BUSINESS | Page 1 SPORT | Page 8 Al-Attiyah eyes World Cup title in INDEX DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-5, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 Morocco REGION 6 BUSINESS 1-7, 14-16 22,346.00 8,292.10 51.67 ARAB WORLD 6 CLASSIFIED 8-13 Qatar Airways’ deal with +26.00 -20.33 +0.11 INTERNATIONAL 7-17 SPORTS 1-8 +0.12% -0.24% +0.21% AQA to boost Meridiana Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

MONDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10594 October 2, 2017 Muharram 12, 1439 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals Deputy Emir meets former German president Exhibition of In brief home-made

QATAR | Reaction products gets Attacks in Marseille, Canada condemned Qatar has strongly condemned the attack in Marseille, southern France, underway killing two people. It also condemned the attack in Edmonton, western Canada, in which a policeman and a number of civilians were injured. In a „QCB Governor opens first statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s firm edition of ‘Made at Home’ expo stance rejecting violence and terrorism regardless of motives and reasons. By Peter Alagos Programme, an initiative launched by The statement expressed Qatar’s Business Reporter QDB in 2015 to develop and promote condolences to the families of the home-based businesses and activate two victims, the government and the His Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani met at his Emiri Diwan off ice yesterday with Christian Wulff , their role in the economy. people of France and wished speedy the former German president and envoy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Wulff was in Doha to take part in the opening of n initiative that aims to em- “In recent times, due to the dynamic recovery to the injured in Edmonton. the “German Encounters...” and “German Design...” exhibitions as part of the Qatar-Germany 2017 Year of Culture. The meeting power the local home-based growth of Qatar on a large scale, micro- reviewed co-operation areas between the two sides and ways to enhance them in all fields to serve the joint interests. Issues of Aindustry and support small- businesses have faced a considerable ARAB WORLD | Confl ict mutual concern were also discussed during the meeting. Pages 2, 20 scale entrepreneurs, the fi rst edition challenge competing with the many of the ‘Made at Home’ exhibition, was formally-organised local companies Noose tightens on formally inaugurated by HE the Qatar and multinational corporations that Raqqa hospital Central Bank Governor Sheikh Abdul- have entered the market. US-backed fighters were tightening the lah bin Saud al-Thani yesterday. “However, by arranging this pro- noose yesterday around Islamic State The fi ve-day expo, which runs until motional exhibition that highlights group militants holed up in Raqqa’s Thursday at the Doha Exhibition and their products and services, we wish national hospital, one of the last IS-held Convention Centre (DECC), showcases to usher in a new era of prosperity for positions in the Syrian city. The Syrian UN chief urges Gulf 144 local home-based businesses of- local home-based businesses in Qatar,” Democratic Forces have ousted IS from fering products in the fi elds of food and al-Khalifa said during the event. around 90 % of the battered northern beverage, technology, arts and crafts, Qatar Chamber director general city but the jihadists still hold a pocket perfumery and jewellery, and clothing. Saleh bin Hamad al-Sharqi said the of central Raqqa. Page 6 ‘Made at Home’ is organised by Qa- exhibition is an opportunity to intro- tar Development Bank (QDB), Qatar duce home-made products of Qatari EUROPE | Referendum states to hold dialogue Chamber, the Ministry of Administra- families to a wider market, in addition tive Development, Labour and Social to being a platform that brings partici- Police crack down on N Secretary-General Antonio In a letter to the Kuwaiti emir, the Emirates in his bid to negotiate a set- Aff airs (MADLSA), and Ooredoo with pants together under one roof to seal banned Catalan vote Guterres has reiterated his sup- UN chief said: “You are also uniquely tlement to the Gulf crisis. the aim of promoting household prod- contracts and deals. Spanish riot police used batons and Uport for the ongoing Kuwaiti placed to play a role in the mediation Egypt, Bahrain, the UAE and Saudi ucts and providing a periodic platform Al-Sharqi also expressed the hope rubber bullets to storm polling stations mediation eff orts aimed at ending eff orts aimed at bringing the crisis in Arabia severed diplomatic and trade ties for the exchange of experiences and that the exhibition would enable par- in Catalonia yesterday, triggering the Gulf crisis, Kuwait News Agency the Gulf to an end. You are a friend to with Qatar on June 5, accusing Doha of skills among entrepreneurs. ticipants to acquire a larger share in the clashes as thousands turned out to (KUNA) quoted his statement as saying. both sides of this dispute and I am sure supporting extremism. The Saudi-led The event gathers a large number local market by off ering their products vote in an independence referendum Guterres called on all parties to re- they carefully listen to your advice. bloc also imposed a blockade on Qatar. of home businesses that are in line in malls and shopping centres, as well banned by Madrid. At least 92 people solve their diff erences by sitting down “The United Nations strongly sup- Qatar has vehemently denied the al- with the regulations of the Ministry as displaying their products on the were confirmed injured out of a total at the negotiating table and showing a ports the continuation of your coun- legation and the blockading nations of Economy and Commerce and are li- shelves of large shops. of 761 who went to hospital, Catalan spirit of good neighbourliness and re- try’s mediation efforts and stands have failed to date to produce any evi- censed to practise domestic business in Qatar Chamber board member and authorities said, as police cracked spect. ready to assist you in any way and at dence in support of their accusations. many fi elds. Qatari Businesswomen Forum chair- down on a vote Spain’s central He said the UN is ready to support any time you deem most appropri- Qatar has consistently maintained ‘Made at Home’ aims to develop the person Ibtehaj al-Ahmadani said the government branded a “farce”. The mediation eff orts led by the Emir of ate.” that any diff erences in views have to be capabilities and skills of Qatari home participation of Qatari women at the interior ministry said 33 police needed Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al- The Kuwaiti emir has visited Saudi settled through talks based on mutual businesses in the presentation and exhibition enhances their production medical attention. Page 12 Jaber al-Sabah. Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab respect. marketing, and to provide the oppor- capacity and encourages their presence tunity for business owners to present in the local market. ASIA | Diplomacy their products and enable them to con- She said Qatar Chamber and other Trump: negotiating with nect to local markets and overcome the concerned agencies encourage the de- German exhibitions open challenges that may face. velopment of Qatar’s home-based in- N Korea a waste of time Speaking to Gulf Times earlier, QDB dustry to give Qatari products access to US President Donald Trump said CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa the local market with the aim of trans- negotiating with North Korea over said ‘Made at Home’ is “an off shoot” forming these industries into small its nuclear programme would be a of the Home Based Businesses National companies in the future. Page 3 waste of time after it emerged that Washington had channels of contact with Pyongyang. Only hours after his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Enable wins Chantilly race revealed that US off icials were in touch with North Korean counterparts, Trump undercut his top diplomat by declaring on Twitter that any talks would be futile. Page 9

AMERICA | Politics US president defends Puerto Rico relief eff ort President Donald Trump yesterday strenuously defended US eff orts to bring relief to storm-battered Puerto Rico, even as one island off icial said Trump was trying to gloss over “things that are not going well.” A day after Trump launched a Twitter attack against San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz following her desperate pleas HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums; former German President Christian for more help, he tweeted that “we Wulff ; Hans-Udo Muzel, German ambassador to Qatar; Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Qatar’s ambassador to Germany; His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani (left) presents the owner’s trophy have done a great job with the almost and Matthias Muller, Chairman of the board of management, Volkswagen Group, attending the opening ceremony of the to Prince Saud bin Khalid bin Abdullah (right) after Enable won the Qatar Prix de impossible situation in Puerto Rico.” ‘Driven by German Design’ show. Sheikha Al Mayassa also attended the inauguration of the ‘German Encounters: Contemporary l’Arc de Triomphe (Group 1) horse race in Chantilly, France, yesterday. - AlKass sports Page 8 Masterworks from the Deutsche Bank Collection’ exhibition in Doha yesterday. Page 20 channel Sport Page 1 Kahramaa opens power station with multi-level car parking

By Ramesh Mathew cated next to the Al Ghanim Bus Sta- tion, is one of Kahramaa’s new and up- souqs, has no less than 250 car parking rain water. The work of upgrading and Ministry of Interior Brigadier Mohamed Staff Reporter tion. The parking facility is expected to coming sub-stations with multi-level slots on its six fl oors. also opening of the new sub-stations of al-Marafi a hoped people coming to such cater to a large number of commercial car parking. The latest is the third facil- The sub-station, which has been the 13th phase would get over by the fi rst areas as Grand Hamad Street would and residential properties of the densely ity of its kind, operated by Kahramaa. equipped with high quality equipment quarter of 2019. Many of the new sta- avail of the new parking facility. new 11/66kv 80mw electricity populated area in the heart of Doha. The new station, which is part of the from Germany is on the ground fl oor. tions would be ready for opening next The car parking would be provided sub-station with multi-level car While speaking to journalists after a ongoing 13th phase of the QR7bn works, Al-Kuwari informed that Kahramaa year, said Kahramaa president. free for the customers until they get Aparking facility was opened in the formal inspection of the facility, Qatar is vital as it would generate additional would equip some of its new stations While expressing happiness at the familiarised with the facility, said Kah- city’s busy Al Ghanim area yesterday. General Electricity and Water Corpora- car parking facility for one of the busiest being executed in the ongoing phase of opening of the sub-station with car ramaa president. After some time, Kah- The station, known as New Grand tion (Kahramaa) president Issa bin Hilal areas of Doha. It is learnt that the facil- expansion with similar car parking facil- parking at the heart of Doha, director ramaa would consider to impose a nom- Hamad Electricity Sub-station, is lo- al-Kuwari said the QR155mn sub-sta- ity, in the proximity of many of the city’s ities and also with provision for storing of Traffi c Engineering and Safety in the inal fee for parking, he said. Page 20 Gulf Times 2 Monday, October 2, 2017 QATAR

Ministers meet former German president

HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed al-Thani met yesterday with Christian Wulff , former president of Germany and envoy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and his accompanying delegation. The meeting took place on the occasion of Wulff ’s visit to Qatar to represent his country at the opening of the artistic exhibition “German visions”, and the techniques and designs exhibition of “German Design… Innovation Title” later today. During the meeting, they discussed HE the Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met yesterday with former German president and envoy and exchanged views on topics of common interest and explored co-operation aspects especially in of German Chancellor Angela Merkel Christian Wulff , in the course of his current visit to Doha within the framework of the Qatar-Germany the economic, trade and investment fields as well as the means of developing them. The trade volume 2017 Year of Culture. During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the relations between Qatar and Germany and issues of mutual concern, between Qatar and Germany amounts to nearly QR4.2bn in the first half of 2017. There are 139 active as well as the latest developments of the Gulf crisis and other regional developments. The meeting was attended by heads of Volkswagen, German companies in Qatar, with 27 of them fully owned by the German side, in addition to 112 companies Deutsche Bank and Siemens. with a Qatari-German capital.

Emir’s Qatar backs global Deputy PM meets Sudanese envoy two UN speeches community in fi ghting included in courses human traffi cking

QNA tion on the implementation of Initiative for building national at QU New York the UN Global Plan of Action to capacities in combating human Combat Traffi cking in Persons, traffi cking in Arab countries, in which had been agreed upon co-operation with the UN Offi ce atar University has in- E the Minister of Admin- thanks to the political will of on Drugs and Crime and the Arab cluded two speeches of istrative Development, member states to take concerted League to build and rehabilitate HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin QHis Highness the Emir HLabour and Social Aff airs and decisive action to imple- the national capacities working Zaid al-Mahmoud met yesterday with Sudanese presidential envoy for diplomatic contact and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali al-Nuaimi, ment the plan of action. in various areas of combating negotiation for Darfur Dr Amin Hassan Omar. During the meeting, they discussed the latest Thani in two courses of the who is also chairman of the Na- He reviewed the measures and human traffi cking in the Arab developments in the peace and development process in Darfur and the promotion of the peace Arabic language within the core tional Committee for Combat- actions taken by Qatar to combat region on scientifi c and profes- process in accordance with the principles laid down in the Doha Peace Document in Darfur. The curriculums. ting Human Traffi cking, said that traffi cking in persons, including sional bases, stressing that Qatar meeting was attended by Sudanese ambassador to Qatar Fath al-Rahman Ali and a number of QU said in a statement Qatar is playing a major role in the issuing of Law No15 of 2011 is one of the largest donor coun- off icials at the Cabinet General Secretariat. yesterday that including the combating human traffi cking out on combating traffi cking in hu- tries to the UN Voluntary Trust speeches, which titles demon- of its belief in the importance of man beings which criminalises Fund for Victims of Traffi cking strate “steadiness” and “glory”, preserving human dignity and traffi cking in all its forms and in Persons since its establish. aims at attaching the students fulfi lling its ethical and legal ob- patterns, Law No 21 of 2015 that In 2015, he said Qatar hosted Chinese president with the authentic social and ligations as it is an active member abolishes the sponsorship sys- the 13th United Nations Congress congratulated humanitarian values that pre- in the Group of Friends United tem and Law No 15 of 2017 on on Crime Prevention and Crimi- vail in the Qatari society, which against Human Traffi cking and domestic workers. nal Justice which adopted a com- His Highness the Emir Sheikh His Highness the Emir high- the Group of Friends concerned At the institutional level, Qa- prehensive approach to address Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and His lighted in his two important on Modern Day Slavery. tar has established the National the crime of human traffi cking as Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh speeches, on July 21, and at He stressed that Qatar has Committee for Combatting Hu- stated in the Doha Declaration. Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani sent the opening session of the UN spared no eff ort to support the ef- man Traffi cking to unify the ef- Combating human traffi cking yesterday cables of congratulations General Assembly on forts of the international commu- forts of the state’s institutions requires addressing the real causes Speakers at the workshop on communicating with the public in to Chinese President Xi Jinping September 19. nity to combat the phenomenon and civil society in dealing with of this phenomenon, whether so- nuclear and radiological emergencies. on the occasion of his country’s QU noted that including the of human traffi cking and related the phenomenon of human traf- cial, economic, cultural, political National Day. speeches is consistent with the phenomena such as forced labour, fi cking, as the committee aims to or ideological, and the absence of HE the Prime Minister and Interior climate of steadfastness and modern slavery and child labour. develop a national plan to com- the rule of law and others, he said, Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser pride, and the spreading of the The minister was speaking at bat human traffi cking and follow adding that the inability of the in- bin Khalifa al-Thani sent yesterday a true national spirit that con- a high-level meeting of the UN up its implementation, in addi- ternational community to fi nd just Workshop on nuclear cable of congratulations to Chinese fronts the siege and treachery General Assembly on “Global Plan tion to help the victims of human and decisive solutions to disputes Prime Minister Li Keqiang on the against the country. of Action to Combat Traffi cking in traffi cking to integrate quickly and the resulting terrorism and occasion of his country’s National Day. While studying the context Persons” held at the UN headquar- into the society through care and armed organizations outside the and radiological of each speech, the student ters in New York recently. rehabilitation programmes, the framework of the international law will apply his educational skills The meeting began with the Minister said, pointing out that contributed to the growing of the Greetings sent to and will defi ne the Arab values offi cial adoption of the political there is a co-ordination between human traffi cking’s phenomenon. emergencies opens which the Qatari society and declaration on the implemen- the committee with the Interna- Qatar’s Permanent Repre- Nigerian president leadership have showed dur- tation of the UN Global Plan of tional Criminal Police (Interpol) to sentative to the UN Sheikha Alya he national workshop Al-Sada underlined that on I-Day ing the crisis, such as steadi- Action to Combat Traffi cking in organise the annual conference on Ahmed bin Saif al-Thani has on communicating with confi dence and availability of ness, pride, progress, tolerance, Persons, which Qatar, in part- combating human traffi cking and chaired the second session of the Tthe public in nuclear information are key elements in His Highness the Emir Sheikh justice, respect for charters nership with Belgium, facilitated smuggling of persons scheduled to high-level meeting to discuss and radiological emergencies the communication process. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, and treaties, defending the op- the negotiations about. be held in December in Doha. and evaluate the Global Plan of kicked off in Doha yesterday For her part, director of His Highness the Deputy Emir pressed and co-operation be- The minister expressed his Furthermore, the minister Action and eff ective partner- with the participation of 35 the Radiation and Chemicals Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad tween citizens and residents, satisfaction at the formal adop- said that Qatar has sponsored ships for the protection and employees from various rel- Protection Department at the al-Thani and HE Prime Minister among others. tion of the Political Declara- at the regional level the Arab assistance to victims. evant authorities in Qatar. ministry, Aisha Ahmed al- and Minister of Interior Sheikh The six-day workshop is Baker, said that public com- Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa organised by the Ministry of munication is one of the most al-Thani sent yesterday cables Municipality and the Environ- important challenges in emer- of congratulations to Nigerian ment, represented by the Radi- gency management, noting President Muhammadu Buhari on ation and Chemicals Protection that eff ective communication the anniversary of his country’s Qatar committed to Department, in co-operation with the public on radiologi- Independence Day. with the International Atomic cal emergencies is the basis Energy Agency (IAEA). for success in its management, promoting education, Opening the workshop, as- as it helps to mitigate risks, Cyprus president sistant undersecretary for supports the implementation Environmental Aff airs in the of preventive measures, con- congratulated on innovation: minister Ministry of Municipality and tributes to minimising nega- independence day Environment, Ahmed Mo- tive psychological eff ects, and hammed al-Sada, the Nation- maintains people’s confi dence His Highness the Emir Sheikh QNA HE al-Hammadi confi rmed al Focal Point of Qatar with in the organs responsible for Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Kyoto, Japan Qatar’s commitment to build the IAEA, said that the work- ensuring their care. Highness the Deputy Emir Sheikh a diversifi ed and sustainable shop aims to provide practical Al-Sada noted that the Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani, economy, in order to achieve guidance to those responsible workshop is part of the na- and HE the Prime Minister E the Minister of Edu- Qatar National Vision 2030 and for providing the public and tional project (2016-2017) on and Interior Minister Sheikh cation and Higher Edu- meet the directives of His High- the media with useful, honest, strengthening national ca- Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Hcation Dr Mohammed ness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin consistent and appropriate pacities for preparedness and al-Thani sent yesterday cables of Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi Hamad al-Thani. HE Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali al-Hammadi at the 14th Science information throughout the response to radiological and congratulations to the president underlined Qatar’s commitment He highlighted Qatar’s keen- and Technology in Society (STS) forum in Kyoto, Japan. nuclear or radiological emer- nuclear emergencies, in co- of Cyprus, Nicos Anastasiades, on to build an economic society ness on developing national in- gency, and responding to false operation with the Interna- the anniversary of his country’s that is based on diversifi cation dustries and products, employ- paths, achieve their aspirations lated to artifi cial intelligence, the information and rumours. tional Atomic Energy Agency. Independence Day. and sustainability, and promotes ing modern technologies in all in the innovation fi eld and de- handling of large and complex education, innovation and fi elds, enabling youth with edu- velop technology. Especially, data, using robots for surgeries scientifi c research. cation and research and fi nding that the renewable and vital in addition to currently discov- The minister further reiter- young leaders and skills able to nature makes innovation the ering the potential created by ated Qatar’s eagerness to en- contribute to building a con- main focus in universities that the so-called Internet of Things able the youth with basics of temporary society that is able to have achieved high positions (IoT) to develop platforms and QRCS sends shelter kits to Philippines education and research, and to sustain itself. among global counterparts, special programmes in this fi eld. fi nd young leaders who are able HE al-Hammadi noted that such as Qatar University (QU) Japanese Prime Minister to contribute to building a con- Qatar faces a number of ob- which has many accomplish- Shinzo Abe inaugurated 14th atar Red Crescent Soci- Societies (IFRC), kits are de- The kit is designed for dis- temporary society that is able to stacles in providing water re- ments in the fi eld of science Science and Technology in So- ety (QRCS), through its signed to provide the materials tribution to relieve immediate, sustain itself. sources, sustainable energy in and technology, noting that ciety (STS) forum at the Kyoto Qmission in the Philip- and tools to construct a sim- life-saving shelter need for Addressing a roundtable on addition to security technol- QU issued 1,410 researches in International Conference Center pines, has delivered to the Phil- ple shelter for displaced fami- new or secondary displace- the role of science, technology ogy, and is aware that innovation 2016, 52% higher than in 2014. yesterday. Qatar’s delegation is ippine Red Cross (PRC) 1,000 lies, QRCS said in a statement ment, or people on the move, to and creativity in the future of and creativity is the only way to QU has also established 15 sci- headed by HE the Minister of basic emergency shelter kits yesterday. manage until a better solution communities, on the sidelines overcome these obstacles. entifi c research centres to serve Education and Higher Education under the second phase of the Each kit contained the basic can be found. of the 14th Science and Tech- He referred to the eff orts Qa- the society, including centres Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali relief programme launched by tools needed for aff ected families Also, PRC helped select 650 nology in Society (STS) forum, tar is making to merge future for biomedical research, ad- al-Hammadi. The three-day fo- QRCS for the benefi t of victims to repair their damaged houses needy families in Santa Fe Mu- the minister discussed the lat- science with the practical and vanced materials, energy and rum is attended by 31 diff erent of Typhoon Haiyan of 2013. following the disaster. The kit nicipality, Leyte Province, as est and most important topics theoretical aspects in the cur- sustainability. education, technology and sci- Meeting the standards of the includes two tarpaulins, six poles benefi ciaries of the project. on the global arena, which is riculums in order to prepare its Qatar was able to record devel- entifi c research ministers from International Federation of the for basic framing, and an assort- The kits would be kept at PRC’s “Society 5.0”. students to join various career opment in the technical fi eld re- around the world. Red Cross and Red Crescent ment of fi xings and tools. warehouse for future use. Gulf Times Monday, October 2, 2017 3 QATAR

6,500 claims lodged over blockade compensation

he Compensation Claims Committee has received 6,500 complaints from both the Tpublic and private sector since it was fi rst launched more than three months ago. Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported yesterday that the committee continues to receive complaints along with the process of classifying and reviewing them so as to take the appropriate legal procedures necessary for each case. Subsequently, the com- plaints would be referred to the international and local legal fi rms concerned. The committee receives complaints from both expatriates and Qataris, who have sustained any harms due to the blockade imposed on the country by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and Egypt. Most complaints were regarding students de- nied access to complete their studies at any of the countries of the blockade, loss of access to personal property there, in particular real estate, and being Qatar Central Bank Governor HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud al-Thani leads the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the ‘Made at Home’ exhibition yesterday at the DECC in the presence of QDB denied contacts or unifi cation with family members CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa, Qatar Chamber director general Saleh bin Hamad al-Sharqi, Qatar Chamber board member and Qatari Businesswomen Forum chairperson Ibtehaj across the countries of the blockade. al-Ahmadani and other officials. PICTURE: Nasar T K A source at the committee told the daily that the committee receives inquires on related issues through its hotline on daily basis. In addition, the committee holds daily meetings to discuss the possible ways of easing the standard procedures, and helping them submit their com- plaints accompanied by all the required documents. QCB governor launches online Throughout the past two weeks, most received complaints were from Qatar post-graduate studies studying in the universities of Egypt, who experi- enced delays and complications in getting an entry visa to Egypt. platform for home-based business In addition, some other Qataris complained of being unable to contact their family members and By Peter Alagos and Social Affairs (MADLSA), vital sector, we are also launching the state of Qatar, the statement to view and purchase products on- relatives in the blockading countries of the UAE, Business Reporter QDB head of Micro Business De- our largest online platform to dig- continued. line,” al-Misnad said. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, as they have introduced velopment Hala Ali al-Misnad told itally-showcase products off ered by It also added that the online plat- Owners of home-based busi- laws that penalise expression of any sympathy with Gulf Times on the sidelines of the local home-based businesses and form includes six main sections: nesses who have registered with Qatar with jail terms and fi nancial fi nes. he fi rst phase of an online ‘Made at Home’ exhibition at the small and medium-sized enterpris- food and beverage, event services, Matajercom.qa will be able to sell Some others complaints related to the contin- platform that aims to pro- Doha Exhibition and Convention es (SMEs) in Qatar.” beauty activities, sewing and em- their products using the platform ued loss on account of denied the right to perform Tmote home-based business- Centre (DECC). Matajercom.qa aims to provide broidery, service work, and e-Serv- after a team from QDB certifi es that fi nancial transactions and money transfer with the es and help Qatari entrepreneurs The fi rst phase of Matajercom.qa mechanisms that will enhance the ices. the items are locally-produced Qa- blockading countries, which made them unable to reach a wider market was offi cially aims to include the 144 exhibitors success of business owners such as “Businesses that register with tar products, she noted. receive the rents for their houses and apartments launched by Qatar Central Bank registered at ‘Made at Home’. marketing and technical support; this platform must have an HBB Al-Misnad said the exhibition there. Governor HE Sheikh Abdullah bin The next phase, she pointed out, opening up areas for Qatari entre- (home-based business) licence, and Matejercom.qa are part of the Similarly, some others who have bought apart- Saud al-Thani yesterday. aims to get as many as 500 busi- preneurs and encouraging them to which is governed by the Ministry HBBNP, which was launched by ments and villas in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bah- ‘Matajercom.qa’ serves as the nesses registered with the platform. be creative, innovative, and to de- of Economy and Commerce (MEC). QDB in 2015. rain cannot have access to complete their contrac- official online platform for home- In a media statement, QDB CEO velop their capabilities; measuring This programme will provide e- “The HBBNP aims to encourage tual obligations and pay the remaining instalments, based businesses in Qatar, pow- Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa the economic impact of microen- Commerce services and a registra- Qatari entrepreneurs to register their risking the ownership. ered by Qatar Development Bank said: “Furthermore, as a part of the terprises and their contribution to tion section where we will have a home-based businesses, and even- Alternatively, they cannot even sell these or get (QDB) and its partners Qatar objectives outlined in our Home- the development of Qatar; and or- consolidated data base for home- tually scale-up from a home-based back the already paid instalments. Chamber and the Ministry of Ad- Based Business National Pro- ganising the process of doing busi- based businesses in Qatar, along business to a start-up and to a medi- The committee would continue its operations ministrative Development, Labour gramme (HBBNP) to promote this ness from the place of residence in with the opportunity for consumers um-sized enterprise,” she added. until all such related issues are completely settled.

Milaha launches shipment tracking app PHCC unveils breast cancer awareness campaign

ilaha, a maritime and lo- Screen For Life’, Qatar’s national screening unit that will off er on-site gistics conglomerate based breast and bowel cancer screen- screening to eligible women aged 45 Min Qatar, has launched a ‘ing programme, led by the Primary years and above. mobile application that allows its Health Care Corporation (PHCC), has “For the second consecutive year, we customers to track their shipments launched a nationwide awareness cam- have launched a major nationwide cam- around the world using a bill of lading paign across the country to mark the paign to mark the global Breast Can- ID or container number. global, annual Breast Cancer Awareness cer Awareness Month movement. This Through the new, free app — ‘Mila- Month initiative. month’s campaign will see us reaching ha NVOCC Tracking’ (iOS, Android) Since the inception of the ‘Screen out to a wide cross-section of Qatar com- — customers will also have access to For Life’ programme in 2016 and un- munity, through numerous mediums with the company’s NVOCC (non-vessel til the end of July 2017, a total of 11,847 the aim of driving home the message that operating common carrier) voyage have undergone a free mammogram and early screening is crucial in the detection schedules, arranged by time or loca- 7,627 men and women have taken part in of cancer and plays a key role in saving tion, and will also be able to provide bowel cancer screening. at one of the programme’s three screen- lives,” said Dr Shaikha Abu Shaikha, can- feedback on the company’s services, With the aim to see numbers increase ing suites. cer programme manager, PHCC. a Nakilat spokesman said. during this campaign, ‘Screen For Life’ To engage with as many people as Dr Abu Shaikha added that titling the Further upgrades to the app are al- will be expanding the screening fa- possible, ‘Screen For Life’ has imple- campaign ‘October means Breast Can- ready underway, and would include cilities at Leabaib and Rawdat Al Khail mented awareness booths in Qatar’s cer Screening’ can encourage as many the ability to make rate requests and health centres to handle increased traf- major malls. The team will off er infor- women as possible to take advantage of shipment bookings directly through fi c. mation and brochures to visitors and a a complimentary mammogram. the app. This month-long drive titled ‘Octo- chance to register their information so “We want people to know we are “Very few NVOCCs and main- dulrahman Essa al-Mannai said. panded into several new shipping ber means Breast Cancer Screening’ is the programme’s call centre will sched- there for them. It is imperative that we line operators have a similar mobile The launch of the “Milaha NVOCC routes and accelerated the deploy- a comprehensive campaign to be rolled ule them for screening. continue raising breast cancer aware- tracking app, which adds a layer of Tracking” app comes as the Milaha ment of new supply chain solutions out across the country’s media, includ- The team will also embark on a far- ness and is important that they take a fl exibility and accessibility for our group continues to enhance its di- across a number of countries. ing TV, radio, print and social media, reaching outreach programme of lec- proactive approach with their help by customers as it complements our ex- verse portfolio of marine and logis- Milaha’s NVOCC services now to raise awareness of the ‘Screen For tures at several governmental and contacting the call centre on 8001112 isting online tracking system,” Naki- tics services. cover 20 ports in the Middle East and Life’ programme across Qatar, and urge non-governmental entities along with and booking a screening at one of our lat president and chief executive Ab- The company has recently ex- the Indian subcontinent. women to undergo a free mammogram the presence of the dedicated mobile facilities,” she added.

Qatar Airways, Rolls-Royce host successful training programme

atar Airways and Rolls- was particularly important to host Ooredoo brings in iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus Royce, one of the airline’s this event in Doha, which enabled Qmajor strategic partners, us to engage with a wide audience hosted a training programme yes- of graduates and share with them oredoo’s iPhone 8 and iPhone terday as part of the airline’s Al the insights from one of our leading 8 Plus launch event at its HQ1 Darb Qatarisation programme, an engineers.” Oon Friday night was described initiative that develops young talent Now in its fi fth year, the Al Darb “a huge success”. Apple in Qatar, and the strong con- to become the future leaders of the Qatarisation programme presents The event, which was open to those nection between the two companies national carrier. young nationals with local and in- who pre-ordered the new iPhone, gave means that customers can enjoy the During the interactive work- ternational career opportunities new device owners the chance to try latest software upgrades and the se- shop, which took place at Oryx through eight diff erent programmes out their phones with other Apple curity of a one-year guarantee for Rotana Doha, the group explored and 35 diff erent majors across the enthusiasts, as well as speak to Oore- iPhones. various engineering activities that airline’s various departments. doo’s iPhone 8 specialists. The new iPhones also have the op- take place at aero-engine manu- The training programme in progress. The tailor-made programme The devices, which are now avail- tion to manually switch on VoLTE, facturer Rolls-Royce and looked at supports, develops and nurtures able in main Ooredoo branches across which provides crystal-clear voice how the company’s latest engine ident - Human Resources Nabeela young talent and equips them with Doha via the eShop, feature a new quality over Ooredoo’s 4G Supernet technologies are generating maxi- Fakhri said: “We are delighted with the skills and knowledge they need glass and aluminium design in three network. mum value and lower operating our ongoing strong strategic part- to succeed in their fi eld of choice in fi nishes — space grey, silver, and a new To enable VoLTE, iPhone users have costs. nership with Rolls-Royce. This the airline. gold; the devices start at just QR2,949. to update their iPhone to the latest iOS The workshop delivered by Rolls- partnership connects our employ- An Arabic word that means ‘The As well as Ooredoo customers, a version (at least iOS 10.3.0), then go Royce professionals was attended ees with some of the world’s best Pathway’, Al Darb highlights the dif- host of Ooredoo employees attended to Settings — Cellular – Cellular Data by national employees as well as a aviation experts, equips them with ferent career paths that individuals the event including Ooredoo COO Option – Enable 4G, and then ‘Voice & wider group of pilots, engineers, the skills and knowledge they need, can take with Qatar Airways. Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi. Data’ should be selected. graduate developees and their and inspires them to become the fu- Through initiatives such as its On top of the new iPhone devices, Full details of the Ooredoo’s plans, coaches. ture leaders of our award-winning Summer Internship programme and the new Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS), pricing, and off ers are available at The session also looked ahead airline.” Graduate Developee programme, Al which includes intelligent coaching www.ooredoo.qa. at the opportunities for the future A Rolls-Royce spokesman said: Darb provides graduates with real- features, water resistance to 50m, a For more information on iPhone, development of engine technology, “This event was a real demonstra- life projects in numerous locations 70% faster dual-core processor, and a visit www.apple.com/iphone. including the availability of new tion of the enduring partnership across the globe that add to their barometric altimeter, is now available Customers can fi nd out prices for Ooredoo COO Yousuf Abdulla al-Kubaisi materials, digital technologies, data between Qatar Airways and Rolls- work experience and prepares them in Ooredoo’s shops and via the eShop. the latest device launches at www. joins other dignitaries at the iPhone 8 launch and analytics. Royce, which is underpinned by for a successful career at Qatar Air- Ooredoo is an offi cial distributor of ooredoo.qa/buy. event. Qatar Airways senior vice-pres- learning and developing together. It ways. Gulf Times 4 Monday, October 2, 2017 QATAR QIC signs up as Porsche club partner

he Qatar Insurance Company (QIC) has signed on to be- come the offi cial partner of Porsche Club Qatar (PCQ). T As the largest fl agship insurer in Qatar and in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, this strategic partnership aligns with QIC’s commitment to support various community engagement activities. Putting corporate social responsibility (CSR) into practice, QIC will engage in all Porsche Club Qatar activities that are scheduled for the 2017- 2018 season. The collaboration included the successful PCQ Tour of Ger- many event, which took place in July in celebration of the Qatar Students taking the Oath of a Pharmacist. Germany Year of Culture 2017 initiative. “We are pleased to partner with PCQ. With this strategic col- laboration we aspire to develop impactful CSR initiatives, ex- change best practice and share winning strategies,” said Salem al- Mannai, the deputy group president and chief executive of QIC Mena. Renewing its focus on corporate sustainability eff orts and so- cial responsibility, QIC would implement a more comprehensive approach towards social goods to cement its position as a leading corporate citizen and have measurable impact on the society and 31 QU students take future generation, he added. PCQ president Khaled al-Remithi said the club is excited to join hands with QIC and to have them as partner. PCQ is part of the wider Porsche Club worldwide network, which aims to bring Porsche owners under one umbrella to cel- ebrate uniqueness, innovation, and commitment towards the community. “The support of QIC to the club demonstrates how both of oath of a pharmacist us share these values and how we will work together to off er our members a unique experience and add-value to our societies,” he he Qatar University Col- fi rst secretary for public and po- (3.75), 3rd year student Aya Mak- coming the pharmacists of the “As a college, we are commit- said. lege of Pharmacy (QU- litical aff airs at the Canadian em- lad (3.79), and 2nd year student future,” Dr Toft added. “We are ted to preparing future health TCPH) held recently the bassy Diana Tan, and pharmacy Soumaya Koraysh (3.97). proud of you and you should be care leaders in an environment 11th annual White Coat Cere- directors as well as CPH partners, Dr Toft, who is also dean of the proud of yourself.” of interdisciplinary education, mony in which 31 new pharmacy students and their families, fac- QU College of Medicine (CMED), Dr Diab said: “Today we are scholarship and service,” Dr Diab students took the Oath of a Phar- ulty, alumni and staff . said: “CPH continues to accom- welcoming the newest class of added. macist, signed the pledge of pro- This year’s batch is the largest plish numerous achievements students and their families to Dr El-Awaisi noted: “Today, fessionalism, and received the class since the inception of the among which its accreditation the 11th annual White Coat Cer- our CPH students are hard work- pharmacist’s White Coat before Pharmacy Programme in 2007. success.” emony.” ers and I am confi dent that in an audience of more than 300 The event also featured the “The college is committed to “The White Coat Ceremony their journey at CPH, they will guests and well-wishers. distribution of Ebn Sina Medical equip its students with high- is a ritual of passage to the Col- be outstanding students and pio- The event was attended by Qa- Scholarship Awards to students quality skills that enable them lege of Pharmacy, welcoming neering graduates who will pro- tar University vice-president for who achieved a high GPA (grade to compete at the international new student pharmacists into vide optimal health care services Medical and Health Sciences Dr point average): PharmD student level,” he said. our professional programme, and in the fi eld of pharmacy. I would Egon Toft, CPH dean Dr Moham- Nawal Bensmail (GPA 3.93), MSc “Today, the new students are helps prepare them for the re- like to confi rm here that once you mad Diab, CPH assistant dean for student Dana El-Khalifa (3.68), entering a new phase in their sponsibilities and privileges that put on your white coat, you will student aff airs Dr Alla El-Awaisi, 4th year student Dima Kawas academic journey towards be- await them,” he said. be QU and CPH ambassadors.” Al-Mannai sealing the partnership deal with al-Remithi.

Participants of Nakilat’s beginner-level Arabic language course. Arabic language courses for Nakilat employees

akilat has recently launched This learning platform also provides various learning and development a beginner-level Arabic lan- a “wonderful opportunity” for wider initiatives within the organisation, as Nguage course titled “Taalam Al exposure and understanding of nu- part of its investment in human capi- Arabia”, in association with Abdullah ances in expressions and cultures of tal. Bin Zid Almahmud Cultural and Is- diff erent Arab nationalities, which is The company off ers a variety of lamic Centre. useful given the diversity of Nakilat’s unique learning opportunities for its Targeted at non-Arabic speaking multinational workforce. employees to enhance and develop employees, the three-month pro- Nakilat explained that the company potentials across its pool of talents gramme aims to equip participants encourages personal and professional towards the creation of a sustainable with basic Arabic conversational skills. development of its employees through workforce.

10-20-30 promotion begins at Safari

afari Group has announced that its 10-20-30 promotional event Swill begin today. The initiative allows customers to shop for a “wide variety of qual- ity products at reasonable rates”, the group has said in a press statement. The promotion takes place simulta- been added to the promotion to meet To “enhance the shopping experi- neously across all Safari retail outlets, the demands of Safari’s “ever-growing ence” with fun and entertainment, namely Safari Mall – Abu Hamour, and valued customers”, and these items musical game shows will be held from Safari Hypermarket – Salwa Road, and are sourced directly from the manu- tomorrow until October 5. Safari Shopping Complex – Umm Salal facturers to get the “most competitive The shows will begin at 6.30pm. Mohamed. pricing”, said Safari Group director and The “Safari Win 20 Toyota Camry More than 1,000 products are part general manager Zainulabideen. “We Cars Promotion” is also under way, of the promotion. have made this possible through direct with the next lucky draw for three cars Products of diff erent kinds have imports from various countries.” scheduled for October 9 at Safari Mall. Gulf Times Monday, October 2, 2017 5 QATAR

Quality Group launches gold promo across local outlets

uality Retail Group has be eligible to get a raffl e coupon each, 20 winners to get 50gm announced the launch in order to enter the mega draw gold each, 20 winners to get Qof its gold promotion to win 2.5kg gold and shopping 20gm gold each and 20 winners today across all its outlets in vouchers. to get 8gm gold each. Qatar. The draws will be held at In addition, 38 winners will The promotion continues Quality Mall, Al Hilal. receive shopping vouchers, until February 3, 2018, the A total of 100 winners will according to the manage- Quality Retail management be declared in two draws, with ment. has said in a press state- the fi rst draw scheduled on Meanwhile, a “buy one ment. December 3 and the second on get one free” promotion will Customers who buy goods February 5, 2018. be held from October 4 to 22 worth QR50 during this period The prizes are as follows: for women’s and children’s at any Quality Retail outlet will two winners to get 500gm gold clothes.

CMU-Q pupils refl ect diversity and commitment to Qatar National Vision Doha Bank officials with one of the latest winners of the bank’s Al Dana Savings Scheme campaign for September 2017.

he Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q) has about 388 students from 35 Tcountries with 44% hailing from Qatar, according to the enrolment numbers released this week. The student body population refl ects both the University student is cultural diversity of the community, as well as a continued commitment to the human develop- ment pillar of the Qatar National Vision. The members of the freshman class of 109 stu- dents are from 20 nations, including the fi rst citi- zen from Moldova and the fi rst female students CMU-Q student population reflects diversity. Al Dana millionaire from China. This is the second largest incoming class in CMU-Q history. The freshman class also als shape Qatar once they graduate and enter the oha Bank has recently The mega QR1mn prize this my Al Dana Savings account, ers by crowning many more includes 48 Qatari nationals, which is the second workforce,” says Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q. held the sixth Al Dana month went to M al-Zamel, you can too.” Exclusively in millionaires during the rest of largest intake since CMU-Q opened its doors in CMU-Q has long proven popular within fami- DMillionaire event at its while the QR100,000 prize August, all Doha Bank custom- the year.” Doha Bank chief retail 2004. “The Carnegie Mellon Qatar community is lies, with several siblings of students or alumni Al Mirqab Branch to draw and was awarded to B Khodier and ers with an Al Dana Savings banking offi cer Gul Khan added: unique: we are remarkably diverse, which creates choosing to study at the campus each year. In a announce the winners of its Al 15 additional winners walked account and Al Dana Young “I would like to extend my sin- a sense of global purpose; at the same, CMU-Q campus record, the Class of 2021 includes 26 stu- Dana Savings Scheme campaign away with QR10,000 each. Savers account got double the cere congratulations to all our has a robust and vibrant Qatari population. We dents whose siblings have also attended Carnegie for September 2017. M al-Thani was named win- chance to win QR1mn for every winners so far this year. Your are excited to see how these young profession- Mellon. The draw, which was also live ner of the Young Savers Schol- QR1,000 in their savings ac- loyalty to Doha Bank paid off streamed on Doha Bank’s social arship prize worth QR25,000 count, while customers who and I would like to remind all our media platforms in the pres- for the Al Dana Young Saver’s kept a minimum balance of customers out there that they Ministry recalls Mercedes Benz SL-Class 2017 model ence of Doha Bank customers, monthly draw. QR25,000 or more by the end of could easily be Al Dana’s new an officer from the Ministry The latest millionaire, a uni- the month got six extra chances millionaire next month.” The Ministry of Economy and The MEC said the recall any violations to its Consumer of Economy and Commerce, versity student, said: “I am to win. More information on Al Dana Commerce (MEC), in collabora- campaign comes within the Protection and Anti-Commercial Quantitative License and Mar- very glad to have won the mil- Doha Bank CEO Dr R account can be had from any tion with Nasser Bin Khaled framework of its ongoing Fraud Department through the ket Control Department, and lionaire draw, as I did not ex- Seetharaman said: “We are Doha Bank branch or send an Automobiles, has announced eff orts to protect consumers following channels: Call centre: the bank’s senior management, pect it! I was shocked when very proud of our popular Al SMS to 92610 with the keyword the recall of Mercedes Benz and ensure that car dealers 16001, e-mail: [email protected], yielded 18 lucky winners, who they called me. If I could win Dana Savings Scheme and we “AL DANA”, or fi ll up a simple SL-Class model of 2017 because follow up on vehicles’ defects Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: walked away with outstanding the QR1mn just by keeping the are looking forward to recog- online application form at www. the wheel wrench may not be and repair them. The MEC has MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for cash prizes. minimum monthly balance in nise the loyalty of our custom- dohabank.com present in the trunk. urged all customers to report Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar Gulf Times 6 Monday, October 2, 2017 REGION/ARAB WORLD Preparations begin for Gaza reconciliation

Reuters partially blockaded by Israel Gaza and Egypt, which cite security concerns for border restric- tions. amas freed five pris- On the eve of the hando- oners belonging to ver, Hamas released five Fa- Hthe rival Fatah party tah security men it jailed two yesterday and Egypt sent years ago for what an Inte- a delegation to the Gaza rior Ministry spokesman de- Strip to oversee the group’s scribed as “actions harmful planned handover of admin- to internal security”. Their istrative control of the Pal- sentences ranged from seven estinian enclave to a unity to 15 years. government. Speaking to reporters, one The West Bank-based Pal- of the freed inmates, Taher estinian prime minister, Rami Abu Armana, thanked Ha- al-Hamdallah, and other of- mas Gaza chief Yehya al-Sin- fi cials of the government war and Mohamed Dahlan, a formed in 2014 are due in Gaza former Fatah security chief in A member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) runs as they take position near the central hospital of Raqqa yesterday. today to run ministries and the enclave, for his release. hold a cabinet meeting the Dahlan, based since 2011 next day. in the United Arab Emirates, Hamas has opted for rec- is behind an infl ux of cash to onciliation with Palestinian prop up Gaza. President Mahmoud Abbas’s “We urge President (Mah- Fatah. moud Abbas) to order the re- “We are determined to... lease of all political prisoners bury the chapter of division so in the West Bank,” Abu Ar- US-backed force tightens that the homeland can be reu- mana said. nited,” Hamdallah said in pub- An offi cial of the Palestin- lic remarks in the West Bank ian Authority, the self-rule city of Ramallah. body headed by Abbas in the One cabinet member, Cul- Israeli-occupied West Bank, ture Minister Ehab Bseisso, said an Egyptian delegation noose on IS-held hospital arrived in Gaza yesterday and comprised of two generals and held a meeting with deputies Cairo’s ambassador to Israel, AFP said Siryani, who said he had and employees after taking up arrived in Gaza to oversee rec- Raqqa Palmyra statue damaged by militants goes on display in Damascus seen militants use children as his post. onciliation eff orts. human shields near the complex. Hamas’ armed wing still It was the fi rst offi cial Egyp- A 2,000-year old statue badly damaged by Islamic In a nearby position, SDF remains the dominant power tian delegation to travel to S-backed fi ghters were State in Palmyra went on display yesterday in Da- fi ghter Mohamed Selmo said he in the territory of 2mn people Gaza since 2012. tightening the noose mascus after being restored. was often tasked with monitor- Uyesterday around Islamic The Lion of Al-Lat statue was one of several ancient ing the hospital overnight and State group militants holed up in monuments damaged by Islamic State at Palmyra, had heard crying children from Raqqa’s national hospital, one of the ancient city in central Syria which the militants inside. the last IS-held positions in the have twice seized from government control during “We are observing and wait- Syrian city. the six-year-long war. The 15-tonne statue was dam- ing for the order to storm the Syria’s deadliest month The Syrian Democratic Forces aged by Islamic State in 2015 during its first spell in hospital. If we see anyone com- have ousted IS from around 90% control of Palmyra. It was moved to Damascus for ing out of it, they die,” the young of the battered northern city but restoration when Syrian government forces recov- The General Directorate of Antiquities and fi ghter said. of year claims 3,000 lives the militants still hold a pocket ered the city with Russian military support in March, Museums in Syria present the statue of the “Once we take the hospital, of central Raqqa. 2016. “It is an exceptional statue, there are no more Lion of Al-Lat, after its restoration at the it’s over. It’s important because Less than 150 metres west such statues in Palmyra,” said Bartosz Markowski, National Museum in Damascus yesterday. there are a lot of IS fi ghters there, AFP rately battling the Islamic of the hospital yesterday, SDF the Polish archaeologist who spent around two but the Americans cannot just Beirut State militant group in the fi ghters manned positions on the months restoring it. Around half the restored statue centimetres high, was discovered at the temple of bomb it.” country. fourth fl oor of a heavily damaged was original, he said. Al-Lat in Palmyra in 1977 by Polish archaeologists. Selmo and other SDF fi ghters The 955 civilians killed in building overlooking the hospi- “It was an internationally known symbol of Palmyra, The statue will be on display at the National Mu- said they had understood coali- yria’s war killed at least September included 207 chil- tal and the no-man’s land below. it was standing in front of the museum. Every tourist seum of Damascus for the foreseeable future but tion warplanes would not target 3,000 people including dren, said the Britain-based Periodically, they fi red heavy visiting Palmyra and the museum had a photo with may eventually be returned to its place in Palmyra, the medical facility because of S955 civilians in Septem- Observatory, which relies on a machineguns at the massive it,” he said. The restoration was funded by the UN Mahmoud Hammoud, the director of Syrian antiqui- the presence of civilians. ber, the deadliest month of the wide network of sources inside complex then monitored care- cultural agency Unesco. The statue, which is 345 ties, said. The US-led coalition has said confl ict this year, the Syrian Syria for its information. fully to identify the source of the that it and the SDF are aware of Observatory for Human Rights “More than 70% of the ci- returning fi re. reports that civilians inside are monitor said yesterday. vilians were killed in regime “We’re at the end of Raqqa. “One of our comrades was hit rocket and mortar fi re through- The command posts were in being used as human shields. Hundreds of thousands of and Russian air strikes, or in There are two positions left: the by a sniper in his leg. We were out the day yesterday, and sever- constant co-ordination through Raqqa was the fi rst city to fall Syrians have been killed and air raids of the international stadium and the few surround- able to identify where the shot al air strikes by US-led coalition a network of walkie-talkies. out of Syrian government hands millions displaced since the coalition” fi ghting IS, the ing buildings, and the national came from and shoot him down,” warplanes could be heard across The SDF’s goal, its fi ghters after the uprising against Presi- war erupted in 2011 with the monitor’s head Rami Abdel hospital,” said Amjad Siryani, a the gangly fi ghter said. the city. said, was to isolate the IS-held dent Bashar al-Assad broke out brutal repression of anti-gov- Rahman said. local commander with the SDF’s That successful shot elicited The US-backed fi ghters are hospital from the stadium to the in 2011. ernment protests. Backed by Russian air Syriac Military Council. animated whoops from his fel- positioned around the hospital northwest, but they have yet to It fi rst fell into rebels but IS It has since spiralled into strikes, the forces of Syria’s Siryani, 28, said his position low militiamen, who had hung in several multiple-storey build- break into either position. militants seized it in early 2014, a complex confl ict involving President Bashar al-Assad are was around 120 metres from the IS’ black notorious fl ag in their ings, many of them hollowed- “The reason we haven’t transforming it into the de facto world powers, with Russia- pressing a battle to retake IS- hospital where IS snipers, too, position as a trophy. out concrete carcasses of apart- stormed the hospital yet is be- Syrian capital of their so-called backed regime forces and a controlled areas in the eastern were watching. SDF fi ghters and IS exchanged ment complexes. cause there are civilians there,” caliphate. US-supported alliance sepa- province of Deir Ezzor.

CONFLICT UN says Libya rivals Yemen rebels claim drone shot down made progress in Tunis talks AFP Sanaa Representatives of Libya’s rival authorities have made progress on amending a deal on a political emen’s Houthi rebels, who transition for the North African are locked in a deadly war country, the special UN envoy Ywith the Saudi-supported said yesterday. UN envoy Ghassan government, yesterday said they Salame opened new talks in Tu- had downed a drone on the north- nisia between the rival Libyan ad- ern outskirts of the country’s capi- ministrations on Tuesday, less than tal. a week after presenting a plan Houthi-run media said the rebel to end the chaos in the conflict- camp’s anti-aircraft defence had wracked country. Years of political brought down an MQ-9 Reaper, an turmoil since the 2011 overthrow unmanned aerial vehicle which is of long-time dictator Muammar produced by the United States. Gaddafi have left Libya divided No casualties were reported. between rival governments and Neither Saudi Arabia nor the People gather at the site of the wreckage of a drone aircraft which the beset by violence as militia forces United States had yet responded to Houthi rebels claimed to have downed in Sanaa, yesterday. battle for power. A UN-backed the report. agreement was reached in 2015 An AFP photographer at the scene manitarian crises, with poverty and alition joined the war the following as the basis for a political process said dozens of residents rushed to port blockades compounding the year in a bid to curb the reach of the in Libya, and a unity government examine the debris from a burning deadly violence between the Saudi- Saleh-Houthi alliance. was formed with Fayez al-Sarraj as aircraft at the northern entrance to backed government and an alliance More than 8,500 people have prime minister. The Government the capital Sanaa, which is control- joining the Houthis and Saleh. since been killed and nearly 49,000 of National Accord (GNA) took led by the Houthis and their ally For decades sworn enemies of wounded in the confl ict, according off ice in Tripoli in March 2016, and former president Ali Abdullah Saleh. Saleh, who ruled Yemen from its to the World Health Organisation. since then has extended its influ- The aircraft had no discern- unifi cation in 1990 until 2012, The MQ-9 Reaper, with a 20-me- ence beyond the capital. But it has ible fl ag, but the Houthi-controlled the Houthis joined ranks with the tre wingspan and a maximum pay- struggled to impose its authority SABA news agency said the drone strongman in 2014 and forced out load of more than 1,800 kilograms, elsewhere, particularly in the far had been US-operated. the government of Abd-Rabbu can carry a range of weapons in- east where military strongman Yemen’s years-long war has pro- Mansour Hadi, Saleh’s successor. cluding missiles and laser-guided Khalifa Haftar controls much of duced one of the world’s worst hu- Saudi Arabia and its allies in a co- bombs. the territory and supports a rival parliament. “After a week of joint work, we REFUGEES have reached consensus on a Tunisia rescues 140 migrants off its southeast coast number of important issues that need to be amended so that The Tunisian navy rescued 98 Tunisians fleeing to Europe seek work. Tunisia arrested about 550 Tunisian and African this agreement corresponds to when their boat started to sink off Kerkenah on the south- migrants trying to sail to Europe in September, against only developments in the situation in east coast late on Saturday, the national guard said. 170 in August, off icial data showed on Thursday. Human traf- Libya,” Salame said yesterday of Separately, the army said it had arrested 43 illegal migrants fickers increasingly use Tunisia as a launch pad for migrants the 2015 deal. He told reporters rescued from four boats off Zarzis, also on the southeast heading for Europe as Libya’s coast guard, aided by armed in Gammarth, on the outskirts of coast. Tunisia has been praised for its democratic progress groups, has tightened controls. “The water leaked to a boat the Tunisian capital, that the two after a 2011 uprising against autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali carrying 98 migrants, when it was sinking, but the naval sides would meet again in a week but successive governments have failed to create jobs for guard rescued them off the coast of Kerkenah,” Colonel to continue examining “points that young people, some of whom head illegally to Europe to Major Khelifa Chibani of Tunisia’s national guard said. are still outstanding”. Gulf Times Monday, October 2, 2017 7 AFRICA Madagascar plague kills 24, triggering WHO fears

AFP Mahafaly Solonandrasana said year since 1980, often sparked by the world in the past before being The first death this year oc- while visiting the island for a The government said one girl Antananarivo no public meetings or demon- rats fl eeing forest fi res. largely wiped out. curred on August 28 when a sports event. among the dead had apparently strations would be allowed in the The current outbreak was un- “WHO is concerned that passenger died in a public taxi Plague can be cured with anti- been involved in a ceremony re- capital Antananarivo, which has usual as it had aff ected large ur- plague could spread further be- en route to a town on the east biotics but can be fatal within 24 trieving the bodies of deceased he World Health Organi- seen six deaths in recent days. ban areas, increasing the risk of cause it is already present in sev- coast. hours if it aff ects the lungs. family members, rewrapping sation said yesterday it “At airports and bus stations, transmission, the WHO warned. eral cities and this is the start of Two others who came into On Saturday, the health min- their remains and dancing with Twas boosting its response measures will be taken for pas- The outbreak is a mix of bu- the epidemic season,” Charlotte contact with the passenger also istry said the death toll had risen the corpses. to a plague outbreak in Mada- sengers to avoid panic and to bonic plague, which spreads by Ndiaye, WHO representative in died. to 24 from 19 on Thursday, with WHO has released $300,000 gascar that has killed 24 people, control the disease,” he added infected rats via fl ea bites, and Madagascar, said in a statement Offi cials are trying to identify more than 100 infected. in emergency funds, as well as as the government banned public after an emergency meeting with pneumonic plague spread per- yesterday. people who came into contact The recurrent outbreaks in extra supplies of antibiotics and meetings to reduce infections. the UN health agency. son-to-person. “Our teams are on the ground with a basketball coach from the Madagascar have been attributed protective equipment. In a televised address on Sat- Madagascar has suff ered The highly infectious disease in Madagascar providing techni- Seychelles who died of plague to poor hygiene and insuffi cient It appealed for $1.5mn to fund urday, Prime Minister Olivier plague outbreaks almost every killed millions of people across cal guidance.” in Antananarivo on Wednesday healthcare. the emergency response. 7 shot dead in Cameroon Anglophone demonstration

Reuters ing to do the same at the local chief’s One protester was killed on the Buea/Bameda, Cameroon palace. edge of Buea as security forces at- Police and army offi cials were not tempted to block pro-independence immediately available to comment marchers from entering the city, oldiers shot dead at least seven on the shootings. three witnesses said. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari reviews troops in Maiduguri yesterday. people and wounded others in “We won’t use violence unless there Hundreds nevertheless slipped SCameroon’s restless English- is major cause. There are numerous through the countryside to get speaking regions yesterday during risks, even terrorist risks. We’re keep- around the blockade and into the protests by activists calling for its ing calm,” a security source, who de- city, where security forces used tear- independence from the majority clined to be identifi ed because he was gas to try to stop them from march- Buhari says will not allow state to Francophone nation, an offi cial and not authorised to speak to journalists, ing on the regional governor’s offi ce. witnesses said. said earlier in the day. A Reuters witness also heard gun- The demonstrations — timed to Writing on his offi cial Facebook fi re, though it was not clear whether take place on the anniversary of An- account, President Biya condemned the shots were targeting protesters or be dismembered by secessionists glophone Cameroon’s independence acts of violence “regardless of their being fi red in the air. from Britain — came as a months-old source and their perpetrators”. “I now know that the Biya regime movement against perceived margin- “Let me make this very clear: it is has been raising an army all these Reuters “Highly irresponsible groups” were which last year cut the Opec member’s alisation by the Francophone-domi- not forbidden to voice any concerns years to fi ght its own people,” said Abuja calling for the “dismemberment of crude production by over a third. nated government gathered pace. in the Republic. However, nothing one Buea resident, who asked not to the country,” Buhari said in a televised “We intend to address genuine griev- The protests, which began late last great can be achieved by using verbal be identifi ed out of fear of reprisal. speech to mark the anniversary of Ni- ances of the communities. Government year, have become a lightning rod for excesses, street violence, and defy- “The military, which is supposed igeria’s President Muhammadu geria’s independence. is grateful to the responsible leadership opposition to President Paul Biya’s ing authority,” he said. to protect lives and property, has Buhari said yesterday he would “We cannot and we will not allow of those communities and will pursue 35-year rule. Authorities had banned all gath- turned into our greatest nightmare.” Nnot allow the country to be dis- such advocacy.” lasting peace in the Niger Delta,” said Donatus Njong Fonyuy, mayor of erings of more than four people, In Bamenda, where a bomb attack membered as it faces calls for secession His comments come against the Buhari, a former military ruler. the town of Kumbo, said fi ve prison- ordered bus stations, eateries and blamed on separatists wounded three in a region formerly known as Biafra and backdrop of a military deployment to The broadcast was aired yesterday ers were killed at around 6am after shops to shut and forbade move- policemen last week, young men the Niger Delta oil hub along with a sep- the southeast and a crackdown on the shortly before the presidency said Bu- the jail where they were being held ment between diff erent parts of the brandishing improvised secession- aratist insurgency by Boko Haram. region’s best known secessionist group, hari was travelling to the northeastern caught fi re. English-speaking regions ahead of ist fl ags clashed with security forces Nigeria is Africa’s most populous the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), city of Maiduguri, epicentre of the Is- “We don’t know what caused the the protests. who attempted to disperse them with nation and has the continent’s largest which was last month labelled a terrorist lamist militant Boko Haram insurgency, fi re in the prison...But fi ve prison- The government also ordered teargas. economy but it has struggled for unity organisation. to celebrate the independence anniver- ers were killed by soldiers. Two were Cameroon’s border with Nigeria Communications Minister Issa among its 180mn inhabitants who in- The group’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has sary with soldiers fi ghting Boko Haram. wounded by bullets and are at the closed for the weekend. Tchiroma Bakary yesterday threat- clude Christians and Muslims. not been seen since September 14 when The extremist group is seeking a sep- hospital,” he told Reuters, adding Businesses were shuttered in ened to shut any media outlets giv- Its 250 diff erent ethnic groups mostly IPOB says his home was raided by sol- arate state in the northeast adhering to a that another two civilians were also the regions’ main cities, Buea and ing a voice to separatists, saying they co-exist peacefully. diers. strict interpretation of Islamic law. injured. Bamenda, where military helicopters “must not encourage those who ad- In the last few months calls for a sep- The military on Friday said it did not More than 20,000 people have been In other incidents in Kumbo, sol- circled overhead. vocate division, who want to destroy arate southeastern state known as Biafra raid Kanu’s home and was not holding killed in the insurgency since 2009 and diers shot and wounded two dem- The security deployment included and destabilise our country”. have grown louder, evoking memories of the IPOB leader. at least 10.7mn people in the northeast onstrators around midday who had troops from the Cameroonian army’s Cameroon’s divide has its roots a confl ict there that killed around 1mn Buhari also said the government con- need some form of assistance, accord- raised the blue and white fl ag of the Rapid Intervention Brigade, a unit in the end of World War I, when the people in the 1960s. Militants in the tinued to hold talks with communities ing to the United Nations which says it Ambazonia separatist movement in that typically fi ghts Islamist Boko League of Nations divided the former restive southern Niger Delta have also in the Niger Delta to maintain a ceasefi re is one of the world’s worst humanitarian the town. Haram militants in the country’s German colony of Kamerun between called for independence in the last year. which halted attacks on oil installations crises. Another was killed later attempt- north. the allied French and British victors. Ghana wakes up and smells home-grown coff ee

By Stacey Knott, AFP But a government scheme He is disdainful of the jars and Leklebi Fiape, Ghana launched in 2011 to revive the sec- single-serving sachets of instant tor has transformed production coff ee granules found on sale in and marketing of Ghanaian coff ee. supermarkets and shops. ike many people around the It led to 2,400 hectares of new “It doesn’t taste like coff ee,” he world, 80-year-old Kofi and revitalised coff ee planta- says fi rmly. LAfadi can’t start his morn- tions, with farmers attracted by For now he gets his coff ee from ing without a cup of coff ee. the introduction of fair prices for neighbouring farms, including “Every morning when I take the crop. the one run by nursery manager coff ee I feel happy and go about Owusu-Manu said the impact George Klu. my day,” the farmer told AFP in of the scheme is easy to overlook But Afadi is in the process of his village in the green hills be- because much of Ghana’s coff ee planting 900 seedlings that the tween Lake Volta in Ghana and is sold in West Africa and does government gave him for free. the border with Togo. not appear in offi cial export sta- He expects to harvest his fi rst “When there is no coff ee it tistics. crop in four years’ time when he seems I am the most miserable The beans that stay in Ghana hopes global demand will only be person around here,” he said. are sold to local roasters, who higher. In common with many of his must compete in a market where The International Coff ee Or- fellow coff ee farmers, Afadi, most coff ee is imported. ganization reports that global whose dark hair and moustache Owusu-Manu now wants to annual coff ee consumption has are speckled white, also grows connect local cafes popping up in grown an average of 1.3 % every cocoa — Ghana’s biggest crop. Accra with local sellers. year since 2012. The country is the second Afadi hopes government sup- Klu, 60, has two coff ee farms largest cocoa exporter in the port and a planned coff ee farm- and runs the nursery that pro- world behind neighbouring Ivory ers’ association will help them duces the coff ee seedlings for the Coast. to wean locals off imports and government programme. Production of coff ee, which establish Ghanaian beans in the He also hopes that coff ee will was introduced to Ghana at the home market. be a silver bullet to Ghana’s bur- same time in the 18th century, Ghanaian coff ee is a matter of geoning youth unemployment. trails in comparison. heritage and personal pride for “Our youth are trying to be re- But it has rebounded in recent the country’s farmers. luctant about farming,” he said, years, thanks to a growing over- Afadi’s coff ee farm in Leklebi cutting back weeds with a ma- seas demand and a blossoming Fiape, some 200km northeast of chete. domestic market that is giving the coastal capital, Accra, is on “But I may say it is just not farmers hope of growing a major the same plot where his father wise for them to do so because cash crop. grew coff ee in the 1920s. farming is a lucrative business.” A collapse in the price of cof- As a child, he remembers Local coff ee retailers such as Eighty-year-old Ghanaian farmer Kofi Afadi poses on his coffee farm in the village of Leklebi Agbesia in the Volta Region of Ghana. fee in the 1980s caused many watching his father roast and Kawa Mako may be part of the Ghanaian farmers to abandon grind his own beans, transform- solution to boosting the local mind and proudly makes lattes, Asare said he has seen coff ee Caff e and Canada’s Second Cup across the country. We want peo- the crop, according to Michael ing them into a rich black brew — market. espressos, and Americanos with consumption grow across Ghana, have set up shop in Accra. ple to know that coff ee from Af- Owusu-Manu, a researcher at just like the ones he enjoys every The small coff ee shop he runs beans from Volta Region farms. especially as international chains “We want to export, to put rica, from Ghana, is a high qual- Ghana’s Cocoa Board. day. was set up with local farmers in Manager Prince Twumasi such as South Africa’s Vida e our products in shops and malls ity,” said Asare. Gulf Times 8 Monday, October 2, 2017 AMERICAS Five hurt in ‘act of terror’ in Canada

Reuters Police found a fl ag of the Is- ties were working with local po- a checkpoint identifi ed a man university student was charged Edmonton lamic State (IS) militant group lice. driving a U-Haul vehicle as the with murder after six people were inside the car that struck the “While the investigation con- car’s owner. shot and killed inside a Quebec traffi c offi cer, Canadian broad- tinues, early reports indicate The suspect fl ed and inten- City mosque, in what Trudeau anadian police arrested a casters CBC and CTV reported. that this is another example of tionally hit pedestrians on a called “a terrorist attack”. suspect in violent, Sat- US national security agencies the hate that we must remain crowded downtown street as po- In August 2016, Canadian po- Curday night attacks in are looking into the case and have ever vigilant against,” he said in a lice pursued him, sending at least lice raided an Ontario home and Edmonton that injured a traffi c yet to determine whether the at- statement. four people to the hospital with killed Aaron Driver, who they offi cer and four others, describ- tacker was working with others, Canadian Public Safety Min- injuries, Knecht said. said was an Islamic State sup- ing the incidents as “acts of ter- including Islamic State, or if he ister Ralph Goodale tweeted that Police arrested the suspect af- porter preparing an attack on a rorism”. was a “lone wolf”, a US offi cial the country “will not be intimi- ter the vehicle fl ipped over dur- Canadian city with a homemade A man struck an offi cer direct- told Reuters. dated by terrorist violence”. ing the pursuit. bomb. ing traffi c outside a football sta- Victims were taken to the hos- Its terror threat level remained “We ask that our citizens re- In 2014, Canada was stunned dium with his vehicle, stabbed pital for treatment, and the of- at medium, where it has been main vigilant and observant of by two deadly attacks that the him and fl ed. fi cer’s condition was not critical, since late 2014. their surroundings, and contact police said were the work of Police arrested a suspect sev- Knecht said. Police said the suspect, be- police should they notice any homegrown radicals and led eral hours later after a car chase Details on the condition of the lieved to be aged 30, crashed the other unusual activities around to tougher new anti-terrorism in which four pedestrians were other victims were not immedi- car through a barricade and hit the city,” they said in the state- measures. hit. ately available. the offi cer about 8.15pm local ment. A gunman killed a soldier at Authorities believe the man Police released a graphic video time, sending him fl ying 15 feet Canada has not experienced Ottawa’s national war memorial acted alone, although they have that showed the attack on the of- into the air and against a police as much violence from extrem- before launching an attack on the not ruled out the possibility that fi cer, and they asked the public cruiser. ist attacks as the United States Canadian Parliament in October others were involved, Edmonton to call with any information that The suspect then jumped out and Western European nations, 2014. Police Service Chief Rod Knecht would help them with the case. of the car, stabbed the offi cer and but there have been a number of In the same week, a man ran A rental truck lies on its side in Edmonton yesterday after a high said at a news conference yester- Canadian Prime Minister Jus- fl ed on foot. deadly incidents in recent years. down two soldiers in Quebec, speed chase. day morning. tin Trudeau said federal authori- Later that evening, police at In January, a French-Canadian killing one.

Washington protesters demand Trump: Govt racial justice amid NFL protests AFP Washington

everal thousand demon- strators turned out on Sat- Surday in Washington to de- doing great job mand racial justice in the United States, days after National Foot- ball League (NFL) players across the country defi ed President Donald Trump by taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality. It comes as the country is ex- in Puerto Rico periencing a period of height- ened racial tensions as white Reuters supremacist groups have come San Juan increasingly to the fore, culmi- nating in the death of a liberal protester in August. S President Donald An opinion poll published by Trump insisted yester- CBS News on Friday highlighted Protesters take a knee near the Trump Hotel as they take part in the Uday that his government growing polarisation: 52% of march for racial justice in Washington, DC. was doing a “great job” to help Americans disapprove of ath- Puerto Rico recover from Hur- letes staging protests during the of Trump. The only way that he fuelled suggestions the US jus- ricane Maria and took a new national anthem – but they also can see anything is for you to be tice system disfavours the Afri- swipe at critics who said he do not like President Donald in his face – Trump and any poli- can-American community. had been slow to aid the island, Trump’s handling of the issue. tician who doesn’t understand On September 12, the US Jus- whose power grid was destroyed “We have a criminal justice white privilege,” a protester tice Department announced that 12 days ago. system that keeps black people named Jenny, 44, told AFP. it would not bring federal charges The Republican president has and brown people in servitude in The demonstration was timed against six police offi cers in Bal- intensifi ed his praise of federal perpetuity,” 46-year-old Mau- to commemorate the anniversary timore as part of an investigation response eff orts in the US ter- rice Cook, who helped organise of the Elaine Massacre of 1919 in into the death of black teenager ritory after the mayor of the the “March For Racial Justice”, Arkansas, the most deadly racial Freddie Gray, who was fatally in- capital rebuked the eff orts and told AFP. confl ict in the US. jured in a police van in 2015. American media continued to A separate “March for Black Between 100 and 240 black Meanwhile on September 15, broadcast images of the havoc Women” joined the protest at its people were killed in riots after a judge in St Louis, Missouri, and suff ering on the island. Lincoln Park starting point, with a group of black farmers tried to acquitted a white police offi cer San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin black and indigenous women create a union – but only black accused of fatally shooting An- Cruz, who lost her house in the leading the way to the Capitol. people involved faced criminal thony Lamar Smith, a black man, storm and has been attacked by “Part of this is that it is taking proceedings. following a 2011 police chase – Trump on Twitter, said yester- place on the Capitol, and in front Several recent cases have leading to violent protests. day that she is willing to meet him when he visits the island to- morrow. “If he asks to meet with me, of course I will meet him.” Coff ins that were washed downhill from the Lares municipal cemetery by a landslide are seen in the Hurricane Maria pummeled aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Lares, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico on September 20 Colombia and ELN Violence on the heels of an earlier hurri- Trump, however, lashed out Secretary Steve Mnuchin both on CBS’ Face the Nation pro- cane, with roof-ripping winds again at San Juan’s mayor in a said yesterday that Cruz’s criti- gramme. and torrential rains that caused pair of Twitter posts. cism was unfair. The insurance industry has rebels start ceasefi re at budget widespread fl ooding and heav- “We have done a great job Mulvaney said he hoped the begun to tally the damage from ily damaged homes, roads and with the almost impossible sit- mayor would get on the team “as Hurricane Maria, with one other infrastructure. uation in Puerto Rico. Outside we all pull the same direction”. modeling company estimating Reuters Reuters in a recent interview. protest About half of the island’s of the fake news or politically- Cruz, who has been living in that claims could reach $85bn. Bogota “Our mission to pursue crime 3.4mn people do not have access motivated ingrates,” he said. a shelter, pressed on with her Trump was accused last will be maintained throughout to drinking water, and 95% re- “People are now starting to rec- appeal for basic necessities as weekend of giving short-shrift the nation without exception.” AFP main without power, according ognise the amazing work that insurers and politicians began to Puerto Rico’s recovery while olombia and the Marx- Despite the ceasefi re, the Port-au-Prince to the Pentagon. has been done by FEMA and our to tally the costs of the storm focusing on the National Foot- ist ELN rebels began road to a defi nitive peace ac- Impassable roads have made great military.” and the size of the aid package ball League players who knelt Ca ceasefi re yesterday, cord will be long and complex. it hard for the Federal Emergen- The Trump administration Puerto Rico will need. during the playing of the na- aimed at generating goodwill The ELN is considered hard- emonstrators in Haiti cy Management Agency (FEMA) has been on the defensive since “Let us not talk about the tional anthem at games. during complicated talks to line in its ideology and was not took to the streets of and others to distribute food, Friday when Cruz pounded debt, let us not talk about the He issued his latest attack on end a half-century war that known for compromise during DPort-au-Prince on Sat- water and fuel. the acting Homeland Security cost of reconstruction. Let us San Juan’s mayor from the New has killed hundreds of thou- past attempts at peace. urday for an opposition-backed Carmen Miranda, 60, of Lu- Secretary Elaine Duke over her just talk about saving lives right Jersey golf resort where he spent sands. Inspired by the Cuban revo- protest against the government quillo, is among those who have comment that the federal re- now,” Cruz said yesterday on the weekend. The truce, the fi rst with lution and the Liberation The- budget, which many believe faced long lines for gasoline, sponse in Puerto Rico was “a ABC’s This Week programme. The creator of Broadway hit the National Liberation Army ology beliefs of the Catholic hurts the nation’s poorest. medicine and supplies. good news story”. Trump has alluded to the is- Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Mi- (ELN), will run through Janu- priests who founded it in 1964, The unpopular budget, re- She spent 13 hours one day Trump accused the mayor of land’s fi nancial problems several randa, whose parents moved ary 9 and may be extended if it the 2,000-strong ELN has leased in July, came into eff ect trying to buy fuel at a station acting on behalf of Democrats. times since Maria hit. to New York from Puerto Rico, is respected. sought an end to the war be- yesterday, October 1, with oppo- that ran dry and was in line on Yesterday his representatives Puerto Rico fi led the biggest took Trump to task on Twitter “This is a very important fore, holding talks in Cuba and nents of President Jovenel Moses Saturday at a store that ran out fanned out over the morning bankruptcy in US municipal over his attack on Cruz: “She step, a step that I hope will be Venezuela between 2002 and concerned that poorer families of diesel. television news shows to chas- history this year and is strug- has been working 24/7. You have the fi rst in a process that will 2007. will suff er tax increases. “I’m going to have to come tise the tenacious Cruz. gling to regain economic stabil- been GOLFING. You’re going also lead the ELN to hand in Both attempts collapsed After three hours, violence back another day,” she said. “It’s FEMA director Brock Long ity in the face of a $72bn debt straight to hell.” their weapons,” President Juan with little progress. erupted on the sidelines of the just horrible, those lines. That admonished her for not being load and near-insolvent public Conservative commenta- Manuel Santos said ahead of The ELN is considered a peaceful procession of around needs to be resolved immedi- in closer contact with relief co- health and pension systems. tor Eric Erickson said he had the armistice. terrorist group by the United 2,000 people as it arrived in the ately. President Trump, anyone, ordinators. US Senator Marco Rubio, a planned to defend the Puerto The ELN is in talks in Ecua- States and European Union for affl uent area of Petionville. help us.” “The problem is, if you’re not Republican, urged an end to the Rico recovery eff orts until the dor to end its part in the con- engaging in kidnapping, assas- Protesters dispersed from the At a press briefi ng in San connected into that joint fi eld political fi nger-pointing. president attacked Cruz. fl ict. sinations, drug traffi cking, at- march – the latest in a series of Juan, the capital, Puerto Rico offi ce, then you don’t under- “Every minute we spend in “Yay, President Trump Since negotiations began tacks on economic infrastruc- demonstrations this month – Governor Ricardo Rossello re- stand commanders’ intent,” he the political realm bickering punched a critic – a critic who in February, the ELN has con- ture, and extortion of oil and breaking shop windows and tar- ported some progress in getting told ABC. “You don’t under- with one another over who’s is on an island trying her best to tinued to take hostages for mining multinationals. geting vehicles and media cover- to people who needed help but stand the successes of what has doing what, or who’s wrong, or help others where most of the ransom and in recent weeks During the ceasefi re, the in- ing the event with stones. acknowledged that problems been done versus what needs to who didn’t do right is a minute people now have no homes, no stepped up bomb attacks on oil surgent group has pledged to Some demanding the removal remained. be done, where the gaps are.” of energy and time that we’re power, and no running water. companies. suspend hostage-taking, at- of Moses said the issue had gone “We still need to do much Trump’s budget director, not spending trying to get the What a man he is!” he wrote on Defence Minister Luis Car- tacks on roads and oil instal- past the point of no return. more,” he said. Mick Mulvaney, and Treasury response right,” the senator said Saturday. los Villegas warned that, al- lations, the use of landmines, “We need someone in power though Colombia’s military and the recruitment of minors. who can help the poorest people would avoid confrontations In turn, the government to survive, not once again favour OJ Simpson freed from jail on parole The Disaster Artist wins top film prize with the ELN during the cease- agreed to improve protection the richest,” protester Rene Sa- fi re, it would go after the group for community leaders and non Fils, parading on Saturday Disgraced American football star OJ Simpson, whose racially-charged James Franco’s The Disaster Artist has won the San Sebastian if it engaged in criminal activi- conditions for about 450 jailed by motorcycle, told AFP. “If to- 1995 murder trial riveted the nation, was released from jail on parole International Film Festival’s top prize, the Golden Shell. The film, ties such as illegal mining and rebels. day Jovenel refuses to listen to early yesterday after nine years behind bars for armed robbery. starring and directed by the 39-year-old American chronicles the drug traffi cking. Santos’s government signed reason, we will take our chal- Simpson, 70, left the Lovelock Correctional Centre in the western state making of the notorious 2003 cult film The Room. “We’ll respect the cease- a peace deal with the larger lenge to another level. Notice to of Nevada just after midnight, prison spokesperson Brooke Keast said. Created by enigmatic filmmaker Tommy Wiseau, The Room is fi re in the sense that we won’t Revolutionary Armed Forces of everyone for the coming week: Simpson was granted parole at a hearing in July and his earliest described by many critics as one of the worst films ever made. confront the ELN, looking for Colombia (FARC) in 2016 after sharpen your machetes, we release date was set for October 1, but he had widely been expected to At the event in Spain, Argentinian director Anahi Berneri became the contact and combat. We hope negotiations in Havana, Cuba will tear off those that are only be freed no earlier than today. first woman to win the Silver Shell for best director for her film Alanis. they do the same,” Villegas told that lasted four years. weeds.” Gulf Times Monday, October 2, 2017 9 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Cambodian party faces threat of being dissolved

Reuters arrest of Kem Sokha on Septem- 1970s but disaff ection has grown selves from this criminal act by Eysan denied any suggestion that drop Kem Sokha as its leader al- split.It won no seats in Cambo- Phnom Penh ber 3 has brought condemnation and the opposition increased its claiming that it’s only the crimi- the CPP had encouraged Funcin- though he has not yet been tried dia’s parliament in the last elec- from Western countries while his share of the vote in June local nal act of an individual, Kem pec and another small party to fi le on the accusations of plotting tion in 2013. Cambodia National Reconstruc- elections. Sokha,” the statement said. lawsuits. “It’s their right to fi le with US support. The opposition King Norodom Sihamoni, royalist political party tion Party (CNRP) says it is a ploy The royalist Funcinpec party One of Kem Sokha’s deputies, lawsuits,” he said. “If the leader of has dismissed the evidence pre- Prince Norodom’s half-brother, aligned with Cambo- by Hun Sen to win an election said in a statement it would re- Mu Sochua, accused the ruling the CNRP is guilty of crimes, the sented against him as nonsense. has show no desire for involve- Adian Prime Minister Hun next year and keep his three-dec- quest that the Supreme Court Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) party is dissolved, there wouldn’t Funcinpec, led by Prince Noro- ment in party politics in the con- Sen said yesterday it was fi ling ade hold on power. dissolve the CNRP on the of standing behind the move. need to be any lawsuits from any- dom Ranariddh, was once one of stitutional monarchy. Their late a lawsuit to demand the disso- Cambodia has been trans- grounds that it had violated po- “This is most dangerous for one.” Cambodia’s biggest parties and father, King Norodom Sihanouk, lution of Cambodia’s main op- formed under Hun Sen’s rule litical party laws because of Kem democracy,” she told Reuters. The government had previ- won the fi rst multiparty election was a wily political operator position party after its leader from a failed state after a geno- Sokha’s acts. “This is a strategy to intimidate ously said the opposition party in 1993. But it was outmaneu- over decades both on and off the was charged with treason. The cide by the Khmer Rouge in the “They can’t distance them- us.” Ruling party spokesman Sok would be dissolved if it did not vered by Hun Sen and eventually throne. Protest rally Negotiating with N Korea marks China waste of time, says Trump national day

AFP on a “suicide mission.” Kim responded by Washington calling Trump a “mentally deranged do- in Hong Kong tard.” His administration has also been at the forefront of a drive to impose a series of S President Donald Trump said sanctions against North Korea in response AFP University student Vince Ho, negotiating with North Korea over to its sixth nuclear test — the largest yet — Hong Kong 21, said the authorities’ hard- Uits nuclear programme would be a and the fi ring of two missiles over Japan. line approach was likely to waste of time yesterday after it emerged Uneasy over Trump’s bellicose tone, spur others into action. that Washington had channels of contact China and Russia have both appealed to housands of people “I think it would even en- with Pyongyang. the US to have talks with North Korea, and took to the streets of courage more people to come Only hours after his Secretary of State Tillerson’s revelation was welcomed yes- THong Kong yesterday out to redress the injustice,” Rex Tillerson revealed that US offi cials terday by Germany. to mark China’s national day she said. were in touch with North Korean counter- “This is exactly the right course and a with a pro-democracy rally Tens of thousands joined parts, Trump undercut his top diplomat by courageous step,” German Foreign Min- and voice growing fears that the Umbrella Movement declaring on Twitter that any talks would ister Sigmar Gabriel said in a statement. the city’s liberties are under which started in September, be futile. “I told Rex Tillerson, our won- “North Korea would be well advised to take threat from Beijing. 2014 to call for fully free lead- derful Secretary of State, that he is wast- this off er of talks seriously.” The protest which was ership elections in the city, but ing his time trying to negotiate with Little Gabriel also urged the US to have dia- dubbed an “anti-authori- failed to convince the govern- Rocket Man,” he said, referring to North logue with Iran over a nuclear accord which tarian rally” also comes after ment to make concessions Korean leader Kim Jong-un. “Save your Trump appears on the verge of scrapping, recent arrests of prominent over political reform. energy Rex, we’ll do what has to be done!” Donald Trump Kim Jong-un adding that such a move “would under- pro-democracy activists, in- The face of the Umbrella Speaking on Saturday after talks with mine the credibility of the off er to North cluding a former lawmaker, Movement Joshua Wong, China’s President Xi Jinping, Tillerson said jing: “We are probing, so stay tuned.” no indication that they are interested in or Korea.” have renewed anti-China sen- former lawmaker Nathan Law that US offi cials had “two or three” chan- “We have lines of communication with are ready for talks regarding denuclearisa- Trump has previously kept the door timent. and fellow protest leader Alex nels of communication with North Korea Pyongyang. We’re not in a dark situation, a tion.” open to possible talks with North Korea. A number of other activists, Chow were sent to prison in despite an escalating war of words between blackout, we have a couple, three channels In a recent speech at the United Nations In a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister including founding members August for their leading role in their respective leaders. open to Pyongyang.” “We can talk to them, General Assembly, Trump threatened to Shinzo Abe and South Korean President of mass pro-democracy rallies the initial protest that sparked Asked how he could know whether the we do talk to them,” he said. “totally destroy” North Korea in the event Moon Jae-in on the sidelines of the UN, in 2014, which blocked thor- the movement. North would even contemplate coming to “But the State Department later said in of an attack on the US or any of its allies, Trump responded “Why not?” when asked oughfares for 79 days, are also It was a blow to the pro- the table, Tillerson told reporters in Bei- a statement that North Korea “have shown deriding Kim as a “Rocket Man” who was whether there could be talks. facing charges and possible jail democracy campaign and terms. “Authoritarian rule has seen as more evidence that already become Hong Kong’s Beijing was tightening its grip reality in Hong Kong,” Benny on semi-autonomous Hong Tai, one of the founders of the Kong. movement told protesters. Their jailing has been criti- “We are having today’s rally cised by international rights Schools reopen in Rakhine, but Rohingya still fl ee ... because we hope more Hong groups and politicians and has Kong people will see the true prompted accusations that the nature of the government,” independence of Hong Kong’s AFP sive army crackdown which the bility returns” in the epicentre group and are instead labelled by feared dead, mainly children, Tai, a law professor, said. courts has been compromised Yangon UN says is tantamount to “eth- of the violence, according to a the state as “Bengalis”, stripping after boat capsized agonisingly Participants in yesterday’s under pressure from Beijing. nic cleansing”. Half of Rakhine’s report by the Global New Light them of legal status in Myanmar. close to the Bangladeshi shore rally singled out the city’s City leader Lam on yester- roughly 1mn Rohinyga Muslim of Myanmar yesterday. “Schools More than 2,000 Rohingya — Thursday carrying Rohingya leader Carrie Lam and justice day morning called for unity yanmar has reopened population has fl ed to Bangladesh in ethnic villages were safe and many from Buthidaung — have from the Buthidaung area. secretary Rimsky Yuen, along in her fi rst national day speech schools for ethnic Ra- since then, creating the world’s secure”, it said in an apparent ref- massed on the coast over the last Access to violence-hit north- with Chinese President Xi Jin- since she became chief execu- Mkhine children in town- largest refugee crisis, alleging erence to areas populated by the week hoping to make the danger- ern Rakhine is tightly controlled ping with their pictures placed tive in July. “I have been deep- ships hit hard by recent commu- their villages were incinerated by Buddhist Rakhine who are recog- ous transit to Bangladesh as basic by Myanmar’s army, preventing on placards saying “authori- ly impressed by the strength nal violence declaring “stability” the army and Rakhine mobs. nised as one of Myanmar’s offi cial supplies dry up and they receive independent reporting by glo- tarian clown”. bestowed upon us by our has returned, state-backed media Violence has also displaced ethnic minorities. threats from their Rakhine neigh- bal media and assessment by aid Others carried a black ban- country,” Lam said. said yesterday, but thousands of nearly 30,000 ethnic Rakhine, “But we need to think about bours. agencies. ner mimicking the Chinese “As long as we capitalise on Rohingya Muslims remain on the who are Buddhists, and Hindus schools in Bengali villages” amid The government has said of- Today, UN representatives are national fl ag with fi ve yellow our strengths, stay focused, move from the same areas. inside the state. ongoing security fears, Rakhine fi cials have tried to talk them set to join relief agencies and dip- stars drawn on it, with around seize the opportunities be- Rakhine state has been torn Education offi cials said schools education authorities were out of leaving, but they remain lomats on a government-steered 5,000 taking part in the rally, fore us and stand united, I am apart after unrest erupted in had reopened in Maungdaw and quoted as saying. The Rohingya determined to make the perilous trip to Rakhine — their fi rst to the according to estimates by an sure that Hong Kong can reach late August, resulting in a mas- Buthidaung townships “as sta- are not recognised as an ethnic journey. At least 60 people were confl ict-battered area. AFP reporter at the scene. even greater heights,” she said.

High alert

The Indonesian national flag is seen in the foreground as the sun sets behind Mount Agung volcano at Amed beach in Karangasem, Indonesia’s resort island of Bali, yesterday. Mount Agung, 75km from the tourist hub of Kuta, has been shaking since August, causing fears it could erupt for the first time since 1963 and triggering the highest possible alert level eight days ago.

Australia sends naval support to Vanuatu’s volcano island Australia has sent a naval ship to help departed Australia Saturday and is cyclones (or) volcanic activity,” for a volcanic emergency and has evacuate thousands of people from due to arrive at the Pacific nation mid- Foreign Minister Julie Bishop told the called for international assistance. Vanuatu’s Ambae island, where a vol- week, carrying emergency specialists Australian Broadcasting Corporation Vanuatu-based journalist Dan cano is threatening a major eruption. and food supplies. Canberra, which yesterday. “So Australia is always McGarry, who visited Ambae at the The Vanuatu government announced is co-ordinating relief eff orts with standing ready to assist in the event weekend, told AFP that evacuation last week that all 11,000 residents on the governments of Vanuatu, New that this volcano does actually erupt.” eff orts were “calm and orderly” but Ambae – in the north of the Pacific Zealand and France, said military and Most of the island’s residents have many residents were upset at being archipelago – would be moved, after other humanitarian workers were due been sheltering in evacuation centres uprooted. the Manaro Voui volcano rumbled to arrive there separately yesterday. since the volcano first sent up a “There’s a deep sense of concern to life and rained rock and ash on “Vanuatu is part of a group of plume of steam and ash about a and a palpable sense of loss, among villages. Pacific islands that is prone to natural week ago. Vanuatu’s government has the people that are being forced to The landing ship HMAS Choules disasters – whether it is earthquakes, acknowledged it is not well-prepared leave the island,” he said. Gulf Times 10 Monday, October 2, 2017 BRITAIN

LAW AND ORDER CLAIM BLOOPER CRIME VERDICT ‘Knifeman’ arrested in Queen ‘furious at Johnson stopped from Suspect held after police Man jailed for kidnap after front of horrified shoppers being misled by May’ reciting insulting poem off icer’s body found in lake woman found in car boot

A suspected knifeman has been arrested in Buckingham Palace was furious with May following Britain’s ambassador to Myanmar stopped The body of a woman found in a lake in A man has been jailed for kidnap after a central London’s busy Oxford Street in front the election after she misled the Queen about gaff e-prone Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson Cheshire is that of a serving detective with distressed woman was found locked in boot of of horrified shoppers yesterday. Police were negotiations with the Democratic Unionist Party, after he began reciting a poem that appears Greater Manchester police, a police chief his car in Canary Wharf. Shafak Abbas, 24, of scrambled to the shopping street’s junction it was reported. Palace off icials were said to be to insult Buddhism at Myanmar’s most sacred has confirmed. Ian Hopkins, the GMP chief Wickford Street, Bethnal Green, was sentenced with Hill Place at about 2.30pm yesterday. dismayed when the PM said she had a deal with Buddhist site, according to video footage constable, said the body of Leanne McKie, who to 15 months’ in prison. Abbas was stopped by Footage from the scene shows police cars the DUP, only for it to take another 17 days before broadcast by Channel 4 yesterday. The video had been with the force since 2001 and worked police in Kingfield Street while driving a gold lining the road even as pedestrians watched a deal was finalised. Off icials were also annoyed shows Johnson visiting the famous Shwedagon in the serious sexual off ences unit, had been Mercedes. After he behaved evasively when in horror. Witnesses said that there five police when May further breached protocol by claiming Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar’s former capital, found in Poynton, Cheshire. She was a mother- questioned, off icers searched his vehicle and cars were seen as a suspected knifeman was she had “formed a government” and not that in January accompanied by the Ambassador, of-three. Cheshire police are leading a murder found a BB gun in the foot-well of the passenger detained. Off icers said they were called to the Queen had asked her to form a government, Andrew Patrick, and other off icials. He is then investigation and have arrested a 43-year-old seat. In footage captured by off icers’ body-worn reports of a man with a knife. A 45-year-old man according to the Sunday Times. A Tory peer said: shown reciting another line from Rudyard man from Wilmslow, who is being held in police cameras, Abbas then told the off icers that a has been arrested, Scotland Yard said. A Met “She said, ‘I’ve formed a government’, not ‘The Kipling’s poem “The Road to Mandalay.” Patrick custody. Hopkins said that McKie “worked 26-year-old woman, who was known to him, was spokeswoman added: “There were no reports Queen has asked me to form a government’. The tells him: “You’re on mic. So probably not a tirelessly to provide support and seek justice locked in the boot of the car. The victim was of injuries.” Palace was alarmed by her formulation of words.” good idea.” for victims of sexual crimes”. discovered crying and distressed.

Protesters demand I have right an end to Brexit plan to steer Reuters Manchester

aving the gold stars of the European Union Wfl ag, tens of thousands UK through of protesters marched through Manchester yesterday to the rul- ing Conservative Party’s annual conference to demand that Brit- ain stay in the EU. Protesters in the northern city called on Prime Minister Theresa Brexit: May May to embrace closer ties with Europe, while a separate demon- Reuters is united in the mission of this conference last week, May hopes stration demanded that May go Manchester government... and agreed on the to fi re up thousands of Conserv- now. approach that we took in Flor- ative party members who feel let Helicopters hovered overhead ence,” May said about a speech down by a disastrous election amid a heavy police presence. pologising for losing her she made in Italy last month to campaign, when their leader was The country voted 52%-48 % Conservative Party’s ma- try to kick-start Brexit talks that dubbed by critics “the Maybot” in a referendum last year to leave Ajority at a June election, had all but stalled. for her repetition of slogans. the EU, but negotiations with Prime Minister Theresa May “Boris is absolutely behind the May is now dependent on a Brussels have progressed slowly responded to her critics yester- Florence speech and the line that small Northern Irish party for and the country remains divided day by saying she had the right we have taken.” a majority in parliament, and over the outcome. strategy to lead Britain and win a Divisions in her Cabinet have opinion polls indicate Labour is a Finance Minister Philip Ham- Brexit deal. broken out into the open, with growing threat, persuading rivals mond was greeted on his arrival May, who has faced calls from ministers using the media to air in the party not to try to topple with shouts of “Tory, Tory, Tory, within her party to step down, their diff erences not only on Brex- her quite yet. Out, Out, Out,” by protesters who wants to use the Conservatives’ it, but also on the government’s On her 61st birthday, she un- used the slang name for the Con- annual conference in Manchester approach to austerity — with veiled new policies to extend a servative party. this week to try to reset her agen- many Conservatives concerned programme to help people buy At the front of the demon- da, off ering money to students and about the growing appeal of the their own homes and to freeze stu- stration, a lorry carried a multi- those people she once described as main opposition Labour Party. dent tuition fees to try to win back headed giant body with the faces “just about managing” in Britain. After ministers agreed to seek a younger people, who have fl ocked of May and three leading Brexit In an interview with BBC tele- transition period following Brit- to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. campaigners: Foreign Secretary vision, she dismissed talk of rifts ain’s departure from the EU in She off ered Brexit supporters Boris Johnson; Environment Sec- among top ministers, saying they March 2019, Johnson said on the a promise that she would walk retary Michael Gove and Brexit were united on their programme eve of the conference that this away if she could not get a good Secretary David Davis. and more importantly Brexit. should last for two years at most; deal, saying the government was “Brexit is a monstrosity,” it said That came a day after foreign that Britain should not accept new working on plans for a ‘no deal’; on the chest. “Let’s Stop It!” minister Boris Johnson, perhaps EU or European Court of Justice and tried to keep pro-EU cam- Paolo Orrigo, 51, managing May’s biggest rival, set out four rulings during transition; must not paigners onside by saying she director of a business which im- personal red lines in the complex make payments for single market wanted an agreement. ports goods from Italy, said he talks with the EU. access when the transition ends; May’s ally and eff ective deputy had voted Conservative all his But with thousands of protest- and should not agree to shadow EU Damian Green said he was confi - life but was now switching to the ers demanding Britain stay in regulations to gain access. dent she could lead the Conserva- pro-EU party, the Liberal Demo- the European Union just outside While not a clear departure tives into the next election in 2022 crats. the conference gates, May has a from May’s own stance, it in- and criticised those fuelling lead- “How am I supposed to im- long way to go to unite not only creases pressure on her not give ership speculation that hampers port goods on WTO tariff s?” he her governing party, but also the too much away in the talks to un- “a job not just for the party but said. “We are already seeing the country after last year’s divisive ravel more than 40 years of union more importantly for the govern- eff ects. Brexit is a house built on referendum vote. with EU negotiators, who say they ment and the country”. sand. It will fall over, it is just a “We’ve listened to the mes- have yet to make enough progress But May has a long way to go to folly. sage that came from that (June) to move to a discussion of the two win over doubters. “If you run any “Theresa May is a zombie. She election. But I’ve been very clear, sides’ future relationship. organisation... and something is not going to last.” I called the election, I led the Another contender to replace goes monumentally wrong, as did May will try to stamp her campaign, I take my responsibil- May, the leader of the Scottish the election... then the buck does authority on her party and the ity and I’m sorry that some very Conservatives Ruth Davidson have to stop with that individual,” Cabinet during the four-day good members of parliament lost told the conference it was time said Grant Shapps, former Con- conference, having lost her their seats,” May said in an appeal to “unite behind our leader to get servative Party chairman. “The parliamentary majority with to those party members still an- the best deal for us and the right reality is, every serious person a botched election gamble in A protester is bedecked in the EU colours during an anti-Brexit march on the first day of the Conservative gry over the vote. deal for Europe as well”. knows, of course she can’t lead us June. Party annual conference in Manchester yesterday. “What I have is a Cabinet that Following a bullish Labour into the next election.” Ukip chief not to call Teacher shortages ‘may lead to pay rise’ for immigration cap Guardian News and Media “Publishing these letters is London intended to give Theresa May a soundbite to appease her own Guardian News and Media temporary block on low-skilled the government would reach a mutinous backbenchers,” Azam London and unskilled migration and a limit deal with Brussels on Brexit and eachers in England and said. of 50,000 high-skilled immigrants should be prepared to end nego- Wales – along with other “Pushing forward with slightly a year, while in 2017 the party tiations. Tfrontline public servants – less harsh cuts for a small minor- he new Ukip leader has committed to zero net migration. Bolton, a former Liberal Demo- may receive a more sizeable pay ity of public sector workers will said mass immigration is The prime minister, Theresa crat who later worked for the UN rise next year, after the govern- do nothing to win back the trust Tharming British culture May, remains committed to a tar- in Kosovo and the EU, said it was ment indicated it would lift the and goodwill that has been lost.” but refused to call for a cap on the get of reducing net migration to an assumption to state that the tough 1% cap on wage increases Teaching unions welcomed the number of people who are allowed the “tens of thousands”. UK was on its way out of the EU, it had previously applied. decision, coming after several to come to the UK. But Bolton said: “Anybody who given confl icting reports about A letter from Liz Truss, the years of below-infl ation increas- Henry Bolton said the present says put a fi gure on it is actually the level of progress made in the chief secretary to the Treasury, to es. But they warned that without rate of immigration was unaccept- being entirely unrealistic and try- negotiations with Brussels. the board responsible for recom- extra funding for school budgets, able and called for an Australian- ing to paint politicians like me into “I do not believe there will be mending teachers’ pay awards any pay rises would simply take style points-based system for a corner that gives you a nice thing a deal,” he said. “I actually do not said that shortages meant it was money away from elsewhere. managing migration. to hang a comment on, but you’re credit some of the people in the prepared to accept a pay rise Paul Whiteman, general secre- He said: “Immigration is not going to get it from me because European Union with any wish above the 1% limit for 2018-19. tary of the National Association overwhelming our public serv- actually we need to be a lot more whatsoever to have a smooth deal. “The government recognises of Head Teachers, said that with- ices, which themselves are being practical and operational about it.” “I do not believe we should be that in some parts of the public out additional funding next year slashed – 25% off the police, for On Brexit, he said a transition pushing this out and allowing the sector, particularly in areas of the higher pay rise was meaning- example, in some cases nearly 50% period as proposed by the Con- negotiations to be endless before skill shortage, more fl exibility less. off local government. servatives and Labour was unac- we leave. It is absolutely crucial may be required to deliver world- “There is a strong moral case “Housing and communities are ceptable and said Britain must be that this country is fully prepared class public services including in for increasing public sector pay, being overwhelmed. It is harming prepared to leave the European to walk away because otherwise return for improvements to pub- which has been obstructed up to our own culture, traditions and Union immediately. the European Union is just go- lic sector productivity,” Truss now by stubborn political rheto- way of life. We must demand that He claimed May’s recent Flor- ing to be negotiating forever on said in a letter to the School ric. There’s nothing fair about our own concerns about our own ence speech, in which she set out this and they would just string us Teachers’ Review Body (STRB). that,” Whiteman said. British culture are heard and that plans for a two-year transition and along.” Truss also sent similar letters “The STRB needs a remit that that feeds into our policy on im- made a fi rst off er towards a fi nan- Asked about Ukip’s relevance to other public sector pay review can look beyond a 1%t maximum migration.” cial settlement, showed that “the given the result of the EU refer- Education Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities, boards. Rehana Azam, the GMB and, crucially, all pay rises must Earlier, he watered down Ukip’s UK does not want to leave the EU endum, Bolton said it was “a little Justine Greening addresses the delegates on the first day of the union’s national secretary for be fully funded into school budg- past promises to cap immigration. in anything but name”. bit of an assumption that we’re on Conservative Party annual conference at the Manchester Central public services, described the ets otherwise they will be mean- In 2015 the party promised a Bolton said he did not believe our way out”. Convention Centre, in Manchester yesterday. letters as a cynical gesture. ingless in practice.” Gulf Times Monday, October 2, 2017 11 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Salvage fi rm hopes to net £125bn gold sunk by German U-boats

Guardian News and Media has spent 25 years analysing cargo Caribbean, believing it can recov- a box of last will and testaments encing war-risk insurance pay- they tried to choke off the UK’s data sent to the surface by a re- London lost at sea, will set sail in secret er around 2,000 tonnes of bounty. of deceased sailors. “It clearly outs with shipwreck data. ability to import and export. motely operated vehicle, which from an unannounced port to Will Collier, operational di- indicated gold movements made “It’s a massive jigsaw to piece The fi rst three wrecks Britan- will explore wrecks at depths of explore the fi rst cluster of ship- rector of Britannia Gold, said on behalf of the government on together and it took decades to nia plans to explore include a up to 5,500m to determine the transatlantic salvage op- wrecks it hopes will yield treasure. the company had an unrivalled requisitioned merchant liners, do so,” he said. World War I ship sunk enroute to position of valuable material. eration will put to sea to- If successful, the loot will be opportunity thanks to painstak- which were named, with values Most of the precious metal was Canada and believed to contain Britannia Gold, has already Aday to recover some of the taken to a secure location, from ing analysis of insurance records of gold and when they sailed.” gold or silver being moved to the gold worth £450mn. raised money from private in- estimated £125bn worth of gold which the company will negoti- discovered by one of its senior He said that while rival sal- US to pay for the war eff ort, or to The fi rst stage of the salvage vestors and its own directors but and other precious metals sunk ate a price with the UK govern- researchers. vage experts may know the loca- parts of the British empire, main- eff ort will see Britannia deploy is seeking further investment by German U-boats while being ment for its return. “He came across a document tion of wrecks, they would not ly from Glasgow and Liverpool. a vessel with state-of-the-art via crowdfunding business An- shipped to pay for Britain’s fi rst The company plans to explore written by an adviser to war- have Britannia Gold’s informa- Many of these ships were sunk technology that allows it to stay gel EQT, in an eff ort to raise the and second World War eff orts. dozens of shipwrecks stretch- time chancellor of the exchequer tion about what was on board, by German U-boats lying in wait in position above the wrecks. £8mn it needs for the fi rst sal- Britannia Gold, a UK fi rm that ing from the north Atlantic to the Reginald McKenna, in amongst gleaned thanks to cross-refer- in shallow waters off Ireland as There, its staff will analyse vage mission. NHS nurses are Damien Hirst artwork on display too busy to care for patients properly: study

Guardian News and Media not provide the right standard London of care. “I feel like I’m spinning plates, except the plates are pa- tients – that to me is the worst ne in three hospital nurs- feeling. A feeling of no control. es are too busy to relieve Going from crisis to crisis con- Opatients’ pain, give them tinuously is so incredibly stress- their medication on time or talk ful,” one nurse said. to them and their families, re- Another said: “I drove home search reveals. from work sobbing today, know- Fifty-three percent of nurses ing that the patients I cared for fear the quality of care patients didn’t get even a fraction of the receive is suff ering because they level of care I would consider ac- cannot do everything they need ceptable. I would be devastated if to do during their shift, accord- my family or friends were in the ing to a survey of 30,000 nurses. hospital I work in, as there are just And nurses are being left re- not enough staff to go around.” sponsible for the care of as many Even more respondents – as 25 hospital patients at a time, 55% – said there were fewer even though offi cial guidelines registered nurses on duty than say that to ensure patient safety planned during their last shift. Fish swim inside the artwork ‘Love Lost’ by Damien Hirst on display ahead of the forthcoming Christie’s auction in London yesterday. it should not be more than eight. That fi nding adds to the evi- The fi ndings, compiled by the dence that the NHS is running Royal College of Nursing (RCN), so short of nurses that wards are paint a picture of nurses so busy routinely understaff ed. in often understaff ed wards that The health service in England many are having to leave some pa- alone has vacancies for 40,000 tients’ care needs unattended to. nurses, the RCN claims. Staff shortages are so acute Sixty-fi ve percent of nurses that some patients are even be- said they worked just under an ing left to die alone, with no hour’s overtime – often unpaid nurse present in their fi nal mo- – while 44% said no action was Plan to ban wood burning ments, the survey found. taken when they raised con- Thirty-six percent of re- cerns about poor staffi ng levels. spondents said a lack of time Nurses voiced anxiety about pa- meant they had to leave neces- tient safety and their lack of job sary tasks undone. They includ- satisfaction, and some said they ed changing the patient’s posi- might quit the NHS. stoves angers businesses tion often enough for their safety The RCN is urging ministers to and comfort, helping them with legislate to guarantee the mini- London Evening Standard ovens also hit back and said the could face fi nes if they were “The problem with air qual- and produced very little in the their dental health and complet- mum number of nurses that need London move risked costing jobs if res- caught using the fashionable ity is not really to do with wood way of emissions. He said: “It’s ing records of patients’ care. to be on duty in diff erent areas of taurants had to close down, say- heaters in restricted areas. burning stoves so much. The unfair, we’re being scapegoated. Such lapses in care matter be- medical care, depending on the ing switching to modern ovens Environmental activists had newer ones are much more ef- If this happens it would pretty cause they heighten the risk of number of patients at the time. he mayor of London’s would cost them their authen- welcomed the move, with Clean fi cient and clean-burning than much destroy the wood-burn- someone experiencing compli- A department of health spokes- move to ban trendy wood ticity. Air in London saying it was “ex- they used to be.” ing stove business.” cations of their condition or suf- man said it was funding an extra Tburning stoves has been Khan on Friday wrote to En- cellent” to see Sadiq Khan tak- The store sells in the range of Huw Williams, sales director fering harm, the RCN says. 10,000 training places for nurses, met with an angry backlash by vironment Secretary Michael ing a lead and the Green Party 200-300 wood-burning stoves of fi replace fi rm Chesneys, said: Fifty-three percent of nurses midwives and allied health pro- businesses who say they are likely Gove demanding more muscle backing the eff ort to tackle “all a year, he said, and in recent “The biggest issue in relation said patient care had been com- fessionals by 2020 “to ensure the to go bust if the plans go ahead. to tackle air pollution after the sources of air pollution”. decades their popularity has in- to pollution is the burning of promised during their last shift. NHS has the staff it needs both Businesses in the capital im- level was raised 24 hours ago to But businesses spoke of “dis- creased. wood in an open basket or fi re, Those most likely to say that now and in the future”. mediately raised fears they “high” amid a spike in fumes. astrous” consequences. Today in the south-east of which is illegal in a smoke con- were those working in A&E and He added: “We are helping the would be unable to continue His proposals form part of a Stonewoods fi replace shop, England, some 16% of house- trol zone. other urgent and emergency NHS to make sure it has the right trading after Sadiq Khan re- raft of measures to combat non- which has been in Wandsworth holds have one. They are respon- “This burning of wood is not care settings (67%) and prisons staff , in the right place, at the quested the new powers in a bid road pollution, such as that pro- for 26 years, expressed grave sible for between a quarter and a policed or enforced and causes (64%). However, far fewer nurs- right time to provide safe care. to improve London’s air quality. duced by diggers and wood fi res, concerns. Showroom manager third of all London’s deadly fi ne signifi cant pollution into the es in GP surgeries (31%), hospic- That’s why there are over 29,600 One fi replace shop owner and include a call for the creation Steve Welch, whose stoves are all particle pollution, according to atmosphere.” es (35%) and operating theatres more professionally quali- said his industry was being of zones where burning solid fuel government-approved, said: “It King’s College research. Khan’s proposed ban could (35%) said the same. fi ed clinical staff including over “scapegoated” by a policy that such as wood is outlawed. would defi nitely aff ect the busi- Charlie McCalla, owner of theoretically also aff ect Italian A further 53% said they felt 11,300 more nurses on our wards could cost him his business. This would mean homeown- ness if we weren’t able to sell and Natural Fires (London) said the restaurants which use wood- sad or upset that they could since May 2010 (in England).” Pizzerias using wood-fi red ers with wood-burning stoves fi t stoves. It would be disastrous. stoves he stocked were effi cient fi red ovens. Cost of renovating Horse fair Man held after girl Elizabeth Tower soars dropped into river Guardian News and Media The man, 39, sustained minor London injuries. Guardian News and Media than double within a short pe- of Commons said: “The com- Superintendent Paul Savill, London riod suggests we need more rig- missions expressed their disap- from GMPs Bolton borough, orous scrutiny, week by week. pointment in the cost increases, man has been arrested said: “Thankfully the little girl It is an ominous beginning and and the unreliability of the origi- on suspicion of at- will recover from her physical he cost of renovating the worth the NAO taking another nal estimate. Atempted murder af- injuries, but the trauma she tower that houses Big Ben look,” she said. They instructed offi cials to ter a three-year-old girl was was put through is heartbreak- Thas more than doubled in Peter Bone, the Conservative provide regular updates on dropped 30ft from a bridge ing. My thoughts are with her 16 months, provoking an angry MP who campaigned against the progress and costs to the rel- into a river. and her family. response from MPs. silencing of Big Ben, said the rise evant domestic committees so Offi cers with Greater Man- “We have arrested a man on The parliamentary authori- in spending was extraordinary. they can keep the commissions chester police (GMP) received suspicion of attempted murder, ties, in a statement said the es- “I am fl abbergasted. If you fully informed of the project. reports that a man was stand- he will be questioned by police timate for the work on the Eliza- were building your house and They also reiterated their com- ing on the bridge on Crompton at the earliest opportunity. We beth Tower had risen from an the builders said it would cost mitment to preserve the Eliza- Way in Bolton threatening to have a specialist team of nego- estimated £29mn in the spring £29,000 and a few months later beth Tower and Great Clock for drop a child into the river. tiators who always try their ut- of 2016, to £61mn. The addition- they said ‘it is now £61,000’, you future generations.” Specially trained police most to resolve these situations al cost emerged after the project would have every right to be an- In a joint statement the clerk negotiators attended and an without injury and get people was found to be more complex gry. I hope the authorities are of the House of Commons, the operation was put in place to the support they need. Sadly on and extensive than originally looking at the cost control of this clerk of the parliaments and the rescue the child from the river this occasion the man failed to thought, the authorities said. project,” he said. director general of the House should she fall. engage. However, we had a sec- It follows a row this summer The House of Commons and of Commons, said: “We ac- The man refused to speak ond team waiting in the water over how the renovation would House of Lords commissions knowledge that there have been to offi cers and then dropped to enable us to rescue the child silence the bongs of Big Ben, the have been told the increase in estimating failures and we un- the girl into the river, where within seconds of her entering name of the 13-tonne bell inside costs is due to a better under- derstand the concern of the an offi cer was in position and the water. the tower, and its four accom- standing of the complexity of the commissions. In advance of reached her after she entered “We will now ensure that panying quarter bells for four work needed to restore the tower. tendering contracts, the initial the water. She was taken to the little girl and her family years. It follows further examination of high-level estimates were set at hospital and treated for a bro- have all the support going for- Caroline Flint, the Labour MP stonework around the tower, the a lower level to avoid cost esca- ken wrist. ward, to help her make a full and a member of the public ac- complexity of stripping and re- lation from the market. Subse- The man then fell from the recovery.” counts committee, said the Na- painting metalwork within the quent estimates, using better bridge into the water, where A voluntary referral to the tional Audit Offi ce should launch tower and further examination data and more extensive surveys, People flock to the annual horse fair in Ballinasloe, Ireland, offi cers were able to reach him Independent Police Com- an inquiry into the project. of the ground conditions. better refl ect the true likelihood yesterday. and he was taken out of the plaints Commission was made “For any cost like this to more A spokeswoman for the House of the costs.” water and taken to hospital. by GMP. Gulf Times 12 Monday, October 2, 2017 EUROPE

Man shot dead after killing two women in Marseille

Reuters was stabbed in the chest and Paris was rocked in 2015 by A witness told Reuters she butcher’s knife, was around 30 Marseille stomach. multiple attacks that killed 130 saw a man take out a knife from years old, and of North African The assailant was shot dead people. his sleeve and then stab a young appearance. by a soldier from a military Sen- In 2016 a gunman drove a truck girl and then a second woman, One source said he was known wo women were killed and tinelle patrol, a force deployed into a crowd celebrating Bastille shouting what could have been to police for common law crimes, their assailant shot dead across the country as part of a Day in Nice, killing 86 people. “Allahu Akbar”. while another said digital analy- Tby a soldier in the southern state of emergency declared after Both of these attacks were Speaking in Marseille, Interior sis of fi ngerprints had come up French port city of Marseille yes- religious extremist attacks that claimed by Islamic State (IS). Minister Gerard Collomb said with several aliases. terday in what offi cials described began almost two years ago. Other countries, including the man had initially killed one “This could be an act of ter- as a “likely terrorist act”. “We have until now managed Britain, Germany and Belgium, woman and looked to be running rorism, but we cannot confi rm it French police off icers turn over and hold the body of a man on the Police sources said the suspect to avoid such dramatic incidents have also suff ered attacks by away before returning to attack fully at this stage,” Collomb told ground as other off icers surround the body of a stabbed woman, had shouted “Allahu Akbar” as he (in Marseille). I think it was a ter- militants using knives, guns, ex- a second woman and then rush reporters. following the attack at the Saint-Charles train station in Marseille. attacked the women, aged 17 and rorist attack and the individual plosives, and driving vehicles at towards soldiers from the Sen- French troops are part of a 20, at Marseille’s main railway who was killed seems to have crowds. tinelle force who arrived on the US-led coalition fi ghting Islamic militants, operations that have ingly been targeted by militants. station. had several identities,” Marseille Some 200 police offi cers cor- scene. State in Syria and Iraq and has made these groups urge their fol- A man wielding a knife at- Two police sources said one mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin told doned off the area and all roads Two police sources said the thousands of soldiers in West lowers to target France. tacked a soldier in a Paris metro had her throat slit while the other reporters. were closed to traffi c. attacker had been carrying a Africa fi ghting Al Qaeda-linked Security forces have increas- station on September 15.

Austrian chancellor Catalonia votes looks into smear on leaving Spain campaign

Reuters Reuters Barcelona Vienna

panish riot police burst ustria’s Social Demo- into polling stations across cratic (SPO) Chancel- SCatalonia yesterday, con- Alor Christian Kern has fi scating ballot boxes and vot- pledged to get to the bottom of ing papers to try to halt a banned his party’s connection to a smear referendum on a split from Spain campaign against the head of the as Madrid asserted its authority main opposition People’s Party over the rebel region. two weeks before a parliamen- The mayor of the regional tary election. capital Barcelona Ada Colau is- Austrian newspapers reported sued a statement demanding “an on Saturday that Tal Silberstein, immediate end to police charges a former SPO adviser dismissed against the defenceless popula- this summer, was behind two tion”. websites making unsubstanti- Madrid said its police had ated allegations against Foreign acted in a proportionate manner. Minister Sebastian Kurz, whose Police broke down doors to People’s Party is leading polls force entry into voting stations People cheer as ballot boxes arrive at Estel school in the Catalan ahead of the October 15 parlia- as Catalans shouted “Out with town of Vic. mentary election. the occupying forces!” and “It matters to me that we gain sang the anthem of the wealthy Left: Spanish Civil Guard off icers break through a door at a polling full transparency on what hap- northeastern region. station for the banned independence referendum where pened. In one incident in Barcelona, Puigdemont was supposed to vote in Sant Julia de Ramis. We decided to set up an in- police fi red rubber bullets. ternal task force to review what Offi cers in riot gear hit peo- Below: Puigdemont holds a carnation in Sant Julia de Ramis. He later happened in a thorough and ple with batons and forcibly re- cast his ballot at a diff erent town. transparent way,” Kern told moved would-be voters, includ- journalists at a press briefi ng in ing women and the elderly, from At one Barcelona polling sta- fi rst image of voting day. “FC Barcelona condemns the Vienna. polling stations. tion, elderly people and those “This is a great opportunity. events which have taken place in SPO chairman Georg Nied- Catalan offi cials said that with children entered fi rst. I’ve waited 80 years for this,” said many parts of Catalonia today in ermuehlbichler announced his more than 460 people had been “I’m so pleased because de- 92-year-old Ramon Jordana, a order to prevent its citizens ex- resignation on Saturday over the injured in the police crackdown spite all the hurdles they’ve put former taxi driver waiting to vote ercising their democratic right matter. and the Spanish interior minis- up, I’ve managed to vote,” said in Sant Pere de Torello, a town in to free expression,” a statement Kern said the SPO had stopped try said 12 police had been hurt. Teresa, a 72-year-old pensioner the foothills of the Pyrenees and on the club’s website said. working with Silberstein on Au- The central government’s rep- in Barcelona who had stood in a pro-independence bastion. One analyst said the scenes gust 17, including all money resentative in Catalonia Enric line for six hours. The Catalan government said being played out across Cata- transfers, and that it was not Millo, referring to police action, The ballot will have no legal voters could print out ballot pa- lonia yesterday would make it clear why the activities attrib- told a news conference: “We status as it has been blocked by pers at home and lodge them at harder for Madrid and Barcelona uted to him continued and even have been made to do something Spain’s Constitutional Court any polling station not closed to fi nd a way forward. intensifi ed after that date. we didn’t want to do.” and Madrid for being at odds down by police. “I think it is going to make the “I am referring to anti-Semit- The referendum, declared il- with the 1978 constitution. Elsewhere, people were not clash more intense and make it ic propaganda that I reject with legal by Spain’s central govern- A minority of around 40% of able to access the ballot boxes. more diffi cult to fi nd a solution,” all my heart,” Kern said. ment, has thrown the country Catalans support independence, In a town in Girona province said Antonio Barroso of Teneo Reuters has been unable to into its worst constitutional polls show, although a majority where Catalan leader Carles Intelligence. reach Silberstein for comment. crisis in decades and deepened a want to hold a referendum on Puigdemont was due to vote, Nicola Sturgeon, the pro-in- We condemn all forms of vio- Puigdemont originally said Kern said he was also very in- centuries-old rift between Ma- the issue. Civil Guard police smashed glass dependence leader of Scotland, lence and reaffi rm our call for that if the “yes” vote won, the terested in fi nding out who was drid and Barcelona. The region of 7.5mn people panels to open the door and which voted to remain part of political dialogue.” Catalan government would de- behind leaked e-mails during It remained unclear what ac- has an economy larger than that search for ballot boxes. the United Kingdom in a 2014 Around 70 polling stations clare independence within 48 the campaign that were aimed at tion the Catalan government of Portugal. Puigdemont voted in a diff er- referendum, said she was con- had been raided by police, Span- hours, but regional leaders have harming him. might take. Diff erences were apparent in ent town in the province. cerned by the images she was ish Interior Minister Juan Igna- since acknowledged Madrid’s He hinted that other political However much voting takes the conduct of the national Civil He accused Spain of unjusti- seeing from Catalonia. cio Zoido said. crackdown has undermined the parties might be involved. place, a “yes” result is likely, Guard and the regional police, fi ed violence in stopping the vote “Regardless of views on in- The aim of the raids was to vote. The leader of the Green Party, given that most of those who Mossos. and said that it created a dread- dependence, we should all seize referendum material and Markets have reacted cau- Ulrike Lunacek, said in a state- support independence are ex- In Catalonia’s pro-independ- ful image of Spain. condemn the scenes being not to target people wanting to tiously but calmly to the situa- ment that if Kern had indications pected to cast ballots while most ence heartland north of Barcelo- “The unjustifi ed, dispropor- witnessed and call on Spain to vote, another senior government tion so far, though credit rating that other parties were involved of those against it are not. na, the Catalan force made little tionate and irresponsible vio- change course before someone offi cial said. agency S&P said on Friday that he should make them public. Despite the police action, attempt to remove people from lence of the Spanish state today is seriously hurt,” she said on A top-fl ight Spanish soccer protracted tensions in Catalo- hundreds-strong queues of peo- polling stations. has not only failed to stop Cata- Twitter. match between Barcelona and nia could hurt Spain’s economic ple formed in cities and villages Organisers had asked voters lans’ desire to vote ... but has Belgian Prime Minister Las Palmas was played without outlook. Erdogan: Turkey throughout the region to cast to turn out before dawn, hoping helped to clarify all the doubts Charles Michel tweeted: “Vio- any supporters in the stadium The region accounts for about their votes. for large crowds to be the world’s we had to resolve today,” he said. lence can never be the answer! because of the unrest. one-fi fth of the economy. no longer needs EU membership Turkey no longer needs to join the European Union but will not unilaterally abandon the stalled Air France A380 engine explodes on fl ight Heart of Paris city EU accession talks, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told parliament yesterday. AFP “The cabin started vibrat- told the BBC that he thought ‘car-free’ for a day “We will not be the side which Paris ing. Someone screamed, and a fan failure may have been to gives up. To tell the truth, we from there we knew something blame. don’t need EU membership was wrong,” passenger Sarah “You heard a loud ‘boom’, and AFP Hidalgo, a Socialist, was anymore,” Erdogan said. team of investigators Eamigh told Canadian broad- it was the vibration alone that Paris elected in 2014 promising to Turkey’s 12-year-long accession and engineers headed caster CBC News about the in- made me think the engine had tackle pollution in the capital talks have ground to a halt, Ato Canada yesterday to cident in the skies above Green- failed,” he said. and she has focused on build- with the EU especially critical of inspect an Airbus A380 super- land on Saturday. Rehmar said that for a few arisians were encouraged ing new bus and cycle lanes Ankara’s crackdown following a jumbo operated by Air France “We saw the cabin crew walk- moments, he thought “we were to roller-blade, bike or and reclaiming roads – leading failed coup last year. which was forced to make an ing through the aisles quickly, going to go down”. Pstroll through the City critics to see her agenda as too Tens of thousands of people emergency landing after an en- and we heard an announcement Passenger Miguel Amador of Light yesterday for a “car- radical and anti-car. including teachers and journalists gine explosion. from the captain that said one of posted video footage appar- free” day intended to leave the The restrictions came into have been detained. The double-decker aircraft our engines had an explosion,” ently fi lmed from a window of streets vacant for slower, clean force at 11am local time (0900 Erdogan’s government says EU carrying 496 passengers and 24 she added. the plane showing the damaged forms of transport. GMT) and lasted until 6pm states failed to appreciate the crew had taken off from Paris on All passengers were expected engine. Yesterday marks the third (1600 GMT). gravity of the threat which Turkey Saturday bound for Los Angeles to complete their journeys to “Engine failure halfway over time the French capital has ex- Although billed offi cially as faced, and did not respond and was several hours into the Los Angeles aboard two planes the Atlantic ocean,” he wrote. perimented with a car ban, but “The Day without Cars”, some to requests to extradite coup fl ight when the blow-out oc- sent by Air France to the Goose Passenger Pamela Adams it is by far the most ambitious exceptions apply, meaning the suspects. curred. Bay military airport, which is said everything on the fl ight had with the zone set aside for pe- streets are not completely de- “The EU failed us in a fight Passengers recounted hearing In this image taken from a used as an emergency landing been normal “and suddenly it destrians or cyclists covering serted: taxis, buses and emer- against terrorism,” Erdogan a loud bang followed by violent video posted on social media, spot for transatlantic fl ights. felt like we had run into a jeep in the entire historic heart of the gency or social services vehi- said yesterday, though he also shaking, with video and photos the blown out engine of the “All of the 520 people on the middle of 35,000 feet high”, city – 105sq km (40sq miles). cles are allowed to drive. suggested the bloc still needed posted on social media showing Air France Airbus A380 is seen board were evacuated with no she told CBC News. “This initiative requires an Residents who need to use Turkey. extensive damage to the outer after the emergency landing. injuries,” the spokesman told She said she was “jostled” enormous amount of prepara- their vehicle to visit an eld- “If the EU is going to leap starboard engine. AFP. and the plane dipped slightly tion,” city mayor Anne Hidalgo erly or handicapped person or forward, there is only one An Air France spokesman said Airbus and the US-based engine The cause of the problem “but the pilots recovered beau- told Le Parisien yesterday. with a genuine emergency are way to do so. And it is to grant yesterday that offi cials from maker were fl ying to Goose Bay was not immediately clear, but tifully”. “Particularly because this year also allowed to ply the streets, Turkey membership and start an France’s BEA air crash investi- in eastern Canada where the David Rehmar, a former aircraft “There wasn’t the panic that the zone has been enlarged to though they must respect a action of cultural and economic gation unit and engineers from plane landed. mechanic who was on the fl ight, I would’ve expected,” she said. the whole of Paris.” 30kph speed limit in place. growth,” Erdogan said. Gulf Times Monday, October 2, 2017 13 INDIA

APPEAL EVENT DECISION INVESTIGATION ALLEGATION Deaf and mute woman RSS chief to meet Price of subsidised Kaskar, two others sent Man campaigning to still looking for parents intellectuals on Oct 6 cooking gas hiked to judicial custody save museum ‘threatened’

External Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief Mohan State-run oil marketing firms yesterday hiked A court yesterday sent mafia operative Iqbal A man in Bihar campaigning to save the over yesterday appealed to the public to help locate Bhagwat will meet intellectuals from diff erent the prices of subsidised cooking gas by Rs1.50 Ibrahim Kaskar and two others to judicial custody 100-year-old Patna Museum claimed yesterday the parents of Geeta, a deaf and mute 25-year- walks of life and off icials of diff erent government per cylinder and jet fuel by 6%. According to till October 13, as their police custody came to an that he was “threatened and pressured by the old Indian woman who was brought back two and NGOs in New Delhi on October 6, the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the price of end. The police custody of betting racket operator Nitish Kumar government” to stop his campaign. years ago after having inadvertently crossed sources said yesterday. The event is likely to a subsidised 14.2 kg LPG cylinder will now be Pankaj Gangar who is accused of financing Iqbal, Pushpraj, an activist and convener of “Save over to Pakistan over a decade ago. Holding be attended by vice chancellors of various Rs488.68 in New Delhi, against Rs487.18 earlier. Oil has been extended till October 5. Kaskar, Israr Yakshini and Save Patna Museum”, is leading Geeta in her arms in a video, Swaraj appealed to central universities, heads of public sector marketing companies (OMCs) revise rates of LPG Sayed and Mumtaz Shaikh were arrested on a campaign against the shifting of precious Geeta’s parents to come and accept her and gave undertakings, top bosses of other government- and jet fuel on the first of every month. Subsidised September 18 from Mumbai in connection with an artefacts, sculptures and rare manuscripts from the assurance that she would not be a burden run organisations and eminent personalities LPG rates were raised last by Rs7 per cylinder on extortion case of a prominent Thane-based realtor. there to the newly constructed Bihar Museum, to anyone. Geeta was 11 years of age when she like doctors, former bureaucrats, lawyers and September 1, as part of the decision to eliminate Earlier, police had sought their custody to probe to be inaugurated today. He said that, during the inadvertently crossed the border into Pakistan in industrialists, the sources said. The meeting subsidies. The price of non-subsidised LPG, which the involvement of absconding mafia don Dawood last one month, “the Bihar government has used 2003. She was spotted by the Pakistan Rangers assumes significance as the government is consumers buy at market rates after exhausting Ibrahim in the extortion racket run by his younger diff erent channels to put pressure on me to stop in Lahore, and was handed over to the Edhi under attack within and from the opposition their subsidised quota of 12 cylinders, was also brother Kaskar since 2013. The Thane police’s my campaign to save Patna Museum”. Pushpraj, Foundation, a social welfare organisation that over the state of economy. Manmohan Vaidya, raised by Rs1.50 to Rs599 per cylinder. The price Anti-Extortion Cell are also on the lookout for however, said the campaign would be intensified to had looked after her since then. In October 2015, the head of RSS Publicity Department, said such of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, was also some gunmen from Bihar who had threatened the mobilise support. “We will intensify our campaign she was brought back to India accompanied by a meetings would also take place in 12 diff erent increased by 6.04% to Rs53,045 per kilolitre in complainant builder on behalf of Kaskar, and for to save Patna Museum and mobilise support in and lawyer of the Edhi Foundation. regions of the country. New Delhi, against the earlier price of Rs50,020. the person who had supplied the weapons to them. outside the country,” Pushpraj said. Blow for RCom as wireless unit merger with Aircel collapses

Agencies mobile market’s newest en- Mumbai trant. The collapse of the deal with Aircel comes after the local mbattled telecom com- arm of Sweden’s Ericsson fi led pany Reliance Commu- a plea with an insolvency court Enications Ltd faced an- against RCom last month. other setback yesterday after a Ericsson, which signed a deal to merge its wireless busi- seven-year deal in 2014 to op- ness with smaller rival Aircel erate and manage RCom’s na- was called off , raising fresh tionwide network, is seeking doubts about its debt repay- a total of Rs11.55bn from the ment plans. company and two of its sub- The company, widely known sidiaries. as RCom, said it had agreed Worries over the company’s with Aircel to call off the pro- ability to repay debt have led posed deal due to regulatory to a series of downgrades by delays and legal uncertainties. ratings agencies and the com- RCom has been trying to pany’s stock has plummeted reduce its debt by Rs250bn by nearly 44% so far this year, Narayan Rane arrives to address a press conference in Mumbai yesterday. merging its wireless business compared with a nearly 20% with Aircel and by selling a rise of a broader Mumbai mar- stake in its mobile masts arm ket. to a unit of Canada’s Brook- Analysts said the govern- fi eld Asset Management. ment should take eff ective RCom, controlled by bil- steps to address hyper com- lionaire Anil Ambani, had net petition in the market, make debt of Rs443.45bn ($6.92bn) mergers and acquisition rules Rane fl oats new party, at the end of March. as a way of exit more lucra- The company has earned a tive, and move away from the temporary reprieve from its view of treating the sector as a lenders, which have agreed to source for maximising revenue a standstill on its debt obliga- on a policy level as a policy. tions as part of a planned loan “The proposed merger is restructuring. unravelling because of debt is- hints at allying with BJP The collapsed deal raises sues, which is why we’ve been further doubts about the com- saying that address the issue of IANS isation, we shall decide on our never taken a clear position but we are not comfortable in- ing his third political innings pany’s ability to repay debt, debt, and revenue, because the Mumbai future course including allying on this issue. You cannot go ducting Rane yet. He has to work was welcomed with fi recrackers, the head of an institutional fl ip side of debt is your ability with the NDA.” on having different positions out some kind of a refuge for drums and processions in his investor in RCom told Reuters, to repay… Enhancing the rev- Rane’s son Nitesh, who is a at different times,” Rane said. himself,” he said. home district Sindhudurg and declining to be identifi ed. enue stream can fi x the ability ormer Maharashtra chief Congress legislator, stayed away He also claimed that Shiv Sena Another BJP leader, who is fa- other parts. “Will the investors have to to repay. Those are the moving minister Narayan Rane from the press conference. cadres were actually leaving miliar with Rane’s politics and For the past few months, take a hit? Will there be any pieces which the government Fyesterday launched a new Nitesh, a legislator from Ku- the venue when Thackeray was who did not want to be identi- speculation was rife that Rane kind of haircut to all the lenders has to address with policy,” political outfi t, which he said dal in Konkan, runs a non-gov- speaking indicating that they fi ed, said “Rane met our party was planning to switch over to in RCom? Those questions will said Rajan Mathews, director would work for the overall and ernmental organisation (NGO) were not happy with the party president Amit Shah in Delhi the BJP and had even met par- also come,” the person added. general of Cellular Operators all-inclusive development of the called Swabhimani Sangha- strategy. some days back and it was sug- ty president Amit Shah, state RCom said in a statement Association of India (COAI). state. tana. Rane supported the much- gested to him that the BJP rank party chief Raosaheb Patil- it would look to monetise its “The policy of the govern- The aggressive leader from the Rane gave all indications that maligned bullet train proposal and fi le in Maharashtra were not Danve and Chief Minister spectrum through trading ment should move from max- coastal Konkan region, who was he was open to doing business “as it is a development project” really ready to induct him and Devendra Fadnavis on several and sharing arrangements and imising revenue extraction from fi rst with Shiv Sena and then for with the BJP and NDA. He re- which was necessary just like that he should look for some op- occasions. continue to implement the the industry to enhancing the 12 years with the Congress, kept fused to get drawn into issues mobile phones. tion that would still make him With the MSP entering the monetisation of its tower and fi nancial health and stability of political circles guessing wheth- where he would have to take a A senior BJP leader, who did open to joining the NDA.” fray, the Maharashtra political fi ber assets. the industry,” he added. er he would join the Bharatiya critical position vis-a-vis Prime not want to be named, said a Rane was Maharashtra’s chief landscape vying for the Ma- The company already shares Former Airtel chief execu- Janata Party-led National Dem- Minister Narendra Modi gov- new political party was the only minister for nearly one year harashtrian votes has become its airwaves with Reliance Jio tive offi cer Sanjay Kapoor said ocratic Alliance or not. ernment. He attacked Shiv Sena option left for Rane as BJP’s top (1999) in the Shiv Sena-BJP al- further crowded with the BJP, Infocomm, the network oper- for any company to survive in He said at a press conference chief Uddhav Thackeray for leadership had “not entertained liance which ruled the state Shiv Sena, Congress, National- ator backed by Ambani’s older the Indian market’s intense that the motto of the Mahar- criticising demonetisation at the Rane’s wish to join the BJP”. between 1995-1999. Later he ist Congress Party, Maharashtra brother and India’s richest competition, the most critical ashtra Swabhiman Party (MSP) Sena’s Dussehra rally on Satur- “One has to look at Rane’s served as opposition leader be- Navnirman Sena, Republican man, Mukesh. requirement is to have deep “shall be fulfi lling all our com- day. plans in a context. He has quit fore quitting the party to join the Party of India, several local and RCom has been hit by free pockets to not only fi ght the mitments and work for the in- “Uddhav Thackeray has no the Congress and he cannot join Congress in 2005 which he left state-level parties, besides oth- voice and cut-price data plans competition but also generate terests of the people of the state. business attacking demon- Shiv Sena which he left years last month. er national parties having their off ered by Reliance Jio - the revenue. After setting up the party organ- etisation because his party has back. He wanted to join the BJP The birth of the MSP mark- state units here. Fishermen vow to keep Time to relax Priest rescued from Yemen arrives in Kerala

fi ghting power plant Kottayam Lok Sabha member IANS Kochi Jose K Mani and P C Thomas, Reuters damage caused, said it would necessary ecological and social former fi ve-time Lok Sabha Ahmedabad not reconsider the immunity parameters of the Indian cen- member and former federal min- rule that shields the World Bank tral and state government, as erala Catholic priest Tom ister and Kerala Congress leader, group from being sued in the well as lenders’ performance Uzhunnallil, who was res- were also present. armers and fi shermen United States. standards”. Kcued last month from an From the airport, Uzhunnal- who sued an arm of the The communities said they The project, billed as key to undisclosed location in Yemen, lil drove to the Don Bosco House FWorld Bank – for fund- will appeal in the US Supreme providing cheap energy and cre- arrived here yesterday. and participated in the prayers at ing a power plant they say hurts Court. ating jobs, has long been criti- He was given a rousing welcome the St Mary’s Basilica convent and their livelihoods – have vowed “The court’s decision says cised for its environmental im- by his family, church and top po- visited the Archbishop’s House. to appeal a US court ruling that the IFC is above the law and ac- pact. litical leaders from the Congress- Later in the day, he arrived at the institution has “absolute countable to no one, regardless The Compliance Advisor led opposition at the airport on his his hometown of Ramapuram immunity”. of how much harm it causes,” Ombudsman, an independent arrival from Bengaluru. near Pala in Kottayam district. The Indian communities, said Richard Herz, senior liti- recourse mechanism for the However, no state government After calling on the Pala bish- represented by advocacy Ear- gation attorney at ERI, who ar- IFC, said in a 2013 report that representatives were present. op, in the evening took part in a thRights International (ERI), gued the case for the plaintiff s. aff ected communities were not “Thanks to all who were with special thanksgiving mass at his had sued the International “The Supreme Court should consulted, and the impact on me and may God bless them all. home parish in Ramapuram and Finance Corporation over its correct this error,” he said in a the marine environment was Returning to one’s home is the also attended a civic reception. $450mn loan for a coal-fi red statement. not adequately considered. best feeling anyone can have and After he was released and plant operated by a Tata Power In a separate opinion, Judge Salt water leaking from the I too have the same feelings,” Uz- brought to Oman on September unit near Mundra, in Gujarat. Nina Pillard said the court had plant has made ground water hunnallil said. 12, Uzhunnallil fl ew to the Vati- The 4,000 megawatt plant taken “a wrong turn” in grant- undrinkable and unfi t for ir- Congress leader Ramesh Chen- can where he met Pope Francis. has had a “devastating and irre- ing international organisations rigation, according to Bharat nithala accompanied by half a He arrived in Delhi on Sep- versible impact” on the coastal a “static, absolute immunity”. Patel, general secretary of dozen of party legislators said it was tember 28 and met Prime Minis- ecosystem, reducing fi sh stocks Representatives of the World fi shermen’s group Machimar highly improper that there was no ter Narendra Modi and External and destroying livelihoods, ac- Bank in India did not respond to Adhikar Sangharsh Sangatha, a one from the state government. Aff airs Minister Sushma Swaraj. cording to the communities. an e-mail seeking comment. plaintiff in the case. “At least a state minister He is expected to meet Chief Last week, the US Court of A spokesman for Tata Power Hot water from the plant’s An elephant relaxes after participating in the Dussehra festival should have been present. I wish Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Appeals for the District of Co- said that its subsidiary “is in cooling system has harmed the in Mysuru yesterday. this wrong will be corrected,” former chief minister Oommen lumbia Circuit, while noting the complete compliance with fi sh and air quality, he said. said Chennithala. Chandy. Gulf Times 14 Monday, October 2, 2017 INDIA

Tamil Nadu Roundup Ambala airbase gearing up to receive Rafale fi ghters

By Umaima Shafiq IANS ited the airbase and a preliminary quirements and the preliminary in September 2019, with the tance away. The Pakistan border (Rs590bn /$8.7bn) inter-govern- Ambala study has been completed. While work has been completed,” the number being gradually ramped is just over 200km away. ment agreement for the purchase some of the existing infrastruc- Commanding Offi cer of the Am- up to a full-strength of 18 by Currently two squadrons of of 36 Rafale fi ghters, off the shelf, No video of ture will be used for the new Rafale bala airbase, Air Commodore L K 2022. The squadron had seen ac- Jaguar fi ghter jets, and one of on September 23 last year. This he Indian Air Force airbase squadron, additional infrastruc- Chawla, said, adding that the up- tion during the 1999 Kargil War MiG-21 Bisons are based in Am- was after prolonged negotiations Jayalalithaa here, one of IAF’s oldest, is ture in the form of at least 14 new graded infrastructure is expected with Pakistan when it fl ew MiG- bala. The MiG-21s will be shifted over the price and other aspects of in hospital, Tgetting a slew of upgrades, shelters, new hangars, new oper- to last at least 40 to 50 years. 21s under the command of the to the Nal airbase in Rajasthan the deal, which was agreed upon including new hangars, tarmac ating surfaces, a de-briefi ng room The French team has prom- present Indian Air Force chief, before the Rafales arrive. during Prime Minister Narendra says off icial and simulator for fl ight train- and a facility for simulator training ised a 70% serviceability factor Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa, The second squadron of Ra- Modi’s visit to France in April 2015. ing, as it prepares to welcome will be created, for which Rs2.27bn for the Rafales and there is also a then a Wing Commander. fales will begin arriving once The deal includes an off set The Apollo Hospitals in Chennai the country’s newest fi ghters, ($35mn) has been sanctioned. long-term contract for the sup- The frontline Ambala airbase, Ambala is at full strength and clause of 50% of the value of the has claimed that there are no the French Rafale - the fi rst new “The construction work for ply of spares. under the Western Air Com- these aircraft will be stationed aircraft and its weapons package video recordings of late chief m combat jet to be inducted in close the new infrastructure will start Golden Arrows, 17 Squad- mand, is the principal guardian at Hashimara in the east, close to will be discharged by the manu- inister Jayaram Jayalalithaa to 20 years. in January or February 2018. The ron, will initially comprise four of the airspace over the national the China border. facturer through purchase from during her three-month stay at A French team has already vis- French team has given its re- Rafales that are likely to arrive capital, a fi ve-minute fl ying dis- India and France signed a €7.8bn Indian fi rms. the hospital from September 22 until her death on December 5, 2016. “When someone is sleeping Creating a sportier India and is being treated as a patient there will not be any surveillance camera,” hospital president H K Hariprasad said. “It will not be there in any hospital across the world. We can’t respond to Archaic rent anything everybody is saying. However we will co-operate with the probe ordered by the Tamil Nadu government.” Current Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy had ordered a probe to be headed by retired judge A laws blamed Arumughaswamy last week. The hospital’s announcement was a setback to Jayalalithaa’s jailed friend Sasikala and her nephew T T V Dinakaran’s claims that video recordings would prove that the death wad natural. for shortage Businessman stabbed by disgruntled employees of housing

Industrialist Varun Manian, who Reuters safety and sanitation issues that loans for buyers and incentives for was briefly engaged to actress Mumbai can impact productivity,” he said. builders. Trisha Krishnan, was stabbed by The urban housing shortage is That leaves low income work- two men inside a lift at his off ice estimated at nearly 20mn units ers stranded in unsafe buildings, building in Chennai last week. he collapse of a 117-year- and seen as a major hurdle to and in slums and chawls - low- The men were reportedly old apartment block in a faster economic growth neces- rise blocks with one-room homes disgruntled employees, who Tcrowded neighbourhood sary to lift millions of Indians out - built more than a century ago to attacked him with a screw driver. in Mumbai last month highlight- of poverty. house workers. They were arrested the following ed the dismal state of aff ordable States at one time built social Thousands of families still live day. rental housing in Indian cities, housing for migrant labourers in- in chawls in prime sites in Mum- Manian was hospitalised and is even as tens of thousands mi- cluding those working in textile bai, paying a monthly rent of stable. He was engaged to Trisha grate from rural areas everyday in mills and ports. about Rs18-20 each, a fraction of in January 2015, but the couple search of jobs. But as the population grew and the market rate. called it off within two months. Thirty-four people including urbanisation increased, the gov- Many buildings are so dilapi- In a separate incident, a newborn baby were killed when ernment gave up this role to the dated they must be knocked down Jothimurugan, a guest lecturer, the six-storey building collapsed private sector. and redeveloped, offi cials say. But stabbed Jenefa, an associate after heavy rains in a congested Most states have also not residents oppose the move, saying professor at Madurai Kamaraj neighbourhood in the fi nancial amended decades-old rent con- they will be forced to pay higher University, for not renewing hub. trol laws because of opposition rents. his teaching contract. He was It was one of hundreds of old, from wealthy tenants who ben- The government must inter- arrested immediately. decrepit buildings in the city un- efi t from the caps on rent even on vene to create more social hous- Jenefa, the head of Department der an archaic rent control law large homes. ing, said Vejella, who is on a task of Journalism and Science that has kept rents low, but led to While the law limits the pace of force on rental housing. Communication, was stabbed buildings becoming dilapidated rent increases, it has exacerbated “Just as with the ownership in the head, neck and abdomen that tenants are reluctant to leave the lack of aff ordable housing and push, the government must of- inside her off ice. However because of a lack of aff ordable op- the immobility of low-income fer incentives to developers and she survived and is under tions. tenants who cannot aff ord to buy subsidies to renters,” said Vejella, treatment. She had not renewed About a third of India’s 1.25bn homes. whose several attempts at pro- Jothimurugan’s contract because population lives in cities, with In Mumbai almost 95% of new viding rental accommodation for of his amorous behaviour with the numbers rising every year as residential construction between low-income workers failed. female colleagues. tens of thousands of people leave 1961 and 2010 was for private “Otherwise it can’t work ex- villages to seek better economic ownership, a sharp increase from cept as a social enterprise”, and prospects. preceding years, according to the not as a for-profi t business mod- Karunanidhi About a quarter of the ur- IDFC Institute, a think tank based el, he said. death rumours ban population lives in informal in the city of 20mn people. The aff ordable housing short- housing, including slums because “The rent control law contrib- age comes as more than 11mn spark panic of a critical shortage of aff ordable utes to the shortage in formal af- homes in India’s urban areas lie housing, according to social con- fordable housing and distortions vacant, according to offi cial data. Rumours that ailing DMK sultancy FSG. in the land market,” said Vaidehi Owners may either be waiting president M Karunanidhi, 95, had With little new aff ordable rent- Tandel, an associate fellow at the for prices to appreciate so they died caused panic after Tamil al housing being built, millions of IDFC Institute. can sell for a profi t, or they may Nadu’s Director General of Police poor migrants are forced to live “There is very little new rental be reluctant to rent out for fear of (DGP) T K Rajendran asked all in unsafe and unsanitary condi- stock being added, and the exist- squatter tenants, said Tandel. police battalions to report to their tions, in slums and other informal ing stock is in pretty bad shape. “If these vacant houses are respective headquarters in the settlements where they may lack So there’s little protection for the made available for rental hous- state last week. even basic amenities, analysts say. poor,” she told the Thomson Reu- ing, then some, if not most of the Some news reports even “They have no choice,” said ters Foundation. urban housing shortage can be suggested that jailed AIADMK Satyanarayana Vejella, co-found- A national urban rental hous- addressed,” according to the draft leader V K Sasikala’s husband er of Aarusha Homes, which op- ing policy, which commits to so- rental housing policy. Natarajan who is hospital for erates dormitories for students cial rental housing for vulnerable The government earlier this liver failure had also died. and entry-level workers in four groups including migrant workers year unveiled a rental voucher However police later confirmed cities. and the urban poor, has remained scheme for Rs27bn ($421mn), that it was a routine security Students participate in Physical Literacy Day celebrations in Hyderabad yesterday. The event “They cannot aff ord the high a draft since 2015. aimed at migrants and the urban exercise. is a community festival that brings people together to celebrate the joy of physical movement. rents in the city, so they are forced Instead, the government is poor in 100 Smart Cities, or cities Meanwhile Karunanidhi’s son M It involves programmes that integrate sports, education, health and recreation to create a to go to the informal sector, where pushing a goal to provide hous- that are being upgraded in a plan K Stalin and other party cadre happier, healthier and sportier India. the options may be dirty or un- ing for all by 2022, with a focus that activists say will not benefi t rubbished the death rumours and safe. There are bound to be health, on ownership through subsidised the poor. said he was well. Aarav wins Bigg Boss Tamil Fame, money not enough Up and coming film actor Aarav won the title of the Tamil version of reality show Bigg Boss, that completed its first season on to succeed in politics: Rajini September 30. The show hosted by actor Kamal IANS what it is had I asked him two A recipient of Dada Saheb Haasan, began on June 25 with Chennai months ago. Today, he says he Phalke award, Ganesan acted in nearly 19 film celebrities, who will show me if I come with him,” over 300 fi lms during his illus- had to stay in a custom-built Rajinikanth added. trious career. house for 100 days without their amil superstar Ra- Speaking on the occasion, A bronze statue of the thes- family, newspapers, television jinikanth yesterday took Haasan took a jibe at the All pian, removed from Kamarajar or any social media. They Ta dig at actor-fi lmmaker India Anna Dravida Munnetra Salai following a court directive were monitored throughout Kamal Haasan, who is on the Kazhagam government for the earlier this year, was unveiled on with nearly 50 cameras and verge of taking a political plunge, delay in inaugurating Ganesan’s the occasion. are judged based on their and said it takes more than just memorial. Ganesan’s son Prabhu, a pop- interaction with housemates, name, fame and money to suc- “We need not request or beg ular actor, said: “The memo- winning games and tasks set by ceed in politics. anyone to unveil Sivaji’s statue. rial was Amma’s (Jayalalithaa) the hosts and other skills. The “If you have to succeed in pol- His popularity and infl uence dream. I’m happy it’s coming to members were evicted based on itics, it takes more than just fame goes beyond cinema and politics. reality now. Appa (father) has public votes. and money. Something bigger I would have attended this event done so much for the Tamil au- In the last week only four is needed to transform an actor no matter who opposed my pres- dience through his movies. This men remained, Aarav, Ganesh into a politician. I hope Kamal ence,” Haasan said. is the best honour he could get.” Venkatram, Snehan and Harish Haasan (knows) what it is,” Ra- Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Earlier, Kamal said he was Kalyan. Aarav beat Ganesh to win jinikanth said, speaking at the Minister O Panneerselvam inau- prepared to die in the service of the cash prize of Rs5mn. At the inaugural ceremony of the me- gurated the memorial. the nation. He was speaking at grand finale of the show, Kamal morial for legendary Tamil actor In 2015, then chief minister J the fi nale of the Tamil version Haasan announced the launch of Sivaji Ganesan. Kamal Haasan Jayalalithaa had announced that of reality show Bigg Boss, which his next film Indian Part II to be also shared the dais with him. a memorial would be built in marked his television debut. It directed by Shankar. “Kamal would have told me memory of Ganesan. came to an end on Saturday. Actor Rajinikanth speaks at the inaugural ceremony of the Sivaji Ganesan memorial in Chennai yesterday. Gulf Times Monday, October 2, 2017 15 PAKISTAN Fata lawmakers agree to KP merger proposal

Internews with KP; extension of the Pesha- cided to abandon their plan to ing, which should be held before “The participants will also Peshawar war High Court (PHC) jurisdic- march towards the capital. October 9. discuss how to maintain local tion to Fata; and the representa- Afridi said all members and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami customs in case of a merger and tion of Fata members in the KP the ministry offi cial agreed to (JUI-S) chief Maulana Samiul setting up of Shariah courts in- he federal government of Assembly in the next general the suggestion. He said three Haq has convened an all parties stead of extension of constitu- Pakistan’s army chief General Javed Bajwa Pakistan has fi nally man- election. Fata lawmakers were not present conference (APC) and tribal jirga tional courts or the Islamabad Taged to develop consensus It was agreed that an alternate in the meeting but they were on October 3 to review imple- High Court to Fata,” it added. on the major points of reforms dispute resolution (ADR) mech- taken onboard via phone. mentation of reforms in Fata and JUI-S spokesperson Irfanul in the Federally Administered anism i.e. jirga be given legiti- “We have suggested that the demand Shariah courts in the Haq said they had already in- Tribal Areas (Fata) as all law- macy under the court’s patron- Chief Operating Offi cer (COO) tribal belt. vited all political leaders of the makers from the tribal regions age. The members agreed that for Fata should be a civilian. The According to a press release province and the Centre. issued on Saturday, the APC “The purpose of the APC is Bajwa holds have agreed to the merger with a jirga be formed if both parties COO will be running the aff airs Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP). agree on it but its decision may of the Directorate of Transition and jirga will be held in Hayata- [to call for] merger of Fata with This consensus was developed not be accepted if it is against and Reforms (DTR),” he added. bad area of Peshawar to develop K-P, [implementation of] Fata during a meeting held in Islama- fundamental human rights. According to MNA Shahabud- consensus among political par- reform package, and to demand bad on Saturday evening. “It’s a historic consensus but din Khan, a new law incorporat- ties on Fata reforms and merger a consensual judicial system for of the areas with K-P in a bid to people of Fata,” Irfan added. dialogue The meeting was chaired by right now we are not calling off ing the decision of the Satur- Minister for States and Frontier the strike [that was earlier an- day’s meeting will be drafted ensure a better future for tribal According to the spokesman, Regions (Safron) Abdul Qadir nounced to force the government over the weekend and presented people. disputes in the areas are settled Baloch and attended by most of to implement Fata reforms],” in the National Assembly early “The participants will discuss through the Qur’an and Shariah. Fata lawmakers as well as State said Shahjee Gul Afridi, law- next week. abolition of the black law of the “That’s why we are demand- He said the MPs during the Frontier Crimes Regulations ing a judicial system which with Ghani Minister Ghalib Khan Wazir. maker from Khyber Agency. A source, who attended the He said some issues still need- meeting stressed that Fata’s due (FCR), merger of Fata with the suits the daily life of the people meeting, said that all partici- ed to be seen through before the share in the National Finance K-P and reconstruction of infra- of Fata,” he said, adding that DPA new chapter” in bilateral ties. pants of the meeting agreed on civil society, political parties and Commission (NFC) award be structure in the areas,” the state- the APC would be headed by Kabul/Islamabad Afghanistan and Pakistan three points - merger of Fata people from the tribal areas de- also decided in the next meet- ment said. Maulana Samiul Haq. have long accused each other of housing terrorist groups fghan President Ashraf that launch attacks in neigh- Ghani met with Paki- bouring countries. Astan’s army chief Gen- The two sides pledged to eral Javed Bajwa in the Af- follow up on the issues dis- Broadband ghan capital Kabul yesterday, cussed in the meeting, but it 132,000 people suff ering as part of Bajwa’s visit aimed remains to be seen if any con- at repairing the strained re- crete actions will result, as user base lationship between the two diplomatic relations between countries. the countries have been tense The two sides discussed re- as of late. widens to from HIV, says report gional security and bilateral Bajwa’s visit also comes on relations, a statement released the heels of President Trump’s by the Afghan Presidential announcement about a new over 46.9mn Internews the private sector and those body’s ability to fi ght disease- held in 2011, and for the last Palace said. US policy toward South Asia. Islamabad aff ected by the diseases, and causing organisms. many years there was a demand The visit comes as the Unit- In a speech that was short raises and invests nearly $4bn HIV can be spread by con- that a new survey be held,” he ed States has taken a harder on details, Trump had harsh Internews a year to support programmes tact with infected blood, from said. line in the region, with Presi- words for Pakistan, accusing Islamabad new national survey has run by local experts in coun- mother to child during preg- The fund allocated $1mn for dent Donald Trump publicly the country of knowingly har- found that 132,000 peo- tries and communities in nancy, childbirth or breast- the survey, he said. A consor- accusing Pakistan of support- bouring Afghan insurgents. Aple in Pakistan suff er need. feeding, and can also be sexu- tium was established with sup- ing terrorist groups. He also said the US would akistan’s broadband sub- from HIV. According to the sources, ally transmitted. Without port from UNAID, and local The Taliban, as well as the increase its presence in Af- scriber base, including The survey was conducted the survey found that there medication, it may take years and international universities Haqqani network insurgent ghanistan and encouraged Pboth wireless (3G/4G) and using a grant from the Global are 6,000 HIV positive people before HIV weakens the im- provided human resources and group, remain deeply en- Pakistan’s chief rival India wireline users, broadened to over Fund, and took 10 months to living in the capital, 60,000 mune system to the point that support. trenched in Afghanistan, and to play a greater role in the 46.9mn by August 2017 from complete. It was carried out in Punjab, 11,000 in Khyber one develops Aids. Dr Achakzai said a de- are seen as a major destab- region. around 45.6mn till a month ear- in 20 cities, in which 60 teams Pakhtunkhwa and 3,000 in The manager of the National tailed, 400-page report will be lising force in the war-torn Pakistan argues that it car- lier, mainly driven by a striking collected data from around Balochistan. Aids Control Programme, Dr launched tomorrow, which will country as a whole, as well ries out off ensives against all rise in the usage of mobile data 5,000 places. The survey It also found that most of Baseer Achakzai, said that there contain information on HIV in as for the Nato coalition groups of militants in its tribal services, Pakistan Telecommu- will be offi cially launched the people who were suff ering were a number of estimates various segments of society and currently active there. regions near the Afghan bor- nication Authority (PTA) report- tomorrow. from HIV are people who inject about HIV patients in Pakistan, the prevalence of the disease in The Afghan government der, and that it is also a victim ed yesterday. The Global Fund is a part- drugs. making it diffi cult to give data diff erent age groups. statement said both sides dis- of militant groups. “The major contribution came nership organisation founded The acquired immunode- at any credible platform. “Because of the survey, we cussed “peace and stability, Last week, Pakistan’s for- from the mobile operators in in 2002 to accelerate the end of fi ciency syndrome, or Aids, is “To address the issue, we will be able to make policy to counter-terrorism, trade and eign minister told a seminar in the shape of 3G/4G subscribers, Aids, tuberculosis and malaria a chronic and potentially life asked the Global Fund to allo- curb the disease and convince transit relations, and short- New York that eff ective border which reached 44.5 million by as epidemics. threatening condition caused cate funds for a credible survey international donors to release term and long-term Afghan- management with Afghani- August,” the PTA said. It is a partnership between by HIV. It damages the immune on HIV patients in Pakistan. We funds for focused groups,” he istan-Pakistan relations,” in stan is imperative to stop the “The number of broadband governments, civil society, system, severely aff ecting the told [them] the last survey was said. what the palace hailed as “a infi ltration of terrorists. subscribers in other technologies included DSL reached 1,549,688, HFC 51,065, Wimax 160,519, FTTH 51,097, EvDO 565,709, while the users of other technol- Set for market ogies hit a fi gure of 9,264.” Historiographer The PTA also revealed that country’s largest mobile phone operator, Jazz, overwhelmed its Saifur passes away competitors as a premier 3G/4G provider. “Jazz mobile broad- band subscriber base reached Internews His last book published on 13.2 million and 1.24 million for Peshawar his 90th birthday in Febru- 3G and 4G respectively in the ary this year was received period under review,” the PTA with acclaim in the Pashto- numbers disclosed. aifur Rehman Syed speaking part of the world A senior offi cial of the com- Kakakhel, renowned as it answered pivotal ques- pany said the key to this lead- Swriter, broadcaster, lin- tions around the Malik Akor ing position was an outcome of guist and author has passed dynasty in a way termed by consistent investment to fur- away. He was laid to rest in his literati as a method to extend ther innovate on behalf of sub- ancestral graveyard in Ziyarat work on the local history scribers by delivering not just Kaka Sahib. with particular reference to the best 3G/4G and voice net- His landmark book was the 17th century period of work, but also improvements in Tareekh-e-Muraasa, which Khushal Khan Khattak and customer service, and product traces the history of Malik his family. lines. Akor dynasty who was warri- Born on February 19, 1927, The PTA statistics also showed or-poet Khushal Khan Khat- Saifur Rehman Kakakhel that Zong 3G and 4G subscribers tak’s ancestors. was the ninth generation of increased to 8.77mn and 4.6mn Saifur Rehman Syed Kaka- Hazrat Sheikh Raham Kar, respectively, while Telenor’s 3G khel had written a number a renowned religious fi gure and 4G users hit 10.57mn and of books, dramas and short aff ectionately called Kaka 849,139 by end of August. stories for TV and radio pro- Sahib. The Ufone 3G subscribers grammes, but the work that After receiving primary reached 5.3mn by August from distinguished him among his education at Madrassa Nus- 5.15mn till July 2017. Experts say contemporaries was the his- ratul Islam, Ziarat Kaka Sahib, that portable mobile broadband toriography of the Malik Akor Saifur Rehman joined the In- devices like MiFi and Wingles are dynasty and the review, cor- dian Electrical and Mechani- one of the main reasons of this rections and proof-reading cal Engineering Corps (IEME), growth in 3G/4G subscribers and of the Urdu translation of Sir but left it after six years due to many more will follow this trend Olaf Caroe’s best-seller The the illness of his mother back Farmers prepare to load bananas on a truck in a field in Nawabshah district in Sindh yesterday. in upcoming days. Pathans. in the village. Islamabad, a capital without public bus service

Internews residents of the federal capital kistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) Expressway is a case in point - the Recently, CDA and MCI offi - Islamabad,” the mayor said. the city with the highest growth Islamabad that he would launch a “decent opposition leader in the MCI. city’s main commercial hubs face cials jointly prepared a PC-1 for Admitting that the project rate in the country. In fact, the public bus service” on six routes. “Unfortunately, much like his a paucity of parking spaces. The the project, which envisages a was facing delays, Aziz was capital’s population has jumped However, sources say that other promises, the mayor has problem is most apparent in Blue Rs1.9 billion outlay for the pro- quick to add that he would be from around 800,000 in 1998 to he mayor of Pakistan’s the cash-strapped Metro- failed to honour his commit- Area, Supermarket, Jinnah Super, curement of 106 buses and the taking up the issue with the fed- over 2mn in the latest census. fastest growing city Is- politan Corporation Islamabad ment regarding a public welfare Aabpara, the district courts in F-8 development of 164 bus stops eral government very soon. “We But so far, the capital does not Tlamabad seems to have (MCI) is least bothered about project,” he said. Markaz and G-9 Markaz. along six routes. have already pre-qualifi ed four have a public transport facil- forgotten his promise to give this project. “In the absence of If residents of the capital were In April this year, MCI pre- “Buying buses worth Rs1.9bn fi rms, and once the issue of sub- ity other than the Rawalpindi- his citizens a network of af- a bus service, main roads of the provided a decent bus service, qualifi ed four fi rms - including is not such a big deal, the real sidy is decided, we will be able Islamabad metro bus project, fordable public buses, which is city have become overburdened they would avoid using private Daewoo, Al-Raziq, Faisal Mov- stumbling block is that we have to start this project within a few which simply caters to one badly needed by the over 2mn by the huge number of private vehicles - a step Awan claimed ers and Al-Barak to take up the yet to obtain federal government weeks,” he said. specifi c route. residents of the capital. vehicles. Perhaps Islamabad would resolve most traffi c-re- project. However, sources said approval to provide a subsidy on Islamabad, which has been Even though successive CDA man- In his maiden speech after is the only capital in the world lated problems in the city. In ad- that after prequalifi cation, no the project, along the lines of the witnessing a signifi cant increase agements have promised to launch taking charge, Islamabad Mayor that does not have a public bus dition to overcrowding on the further action has been taken to subsidy provided to the metro in its population over the past public transport systems, none of Sheikh Anser Aziz had promised service,” said Ali Awan, the Pa- city’s main arteries - Islamabad get the project rolling. bus project in Rawalpindi and decade or so, has emerged as them could get anything done. Gulf Times 16 Monday, October 2, 2017 PHILIPPINES

54 rebels surrendered Duterte to snub special in September: military

Manila Times are now experiencing hardship Manila within their organisation, and they are willing to avail of the opportunities being off ered by t least 54 members of the government to former NPA anti-corruption probe the left-leaning New rebels,” Arevalo said in a state- APeople’s Army surren- ment, adding that the military AFP Deputy Ombudsman Melchor family had properties and busi- dered to the government in is expecting more surren- Manila Arthur Carandang who had an- nesses including an ice plant September, the Armed Forces derees from the NPA. nounced the probe. and lumberyard, adding his late of the Philippines (AFP) said The NPA, armed wing of Duterte’s remarks contra- father was a provincial gover- yesterday. the Communist Party of the hilippine President Ro- dicted his spokesman’s state- nor. The latest are two rebels Philippines (CPP), has been drigo Duterte has said he ment last week that the presi- “All in all it would not from Palawan, according to the ordered to intensify its off en- Pwould not co-operate with dent respected the ombudsman go beyond 40mn (pesos or Western Command (WesCom) sives after President Rodrigo a special anti-corruption pros- and trusted its impartiality. $785,000), my lifetime savings. on Saturday. Duterte declared martial law ecutor’s investigation into al- Duterte, 72, won last year’s A part of that was my heredi- Col. Edgard Arevalo, AFP in Mindanao to suppress an legations he acquired ill-gotten presidential elections on a bru- tary — you people from Davao public aff airs chief, said there alleged rebellion by extrem- wealth, vowing he would “not tal law-and-order and anti- know this — property,” Duterte were seven other communist ists in Marawi City. NPA rebels submit” to its authority. corruption platform. said.“I hate to say it (but) what rebels from the western Mind- ambushed in July, members of The ombudsman said last During the election cam- do you think of us, poor? That anao area who surrendered on Duterte’s Presidential Security week it was investigating paign Duterte had said he came we are that poor?” Wednesday, September 20, to Group (PSG) in North Cotaba- claims Duterte’s bank accounts from a poor family and lived a Duterte has launched tirades the Joint Task Force “ZamPe- to and killed two Marines near had hundreds of millions of pe- modest lifestyle which boosted against the Supreme Court Lan” in Zamboanga Sibugay. a market in Roxas, Palawan. sos (millions of dollars) which his image as an anti-establish- chief justice, the Commission It was the Philippine Army’s These attacks prompted Du- he failed to disclose as required ment politician representing on Human Rights, the Catho- 102nd Infantry Brigade who terte to scrap the peace negotia- by law. the common folk, analysts said. lic Church and critical media took custody of those who sur- tions with the National Demo- Duterte responded by lash- The ombudsman probe outlets. rendered, Arevalo said. cratic Front of the Philippines ing out at the ombudsman, stemmed from a plunder com- He and his allies have then In Sultan Kudarat, nine NPA (NDFP), the political wing of the calling the agency “lousy” and plaint filed before the elections started campaigns to curb their rebels presented themselves CPP. The cancellation of peace saying allegations against him by opposition senator Antonio powers or discredit them. “voluntarily” to the 33rd In- talks, as well as the rejection were “lies based on baseless” Trillanes who alleged Duterte Duterte last week said he fantry Battalion and turned of left-leaning Cabinet mem- information. Duterte: refusing to co-operate with probe embezzled government funds would create a commission to over six improvised explosive bers Judy Taguiwalo and Rafael “I will not submit to the during his more than two- investigate corruption in the devices (IEDs) on Sept 23. Mariano, prompted lawmakers jurisdiction (of the ombuds- on Saturday night. “Waving then you want me to submit to decade stint as mayor of the ombudsman, a move an oppo- “It is apparent through the under the Makabayan bloc to man),” Duterte said in a curse- fabricated evidence, lying to his the jurisdiction of the ombuds- southern city of Davao. sition congressman called an statement of those who sur- withdraw their alliance from the laden speech to local lawyers teeth in front of the nation and man,” Duterte said referring to On Saturday, Duterte said his act of vindictiveness. rendered that their comrades Duterte administration. Senate sets Oct 11 deadline Clean-up campaign for passage of tax reform bill

Manila Times ate intends to approve the tax tinue to enjoy tax exemptions on Manila reform bill before congress goes their 13th month pay and other on a recess. bonuses. The proposal, Angara President Rodrigo Duterte said, was in line with the presi- enate President Aquilino certifi ed the proposed tax meas- dent’s campaign promise to ex- Pimentel said yesterday ure as urgent and the House of empt workers earning P25,000 Sthat the upper chamber Representatives approved it on and below monthly from income was targeting to have the Tax fi nal reading in May. tax. About 7.5mn individual in- Reform for Acceleration and In- The measure contains the come taxpayers are expected to clusion (TRAIN) bill passed on fi rst package of the Duterte ad- benefi t from lower income tax third and fi nal reading before ministration’s tax reform pack- rates. Congress goes on recess in Oc- age, which includes lowering The Senate version also seeks tober 11. the personal income tax and to impose lower excise tax on The TRAIN bill is being delib- expanding the value added tax sugar-sweetened beverages al- erated upon at the Senate plena- base for the government to raise though a P6 per litre excise tax ry after it was sponsored by Sen. funds for its ambitious “Build, will be implemented on cooking Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Build Build” programme. gas (liquefi ed petroleum gas and chairman of the ways and means Under the Senate version kerosene). committee on September 20. of the bill, employees with an Pimentel added that Congress “That is exactly the deadline. annual gross income of up to was also planning to convene the Pass the train bill before going P150,000 will be exempted from bicameral conference commit- on break,” Pimentel said in a text tax while those with gross in- tee on the TRAIN bill during the message when asked if the Sen- come of up to P82,000 will con- break.

CRIME Gunman shoots dead government official in Batangas An assistant district engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was shot dead in Batangas, police said yesterday, Manila Times reported. Landicho, an engineer of DPWH in Carmona, Cavite, Government employees and volunteers participate in a clean-up drive at the Las Pinas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Eco-Tourism was gunned down by an unidentified suspect, as he was washing his car at his garage in Purok 2, Barangay Area in observance of National Clean-up Month. The area is a nature reserve south of Manila Bay, established in 2007 by Presidential Banadero in Tanuan City. The police said that the gunman approached Landicho at 11.20am on Saturday and Proclamation 1412 and covers 175 hectares, consisting of two islands, Freedom Island and Long Island. shot him while an accomplice served as lookout and driver of the motorcycle they used. Bangsamoro law ‘faces risk of Call to halt drug killings being junked’ by Supreme Court and to start healing process By Rhaydz B Barcia in his image and likeness. That clusion, without prophetically Manila Times/Legazpi City is why we have the capacity to raising our hands or voices!” By Llanesca T Panti their demands to have the Sharia love, to be just and merciful. The Diocese of Legazpi also Manila Times law that will govern the state Today this fundamental truth issued a circular to spell out that will be given to them,” Puno ishop Joel Baylon of the about our human dignity and more concrete steps in support added.The lack of autonomy in Diocese of Legazpi called capacity for loving is being of this call to action. he proposed Bangsam- Mindanao has an impact on na- Bon President Rodrigo to supplanted by a mindset that Earlier, Cris Bernarte parish oro Basic Law (BBL) giv- tional security, as shown by the stop the killings in his all-out says there are persons who, on priest of Holy Fatima in Tahao Ting wider autonomy to May 23 attack on Marawi City war against drugs in order to account of their sins, have lost Road this city, said in his homily Muslim Mindanao is at risk of by terrorists who wanted to put start the healing process. their dignity and their rights to at Saint Rose of Lima parish in being junked by the Supreme up an Islamic State province in Baylon said drug addiction equal protection of the law. Bacacay town, “Don’t be cowed, Court without a shift to a federal Mindanao, Puno argued. is a disease and a public health stand up against EJK. Fake news system of government, former “This frustration of our concern that the government “Don’t be cowed, stand up and extrajudicial killings are chief justice Reynato Puno has brothers has threatened to wreck must address in a proper way against EJK. Fake news taking place under the present warned. our Republic, resulting in open not through extra-judicial kill- and extrajudicial killings administration. Coalesce to Puno, an advocate of federal- rebellion and worse, they are ings (EJKs). are taking place under the condemn the happening in our ism, said Charter change was now assisted by some foreign el- The prelate of Legazpi said present administration” country. If you keep quiet in the needed as the existing unitary ements,” he said. they posted an open letter to ongoing extra-judicial killing form of government would not These frustrations, the former the president last year, ask- “This year, we celebrate our you’re accepting the norm of accommodate the demands of chief justice said, also mani- ing him “to order specifi cally parishes and highlight our be- EJK.” Muslims, who account for fi ve fested when the Supreme Court these extrajudicial killings be ing a communion of communi- The church bells of the Dio- percent of the country’s 100mn junked the Memorandum of stopped, investigated, and ties. To promote communion, cese of Legazpi have been ring- population, for self-rule. Agreement on Ancestral Domain those responsible arrested and we need to regain our capacity to ing for the longest time in the “This is to enable the coun- (MOA-AD) between the Arroyo brought to justice.” respect the rights and dignity of country. They have been tolling try to deal with the demands of government and the Moro Is- “It seems our appeal fell on all. This can only happen when in Albay since November 2016 our brothers to have their own lamic Liberation Front (MILF) deaf ears and stony hearts. But we listen to the cries of the poor in the hope that Duterte will stop homeland which they can govern in 2008, and when the proposed the recent murders of several and the suff ering in our midst. the killings in the government’s based on their culture, religion, Former Supreme Court chief justice Reynato Puno has stressed the BBL failed to gain enough sup- youngsters and attempts to re- We need to regain our trust in war against illegal drugs. language and history,” he said at need to shift to a federal system of government in Malacanang. port in Congress during the strain the promotion of human government so we can work to- Father Rex Arjona, execu- a Palace news conference. Aquino administration. rights have awakened the con- gether for the good of all.” tive director of the Social Action “It will be very diffi cult for under a federal government. ceeded. There is only one way The 2008 MOA-AD and the science of many,” Baylon said. Baylon added this can only Center (SAC), said the Diocese this bill (BBL) to overcome a Each state will have the au- to deal with them and that is to BBL, the product of the peace This Sunday, a pastoral let- happen if the rule of law, truth- supports Duterte’s war on drugs constitutional challenge before thority to craft laws, collect tax- respect their identity and to live agreement between the govern- ter on the killings in the war on telling, and accountability again through rehabilitation and with- the Supreme Court, because we es and manage resources. with them under a co-operative ment and the MILF signed in drugs “Stop the Killings, Start become the norms in govern- out bloodshed. have a unitary government that “This demand of our broth- form of a federal government,” March 2014, were heavily criti- the Healing: A Call to Action” ance. The diocese is implementing is not empowered to grant the ers for self-determination, for Puno said. cised as both would carve out a will be read anew in 47 parishes Pope Francis, during his Ap- “Harong Paglaom” (House of identity-based demands of our self-rule…they have always tried “There would be demands, for sub-state and share sovereign here. The pastoral letter reads, ostolic visit to Colombia on Hope), a community-based re- brothers and sisters,” he added. to preserve their identity dating instance, that would be distinct, powers, which would run afoul “We are called to heed the cry September 10, said, “How much habilitation programme which President Rodrigo Duterte back to the time of our Span- peculiar because of their reli- of the 1987 Constitution. of the earth and the poor. To- have we neglected, allowing bar- aims to help rehabilitate sub- promised a shift to federalism in ish and American colonisers. All gion, because of their culture, “The aspiration of our broth- day in our communities, this barity to become enfl eshed in stance users through spiritual the 2016 campaign, and his al- the eff orts to absorb them have and because of their history. For ers cannot be substantially includes listening to the cries the life of our people? How many guidance and life skills training lies in Congress are proposing to failed, and neither the subtle instance: their judicial system. granted unless we change our of families of victims of killings times have we ‘normalised’ the in collaboration with local gov- divide the country into 11 states eff orts to assimilate them suc- There is a need to accommodate unitary government,” Puno said. and violence. “God created us logic of violence and social ex- ernment units. Gulf Times Monday, October 2, 2017 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL Bangladesh to move refugees from tribal area to camp

AFP waged a separatist insurgency in offi cial refugee status and has Cox’s Bazar the 1980s and 1990s. made clear it does not want them Bangladesh authorities fear to remain indefi nitely. their presence could revive com- Authorities have restricted angladesh is to move to a munal tensions between the lo- the movement of the refugees, camp at least 15,000 Ro- cal Muslim population and the banning them from leaving the Bhingya refugees who have tribal minority, who are mainly overcrowded camp areas where settled in a restive hill district Buddhist. hundreds of thousands are living Rohingya refugees queue for aid in Cox’s Bazar yesterday. near the border with Myanmar, a “The government has now in desperate conditions with in- local offi cial said yesterday. decided to shift all 15,000 newly adequate shelter. close ties with the ethnic Ra- Most of the estimated half a arrived Rohingya to the main Banik said the government khine Buddhists accused of car- World Food Programme seeks $75mn for Rohingya crisis million Rohingya who have ar- camp,” Bandarban government also wanted to move around rying out attacks on Rohingya in The World Food Programme overwhelming aid agencies in “I say we can end world hunger rived in southeastern Bangla- administrator Dilip Kumar Banik 12,000 Rohingya who are Myanmar. (WFP) appealed yesterday neighbouring Bangladesh. with a few billion dollars. I tell desh over the last fi ve weeks af- said. stranded in the nearby no-man’s In June this year local Mus- for $75mn in emergency aid “The bottom line? This is a donors, if you can’t give us the ter fl eeing violence in Myanmar Banik said the government land between Bangladesh and lims torched hundreds of houses over the next six months to deplorable situation. This is money, stop the wars,” added are crammed into the camps that would begin moving them on Myanmar. in a tribal community follow- help alleviate the suff ering as bad as it gets. We need Beasley, whose UN agency is the have sprung up on government Monday to “ensure peace in the Tribal groups ended their sep- ing the alleged murder of a local of Rohingya Muslims fleeing 75mn for the next six months,” main humanitarian organisation land. hill district”. aratist insurgency in 1997 and politician. violence in Myanmar. David Beasley, WFP executive battling hunger worldwide. But thousands of the mainly Bangladesh has opened its signed a peace treaty with the And in May last year a 75-year- Since August 25, hundreds director, told reporters after The United Nations is currently Muslim refugees have settled in borders to the Rohingya, who are government. old Buddhist monk was found of thousands of Rohingya visiting refugee camps in seeking $200mn from donors the nearby district of Bandar- denied citizenship in their native But tensions persist between hacked to death in Bandarban, Muslims have fled their homes Bangladesh near the Myanmar to help tackle the crisis among ban, part of the Chittagong Hill Myanmar. the local Muslim population an attack later claimed by the in majority Buddhist Myanmar, border. the Rohingya Muslims. Tracts, where indigenous tribes But it has not granted them and the tribal groups, who have Islamic State group. Bagfuls of fish Lanka arrests six in hunt for monks who attacked refugees

AFP be hospitalised after the at- persecution and discrimina- Colombo tack, in which monks and tion in mainly Buddhist My- their supporters threw stones anmar, where many view them and smashed windows and as illegal immigrants from ri Lankan police said furniture. Bangladesh. yesterday they have Five men and a woman have Sri Lanka’s extremist Bud- Sarrested six people in already been arrested and a dhist monks have close links their hunt for a mob led by government offi cial said several with their ultra-nationalist Buddhist monks who at- police offi cers were also un- counterparts in Myanmar. tacked Rohingya refugees der investigation for failing to Both have been accused of or- last week. prevent the violence. chestrating violence against The government of the Bud- The refugees had arrived in minority Muslims in the two dhist-majority country has ac- Sri Lanka fi ve months ago after countries. cused the monks of behaving the navy found them drifting The UN High Commissioner like “animals” during Tues- in a boat off the island’s north for Refugees expressed alarm day’s attack on a centre hous- coast. over Tuesday’s attack and urged ing Rohingya Muslims includ- Before that, they had been Sri Lankans to show empathy ing children on the outskirts of living in India for several years. for civilians fl eeing persecution Colombo. Hundreds of thousands of and violence. “We have identifi ed the Rohingya Muslims have fl ed The 31 Rohingya refugees, monks who led the attack,” an Myanmar in recent years and including 16 children and sev- offi cer involved in the investi- while most are in refugee camps en women, were evacuated by gation told AFP on condition of in Bangladesh, hundreds of the police and accommodated anonymity. them have moved to other parts at a former detention centre “We have deployed three of South Asia. in the south of the island for Street vendor wait for customers to sell fish in Colombo yesterday. teams to arrest them.” They have been the target their safety, according to the Two police offi cers had to of decades of state-backed government.

Seven dead as bus veers off road At least seven people were killed and 14 others injured as a First span on Padma bridge is installed passenger bus veered off a road in Comilla district, some 96km east of Dhaka, yesterday, a local IANS eration, the bridge will ease well placed to become a trad- 30mn people in Bangladesh’s laboration along the Asian high- projects that are under direct police off icial said. Dhaka pressure on the country’s ing and manufacturing hub, southwest region to the rest of way No.1 and the Trans-Asian supervision of the Fast Track “The accident left seven people premier seaport in Chit- experts say. the country, the bridge will en- railway network. Project Monitoring Committee dead on the spot and at least tagong, 242km southeast of Apart from connecting nearly hance regional trade and col- The bridge is among the six headed by the prime minister. 14 others injured,” the Comilla angladesh’s largest Pad- capital Dhaka, as it will bol- district police off icial said. ma bridge is now visible ster the second largest Mon- The off icial said the bus went off the Bas its very fi rst span has gla seaport in Bagerhat dis- road and ended up in a ditch as the successfully been installed. trict, 178km southwest of the driver lost control of the steering. Road Transport and Bridges capital city, experts say. The off icial feared that the Minister Obaidul Quader was In June 2014, the Bangladeshi number of fatalities will likely among others who witnessed government awarded a China climb as some of the victims are the installation process at a company a $1.55bn contract in critical condition. site of the bridge on Saturday to build core structure of the morning. bridge which is to be completed With the installation of in four years. 40 shanties gutted the span, fi rst among the 41 The 25m-wide and 10km- spans to be installed on the long bridge will be built over the in Nepal blaze 6.15km bridge, the minister Padma river, one of the three At least 40 shanties were destroyed said the Padma bridge is now major rivers in Bangladesh. in a massive fire that broke out at visible. About 6.15km of the bridge is the squatter area in front of a fruit About 50% work of the bridge being built over the river while market in Kathmandu’s Balkhu on project has so far been complet- the remaining part on both Saturday night. ed, the minister said, adding banks. Police said that the fire started that all other spans would be set The bridge will shorten the from an oil lamp and spread to up gradually. travel time between the capital other shanties. It took about two hours for and the southern city of Khulna As many as 15 liquefied petroleum the engineers to complete the from the current 13 hours to gas cylinders blew up, razing installation work of the 150m only about three hours. down 40 shanties, according to long span on piler-37 and The bridge is expected to local Shyam Das Pandey. piler-38. promote trade and economy Three people were also reported injured In December 2015, Prime of Bangladesh, which, accord- in the incident and the belongings of all Minister Sheikh Hasina inau- ing to a World Bank report, has shanties were also completely reduced gurated the main works of Pad- the potential to end extreme to ashes due to the fire. ma bridge project, the biggest poverty by 2030. The firefighting team of Nepal of its kind for the country, by Bangladesh is strategically army mobilised five fire brigades unveiling its foundation plaque. located between China, India to douse the massive fire. When it comes into op- and Southeast Asia, making it Work in progress on the Padma bridge. Gulf Times 18 Monday, October 2, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko Smart billboards are

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar [email protected] checking you out Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) By Tim Johnson Fax 44350474 Washington

ere is what’s around the corner: Smart digital billboards will detect the Hmake, model and year of GULF TIMES oncoming vehicles and project ads tailored to the motorist. Roadside cameras will read licence plates, and powerful computers will make snap judgments based on likely Manipulating DNA home address, age, race and income level to pitch products or services through the billboards. Once ads fl ash up on roadside may help treat digital screens, the sales pitch may not stop. Any mobile phones in a passing vehicle may light up with a reinforcing message linked to the ad. inherited diseases A series of factors are reshaping the quintessential experience of the road trip or job commute. A new study by Chinese researchers, which has Smart billboards are already here, become the latest example of the rapidly growing gracing the sides of bus shelters, urban interstates and pedestrian walkways. An interactive billboard on Interstate 88 near Eola Road in Aurora, Ill., touts the Chevy Malibu. The sign uses vehicle ability of scientists to manipulate human DNA, has the And as the digital billboards grow in size recognition technology to identify competing sedans and display ads aimed at their drivers. potential to provoke deep ethical and societal debate and number - rotating ads, customising about what is and is not acceptable in eff orts to prevent them to passing traffi c and earning far channel back a targeted ad that a GPS, signals every 15 seconds. that are still out there. Usually these disease. As published in the journal Protein and Cell, more income - old-fashioned billboards driver would see for eight or nine “When you click ‘I allow’ on your kinds of issues get worked out,” face an existential moment. seconds, Pustov said. favourite mobile app, if they’re a said Dan Jaff e, head of government precise “chemical surgery” has been performed on Throw in artifi cial intelligence and When multiple lanes are fi lled with partner of ours ... you most likely are relations for the Association of human embryos to remove disease in a world fi rst. powerful computers, and the roadside traffi c, the computer can determine anonymously sending us your GPS National Advertisers, a marketing The team at Sun Yat-sen University used a technique experience is on the cusp of change. broad groups of targets, say, owners point heading,” Foreman said. industry trade group. Digital electronic billboards actually of older automobiles, and fl ash ads That is partly why INRIX says it can The arrival of smart billboards called base editing to correct a single error out of stare at us - and make judgments accordingly. anonymously track the GPS signals of is only one facet of “enormously the 3bn “letters” of the human genetic code. They about who we are and how we might “Most car companies want to over 300mn drivers in 65 countries. transformational period of media,” altered lab-made embryos to remove the disease spend our money. advertise to 7- to 12-year-old cars. Moreover, one in four cars coming Jaff e said, with changes coming “far A big unknown: the impact of self- They don’t want to advertise to a one- onto the road today emit their own faster than in the past.” beta-thalassemia. The embryos were not implanted. driving automobiles on both old-style to two-year-old car,” Foreman said. GPS signals. Still unknown is the impact of self- The Chinese researchers told the BBC News that “dumb” billboards and their smarter “Ford spending money on you when Smart billboards can consider driving automobiles, which may turn the approach may one day treat a range of inherited progeny. you’ve just bought a new Ford is lousy. other factors for targeting, such as drivers into passengers. The question then “Often your car is a proxy for But me, I have a 12-year-old Ford. I’m time of day, weather conditions, is whether those non-drivers will focus on diseases. demographics. We get several ad a great candidate.” and upcoming events. A digital sign screens inside vehicles or outside. Base editing alters the fundamental building blocks agencies who say, I want to advertise Smart billboards can also target catering to pedestrians can also make Some view autonomous vehicles of DNA: the four bases adenine, cytosine, guanine to affl uent men over $100,000 (in motorists on the highway or judgments. as likely to be a boon to billboards, and thymine. They are commonly known by their annual salary) with XYZ education. pedestrians passing bus shelters “It can detect gaits. So it understands though it may be temporary. Often driving a BMW or an Audi is a by picking up cellular or mobile male versus female, it understands kids “For the next 10 years, I think respective letters, A, C, G and T. All the instructions for proxy for that,” said Kevin Foreman, signatures, Wi-Fi signals or even versus adults,” Sriubas said. “There’s a the billboard or out-of-home building and running the human body are encoded in general manager of geoanalytics at beaconing given off by certain apps. bunch of very sophisticated algorithms industry is going to have a heyday. combinations of those four bases. The potentially life- INRIX, a Kirkland, Wash., company The billboard sector, or what the that it can understand.” Drivers will be more hands-free,” that gathers and sells real-time traffi c industry prefers to call “out of home” Using that data, he added, “I know Foreman said. “They’ll be able to threatening blood disorder beta-thalassemia is caused information. advertising, comprises $7.5bn of you’re male or female. I know you’re phone Delta Airlines and book their by a change to a single base in the genetic code - known To determine make, model and the $185bn annual US advertising within a certain age category, 30 to 40. fl ight right away when they see as a point mutation. The team in China edited it back. year of cars on the road, start- market, said Andrew R Sriubas, chief I know that you live in this location that fl ight to Hawaii for cheaper. ... up companies marry powerful commercial offi cer at OUTFRONT and you work in that location.” They can actually transact on the They scanned DNA for the error then converted a G to computing, roadside sensors or Media, one of the nation’s big three Smart ads for cars may riff off the advertisement.” an A, correcting the fault. cameras and pinpoint advertising. outdoor advertisers. seasonal weather or time of day. Without driver safety Junjiu Huang, one of the researchers, said their One of them is Synaps Labs. Its Industry experts are cautious “For a Jaguar campaign that we considerations, more motion study opens new avenues for treating patients and co-founder and chief executive, Alex to note that the data harvesting is did,” Pustov said, referring to a smart advertisements may appear roadside. Pustov, said the company installs anonymous, hoping not to evoke campaign in his native Moscow, “when “You can do something that is preventing babies being born with beta-thalassemia, roadside cameras roughly 600 to 650ft the creepy billboards of the 2002 it was snowing they were showing a very interactive, that is full of motion “and even other inherited diseases”. The experiments in front of electronic billboards. The movie Minority Report in which a Jaguar ad that demonstrated the car is because the driver can now stare at were performed in tissues taken from a patient with the cameras feed images of oncoming protagonist fi nds signage addressed to very comfortable in the snow.” the digital billboard for a lot longer,” cars through a cellular signal to a him directly. When weather was better, and little Sriubas said. blood disorder and in human embryos made through computer. “It doesn’t have to know who you traffi c was on the road, “they were But the newness will wear off . cloning. Base editing Packed in the computer’s memory are. It needs to know what you are. saying it’s a very powerful car.” “People are going to say, ‘Hey I want to is an advance on a are some 2,000 diff erent images of It says I see phone ID 453ABCD. I The rollout of digital smart be productive for the next 45 minutes Base editing alters each of 1,600 makes and models of happen to know that phone number is billboards is far from uniform. while I’m driving to work instead of form of gene-editing cars, he said. associated with a millennial Hispanic US municipalities, counties and noticing all the things I never noticed the fundamental known as Crispr, “Initially, it was labour intensive. female, therefore send it this ad,” states have diff erent restrictions on when I was so focused on the red which is already We needed to collect millions of Sriubas said. placement, brightness and frequency light,’” Foreman added. building blocks of images,” Pustov said. “We manually Moreover, the data industry of rotation of outdoor ads, and “The train analogy, I think, is a revolutionising created libraries of car makes and collects vast information about the whether video - which can distract good analogy. When you fi rst ride the DNA science. Crispr models.” whereabouts of mobile users by the drivers - is permitted. train, you look around and notice, but breaks DNA. When It only takes a second or so to apps on their smart phones, which “There are signifi cant safety issues. after a while, you start your laptop.” – the body tries to repair the break, it deactivates a set of transmit and digest the image and share global positioning system, or There are signifi cant privacy issues Tribune News Service instructions called a gene. It is also an opportunity to insert new genetic information. Base editing works on the DNA bases themselves to convert one into another. Prof David Liu, who pioneered base editing at The return of the ‘madman theory’ Harvard University, describes the approach as “chemical surgery”. He says the technique is more effi cient and has fewer unwanted side-eff ects than By Nina Khrushcheva on Targaryen’s infamous line “burn bilateral relationship. Recognising the Soviet-initiated disarmament plan, Moscow them all,” Trump threatened that the importance of such an improvement the fi rst offi cial attempt at peaceful Crispr. He told the BBC: “About two-thirds of known US would “totally destroy” North for mitigating the nuclear threat, coexistence, out of hand. human genetic variants associated with disease are Korea if it continues to develop its Reagan followed his advisers’ counsel. The West, Khrushchev thought, point mutations.So base editing has the potential to n the 1970s, US President Richard nuclear programme. The same cannot be said of Trump, didn’t take him seriously. This is why Nixon instructed Secretary In the same speech, Trump also who surely has been warned of the he acted so outrageously at the UN. directly correct, or reproduce for research purposes, of State Henry Kissinger to savaged the 2015 nuclear agreement dangers of hurling insults like “Rocket He behaved, he explained later, as the many pathogenic [mutations].” Iconvince the leaders of hostile with Iran. As he spoke, his chief of Man” at the brutal and inexperienced early Bolsheviks would: when you Prof Robin Lovell-Badge, from the Francis Crick communist countries that he could be staff , retired US Marine Corps General Kim. disagree with an opponent, you must erratic and volatile, particularly when John Kelly, who was appointed in July When Nixon adopted his own make your argument loud and clear – Institute in London, described parts of the Chinese under pressure. Kissinger, a shrewd to bring order and a degree of stability “mad” persona, he was in some ways and drown theirs with noise. study as “ingenious”. But he also questioned why they practitioner of Realpolitik, saw the to Trump’s White House sanitarium, drawing on the example of Nikita In 1962, Khrushchev took this did not do more animal research before jumping to potential in this approach, which he could be seen with his head in his Khrushchev, my grandfather and approach a step further, testing the readily implemented. With that, the hands, as if in shock or despair. Nixon’s adversary during his tenure young President John F Kennedy human embryos and said the rules on embryo research “madman theory” of diplomacy was Many Americans have perhaps as US vice president. In the so-called with a “mad” plan to install nuclear in other countries would have been “more exacting”. born. grown desensitised to Trump’s off - “kitchen debate” of 1959 – one of the missiles in Cuba. The move triggered Prof Lovell-Badge said these approaches are unlikely Nixon was far from mad, though the-wall tirades, having endured Cold War’s weirdest moments – Nixon the Cuban Missile Crisis, the most his heavy drinking at the height of months of his late-night Twitter sparred with Khrushchev in Moscow dangerous standoff of the Cold War. to be used clinically anytime soon. There would need to the Watergate scandal prompted assaults on the press, his opponents over the superiority of capitalism over But JFK did not cower, nor did he be far more debate, covering the ethics, and how these Kissinger and Secretary of Defence and fellow Republicans, even his socialism. respond with bluster. Instead, he approaches should be regulated. And, as he pointed James Schlesinger to establish a way own cabinet members. The famously A year later, at the UN General cleverly ignored Khrushchev’s threats, out, “in many countries, including China, there to monitor his control of the nuclear thin-skinned Trump has shown that, Assembly in New York, Khrushchev and instead responded to a letter codes. Nixon’s goal in trumpeting his when provoked or insulted, he can be made quite the appearance. Cuba’s that showed the Soviet premier as a needs to be more robust mechanisms established for supposed erratic nature was to stoke counted on to retaliate. new revolutionary leader Fidel Castro rational leader negotiating for parity regulation, oversight, and long-term follow-up.” fear among his foreign adversaries that But, unlike many of Trump’s was, as was his wont, fl amboyantly in world aff airs. That cool calculation making him angry or stressed could previous unhinged ramblings, the UN issuing extravagant threats. Not enabled JFK and Khrushchev to defuse result in an irrational – even nuclear speech was read from a teleprompter, to be outdone, “Hurricane Nikita” tensions, saving the world from – response, thereby impelling them to which means that it was vetted used every opportunity to stir the nuclear confl ict. check their own behaviour. ahead of time. Those who thought diplomatic pot, whistling and banging The world must now hope that To Advertise Today, with Donald Trump leading that the “grownups” in Trump’s his fi sts – and even, allegedly, his shoe Trump can begin to act as coolly in the United States, the madman administration – Kelly, Secretary of – on the desk. assessing Kim as JFK was dealing [email protected] doctrine is back with a vengeance. Defense Jim Mattis, and National There was abundant evidence that with Khrushchev. Kim responded to Display But, this time around, it is far less clear Security Advisor H R McMaster – Western powers had been trying Trump’s UN speech by calling him Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 that it’s just an act, and that Trump would keep US security strategy to hoodwink the Soviet Union. A “mentally deranged” and a “dotard.” would not really decide, in a fi t of rage within the bounds of reason might U-2 reconnaissance aircraft, which Either Trump’s madman act is Classified or frustration, to attack, or even nuke, need to think again. President Dwight Eisenhower had working, or Kim is more right than Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 his opponents. Perhaps the maddest part of all is denied existed, had been shot down he – or the rest of us – would like. – Exhibit A in a hearing on Trump’s Trump’s apparent calculation that over Soviet territory. Moreover, the US Project Syndicate Subscription sanity would have to be his recent North Korea’s boy-king Kim Jong-un had demanded that the Soviet Union [email protected] address to the United Nations General might cower in the face of his threats. respect the Monroe Doctrine, which zNina L Khrushcheva is Professor of Assembly, which resembled the After President Ronald Reagan called assigned Latin America to America’s International Aff airs and Associate lunatic ramblings of Aerys Targaryen, the Soviet Union an “evil empire” in sphere of interest, but was unwilling Dean for Academic Aff airs at The New 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved the “mad king” in the television show 1983, he was advised not to repeat to accept Soviet hegemony in Eastern School and a senior fellow at the World Game of Thrones. Putting his own spin it, in the interest of improving the Europe. And it had dismissed a Policy Institute. Gulf Times Monday, October 2, 2017 19 COMMENT The shape of charges to come?

By Elizabeth Drew Of particular interest to Mueller is a Washington, DC meeting held in Trump Tower in June 2016, between the Trump campaign’s top brass and a Russian lawyer with hen the news broke last close Kremlin ties, who had off ered week about the specifi c Donald Jr. some dirt on Hillary documents sought by Clinton, a prospect that excited the WRobert Mueller, the candidate’s son. (“I love it,” he emailed special counsel heading the federal in response.) investigation into Russia’s role in the Donald Jr. fi rst described the 2016 election and whether Donald meeting as having been a discussion Trump’s campaign colluded with the about adoptions of Russian babies by Kremlin, a chill fell over Trump’s already Americans (which Russian President jittery White House. The documents to Vladimir Putin banned in 2012). In be turned over covered some familiar fact, there had been a discussion of events that could well lead to Trump the sanctions and other matters of being charged with obstruction of interest to Russia. Though Kushner justice, or might show that his campaign and Donald Jr. said nothing came was, at the very least, interested in of the meeting, that has not been playing with the Russians. established. Mueller is also interested The possible or even likely in Trump’s role in crafting, on Air obstruction charge would derive from Force One on his way back from Trump’s various eff orts to block the Europe, a statement that once again investigation. In particular, Trump misled the public about what was asked FBI director James Comey to discussed at the Trump Tower meeting go easy in his investigation of retired with the Russians. General Michael Flynn, the former Michael Flynn Robert Mueller James Comey For more than a year, Trump has national security adviser whom been adamant that he has no business Trump reluctantly fi red, ostensibly compromising information about the Trump is just one of the people at building in New York City, 666 Fifth To put pressure on Manafort, Mueller interests in Russia and has received because he had lied to Vice President president? risk of criminal charges as a result Avenue, leaving them enormously even staged a pre-dawn raid on his home no loans from the country. But Mike Pence about the nature of Then there was Trump’s fi ring of of Mueller’s investigation. Others in indebted and unable to fi nance the in northern Virginia and let him know his softness toward Putin remains post-election telephone calls with the Comey in May, followed by misleading Mueller’s sights are Trump’s former mortgage. Jared Kushner’s eagerness that he’ll be indicted – presumably to puzzling. Recently, it was discovered Russian ambassador. statements from White House aides campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, to secure the large sums needed to persuade him to give up information that Trump’s business had been trying Pence then reassured the country regarding why he had done so. But and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. stay afl oat has led him to seek foreign about Trump. Although Manafort was to build an enormous Trump Tower in that Flynn and the ambassador had then Trump blurted out in a television Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump lenders, including a Russian banker dropped from the Trump campaign Moscow, an eff ort that continued into simply exchanged small talk, such interview that when he fi red Comey, (said to be the president’s favourite close to Vladimir Putin. last August, following embarrassing his candidacy, before being dropped as Christmas greetings. In fact, they he had in mind “this Russia thing.” child), have offi ces in the White House, Mueller is also known to be putting news stories about his work in Ukraine, for lack of permits and land. had discussed the possibility of The next day, at a meeting in the Oval and Kushner is involved in an absurdly the squeeze on Manafort, a lobbyist Trump, acting against the advice of The attention paid to Mueller’s Trump lifting sanctions that outgoing Offi ce, Trump told senior Russian broad array of issues, from resolving the and political consultant with a history aides, continued to talk with Manafort Russia investigation waxes and wanes President Barack Obama had imposed offi cials that fi ring Comey had relieved Israel-Palestine confl ict to reorganising of helping dictators. One of his most into the early months of his presidency. in Washington, DC. But the inquiry on Russia as punishment for its “great pressure” on him. the federal government. infamous clients was the pro-Russian Also, it was recently revealed that in won’t stop until Mueller is satisfi ed interference in the election. Mueller It’s defi nitely not a good idea, as Mueller has hired experts on Viktor Yanukovych, who, upon winning 2016, while Manafort was still campaign that he knows all he needs to know. – no doubt wants to know if Trump Richard Nixon learned during the fi nancial crime – an ominous the presidency of Ukraine, imprisoned chair, he off ered to conduct briefi ngs for Project Syndicate was aware of or consented to Flynn’s Watergate scandal, for a president development for other targets. While his main rival, the previous prime a Russian oligarch about the presidential discussions. to fi re his own investigator. Trump’s Mueller is investigating Kushner’s minister, on trumped-up charges. campaign. Campaign chairs are usually zElizabeth Drew is a regular Trump also asked senior US fi ring of Comey saddled him with campaign activities, he is also Mueller’s team is poring over Manafort’s too busy for such a task. contributor to The New York Review intelligence fi gures to try to convince Mueller, a former FBI director understood to be taking a close look business dealings – projects around Mueller obviously hopes to “fl ip” of Books and the author, most recently, Comey to go easy on Flynn. One in Democratic and Republican at Kushner’s immense real estate the world, debts, funds stashed in both Flynn and Manafort. And the of Washington Journal: Reporting mystery is why Trump was so anxious administrations, praised by politicians business. A few years ago, Kushner and foreign tax shelters, suspected money president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., is Watergate and Richard Nixon’s to protect Flynn. Does Flynn have in both parties for his integrity. his father bought the most expensive laundering, and more. also at risk in the sprawling scandal. Downfall. Weather report Tackling AMR with the IMF Three-day forecast TODAY High: 39 C By Jim O’Neill agriculture, where producers use them As Peter Sands and his colleagues my audiences, I have come to realise to promote animal growth. show in a May 2016 study in The that hardly anyone knows about Low : 31 C London Inshore: Hazy to misty at places at first The UK Review recommended that Lancet, infectious-disease outbreaks the government’s policy response. becomes hot daytime with some local an additional $2bn be earmarked for have far-reaching economic costs, This could mean that my audiences clouds by afternoon. eptember was the fi rst early-stage research into AMR, so and yet they are rarely, if ever, factored are simply uninformed; but I doubt anniversary of the United the creation of an R&D hub is very into assessments of macroeconomic that. What is more likely is that the TUESDAY Nations High-Level Meeting welcome. But the agreement to limit risk. The IMF already conducts regular government has not yet followed High: 40 C Son Antimicrobial Resistance, the use of antibiotics in agriculture reviews of countries’ economic health, through on its commitments. Low: 30 C which the United Kingdom’s was even more signifi cant. In the past, and fi nancial markets give signifi cant The IMF is ideally suited to get to Sunny independent Review on AMR helped key G20 member states have resisted weight to its analyses. For the sake of the bottom of this question as a part to bring about. That moment last such commitments. And in the texts economic as well as public health, the of its routine economic assessments. year was very gratifying for me, as the that served as a foundation for the Fund would do well to start tracking And its analyses would be even more WEDNESDAY chairman of the Review, as well as for UN High-Level Meeting, agriculture countries’ progress in the fi ght against valuable to less wealthy countries, High: 40 C my team and the UK’s Chief Medical wasn’t even mentioned, owing to AMR as well. where preventing outbreaks of Low: 29 C Offi cer, Sally Davies. fear that it would render any eventual The European Union declared more infectious diseases could directly Sunny Last year’s High-Level Meeting agreement dead on arrival. than 10 years ago that it would fully boost long-term economic growth. resolved that member-state delegates The steps that the UN and the phase out the use of antibiotics for One last concern that I have on the are to reconvene for a progress G20 have taken are encouraging. But animal growth promotion. But who, fi rst anniversary of the UN High-Level Fishermen’s forecast other than the occasional investigative Meeting is that policymakers still need assessment after two years – so, in the fi ght against AMR is hardly over, OFFSHORE DOHA September 2018. The meeting also and has probably only just begun. journalist, has ever actually delved to agree on a source of funding for Wind: NW 03-12 KT called for the establishment of an Looking forward, one of the biggest into EU member states’ progress the market-entry rewards intended Waves: 1-3 Feet Interagency Co-ordination Group challenges will be holding to account toward that goal? to encourage the development of INSHORE DOHA Wind: NW-NE 05-15 KT to guide eff orts in the fight against individual countries and multilateral In the UK, my Review colleagues new drugs and diagnostics. Such Waves: 1-2 Feet AMR during that two-year period. organisations, such as the UN itself. and I were quite impressed by the innovations will be crucial for From what I have gathered, the group How will we confi rm that governments government’s formal policy response preventing and detecting AMR, and Around the region is being led by deeply committed and institutions have followed through to our recommendations, especially an incentive mechanism to stimulate Weather Weather individuals. And, more broadly, on their lofty declarations? with respect to reducing antibiotic them is increasingly regarded as the today Max/min tomorrow Max/min policymakers at the national and For starters, we can look at the prescriptions, preventing hospital- right way to go. That, too, is a topic Abu Dhabi Sunny 37/30 Sunny 37/30 international levels have begun to pay intersection of economics and public acquired infections, and limiting the on which the IMF could provide Baghdad Sunny 35/21 Sunny 36/22 Dubai more attention to the threat of AMR. health. There are many ways that use of antibiotics in farming to 50 invaluable advice. – Project Syndicate Sunny 38/29 Sunny 37/28 Kuwait City Sunny 41/26 Sunny 41/26 In fact, since the UN High-Level international institutions can use milligrams per kilogram of livestock. Manama Sunny 38/31 Sunny 38/31 Meeting, the G20 has also made economic-policy levers to reduce Over the past year, I have given zJim O’Neill, a former chairman of Muscat Sunny 33/27 Sunny 36/27 notable commitments in the battle signifi cantly the probability of public talks at some of the British Goldman Sachs Asset Management Riyadh Sunny 39/23 Sunny 38/23 against AMR. At the G20 summit infectious-disease outbreaks, and universities that are actively working and a former UK Treasury Minister, Tehran Sunny 29/16 Sunny 27/14 in Hamburg, Germany, in July, to increase vulnerable countries’ on the AMR threat. I have been is Honorary Professor of Economics governments agreed to establish resilience to such risks. encouraged to see more academic at Manchester University and former an “R&D Collaboration Hub,” and To my mind, the International researchers pursuing this topic than Chairman of the British government’s to begin to phase out antibiotics in Monetary Fund should take the lead. in the past. But when I have quizzed Review on Antimicrobial Resistance. Live issues Doctors are fi ne, but it’s nurses we love

By Gina Barreca the hospital dying of bone cancer, put screws in my hips,” remembers Nursing can’t be easy but it’s got to The Hartford Courant a handsome nurse made her laugh. writer Tim Stobierski. “Eight hours be funny. He brought colour to her cheeks later, a nurse arrived with crutches to I’m proud that a number of my and made her fl utter her eyelashes, get me walking. ‘It’s gonna hurt,’ she students have taken this route. Julianne eople like their doctors, but making her feel girlish again even as said, ‘but that’s no excuse not to do it.’ Giordano, now an inpatient oncology Around the world patients love their nurses. her life was ending. She smiled even That’s serious wisdom.” nurse, explains “Becoming a nurse Weather Weather “I was preterm labour though she had few smiles left. The Nurses are tough cookies and simultaneously cured my misanthropy today Max/min tomorrow Max/min with my fi rst kid,” is how male nurse - as we called them back proud of it. Without having stamina, and chipped away at my deep-seated Athens P Cloudy 24/14 P Cloudy 25/14 P Beirut Sunny 29/24 M Sunny 27/23 my friend Karen Dahl describes the then, the same way we called female courage, optimism and resilience, how belief that I had nothing good or true T Storms 29/24 scary situation. “Suddenly I had to physicians “women doctors” in those could they expect the same from their to off er anyone.” Julie added that even Bangkok 32/26 T Storms Berlin Rain 16/11 P Cloudy 15/09 be hospitalised. I became very, very unenlightened times - was a generous patients? during her more gruelling shifts, “Every Cairo M Sunny 34/22 Sunny 31/21 frightened. Then a nurse came in and and kind professional. Historically, women created lives hour has at least one this-is-why-I-do Cape Town Sunny 27/12 Rain 16/11 announced that ‘If we can’t stop the Good nurses are experts on human independent from men in their this moment.” Colombo T Storms 28/25 T Storms 28/26 labour, then I’m gonna get up on the nature; they recognise and attend to households and were often the fi rst in Known for their humility, humanity Dhaka S T Storms 32/26 I T Storms 33/27 Hong Kong S T Storms 32/29 S T Storms 33/28 bed with you, and they’re going to hidden wounds, disguised pains and their extended families to secure an and humour, nurses - such as Istanbul P Cloudy 20/14 P Cloudy 20/13 wheel us down the hallway together.’” overlooked necessities. education. Unapologetic about their UConn anthropology major, Dorothy Jakarta P Cloudy 32/24 S T Storms 32/24 Karen, whose terrifi c 10-year-old I bet we’ve all had a compassionate, decision to choose a vocation and their Watson Heinrichs, now at MedStar Karachi P Cloudy 32/26 P Cloudy 32/25 is proof it’s wise not to argue with a funny, smart, knowledgeable nurse to commitment to work, they led the way Washington Hospital Center - don’t London M Cloudy 17/09 M Sunny 16/08 S T Storms T Storms 32/25 nurse on a mission, says that she’s help us because otherwise we wouldn’t for many who followed their examples seek honorifi cs or public acclaim. “We Manila 32/25 Moscow M Cloudy 08/03 P Cloudy 09/03 never been more comforted by be here. Yes, physicians are essential in medicine and other professions as do our best and hope that patients New Delhi Sunny 36/23 Sunny 36/23 anyone’s words. but it’s nurses who often do the literal well. remember us with aff ection,” says New York Sunny 23/14 M Sunny 22/13 I bet it was the word “together” that and metaphoric heavy lifting. That nurse in the family or Dorothy. Paris Cloudy 21/11 P Cloudy 18/07 made all the diff erence. With a nurse Doctors retain technical authority neighbourhood? Everybody had the It’s with aff ection, respect and joy Sao Paulo S T Storms 26/18 S Showers 24/14 Seoul P Cloudy 28/14 M Cloudy 24/11 as your advocate, your ally and your and usually command respect, but number memorised. Nobody called that we think of you, dear nurses. Singapore S T Storms 31/25 S T Storms 29/25 accomplice, you feel the burden of we associate nurses with calmness, the doctor but the nurse was asked We’re in your debt. You make us Sydney Cloudy 22/15 M Sunny 22/15 your struggle lifted. cheerfulness and closeness. about every splinter, ache, fall and grateful - and you make us better. – Tokyo Clear 24/18 Clear 27/19 When my mother, age 47, was in “In eighth grade I had surgery to crisis. Tribune News Service Gulf Times 20 Monday, October 2, 2017 QATAR

QMC chief meets Indian envoy Kahramaa sub-station with multi-level car parking opens

HE Chief Executive Off icer of Qatar Media Corporation Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad al-Thani met yesterday with Indian ambassador to Qatar P Kumaran. The meeting Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al-Kuwari, director of Traff ic Engineering and safety Brigadier Mohamed al-Marafia, Central Municipal Council reviewed media relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them. member Sheikha al-Jufairi and others at the inauguration of the new sub-station in Al Ghanim area yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Two city exhibitions fete German art and design

By Joey Aguilar The event was attended by history in both Germany and The show, which will run until Fugener. Such activities will give Staff Reporter Germany’s former president around the world. “The Driven January 14, 2018, brings together university students the chance to Christian Wulff , German am- by German Design exhibition for the fi rst time diff erent design work on a project together with bassador Hans-Udo Muzel, brings the best of German cul- disciplines, including architec- the world-renowned Porsche atar Museums (QM) Volkswagen Group chairman of ture to the people of Qatar and ture, graphic design, product Design Studio, QM stressed. chairperson HE Sheikha the board of management Matth- the region by celebrating more design, automotive design, fash- Organisers set up a design QAl Mayassa bint Hamad ias Muller, dignitaries and guests. than six decades of the coun- ion and furniture design. Mark- lab, which was co-developed by bin Khalifa al-Thani inaugurated ‘Driven by German Design’ try’s most famous design icons,” ing the evolution and achieve- Volkswagen Group, at the centre two distinct exhibitions yes- showcases more than 400 ob- HE Sheikha Al Mayassa said in ments of German design, the of the exhibition to provide visi- terday – the ‘Driven by German jects, including a number of a statement. “Its success is the show also off ers visitors various tors a window into design proc- Design’ at QM Gallery Al Riwaq studies and prototypes never result of deep collaboration be- insights into both the artistic esses. “This retrospective of 70 and ‘German Encounters: Con- been shown in public before tween an enormous range of value of developments in design years of German design has a temporary Masterworks from while ‘German Encounters’ fea- partners and truly demonstrates and their cultural signifi cance close connection with Volkswa- the Deutsche Bank Collection’ at tures over 100 masterpieces by the rich cultural relationships by showcasing design concepts gen Group and its brands. Many the Doha Fire Station. 27 of Germany’s most signifi cant between our two countries,” the and works created in Germany or of our vehicles have given ex- The shows, organised by QM contemporary artists from the QM Chairperson added. developed by German designers pression to the zeitgeist of their in partnership with the Goethe- Deutsche Bank Collection. ‘Driven by German Design’ since 1945. era as well as shaping German Institut Gulf Region, the Ger- For the ‘Driven by German forms part of the vision of its cu- QM will hold a series of work- cultural identity,” Muller said. man embassy in Doha and the Design’, organisers set up fi ve rator, Martin Roth, who passed shops and talks about theoretical Goethe-Institut Gulf Region Qatar embassy in Germany, are exhibition areas to the most away during the fi nal stages of and practical aspects of design director Dr Gabriele Landwehr major highlights of the Qatar important periods of post-war the show’s preparations. He is led by experts such as Vitra De- added that speakers who will Germany 2017 Year of Culture. German design, showcasing the known as one of the most inno- sign Museum director Dr Mateo guide the visitors will allow them The exhibition showcases more than 400 objects, including a They will be open to the public works of more than 30 design- vative and active cultural man- Kries and Pforzheim University of to enjoy a history lesson on Ger- number of studies and prototypes never been shown in public from tomorrow (October 3). ers that have infl uenced design agers of the last decades. Applied Sciences professor Lutz man design. before. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar German masterworks go on show in Doha

By Joey Aguilar exchange and dialogue,” HE Albers’ painting titled ‘Homage ken, Katharina Grosse, Andreas the most important value of the Staff Reporter Sheikha Al Mayassa stressed. “It to the Square in 1970 (screen- Gursky, Candida Höfer, Jörg Im- Deutsche Bank Collection,” said is a further demonstration of our print on paper), which was the mendorff , Martin Kippenberger, Friedhelm Hutte, lead curator progress in building a broad and result of a systematic investi- Imi Knoebel, Markus Lupertz, of German Encounters and glo- ore than 100 master- dynamic cultural off ering and gation of line, space, surface, Heinz Mack, Otto Piene, Dan- bal senior art advisor, Deutsche pieces, by 27 of Germa- enriching the lives of those who and colour; and Georg Baselitz’s iel Richter, Thomas Ruff , Karin Bank, Art, Culture and Sports. Mny’s most signifi cant live in and visit our country.” large oil painting of an eagle in Sander, Andreas Slominski, An- Meanwhile, Goethe-Institut contemporary artists, from the ‘German Encounters’ tells not 1977, which has been a symbol ton Stankowski, Thomas Struth, Gulf Region director Dr Gabriele Deutsche Bank Collection will be only the history of German con- of power closely connected with Rosemarie Trockel and Gunther Landwehr noted that the exhibi- unveiled for the fi rst time in the temporary art from the 1960s to German history; among other Uecker are also featured at the tion presents the visitors a walk region tomorrow at Qatar Muse- the present day, but also tackles artworks. exhibition. through German art history. ums’ (QM) Garage Gallery at the the history of the Deutsche Bank Some of the highlights also According to QM, the show is “They can experience the mani- Doha Fire Station. Collection. It has become one of include Sigmar Polke and Ger- a key moment in the Qatar Ger- fold skills and techniques of the A highlight of the Qatar Ger- the world’s greatest private col- hard Richter’s ‘Capitalist Real- many 2017 Year of Culture – a artists to express themselves and many Year of Culture 2017, the lections of German contempo- ism’ paintings, responding to mutual exchange of arts, culture, elaborate on themes and emo- ‘German Encounters: Con- Friedhelm Hutte briefs reporters about the artworks yesterday. rary art since its founding in the American Pop Art, as well as the science and sport between the tions,” Dr Landwehr added. temporary Masterworks from PICTURE: Joey Aguilar late 1970s. paintings of Neo Rauch, a main two countries organised by QM The exhibition will also see the Deutsche Bank Collection’ Some of these collections in- representative of New Leipzig in partnership with the Goethe- a series of educational activi- exhibition aims to inspire lo- In a statement, QM chairper- a signifi cant group of works from clude Berlin photographic artist School, which renewed German Institut Gulf Region, the German ties taking place, which aims to cal collectors and companies to son HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint the Deutsche Bank Collection.” Annette Kelm’s ‘Caps’ in 2008, fi gurative painting in the 1990s. embassy in Doha and the embas- give the audience some insights showcase their works in public Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said, “And for the talented young featuring 20 photos of nearly Works of artists Thomas sy of Qatar in Germany. “Ger- about the history of German and explore more about contem- ‘German Encounters’ gives resi- artists that are based at the Fire identical baseball caps, woven Bayrle, Bernd and Hilla Becher, man Encounters demonstrates contemporary art, as well as porary art. It will run until Janu- dents and visitors in the Middle Station, it provides a unique out of straw that she discovered Joseph Beuys, Marc Branden- the ability of art to connect peo- wider topics on corporate col- ary 20, 2018. East an opportunity to see “such source of inspiration, cultural in New York’s Chinatown; Josef burg, Günther Forg, Isa Genz- ple. Sharing contemporary art is lecting.

‘All QF goals aligned to National Vision 2030’ QLC leaders hone skills in US

ll the goals and objectives very public friendly organisation. atar Leadership Centre of Qatar Foundation for Haqeeqat, which aims to en- (QLC)’s Executive Lead- AEducation, Science and De- gage and interact with the large Qers Programme partici- velopment (QF) are aligned with South Asian expatriate community pants visited Harvard Business Qatar National Vision 2030, Doha- in Qatar, is a joint venture of the School and Rice University’s resident Saad Khalid Awan told Gulf Times and Qatar Media Cor- Baker Institute for Public Policy Qatar Urdu Radio’s live radio show poration Urdu Radio. It is broad- in the past week. Haqeeqat yesterday. cast from Sunday to Thursday on The QLC participants took Awan, who works in the offi ce FM107. The show is hosted by Saif- part in an interactive module of community development at QF ur-Rehman. about innovation and change at and provides consulting in strategy Log on to Qatar Urdu Radio on Harvard University, and contin- and business optimisation, spoke Facebook and ‘@QatarUrduRadio’ ued their journey to Rice Univer- about diff erent initiatives and sec- on Twitter for feedback and com- Doha resident Saad Khalid Awan (left) was a guest on Qatar sity in Houston, Texas, to further Executive Leaders Programme participants at Harvard Business School. tors of QF, which he described as a ments about the show. Urdu Radio’s live radio show Haqeeqat yesterday. expand their knowledge of global energy and health policies. The module included sessions in ExxonMobil oil and gas company. “In order to truly maximise our which participants learned from Experts from these organisa- ‘Qatar’s tourism sector unaffected by blockade’ potential, we must never forget to real-life case studies on innova- tions shared thought-provoking be intellectually curious,” said Dr tion and change management. insights. Secretary-General of World the consolidation of the tourist without any influence or political adding that influx of tourists from Abdulla bin Ali al-Thani, mem- In addition, the participants at- Applications for 2018-2019 Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) act – the first is the ability to pressure from any entity or state. Asian and European countries ber of the Board of Directors and tended interactive lectures and Dr Taleb Rifai stressed that the welcome and the second is the Rifai said that this event has had continue to Doha. Qatar, he said, managing director of QLC. “At practical exercises designed to Eligible applicants for QLC’s Gulf crisis did not aff ect the flow proficiency in organising events. a great impact on the tourism is facing a challenge because Harvard Business School and Rice bolster management capabilities. three National Leadership pro- of international visitors to Qatar, The combination of hospitality sector, pointing out that the Qatari of the outcomes of the siege University’s Baker Institute, QLC Next, the Executive Leaders grammes may apply for the expecting that the state is going and high professionalism tourism industry has never been and it began to think practically participants embraced a valuable visited Rice University’s Baker 2018-19 cycle online at www. to attract more than 6mn tourists qualifies Qatar to be in a very aff ected by the Gulf siege and and logically of diversifying opportunity. They learned about Institute, a well-respected pub- qlc.org.qa a year, which will reflect positively advanced place in the field of that Qatar continues to receive the sources of tourism, such as becoming more resilient leaders, lic policy think tank in Houston. Applicants undergo a highly on the country’s GDP. tourism, he added. Speaking large numbers of international allowing visa-free entry for citizens explored several leadership con- The QLC participants learned competitive assessment process In an interview to a Qatari about Doha’s victory in hosting tourists. Moreover, he pointed of 80 countries. The secretary- cepts and engaged in academic from Rice University profes- that takes into account qualifi - newspaper, Rifai said that there World Tourism Day celebrations, out that the World Tourism general underlined that tourists discussions.” sors, site visits and knowledge cations, professional experience, is a national will to leverage he pointed out that this decision Organisation does not have any from all over the world are no Harvard Business School’s ‘In- centres, including the National leadership potential and other tourism to be one of the factors was taken two years ago in indicators confirming the decline longer willing to go to embassies novation and Change’ module Aeronautics and Space Admin- factors. For more information, of sustainable development. He Colombia. He stressed that the of global tourism to Qatar, but the to get visas for two or three weeks, encouraged the Executive Lead- istration (Nasa), JLABS at Texas one can visit QLC’s website. added that Qatar has two very decision of host nation was made only decline is in the number of so Qatar is now a very advanced ers to think creatively and collab- Medical Center – part of Johnson Applications must be submit- important things to consider for scientifically and objectively, and tourists of neighbouring countries, country in the region. orate to solve business problems. & Johnson Innovation – and the ted by October 21.