42, Mainly Pensioners Perish in Bus Collision

SUBSCRIPTION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2015 MUHARRAM 11, 1437 AH No: 16676 Egyptian Unrest worsens Small-time arrested fear, suspicion cricket game for forging among Jews & proves big stamps 6 Arab Israelis8 draw45 in Qatar 42, mainly pensioners perish in bus collision Min 20º 150 Fils France’s worst road accident in three decades Max 36º PUISSEGUIN: At least 42 people were killed when a coach carrying elderly day-trippers collided with a lorry and burst into flames in southwest France yesterday, in the country’s worst road accident for three decades. The coach was carrying a club of pensioners on an excursion when it collided with the lorry near the village of Puisseguin among the vine- yards of the St Emilion region, east of Bordeaux. Many of the victims were thought to have died in the fire, according to emergency workers and local authorities. Images shown on French television showed the coach had been completely burned, leaving only a charred shell. “The driver of the lorry appears to have lost control of his vehicle, leaving him stranded in the middle of the road. The bus driver was unable to avoid the accident,” Puisseguin mayor Xavier Sublett told reporters. Locals saw a plume of smoke from several kilometers away. Many said that part of the road was known to be particularly dangerous. The lorry driver was killed. The rest of the victims were passengers on the coach, officials said. “I am astonished at the force of the crash. It will take a lot of time to recover all the bodies,” said a fireman at the scene. Eight people, including the coach driver, managed to escape the burning wreckage-four of whom were seriously injured, according to a local official. “The bus driver was lightly injured. He had the presence of mind to open the doors to allow as many passengers as possible to leave the bus,” said Sublett. The crash is the deadliest in France since August 1982, when 53 people including 44 children were killed in a motorway pile-up. “The French government has fully mobi- lized after this terrible tragedy,” President Francois PUISSEGUIN: This video grab shows the wreckage of a coach carrying Hollande said from Athens, where he is on an official visit. elderly day-trippers (left) that collided with a lorry, killing 42 people yes- “We are plunged into sadness due to this drama.” Some 20 terday near the village of Puisseguin. (Inset) Emergency services person- fire engines and 60 firefighters were dispatched to the nel take away an injured person from the site of a collision. — AFP scene yesterday, supported by helicopters. A trauma coun- seling unit and an information hotline were also set up. Prime Minister Manuel Valls, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Transport Minister Alain Vidalies travelled to Oman in low-key vote for a the site, and the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament, observed a minute’s silence. “It’s a terrible shock for council with limited power France,” said Valls. ‘An incredible tragedy’ accused of corruption. Two protesters were shot dead in clashes DUBAI: Omanis go to the polls tomorrow in a low-key vote for a The coach, carrying 49 passengers and a driver, departed with security forces. The discontent was not directed at the sultan consultative council with limited powers in a country where the yesterday from Petit-Palais-Cornemps, a village of 650 resi- personally, who is head of state, prime minister, foreign, defense, longtime ruling sultan holds all major government posts. Sultan dents near the scene of the accident. Pierre Henri-Brandet, Qaboos slightly expanded the powers of the Majlis Al-Shura in interior and finance minister. When Qaboos took power, Oman was spokesman for the interior ministry, told BFMTV that four 2011 after unprecedented social unrest when the normally-quiet an isolated country with little or no infrastructure. He transformed people “were extremely severely injured”-two with burns nation became caught up in protests which swept the Arab world. it into a modern state over the course of his 45-year rule. As part of and two with head injuries. “It’s an incredible tragedy with Yet, the number of candidates standing for election has almost a series of measures responding to the unrest, Qaboos decreed an extremely heavy toll. It’s a catastrophe,” he said. “They halved from the last ballot four years ago, reflecting disappoint- that the majlis would be able to revise and propose legislation. were retired people, elderly people, who were going on a ment at the council’s ability to capitalize on its added authority. In late 2011, the majlis elected its speaker for the first time and day out.” “The outgoing majlis wasn’t able to take advantage of its new pow- assumed the power to grill ministers. The majlis was created in Henri-Brandet said the accident happened just a few min- ers because of the hegemony of the government on political life,” 1991 and has a four-year term. It has no role in defense, internal utes after the bus had set off. “We are very affected because said Omani analyst Ahmed Ali Al-Mukhaini. The council failed to security or foreign affairs. A drab election campaign has failed to all the people on the bus came from the villages in the area,” question any minister or subject a government member to a vote inspire potential voters in the country of 4.1 million, of which 44 said Jacque Deval, whose brother-in-law and sister-in-law of confidence, and it did not propose any laws in accordance with percent are foreigners. Candidates plastered the streets with their were among the injured. “My mother and my father-in-law its new powers, Mukhaini said. portraits and focused on socio-economic issues in the stable nation were on the bus. I have just arrived, I don’t have any news for This “deceived the hopes of the population who, disenchanted, bordering war-ravaged Yemen. The sultanate derives 79 percent of the moment, but I’m very scared that they will be on the list aren’t interested in the vote”, a Muscat-based diplomat said. its revenues from petroleum, but with global prices down by of victims,” said Delphine Guerineau. The group had been Demonstrators in February 2011 demanded improved living condi- roughly half since early 2014 it has projected a budget deficit this heading south to the nearby region of Landes to visit a facili- tions and more rights as well as the sacking of ministers they year of $6.47 billion. — AFP ty specialising in Bayonne ham, a local delicacy — AFP LOCAL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2015 Crime Kuwait-France education Report accord a ‘quantum leap’ PARIS: Director General of the Public By the virtue of the deal, an academic have Europass certificates to make post- Authority for Applied Education and accreditation will be granted to the pro- graduate studies at French Sorbonne Training (PAAET) Dr Ahmad Al-Athari grams of PAAET, especially the training University or any university in a has affirmed that the agreement signed sector, he said, noting that the deal European country. Al-Athari revealed a between the PAAET and the Paris went through several phases. Al-Athari plan to teach French language at all Academy will make a “quantum leap” in said that the PAAET got accredited for PAAET’s institutes to help students systems and methods of education and three programs, expressing hope that all study in France. Kuwait and France have training in the upcoming period. Al- programs of PAAET would be accredited signed a number of agreements, memo- Athari made the statement to KUNA fol- by 2017 to achieve unprecedented randums of understanding and declara- lowing the signing ceremony of the progress in Kuwait’s educational sys- tions of intent in the presence of His deal during the official visit of His tems. Highness the Premier and French Prime Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh He also noted that accreditation aims Minister Manuel Valls in order to bolster Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah to provide better education at PAAET’s bilateral cooperation in different to France. institutes, adding that graduates will domains. — KUNA Ambassador to Indonesia Nasser Al-Enezi pictured with Speaker of Indonesian Parliament Setya Novanto. Top Indonesia MP lauds Kuwait ties KUALA LUMPUR: Speaker of the Indonesian parliament Setya Novanto has expressed satisfaction at the solid status of the Kuwaiti-Indonesian relations in various sectors, the outgoing State of Kuwait’s Ambassador to the Asian nation, Nasser Al- Enezi, said. Ambassador Al-Enezi told KUNA by telephone that the top Indonesian legislator voiced his pleasure at the strong bilateral ties during a meeting with him on occasion of ending his tenure in the country. The parliament speaker Novanto labeled these relations as historic, praising the Kuwaiti diplo- matic mission’s distinctive role for enhancing level of the ties namely at the parliamentary level. Speaker Novanto expressed, during the meeting, desire to enhance the mutual cooperation between the two countries at the educational, cultural, humanitarian and charitable levels, noting that skilled Indonesian cadres could play a key role in this regard. He also appreciated Kuwait’s funding of many charities in the country. Envoy praises Kuwait Disabled Sports Club AMMAN: Kuwait’s to Jordan Dr Hamad Al-Duaij said that Kuwait has always been keen on providing full care and attention to the handicapped, who, in return, interpreted Kids participate in clean energy activity promotion activity. that care into various achievements for their country in sports, social, and cultural arenas. The Kuwaiti diplomat made his remarks in a statement to KUNA after meeting KOC’s facilities saved the delegation of Kuwaiti national table tennis team for the handicapped, currently competing in two tourneys in the Jordanian capital.

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