-praised transition to de- analyst and newspaper columnist.”He forms. mocracy. is facing potential protests at the same Tunisia has been under pressure for None, though, has made much time as the need for reforms.” some time from its international lend- progress in building the economic sta- The change of premier comes at a ers to implement measures on the pub- bility and opportunity that young Tu- diffi cult time. lic defi cit, investment and the fi nancial nisians demand. Three major attacks by Islamist mil- sector. Now the sixth post-uprising pre- itants have badly hit tourism bookings, Mehdi Jomaa, a technocrat prime mier, French-educated technocrat forcing job cuts in an industry that ac- minister managed to secure temporary Youssef Chahed, is making bold prom- counts for 8% of the economy. fi scal reforms in 2014 to boost rev- ises even before he has taken offi ce to Unemployment is already at 15%, enues. tackle Tunisia’s problems. with the rate far higher for young peo- The last premier, Habib Essid, got But a looming budget crisis and debt ple in a country where more than half a law to protect the central bank from repayments, coupled with political the population is under 29. political meddling through parliament, inertia, may prevent the 40-year-old Months of on-off protests and sit- although only after protracted negoti- premier-designate from escaping the ins by jobless youths have also dis- ations within the ruling coalition. fate of his predecessors. rupted production and exports of the Deeper reforms have stalled, often Since the 2011 overthrow of auto- state-run phosphate industry, another because successive governments have crat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, Tuni- major revenue earner. lacked the political capital or will to sia has achieved free elections, a new Essebsi estimated losses at $2 bn stand up to popular pressures against constitution and a spirit of compro- from sector disruptions over fi ve years. public spending reductions or auster- mise between secular and Islamist Under the 2016 budget, the public ity measures. parties — in contrast to the repres- defi cit is supposed to fall to 3.9% of An attempt to increase vehicle tax sion, chaos or war that has affl icted gross domestic product from 4.4% in triggered violent protests in 2014, other countries which also had “Arab 2015. forcing the government to step back. Spring” revolts. But that assumes the economy will A tax on border traffi c also provoked The fl ip side is that popular protests, grow 2.5% whereas the actual rate in rioting last year, leading to another labour union resistance and politi- the fi rst quarter was only 1% year-on- government retreat. cal squabbling have held back plans to year, weakening tax revenue. Now doctors and lawyers are threat- overhaul heavy state spending includ- Next year will be tougher still for the ening strikes over increased audits on ing on a huge body of public workers, public fi nances. their billing to help combat tax eva- and to implement banking and invest- Around $3bn is due in debt service sion, while the powerful UGTT union ment laws. payments and the state will strug- is resisting reforms to raise the retire- After the last premier lost a par- gle just to come up with the roughly ment age and reduce state pension liamentary confi dence vote over the $450mn it needs every month to pay its payments. economy and security, President employees. Twice this year the government and Beji Caid Essebsi called last week for At 13.5% of the GDP, Tunisia’s public the UGTT reached deals increasing Chahed to lead a national unity gov- sector wage bill is proportionately one public wage salaries, adding pressure ernment capable of advancing eco- of the highest in the world. to the state fi nances. nomic reforms demanded by lenders “Revenues forecast for 2017 will not A new investment code law, aimed including the International Monetary be enough to cover the one bn dinars at increasing incentives for foreign in- Fund and World Bank. each month for 700,000 public sector vestors and reducing bureaucracy, has “We are in times that require ex- employees,” Central Bank Governor been parked in parliament for three ceptional decisions and sacrifi ces,” Chedli Ayari said last week.”We are years after two revisions. Chahed told reporters, saying his focus going to need more foreign fi nancing Social pressure over jobs already would be tackling corruption and ter- in this diffi cult context and with the exploded into mass protests in south- rorism, promoting economic growth fall off in tourism and phosphate rev- ern and central regions at the start of and clearing up public fi nances. enues.” the year, a reminder of the conditions “I want to talk frankly with the Tu- A senior member of Essebsi’s Nidaa that helped to inspire the Tunisian nisian people about the reality of the Tounes party, Chahed will easily secure revolution and later Arab Spring up- country’s fi nancial situation.” approval for his new cabinet in parlia- risings. Many Tunisians ask whether ment, where Nidaa Tounes and Islam- “The Chahed government wants to Chahed, an agricultural specialist and ist party Ennahda in the ruling coali- chip away at freedoms to push through Essebsi ally, can muster the political tion control a majority. painful measures in his economic capital to push through change. But outside parliament, he must plan,” said Hamma Hammai, leader Some opponents dismiss him as an navigate relations with the unions of the Popular Front opposition party. Essebsi puppet, chosen for his loyalty and the social unrest that has scup- “But the government will fail because to the president rather than his ability pered past government attempts to it is not proposing anything new, just to deliver. push through the kind of financial the same as Essid.” Gulf Times Friday, August 12, 2016 5 AFRICA South Africa interviews Public Protector candidates

Reuters Protector are two judges, several lawyers, as She said Zuma should pay back the cost Cape Town well as the current deputy national director of those items, and her view was supported of public prosecutions. in March by South Africa’s highest court, The Public Protector has a constitutional which said Zuma had broken the law by ig- outh Africa’s parliament has begun mandate to probe misconduct and abuse in noring Madonsela’s order. interviewing candidates to replace state aff airs. Zuma, who survived an impeachment SThuli Madonsela, the head of a cor- It was not clear when a new candidate to vote in April after the court ruling, has since ruption watchdog whose fi ndings under- replace Madonsela would be named but her said he will repay some of the money, as or- mined support for President Jacob Zuma term ends in October. dered by the court. and his administration and worried inves- The scandals investigated by Madonsela Madonsela has said she is investigating tors. have worried investors in Africa’s most in- whether Zuma allowed a wealthy business Appointed by Zuma in 2009 for a seven- dustrialised country, who feared it could family, the Gupta family, to decide on cabi- year, non-renewable term, Madonsela in- lead to instability. net appointments. vestigated several scandals involving Zuma In one of her most high-impact inves- Both Zuma and the Guptas have denied which contributed to a sharp loss in support tigations in 2014, Madonsela found Zuma the accusations made by the opposition. for the ruling party African National Con- had included in a $16mn “security up- South Africa ranked 61st out of 168 gress (ANC) in local elections last week. grade” to his rural Nkandla home a raft of countries on Transparency International’s Among the 14 candidates shortlisted non-security items including a swimming Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2015, Zuma: was investigated by Madonsela. to replace Madonsela in the role of Public pool and amphitheatre. which measures public sector corruption. Madonsela: her term ends in October.

ANC’s top brass meet after Zambians head to polls AFP poor vote Lusaka ambians streamed to the showing polls yesterday to choose Za new president after a closely-fought election cam- AFP paign marred by “unprecedent- Johannesburg ed” violence that has threatened the country’s relative stability. Election day was peaceful and fter suff ering historic turnout appeared to be high, as losses in South Africa’s long lines of voters cast their Arecent municipal elec- ballots for the national assembly tions, the top brass of the rul- and local councillors as well as ing African National Congress the presidency. (ANC) gathered for talks yester- President Edgar Lungu, who day over the party’s declining narrowly won offi ce last year in Lungu casting his ballot. support. a snap election, faces another The party of Nelson Man- strong challenge from his main halted in the capital Lusaka for wealthy businessman known dela last week saw its worst poll rival Hakainde Hichilema in a 10 days to reduce the violence. as “HH”, told reporters after he results since the end of white- fi eld of nine candidates. But skirmishes continued, voted yesterday. “We are ex- minority rule in 1994, losing Only 27,757 votes separated including fi ghting in the streets pecting free, fair and transpar- Hichilema speaks with journalists after casting his ballot. majority control of the largest the two candidates in the 2015 close to Hichilema’s fi nal rally ent elections. Zambians expect metropolitan areas, including election. on Wednesday. nothing short of that (and) who- He died in 2014, and the 2015 “There is too much jobless- a blind eye to attacks on UPND the capital Pretoria and business At least three people were Zambia, a British colony until ever wins in that environment, election gave Lungu the right to ness and the economy has gone supporters and of undermin- hub Johannesburg. killed during this year’s cam- 1964, recorded GDP growth of so be it.” fi nish Sata’s term. to shambles,” Patricia Situmbe- ing the opposition campaign by The ANC garnered less than paign, with regular clashes 3.6% last year – its slowest rate Hichilema had previously “I am happy with the voter ko, 50, a mother of fi ve, told AFP banning its rallies. 54% of ballots cast nationally – erupting between supporters of since 1998. claimed that fraud denied him turnout so far,” Lungu, 59, said in after voting in the low-income The UPND’s vice-presiden- an 8% point drop from the last Lungu’s Patriotic Front (PF) and The falling price of copper, victory last year. a statement after voting. “I will Mtendere district of Lusaka. tial candidate was arrested and local poll in 2011. Hichilema’s United Party for the country’s key export, has Zambia, in contrast to neigh- be back home waiting for the “The youth are unemployed, released twice earlier this year, The election results highlight- National Development (UPND). badly damaged the economy bours like Angola and Zimba- results to be announced peace- there is much violence and the and his house has been raided by ed the declining popularity of The election commission de- with thousands of jobs lost in bwe, has escaped war and seri- fully. I urge you to do the same.” cost of living is rising so fast. police. the party that led South Africa’s scribed the unrest as “unprece- mining and infl ation soaring to ous upheaval in recent decades. At his fi nal election rally, Lun- Zambia was peaceful but the The Post, an infl uential inde- anti-apartheid struggle. dented”, warning it had “marred over 20%. It last held a peaceful transfer gu mocked Hichilema, 54, for president got his cadres excited pendent newspaper, was forced “We want to do thorough Zambia’s historic record of “The people of Zambia ... have of power to an opposition party making his fi fth bid for power. and they attack the UPND peo- to close in June over alleged analysis of the elections,” ANC peaceful elections”. never suff ered like this since in 2011 when Michael Sata took “He is hoping he will get to the ple.” non-payment of taxes, while the secretary general Gwede Man- Last month, campaigning was independence,” Hichilema, a offi ce. (presidency) ... because he wants Katherine Mutya, 38, spent state-run broadcaster has been tashe told reporters just before to make more money,” Lungu three hours in line waiting to accused of blatant pro-Lungu the planned four days of talks got told thousands of supporters at a cast her vote. bias. under way at a hotel in Pretoria. dusty venue in Lusaka. “For me I think life is getting On the campaign trail, Hich- “The essence of the meet- Constitutional changes mean better,” she said. “We need to get ilema has stressed his business ing is to say how do we interpret that the winner must now se- more electricity and water, but it credentials as an asset to turning (the loss of support) and to seek cure more than 50% of the vote, is happening slowly.” around the stalling economy. ways on how we arrest the de- pointing to a possible second Hichilema has repeatedly ac- “We will bring knowledge to cline, how we turn the institu- round run-off . cused the authorities of turning the table,” he said. tion around.” Analysts have warned that the The elections were largely election count could be tense, seen as a referendum on Presi- with disputes likely. dent Jacob Zuma, whose rule “Both parties have ap- has been dogged by scandal, in- proached the election as a ‘do- cluding the use of public funds or-die’ aff air, which has also in upgrading his private Nkandla been refl ected in the recent up- residence with facilities includ- surge of political violence,” said ing a chicken coop and a swim- Dimpho Motsamai, of the South ming pool. Africa-based Institute for Secu- But Mantashe said Zuma’s rity Studies. presidency was not up for dis- “Lungu has signalled that he cussion at the talks where the might use ‘draconian means’ president, who is also head of the to ensure the country remains party, will be in attendance. peaceful after the polls. Pros- The meeting comes as both pects of violence after the elec- the ANC and the main opposi- tion and during the run-off can- tion Democratic Alliance are not be ruled out.” deep in coalition talks with Polls closed at 1600 GMT. smaller parties to try to gain Zambian Electoral Commission off icers check the voters’ register book by torchlight and count the votes Hundreds queue to vote at Lusaka’s Kanyama Basic school voting Results are expected late to- control of several cities. at a polling station in Lusaka. station. day and tomorrow. Uganda threatens private New group claims Nigerian pipeline blast

AFP opment Company (NPDC), are by radicals who want independ- is not prepared to give into the school over children’s book Warri, Nigeria suff ering from pollution caused ence for the region and refuse to new militants.” by leaking oil, the source added. recognise Muhammadu Buhari, A war of words stepped up ear- “We started noticing crude a northerner, as Nigeria’s presi- ly this month when a purported AFP investigations into their mo- temporarily shut another pri- newly emerged armed oil on our land only to be told dent. splinter group of the Niger Delta Kampala tive,” Lokodo told AFP. “The mary school for similar reasons. group has said it had made that it is as a result of crude oil Attacks by another more active Avengers said that former Nige- books contained literature on Lokodo has become noto- Agood on threats to Niger- spill from a trunk line conveying group, the Niger Delta Avengers, rian president Goodluck Jonath- sex and these books are not rious in Uganda for his fi ght ia’s vital oil industry by blowing crude from Isoko to the Eriemu have led to a sharp fall in oil pro- an was sponsoring the militants. gandan offi cials raided suitable for primary pupils.” against homosexuality and any- up a major pipeline and warned manifold,” said Victor Emuherie, duction since the start of the year Cynthia White, spokesperson a prestigious private Love Lessons tells the story of thing he deems provocative. that more attacks were to come. leader of a youth movement in in a country already hit by tum- for the Reformed Niger Delta Uschool yesterday to seize 14-year-old Prudence, who es- A gay pride parade in Kampa- The Niger Delta Greenland the aff ected village of Agbarha- bling prices for crude, which ac- Avengers, said in a statement copies of British children’s au- capes the misery of life at home la planned for last weekend was Justice Mandate (NDGJM) said in Otor. counts for 70% of state revenue. that the breakaway group would thor Jacqueline Wilson’s Love with a controlling father after postponed after the minister a statement late Wednesday they The populous Niger Delta re- Oil analyst Rhidoy Rashid said “co-operate with the govern- Lessons, as a minister who has falling in love with her hand- was accused of saying mob at- had shown they were “men of gion on the Gulf of Guinea has the renewed amnesty payments ment by exposing the identities led several similar crackdowns some art teacher. tacks on participants would be (their) word” by destroying part for decades seen attacks by local to MEND are unlikely to stop at- of our comrades who remain threatened to close the estab- Though she shares kisses their own fault. of the Urhobo pipeline in oil-rich militants on oil installations run tacks on oil infrastructure. stubborn in their insistence to lishment. with the teacher there is no He also had Ugandan pop star Delta State on Tuesday. by the NPDC and by foreign oil “These payments don’t ac- continue attacks”. Minister for Ethics and In- explicit sexual content in the Jemimah Kansiime arrested last The creation of the group giants, causing successive gov- tually include the Niger Delta In response the Avengers said tegrity Simon Lokodo said the novel, which is aimed at young year for performing in a music was announced scarcely two ernments to deploy troops. Avengers,” said Rashid, who their “household is intact” and book exposed children attend- teenagers. video he deemed “very obscene days earlier by its spokesman, The government last week re- works at the London-based con- dismissed White and her group ing the exclusive Greenhill Greenhill Academy manage- and vulgar” as part of an anti- self-proclaimed “general” Aldo sumed payment of allowances to sultancy Energy Aspects, “so as “government agents”. Academy to sex too young. ment refused to comment on pornography campaign. Agbalaja, who warned that the former fi ghters under an amnesty they won’t decrease the frequen- Lagos-based security analyst The school in the capital the raid, but late yesterday the Lokodo also ordered police to NDGJM would strike at oil in- scheme primarily involving ex- cy of attacks”. Don Okereke said that the splin- Kampala is popular with Ugan- minister said he would not hesi- arrest men who procure pros- stallations within 48 hours. rebels of the Movement for the Rashid described rumoured ter group’s origin and claims da’s elite and Western expatri- tate to shut down the establish- titutes and described a popular A security source confi rmed Emancipation of the Niger Delta talks between the Niger Delta seem suspicious. ates, and has a student body of ment if it did not make changes. local television dating show as an attack using dynamite on the (MEND). Avengers and the Nigerian gov- “The so-called Reformed Ni- 700 pupils aged between fi ve “We removed the books be- prostitution. Uzere-Eriemu line in the Isoko MEND is a historic armed ernment as “quite murky”. ger Delta Avengers is a farce,” and 12-years-old. cause they were giving pupils Local media reported that South area of Delta State. movement demanding repara- “Perhaps there are discussions Okereke said. “It’s an attempt “My team went to the school wrong information. If they he also confronted Uganda’s Communities near the pipe- tions and a fair share of oil rev- going on behind the scenes, but aimed at sowing discord in the and confi scated the books from don’t stop they will be closed,” youngest MP when she walked line, which is owned by the state- enue for residents of the Niger really we think it’s going to be ranks of the Niger Delta Aveng- the library and we have opened Lokodo told AFP, adding he had into parliament in a short skirt. run Nigerian Petroleum Devel- Delta, which has seen spin-off s diffi cult because the government ers.” Gulf Times 6 Friday, August 12, 2016 AMERICAS

Video of late mayor Canada police kill man smoking crack planning terror attack released AFP danger to the public’s safety,” the rorism threat level remains at Reuters Ottawa Royal Canadian Mounted Police “medium”, a ranking which it Toronto (RCMP) said in a statement. has maintained since October Driver was described in media 2014 after lone wolf attacks by anadian police said they reports as a Muslim convert with suspected Islamist militants in he infamous video of late thwarted a “potential a troubled childhood who be- Quebec and Ottawa. Toronto mayor Rob Ford Cterrorist threat” after came radicalised on the Internet. In the fi rst attack, on October Tsmoking from what ap- shooting dead an alleged Islamic “It was like he turned out the 20, 2014, a 25-year-old Muslim pears to be a crack pipe while State (IS) sympathiser said to lights and put a ‘Do Not Disturb’ convert ran down two soldiers in slurring his words has been made have been armed with an explo- sign on the door,” his father told a parking lot in Saint-Jean-sur- public after a Toronto court lift- sive device. CBC in interviews last year with Richelieu, some 40km southeast ed a publication ban yesterday. Media reports said 24-year- his son. of Montreal, before being shot The video was posted online old Aaron Driver was shot to “When he was living at home, dead by police. by CBC and the Toronto Star. death on Wednesday night he was very secretive; a lone One of the soldiers later died. It shows Ford mostly mut- during a police raid on a home wolf. Two days later, another Mus- tering inaudibly while a woman in Strathroy, Ontario, 220km He didn’t bring friends over, lim convert, aged 32, killed a off -camera speaks about politics southwest of Toronto. never talked about where he was ceremonial guard then tried to and uses profanities in respect to A relative told Canadian pub- going and what he was doing,” storm Canada’s parliament be- Justin Trudeau, now Canada’s lic broadcaster CBC that police the father said. fore being shot dead by security prime minister, as Ford lights the informed the family that he was Driver came to the attention guards only metres from a room pipe and inhales. shot dead after detonating an of Canadian authorities in 2014 where the prime minister and his Ford, who died in March, can explosive device, injuring him- after posting tweets in support caucus were meeting. be seen with sunlight streaming self and one other person, whose of the Islamic State group and The Conservative government onto his face while holding the condition was unclear. justifying a Muslim convert’s responded by passing a bill that pipe and gesticulating. They told the family that they killing of a sentry at Canada’s gives the RCMP and Canada’s “I f*****g take these kids un- had to shoot Driver because he national war memorial during spy agency sweeping powers to der my wing,” he says in what had a second device which he an October 22, 2014 attack that A video of Driver is projected on a screen at the RCMP headquarters in Ottawa. thwart terror plots and prevent appears to be a reference to a was planning to detonate, CBC spilled into the nearby parlia- Canadian youth from fl ying high school football team he said. ment building. He was arrested in June 2015 February, there were “reason- tion is obtained about a poten- overseas to join IS militants in coached. Broadcaster CTV, citing inter- “If a country goes to war with and released under court super- able grounds to fear that he may tial terrorist threat, the RCMP, Syria. “They say I’m this right-wing, nal government documents, said another country or another vision. participate, contribute directly CSIS (security intelligence serv- Canada joined the US-led radical f*****g guy,” Ford con- the suspect allegedly had been people or another community, I He was ordered to undergo or indirectly in the activity of a ice) and other police and securi- coalition against IS in Septem- tinues before lighting the pipe, planning to set off an explosive think that they have to be pre- counselling from a religious terrorist group”, the Canadian ty agencies take the appropriate ber 2014. inhaling, and blowing out. device in a packed public space pared for things like” the Ottawa leader, wear an electronic moni- Press news agency said. steps to ensure the safety of this After unseating the Tories For months after reports of in a major city. attack, he told the CBC in last toring bracelet and stay off the The RCMP said an investiga- country and its citizens,” Public in an election last year, Prime the video’s existence surfaced “Earlier today, the RCMP re- year’s interview. Internet. tion was under way as the matter Safety Minister Ralph Goodale Minister Justin Trudeau scaled in 2013, Ford denied that he had ceived credible information of “And when it does happen Those restrictions were grad- “continues to unfold”. said in a statement. “These back Canada’s participation in ever smoked the drug. a potential terrorist threat. A they shouldn’t … they shouldn’t ually loosened and were sched- No other details from offi cials agencies conducted themselves the coalition, ordering the with- He eventually admitted that suspect was identifi ed and the act surprised. They had it com- uled to expire this month. were immediately available. eff ectively in the circumstances drawal of Canadian fi ghter jets he had done so probably “in one proper course of action has been ing to them; they deserved it,” he According to the order, a “Canadians can be confi dent that developed today.” but increasing the number of of my drunken stupors”. taken to ensure that there is no added. peace bond which was signed in that whenever credible informa- Goodale said Canada’s ter- military trainers in Iraq. A friend and former driver for Ford, Alexander Lisi, was charged with extortion against a now-convicted gang member who had a cellphone clip of the video. Trump: Obama, Clinton are That charge was dropped yes- terday, leading to the publication ban being lifted. Ford died 18 months after he co-founders of Islamic State was diagnosed with pleomor- phic liposarcoma, a rare cancer found in soft, fatty tissue of the Reuters His remarks followed a trou- war and campaigned for the body. Washington bled week for the Republican White House in 2008 on a prom- He was never charged in rela- candidate. ise to end it. tion to his drug use. Party leaders urged Trump to The United States pulled out epublican presidential focus on the campaign to beat combat troops in 2011. candidate Donald Trump Clinton after he drew strong Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, Rhas called US President criticism for a persistent con- also known as ISIS or ISIL, had Barack Obama and Democratic frontation with the family of its roots in the Al Qaeda insur- candidate Hillary Clinton “co- Muslim American soldier who gency that arose after the United Clinton founders” of Islamic State (IS), died in Iraq and for his initial States led an invasion of Iraq in igniting fresh criticism of his in- refusal to support prominent 2003. fl ammatory campaign style. Republican congressional can- Known for its brutality, the to release The New York real estate de- didates in their primary races. group in 2014 declared an Is- veloper has previously attacked Recent opinion polls have lamic caliphate in Syria and Iraq, Obama and Clinton, secretary of shown Trump losing ground to where fi ghting continues to rage. 2015 tax state from 2009-13, for how the Clinton, a former US senator Clinton spokesman Jesse Le- United States pulled out of Iraq and fi rst lady, in the race for the hrich, in response to Trump’s after the war, saying it helped November 8 election. comments, pointed to US ad- Trump speaking at the National Association of Home Builders event at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach returns create the militant Islamist An average of polls by Re- vances against the militant in Miami. group that has seized swaths of alClearPolitics has Clinton 7.7 group in Libya this week. Iraq and Syria. percentage points ahead, at 48% “FYI – US-backed militias re- ISIS? All I do is tell the truth, I’m US Representative Sean Trump bristles at the notion Reuters The idea that a sitting US to his 40.3%. took ISIS’s stronghold in Libya a truth teller.” Duff y, a Republican from Wis- he should change. Washington president created a militant “He (Obama) was the founder today thanks to Obama-au- Supporters of Trump, who has consin who backs Trump, said “I don’t think I’ve made too group determined to kill Ameri- of ISIS. And so was she. I mean thorised air strikes,” he said in a never held elected offi ce, like his that Obama and Clinton did not many errors,” he told CNBC. cans and other Westerners took I call them co-founders,” said tweet late on Wednesday. combative and often insulting found Islamic State and urged If his style costs him the elec- S Democratic presiden- that line of attack to a new level. Trump, who says he opposed the Trump did not back down, style but it has drawn wide criti- the Republican candidate to stay tion in 90 days, he goes back to a tial candidate Hillary Trump fi rst made the asser- Iraq war. asking on CNBC: “Is there cism, not just from the Clinton on message. good life, he said. UClinton will release her tion in a speech on Wednesday “He shouldn’t have gotten out something wrong with saying campaign. “Stay on script. Don’t go off “It’s not what I’m looking to 2015 tax returns as soon as this night in Florida. way he got out. It was a disaster, that? Many Republicans have urged script. Read your teleprompter do – I think we’re going to have week in an eff ort to pressure her He repeated it in an interview what he did,” he told CNBC. “Why are people complaining him to change tactics and focus and you’re going to be fi ne,” a victory but we’ll see,” Trump Republican rival, Donald Trump, yesterday morning with CNBC. Obama had opposed the Iraq that I said he was the founder of on the economy. Duff y said on MSNBC. added. to release his own, CNBC and ABC News reported yesterday. CNBC said the returns will show Clinton paid an eff ective tax rate of 35%. Clinton’s campaign will also Pelosi blames Russians for ‘electronic Watergate’ release 10 years of tax returns for her vice-presidential running mate, US Senator Tim Kaine, ac- Reuters gressional Campaign Commit- The Democratic National tors have concluded the attack- they thought might lead them to cording to the cable network. Washington tee. Committee and US Democratic ers were directed by the GRU, information of national security Reuters could not immedi- Pelosi called the attack, made presidential candidate Hillary Russia’s military intelligence interest”. ately confi rm the reports, and public last month, an “electron- Clinton’s campaign was aff ect- service, and the FSB, the civilian The offi cial said the hackers representatives for the campaign S House Democratic ic Watergate” akin to the 1972 ed. espionage agency. apparently proceeded beyond did not immediately reply to an Leader Nancy Pelosi has burglary at Democratic Party Asked if she was personally Clinton has also pointed to the Democratic National Com- e-mailed request for comment. Usaid the recent cyber at- headquarters at the Watergate targeted, Pelosi said she did not Moscow. Russia has denied in- mittee, the Clinton campaign, Trump, a New York real estate tack on Democratic politicians offi ce that upended the Nixon know. volvement in the breach. and the Democrats’ House of Pelosi: The Russians did it. developer, has refused to release was “broad” and that Russians presidency. “This is a break-in.” “We are assessing the dam- A US offi cial familiar with Representatives campaign com- his tax returns and said he was were clearly behind the breach, Pelosi’s comments come on age,” Pelosi told reporters, add- the investigation said no evi- mittee to individual e-mail ac- practice,” said the offi cial, who unlikely to do so before the No- adding that the damage was still the heels of a New York Times ing that she could not speak to dence has been found so far counts and probably other Dem- spoke on the condition of ano- vember 8 presidential election. being investigated. report yesterday that the cyber the impact on any Democratic that indicates the hackers got ocratic groups and individuals nymity to discuss an ongoing Although US presidential can- “It is the Russians,” Pelosi told attack targeting Democrats was governors. into Clinton’s personal server or who e-mailed people using the investigation by government as didates are not required to make reporters at a news conference, wider than fi rst thought, with The Obama administration any classifi ed systems, but their accounts they fi rst hacked. well as private agencies. “You go their tax returns public, every referring to the recent breach more than 100 party offi cials and has not publicly named Russia as footprints suggest they “paid “The pattern fi ts what has as far as you can, hoping you fi nd contender for the White House aff ecting the Democratic Con- groups were aff ected. behind the attack, but investiga- special attention to accounts come to be standard hacking something useful.” has done so since 1973.

Huffi ngton Post founder leaves for wellness startup

AFP launched her original American web- She said she decided to leave the on- which would be a betrayal of the very Washington site in 2005 and sold it to internet giant line news organisation because “I sim- principles of Thrive I’ve been writing AOL in 2011, said the new venture called ply couldn’t do justice to both compa- and speaking about.” Thrive Global aims “to change the way nies”. Thrive has received funding from rianna Huffi ngton, founder of the we work and live by ending the collec- “I’m fi lled with excitement at the Lerer Hippeau Ventures – led by a Huff - Huffi ngton Post news site that tive delusion that burnout is a necessary prospect of devoting the rest of my life Post co-founder Kenneth Lerer – and Ahas become a global phenom- price for success”. to accelerating the culture shift away other groups and individuals including enon, has announced that she was step- She said she would be stepping down from merely surviving and succeed- NBA star Andre Iguodala and entrepre- ping down to launch a nonprofi t group as editor-in-chief of the Huffi ngton ing to thriving,” she said in a statement. neur and philanthropist Sean Parker. Huff ington: stepping down to launch a nonprofit group focused on health and focused on health and wellness. Post, which now operates in 10 languag- “Running both companies would have It is to launch after the US election in wellness. Greek-born Huffi ngton, who es and has a user base of over 200mn. involved working around the clock November. Gulf Times Friday, August 12, 2016 7 ASEAN Monsters beware Myanmar soldiers admit to killing of villagers

Reuters contacted in the capital Nay- Yangon pyitaw and at the Northeast Command in Lashio did not re- spond to multiple requests for even Myanmar soldiers comment about the trial. on trial for murder have Myanmar’s armed forces Sadmitted their involve- have often been accused by ment in the killing of fi ve vil- human rights groups of abus- lagers in northern Shan State, es during decades of confl ict according to witnesses at an with ethnic armed groups in unprecedented court martial. the country’s lawless border In a highly unusual move, zones, but campaigners such the army invited 15 residents as Amnesty International say it from the remote village of is extremely rare for soldiers to Mong Yaw, where the killings be held to account. took place, to witness the court Mong Yaw lies in a distant martial at a nearby military corner of Shan State, where base on Tuesday. thousands of people have been Four of them have described displaced by decades of fi ght- the proceedings to Reuters. ing between the military and Residents of Yangon gather in the street near the city hall to play Pokemon Go on their smartphones. While Myanmar was off icially excluded from the August 6 Pokemon Go “The judge read the murder ethnic insurgents. launch in Southeast Asia, game fanatics have discovered Pokemon Go is active in Yangon, immediately attracting crowds of players and turning several historical landmarks case reports and asked for con- Three offi cers and three into hunting grounds fessions from the soldiers, who lower-ranking soldiers have admitted they were respon- admitted murdering the villag- sible,” said Sai Kaung Kham, ers, according to the witnesses a Mong Yaw villager who has present at the court martial. been helping the families at- The seventh serviceman, the tending the military trial. highest-ranking of those on Military offi cials did not re- trial, said he did not order the spond to requests for comment, soldiers to “kill” the villagers, and it was not possible to inde- but to “clear them out”. pendently verify the testimony at the closed proceedings in the Soldiers rounded up northern city of Lashio. dozens of men from the Thai police want to In July, in a rare public ad- village on June 25 and led mission of wrongdoing by the fi ve away still-powerful military, intel- ligence chief Mya Tun Oo told The soldiers said they had reporters the army was re- arrested and interrogated fi ve sponsible for killing fi ve men men and found two of them from Mong Yaw and said the were related to a local ethnic culprits would be prosecuted. armed group. intercept phone calls Witnesses had previous- They said they asked their su- ly told Reuters that soldiers periors for further instructions, The junta is seeking to establish more Police seeking to intercept calls will Since taking power in 2014, the military sters against playing too much and the rounded up dozens of men from villager Sai Kaung Kham said. intrusive regulations have to ask court permission, said a sen- has curbed freedom of expression and has army to ban the game from barracks. the village, in an area riven by a The low-ranking soldiers ior police offi cer involved in amending the made full use of Article 44 of the interim The mobile app was made available in long-running ethnic insurgen- then proceeded to kill the vil- Reuters law, who declined to be named because he constitution — often dubbed the “dicta- Thailand on Saturday, delighting many cy, on June 25 and led fi ve away. lagers, acting on orders, the Bangkok was not authorised to speak to media. tor’s law” by its critics — which gives the in a country where Japanese subcultures Their bodies were found in a witnesses at the trial said. Cases that would qualify include crimi- military sweeping powers to silence op- have a signifi cant following. shallow grave a few days later. “They were worried that if nal, national security, royal insult and position. But the game – which encourages users Both the news conference by they let the three villagers go transnational crime cases but not political Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, to hit the pavements in search of virtual one of the country’s most sen- back, they would tell others new scheme that would allow Thai cases, he said. who is also head of the junta, said on “pocket monsters” – has sparked safety ior generals and the invitation they had been tortured,” the police to intercept telephone calls Sunai Phasuk, Thailand researcher at Wednesday that Article 44 would remain concerns partly because Bangkok’s streets to villagers to attend the mili- soldiers told the court martial, Ain national security cases has been Human Rights Watch, called the idea dis- in place until a new, military-backed con- are notoriously pedestrian-unfriendly. tary trial were unprecedented. according to Sai Kaung Kham. put forward to cabinet for approval, police turbing. stitution is endorsed in October or No- “Thai walking culture is not like Japan The army has occasion- Before killing them, the sol- said yesterday, a move that has alarmed “The idea is very disturbing, given Thai vember. and there are limited pavements,” govern- ally acknowledged troops have diers dressed some of the men rights groups. authorities’ reckless and arbitrary use Criticising the monarchy is a serious ment spokesman Sansern Kaewkumnerd been at fault in previous in- in camoufl age trousers, Sai The move aims to give police the author- of security charges,” Sunai told Reuters. criminal off ence in Thailand where Article told reporters yesterday. cidents, but has usually done Kaung Kham and other wit- ity to wiretap communication by amend- “Steps will have to be established to pre- 112 of the penal code states that “whoever He said that Prime Minister Prayut so in vaguely worded offi cial nesses said. ing a 1934 Criminal Procedure Code and vent the misuse of surveillance.” defames, insults or threatens the king, Chan-O-Cha, who seized power in 2014, statements. It was not clear when the is the latest security measure rolled out by Dechnarong said the law would not be queen, heir-apparent or regent” can be “does not want to ban the game”. The response this time sug- court martial would end. the military government which took power misused and needed court approval before punished with up to 15 years in prison. But the premier has urged players to gests a heightened sensitiv- Aye Lu, the wife of Aik Sai following a 2014 coup. calls can be tapped. Prayuth has made royal insult cases a know “their limits ... and use their time ity about the military’s image who was one of the men killed, “A cabinet meeting agreed in princi- Thailand’s telecom regulator on Tues- priority since taking power. wisely”, Sansern added. as it tries to present itself as said that at the court martial ple to allow tapping of telephone calls day approved in principle a requirement Rights groups have said the military is “The game could harm players with a responsible partner in My- one of the soldiers admitted for criminal cases,” police spokesman that foreign visitors use and register spe- using lese-majeste laws as a political tool. things like loss of money, their job, their anmar’s democratic transi- knifi ng her husband to death. Dechnarong Sutthicharnbancha, told Re- cial SIM cards for their phones that can be Pokemon Go’s debut in Thailand has education as well as the relationships they tion and seeks closer ties with “I want to see those who uters, adding that there were still several tracked by authorities in the interests of alarmed the country’s generals, prompting have with the people around them,” he Western counterparts. killed my husband sent to jail,” steps until the law is approved. national security. the kingdom’s junta chief to warn young- said. Military representatives she said. Asean roadmap to Intermission stop smog fl ayed

AFP “The haze issue in Indonesia is fuelled by Kuala Lumpur corruption amid lack of enforcement against the culprits. As usual, nothing tangible comes out of outheast Asian nations agreed to a road- Asean meetings.” map yesterday to combat acrid haze from An Indonesian offi cial who attended the SIndonesian fi res that cloaks vast swathes summit said the Indonesian environment min- of the region every year, but the move was ister could not attend due to an important do- greeted by activists with scepticism. mestic political meeting. Further doubts were raised about the agree- The ministry in Jakarta declined comment to ment with the Indonesian environment min- AFP. ister skipping the one-day meeting in Kuala Last year’s haze outbreak was among the Lumpur attended by environment ministers worst in memory, shrouding Malaysia, Singa- from the the Association of Southeast Asian pore, and parts of Thailand in acrid smoke as an Nations (Asean), a 10-member regional bloc. El Nino weather phenomenon created tinder- Malaysia’s environment minister Wan Jun- dry conditions. aidi Tuanku Jaafar said to AFP that under the The blazes and resulting smog forced school roadmap Asean members would need to take closures and fl ight cancellations in the region, “measures and action” to fi ght forest fi res and with thousands falling ill with respiratory prevent the use of fi re to clear jungles. problems as pollution levels hit hazardous lev- “But one of the challenges is that small land els. owners in Indonesia are allowed to use fi re to “Looking at the Indonesian minister’s ab- clear land and so, Indonesian authorities have sence, it gives a clear signal that things are not to negotiate with them to stop the practise,” he going smoothly,” said Andrew Sebastian, CEO added. and co-founder of Ecotourism and Conserva- The ambitious roadmap ultimately aims to tion Society Malaysia. achieve a haze-free Asean by 2020. “Indonesian forest fi res are the biggest prob- However, details of the roadmap remain lem. scant and activists were doubtful the summit We need to take clear and decisive action,” he will result in progress. added. “Indonesia, as usual is not willing to co- Indonesian forest fi res are an annual dry- operate,” said prominent Malaysian environ- season problem, started illegally to quickly and mental activist Gurmit Singh, referring to the cheaply clear land for cultivation — particularly A worker smokes a cigarette during a break at a fabric factory in Solo, Indonesia. absence of the Indonesian minister. for palm oil and pulpwood. Gulf Times 8 Friday, August 12, 2016 AUSTRALASIA/EAST ASIA

Japan looking for Australia blocks energy missing fi shermen

AFP grid sale to the Chinese Tokyo Reuters mediately respond to requests motive is absurd and almost security implications and even a Sydney seeking comment. comical,” Xinhua said in a com- rebuke from US government of- apan is searching for eight Cheung Kong Infrastructure mentary, refl ecting government fi cials. Chinese crew members who (CKI), controlled by Hong Kong thinking. Soon after that, Morrison Jwent missing when their ustralia blocked the billionaire tycoon Li Ka-Shing, “It’s also ridiculous to sug- blocked proposed sales of the fi shing boat sank after colliding A$10bn ($7.7bn) sale of said the decision was not related gest that Chinese enterprises country’s biggest agricultural with a Greek cargo vessel near Aits biggest energy grid to to CKI. would risk their credit and com- land holding, S Kidman Co, to disputed East China Sea islands State Grid Corp of China and Australia’s decision to reject mit suicide on the world stage by Chinese bidders. yesterday, the Japanese coast Hong Kong’s Cheung Kong In- the bids deprives the New South threatening to deny the Austral- NSW Treasurer Gladys Be- guard said. frastructure Holdings citing se- Wales state government of what ian and British public electric- rejiklian said she respected the The coast guard, which dis- curity concerns, in a blow to the would have been a record haul ity,” Xinhua added. federal government’s decision patched a patrol boat and plane country’s privatisation plan. for a single privatisation sale, Britain has delayed signing and “there will be no delays to to the site after receiving a signal Nine months after clearing and also underscores the coun- off on a $24bn nuclear power our infrastructure pipeline”. from the cargo ship, has rescued the sale of TransGrid to an in- try’s changing political climate project, which has deeply frus- In a statement to Reuters, the six other members of the vestor group 40% controlled by since a handful of protectionist trated the Chinese government. CKI spokeswoman Wendy Tong sunk vessel’s 14-strong crew, a Kuwaiti and Abu Dhabi inter- senators took power in elections Apart from Ausgrid and Barnes, said: “We believe that coast guard spokeswoman told ests, Australian Treasurer Scott last month. TransGrid – which State Grid the Australian government must AFP. Morrison announced yesterday The Australian Senate cannot The logo for Ausgrid adorns its headquarters in central Sydney. also attempted to buy last year have reasons beyond the obvious “We ‘ve put priority on the that he was rejecting the sale of block off shore sales, but Morri- – the government of NSW, Aus- which led them to make today’s search and rescue of the missing Ausgrid to the rival Asian bid- son’s conservative government ing partner in the category of Chinese interests have routinely tralia’s most populous state, has announcement. The issue is un- eight. We have not been able to ders because of risks to the na- needs to maintain favourable ‘security risk’, it might start to bid in Australian infrastructure put up a third grid for sale, ru- related to CKI.” determine the cause of the colli- tional interest. relations with the crossbench impact on the overall atmos- sales. ral-focused Endeavour Energy, State Grid and CKI have until sion,” she said. “During the review process which now holds the balance of phere, and on Chinese involve- China’s state news agency expected to fetch about A$5bn August 18 to make submissions China expressed its appre- national security issues were power in the upper house. ment in other areas,” said Hans Xinhua said that Chinese in- based on the valuation models to Morrison. ciation for the rescue eff orts, the identifi ed in critical power and The decision also sets new Hendrischke, a professor of Chi- vestment should not become a used for the fi rst two. A further rejection would Japanese foreign ministry said in communications services that parameters to the relationship nese business at University of source of strategic concern for The national sell-off pro- open the possibility that the sale a statement. Ausgrid provides to businesses between Australia and its big- Sydney’s business school. trade partners but a sign of co- gramme has been under politi- process would be re-run in the The accident comes after For- and governments,” Morrison gest export partner just eight “That is not necessarily operation. cal pressure since the 2015 sale hope that a competitive local bid eign Minister Fumio Kishida on said in a statement. months after a A$100bn free something you want with bid- “To suggest that China would of Port of Darwin to Chinese would emerge for the network Tuesday called in Cheng Yon- State Grid, China’s dominant trade agreement took eff ect. ding for other big infrastruc- try to kidnap the countries’ government-affi liated interests that serves nearly a quarter of ghua, Beijing’s envoy to Tokyo, power distributor, did not im- “If you put your biggest trad- ture projects,” he added, noting electricity network for ulterior that sparked a backlash over the NSW’s 7.5mn people. following what Tokyo calls “in- trusions” by Chinese ships near the disputed islands for fi ve con- secutive days. “The situation surrounding the Japan-China relationship is Sydney Opera House is set markedly deteriorating,” he told Cheng, according to the minis- try’s statement on its website. The two countries are locked for $190mn refurbishment in a long-running dispute over the uninhabited islets known as the Senkaku in Japan and the Di- AFP The refurbishments in the In 1999, Sydney Symphony aoyu in China. Sydney concert hall will involve the in- Orchestra chief conductor Edo stallation of a new acoustic ceil- de Waart threatened to boycott ing, specially designed acoustic the venue during the 2000 Ol- China power plant he Sydney Opera House refl ectors, automated draping, ympics, calling its acoustic re- is set to undergo a multi- and a 3D surround-sound sys- fl ectors “a joke”. blast kills at least Tmillion-dollar overhaul, tem. “The doughnuts (clear, circu- 21: state media with an emphasis on improving The second-largest perform- lar refl ectors above the platform) its acoustics, once described as ance space, the Joan Sutherland are a joke. They might as well An explosion at a power plant in worse than an aircraft hangar, Theatre, is also being redevel- be toilet seats. They do nothing China killed at least 21 and injured offi cials said yesterday. oped. whatsoever,” de Waart told the five yesterday, state media said, The A$247mn ($190mn) re- There has long been criticism ABC then about his frustrations, the latest industrial accident in a vamp is the biggest since Aus- of the acoustics of the concert which were shared by his pred- country that struggles with poor tralia’s most recognisable build- hall, which is located inside the ecessors. safety standards. ing opened in 1973 and includes largest roof sail of the Opera “It’s very frustrating. You get The blast in the city of Dangyang other upgrades to the main House. no help from this hall. It actu- in the central province of Hubei concert hall and the foyer, along US actor John Malkovich in ally takes away from the sound took place around 3.20pm, when with a new function centre. 2014 said the acoustics were so the orchestra makes,” de Waart a high-pressure steam pipe Describing the landmark as a hideous they “would do an aero- added. The Sydney Opera House is reflected in a harbourside hotel window in The Rocks district of Sydney. exploded, the off icial Xinhua “symbol of modern Australia”, plane hangar a disservice”. Danish architect Jorn Utzon news agency said. New South Wales state deputy “It’s lovely to drive by on a began work on the harbourside Changes to the interior design equate for international opera adding they would deliver the “The injured have been rushed Premier Troy Grant said the ren- motor boat and it has a very structure in 1957 but quit the after Utzon quit the project had standards. “true ambitions” of the original to hospital,” it said, adding that ovations were necessary to help nice crew, and very capable, but project in 1966 during construc- left the building – which was Sydney Symphony Orches- creators. authorities had launched a the Opera House – the country’s the acoustics are hideous,” the tion following a storm of contro- placed on the Unesco World tra’s managing director Rory Jef- The concert hall revamp is ex- rescue eff ort, although the cause busiest performing arts centre – American star told a local news- versy over budget blow-outs and Heritage list in 2007 – with fes said his musicians were ex- pected to start in mid-2019 and of the blast had not immediately meet demand. paper then. his artistic vision. acoustics criticised as inad- cited about the improvements, last for 18 months. been pinpointed. Minister accuses asylum-seekers of Anxious giraff e dies in latest lying about abuses at Nauru camp Taiwan animal scandal

AFP/Reuters/DPA abuse and mental distress. a deliberate policy to deter fur- immediate action to rectify the AFP Sydney Some of these incidents were ther asylum-seekers from arriv- current situation are exacerbat- Taipei “false allegations of sexual as- ing in the country by boat”. ing human suff ering.” sault, because in the end peo- Despite criticism of its policy, Hayley Ballinger, a child pro- sylum-seekers are faking ple have paid money to people Australia’s conservative gov- tection worker at the Nauru seven-year-old male gi- sexual assault claims in a smugglers and they want to ernment has strongly defended detention centre from 2014-15, raff e has died of anxi- Abid to seek refugee status come to our country”, Immigra- it, saying it has halted the spate said that it was an “absolute Aety after being caged and in Australia, the immigration tion Minister Peter Dutton said, of boat arrivals, and drownings, insult” to suggest that refugees loaded onto a truck at a Taiwan minister said yesterday, after adding that the government of earlier years. had lied about abuse that has zoo, the latest animal death to leaked reports detailed abuse al- would not tolerate any actual The leaks prompted the now been widely documented. spark angry calls for tougher legations at a Nauru detention abuse. United Nation’s refugee agency “All of the statements speak protection laws. camp. “Some people have even gone UNHCR to call for “immediate for themselves. Certainly the The giraff e – named Hsiao Under Canberra’s tough im- to the extent of self-harming solutions” to address the Nauru clients I saw there suff ered and Chiu – was due to be transported migration policy, asylum-seek- and people have self-immolated allegations, including moving they really suff ered. And this from the municipal Taipei Zoo to ers who try to reach Australia by in an eff ort to get to Australia refugees and asylum-seekers off stuff really, really did happen. a private zoo for mating when he boat are turned back or sent to and certainly some have made the island. We witnessed it fi rst-hand,” began to struggle and then col- detention centres on the Pacifi c false allegations,” he told Sydney “UNHCR has observed and Ballinger told Reuters. lapsed, offi cials said yesterday. island nations of Nauru and Pa- commercial radio station 2GB. reported a progressive dete- Green party Senator Sarah “The zoo lost Hsiao Chiu in pua New Guinea. An investigation by Amnesty rioration of the situation of Hanson-Young called Dutton’s a painful accident,” Taipei Zoo The more than 2,000 reports International and Human Rights refugees and asylum-seekers comments “abhorrent”. said in a statement, adding the leaked to Guardian Australia in- Watch researchers, released last on Nauru through its regular “To attack a child for telling trip had already been postponed clude allegations that asylum- week, claimed that the Aus- visits since 2012,” the body said an adult – someone they should from June so the sensitive animal seekers on Nauru, including tralia’s failure to address serious on Wednesday. “Solutions are trust - that they’ve been abused could get familiar with the proc- children, face assaults, sexual abuse allegations “appears to be now urgently needed. Delays in is unthinkable,” she said. ess. This handout picture released by Taipei Zoo yesterday shows zoo The animal had died before the staff caring for a giraff e. A seven-year-old male giraff e has died from truck had even left for the private anxiety on a trip from the zoo to a special breeding programme, the zoo in Hsinchu city, about 70km latest animal death to spark angry calls for tougher laws on from Taipei. protection. An autopsy showed the giraff e Police take aim at Pokemon Go gamers was suff ering from pneumonia front pages of some local news- Taipei prior to takeoff . and anxiety from the transporta- papers, which also criticised the In 2014, a male hippo famous tion, which triggered breathing zoo for failing to detect its illness. for regularly performing at a pri- Reuters Taiwan, and Monday. a T$1,000 ($32) ticket, accord- taurants and museums. diffi culties and muscle damage. The zoo said it had not given vate zoo in central Taiwan died Taipei More than 1,100 of the tickets ing to media reports. Authorities in Taiwan have The giraff e died of lung and the giraff e a blood test before the after breaking a leg and sustain- were dished out to scooter rid- “When driving, it’s easy to be urged gamers to resist the urge heart failure. trip to avoid agitating it. ing other injuries during trans- ers. distracted when using your mo- to play in certain locations, most Animal rights advocates criti- The incident came less than a portation, sparking a public out- he launch of the Pokemon “The whole country is using bile phone and this causes acci- notably Taiwan’s presidential cised the zoo while vowing to week after hundreds of birds, two cry. Go game in Taiwan has their smart phones like crazy dents. So the police will enhance palace and the National Palace continue to push for tougher laws cats and a dog died of heat ex- The two-tonne beast appar- Tsparked a sharp rise in playing this internet game,” said eff orts to fi ne drivers who use Museum. to protect animals in captivity. haustion from being left in a con- ently panicked when it jumped traffi c violations by commuters Yen San-lung, head of law en- their mobile phones,” Yen said. At the Taipei Zoo, many visi- “This kind of negligence that tainer on an airport apron in bak- from a moving truck, crushing using their smartphones to play forcement in the traffi c division Game players use mobile de- tors could be seen using their leads to animal deaths should ing temperatures for two hours. its diaphragm and breaking a leg, while driving. of Taipei’s police department. vices to search for virtual Poke- phones instead of looking at the have been prevented – but it The animals, destined for Ma- only to sustain further injuries Authorities have issued 1,210 Police have warned gamers mon (“pocket monsters”) char- animals. keeps happening,” said Chen Yu- laysia, were found dead after they the following day when it was tickets for smartphone use in against playing in traffi c, issuing acters that appear to pop up at Many of the enclosures house min, director of the Environment were left in a container without crushed inside a container while traffi c between last Saturday, fi nes of T$3,000 ($95) for car places where people are known virtual Pokemon characters and Animal Society of Taiwan. air holes for two hours at Taoy- returning home from medical when the game was released in drivers, while scooter riders face to gather, including offi ces, res- along with real creatures. The giraff e’s death made the uan International airport near treatment. Gulf Times Friday, August 12, 2016 9 BRITAIN Scary things After Brexit ‘we can’t be too fussy about trade’

Guardian News we would be unable to infl u- London ence that huge bloc’s future trade policies anymore and out of the EU we are probably more eter Mandelson, the dependent on China’s goodwill former business secre- because we will need to replace Ptary, has urged the gov- trade lost in Europe. ernment to go ahead with the “So we are not in the happi- controversial, Chinese-backed est of positions, but this is the Hinkley Point nuclear project, reality and we have got to adopt saying that after Brexit “we a pragmatic approach to this. can’t be too fussy about who We can’t be too fussy about we do trade with”. who we do trade with, whilst at Lord Mandelson, an archi- the same time trying not to be tect of New Labour who served a pushover and become suppli- in several key positions under cants in world trade.” the Blair and Brown govern- Mandelson’s comments ments, said security fears over came after China’s ambassa- Chinese involvement in the dor warned on Monday that project were unfounded, and relations with the UK could be Britain should foster a rela- jeopardised if the government tionship with the country as a chose to cancel Chinese in- “prized trading partner”. vestment in the £18bn Hinkley His intervention in the de- Point C reactor in Somerset. bate comes after China ex- Liu Xiaoming wrote in an pressed apparent annoyance article for the Financial Times: Brexit Scarecrows depicting former British prime minister David Cameron (L) and foreign secretary Boris Johnson are displayed during the Scarecrow Festival in Heather, Britain. at a delay ordered by Theresa “Right now, the China-UK May, whose chief of staff last relationship is at a crucial October wrote about how se- historical juncture. Mutual curity experts were worried trust should be treasured even about giving the Chinese a more. role in Britain’s energy secu- rity. “It would be commercial Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s global suicide for China if Today programme, Mandel- they were to invest on the son, whose many lucrative one hand and then try to post-politics jobs include the mess around with other presidency of the Great Brit- countries security” Former priest jailed ain China Centre, a pro-Chi- na lobby group, said he was I hope the UK will keep its not surprised that security door open to China and that agencies had made such con- the British government will clusions, since “that’s their continue to support Hinkley job”. Point — and come to a deci- But he added: “The govern- sion as soon as possible so ment has to consider China’s that the project can proceed for abuse of 13 kids motivation for wanting to fi - smoothly.” nance projects like this and, in A government spokesman The home worker abused children in In a statement read out in court, one Judge Hehir personally apologised to a bers, we will fearlessly examine institu- my view and I guess in their later said the delays did not his care victim said: “I feel like I have been robbed victim who was abused as a teenager when tional failures, past and present, and make view too, they judge that it signal a cooling of enthusiasm of my childhood and sometimes when I see Temple was a priest. recommendations so that the children of would be commercial global for trade with China. Agencies other children in the street I wish I could He told the victim he was “sorry justice England and Wales are better protected suicide for China if they were Treasury sources added that London go back in time and be a child again.” was not done” during previous trials in now and in the future,” Jay said in a state- to invest on the one hand and Philip Hammond, who trav- Mitigating, Lee Sergent said Temple was 1998 and 1999. ment. then try to mess around with elled to China last month for aware “all the apologies in the world won’t The man, who cannot be named for Described by the government as a “a other countries security on the the G20 fi nance ministers’ former Catholic priest and chil- make things right”. legal reasons, told the court he smoked, child protection expert with over 30 years’ next. meeting in his fi rst overseas dren’s home worker who commit- Temple, of no fi xed abode, pleaded drank heavily, self-harmed, rarely ate and experience”, Jay had already been work- “I mean, nobody would visit as chancellor, was no less Ated 27 sex crimes against 13 children guilty to 20 counts of non-recent sex- became a recluse after the previous trials, ing as a member of the panel investigating trust China ever again; nobody committed to securing Chi- across parts of London has been jailed for ual assault at Croydon Crown Court on culminating in a suicide attempt. allegations from victims who say politi- would want to do business with nese investment into Britain 12 years. Wednesday, April 6 and admitted seven He said he had seen Temple as cians, the Catholic and Anglican Church- Chinese investors ever again. than his predecessor, George Philip Temple, 66, sexually assaulted further counts at Woolwich Crown Court a father fi gure and had even giv- es, councils and schools have failed to deal The truth is that China would Osborne, who had promised to a number of boys and one girl in his care on Tuesday. en him a Father’s Day card one year. with abuse. have far, far too much to lose inaugurate a “golden decade” between 1971 and 1977 when he worked for He also admitted two counts of perjury Britain appointed a new head to lead a In a number of cases, victims said in- if it were to start compromis- of cooperation between the Lambeth and Wandsworth councils. during two trials in 1998 and 1999 which national inquiry into decades of child stitutions had actively covered up cases at ing other countries’ national two countries. He then became a priest and served at resulted in his acquittal at the Croydon sex abuse yesterday, naming social care the behest of powerful establishment fi g- security.” EDF, the French state en- Christ the King Monastery, Vita Et Pax in hearing. expert Alexis Jay to lead an investigation ures including senior lawmakers, spies and Moreover, Britain’s vote to ergy company which is due to Cockfosters, where he abused two chil- Judge Christopher Hehir branded Tem- that has been dogged by leadership prob- police offi cers leave the European Union had build Hinkley point C, brought dren, including an altar boy. ple “a wolf in shepherd’s clothing” as he lems. Two other chairwomen previously quit put the country in a diffi cult China General Nuclear Power The abuse took place in Temple’s bed- jailed him for 12 years at Woolwich Crown The inquiry was set up in July 2014 after the inquiry amid criticism over confl icts of position regarding trade, where Corp on board help spread the rooms at three care homes and in chil- Court on Tuesday. a series of child sex abuse scandals dating interest relating to their ties to the political we needed China more than it fi nancial load by taking a 33% dren’s bedrooms, dormitories and bath- He also said he viewed Temple’s move to back to the 1970s, some involving celebri- establishment. needed us, Mandelson said in stake in the project. rooms after he became ordained, the court become ordained as an “aggravating fac- ties and politicians. “Let there be no doubt; our commit- comments that suggested that China is also expected to heard. tor” in his crimes. Jay, who led a separate 2014 investiga- ment to this inquiry is undiminished,” Britain could not aff ord to al- have a signifi cant role in reac- Temple ordered several children to keep Judge Hehir said the off ences spanned tion into child sexual abuse in the north- interior minister Amber Rudd said, an- ienate Asia’s rising power. tors at Sizewell in Suff olk and quiet about the abuse, telling one victim “two distinct phases” of Temple’s life: ern English town of Rotherham, becomes nouncing the appointment. He said: “We are in a slightly Bradwell in Essex. The project he was “special” and another that it was when he worked at three care homes from the fourth person to lead the wide-ranging “We owe it to victims and survivors to invidious position in trade vis- is heavily subsidised by the “our little secret”, the court heard. 1971 and 1977, and between 1993 and 1999, inquiry after its former chair, New Zealand confront the appalling reality of how chil- a-vis China, despite the size taxpayer, and the government He bribed at least one boy, described by after he was ordained. high court judge Lowell Goddard, quit last dren were let down by the very people who of our market we are probably has promised to pay well over a social worker as “Philip’s favourite”, with Temple did not react as the judge or- week. were charged to protect them and to learn less relevant to China out of current market rates for elec- sweets for his silence. dered offi cers to “send him down”. “Together with my fellow panel mem- from the mistakes of the past.” the European Union because tricity from the reactor.

Stumped by transgender pension Lunar close-up case, UK top court seeks EU help

Reuters documents, who was registered der applicant with the consent of London as a boy at birth but has lived their spouse. as a woman since 1991 and had But that did not change MB’s gender reassignment surgery in situation and she was told she complex legal dispute 1995. MB turned 60 in 2008 and could not be treated as a woman involving a transgender applied for a state pension, which for state pension purposes and Awoman’s pension rights under British law women born would only become eligible when over a period when her gender had before 1950 are entitled to from she turned 65. not been offi cially recognised has that age. Men born before 1953 MB took legal action against divided Britain’s supreme court, become entitled at the age of 65. the government, arguing that its which referred the issue to the MB was turned down because approach to her case breached an European Union’s top court. she did not have a full gender EU directive on the equal treat- Britain voted to leave the EU in recognition certifi cate, an offi cial ment of men and women in mat- a referendum on June 23, but the document she could not obtain ters of social security. terms of its exit will take years to because she remained married to Article 4 of that directive says negotiate and in the meantime it a woman. there must be no discrimination continues to be subject to EU law. At the time, same-sex mar- on ground of gender either di- The impact of EU legislation riage was not legal in Britain. rectly, or indirectly by reference on domestic law was one of the The case echoes a number to marital or family status. topics of debate in the run-up to of legal disputes in the United The case went all the way to the referendum. States over complex issues in- the supreme court, which said Pro-Brexit campaigners ar- volving transgender people, in- it needed help from the Luxem- gued that unaccountable EU cluding a dispute over bathroom bourg-based Court of Justice of judges were chipping away at rights that has reached the US the European Union on how to British sovereignty, while their supreme court and received interpret the directive. opponents said EU laws were extensive media coverage. In Brit- “The supreme court is divided sensible and had improved hu- ain, the laws aff ecting MB’s cir- on the question, and in the ab- man rights protection. cumstances have since changed. sence of Court of Justice authori- An artwork entitled ‘Museum of the Moon’, a 7 metre diameter inflatable moon covered with imagery of the lunar surface, on the The supreme court made it Same-sex marriage became ty directly in point, considers that opening day of the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta in Bristol, western England. The Fiesta is Europe’s largest annual hot air clear it required EU guidance legal in 2014 and a full gender it cannot fi nally resolve the appeal balloon meeting, featuring over 150 hot air balloons from around the world. The event runs from August 11th to the 14th on the to resolve the case of a woman, recognition certifi cate can now without a reference to the Court Ashton Court Estate in Bristol. named only as “MB” in court be given to a married transgen- of Justice,” it said in a ruling. Gulf Times 10 Friday, August 12, 2016 EUROPE Germany mulls new anti-terrorism measures

AFP by German secret services. armed force, and which calls it- comes after two attacks in July anti-terror measures should be Berlin With about one in three fi ght- self an army, I don’t see why this by migrants in the southern state adopted before the autumn 2017 ers having since returned to Ger- should not be considered,” he ar- of Bavaria – an axe rampage on a elections. many, fears are running high of gued. train in Wuerzburg and a suicide On the policing front, the min- ermany has unveiled the threat they may pose on Eu- SPD chief Sigmar Gabriel sig- bombing in Ansbach. ister said he would seek a “four- tough new anti-terror ropean soil. nalled that his party is “ready for In Wuerzburg, the 17-year-old digit increase” in police jobs, on Gmeasures after two at- The security package must discussions on anything that can attacker was shot dead by police top of a staffi ng increase agreed tacks claimed by the Islamic still be approved by the country’s contribute to reinforcing secu- after injuring fi ve people. by the government for 4,600 new State (IS) group, including a con- right-left coalition as well as in rity”, but added that “we are not In Ansbach, 15 people were posts over the next year. troversial proposal to strip Is- the German parliament, and the available for any populist quick injured after a failed Syrian asy- Spending on security would lamist militants of their German issue of taking away German cit- fi x”. lum-seeker detonated an explo- also be raised by €2.0bn ($2.2bn) nationality. izenship could be disputed, with In the wake of the November sive device outside a music festi- by 2020. Deportations of convicted Green lawmaker Volker Beck 13 Paris attacks, French President val, killing himself. A special division will be set criminal migrants will also be swiftly condemning it as “des- Francois Hollande had proposed The link to migrants has put up within federal police forces sped up while police resources perate activism”. stripping convicted terrorists of pressure on Chancellor Angela that would co-ordinate secu- are to be greatly boosted under De Maiziere himself also ac- their French nationality. Merkel over her liberal asylum rity eff orts in terror situations, he the security package drawn up knowledged that it “would be a But the suggestion had to be policies that saw 1.1mn refugees added. by Interior Minister Thomas de diffi cult point” with the govern- dropped after a fi erce debate, as arrive in Germany last year. And a new unit would be Maiziere. ment’s junior coalition partner, critics warned it would create With two state elections in formed to draw up strategies and “Germans who participate in the Social Democrats (SPD). stateless individuals. September – at Merkel’s strong- design products to combat cyber fi ghting abroad for a terror mi- But making his case, he point- Looking beyond the problem hold Mecklenburg-Western Po- crime and terrorism. litia and who have another citi- ed to German legislation which of homegrown militants, the in- merania and in Berlin – and a De Maiziere however rejected a zenship should lose their German already allows for citizens with terior minister also introduced general election next year, con- call from conservative Christian nationality,” he said. dual nationalities and who fi ght plans to tackle threats posed by cern is growing among the po- Democrat state interior minis- Around 820 people have left for a foreign army to be stripped foreigners to Germany, includ- litical mainstream that populist ters for a burqa ban, saying: “We Germany to fi ght alongside Is- of their German citizenship. ing speeding up the deportation party, the AfD, could make record can’t ban everything that we re- lamist militant groups in Syria “So if someone fi ghts for a ter- process for those convicted. gains. ject, and I reject the wearing of Maiziere: We can’t ban everything that we reject. and Iraq, according to estimates ror militia that is similar to an Germany’s toughened stance De Maiziere said the latest the burqa.”

Turkey attaches Ukraine on high alert in Greece ‘fl ed to over Crimea tensions Italy’ AFP Meanwhile, a Nato offi cial called Moscow’s claims “sense- AFP Kiev told AFP that the US-led mili- less and cynical”. Istanbul tary alliance was monitoring “Fantasies are only another the heightened Crimea tensions pretext for the next military kraine put its forces with concern. threats toward Ukraine,” he said. wo Turkish military at- around Crimea on high The offi cial, who asked not Two residents living on the taches posted in Greece Ualert yesterday, as ten- to be named, said that “Rus- Russian-controlled side of the Thave fl ed to Italy at the sions soared after Moscow ac- sia’s recent military activity in Crimea-Ukraine frontier told weekend following last month’s cused Kiev of attempting to Crimea is not helpful for easing AFP that there had been an un- failed coup, Turkey’s top diplo- mount armed incursions into tensions”, and called on Moscow explained build-up of Russian mat said yesterday, adding that the disputed peninsula. “to work for calm and de-esca- military hardware in the area Ankara was working to track Russia’s FSB security service lation”. over the past few weeks. them down. said on Wednesday that it had Russia’s FSB security service Russia is holding nationwide The two missing envoys are thwarted “terrorist attacks” in said one of its offi cers was killed legislative elections next month among several Turkish offi cials Crimea this week by Ukrainian in clashes while arresting “ter- – including in Crimea – and the posted abroad who Ankara is military intelligence and beaten rorists” overnight on August FSB said the alleged raids could seeking to locate over their al- back armed assaults, but Kiev 6-7, while a Russian soldier died be aimed at destabilising the leged links to the July 15 coup. fi ercely denied the claims. in a fi refi ght with “sabotage- situation ahead of the vote. Speaking to NTV television, The allegations ratcheted terrorist” groups sent by the A senior Ukrainian security Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavu- up the heat in a feud sparked Ukrainian military on August 8. offi cial told AFP that Moscow’s soglu said colonels Halis Tunc by Moscow’s 2014 seizure of Putin angrily accused Kiev of claims were a “crude Russian and Ilhan Yasitli left on August the Black Sea peninsula from “practising terror” and warned provocation” and that Kiev was 6, taking the car ferry across the Ukraine and raised fears of a that the deaths of the Russian “getting ready for anything”, in- Adriatic Sea to Italy. wider confl ict. offi cers would have conse- cluding an invasion. “We are working to bring both The UN Security Council quences. Russia says it has detained these traitors back to Turkey,” he was meanwhile to discuss the “We obviously will not let several Ukrainian and Rus- said, without detailing the al- growing tensions at the request such things slide by,” Putin said. sian citizens over the incident, legations against the men. “The of Ukraine, a non-permanent “This is a very dangerous game.” including an alleged Ukrain- Greek authorities recorded this. council member. Russia’s foreign ministry reit- ian military intelligence offi cer Tunc’s brother lives in Holland. Ukraine’s pro-Western Presi- erated yesterday that Kiev would named Yevgen Panov. We are working with both the dent Petro Poroshenko met his not go unpunished. Kiev has called Panov a “hos- Ukrainian servicemen watch Sukhoi Su-24 front-line bombers fly during military aviation drills in Rivne Netherlands and Italy.” top brass and ordered forces “We want to warn Kiev and its tage”. region, Ukraine, as Russia accuses Ukraine of incursions into annexed Crimea. Earlier this week, media re- along the frontier with Crimea Western sponsors that the losses Russian television showed ports said the pair had gone and across the confl ict-wracked incurred to the Russian side, the FSB footage of Panov being Yanukovych was ousted. on Moscow – drags on despite a Independent Russian daily missing. east onto “high-alert level”. death of Russian servicemen, questioned, with cuts and bruis- The crisis sent ties between stalled peace deal. Vedomosti wrote in an op-ed Yasitli is reported to be the Russian President Vladimir will not remain without conse- es visible on his face and arm. Moscow and the West plunging More than 9,500 people have that Moscow has tended to ramp overall military attache and Tunc Putin also met security chiefs quences,” a ministry statement He said he was recruited by to their lowest point since the been killed since the pro-Rus- up tensions ahead of negotia- the naval attache. to discuss “additional measures said. Ukraine’s military intelligence, Cold War and led to tough eco- sian insurgency erupted in April tions over Ukraine. Their accreditation to Athens for ensuring security for citizens Foreign Minister Sergei Lav- with the planned targets a ferry, nomic sanctions by the Europe- 2014. “The main political question has now been cancelled. and essential infrastructure in rov urged the West to warn Kiev a helicopter regiment, an oil de- an Union and the United States Putin said a mooted meeting now is what is the future of the A Greek government source Crimea”, the Kremlin said. against “dangerous steps that pot and a chemical factory. against Russia. with Poroshenko and media- Minsk process,” the paper wrote, told AFP that Athens was aware “Scenarios were carefully could have the most negative Moscow and Kiev have been The latest war of words repre- tors German Chancellor Angela referring to the peace deal ham- of the case but had not been considered for anti-terrorist consequences” in a phone call locked in a bitter dispute since sents the most serious increase Merkel and French President mered out in the Belarussian tipped off about the attaches be- security measures at the land with his French counterpart, the the Kremlin seized Crimea in in tensions in months as a sepa- Francois Hollande at next capital in February 2015. “Will fore they fl ed. border, in the waters and in the ministry said. March 2014 after Ukraine’s Rus- ratist confl ict in eastern Ukraine month’s G20 summit in China Russia bring an end to it or de- “The two attaches left the airspace of Crimea,” it said. Poroshenko on Wednesday sian-backed president Viktor – that Kiev and the West blame was now “senseless”. mand new concessions?” country before the Turkish au- thorities went looking for them,” said the source. “And before we Mayor of Corleone dismissed were informed that their dip- lomatic passports had been re- Corleone, the notorious Sicilian birthplace of real-life mob chiefs voked.” Fires ravage hills around Marseille that inspired the fictional Godfather saga, has had its mayor Turkey has embarked on a dismissed for Mafia links, Italian news reports said yesterday. wholesale purge of the military The decision was taken late on Wednesday by the central in the wake of the coup which Reuters winds worked like a powder keg,” government in Rome. was blamed by Ankara on fol- Marseille Richard Mallie, head of the fi re- Corleone and Tropea, another town in southern Italy with the lowers of the US-based preacher fi ghting service said on France same Mafia infiltration problems, were placed under special Fethullah Gulen. Bleu Provence radio. “The fi res administration by the ministry of interior. The two Athens-based at- orest fi res raged through spread at phenomenal speed, The government did not elaborate on the reason for the move, but taches are among several Turk- parts of France’s Mediter- 2,500 metres an hour.” according to the Palermo edition of the La Repubblica daily, police ish offi cials based abroad now Franean coast yesterday, with The situation was under control investigations had revealed that Mayor Leoluchina ‘Lea’ Savona’s wanted by Ankara in the wake of the worst in almost two decades yesterday, but fi res were still ac- brother, Giovanni, helped rig public tenders for the Sicilian mafia, or the coup. burning around Marseille, injur- tive, local authorities said. Cosa Nostra. “There are people who es- ing seven people and forcing au- The areas concerned are dense- The town’s reputation as a Cosa Nostra stronghold led author Mario caped and some of our diplomats thorities to evacuate thousands ly populated but are not those Puzo to lend its name to the Corleone family, the protagonists of are among them,” said Cavu- from their homes. most popular with tourists, lo- The Godfather book, later adapted into the Oscar-winning film soglu. About 2,500 fi refi ghters still cated mostly further east of Mar- starring Marlon Brando. “For example two offi cials battled the blazes that broke out seille. based in Bangladesh have es- on Wednesday, backed up by fi re- More than 20 houses burnt caped to New York,” he said, fi ghting airplanes from France down around Vitrolles. Zoo raises €12,000 with Pokemon Go adding that an ultimatum for and neighbouring Italy, Interior A local newspaper, La Provence, them to return had expired. Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told showed pictures of a secondary Players of Pokemon Go can help protect real species while hunting In a separate case that has journalists. school in the town of Les Pennes- down fictitious creatures, as one Belgian zoo has demonstrated. strained improving ties between A 50-year old man taking pic- Mirabeau destroyed by the fl ames. Antwerp Zoo announced yesterday that it had raised €12,000 Ankara and Athens, eight Turk- tures of the fi res in Vitrolles, 20km The fi res came close to the pet- ($13,000) in a Pokemon Go hunt organised last week, the Belga ish military offi cers fl ed by heli- northwest of Marseille, was being rochemical complex of Fos-sur- news agency reported. copter to Greece after the failed questioned by police, a source Mer, which includes several refi n- On Friday evening, the zoo opened its doors to Pokemon Go coup of July 15. close to the investigation told eries and oil depots. players for two hours. To block their deportation Reuters, but the interior minister Only slight damage had been While the event was free of charge, visitors were encouraged to back to Turkey, they have ap- said it was too early to say if crimi- reported at the minerals terminal make a proposed €3 donation. Around 15,000 people participated. plied for asylum. nal intent was behind the fi res. and none at the oil terminal, how- They have been handed sus- The fi res, fanned by strong ever. pended two-month prison terms northern winds known as the After some delayed and can- Town breaks record for squid dish for illegal entry and will remain mistral, ravaged more than 2,000 celled fl ights late on Wednesday, in police custody until their asy- hectares of the dry, pine-planted the situation at Marseille airport A picture taken in Vitrolles, southern France, yesterday shows A Spanish town has broken the record for dishing up the biggest lum hearing on August 19. hills north of Marseille and were was returning to normal, it said the burnt neighbourhood of Pinchinades following a fire which portion of squid, with two dozen people cooking up a serving Two Turkish generals serving stopped just at the outskirts of on its website, although traffi c has devastated some 3,300 hectares the night before. France weighing 750kg. in the Nato force in Afghanistan France’s second-biggest city. was disrupted because some roads mobilised 1,500 firefighters yesterday to tackle wildfires in Residents of Carballino in northwestern Spain presented the were also detained in Dubai last “The drought of the last few leading to the airports were still countryside north of marseille that have gutted buildings and seafood dish on a platter more than 5m in diameter, regional month on suspicion of links to months and the strong mistral closed. forced more than 1,000 people to flee their homes. newspaper El Correo Gallgeo reported on Wednesday. the failed coup. Gulf Times Friday, August 12, 2016 11 INDIA

RS okays Govt ensuring protection maternity leave hike

IANS of workers in Gulf: Sushma New Delhi

IANS “We appreciate the magnanimous he Rajya Sabha yesterday New Delhi view taken by the Saudi Arabian gov- passed a bill to increase ernment of granting exit visas expe- Tthe maternity leave to 26 ditiously and agreeing to bear the ex- weeks from the present 12 weeks. xternal Aff airs Minister Sushma penses for the travel of the workers,” The bill provides for maternity Swaraj yesterday informed Ra- External Aff airs Ministry spokesperson leave of 26 weeks to women for Ejya Sabha that 55,730 Indians Vikas Swarup said in his weekly media two surviving children, and also have returned from Saudi Arabia since briefi ng here. includes the commissioning and August 2015 and the government was “The swift action to tackle a localised adopting mothers. closely monitoring the situation in Gulf problem specifi c only to some compa- The surrogate mothers have, countries. nies of Saudi Arabia signifi es the deep however, been left out, a point She also said government was taking and abiding relationship that our two which was objected to by several all possible steps to ensure welfare and countries share,” he said. opposition members. protection of the Indian community in Following reports of retrenchment of They sought Labour Minister these countries. the workers by the Saudi Oger company, Bandaru Dattatreya’s assurance According to the minister, multilin- Minister of State for External Aff airs V that the government will exam- gual helplines have been set up in India K Singh visited Saudi Arabia last week. ine it and take action. and in Gulf countries. According to Swarup, Singh “had The minister assured the The Indian Worker Resource Cen- very productive meetings” with the house he will examine the issue. tre (IWRC) has also been set up in Du- Saudi Minister for Labour and Social The bill, which will now go to bai that provides toll-free helpline and Development Mufrel al-Haqbani and the Lok Sabha, will lead to the walk-in counselling facilities, she add- other senior dignitaries. ratifi cation of International La- ed. “As a result of these meetings, the bour Organisation convention “Four more IWRCs have been ap- process of lodging claims and making number 183 that provides for at proved in Sharjah, UAE, Riyadh and arrangements for those Indian workers least 14 weeks of maternity ben- Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia wishing to come back to India or relo- efi t to women. and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia,” said cate to another company has already The bill also facilitates ‘work Sushma Swaraj. started,” the spokesperson said. from home’ for nursing mothers “There is around 8mn strong resident The crisis also saw Saudi King Sal- once the leave period ends and Indian community in the Gulf coun- man issuing a series of directives to ad- has made creche facility manda- tries. An estimated 70% of them are dress their problems, and earmarking tory in respect of establishments blue collar workers. 100mn Saudi riyals ($26mn) to address with 50 or more employees. Indian missions in Gulf countries External Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj arrives at Parliament in New Delhi. the concerns of the workers and end Employers will have to allow receive various types of complaints their suff ering. women employees to go to the from Indian workers including non- some reports of Indian workers be- sible steps to ensure the welfare and November 2015 and further to 3.05mn King Salman also directed the Saudi creche four times during duty payment/delayed payment of wages, ing asked to leave before completion of protection of the Indian community. in February 2016, said the minister. passport department to facilitate exit hours, which will also include sudden closure of companies, ill treat- their existing contracts,” said Sushma Our missions and posts have been pro- “The responsibility of resettlement visas and other procedures for the dis- her rest period, the bill said. ment, excessive working hours, fi ling Swaraj. active in liaising with the host countries of the returnees primarily rests with tressed workers. Speaking before the bill was false charges with police authorities, She also pointed out that instances of in resolving diffi culties faced by Indian the state governments. The (federal) Swarup said in his media briefi ng that passed, Dattatreya said a mater- withholding of passports, dishonouring unpaid salaries for last few months and workers,” she added. government stands ready to extend the fi rst batch of 26 Indian workers left nity bonus of up to Rs3,500 will terms of the contract and exit visa,” she non-availability of food in some labour The strength of the Indian commu- necessary cooperation to states in this Jeddah for New Delhi on Thursday by a also be given to women staff . added. camps of two big companies in Saudi nity in Saudi Arabia is relatively stable. regard,” said Sushma Swaraj. Saudi Arabian Airlines fl ight. The minister also said that “Those employed in oil and gas and Arabia have also been reported by In- As per statistics available with the India also offi cially appreciated Saudi “Once they arrive, respective state employers cannot fi re a woman construction sectors are among the dian workers. Indian mission, the size of the Indian Arabia’s prompt action to provide relief governments will be making arrange- on ground of pregnancy. most vulnerable where downsizing and “The government is closely monitor- community, which was 2.75mn in De- to Indian workers who were retrenched ments for their travel to their home “The law will benefi t more lay-off s have been reported. There are ing the situation and is taking all pos- cember 2014 increased to 2.96mn in by a Saudi company. towns,” he added. than 1.8mn workforce in the country,” Dattatreya said. The bill also requires employ- Good Samaritan policy after man bleeds to death ers to inform women about the maternity leave benefi ts in writ- Acting to make citizens more CCTV footage shows the driver ing or electronically at the time responsive to accident victims after of the goods auto rickshaw that hit of joining. passers-by let a 32-year old man Matbool alighting and checking if Manjula named Mumbai Speaking during the debate, bleed to death, the Delhi govern- his vehicle had been damaged, but Women and Child Development ment yesterday announced that it he ignored the bleeding man. Minister Maneka Gandhi said will bring a scheme soon to reward He then drove away. the maternity leave is not a holi- those who come forward to assist It also shows a rickshaw puller day, as many people feel. victims at such times. stopping by to check, and then High Court chief justice “This is not a holiday...it is a “It was very sad to know that picking up Matbool’s mobile phone very stressful time for a woman,” the people didn’t come forward and cycling away. Gandhi said. and help the accident victim who Police yesterday identified the IANS Justice Sujata Manohar cre- served as executive chairper- She said that although her lay bleeding on the road,” Delhi goods auto rickshaw driver as Mumbai ated history by becoming the son of the Karnataka State Le- ministry recommended eight- Transport Minister Satyendar Jain Rajesh and impounded his vehicle. fi rst woman Chief Justice of gal Services Authority, worked month maternity leave, but the told reporters here. A case of negligent and rash Mumbai High Court in 1994. for the welfare of transgen- Labour Ministry felt the period “The government has made a driving was registered by the he fi rst woman Chief She was later elevated to the ders and arranged seminars of 26 weeks was suffi cient. scheme to reward people, including police. Justice of Calcutta High Supreme Court. throughout the state. Participating in the debate, auto or taxi drivers, for helping ac- Transport Minister Jain said that TCourt, Manjula Chellur, Born on December 5, 1955 Later, she was transferred to Rajni Patil of the Congress said cident victims and rushing them to if people save the life of any person, will be the new Chief Justice of at Bellary in Karnataka, Chief the Kerala High Court where some companies are not willing hospital,” Jain said. they would not face harassment. Mumbai High Court, accord- Justice Chellur is the daughter she became the Chief Justice to employ married women be- His remarks came following the He said the scheme is named ing to an offi cial announce- of C Bheemappa Chetty and in September 2012. cause then they will have to be death of Matbool in west Delhi’s ‘Good Samaritan Policy’. ment yesterday. Rangamma Chetty. Chief Justice Chellur became given maternity benefi ts. Subhash Nagar area on Wednesday “The scheme aims to provide She will become only the After acquiring a degree the 37th and fi rst ever woman “Maternity benefi ts should morning. cash reward as well as public second woman chief justice in Arts from Allum Suman- Chief Justice of Calcutta High be extended to employees in the Matbool, an e-rickshaw driver felicitation by the government to in the 154-year-old history galamma Womens College in Court in August 2014. unorganised sector too,” Patil and part-time security guard, bled those who help accident victims,” of Mumbai High Court which her hometown, she joined the Manjula Chellur ... new charge During her legal career, she suggested. to death on the road after being hit Jain added. was inaugurated on August Renukacharya Law College in served as a legal advisor to She also pitched for paternity by a speeding goods auto rickshaw “We will bring the bill into the 14, 1862 and will celebrate its Bangalore (now Bengaluru) Karnataka Judicial Service as several banks, agro-industries leave for men. from behind. house this month and get it cleared 155th anniversary on Sunday. and obtained her LL B degree a District Judge and got a fel- and other organisations be- “Motherhood is not restricted Matbool, who hailed from West from the Lt Governor,” Jain told Chief Justice Chellur, 60, in 1977. lowship on Gender & Law in sides handling several impor- only to mothers. Fathers should Bengal, lay on the road unattended media persons. will take charge of her new as- She visited the Crown 1997 at Warwick University, tant cases both on civil and also take the responsibility,” Pa- for almost an hour till the police “It seems that people fear while signment later this month. Court at Hurham, UK, during UK. criminal sides. til said. were informed. helping accident victims thinking Mumbai High Court has her stay in England for a year. She was appointed the fi rst Recognising her outstand- Kahkashan Parveen of the Ja- He was declared brought dead to they may face legal trouble,” he three benches — in Auranga- She launched her legal ca- woman judge of the Karnataka ing contributions in the fi eld nata Dal-United, meanwhile, hospital due to excessive bleeding. said, adding, “I want to inform all bad, Nagpur and Goa besides reer as the fi rst woman advo- High Court in February 2000 of law, the Karnataka State said it was for the fi rst time in He used to live with his family in Tihar that no one can be harassed as per jurisdiction over the Union cate to practice in Bellary in and became a permanent Women’s University, Bijapur, 18 months that the house was village of west Delhi, police said. the Supreme Court ruling.” Territories of Dadra & Nagar August 1978. judge in August that year. honoured her with an honor- discussing an issue related to Haveli and Daman & Diu. In April 1988, she joined the In between, Justice Chellur ary Doctorate in March 2013. women.

Alleged skimmer in Kerala police custody Pressure mounts on Chandy to

By Ashraf Padanna They withdrew nearly half a million ru- return as leader to resurrect UDF Thiruvananthapuram pees from the accounts of more than 20 who used the ATM kiosk of India’s largest bank State Bank of India at busy Althara Junction, IANS Chandy has said a polite no to leader of opposition and the UDF erala police yesterday took custody of Vellayambalam, in the state capital. Thiruvananthapuram all media persons who are ap- chairman. a Romanian suspect arrested by the Police identifi ed Marian, Florian, and proaching him for an interview, Chandy’s skill of managing the KMumbai police in the case of ATM Victor from the CCTV footage from the ATM and when asked why he is not coalition was seen during the en- skimming here. kiosk while planting skimmers and camera ressure is mounting on holding a press meet to address tire fi ve-year period when he was Gabriel Marian Ilie, 27, was picked up to capture the PINs and while checking into former Kerala chief min- various issues, he replies, “I am the chief minister (2011-16) and from a hotel soon after he made yet another a hotel in the famed seaside resort of Ko- Pister Oommen Chandy to only an MLA now.” chairman of the UDF. attempt to withdraw cash from an ATM on valam. take up the leadership of the now The demands that Chandy Not many had given Chandy Tuesday using a cloned card of a Mumbai- Kerala police escort Romanian skimmer The footage indicates that the three en- fragmented UDF, following the should return has strengthened any chance to survive the full based customer. Ilie at Thiruvananthapuram international tered and fi xed the skimmer and camera at exit of Kerala Congress (Mani) ever since the third biggest ally term as the UDF began with Arun M, a university teacher, got an SMS airport. 6.30 am on June 30. from the alliance. of the UDF-Kerala Congress just a two-seat majority in the from the bank after the skimmer withdrew The electronic device took a picture Several Congress and United (Mani), one of the founders of the 140-member assembly after the Rs100 of the Rs144 available in his State Among the two other identifi ed members when the customer keyed in his secret PIN Democratic Front leaders have UDF formed 34 years back, quit 2011 polls. Bank of India in Vashi in Navi Mumbai. of the gang, visa of Cristian Victor Constan- number, while the instrument placed in the approached the party high com- the front last Sunday citing that “He continues to be in shock He immediately reported it to the police tin, 26, expired on July 19 and Bogdean Flo- card reader got the information of that par- mand with requests that Chandy they were treated shabbily. over the electoral reverse, which he here and they alerted their counterparts in rian Floreci, 25, was having a valid visa till ticular card. should return to lead the Con- And while other leaders from never ever expected to be this bad,” the western Indian state capital. December 16. Skimmers usually obtain data from the gress-led UDF. the Congress and UDF spoke a close aide of Chandy told IANS. The Belapur court in Navi Mumbai had Police identifi ed the fourth fraudster as card reader placed over the ATM’s real card Senior Congress leaders M harshly against Mani, the master Chandy, who turns 73 in Oc- left him to Kerala police custody for fi ve days Florin Ion whose details were not immedi- slot and when one slides their card into the M Jacob, Vakkom Purushotha- politician that Chandy is — was tober, has won every election he on Wednesday. ately available. machine the counterfeit reader scans and man and K Sankaranarayanan, modest in his reaction and said contested from his home con- They brought him to the Kerala state cap- Inspector General Manoj Abraham, who stores all the information on the magnetic all former ministers and former that he is shocked by the decision. stituency — Puthupally in Kot- ital yesterday afternoon. heads the special investigation team, said strip. governors, wished that Chandy Chandy had reached Mani’s tayam district since 1970 — and Several fake ATM cards, spy cameras, skim- they had sought the Interpol help track oth- They also hid a spy camera, in this case should return to steer the UDF residence last week to urge that even though he is just a legisla- mers and Rs95,000 in cash were also recovered ers believed to have left the country. behind the smoke alarm, to capture the per- out of the present impasse. he not to do anything drastic, tor, his offi ce and home continue from Ilie, who told the police that his three ac- The cyber cell of Kerala police tracked Ilie sonal identifi cation number on the card and “He is a very clever leader and but it fell on deaf ears, when last to be the most crowded with nu- complices had already left the country. to Navi Mumbai from his telephone calls and gain full access to the bank account. one should never underestimate Sunday his party decided to walk merous people coming to see him He reportedly told the interrogators that sought the local police help. A skimming scheme was introduced in a Chandy. He will have to return,” out of the UDF. for various needs. he only provided “technical support” like A similar card-skimming fraud was re- 2009 Malayalam movie starring Prithviraj, said Purushothaman. With Chandy making his deci- Many believe that Chandy will installing the camera and chips while other ported in Mumbai in 2013 involving Bulgar- Robin Hood: The Prince of Thieves, but such Chandy had refused to take up sion to be out of any position, the return to a top post once the organ- gangsters looted money from ATMs. ians and the Romanians were said to have a fraud is being reported in the state for the the post of Leader of Opposition leadership mantle fell on Ramesh isational elections of the Congress His visa expires on September 9. learnt the technique from the Bulgarians. fi rst time now. or of chairman of the UDF. Chennithala who was made party is held here later this year. Gulf Times 12 Friday, August 12, 2016 INDIA Opposition Waterworld! corners govt over attacks on Dalits

IANS clear that the NDA government is against people New Delhi involved in hooliganism in the name of cow pro- tection. The BJP member blamed the judicial system for he government came in for strident attack not taking up atrocities cases promptly and said in the Lok Sabha yesterday from the op- such a situation had encouraged the people to Tposition which claimed that the Dalits had commit unlawful acts against the Dalits. lost confi dence in it. Meghwal, Minister of State for Finance, said A CPI-M member even urged the Prime Min- the Modi government is focused on the economic ister not only to give statements on the Dalits but uplift of the Dalits. also act in the matter. “’Mudra Yojana’, ‘Stand-up India’ and ‘Startup On their part, BJP members defended the India’ programmes are initiated for the econom- government, citing several schemes initiated by ic uplift of the Dalits. No previous government Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Dalits, and thought of this. The social uplift of the commu- said the opposition was raising such issues since nity is not possible if they are not economically the Dalits were coming closer to the Bharatiya Ja- sound,” he said. nata Party. The minister said the opposition parties are Initiating a discussion on the atrocities on Dal- raising such issues because the Dalits are coming its, Communist Party of India-Marxist member P closer to the BJP. K Biju from Kerala claimed a substantial increase Federal Minister for Consumer Aff airs, Food in atrocities against the Dalits whereas the com- and Public Distribution Ram Vilas Paswan yes- munity had not seen any improvement in their terday hit out at Congress for playing politics condition on education and social parameters. over atrocities on Dalits, and said that its leaders Biju, representing Alathur constituency, said visited Hyderabad University after student Rohit over 37% of the Dalits in the country live below Vemula’s suicide but never did so when the atroc- the poverty line while at least one Dalit is attacked ities on Dalits took place in the past. A cycle rickshaw ferries students to schools on the water-logged roads of Amritsar yesterday. every 18 minutes. “Congress leaders visited Hyderabad Univer- “You have enough provisions to protect the sity after student Rohit Vemula’s suicide. Dalits in the country, but who will protect us?” he Everyone shed fake tears on his suicide but they asked and urged Modi to emerge as a “true custo- (the Congress leaders) did not go to Bathe village dian” of the people. in Bihar where 58 Dalits were massacred in 1997 Referring to Modi’s statement that he (Prime and also Miyapur village where 34 Dalits were Minister) and not the Dalits be attacked, the killed in 2000,” Paswan said while speaking in Marxist MP said such statements only refl ect that Parliament during a discussion under rule 193 on the atrocities against Dalits in the country. Infant dies as hospital the issue of attacks on the Dalits is serious. “I request the Prime Minister not to confi ne Dalit student Rohith Vemula had hanged him- (himself) to only giving statements but also show self in a hostel room on January 17. action,” Biju said. Paswan further said that even after 69 years There is a need for “political will” to control of Independence the condition of Dalits was not good in the country. staff ers demand bribes incidents of violence and atrocities against the Dalits, he said. “Even after 69 years of Independence people Congress member K H Muniyappa said that who make shoes do not have sleepers to wear, AFP a bed for the child in Bahraich at almost every step of the way. Demands for bribes and un- atrocities against the Dalits have increased ever people who weave clothes do not have clothes to New Delhi hospital, which the family said “There is no shortage of bribe due payments for treatment are since the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government cover their body and people who are engaged in on Indian television they had no takers here. We are very dis- rife in India’s healthcare system came to power at the Centre. the task of cleanliness live at the places with least choice but to pay. traught,” he said, without speci- where overcrowded state-run “The community has lost confi dence in the facilities. n Indian family yester- Sumita Dutt alleged a medic fying how much he paid in bribes. hospitals lack resources, forc- present government. This will be refl ected in the “I don’t agree with the thought that people day alleged that their asked for money two days later Bahraich hospital said it was ing many Indians, even the 2019 Lok Sabha elections,” he said. from a particular community should lift the car- A10-month-old baby died to administer an injection, but launching a probe into the al- poor, to seek expensive private He demanded special schools for Scheduled casses of cows. after treatment was delayed by she had run out of funds, leading legations, but denied any delay care. Castes and Tribes students on the pattern of Na- The exploitation of Dalits should be stopped,” staff at a large, government-run to an argument and a delay in the in treating the baby. It was not In June, a 75-year-old man vodaya Vidyalayas. Paswan said, adding, “The NDA government is hospital demanding bribes. child receiving the treatment. known what the baby died of. died after he was allegedly re- BJP members Udit Raj and Arjun Ram Meghwal working towards upliftment of Dalits.” Sumita and Shiv Dutt said they “I asked him to give me some “There was no delay in admin- fused admission to a hospital in defended the government, saying the Modi gov- He stressed that the issue of atrocities on Dalits rushed their ill son to the hospital time, promising to give him istering antibiotics to the child. the eastern city of Kolkata for not ernment had initiated schemes for the social and was not related to any particular party or govern- on Sunday night in Uttar Pradesh whatever amount he asked for,” We gave the doses morning and paying a Rs200 bribe. economic uplift of the community. ment and said that eff orts should be made to stop state, where a nurse demanded the sobbing mother told NDTV evening, every day,” said OP Pan- A month earlier, a teenager “The root cause of the atrocities is the social the exploitation of Dalits. payment in return for getting news network, cradling her dead dey, a senior doctor, adding the reportedly died after his father thinking of the people and until it changes, the “This issue is not related to any particular po- their paperwork submitted. child in Bahraich town. cleaner had been sacked and the refused to pay a Rs300 bribe to problem cannot be addressed,” Udit Raj said. litical party or the government. There should be A cleaner then reportedly de- The child’s angry father ac- nurse moved to another depart- a government hospital worker in He said it was Modi who categorically made it no politics on this issue,” he said. manded another bribe to arrange cused staff of demanding bribes ment. southern Tamil Nadu state.

CBI chargesheets ex-ISRO chief, others in Antrix-Devas deal

IANS loss to Antrix Corp and ISRO. New Delhi It was alleged that during the period from 2004 to 2011 then Executive Director of Antrix he Central Bureau of In- Corp in criminal conspiracy with vestigation (CBI) yester- both advisers of a USA-based Tday fi led a chargesheet company and others gave rights against former ISRO chairman for delivery of video, multi- G Madhavan Nair and others for media and information services causing a loss of Rs57.8bn to the to mobile receivers in vehicles government in a deal between and mobile phones via S-Band private multi-media company through GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A Devas and Antrix, the space Satellites and terrestrial systems agency’s commercial arm. in India, to ineligible company The chargesheet was fi led be- based at Bangalore in violation of fore Special CBI Judge Vinod Ku- the guidelines pertaining to leas- mar, and the court has fi xed Au- ing of INSAT capacity. gust 18 for further hearing. The CBI added that investi- The wreckage of one of the two buses that was washed away in flood waters after a bridge collapse on the Mumbai-Goa Highway in Raigad, Maharashtra. “Then-secretary, Department gation is continuing regarding of Space and Chairman, Indian issues of demand of S-Band fre- Space Research Organisation quencies by other users, includ- (ISRO), then-additional secre- ing Ministry of Defence for stra- tary, Department of Space, then- tegic purpose and Department Bus wreckage of Raigadh bridge tragedy recovered director, SCPO, ISRO, then-ex- of Telecommunication, DVB-SH ecutive director of Antrix Corp Technology developed by ETSI Ltd, then-managing director of and the aff airs of the USA-based IANS The two large pieces comprise the NDRF cranes this evening, the offi cial said. A mega search operation on land, river, a USA-based company, and then company, Foreign Direct Invest- Raigad chassis and roof of one of the two buses Earlier, some suspected metal parts creek and in Arabian Sea was launched CEO and three former directors ment received and funds trans- which were missing for eight days. and a number-plate were recovered, but with the Indian Navy, Indian Air Force, of Bangalore-based Devas Multi- ferred from the accounts of the “Naval drivers carried out spot diving it could not be established whether they Indian Coast Guard, NDRF, Maharashtra media were chargesheeted as ac- Bangalore-based private compa- attling strong currents and croco- despite presence of crocodiles, high wa- belonged to the buses originating from Police and local fi re-brigade, private ad- cused in the case,” the CBI said in ny into the foreign accounts and diles, Indian Navy divers yesterday ter currents and tough conditions in the Jaigad and Rajapur for Mumbai. venture clubs and even the fi sherfolk to a press statement. off ences under criminal breach Blocated two pieces of wreckage of river. The currents are still strong,” the The bridge collapse also resulted in at trace out the victims of the multiple ve- The CBI accused them of having of trust by public servants. one of the two ill-fated State Transport spokesperson added. least another four-fi ve private vehicles hicles tragedy. committed off ences under vari- A case was registered against buses which were washed away on Au- The wreckage was fully submerged in being washed away in the heavy rains and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, ous sections of the Indian Penal the accused on March 16, 2015 gust 3 when a bridge on raging Savitri about 4m of water and located around fl oods, claiming an estimated 42 lives. Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Code pertaining to cheating and and then-executive director river in Mahad collapsed due to fl oods. 200m away from the collapsed bridge site Billed as one of the worst road trag- Vikhe-Patil and other Ministers and of- certain provisions of Prevention of Antrix K R Sridhara Murthi, “After a long search and working for on the busy Mumbai-Goa Highway. Na- edies in the state on the seven-decade- fi cials visited the site. of Corruption Act for allegedly be- former managing director of US- 12-14 hours daily for the last eight days, tional Disaster Response Force (NDRF) old British-era bridge, rescuers have Later, federal Minister for Shipping ing party to a criminal conspiracy based Forge Advisors and CEO naval teams have located two bus wreck- was informed of the development. managed to recover only 26 bodies so Nitin Gadkari announced that a new with an intent to cause undue gain of Devas Ramachandra Vishwa- age submerged in the waters at Mahad,” a However, it is still not clear if there are any far, some were found washed away over bridge would be constructed on the spot to themselves or others by abusing nathan and then-director of De- Defence spokesperson said here. bodies trapped in the wreckage fi shed out by 100km in the Arabian Sea, offi cials said. within six months. their offi cial positions and causing vas M G Chandrasekhar. Gulf Times Friday, August 12, 2016 13 LATIN AMERICA Ghetto view Sweden to interview Assange in London

AFP Quito

cuador says it will let Swedish offi cials inter- Eview Julian Assange at its embassy in London, where the WikiLeaks founder has Julian Assange. been sheltering for the past four years. ment by video conference, Quito’s foreign ministry said affi davit or other standard in a statement late Wednesday means”. that a letter has been sent by Assange, 45, sought refuge the Ecuadoran government to in the Ecuadoran embassy in set up the meeting. London in June 2012 after ex- “In the coming weeks, a hausting all his legal options in date will be established for Britain against extradition to the proceedings to be held at Sweden. the Embassy of Ecuador in the He continues to challenge United Kingdom,” the state- extradition to Sweden to be ment read. questioned by prosecutors. Prosecutors in Sweden have Assange has said he fears said they want to interview that if he were sent to Sweden Assange in connection with a to face trial, he could be extra- 2010 rape allegation against dited to the United States to be An aerial view of a slum in Caracas, Venezuela yesterday. him. tried over WikiLeaks’ publica- “The prosecutor has re- tion of hundreds of thousands quested permission to carry of classifi ed documents and out an interrogation, so it is of face a long prison sentence or course good for the investiga- the death penalty. tion if it can be held,” Karin Ecuador in the past has said Rosander, spokeswoman for it does not want to interfere the Swedish Prosecution Au- with Sweden’s rape investiga- thority, told AFP yesterday. tion. She said however that the The Quito government has exact date of the interview has said it would support As- not yet been pinned down. sange’s transfer if Stockholm Castro: Icon of the left “The information we have could provide guarantees that received from Ecuador is that he would not be sent to the they are favourable to an inter- United States for prosecution rogation and they will get back over WikiLeaks’ release of to us about the exact details,” 500,000 secret military fi les. Rosander said. Authorities have said the She added that the ques- statute of limitations for turns 90 tomorrow tions will be asked by an Ec- charges against Assange runs uadoran prosecutor, but said out in 2020. AFP “Swedish prosecutor Ingrid The former computer hack- Havana Isgren and a police investiga- er on Wednesday appealed a tor will take part.” Stockholm district court’s de- For his part, Assange, cision to maintain a European fter surviving more than 600 as- through his attorneys, wel- arrest warrant against him sassination attempts, defying 10 comed the development. over the rape allegation, AUS presidents and shaping half a “Julian Assange’s defence The anti-secrecy cam- century of history, Fidel Castro turns 90 team welcomes the fact that paigner, who denies the rape tomorrow. steps are fi nally under way to allegations, walked into Qui- This magnetic, polarizing giant of the take Mr Assange’s statement, to’s London embassy of his 20th century, has beaten the odds to a request that Mr Assange has own free will four years ago, hang on well into the 21st. asked of the Swedish prosecu- with Britain on the brink of The years have left their mark on the tion since August 2010,” his sending him to Stockholm, father of the Cuban Revolution, who lawyers said in a statement. and has not left since. transferred power to his younger brother It also said the Australian Last month, a Swedish dis- Raul 10 years ago. had long sought the opportu- trict court maintained a Eu- His long black beard has turned a nity to testify in the case, but ropean arrest warrant against wispy grey. that “the Swedish prosecutor Assange, rejecting his lawyers’ He has given up his iconic Cohiba ci- has refused to accept a state- request to have it lifted. gars. He rarely appears in public. But Fidel lives on. No one could have predicted his place in history when he launched his revo- lutionary career with a botched attack May seeks progress on Cuba’s Moncada military barracks in 1953. The 26-year-old lawyer was captured on Falklands and jailed for the failed raid, which ended with dozens of rebels killed or executed by dictator Fulgencio Batista’s forces. Reuters 600km miles off the coast of Fast forward six years, and Castro was London Tierra del Fuego in southern Ar- triumphantly rolling into Havana, hav- gentina, and third countries in ing returned from exile to lead a guerrilla the region. army that once numbered just 12 men to ritish prime minister As things stand, a Chilean defeat Batista and his military of 80,000. Theresa May has written airline fl ies from Santiago to the The unlikely victory brought the “red Bto Argentina’s president Falklands every Saturday via the menace” of Communism to the United Mauricio Macri calling for re- southern Chilean city of Punta States’ doorstep at the height of the Cold strictions on oil exploration in Arenas, according to the Falk- War. Former Cuban President Fidel Castro was a hero to revolutionary movements and independence struggles worldwide the Falklands Islands to be lifted lands Tourist Board. Alarmed, the US Central Intelligence and for more fl ights to the Brit- Once a month, the fl ight also Agency and Cuban exiles tried to assas- to the American “empire”, and the re- basic civil and political rights were out- Castro was a hero to revolutionary ish-run islands, her offi ce said stops in Rio Gallegos, Argentina, sinate Castro 634 times, his ex-intelli- sentment lingers to this day. lawed, and dissidents were jailed, tor- movements and independence struggles yesterday. in both directions. gence chief, Fabian Escalante, has esti- He held his tongue when his succes- tured or forced into exile. worldwide. Argentina claims sovereignty May also called for the re- mated. sor Raul and US president Barack Obama Hundreds of thousands of Cubans fl ed He sent 386,000 troops to fi ght in over the South Atlantic islands moval of “restrictive hydrocar- Castro once told Spanish journalist announced a historic rapprochement in the island, mostly to the United States, to spots where the Cold War turned hot: it calls Las Malvinas, and rela- bons measures”, a reference to Ignacio Ramonet he nearly always car- 2014 — his younger brother’s latest move escape repression and poverty. Angola, Ethiopia, the Congo, Algeria and tions between Buenos Aires and various attempts by Argentine ried his Browning pistol just in case. to slowly reopen the Communist island. “He is the man of ‘E’s: egomaniacal, Syria. London have been strained for authorities to restrict oil and gas But he denied reports he wore a bullet- Weeks later, he gave his lukewarm egotistical, egocentric,” said Martha Be- And he backed leftist guerrillas across decades over the issue, culmi- exploration in the waters around proof vest. blessing. atriz Roque, 71, an anti-Castro dissident Latin America. The military results nating in a war in 1982 which the islands. “I have a moral vest. It’s strong. It has But after Obama visited Cuba last who was one of 75 opponents jailed in the were mixed. But the symbolism was Britain won. Tensions fl ared in June last always protected me,” he told journal- March, Castro lashed out, telling Cubans “black spring” of 2003. powerful. May, who became prime year, under Macri’s predeces- ists in 1979, baring his chest to prove the not to be fooled by the US president’s “I will remember him as a dictator.” “He’s the most important personality minister in July, called for “more sor Cristina Fernandez, when an point. “syrupy words”. Castro had a penchant for trying to of the 20th century in the Western hemi- productive” relations between Argentine federal judge ordered “I was so impressed! I could only look He recalled the island’s long enmity pull off the seemingly impossible. sphere,” said Ivan Marquez, second-in- the two countries in her let- the seizure of millions of dollars’ at his face and say, ‘I love him,’” says with the US, including Washington’s In 1961, he all but eradicated illiteracy command of the Revolutionary Armed ter to the pro-business Macri, worth of assets owned by drill- Mercedes Gonzalez, 59, who has only backing for the failed invasion of Cuba at with an ambitious rural education cam- Forces of Colombia (FARC). who took offi ce in December as ers operating in the Falklands seen Castro twice up close. But she says the Bay of Pigs in 1961. paign. Castro’s revolution “ignited... the de- Argentina’s fi rst non-Peronist area. she felt an overpowering attraction. His bitterness over that botched CIA When the exodus of Cuban exiles left sire to struggle, to take to the mountains, president in more than a decade. The Argentine measures have With his rugged rebel look and impos- plot played a part in pushing the world the country with just 3,000 doctors, to grab a rifl e and try to change things”, “Since the election of presi- not halted oil exploration, al- ing persona, Castro has long fascinated to the brink of nuclear war during the he vowed to make the island a “medical Marquez told AFP. dent Macri, we have been work- though eff orts have been scaled people, and women in particular. Cuban Missile Crisis the following year, superpower”. Today it has 88,000 doc- As Castro gave his speech proclaiming ing towards improved rela- down in recent times due to low “He projects a very attractive public when the Soviet Union agreed to his re- tors and one of the most respected health the triumph of the revolution in 1959, a tions with Argentina because oil prices on international mar- image,” says Salomon Susi, the author of quest to send ballistic missiles to Cuba. systems in the world. white dove landed on his shoulder. The we think that is in the interests kets. a Dictionary of Fidel Castro’s Thoughts. You don’t want to be on Castro’s bad Other projects were less successful. man had offi cially become the myth. of both our countries and the The Falklands are inhab- “It’s part of his legend.” side. In 1970, with Cuba’s economy stran- In a country where Catholicism blends Falkland Islanders too,” May’s ited by about 3,000 people, Offi cially, Castro has been married He opened his half-century of iron- gled by the US embargo, he ordered a na- with African religions, Cubans say Cas- Downing Street offi ce said in a the overwhelming majority of twice and fathered seven children by fi sted rule in 1959 by jailing one of his tionwide campaign to harvest a record- tro is protected by Obatala, the most statement. whom say they wish the islands three women. own guerrilla commanders, Huber Ma- shattering 10mn tons of sugar. powerful of the “orisha” divinities. In her letter, May said she to remain a British overseas ter- Rumors of secret aff airs and more chil- tos, for 20 years when he criticised the Despite mobilising Cubans en masse Some thought him immortal, until a hoped that where the two coun- ritory. dren abound. But he keeps his private life new regime’s turn toward Communism. to work the fi elds, the campaign failed. health crisis forced him to give up power tries had diff erences, “these can Argentina has rejected that to himself. Many more crack-downs would fol- Cubans are all too used to “Fidel in 2006. Still, he survived. be acknowledged in an atmos- argument, accusing Britain “Private life, in my opinion, should not low. Plans” that never quite pan out, like the Last April, however, he seemed to say phere of mutual respect”. of deliberately settling people be an instrument for publicity or poli- Human Rights Watch sharply criti- ones to raise buff alo or turn Cuba into a goodbye. She called for progress to- there over a long period of his- tics,” he said in 1992. cised Castro’s “highly eff ective machin- world-class cheese producer despite a “Soon I’ll be like all the rest. Every- wards new fl ights between the tory to bolster an illegitimate Castro defi ned himself in opposition ery of repression” across the decades: shortage of cows. one’s turn comes,” he said. islands, which are located about sovereignty claim. Gulf Times 14 Friday, August 12, 2016 PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN

EDUCATION 28 teachers Remittances from overseas Pakistanis plunged 20% in July removed from Pak-Turk schools Internews in loss of thousands of jobs of its foreign obligations and re- the United States and the United Remittances had been in- United Arab Emirates (UAE) Karachi expatriates. serves. Kingdom as infl ows from these creasing for the last 10 years, fell by 20%, whereas infl ows In a fallout of the Turkey coup, The decline was still higher at Recently, the government countries fell by 33.5 and 38%, but the recent oil price turmoil from other GCC countries – ex- Pakistan-Turkey (Pak-Turk) Inter- 37% on a month-on-month ba- has announced special aid for respectively. upended the situation for Pa- cluding Saudi Arabia and UAE national schools have removed emittances sent by sis as remittances crossed around 8,500 Pakistani workers Remittances from US and UK kistan which depends on these dropped by 14%. Turkish principals of 28 schools overseas Pakistan $2bn mark in June. who have stuck up in Saudi Ara- dropped 6% and 8%, respective- inflows to meet 50% of its im- Remittances from Europe and colleges across the country, R dropped 20% year-on- The oil-rich Arab countries bia after losing their jobs. ly, in the preceding fi scal year. port bill. showed an increase of 9% but and the management of the year to $1.33bn in July, the account for almost 65% of entire In July, the infl ow of re- Though the remittances Oil prices began to plummet the size of remittances was neg- chain also dissolved the board of State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) remittances sent by overseas Pa- mittances from Saudi Arabia showed a growth of 6% in FY16, in mid-2014, but the govern- ligible compared to Arab coun- directors which represented Turk- said yesterday, as low oil pric- kistani workers. dropped by 20pc, but it was still the trend was indicating that ment has done nothing so far tries. ish nationals, media reported on es have hit the economies of The fall, if persists, could be a the highest at $379mn. growth was under stress and to effectively tackle the situ- Pakistan received about $20bn Wednesday. the Gulf Co-operation Coun- setback for Pakistan as it largely What is more concerning is that decline could start at any ation. in remittances during the previ- The status of the schools plunged cil (GCC) countries resulting depends on remittances to meet the plunge in remittances from point. In July, remittances from the ous fi scal year. into uncertainty after Turkey’s Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavuolu called on the Pakistan govern- ment to close down all institutions, claiming they are backed by the Fethullah Gulen-inspired Hizmet movement. Last week, during an off icial visit to Islamabad, Cavusoglu stressed the chain of “Gulen-run” schools in Cybercrime Pakistan should be shut down. Ankara claims that Gulen, who is living in self-imposed exile in the US, was the mastermind of the failed military coup in Turkey a few weeks back. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed the cleric law approved – a former Erdogan ally – and followers for the rebellion and demanded his extradition. Gulen, however, has denied any involve- ment. On August 6, the Islamabad High Court granted the deputy attorney general three weeks to by parliament seek instructions from the minis- try of interior and the ministry of AFP would be allowed to ban speech warrant against off enders,” add- foreign aff airs after the Pak-Turk Islamabad considered “against the glory of ing the only exceptions were Education Foundation moved the Islam or the integrity, security or child pornography and cyber- IHC against the possible closure of defence of Pakistan”. terrorism. Security off icials gather at the site of a bomb explosion in Quetta yesterday. its school network by the govern- akistan’s parliament “This should not be the task of She added that “dishonest in- ment. yesterday approved a an executive body, this is a mat- tent” was also a requirement for P controversial cyber- ter for the courts,” she added. an off ender to be punished. SECURITY crime bill the government Free speech campaigners in Rangers kills says will safeguard citizens “It authorises the state Pakistan have long complained Bomb blast injures 13 in Pakistan against harassment and crim- to exchange the private of creeping censorship in the 4 terrorists inalise online child pornogra- information of citizens with name of protecting religion or phy, but which activists say foreign governments or preventing obscenity. AFP survived, he added, but the Mineral-rich but desperately At least four militants were killed curbs free speech. agencies without recourse In November 2011 the tele- Quetta blast hit his security escort ve- poor Balochistan is plagued in a shootout with paramilitary The Prevention of Electronic to any judicial framework” communications authority tried hicle, injuring four police per- by roiling insurgencies, hit by troops in Pakistan’s port city of Crimes Bill 2016 has been the to ban nearly 1,700 “obscene” sonnel and nine passers-by. regular militant attacks, and Karachi yesterday, local media focus of heated debate over Gul Bukhari, an activist with words from text messages, roadside bomb appar- Hamid Shakeel, a senior local run by political leaders who are reported. provisions that critics say give the campaign group Bytes for which included innocuous terms ently targeting a judge police offi cial, confi rmed the widely seen as corrupt. Dawn News said the militants the government the power to All, said: “It authorises the state such as “lotion”, “athlete’s foot” Ainjured at least 13 people attack and the casualties. It is also the site of China’s were planning to launch an attack conduct mass surveillance and to exchange the private informa- and “idiot”. in Pakistan’s southwestern city No group immediately ambitious $46bn China-Pa- on Independence Day celebra- criminalise satire. tion of citizens with foreign gov- YouTube was banned from of Quetta yesterday, offi cials claimed responsibility for the kistan Economic Corridor in- tions on August 14 in the city. Farieha Aziz, director of the ernments or agencies without 2012 to January this year fol- said, days after a major attack attack, which came three days frastructure project linking its Pakistan Rangers conducted a Bolo Bhi digital rights group, recourse to any judicial frame- lowing the upload of a US-made killed most of the city’s senior after a devastating suicide western province of Xinjiang search operation in Manghopir said a section intended to tackle work.” fi lm about Prophet Muhammad lawyers. bombing at a Quetta hospital to the Arabian Sea via Paki- area of Karachi, capital city of cyber-stalking was drafted in Defending the bill, IT Minister that triggered protests across the “The bomb was planted on a killed at least 73 people, many stan. Sindh province, on an intelligence sweeping language that would Anusha Rahman told AFP: “We Muslim world. bridge in the city, which went of them senior lawyers. Monday’s attack was tip-off . allow public offi cials criticised have built in safeguards against In 2010 Pakistan shut down off immediately after the ve- Analysts said Monday’s at- claimed by both the Jamaat- The terrorists opened fire at the on social media to claim they misuse. Facebook for nearly two weeks hicle of an Islamic court judge tack had left a vacuum in the ul-Ahrar (JuA) faction of the troops when being cordoned, trig- were being harassed. “It is not as sweeping as it has over its hosting of allegedly blas- passed by it,” Akbar Harifal, the close-knit legal community Pakistani Taliban, and the Is- gering the shootout. It was of particular concern, been made out to be – for most phemous pages. home secretary of southwest- which is seen as a crucial force lamic State group, with ana- The Rangers spokesperson said she said, that the Pakistan Tel- off ences, the government will It continues to restrict thou- ern Balochistan province, said. for justice in the country’s most lysts unclear on whose claim they recovered weapons from the ecommunications Authority still need to go to court to get a sands of online links. The judge, Zahoor Shehwani, dangerous province. was more credible. hideout of the suspected militants.. Clashes as Afghan Taliban edge closer to Helmand

AFP Kandahar

ighting raged yesterday in Helmand after Afghani- Fstan rushed military rein- forcements to beat back Taliban insurgents advancing on the besieged capital of the southern poppy-growing province, as of- fi cials downplayed fears the city could fall. Afghan forces fought back An Afghan refugee child. insurgents after they stormed Nawa district, just south of Lashkar Gah city, late Wednes- day, raising alarm that the pro- vincial capital was at risk. But US and Afghan offi cials No ID cards for children of insist that they will not allow another urban centre to be cap- tured, after the Taliban briefl y overran northern Kunduz city Afghan refugees in Pakistan last September in their biggest victory in 15 years of war. “The security situation in Internews mats and enemy aliens born in dialect or ethnic grounds. Lashkar Gah is under our con- Islamabad Pakistan are not included in this It said that CNICs were main- trol,” said defence ministry category. ly blocked due to fake particu- spokesman Dawlat Waziri. “We An Afghan policeman searches commuters at a checkpoint in Helmand province on August 9, 2016. Those who migrated from ter- lars/documents, or on the report have retaken control of Nawa. Off icials have warned of a humanitarian crisis in Helmand as fierce fighting sent refugees fleeing to the akistan’s Federal Interior ritories of Pakistan to other areas of a verifying agency regarding Fighting is still going on in the capital of the southern Afghan province, with Taliban insurgents tightening their grip despite intensified Minister Chaudhry Nisar of the Indo-Pak subcontinent clarifi cation of national status of outskirts but we are making US air strikes. PAli Khan yesterday told the for permanent stay after March individual. progress with clearance opera- National Assembly that the chil- 1947 shall also be not considered However, before blocking a tions,” he told AFP, adding that in Afghanistan. bouring districts heavily mined bat mission in December 2014, dren of Afghan refugees in Paki- citizens of Pakistan. card, a legal notice is issued to dozens of Taliban were killed in Around 30,000 people have by the insurgents. but US forces were granted stan cannot be issued Pakistani The minister told the house an individual under Section 23 the fi ght. been displaced in Helmand in Doctors Without Borders greater powers in June to strike citizenship documents. that a parliamentary committee of the Nadra Ordinance 2000, Fierce battles in recent days recent weeks, local offi cials said, (MSF) said it had downscaled its at the insurgents as President Answering queries during was being formed to take up the asking them to appear before across Helmand, seen as the fo- with many of those fl eeing to team in Lashkar Gah, with some Barack Obama vowed a more ag- Question Hour, he said that the issue of the blocking of compu- the zonal or regional board along cal point of the insurgency, has Lashkar Gah forced to abandon non-medical staff relocated gressive campaign. children of Afghan refugees were terised national identity cards with the requisite documents. sent thousands of people flee- their lentil, maize and cotton from the city. Washington has deployed sev- Afghans and not entitled to the (CNICs) of genuine Pakistani “If the individual fails to ap- ing to Lashkar Gah, sparking a crops during the lucrative har- “In Helmand, #Afghanistan, eral hundred troops in Helmand privilege, even if their mothers citizens, who were aff ected dur- pear before the verifi cation humanitarian crisis as officials vest season. we’re still running Boost hospi- in recent months. were Pakistani citizens. ing the ongoing drive against al- board constituted by Nadra, report food and water short- “We left everything behind tal...as fi ghting nears,” the inter- Northern Kunduz was the fi rst Persons who were born in the iens possessing Pakistani docu- their CNIC is blocked,” the reply ages. in Nawa – our house, our grape national medical charity tweeted city to fall to the insurgents last territories now included in Pa- ments. noted. The United States has stepped and maize harvests. We fl ed on Wednesday. September, in a stinging blow to kistan or those whose parents or In its written response before Later on, if individuals ap- up air strikes supporting Afghan with 15 members of my family “We’ve shared coordinates Afghan forces who have strug- grandparents were born here be- the house, the interior ministry proach Nadra with the correct forces on the ground, highlight- to Lashkar Gah, fearing for our of our 300 bed hospital to ap- gled to rein in the Taliban since fore the commencement of Citi- said that the National Database and particulars and documents, their ing the intensity of the battle in lives,” Mohamed Ali, 40, said in proaching warring parties in the Nato combat mission ended. zenship Act 1951 are considered Registration Authority (Nadra) had cards are modifi ed and revoked Helmand. a camp in the provincial capital. Helmand.” The fi ghting in Helmand citizens of Pakistan. taken several initiatives to facilitate after systematic procedure and The turmoil convulsing “For the last three days we The Taliban eff ectively control comes as Afghan troops are Under the law, any person the general public. board proceedings. the long-contested province, have been surviving on bread or contest 10 of the 14 districts in stretched on multiple fronts born in Pakistan after the com- Directions have been issued For this purpose, revocation blighted by a huge opium har- and water. We will die of hunger.” Helmand, the deadliest province across Afghanistan – includ- mencement of the act are con- to all registration centres that boards have been constituted in vest that helps fund the insur- The residents of Lashkar Gah for British and US forces in Af- ing eastern Nangarhar province sidered citizens. records should not be blocked all zones and regions of Nadra, gency, underscores a rapidly said the city was practically be- ghanistan over the past decade. where the Islamic State group is The children of foreign diplo- merely on the basis of doubt, the reply further explained. unravelling security situation sieged, with roads from neigh- Nato offi cially ended its com- making inroads. Gulf Times Friday, August 12, 2016 15 PHILIPPINES

Traders off er to restore Philippines urges China Laguna lake water quality

Manila Times to respect rule of law Manila Yasay urges China to respect South China Sea but it is in dis- maritime law and rule of law; pute with China over small is- hilippine Chamber of Philippines says it and Japan lands in the East China Sea. Commerce and Industry share dispute experience; In the South China Sea, Chi- P(PCCI) offi cials off ered to Kishida promises to maintain nese land reclamation and con- help the Laguna Lake Develop- maritime security support struction on contested reefs over ment Authority (LLDA) for- the past year has raised alarm in mulate a master plan that will Reuters the region and beyond. address domestic waste, urban Manila The United States, its South- run-off and agricultural pollu- east Asian allies and Japan have tion. questioned China’s activity, George Barcelon, PCCI presi- hilippine Foreign Secretary particularly since an interna- dent, and Felipe Gozon, PCCI Perfecto Yasay called on tional court last month rejected director-in-charge for environ- PChina yesterday to respect China’s historic claims to most ment and climate change, said maritime law and security as well of the South China Sea. that while reducing the number as the rule of law, to resolve dis- China says it has “indisput- of fi sh pens and fi sh cages will putes in both the South China Sea able sovereignty” over the area ensure sustainability of aquatic and the East China Sea. it claims and has refused to rec- resources, a comprehensive plan Yasay met his Japanese coun- ognise the court ruling on a case is necessary to eff ectively carry terpart, Fumio Kishida, in the brought by the Philippines. out joint eff orts to save Laguna Philippines to discuss regional Japan called on China to ad- de Bay or Lake Bay. security and co-operation on here to the ruling, saying it was Bay is a town of the southern maritime security, with Japan binding, prompting a warning province of Laguna. reaffi rming its help which in- from China not to interfere. Data from LLDA shows 70% cludes vessels and aircraft. “This is not the kind of action of pollution comes from the do- “We urge China to make sure that is mandated by interna- mestic sector and only 30 per- that maritime law and security tional law,” Yasay told the news cent from industry. must be completely and uncom- conference, referring to what he The country’s largest business promisingly respected,” Yasay said the Philippines and Japan organisation lauded the govern- told a news conference, adding saw as Chinese intimidation and ment’s move to restore the water the Philippines and Japan shared provocation in connection with quality of Laguna de Bay for its experiences in the South China their disputes. intended use by implement- Sea and East China Sea. “Everyone must respect our ing initiatives including refor- China claims almost the entire maritime order and security in estation, addressing domestic South China Sea where about this area in the South China Sea waste and reducing the number $5tn worth of trade passes every and East China Sea and we urge of large fi sh pens in the bay and year. them to respect the rule of law.” other lakes in the country. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philip- Japan last weekend reported a Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and members of his cabinet holding talks with Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and his party at Laguna de Bay is an important pines, Taiwan and Vietnam also fl urry of incursions by Chinese the presidential guest house in Davao in southern island of Mindanao on Thursday. resource in the county, providing have claims on the sea believed vessels into what Japan sees as livelihood to fi sherfolk and serv- to have rich deposits of oil and its waters near the disputed East Kishida said Japan would week of the fi rst of 10 coastguard ippines four TD-90 surveillance rule of law is indispensable for ing as source of potable water for gas. China Sea islands that it con- maintain its support to the Phil- vessels. aircraft. the region’s stability and pros- domestic use and irrigation for Japan has no claim in the trols. ippines with the delivery next Japan is also leasing the Phil- “Maritime order based on the perity,” Kishida said. agriculture, among others.

Duterte threat Bail hearing of martial law Anti-insurgency drive traps ‘rhetorical’ Malacanang on Wednesday downplayed as “rhetorical” thousands in Mindanao President Rodrigo Duterte’s threat to declare martial law, as Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Manila Times food blockade on the towns of NPA or members of the commu- Sereno refused to be drawn Zambonga City Maragusan and New Bataan, nist group and targeted by sol- into a word war with the chief including Monkayo, and report- diers in their desperate hunt for executive. edly harassed villagers. insurgents. Duterte on Tuesday lashed housands of villagers were He added that they will con- out at Sereno for question- trapped in at least three “We urge President Duterte duct fact-fi nding missions in ing his shame campaign Ttowns in the province of to investigate and hear the Compostela Valley and also ap- against “narco-officials” Compostela Valley where secu- sides of the civilian farmers pealed to President Rodrigo Du- after the Chief Justice rity forces launched a massive and not the lies and spins of terte to order an investigation of demanded that warrants assault on communist rebels, the military” the military campaign that has of arrest be issued first human rights group Karapatan aff ected civilians in the province. before judges linked by the said on Wednesday. Karapatan said Philippine Air “We urge President Duterte president to illegal drugs Karapatan added that at least Force planes also bombed several to investigate and hear the sides surrender to authorities. 1,000 families were aff ected times the village of Parasanon in of the civilian farmers and not “The president merely asked by military operations that be- Maragusan but it was unknown the lies and spins of the mili- a rhetorical question and said gan last week and three farm- if there were civilian casualties as tary,” Apiag said, adding that the it under the context that his Philippines communist rebel leaders Benito Tiamzon’s and wife, Wilma raise clinched fists while a ers had been killed by soldiers soldiers prevented human rights “President must rein in his army anti-drug campaign cannot wait policeman looks on as they arrive for their bail hearing at a court in Manila yesterday. in Monkayo town on suspicion workers to inspect the area. who are spoilers of peace and for the slow wheels of justice,” Benito and Wilma Tiamzon are attending their bail hearing for their temporary release, as they were members of the New Jay Apiag, a spokesman for violators of human rights.” Presidential Communications consultants of the Communist party peace negotiating panel, and will be attending the second People’s Army (NPA). Troops Karapatan, said farmers and ci- There was no immediate Secretary Martin Andanar said round of talks between the government and communist party leaders in Oslo, Norway this month, from the Army’s 69th and 71st vilians have been accused by statement from the military on in a statement. Infantry Battalions imposed the military as supporters of the the allegations.

Police issue ‘Let’s create our own federalism model’ Pokemon Go Manila Times diff erent provinces, cities, es- ple in local government more convention should be composed Manila pecially highly urbanised cit- responsible because they will be of elected delegates. There was safety tips ies, to discuss and agree among the ones managing the resourc- no prohibition of having ap- themselves what particular au- es. Being closer to the people, pointed delegates,” Lambino he Philippines should tonomous region or autonomous their constituents will be able to added. AFP develop its own brand of territory they want to be part of. demand more in the delivery of Lambino suggested that the Manila Tfederalism and need not They cannot be dictated upon services and can even take them constitutional convention be adopt the models of other coun- [by the new Constitution],” to task by not voting for them composed of 48 delegates ap- tries that may be inapplicable Lambino said. again in the next election,” Oli- pointed by the president, as well okemon players in the here, members of President Ro- Shifting to a federal from a var said. as 12 representatives each from crime-plagued Phil- drigo Duterte’s informal ‘core unitary form should not be diffi - Lambino made a case that the Senate and the House of Pippines were warned group’ on federalism said on cult but could take a longer proc- delegates to a constitutional Representatives. yesterday to play the game in Wednesday. ess, he said, citing the cases of convention , one of the modes of “This would not require ad- pairs for their own safety. Philippine-style federalism, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy. revising the 1987 Constitution, ditional costs because only those Police issued the alert days af- which can emerge as a result of Belgium and Switzerland were need not to be elected. who have been appointed will ter the hugely popular game that grassroots political involvement, once unitary states that became The 1987 Constitution does have to be appropriated funds. has taken the world by storm fi- would address concerns over the federal because of diversity in not require the election of con- The lawmakers already have nally launched in the country. viability of the proposed federal languages and geography, re- stitutional convention dele- their organic staff , and the Sec- Community relations states as well as the overall read- spectively, he noted. Federalism advocates Raul Lambino and Gary Olivar argue that gates, he argued. retariat of the House and the group chief Gilbert Cruz ad- iness of the country to shift to a But the Philippines should not the Philippines should develop its own style of federalism rather From being in favour of con- Senate can be of help,” Lambino vised Filipinos to go “Poke- decentralised government from necessarily “federalise” based on than copy models of other countries. Lambino and Olivar joined a stitutional convention in revis- pointed out. mon-hunting with at least a unitary or centralised one. enthno-linguistic or geographi- roundtable discussion with The Manila Times editors and reporters ing the constitution, President Former president and now one friend”. Federalism advocates Raul cal groups. on Wednesday. Duterte now prefers a constitu- Pampanga Rep Gloria Maca- He told people wander- Lambino and Gary Olivar made “We should have our own ent assembly wherein lawmak- pagal-Arroyo has proposed a ing the streets hunting vir- the call during a roundtable dis- model. You can’t just state in the Provinces and cities that have Congress,” Quimbo said in a text ers propose amendments. resolution calling for the estab- tual monsters: “Don’t go to cussion with The Manila Times Constitution that Regions 1, 2 and decided to come together to message. Duterte said calling a consti- lishment of a 60-person consti- crime-prone and dimly-lit editors and reporters, a day af- CAR (Cordillera Autonomous Re- form an autonomous territory, “A plebiscite on the Consti- tutional convention would cost tutional assembly composed of areas. Always be alert.” ter Senate President Aquilino gion) will be the autonomous re- based on Lambino’s proposal, tution allows the people to par- billions of pesos. 12 senators, 12 members of the Since its global debut, “Koko” Pimentel 3rd and Speak- gion of Northern Luzon. should then submit an applica- ticipate in the determination of Lambino however said: “If House of Representatives and 24 Pokemon Go has sparked a er Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao It cannot happen that way,” tion for Congress’ approval, just these regions,” Quimbo, a mem- you are going to read the consti- presidential appointees. frenzy among users who have del Norte announced that Char- Lambino said. like how a bill becomes a law. ber of the Liberal Party (LP), tution very carefully, it does not The 1987 constitution was taken to the streets with their ter change deliberations would “If certain provinces and cit- Deputy Speaker Romero added. say that Con-Con delegates will drafted by a constitutional com- smartphones. start by January 2017. ies want an autonomous territory, Quimbo of Marikina agreed with Former Palace economic have to be elected.” mission whose members were The craze comes amid Pres- Lambino, a lawyer and law how big is that? How many people Lambino, saying that the com- spokesman Gary Olivar, also a “What is provided under Arti- appointed by President Corazon ident Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody professor, contrasted his pro- are needed to be a part of it? The position of federal states or re- member of the federalism core cle 17 of the constitution is that Aquino. crackdown on crime that has posal with that of former Senate Constitution should allow them gions should not solely be up to group, underscored that federal- Congress, with two-thirds of its The last time a constitution- left hundreds of suspects dead. President Aquilino Pimentel Jr., to form autonomy because feder- Congress. ism would be part of the solution members agreeing, may convene al convention was called was A children’s night curfew who is proposing to carve 11 fed- alism will have to happen gradu- “The Constitution may pre- to poverty and underdevelop- the constitutional convention,” in 1970, when citizens elected has also been imposed in eral states. ally. You can’t disaggregate the scribe the [grouping] as an ini- ment in the regions. Lambino told The Manila Times. delegates to a convention that some districts of the capital “The new Constitution should provinces [from existing regions] tial setup but allow the people “With devolved government, “The constitution made no wrote the 1971 constitution un- Manila. have a provision which allows immediately,” Lambino added. to modify these regions through we will be able to make the peo- mention that the constitutional der president Ferdinand Marcos. Gulf Times 16 Friday, August 12, 2016 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Blood donation campaign Elephant that drifted 1,000km tranquillised

AFP elephant from its herd in the Dhaka north of India’s Assam state and it was washed across the border in late June. n elephant thought Conservationist Ashit Ran- to have travelled jan Paul told AFP it had likely A1,000km from India travelled around 1,000km be- into Bangladesh after becom- fore it even reached Bangla- ing separated from its herd desh, where it has been for the by fl oods was stopped in its past six weeks. tracks yesterday in a dramat- A team of Bangladeshi for- ic rescue that nearly ended in est offi cials have been follow- disaster. ing the exhausted elephant The distressed female ran and now hope to take it to a amok after it was hit by a safari park where it can be tranquilliser dart and charged looked after. into a pond, where it was only That, however, will be no saved from drowning with easy task. the help of local villagers who “Since there is no paved jumped in to keep it from top- road nearby, we’ll keep the pling into the water, according animal here and give it medi- to a local vet. cines and food,” said Tapan “Hundreds of villagers Kumar Dey, who is part of the came to its rescue when they team. saw the elephant had lost “Once it regains strength, Hasina at a blood donation programme in Dhaka on Wednesday. consciousness,” Sayed Hos- we’ll use mahouts (elephant sain told AFP from the scene. handlers) and a domesticated “Dozens jumped into elephant to lead it to a paved the pond and helped us tie road from where it’ll be trans- the animal with ropes and ported to a safari park.” chains. Three Indian wildlife offi - And fi nally, with the help of cials travelled to Bangladesh hundreds of villagers, we were earlier this month to try to able to pull it to dry ground.” help the elephant, but their Severe fl oods in the north- trip was unsuccessful. eastern Indian state of As- “It is so weak that it can’t Nepal’s tenant farmers sam separated the four-ton even lift its trunk. fi nd hope as they claim Bank accounts being probed for links to land of their own militant networks By Mizan Rahman The Bangladesh Bank took Tenant farmers are i n need of system helped fuel years of confl ict in Ne- status, no recognition. It is a moral, ethical “I think the new government will form Dhaka the decision after a high-level government help to stake their claim pal, one of the poorest countries in the and humanitarian issue,” he said. the commission.” meeting of its fi nancial intel- world. It is estimated that 5% of the Hima- Tenant farmers must have receipts of Meanwhile, land rights activists are also ligence unit. Thomson Reuters Foundation layan nation’s population owns more than grains or payments made to the landlord, pushing for equal rights for women, who angladesh’s central bank The accused individuals in- Kathmandu 37% of the land. or have their names on land certifi cates own less than a fi fth of the land. has asked all commercial clude sacked army offi cer ma- About a third are landless, with millions before they fi le a case to claim a part of the The new constitution guarantees equal Bbanks of the country to jor Syed Md Ziaul Haque and classifi ed as semi-landless because their land they work on. property rights. “Power respects power: inform it about the accounts Bangladeshi-born Canadian yalgen Lama was a third-gen- holdings are so small, rights group Action- They often do not have these docu- the greater the mobilisation, the better of 18 individuals and organisa- Tamim Ahmed Chowdhury, eration tenant farmer in Nepal’s Aid Nepal says. ments, and may lack the resources or the we can negotiate, and put pressure on the tions whose names surfaced in now on the run. GSindhupalchok district, eking out The end of 10 years of civil war in 2006 knowledge to take on landlords, Basnet landlords,” Basnet said. the media in connection with Police announced a 2mn a living from growing millet on a small and the abolition of a 239-year-old feudal said. “For rural women especially, who have terror incidents, including taka bounty for information piece of land that he could only dream of monarchy two years later raised hopes of CSRC and others have been organising no other asset, it’s very important they the Holey Artisan Bakery and leading to their arrest as they owning. reform. landless tenant farmers into community know they can co-own the land,” he said. Sholakia attacks. were found involved in the That is until a land rights group helped But laws guaranteeing ownership have groups and helping with documentation. Last year’s twin earthquakes highlight- It also asked the banks to Gulshan and Sholakia terror to make his dream a reality. been hamstrung by an entrenched social The process can take years with pow- ed the urgent need to secure land owner- remain alert while granting attacks. While Nepal’s Land Act of 1964 gave hierarchy, a rigid caste system and lack of erful landlords mounting obstacles every ship, Basnet said. permission for questionable The central bank, in an- tenant farmers the right to own land and political will, campaigners say. step of the way, Basnet said. Some 70kms northeast of the capital foreign investment propos- other circular issued by its put a ceiling on landholdings, most agri- The new constitution, approved last Activists have long called for a land Kathmandu, Sindhupalchok — home to als. foreign exchange investment cultural land is in the hands of a few own- year, gives land ownership rights to land- reform commission to address the law’s one of the biggest land movements in the According to offi cial sources, department (FEID), directed ers. less Dalits who are largely unaware of their shortcomings and hasten the reforms late 1970s — was badly hit by the disaster the central bank has already banks to deal carefully with Millions of lower-caste Dalit labourers rights and face daunting challenges in as- process. with most homes damaged or destroyed. sent letters containing three questionable foreign invest- and tenant farmers remain landless. serting their claims, activists say. Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Lama, who was able to secure his plot specifi c directives to the banks ment offers. “I had to fi ght hard to get the land that “These are poor, illiterate people who Dahal, also known as Prachanda, who was of land with CSRC’s help, added his wife’s in this regard. It said Bangladeshi entre- we have worked on for so long,” Lama told have been ruled by land owners for gen- sworn in earlier this month, has vowed to name to the land deed. They were asked to freeze preneurs often receive lucra- the Thomson Reuters Foundation. erations,” said Jagat Basnet at rights group implement the 2015 constitution. “We had no authority, no rights, but the accounts in question im- tive investment off ers from “Only if you have land in your name do Community Self-Reliance Centre (CSRC) “The land reform ministry is making ef- now we have something to call our own,” mediately, provide account diff erent individuals and or- you have status and power, and recogni- in Kathmandu. forts to prepare necessary laws and regu- said Sarita, his wife. information and produce their ganisations which have no tion in the society,” said Lama. “They have been tilling the land for lations in this connection,” said Nagendra “It is something we can pass on to our transaction history to the cen- licence from any fi nancial su- Landlessness and an abusive tenancy generations, yet they have no security, no Jha, a spokesman for the ministry. children.” tral bank. pervisory authority. Pay-as-you-go irrigation aims to Part of siphoned cash found: Lanka cut water use in Bangladesh Agencies are now left with a situation Colombo where there is no owner for the Rs157.5 million. So it will Thomson Reuters Foundation dant during the monsoon from June to water supplied through underground Bhuiyan said paying for the exact be handed over to the central Feni, Bangladesh October, but scarce in the dry season from pipelines. amount of water they use “will encour- fraction of the funds bank. This is just a fraction of November to March. Farmers will receive rechargeable smart age farmers to think about how they could siphoned out of the the siphoned out monies being Abul Hye Bhuiyan, a farmer and presi- cards they can use to pay for their water produce crops using less water”. Acountry by the Carl- investigated.” lias Ali has been picking weeds and dent of the Pathannagar Water Manage- use, instead of paying a fi xed cost to mid- That is particularly important in a ton Sports Network had been The minister claimed waste for hours from his paddy fi eld ment Group, said many farmers simply dlemen. country where water scarcity increases tracked down and would be eighteen acres of land in Ka- Ein southeastern Bangladesh, prepar- cannot cultivate crops in the dry season Humayyun Kabir, extension overseer every dry season, explained Abu Taher handed over to the Central lutara under the “control” of ing it for irrigation. due to the high cost of irrigation. at the Water Development Board, said Khondoker, former director general of the Bank, the government said former economic develop- Every week, he walks half a kilometre Sometimes they have no choice but to around 2,000 hectares of land would be country’s Water Resources Planning Or- yesterday. ment minister Basil Rajapak- to collect the water he needs from private sell stored crops to pay for water, Ali said. brought under the irrigation scheme ini- ganization. Co-cabinet spokesman and sa, but in the name of one pumps. But Bhuiyan and Ali are hopeful. tially, with some 80 pumps due to be in- The Water Development Board’s Kabir health minister Rajitha Sen- Nadesan had also been found. Ali and fellow farmers currently pay The Bangladesh government plans to stalled by 2017. estimated that once the meter system is aratne told a news conference “Nadesan says the land is not 4,000 taka ($51) each per year to middle- install water meters across the Muhuri He expects middlemen to gradually re- operational, farmers will pay only 2,000- in Colombo, that Rs157.5mn his. So, the government has men in exchange for irrigation on their Project, a 60,258-hectare irrigation area move their own pumps. 2,500 taka per acre of land for irrigation, which Carlton Sports Network accepted it with pleasure and one-acre plots in Feni district. supplied by the Feni, Muhuri and Milenia The board estimates the renovation will instead of 4,000 now. (CSN) had illegally transferred it would be used for building a But water frequently seeps out of the rivers, to refl ect farmers’ water costs more be fi nished by 2019, when all 60,238 hec- “They will no longer be at the mercy of to a Singapore Company had complex for the Police Train- earthen canals that supply the pumps, accurately. tares will be equipped with meters and middlemen unfairly increasing costs,” he been returned to Lanka Orex ing Institute.” wasting signifi cant amounts, Ali said. The scheme is part of the Irrigation pumps. added. Leasing Company ( LOLC), Deputy minister of public “The waste increases our costs, as pump Management Improvement Project, a Before launching the initiative, the The board expects the new scheme to which in turn had deposited enterprise development Eran owners also charge us for water that’s government-led initiative to modernise board surveyed about 800 local farmers benefi t about 80,000 families. the money with Pan Asia Bank Wickremeratne said that it was leaked,” he told the Thomson Reuters irrigation systems, including the Muhuri who own land in the project area. All farmers owning land in the Muhuri in the name of Amtrad, alleg- not easy to trace front compa- Foundation. Project, from 2015 to 2019. They expressed enthusiasm at the meter Project will be enrolled automatically, edly linked to Namal Rajapak- nies because of the precautions “When we experience a loss in crop pro- The scheme has financial support idea, said Md Kohinoor Alam, executive though they can opt out. sa. that had been taken, but they duction due to fl oods or droughts, we can from the Asian Development Bank and engineer at the board. Minister Mahmud said that if the water Both LOLC and Amtrad, would be tracked down in due no longer aff ord the high price of irriga- the Bangladesh Water Development Bangladesh water resources minister meter scheme proved viable, it would be had, he said, told the Finan- course. tion, which fuels tension between pump Board. Anisul Islam Mahmud said imposing a replicated elsewhere, such as in the Gan- cial Crimes Investigation Di- The process would take owners and farmers,” he Water is a pre- About 800 water meters will be in- price on water would encourage farmers to ges-Kobadak Irrigation and Teesta Bar- vision (FCID) that the money time, but the culprits would be cious commodity in Bangladesh — abun- stalled, as well as new water pumps, with become more economical in using it. rage projects. did not belong to them. “We found out, he said. Gulf Times Friday, August 12, 2016 17 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH Obscenity: the root of evil and sins

here is no doubt that a virtuous person does not fi nd it easy to utter obscenities lest he or she expose him/herself to the Wrath of Allah The Almighty and disgrace in the eyes of people. Although vulgarity is Tcertainly dispraised and forbidden, foul words indeed abound. Motives behind this behaviour Obscenity originates from wickedness and ignobility. It is either motivated by the intention of harming others or is a habit acquired from socialising with evil and debauched people, who are accustomed to insulting others. Whatever the case, Allah The Almighty has forbidden crude language in the verse (which means): {Allah does not like the public mention of evil except by one who has been wronged. And ever is Allah Hearing and Knowing.} [Qur’an 4:148] Moreover, in His Book, He illustrated obscenity as characteristic of hypocrites, describing their conduct with believers, saying (what means): {But when fear departs, they lash you with sharp tongues, indisposed toward [any] good.} [Quran 33:19] A believer does not imitate the insolent and crass people, preferring to stick to chivalry for the sake of preserving his or her honor. It was said in this regard, “Tolerating an abusive man is better than being like him and forgiving the ignorant is better than copying him.”

Examples of obscenity There are many situations and times when people of weak faith and bad manners resort to vulgarity. Imam Al-Ghazaali exemplifi ed that by saying: “Situations of obscenity are various. They can generally be limited to any state that a person feels ashamed to overtly divulge. In this case, explicit words are considered obscenity. Therefore, one must discuss such issues in vague terminology.” Most of the relevant examples would be those concerning sexual intercourse and its related matters. While wicked people employ graphic and crass words when speaking about this, the righteous avoid such crude language and express themselves with fi gurative speech. Are we not aware that even Allah Contentment is bliss The Almighty spoke indirectly about sexual intercourse, mentioning instead, words like touching, entering with [women] and companionship? There is also obscenity in making remarks about women or defects in men a‘d ibn Abi Waqqaas righteous predecessors sought Once, ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab if this is something good then [body], for each one of them is that they may be ashamed of, such as a limp or baldness. Any such comments, if (may Allah be pleased and strived for. They were fully (may Allah be pleased with him) please increase it.” the peak of Faith.” necessary, should not be explicitly referred to. with him) travelled to content in matters pertaining became angry with his wife Second: Abandoning The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam classifi ed obscenity as a branch of SMakkah after he had to their fate and what Allah ‘Aatikah (may Allah be pleased disputes unless they are related Deprivation is in hypocrisy and said, “Indeed, Allah hates the indecent and obscene person.” become blind. Upon his arrival The Almighty had inscribed in with her) and said to her, “By to any of the rights of Allah Moreover, he mentioned that vulgarity leads to Hell, when he said: “Modesty the people hastened to him and the Preserved Slate and never Allah, I will upset you.” She said, The Almighty or His Prophet fact a Blessing from is from faith, and faith is in Paradise; [whereas], obscenity is from severity, and kept on asking him to make desired anything contrary “Can you drive me away from sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. severity is in Hell.” supplication for them, and he to what He had decreed for Islam after Allah The Almighty Having confl ict with others for Allah The Almighty Please note that crassness is also to use names of animals to describe people. did, as Allah always accepted his them. However, as for matters has guided me to it?” He replied, the sake of one’s desires drives Sufyaan Ath-Thawri Imaam An-Nawawi said: “Among the vilifi ed words which are usually used is a supplication. of religion that pertain to His “No.” She then said, “Then how satisfaction away, disturbs its (may Allah have mercy upon person saying to his enemy, ‘O donkey; you goat; you dog’, and the like. It is ugly ‘Abdullaah ibn As-Saa’ib orders or prohibitions, one must can you upset me?” She meant purity and alters its sweetness. him) said that if Allah The to utter these expressions because they are lies and harmful to others.” (may Allah be pleased with him) always progress and aspire to by that that she was satisfi ed Third: Refraining from Almighty deprives His servant Dear brother, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam even forbade abusing said: “I came to him when I was what is better. with the decree of Allah The continually asking of people. of something, it is in fact a roosters, when he instructed, “Do not insult the rooster, for it wakes [people] to still a young boy and became The righteous predecessors Almighty, and that nothing Allah The Almighty Says (what blessing; when Allah The perform prayers.’’ Bearing this in mind, could it be appropriate to aff ront people acquainted with him, so he knew may Allah be pleased with them could have brought her distress means): {An ignorant [person] Almighty deprives His slave, who bear witness to the testimony of truth [i.e., Muslims]? me and said to me, ‘Are you would advise each other to be except being driven away from would think them self-suffi cient it is not because He is miserly the one who recites the Qur’an satisfi ed and get used to it as Islam, and there is no way ‘Umar because of their restraint, but or unable to give, but because for the people of Makkah?’ I they knew its high rank. ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) you will know them by their He chooses what is best for His The admonition of the righteous predecessors replied, ‘Yes.’ Then I asked him, (al-Faarooq) - may Allah be could ever have done that. [characteristic] sign. They do not believing slave, and for a certain Our forefathers from the Companions and their successors were the farthest ‘You supplicate to Allah for all pleased with him - wrote to Abu ask people persistently [or at all]. wisdom. Allah The Almighty people from obscenity and indecency. They seriously warned others against this the people, so why do you not Moosa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be And whatever you spend of good never decrees anything bad for great evil which originates from lack of faith. supplicate to Allah for yourself pleased with him) saying: “All There are three - indeed, Allah is Knowing of it.} His believing slave, whether ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood said, “The most wicked trait a believer may possess so that He would cure you?’ He that is good lies in satisfaction. conditions for being [Qur’an 2:273] that decree brings happiness or is vulgarity.” Similarly, Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays said, “I will tell you about the worst of smiled, and said, ‘O son! The If you are able to be satisfi ed, Regarding this trait, misery to the slave. diseases: the crude tongue and bad morals.” decree of Allah is better for me please do so, otherwise, be truly satisfied with Thawbaan (may Allah be Thus, even when Allah The That is why, when Abu Ad-Dardaa’ saw an abusive woman, he remarked, than my sight.’” patient.” Luqmaan (may Allah Allah The Almighty: pleased with him) narrated that Almighty deprives His believing “Had she been dumb, it would have been better for her.” This is the satisfaction that exalt his mention) would advise the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi slave, it is in fact a blessing, and We supplicate to Allah The Almighty to purify us from whatever displeases the Companions (may Allah be his son, saying, “I advise you First: Being content at times wa sallam said: “Who will the affl iction is for his well-being, Him; and may peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu pleased with them) adjusted to be endowed with certain of both blessings and affl ictions guarantee me this trait so that I even if it is in the form of an ‘alaihi wa sallam. Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/ themselves to, and the decree characteristics that would alike, as one believes that Allah will guarantee him Paradise?” affl iction. Due to the ignorance of Allah The Almighty became bring you closer to Allah The the Almighty chooses what Thawbaan said, “I.” The Prophet of the slave and his injustice, more beloved to them than Almighty and would keep you is best for him. This is what sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam he considers that bliss is the their desires, and so they loved away from His dissatisfaction: happened with some of the replied: “Do not ask people for only thing to give him pleasure nothing more than what Allah to worship Allah The Almighty righteous predecessors (may anything.” After that, he never in the worldly life. If man was The importance of the Almighty had decreed. Alone without associating any Allah have mercy upon them) as asked anyone for anything, even truly knowledgeable, he would ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez other deity with Him, and to they were patient and satisfi ed if his whip fell while riding, have considered all that Allah (may Allah have mercy upon be satisfi ed with His decree in when they were affl icted with he would get off and pick it up The Almighty decreed as a seeking forgiveness him) said: “I do not want anything that you like or dislike.” hardship. When Sulaymaan himself without asking anyone blessing. This was the state of the anything except what Allah The The one who adjusts himself ibn Al-Ghaazi (may Allah to hand it to him. [Ahmad] righteous predecessors. The slave We should never lose hope or stop asking Allah The Almighty for forgiveness for Almighty decrees.” to this would lead a good life have mercy upon him) went will never fi nd the sweetness of our sins and mistakes. The importance of seeking forgiveness is shown to us in a What confi rms the as distress and worries would to condole ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd Al- Satisfaction is the faith except through this. The narration of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allaah exalt his mention): importance of this satisfaction not reach his heart. Indeed, ‘Azeez (may Allah have mercy Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa O people! Turn to Allah in repentance and seek His forgiveness, for surely I make is that the Prophet sallallaahu how could that be when Allah upon him) upon the death of his Peak of Faith sallam said: “Whoever is content repentance a hundred times every day. Repentance is such a great act of worship ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah The Almighty has become son, ‘Abd Al-Malik, ‘Umar (may with Allah as a God, Islam as a that it can completely erase one’s sins altogether, as the Noble Prophet sallallaahu exalt his mention) would ask pleased with him, and he with Allah be pleased with him) said Abu Ad-Dardaa’ (may Allah religion and Muhammad as a ‘alaihi wa sallam said: One who repents from sins is like one without sin. Allah The Almighty to grant him Allah? Allah The Almighty Says to him, “I seek Allah’s refuge be pleased with him) said: messenger, has certainly felt the When a person commits a sin and then sincerely turns to Allah The Almighty for satisfaction with His decree, (what means): {Whoever does from wanting something that is “There are four traits at the peak sweetness of faith.” forgiveness, he will find Allah The Almighty ready to accept his repentance and to and it is well-known that the righteousness, whether male or contrary to what He likes, as this of faith: patience, satisfaction O Allah! Make us satisfi ed forgive him, as this verse indicates (which means): {“And whoever does a wrong or Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa female, while he is a believer - does not change the affl iction with destiny, sincerity in with Your decree and bless wrongs himself, but then seeks forgiveness from Allah, he will find Allah forgiving sallam only asked Allah The We will surely cause him to live a and His good treatment of me.” reliance, and submission to Allah our destiny so that we would and merciful.”} [Qur’an, 4:110] Almighty for the highest ranks. good life,} [Qur’an 16:97] Some It was narrated on the authority The Almighty.” Ibn Al-Qayyim not wish to hasten something Everyone commits sins and mistakes, but Allah The Almighty is always willing to Satisfaction is sincerely giving of the righteous predecessors of Ibraaheem An-Nakhaa‘i (may (may Allah have mercy upon that You have delayed or delay forgive and He always gives them a chance to repent and seek His forgiveness. A precedence to all that Allah The may Allah have mercy upon Allah have mercy upon him) that him) said: “Satisfaction is one something that You have believer should never forget the fact that Allah The Almighty is All-Forgiving. If Allah Almighty has ordained, without them interpreted “good life” Umm al-Aswad was paralysed of the deeds of the heart that is hastened. The Almighty had willed, He could have held everyone accountable for his or her being hesitant or objecting. as a life of satisfaction and and her daughter grieved, so she the equivalent of Jihaad, which Article source: http://www. sins, but He has decreed that He shall allow His servants to seek His forgiveness This is exactly what the contentment. told her “Do not be sad. O Allah, is one of the deeds of the limbs islamweb.net/emainpage/ and that He shall in fact forgive whomever and whatever He wills. In fact, Allah The Almighty commands His servants to seek His forgiveness in the verse (which means): {“And seek Allah’s forgiveness. Certainly, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”} [Qur’an, 73:20] Repentance is an act of worship which purifies the soul and brings the slave closer Knowledge is the foundation of true fear to His Lord. It puts the heart at rest from guilt. It protects a believer from falling prey to desires and lusts and increases his faith. Allah The Almighty then says in the Hadith Qudsi (sacred narration): O son of ear is the sensation that results one would fear Allah to the extent of the [public] security or fear…”} [Qur’an, 4:83] Imam Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have Adam, if you were to come to Me with sins close to filling the earth and then you from the anticipation of an sins that he has committed. This is the Fear during war and hostility; Allah mercy upon him) said: “Know that fear would meet Me without ascribing any partners with Me, I would certainly bring you expected harm; it is also felt fear of warning.” The Almighty Says (what means): is the whip by which Allah controls His forgiveness close to filling it. Look at how great is the mercy, compassion and love Fwhen a person loses, or expects There is a certain type of fear that is {“… And when fear comes, you see slaves so that they may continue exerting of Allah The Almighty! The least Allah The Almighty asks for is that one not ascribe to lose something he cherishes. It is the experienced only by the knowledgeable, them looking at you, their eyes revolving eff ort in order to come close to their any partners and gods with Him, for, He is alone in His Sovereignty. After that if one exact opposite of security and can be and it is called Khashyah in Arabic, as like one being overcome by death. But Lord; fear is the light which illuminates commits sins and seeks sincere forgiveness, Allah The Almighty promises that He applied to worldly matters as well as Allah The Almighty Says (which means): when fear departs, they lash you with the heart and enables it to distinguish will forgive him and shower His mercy upon him. those of the Hereafter. Fear is a state of {“…Only those among His servants fear sharp tongues…”} [Qur’an, 33: 19] ‘Fear’ in good from evil.” When a person fears However, one is not forgiven if he seeks repentance from Allah The Almighty at the disturbance of the heart from an evil or Allah who have knowledge…”} [Qur’an, this verse refers to war. another, he will attempt to fl ee from him, time of death when he sees the angels or when the sun rises from the west at the harm that may befall a person, or, it can 35: 28] Fear resulting from knowledge, as and this is the case for everyone except approach of the Day of Judgment. This is confirmed by the following verse (which be the sensation it feels when missing This is fear that is based on knowledge. Allah The Almighty Says (which means): Allah; one escapes from Him by fl eeing means): {And of no eff ect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds out on something that is beloved to it. Ordinary believers experience a general {“But if one fears from the bequeather to Him. until death faces one of them and he says, Now I repent, nor of those who dies while Imam Ibn Qudamah (may Allah have fear of Allah The Almighty whilst [some] error…”} [Qur’an, 2 :182] Fear does not depart from one’s heart they are disbelievers. For them, We have prepared a painful torment.} [Qur’an, 4:18] mercy upon him) said: Khashyah is only experienced by the Allah The Almighty also Says (what except that it causes its ruin, because Allah The Almighty also does not forgive the one who commits Shirk (polytheism), “Fear is no more than the pain and devout believers and the scholars from means): {“…Unless both fear that they when fear is present in one’s heart, it which is the association of partners with Allah The Almighty. Forgiveness will only burning that one fi nds in his heart due to among them; the more knowledge one has will not be able to keep [within] the limits burns all desires and expels the pleasures come to those who die while adhering to Tawheed (Islamic Monotheism) and an expected harm; it is like the example regarding Allah The Almighty, the more of Allah…”} [Qur’an, 2: 229] ‘Fear’ in this of this life from it. Fear causes a person avoiding any form of Shirk. This is stated in the following verses (what means): of one who committed a crime and was he will fear Him. When one fears a person verse is due to one’s knowledge. to wake up from his heedlessness and {“Verily, Allah does not forgive that partners should be set up with Him, but He subsequently caught; such a person who may or may not apprehend him then Fear due to decrease in numbers, as puts him back on the right path after forgives whatever is less than that for whomever He wills. And whoever sets up will fear being sentenced to death, and this is an ordinary fear, whereas if he is Allah The Almighty Says (what means): he has diverted from it. Being fearful is partners with Allah has indeed invented a tremendous sin.”} [Qur’an, 4:48] the pain which his heart will suff er is absolutely sure that this person can seize {“Or that He would not seize them not an objective in itself, meaning, we {Verily, Allah forgives not the setting up of partners with Him, but He forgives whom dependent on how certain he is that he him and infl ict harm upon him, then it is gradually [in a state of dread].”} [Qur’an, do not feel fear due to any contentment He pleases whatever is less than that. And whoever sets up partners with Allah has will (or will not) be sentenced, depending Khashyah. 16: 47] This is the fear that people feel that comes with being afraid, but rather, indeed strayed far away.} [Qur’an, 4:116] on the severity of his crime … sometimes Fear, with its various diff erent regarding a decrease in their numbers, it should be a means to rectify our We must ask ourselves this question: Would we be willing to forgive anyone who one fears the ruler due to the power of meanings, is mentioned in many places in which would be the result of them being condition. hurts us and disobeys us constantly as easily as Allah The Almighty is Able to the latter. Thus, when one realises the the Qur’an, and its causes are varied: killed, or facing death in any other way. Article source: http://www.islamweb. forgive? Most probably, the answer would be no. However, our Creator is the Most power of Allah and knows that if Allah Fear of being killed or defeated; Allah Fear of punishment, as Allah The net/emainpage/ Kind and He is the Most Perfect as stated in the verse (which means): {“Lo! Allah is a wished to destroy all His creation it The Almighty Says (what means): Almighty Says (what means): Lord of Kindness to mankind, but most of mankind give not thanks.”} [Qur’an, 2:143] would not aff ect Him, nor could anyone {“And when there comes to them {“…They [i.e., the believers] supplicate Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/ stop Him from doing so, and therefore, something [i.e., information] about their Lord in fear…”} [Qur’an, 32: 16] Gulf Times 18 Friday, August 12, 2016 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Production Editor: Amjad Khan Rebels’ Aleppo success a

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar blow to Russian strategies [email protected] Rebel breakthrough deals because of its size but also for its Last week’s success will raise the further into government-held Telephone 44350478 (news), setback to Russian strategy; location near Turkey, a powerful standing of the rebranded Nusra areas, mobilising thousands of 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) supporter of anti-Assad groups Front, whose change of name was fighters from Syria’s northwestern Fax 44350474 government had been operating it the city. made partly to narrow diff erences countryside. making steady progress In addition, its rebel-held areas with mainstream rebels. “It’s the rebels who turned the are the main stronghold of most The rebel groups’ unity this time, tables on the strategy of the siege,” opposition groups apart from the however, seemed mostly to be born of said a senior Western diplomat based By Suleiman Al-Khalidi/Reuters militants of Islamic State. unease at the gradual advances made in the region. Beirut The defeat of the Aleppo insurgents by government forces since Russia’s This also represents a setback for could have been seen in Damascus and entry into the war. Moscow, the diplomat said, which saw GULF TIMES Moscow as a precursor to the collapse “We were divided and distanced. victory in the city as vindicating its n breaking a Syrian government of the armed rebellion against Assad’s Today we are one and the goal is intervention. siege on opposition-held areas rule. the regime. There are no longer So single-minded was Moscow in of Aleppo, insurgents have set Government media have declared problems between us and we have the pursuit of the Aleppo campaign Iback President Bashar al-Assad’s the fi ghting as “the mother of all one enemy who can destroy us, so that it defi ed US calls for an easing of Emperor Akihito hopes of using Russian air power to battles”, while Assad’s ally in the war, we became one hand against it,” the stranglehold on the city, despite reclaim a vital city and speed the end the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, said Alaa al-Saqar, a senior military the risk of jeopardising a deal with of the fi ve-year confl ict. has called it “an existential struggle”. commander in Fatah Halab, the main Washington to co-operate in strikes The sudden advance by fi ghters For their part, the rebels speak of umbrella group for FSA groups that against militants. plays defence on from western Syria into a military an “epic battle to liberate Aleppo”, are present in Aleppo. With the insurgents now saying complex in southwest Aleppo on rallying support by citing the plight After years of near deadlock in they are preparing to assault western Saturday opened a corridor into of trapped civilians in the city being Aleppo, it was the air campaign that Aleppo, so far spared the devastating the city, breaking the weeks-long pummelled by air strikes which have began with Russia’s intervention last aerial bombardment of rebel-held Japan’s constitution siege and providing a launch pad for regularly hit hospitals and market September that fi nally brought Assad districts, a yet more protracted and fresh attacks into government-held places. within sight of a major victory. bloody battle is in prospect, rebels, territory. By far the rebels’ biggest co- Syria’s army had failed in many government sources and diplomats This week, Japan’s Emperor Akihito signalled again Whether they can hold, or even ordinated assault since the confl ict attempts to break through the city say. that he would like to step down from the world’s oldest consolidate, their gains in a war began in 2011, the Aleppo campaign frontlines. In eastern Aleppo, communities hereditary monarchy. Yet his veiled speech held a larger marked by fl uctuating fortunes is suggests they have strengthened their Last month the army took control of moved en masse from front-line unclear, but the insurgents’ success capabilities despite suff ering heavy the Castello Road in northern Aleppo, zones to other parts of the city, a message for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe: that he should showed they are capable of checking losses since Russia began striking the insurgents’ last route into the city, pattern that might now be repeated proceed carefully before revising Japan’s postwar the momentum that Russia’s air against them almost a year ago. laying siege to the 250,000 people who in the government-held west, constitution. campaign has given Assad in recent An estimated 6,000-8,000 rebel live in their sector. residents say. In keeping with his apolitical role, the 82-year-old months. fi ghters from diff erent groups, using Rebels and civilians in opposition- The rebels regard their success In Aleppo the disparate groups dozens of tanks, broke the Syrian held areas, already facing the as evidence they can turn the tables Akihito did not say straight out he wished to abdicate. fi ghting the Syrian government army army’s fortress-like defences at bombardment, now contended with a even in the face of Russian might, and Existing laws have no provision for a living emperor to demonstrated a rare unity, while also Ramousah in southwest Aleppo in shortage of food, medicine and fuel as that their goal of toppling Assad is no give up his throne. Instead, he spoke of “a decline in dealing a blow to Assad, Moscow and only a few days. the world looked on. longer far-fetched. my fi tness level because of my advancing age.” their Iran-backed allies who have Suicide bombers led the advance. But Friday’s seizure of the “After these battle gains, we invested heavily in a victory in what The groups ranged from the Islamist Ramousah base cut the government’s defeated the military option the Yet in his nearly three decades as “the symbol of was the country’s most populous city alliance Jaish al-Fateh, which includes own main route into the city Russian invaders and their Iranian the state and of the unity of the people,” Akihito has before the war. Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, known as the and meant the army was instead allies and Hezbollah wanted to always made his views on Japan’s proper course quietly “It’s clear that Aleppo will be the Nusra Front until it cut ties with Al scrambling to bring supplies to the impose,” said Mohamed al-Shami, a clear. His marriage to a commoner, now the Empress toughest and most important battle Qaeda two weeks ago, to the Free 2mn people in its own areas. commander from the powerful Ahrar and most dangerous battle and the Syrian Army (FSA), vetted and backed Residents in government-held al-Sham group, a member of the Jaish Michiko, was seen as an affi rmation of equality longest of all the battles that have by the West. districts say oil and food are now being al-Fateh Islamist alliance. among Japanese and of the idea that marriage involves erupted,” said former Lebanese Jaish al-Fateh drove the army and brought in under cover of night via “Today those planning for the mutual consent – both values enshrined in Japan’s General Amine Hotait, a supporter of its allies last year from Idlib province, the same hazardous route near the regime are Russian offi cers and the 1947 constitution. His early championing of the Assad, in an article in the Syrian daily southwest of Aleppo, before the front line that was previously used by Iranians and Hezbollah, and they have Al-Thawra. Russian intervention in Syria turned rebels. all fought battles but we have beaten Paralympics brought Japan’s attention to the cause of Aleppo is important not only the tide in Assad’s favour. The rebels now want to advance them,” the fi ghter added. the disabled. His expressions of remorse for the harm caused by Japan during World War II and his steadfast wishes for peace have earned global goodwill. Ironically, those most disturbed by Akihito’s messages have been Japan’s conservatives. Unlike members of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, for instance, Akihito has steadfastly refused to visit Yasukuni Shrine for Japan’s war dead, maintaining the royal boycott his father started after 14 Class A war criminals were interred there in 1978. Die-hard nationalists also fumed Existing when the emperor acknowledged the rich laws have no historical ties between Korea and Japan. They provision for a felt betrayed when he living emperor urged the Japanese people to “study and to give up his learn from the history throne of this war, starting with the Manchurian Incident of 1931.” That was considered a rebuke to the argument that Japan’s initial incursions into China were an act of self-defence. Now Akihito has cast a shadow over the prime minister’s cherished plan to change Japan’s constitution. The emperor’s speech, coming shortly A Free Syrian Army tank fires in Ramousah area, southwest of Aleppo. after Abe’s LDP won the votes necessary to pass a revision, has been interpreted as a coded pushback, and not just to Abe’s quest to revise Article 9, under which Japan renounced war and the creation or use of military forces. Gaza aid workers fear impact of Israeli allegations Akihito referred many times, for instance, to his symbolic role, which the LDP’s plan would change By Joe Dyke/AFP behind the allegations, many of which For Israel, the cases demonstrate they were evidence charities need to Jerusalem are disputed. at best the naivety of international share more security information with – to make the emperor again the “head of state” and A senior humanitarian, speaking aid groups. “This is not an isolated Israel’s security services. exempt him from having to uphold the constitution. like a number of colleagues on case, but rather a troubling trend of Aid organisations see any such The LDP draft constitution deletes an article on the etting foreign aid to condition of anonymity for fear of the systematic exploitation by Hamas push as an attack on the principles universality of human rights; specifi es that the exercise hundreds of thousands of repercussions, worried the allegations terrorists,” Israeli ambassador to the of objectivity and neutrality between of rights shall “not infringe the public interest and Palestinians in Gaza has would be used to sideline senior UN Danny Danon said. warring parties. never been easy, but aid Palestinian aid workers and to scare All aid workers AFP spoke to But allegations against World Vision public order”; and invokes citizens’ responsibilities G workers say Israeli allegations that NGOs into silence. admitted that in a confl ict zone a small – one of the world’s largest NGOs, and duties, including respect for the fl ag and the several of their own colluded with Since 2008, Israel has fought three amount of misuse is almost inevitable with a rigorous auditing process – may national anthem. The draft constitution also grants the Hamas could make it even harder. wars in Gaza with Hamas. – with monitoring millions in aid impact donors, aid workers said. In the past week three Palestinian Israel has long alleged that aid has diffi cult in contexts where multiple “We have got so many compliance government more powers in emergencies and dabbles aid workers have been accused of been diverted to Hamas. armed groups are operating. checks, we think we are sound,” said in social engineering by extolling family values. More working with Hamas in Gaza, where Aid workers privately admit to But the scale of the allegations an international aid worker whose fundamentally, the LDP’s proposed changes would humanitarians already felt squeezed feeling pressure from Hamas, with the against World Vision have caused both organisation also operates in Gaza. make it easier to revise the constitution in the future. between restrictions from Israel and powerful group seeking to infl uence shock and scepticism. “But the concern is World Vision Hamas which controls the Strip. how projects are organised. The Shin Bet security service is big and professional and has many Akihito’s pronouncements, this week and over The separate indictments of the In a few rare cases NGOs have seen alleged Halabi had diverted up to similar compliance mechanisms that the years, are a reminder of the Japanese people’s Gaza head of major charity World their offi ces temporary closed by 60% of the NGO’s Gaza budget – we all do,” the aid worker said. understandable ambivalence toward revising the Vision and a UN engineer on charges Hamas. equating to $7mn a year – to Hamas, “We are going to look, in light of constitution, and of the need for a robust and of working for Hamas have been met But they say materials and goods a fi gure every aid worker agreed was these allegations, if there’s anything by aid workers in Gaza with a mixture taken into Gaza are subject to some of impossible without complicity at the we can do diff erently.” unfettered debate before any change is made. of scepticism, fear and self-analysis. the strictest monitoring in the world. highest level. The allegations could also aff ect Germany and Australia have And they accuse Israel of using Israel says the central offi ce in the willingness of banks to work with suspended aid to World Vision, concerns around Hamas as an excuse Jerusalem was unaware of the alleged aid organisations across the Middle To Advertise raising fears that other donors could to restrict goods into Gaza, which thefts. East, said Tom Keatinge, an expert on withhold funds, while the United Israel has blockaded for a decade. The NGO itself, while taking the fi nancial crime at the RUSI think- [email protected] Nations rushed to stress it had “robust At least two thirds of the 1.9mn allegations seriously, has said it has tank. Display measures” to prevent aid being stolen. Gazans rely on aid, according to UN seen no evidence presented by Israel. Anti-terrorism legislation in the Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 Israel’s deputy foreign minister and fi gures. It said in a statement the United States and elsewhere has made other offi cials have called for tighter Israel has charged Christian charity “cumulative operating budget banks increasingly wary of dealing Classified restrictions on aid. World Vision’s Gaza head Mohamed in Gaza for the past 10 years was with NGOs working in high-risk Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 “If the (World Vision) allegations al-Halabi with diverting millions in approximately $22.5mn, which makes environments like Gaza. are true it is a shocking amount of aid, while on Tuesday an engineer the alleged amount of up to $50mn Keatinge said the allegations could Subscription corruption,” said Ashley Jackson, working with the United Nations being diverted hard to reconcile.” make banks reconsider their services [email protected] research associate at the Overseas Development Programme was indicted Aid workers fear the arrests will lead for large NGOs not just in Gaza but in Development Institute think-tank.”It for working with the group. to tighter Israeli restrictions. other areas where “terrorist” groups could have major implications for the An offi cial from Save the Children Gerald Steinberg, president of NGO are operating, such as in Syria. 2016 Gulf Times. All rights reserved wider humanitarian community.” was also allegedly turned to Hamas, Watch – an Israeli group critical of aid “I wouldn’t quite say this is a But others see political meddling according to Halabi’s charge sheet. in the Palestinian territories – said deathblow, but it is very serious.” Gulf Times Friday, August 12, 2016 19 COMMENT The Mideast must lead on refugees

With most of the refugees recognised. As a result, forced labour, developed countries of the West, originating in the Middle slavery, prostitution, and social migrants in the Middle East can offer exclusion are on the rise. untold contributions to their host East the fact that the Keeping the migrants largely in societies. We just need to let them. region is shouldering the the Middle East is critical – not least Above all, the refugees’ basic needs to prevent them from drowning in must be met. Decent living conditions overwhelming share of the the Mediterranean in their attempt – including housing, nutrition, and burden is not surprising to reach Europe. The Turkey-EU healthcare – must be guaranteed, agreement concluded last March in addition to educational and By Moha Ennaji – according to which non-refugee employment opportunities. Fez migrants who reach the EU are sent If a few countries continue to to Turkey – has helped, contributing shoulder the entire burden, however, to a sharp decline in the number of it will be virtually impossible to meet ince 2012, more than 12mn migrants arriving in Greece. the refugees’ needs. Given this, the migrants and refugees have But much more needs to be done – region needs to develop a mechanism landed in Europe, the Middle and Middle Eastern countries should for distributing refugees more fairly SEast, and North Africa. The take the lead. Most urgently, the across countries, something like the result has been an escalating political wealthy Gulf states should provide EU’s quota system. Standardised and and humanitarian crisis – and more funding to the countries that are streamlined procedures for handling increasingly heated debate about how hosting the most refugees, thereby asylum applications must also be to address it. enabling them to begin improving implemented. In Europe, the debate is living conditions for those seeking Even if all of this is achieved, a truly characterised by dissent and division, safety. Then, in order to develop a sustainable solution to the refugee exemplifi ed by the United Kingdom’s more comprehensive solution that crisis will not come until Syria is at recent vote to leave the European keeps countries stable and ensures peace, and order is restored in failing Union – an outcome that was shaped that refugees receive adequate states across the Middle East. That is largely by overblown fears about protection, deeper collaboration why it is so important for the region’s immigration. With EU member states among governments, as well as with governments to play a bigger and more failing to agree on how to secure the private sector and civil-society assertive role in tackling the violence external borders, much less what to organisations across the region, is and instability that lies at the root of do with the refugees who have already needed. the crisis. arrived, an eff ective, unifi ed response The problem is that there is no We cannot aff ord to wait for outside has proved elusive. consensus in the Middle East, either powers to resolve our most pressing In the Middle East, the refugee among governments or civil society, problems. Our governments must debate is not nearly as loud, but it is Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey have opened up their public schools to Syrian refugees. But these countries’ education about how to respond to the crisis. To invest heavily in our neighbours’ no less passionate. Jordan, a country systems, which were strained even before the crisis, cannot handle the burden that they are being forced to shoulder. break the impasse, one or two bold stability, including by bringing the of 6.5mn, now hosts more than 1.4mn, and far-sighted leaders need to remind Syrian peace process to a successful mostly Syrian, refugees. Lebanon’s is not surprising. But not all Middle there are no refugees camps in these Turkey’s government has delivered their citizens of their countries’ legal conclusion, and in the well-being 1.5mn Syrian refugees represent nearly Eastern countries have done enough. countries. more than $8bn in aid; by contrast, and, perhaps more important, moral of all of our citizens. – Project one-third of the country’s population The Gulf countries, despite their Meanwhile, their neighbours are the EU has delivered only a small share duties to the refugees. The Islamic Syndicate/Mohammed Bin Rashid of 4.7mn. Turkey, with some 75mn vast oil wealth, have taken in hardly straining under the weight of the of the €3.2bn ($3.6bn) it pledged last tradition of protecting the welfare of Global Initiatives, 2016 citizens, now hosts 2.7mn Syrian any refugees; they contend that, crisis. Already, Jordan’s social-welfare November. the poor can provide the language and refugees, about 30% of whom live in because they are not parties to the 1951 budget is reaching a breaking point, With host countries overstretched, legitimacy needed to inspire citizens zMoha Ennaji is President of the South 22 government-run camps near the UN Refugee Convention, they have no spurring social tensions. Schools it is unsurprising that refugees live to do their part. North Center for Intercultural Dialogue Syrian border. obligation to do so. The United Arab in both Jordan and Lebanon were in rough conditions, whether in In my book New Horizons and Migration Studies in Morocco With most of the refugees Emirates, for example, has taken in overcrowded even before the refugees camps or very poor neighbourhoods, of Muslim Diaspora in North and Professor of Cultural Studies at originating in the Middle East – just over 200,000 Syrian nationals arrived; now they are bursting at the with no amenities or sanitation. America and Europe, I argue Fez University. His most recent books especially Syria, but also Afghanistan, since the Syrian crisis began in 2011. seams. Even the refugees who work Hundreds of thousands of refugees against the conventional wisdom include New Horizons of Muslim Iraq, Yemen, and Libya – the fact Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria in Jordan and Lebanon are creating are unemployed, including the that migrants and refugees are a Diaspora in North America and Europe that the region is shouldering the permit Syrian refugees to enter, but problems, as they inadvertently most highly skilled among them, threat to the Middle East’s security and Muslim Moroccan Migrants in overwhelming share of the burden provide no support to those who do; suppress wages for lower-skill jobs. whose qualifi cations are often not and development. Just like in the Europe. Weather report Closing the healthcare data gap Three-day forecast TODAY High: 42 C Low : 33 C By Muhammad Hamid Zaman healthcare systems in the developing psychologically. The fi nancial burden developing countries lack the funds, Hazy to misty / foggy to the world. Collecting accurate of healthcare in low- and middle- infrastructure, and training needed Northern areas at fisrt necomes hot Boston daytime with some clouds, and rela- information on all patients (while still income countries is substantial, to use sophisticated data-collection tively humid with hazy by night. respecting privacy) is vital to tracking despite the progress that has been tools; but that doesn’t mean they hile much of the world public-health threats, lapses in care, made in fi ghting HIV, malaria, and can’t make significant improvements SATURDAY today suff ers from and medical errors, and is a necessary tuberculosis. Beyond these diseases, in data collection. As Atul Gawande High: 43 C information overload, and essential condition for holding for which there is treatment and of Harvard University’s School of Low: 32 C Wthere are still places open and honest debates about tracking, thanks partly to ample Public Health has shown, simple Sunny where information is scarce. And that healthcare issues that can aff ect entire awareness, many illnesses go checklists can be effective in both scarcity sometimes costs people their communities or countries. unidentifi ed and continue to strain collecting data and making better lives. According to a British Medical public-health services. decisions. If healthcare workers and SUNDAY In the maternity ward of Journal analysis by Martin Makary and Understanding common causes policymakers know which data are High: 44 C Zanzibar’s largest public-health Michael Daniel of the Johns Hopkins of death is the only way to improve useful and why, they will already be Low: 32 C facility, Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, University School of Medicine, in the healthcare in communities with a in a better position to change public- Sunny patient data are listed on a dry-erase US, medical errors alone are the third high disease burden, patriarchal health outcomes. board. The information on the board leading cause of death, after heart hierarchies, and large and dispersed The fi nal step is to establish consists of the number of women disease and cancer. In the context of rural populations that rely on transparent oversight of the data Fishermen’s forecast admitted, the type and severity of their analysis, medical errors could traditional medicine. In these settings, being collected. Some data may OFFSHORE DOHA their conditions, and whether or not include bad doctors, poor clinical patient interactions with doctors point to politically inconvenient or Wind: SE-NE 03-13/18 KT they survived. judgment, miscommunications are rare, so it is important to collect counterintuitive conclusions, and Waves: 2-4 Feet These data may be better than between staff members or records on them at every opportunity. politicians could be tempted to sweep INSHORE DOHA Wind: SE-NE 05-15/18 KT nothing, but not by much. There are departments, and incorrect diagnoses. Diff erent societies have diff erent it under the rug. In the age of social Waves: 1-2 Feet no dates or timestamps or long-term There is no reason to think this healthcare needs, and fully media and open-access journals, we fi ling systems. With photographs of problem is confi ned to the US. comprehending what they are is should demand that newly collected Around the region the board strictly forbidden, records Healthcare settings in the developing no easy task. But we can begin the data be made available to a broad range Weather Weather last only as long as they are on it. world often face even steeper process with three steps. of people researching public-health today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Zanzibar’s attitude toward health challenges, such as lack of technical The fi rst is to create awareness issues and working in healthcare Abu Dhabi Sunny 46/34 Sunny 46/31 records is not unique. In fact, Zanzibar capacity among hospital management, within communities. All people settings. Baghdad Sunny 47/30 Sunny 47/29 is probably more careful than many staff shortages, poor training, low- want healthy and productive lives for Ultimately, we may not be able Dubai Sunny 44/33 Sunny 43/32 Kuwait City Sunny other places throughout in Africa and quality medicines, and relative impunity themselves and their loved ones, so to prevent deaths caused by certain Sunny 47/32 48/33 Manama Sunny 43/32 Sunny 43/33 Asia, where data-collection systems for medical malpractice. Unfortunately, they will welcome new insights into illnesses. But with more information, Muscat Sunny 36/32 Sunny 36/31 simply do not exist. because we have such limited data, we why people in their community die it is within our power to prevent those Riyadh Sunny 45/29 M Sunny 45/30 When a country suff ers from such a cannot know the extent to which any of or get sick. With the advent of citizen deaths that are caused by our own Tehran Sunny 37/26 Sunny 38/26 data defi cit, its public-health policies, these factors contribute to poor health journalism and social media, even complacency or incompetence. – budgets, and strategies are decided outcomes and avoidable deaths in in poor countries, public-awareness Project Syndicate by political expediency or guesswork. developing countries. campaigns are now more aff ordable Sometimes the guesses are right, but Aside from potentially saving than ever. zMuhammad Hamid Zaman is a most often they are not. countless lives, reliable data can The second step is to devise professor of biomedical engineering at This is a major challenge for reduce costs, fi nancially and better ways to collect data. Many Boston University. Live issues Upholstery: peppy fabrics and bold colours

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Gulf Times 20 Friday, August 12, 2016 QATAR Publication on child protection to be launched at Bayt Qatar publication document- ing best practices on child Aprotection within major sporting events will be present- ed by Unicef Brazil and partners at Bayt Qatar at the ongoing Rio Olympics. The results of the publication, ‘Agenda for Convergence: mega sporting events and children’s rights protection and adoles- cents in Brazil’, will be presented to a special audience at Bayt Qa- tar today. The presentation is taking place during the two-day “Pow- er of Sports for Development: Building a Better Future for Children” forum, which is be- ing hosted at British House and Bayt Qatar until today, gathering international experts, children’s rights organisations and govern- ment offi cials. The publication documents Unicef Brazil and its partners’ work encouraging the preven- tion of violence towards young people during mega events, ac- Several child protection actions implemented in Brazil have been developed in partnership with Save the Dream, an initiative of the ICSS and QOC. cording to a press statement. Beginning in 2011, the initiative Save the Dream, an initiative Unicef, Save the Dream, Bayt tiane Santana, undersecretary of the forum will serve to promote empower members of the pub- presented during the conference Agenda for Convergence involved of the International Centre for Qatar and British House. Social Development and Human the use of the app, Proteja Brasil, lic to play an active role for the through the panel, “Technology, government organisations, NGOs Sport Security (ICSS) and Qatar As part of the event, high- Rights of the City of Rio de Ja- during the Olympic Games. A protection of children against Media and Child Rights”. The and child protection experts from Olympic Committee (QOC). profi le experts and athletes are neiro, among others. new promotional video, ‘Your violence. panel will also address the initi- across Brazil with the aim of help- Lessons learnt during major coming together to discuss is- The event will also hear from hands can change stories’, will be Save the Dream has raised ative Dial 100 hotline – a human ing young people during the 2013 sporting events are being applied sues of child protection during HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al- launched to encourage people to awareness on the importance rights reporting tool maintained FIFA Confederations Cup and during the 2016 Olympic Games major sport events. They include Thani, president of QOC; Gary download the app Proteja Brasil. of child protection through the by the Brazilian federal govern- 2014 FIFA World Cup that took in Rio de Janeiro and will serve Ana Starling, National Secretar- Stahl, Unicef representative to The application is free to organisation of a football match ment and Team Unicef – Get place in Brazil. as reference point to be applied iat for the Promotion of Rights of Brazil; and Massimiliano Mon- download and aims to encour- at Bayt Qatar involving legends Active for Children – a Unicef Several child protection ac- within the next host countries. the Child; Irina Bacci, ombuds- tanari, executive director of Save age people to report violations such as Cafu, David Trezeguet, engagement campaign that tions implemented in Brazil were The forum is the result of a man for human rights and Dial the Dream. against children’s rights in Brazil Christian Karembeu and Zico. combines sports, technology developed in partnership with special partnership between 100 hotline director; and Cris- In addition to the new report, to the relevant authorities and Proteja Brasil features will be and children’s rights. QC brings succour to labourers

eals and water have been distributed Mamong workers in Qa- tar as part of youth initiatives carried out in co-operation with Qatar Charity (QC). QC said in a press statement that the national youth ini- tiatives were organised under the command of Adel Lami, ambassador of QC’s Humani- tarian Affairs, along with Qa- The decisions include 23 for demolition and eight for tar Charity’s campaign to dis- maintenance of buildings. Pictures courtesy of MME tribute meals, juice and water among workers during the af- ternoon. This was done in recognition of the workers’ role in Qatar’s development and their contin- ued eff orts in building the coun- try’s infrastructure. Lami said some Qatari youth Ali Alghareeb, QC’s director of Programmes and Centres Adel Lami, ambassador of QC’s Humanitarian Affairs. took the initiative to distribute Management, Local Development. meals at a number of places nity to strengthen the social ers from Taif charity outlets within the State in order to and juice – to workers during within the framework of car- fabric, he stressed. and distribute them to among lessen the impact of the heat the afternoon. ing for low-income groups Alghareeb noted that QC has workers and the needy, who and improve working condi- Ali Alghareeb, QC’s di- such as workers in recogni- carried out a number of chari- can avail of donated items from tions. rector of Programmes and tion of their role in the proc- table initiatives for workers, Taif branches in different parts He said five female youth Centres Management, Local ess of building Qatar, and the latest being the “Deserv- of the country. groups and three male groups Development, said the youth also in line with QC’s inter- ing” campaign launched just He thanked benefactors in contributed to the campaign, initiatives coincided with est in creating a symbiotic before last Ramadan. It seeks Qatar for standing with QC in having distributed more than the intense summer heat. and complementary rela- to enable individuals and com- support of the humanitarian 300 meals – including water These were implemented tionship within the commu- panies to purchase vouch- mission.

Civic Ministry issues 23 decisions to demolish old buildings in 3 months

he Ministry of Munici- The decisions were issued pality and Environment by the building demolition and T(MME) has issued 31 maintenance committee at the decisions for the maintenance ministry. and demolition of old build- The committee is a perma- ings in the last three months. nent entity established in line These include 23 deci- with Ministerial Decision No sions for demolition and eight 88 for 2006, which pertains to for maintenance of diff erent Law no 29 for 2006. buildings, according to a state- The panel started operating ment from the MME. on June 19, 2006, and has is- Twelve decisions have been sued 296 related decisions un- issued so far this month, while til now. These include 232 de- 10 were issued in July and nine cisions for demolition and 64 in June. for maintenance of buildings.

Dates festival to conclude on Sunday

The Local Dates Festival 2016 organised by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment in collaboration with Souq Waqif will conclude on Sunday. According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment yesterday, 45,612kg of dates have been sold so far during the 18-day festival. There is a huge demand for dates produced by local farms, the Ministry added. Workers with meals distributed by QC.