QATAR | Page 2 SPORT | Page 1 Federer’s pullout

INDEX makes DOW JONES QE NYMEX QATAR 2-5, 20 COMMENT 18, 19 REGION 6 BUSINESS 1–7, 12-16 QDB backs initiative Nadal No. 1 21,998.99 9,134.36 47.60 ARAB WORLD 6 CLASSIFIED 8-12 +5.28 -57.37 +0.01 INTERNATIONAL 7–17 SPORTS 1–8 for home farming +0.02% -0.62% +0.02% Latest Figures published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXVIII No. 10547 August 16, 2017 Dhul-Qa’da 24, 1438 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

In brief Ambitious plan to boost QATAR | Offi cial Emir condoles with Kuwait’s leader His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has sent a cable solar energy to the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah to express his condolences on the two Kuwaiti victims of the terrorist attack on a restaurant in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. The Emir production expressed his sincere condolences to the government and people of Project to produce Kuwait, praying Allah Almighty to 500MW of electricity grant the victims Paradise. through solar power QATAR | Phone talk HE the Minister of Transport and Communications Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti is being briefed at the opening of the two key More than 20,000 roads yesterday. He was joined by HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi, and Emir reviews Gulf Ashghal president Dr Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed smart meters have been crisis with Indian PM installed His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim Electricity, water supply bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday held telephone conversation with unaff ected by blockade Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during which the Emir By Ayman Adly Kahramaa president Essa bin Hilal al- expressed his felicitations on the Ashghal opens southern Staff Reporter Kuwari speaking at the forum yesterday. occasion of the 70th anniversary of India’s Independence Day. The tain the strategic water reserves of the conversation also reviewed the latest atar has an ambitious plan to country and addressed the technical developments of the Gulf crisis and transform all the houses in challenges of keeping water for long du- its repercussions on the regional part of two key roads Qthe country into production ration inside huge tanks through a com- and international fronts, as well as hubs of renewable energy, Qatar Gen- bination of innovative solutions, such as eff orts to solve it through diplomatic Doha Express Highway eral Electricity and Water Corporation introducing perpetually moving fans to channels with Kuwait’s mediation. (Kahramaa) president Essa bin Hilal al- avoid possible stagnation problems and Additionally, it touched on friendship and Hamad Port Road will Kuwari has said. using new types of waves to keep the and co-operation ties between the improve traff ic flow in the “There is also a project to produce water moving,” he explained. two countries and means of boosting around 500MW of electricity through He pointed out that Kahramaa has and developing them in all fields. southern areas of Qatar solar power,” he pointed out at the 2nd Fo- been able to deal with the consequenc- rum for Creativity and Innovation, organ- es of the blockade quickly through its QATAR | Offi cial he Public Works Authority ised by Kahramaa at Kahramaa Awareness strategic stock of materials and equip- Emir congratulates (Ashghal) opened the southern Park under the theme “Achieving Vision ment and its fl exibility in off ering ten- Tpart of Doha Express Highway with a Creative Leadership”. ders, adopting alternative markets in a Indian president on and Hamad Port Road yesterday, two It is understood that the vision en- very short time and signing new con- Independence Day key roads designed to further improve tails installation of solar panels on the tracts with more suppliers to make up traffi c fl ow in the southern areas of rooftops of houses across Qatar, which for the ones halted in the wake of the His Highness the Emir Sheikh Qatar. could serve as a radical step to boost the ongoing Gulf crisis. Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and The new roads form vital parts of solar energy production and thereby Referring to the Gulf electric link- His Highness the Deputy Emir Qatar’s expressway network and road reduce the dependence on convention- age agreements, Kahramaa president Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- projects, including those serving Al ally produced electricity. clarifi ed that it is still applicable as it is Thani yesterday sent cables of Wakrah, Al Wukair and Al Mashaf, ac- “Kahramaa is currently working on us- based on mutual agreements and all the congratulations to Indian President cording to Ashghal. ing solar power to desalinate ground water parties are committed to them so far. Ram Nath Kovind on the anniversary The event was attended by HE the for using the same for agriculture but the The blockade has also made Kahramaa of his country’s Independence Day. Minister of Transport and Communi- high cost is the real challenge. However, if keen on producing the necessary equip- HE the Prime Minister and Interior cations Jassim Seif Ahmed al-Sulaiti, the idea worked out commercially, it will ment and materials locally. An agree- Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser HE the Minister of Municipality and be refl ect positively on food production in ment will be signed with Qatar Devel- bin Khalifa al-Thani sent a similar Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah the country,” al-Kuwari said. opment Bank on manufacturing in the cable to Indian Prime Minister al-Rumaihi, and Ashghal president Dr Kahramaa has also adopted smart electricity sector and encouraging inves- Narendra Modi. Page 4 Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi, along cities solutions. More than 20,000 tors, especially Qataris, in this area. with a number of senior offi cials of rel- areas that are characterised by their providing a fi ve-lane highway in each smart meters have been installed and Al-Kuwari said that Kahramaa has QATAR | Phone call evant authorities and institutions. population density, in addition to their direction, connecting the south and connected to its communication cen- encouraged creativity and innovation “The opening of the southern part association with the transportation to north of the city. There are also on- tre. Similarly, Msheireb Downtown throughout its work environment. Emir enquires aft er of Doha Express Highway and Hamad and from Hamad International Air- going procedures to connect it with Doha is set to be completely smart and “Targets have been specifi ed and the McCain’s health Port Road is a great addition to land port, Hamad Port, Industrial Area and the northern part of the Doha Express Kahramaa is taking part in this. standards of performance have been His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim transportation in Qatar,” al-Sulaiti others, Ashghal noted. Highway. The Kahramaa president pointed out put in place, and employees have the bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday held said. The 11km highway includes the Meanwhile, all four lanes in each that Qatar has become reached a record freedom to introduce innovative ways a telephone conversation with He noted that these roads will con- main carriageway in both directions, direction of Hamad Port Road opened in reducing pipe water leakage to a for implementation,” he said. Kah- Senator John McCain, member tribute in enhancing traffi c movement in addition to parts of the fi ve inter- to traffi c, a 14km road linking Hamad mere 4% due to the use of Smart Code, ramaa has launched a website for crea- of the US Senate, to enquire after between Al Wakrah and Doha, and be- changes of the project such as access Port with G-Ring Road. which detects the points of leakage in tivity and innovation. his health and to congratulate tween Mesaieed, Hamad Port and the and exit ramps to enable road users Al-Rumaihi said the two new roads the water pipes accurately so as to be The forum featured an open dis- him on the success of his surgery. Industrial Area, and connect south of from accessing and exiting the new will serve the populated southern ar- sealed. This achievement makes Qatar cussion session which was also par- McCain expressed his deep the country with the north. road and surrounding areas. eas, in addition to its association with on par with Japan and Singapore in this ticipated by the Public Works Au- thanks and appreciation to the Al-Sulaiti thanked Ashghal for The new road will provide direct traffi c movement to and from Hamad area. Earlier, the percentage of such thority (Ashghal) president Dr Saad Emir for his gesture as well as the accelerating the construction of access from the southern areas of the International Airport, Hamad Port and leakage amounted to 30-40%. bin Ahmed al-Muhannadi, Supreme kind sentiments that he showed, these projects and opening them on country to the northern areas and Industrial Area, and others. “Qatar’s uninterrupted supply of Committee for Delivery and Legacy reflecting the depth of Qatar-US ties. schedule. vice versa. “The consecutive openings that the water and electricity was not disrupted secretary general Hassan bin Abdullah The two sides also exchanged views The southern part of Doha Express The southern part of Doha Express expressway network is witnessing re- in any way due to the blockade and the al-Thawadi, Qatar Development Bank on developments in the Middle Highway and Hamad Port Road, which Highway will also relieve the pres- cently show Ashghal’s commitment to country is able to produce its needs CEO Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa, East, notably the Gulf crisis, besides opened to traffi c completely in both sure on Al Wakrah Main Road, reduc- fi nish projects on time,” he stressed. with effi ciency,” asserted al-Kuwari. and Hasad Food CEO Mohamed bin issues of common concern. directions, will serve the southern ing traffi c congestion in the area by Page 2 “Kahramaa has managed to main- Badr al-Sada.

Chances of thundery rain forecast for today ‘Lot of time needed to rebuild trust in Gulf’ Siege countries have tered its 11th week, HE Sheikh Moham- fostering ties with Iran - triggering the However, he added that diplomatic ollowing the scattered to heavy Zone (ITCZ) over the region. ed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said re- biggest political crisis in the Gulf for eff orts led by regional mediator Kuwait rain experienced at some parts of ITCZ is a convergence line between failed to produce even a gional relations had been transformed several years. were continuing. FQatar yesterday, the Met Offi ce northwesterly wind and easterly single document to prove by the dispute. Doha denies the claims and accuses “We have received a letter from the has forecast chances of light to thun- moist wind that cause rising currents their charges against “Qatar has always been one of the the other countries of an attack on its Emir of Kuwait a few days ago. And this dery rain today also over some areas. of air leading to formations of con- founders of the GCC organisation and sovereignty. letter is a continuous eff ort to encour- While strong wind at time during vective rainy clouds. Qatar we still consider that this has a great The Saudi-led countries have also im- age the parties to engage in dialogue.” thundery rain formation is expected In addition to the passage of ITCZ importance for all of us in the region,” posed sanctions including restrictions on Despite this, Sheikh Mohamed said inshore, the off shore forecast is strong over the region, the weather balloon AFP he told reporters. Qatari aircraft using their airspace. Qatar was still waiting to hear from its wind and high seas to the east. launched from Hamad International Doha “This organisation has been built on The foreign minister added that the rivals. Climate records show that rains Airport yesterday dawn indicated the a strategical security and been built on confl ict was unnecessary. “Put up your claims and put up your have been observed over some areas of presence of relative cold advection in trust. “Unfortunately, what happened “Such a crisis is not needed in our evidence. We told them (Saudi-led the country during August in the past, the upper levels of the atmosphere, atar’s foreign minister said yes- lately with this crisis, this factor is region, we have enough problems and countries) anywhere you want, what- the Qatar Met Department said. which helped the formation of thun- terday it will take a “lot of time” missing now and need s a lot of time to enough confl ict. ever evidence you have, just put it on The report explained that satel- dery clouds with scattered light to Qto rebuild any trust between rebuild the trust again. “A region like the Gulf region, which the table. lite images and weather charts show moderate rain. sparring Gulf countries because of the “We hope that it’s restored.” was considered the most stable region “Now it’s been 72 days since the fi rst widespread cloud cover Central The maximum temperature ex- region’s continuing diplomatic crisis. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and in the Arab world is now destabilised day of their measures and we have not Arabian Peninsula due to the pas- pected today is 41C. The minimum As the impasse between Doha and Egypt cut ties with Qatar on June 5 - because of a crisis without a solid foun- been provided with a single document.” sage of Intertropical Convergence temperature forecast is 32C. four Arab states led by Saudi Arabia en- accusing it of backing extremism and dation.” Page 20 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 QATAR

FM meets Ethiopian delegation Deputy PM meets Ecuador ambassador Emir greets crown prince of Kuwait

is Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Ha- Hmad al-Thani, His High- ness the Deputy Emir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- lifa al-Thani have sent cables of congratulations to the Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs Ahmed bin Abdullah bin al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah on HE the Minister of Foreign Aff airs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani yesterday met a Zaid al-Mahmoud met the outgoing ambassador of Ecuador to Qatar Kabalan Bahij Abisaab in his safe return after undergoing delegation of governors of the provinces of Oromia Region in Ethiopia, during the course of their Doha yesterday. They reviewed bilateral relations and ways of boosting them in various fields. The successful medical check-ups in current visit to Qatar. They discussed bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them, as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Aff airs wished the ambassador success in the United States. issues of mutual concern. his future assignments and relations between the two countries further development and growth. Emir condoles with leader of Burkina Faso Ministry His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday held a phone call with conducts the President of Burkina Faso QDB keen on promoting Roch Marc Christian Kabore. During the phone call, the inspection of Emir expressed condolences to the victims of the terrorist attack which took place in dairy plants a restaurant in the capital Ouagadougou on Sunday, home-farming initiative resulting in a number of dead QNA and wounded, wishing speedy Doha By Ayman Adly recovery for the injured. Staff Reporter The Emir expressed strong condemnation of the criminal act he Ministry of Public aimed at destabilising security Health has carried out atar Development Bank and stability and terrorising the Tnumerous intensive in- (QDB) is working on a innocent people. spection campaigns on dairy Qprototype of a new prod- The Emir aff irmed that Qatar factories and milk products to uct to support environment- stands by Burkina Faso and its check compliance with quality friendly houses in Qatar that people in confronting extremism and production standards and encourages home farming, CEO and terrorism in all its forms and ensure the safety of products as Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa manifestations. well as the extent to which they revealed yesterday. The President of Burkina Faso meet health requirements at all The concept could be imple- thanked the Emir for his solidarity stages of manufacturing. mented mainly through hydro- with Burkina Faso. Inspectors from the depart- ponics and greenhouses. A list of ment of food safety and environ- companies would be given to the mental health of the Ministry of willing house owners to supply Emir congratulates Public Health conducted inten- them with the necessary equip- South Korean sive visits to all dairy plants and ment and assistance while the inspected all stages of produc- bank would provide the required president tion and manufacturing includ- funding. ing storage depots, transport Speaking at a panel discus- His Highness the Emir Sheikh and sales outlets, as well as in- sion at the 2nd Forum for Crea- Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, specting factories’ dairy vehicles tivity and Innovation, organised His Highness the Deputy Emir to ascertain their appropriate- by Kahramaa, al-Khalifa further Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al- ness of health specifi cations and stressed QDB’s keenness on en- Thani and HE the Prime Minister requirements and standards. couraging innovation and crea- and Minister of Interior Sheikh The inspectors were intro- tivity in business through vari- Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa duced to food control systems in ous initiatives, which resulted in al-Thani have sent cables of the dairy factories. introducing several new prod- congratulations to South Korean The system defi nes, evaluates ucts that could help enhance President Moon Jae-in on his and monitors risks related to the economic development and di- country’s National Day. safety of milk and milk products, versity. in addition to ensuring that the Hassad Food Company CEO CEO of QDB Abdulaziz bin Nasser al-Khalifa; Secretary General of Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Hassan bin Abdullah al-Thawadi; Real estate manufacturing process conforms Mohamed Badr al-Sada ex- CEO of Qatar Rail Eng. Abdullah al-Subaie, panellists and a section of the audience at the forum yesterday. PICTURE: Anas Khalid to the diff erent quality control pected that Qatar will achieve transaction systems, including HACCP and its food security goals in the next with Widam Food Company. accounting for 30% of the tar- ums could be adapted for use at the committee implements the ISO. The campaigns also re- few years. Hassad Food produces around geted number. The CEO of QDB farms to achieve the desired food standards of sustainable build- Real estate transactions in Qatar viewed documents on regulatory He said that innovative solu- 50% of all the local vegetables said that each farm would be giv- security. Besides, the committee ings in all its projects with Glo- from August 6 to 10 were worth system which includes potential tions were adopted immediately and fruits, which accounts for en QR1mn with half the amount succeeded in cooling open areas bal Sustainability Assessment QR203,857,106, off icial data risk points during production after the blockade and the fi rst only 6-7% of the local mar- for equipment and the other half and this was done in Katara and System (GSAS) accreditation. showed yesterday. and sets the safety standards and alternative food supplies ar- ket consumption. Accordingly, for greenhouses. Aspire Zone. Al-Thawadi said some parts The weekly bulletin released control for these points. rived in the country within the there is a plan to encourage non- Supreme Committee for De- The idea itself can be exported of the playgrounds in various by the real estate registration The Ministry of Public Health fi rst 24 hours of the crisis. The producing farms, estimated to livery and Legacy secretary as well to support economic di- neighbourhoods could be used department at the Ministry is keen to activate the partner- entire food requirement of Qatar be around 50-70% of the total general Hassan bin Abdullah al- versity in the country. The com- as plant nurseries and green- of Justice said that the types ship between inspection bod- was completely covered within number of the farms in the coun- Thawadi said maximum use will mittee is keen to ease the state’s houses to supply the needs of the of real estate traded included ies and consumers to ensure the just fi ve days through alternative try, to be productive soon with be made of the sport projects economic cost of the FIFA 2022 surrounding areas. plots of land, houses, residential safety of food products. suppliers. an initial target of 60 hectares in and facilities of FIFA 2022 World World Cup projects. Accord- The Public Works Authority compounds and apartment The Ministry’s department of He pointed out that Hassad the fi rst phase of the project. The Cup beyond the event to achieve ingly, all the venues of the event (Ashghal) president Dr Saad bin buildings. food Safety and environmen- Food is set to increase its poultry company would supply the nec- development in the country and have been linked to the proposed Ahmed al-Muhannadi said that The majority of the trading took tal health receives consumers’ production by the next summer essary funding through QDB and the realisation of Qatar National metro stations to reduce the creativity and innovation are the place in the Municipalities of comments and complaints re- and will transfer a major meat buy the produce to be marketed Vision 2030. cost of road construction for in- most important factors for suc- Doha, Al Rayyan, Al Da’ayen, garding the quality and safety of production project from Aus- locally. A total of 150 farms have “For instance, the cooling stance. cess, and should be the basis for Umm Salal, Al Wakrah, Al Shamal, food products in local markets. tralia to Qatar in co-operation responded to the initiative so far, technology used for huge stadi- Al-Thawadi pointed out that any work environment. Al Khor and Al Dhakira. New highway to benefi t residents in southern areas

esidents of Al Wakrah, Al Wukair and Al Mashaf Rstand to benefi t from the opening of the 11km Southern part of Doha Express Highway, considered as an alternative route for Al Wakrah Main Road through its connection with Me- saieed Road and G-Ring Road. “This emphasises again Ash- ghal’s commitment to deliver on the requirements of the coming phase according to the priori- ties set by His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al- Thani, related to the current sit- uation and the future direction of Qatar,” Public Works Author- ity (Ashghal) president Dr Saad bin Ahmad al-Muhannadi said. “This encourages self-suf- fi ciency and studies opportu- nities that enable us to con- tinue achieving on regular basis The southern part of the Doha Express Highway opens for traff ic. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed Infographic of the southern part of Doha Express Highway. without being aff ected by any challenges while we continue paths, according to Ashghal. vides direct access to Al Wukair Meanwhile, the 14km Hamad it is considered a corridor that Umm Al Hawl Interchange on national Airport up to Salwa progressing on our big projects, The fi ve multi-level inter- Road and residential areas to the Port Road, which connects Ha- reduces journey times instead of Mesaieed Road to G-Ring Road Road. which is a tangible proof on our changes include Al Mashaf east and west of the interchange. mad Port and G-Ring Road, and the main Orbital Highway, Ash- that connects with the East In- Ashghal is currently imple- success in this area,” he added. Interchange, a two-level in- One of the two Waab Buhair includes four lanes in each di- ghal said. dustrial Street through the tun- menting three interchanges as The Doha Express Highway terchange that provides direct Interchanges (two-level inter- rection, eases the movement of With a capacity of 8,000 ve- nel at East Street 33 Interchange. part of the new road works that includes fi ve multi-level in- access to G-Ring Road in the changes) eases access to some trucks between Hamad Port and hicles per hour in each direction, This interchange was formerly will provide free fl owing traf- terchanges that will be com- south and residential areas in Al residential areas to the east of the Industrial Area. the Hamad Port Road is expect- known as Al Watan Roundabout, fi c, which upon completion will pleted in the next few months. Mashaf west. interchange while the other con- The road enhances the move- ed to reduce travel time by more which was opened recently to enhance the connectivity of the The project also comprises Al Wukair Interchange is a nects Mesaieed Road and provides ment of goods between the port than 15%. form a free fl owing road between new expressway with local areas 42km of pedestrian and cycle two-level interchange that pro- direct access to Hamad Port. and all areas of the country since The new road extends from Hamad Port and Hamad Inter- and surrounding expressways. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 16, 2017 3 QATAR

Sidra earns certifi cation for cell studies Commercial Bank summer promo to idra Medical and Research Cent- and methodically analyse samples er (Sidra) has been authorised to assess various associated diseases Sby the International Academy of and conditions as well as to support run until Sept 30 Cytology (IAC) as the fi rst institution screening services and provide en- in Qatar to organise and host inaugural hanced patient care and treatment. certifi cation examinations for cytolo- The examinations will be led by ommercial Bank’s summer cam- gists. senior diagnostic cytologist and fel- paign rewarding customers for Cytopathology is a specialised dis- low of the International Academy of Cusing their credit and debit cards cipline of diagnostic medicine where- Cytology, Nikolaos Chantziantoniou, on international purchases is running by cells in human samples are ana- who was in charge of getting Sidra au- until September 30, 2017. lysed predominantly for the detection thorised as an examination site for the All Commercial Bank customers us- of cancer. IAC. ing their credit card for international The certifi cation examinations are “Medical education is one of the purchases will earn double reward points meant to deliver professional creden- three pillars of Sidra and by qualify- that can be redeemed easily by visiting tials to practise as diagnostic cytolo- ing the organisation to host IAC ex- the bank’s online rewards portal. With gists. aminations is a signifi cant historical Commercial Bank rewards, customers Seven medical professionals from milestone in support of robust and can choose from a wide array of redemp- both the public and private health sec- specialised academic programmes in tion options, including, but not limited tor in Qatar, and elsewhere, are cur- the country,” he said. to, fl ights and variety of gift vouchers. rently enrolled to sit for the inaugural “For those working in Qatar, they As an added bonus, Commercial Bank certifi cation examinations which will now have access to cutting-edge credit and debit cardholders who use be conducted at Sidra tomorrow. technology, laboratories and experts their cards this summer for an overseas The IAC is a scientifi c, non-profi t in the region. transaction will stand the chance to win organisation for cytopathologists, “We hope more medical profes- back their overseas holiday expenses. cytotechnologists and other profes- sionals specialising in clinical cytopa- Ten lucky ‘Sadara’ customers will win sionals concerned with the discipline thology will be encouraged to seek back the value of their holiday spends up of clinical cytopathology; it is also prestigious credentials in the fi eld.” to QR3,000 and 20 retail banking cus- the foremost organisation to issue The examinations at Sidra are open tomers will win back the value of their professional credentials on a global to qualifi ed candidates internation- holiday spends up to a maximum of scale. ally. QR1,000. To qualify, customers need to Other follow up services by cytopa- Sidra is also currently in the process spend internationally either at an ATM, thology pertain to the surveillance and Chantziantoniou ... high standards of reviewing the option of conduct- online, or at a retail merchant through a management of the cancer cells, its ing future IAC examinations along point of sale machine. likely spread, and the eff ectiveness of For example, a primary target for early cellular changes that may refl ect through the Pap test screening service. with other distinguished institutions Commercial Bank AGM and head of treatment. cytopathology is the detection of the development of cervical cancer Diagnostic cytologists prepare around the world. Cards and Payments Roya Khajeh said: “This summer, Commercial Bank is providing some extra excitement to our Sadara and retail banking customers as they will earn double their reward points every time they use their credit card Crisis hindering Haj pilgrims from Qatar overseas. “To add to the excitement, we are also off ering our customers the chance to win he ongoing Gulf crisis has made with the large South Asian expatriate is that registering for hotels and trans- back their holiday spends on their Com- it diffi cult for thousands of Qa- community in Qatar and yesterday’s portation within Saudi Arabia is a ma- mercial Bank credit or debit card, which Ttari nationals to perform Haj this programme shed light on the hurdles jor issue for Qatari Haj pilgrims right is our way of thanking our loyal custom- year, prominent journalist Ashraf Sid- created by the Saudi-led blockade on now,” Siddiqui said. ers for using Commercial Bank’s safe and diqui said yesterday. He was a guest on pilgrims from Qatar. “In fact, many Qataris don’t even feel secure credit and debit cards.” the live radio show Haqeeqat that airs Local companies that organise Haj safe while travelling to Saudi Arabia an- Commercial Bank credit and debit on Qatar Urdu Radio. trips for residents have also been en- ymore because of media reports about cards are chip and PIN enabled, conven- “First, the quota of the number of countering other limitations such as how their citizens are being treated in iently allowing customers to make has- people who can travel from Qatar to booking hotels and securing accom- Saudi Arabia,” he added. sle-free cash withdrawals and purchases Saudi Arabia to perform Haj was re- modation in Saudi Arabia. Log on to Qatar Urdu Radio on Face- at merchant outlets through point of sale stricted. Secondly, Haj pilgrims cannot Pilgrims from Qatar usually sign book and ‘@QatarUrduRadio’ on Twit- at home and when travelling abroad. even travel directly from Doha to Jed- up for facilities such as accommoda- ter for feedback and comments. Additionally, Commercial Bank credit dah anymore. They now have to take tion, food and transport in Saudi Ara- The programme is a joint venture of and debit cards are 3D-secured whereby routes from Oman or Kuwait, which bia for the duration of their pilgrimage the Gulf Times and Qatar Media Cor- customers can enjoy safe and convenient makes their journey far longer,” Sid- through local companies. poration Urdu Radio, and it will be international online shopping. To know Prominent journalist Ashraf Siddiqui was a guest on the live radio show diqui said. “I’ve spoken to many local compa- broadcast from Sunday to Thursday on more on making online transactions se- Haqeeqat on Qatar Urdu Radio yesterday. Haqeeqat aims to engage and interact nies and people and truth of the matter FM107. cure, visit www.cbq.qa/3dsecure. Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 QATAR Indians celebrate I-Day with patriotic fervour

By Joseph Varghese “They could be running Staff reporter schools for street children, caring for stray animals and birds, and providing water to ndians in Qatar marked the hard-to-reach tribal com- 71st Independence Day of munities in remote areas. Or Itheir country with great cleaning rivers and public pomp and patriotic fervour. The places. They are nation-build- Indian national fl ag was raised at ers in action, and we need to various places including the In- draw inspiration from them,” dian Cultural Centre (ICC) and he noted. Indian schools. “I am confi dent that a strong Ambassador P Kumaran led partnership between citizens the Independence Day celebra- and the government will allow tions at the ICC by hoisting the us to meet the goals of New In- Indian fl ag at a special ceremony dia. Today, the world is looking attended by a large number of at India with admiration. Our community members. Offi cials country is seen as a responsible of the apex bodies under Indian global citizen, a growing econ- embassy, prominent members of omy, and a solution provider to the Indian community as well as various international challeng- offi ce bearers of several Indian es – such as climate change, organisations were present on disasters, confl icts, humanitar- the occasion. ian crises, radicalism and ter- The Ashoka Hall of the ICC rorism,” the Indian president was overfl owing with the com- said. munity members who had con- Yesterday’s programme verged on the venue early in the started with a parade by school morning to take part in the cel- students. ICC president Milan ebrations. Arun welcomed the gather- At the event, ambassador Ku- ing and general secretary Juttas maran conveyed the Independ- Paul conducted the meeting. ence Day greetings. Students of Indian schools pre- “The country has come a long sented patriotic songs during way since independence. We are the function. A cake was cut to working hard to overcome many celebrate the occasion by the In- of the forces such as intoler- dian ambassador and other of- ance, extremism, casteism and fi cials. Head of consular services so on. This is a journey in which of ICC, K S Prasad proposed a we have to move together and vote of thanks. A parade by school students at the Indian Independence Day function at the ICC. Ambassador Kumaran hoists the National Flag. we all must contribute in mak- ing it successful in whatever way we can. Let us all pledge as citizens of India to engage in a spirit of collective selfl essness to contribute to India’s con- tinuous struggle for overcom- ing the barriers and make the country greater,” the ambassa- dor said. The Indian envoy also read out excerpts from the national ad- dress of President Ram Nath Ko- vind on the occasion of the In- dependence Day. The president had highlighted in his message the struggle for freedom and the people who had sacrifi ced their lives for the cause. The message said: “This spirit of empathy and of social service and volunteerism is very much alive in India. There are so many people and organi- sations that work quietly and diligently for the poor and the disadvantaged.” A group of students render a patriotic song. A view of the guests at the event. PICTURES: Noushad Thekkayil International Qatar pavilion hosts children with consultants special needs at Astana event

s part of its extensive list The Qatari pavilion displays of activities and events a design that merges modernity visiting HMC Aat Expo Astana 2017 in with heritage and Qatari cul- Kazakhstan during August and ture. Its unique front presents September, Qatar’s pavilion or- a number of successful projects ganised a special day for children that the country has undertaken with special needs, in partner- in the fi eld of sustainable and al- this month ship with the Association of Per- ternative energy, and highlights sons with Disabilities in Astana. Qatar’s strategy in diversifying Throughout the day, children its energy sources and overcom- he Hamad Medical Cor- Dr Ali Kindawi, a cardiot- listened to Qatari songs and mu- ing challenges in line with Qatar poration is hosting a horacic surgeon from Freeman sic and toured various sections of National Vision 2030. The pa- Tnumber of visiting con- Hospital in Newcastle, Eng- the pavilion, which tells the story vilion also sheds light on Qatar’s sultants from various medical land will visit from August 28 of Qatar’s ancient past, its fl our- position as a tourism destination specialties in August. to September 3. Dr Kindawi was ishing present and bright future. and an attractive hub for busi- The visits are part of the or- previously employed as a senior Children also enjoyed activi- ness and investment. ganisation’s eff ort to provide consultant cardiac surgeon at ties in a dedicated section where The pavilion is home to a the patients with access to in- HMC’s Heart Hospital. they participated in drawing and number of sections, including ternational experts and con- colouring activities and received “Qatar is Vibrant,” which visu- tinue to enhance the quality of Members of the public henna tattoos, in addition to tak- ally presents Qatar’s history to healthcare services in its hos- wishing to book an ing photographs. participants. The “Technology pitals. appointment with one of The event refl ects Qatar’s of the Future” section focuses on Dr Helmuth Billy, a highly- the visiting consultants keenness to familiarise people Qatar’s eff orts to embrace green experienced bariatric and meta- are advised to discuss with special needs with Qatari energy and reduce carbon emis- bolic specialist from Ventura this option with their culture and ensure their partici- sions, while the “Sustainable A child receives henna decoration with great joy. Advanced Surgical Associates physician pation in unique activities and Energy” section calls for the effi - in Thousand Oaks, California, is events organised by the Qatari cient and intelligent use of ener- available until August 19. Dr Billy Several other experts are pavilion. gy to minimise over-consump- is also the director of the Centre scheduled to visit throughout Qatar’s pavilion also hosted tion and its impact on society. for Bariatric Surgery at St John’s the year as part of HMC’s focus 35 people from various media The “Human Energy is the Regional Medical Centre, Ox- on hosting highly-respected organisations that took part in Focus of our Attention” sec- nard, California. physicians and surgeons from the expo. Members of the media tion highlights the importance Dr Gert Van Assche, a gastro- around the world. Visits from were introduced to the pavilion, of supporting human capac- enterology expert and head, Di- international consultants en- whose design was inspired by ity building through advanced vision of Gastroenterology and able patients to benefi t from the Qatari heritage, and its various research in the fi eld alternative Hepatology at University Hospi- convenience of world renowned sections. energy. tals Leuven in Leuven, Belgium specialists here at home while Visitors were also briefed on Expo Astana 2017, which will visit from August 16 to 19. sparing them the need to travel development projects in Qatar started on June 10 and ends on Dr Michel Onimus, a French abroad. and the renaissance the country September 10, provides an op- orthopaedic surgery specialist Members of the public wish- is witnessing, as well as the state’s portunity to promote a number will visit from August 16 to 23. ing to book an appointment with interest in human development of industries in the energy and Dr Onimus has been regularly one of the visiting consultants and the country’s many accom- renewable energy sectors, envi- visiting HMC since 1999. are advised to discuss this op- plishments across various fi elds. ronment and economy, as well Dr Chris Langrish, a consult- tion with their physician. If the Journalists expressed their ad- as other vital sectors. The event ant intensivist and anaesthetist doctor agrees that an appoint- miration for the valuable infor- brings together more than 18 from Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS ment with a visiting consultant mation that the pavilion off ers international organisations and Foundation Trust in England is appropriate, they will provide on Qatar and thanked organisers 100 countries. It is forecast to at- will visit from August 21 to 23. a referral. for their initiative. tract a total of 5mn visitors. Visitors touring the Qatari Pavilion at Expo Astana 2017 in Kazakhstan. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 16, 2017 5 QATAR

Qatar Airways personnel with participants of the Open Recruitment Day. Qatar Airways organises ‘Open Recruitment Day’

atar Airways hosted nationals with local and in- State of Qatar. The aim is to Cadet Pilot programme, Air- an Open Recruitment ternational career opportu- empower these young stu- craft Maintenance Engineer- QDay on Monday for nities through eight diff erent dents to succeed in a cho- ing programme, Graduate Qatari nationals at the Re- programmes and 35 diff erent sen career path with Qatar Development programme, cruitment Centre at Qatar majors across the airline’s Airways by providing them Airport Operations pro- Airways Tower 2 as part of its various departments. access to knowledge, skills gramme, Aviation Manage- ever-expanding Al Darb Qa- Qatar Airways senior vice development, and valuable ment programme, and the tarisation programme. president (Human Resourc- experience.” Jossor programme. It is a tre- As part of the open day, es) Nabeela Fakhri said: “We Qatar Airways’ Al Darb mendous project that brings students and graduates were are aligned with Qatar’s na- Qatarisation programme benefi ts and opportunities given the chance to meet tional vision and therefore aims to develop the skills at a variety of diff erent levels with employees and explore sourcing, developing, and of young Qataris, allow- and across various aviation- the many diff erent employ- nurturing young national ing them to gain experience related fi elds. ment pathways available at talent to remain high on the through Qatar Airways’ net- At the event, visitors re- Qatar Airways, including na- agenda at Qatar Airways. work of offi ces around the ceived fi rst-hand informa- tional scholarship, cadet pi- “The Al Darb initiative world. Currently, the pro- tion about the Al Darb pro- lot, and aircraft maintenance invites Qataris to join our gramme features 35 majors gramme and were given the engineering programmes. award-winning team and and eight programmes, in- opportunity to meet and hear Now in its sixth year, the use their talent and skills to cluding the Summer Intern- from current and previous Al Darb Qatarisation pro- support the rapid expansion ship programme, National students about their experi- gramme presents young of the national carrier of the Scholarship programme, ences.

Aspire Active, Uber in health promotion drive

Aspire Active and Uber have memberships. This off er can “Start your fitness journey More information teamed up to help promote only be redeemed by Uber today and pin your locations could be had by calling a fitter and healthier lifestyle riders who make a journey to Aspire Ladies Gym and 44136481/44136434 or in Doha. For the month of using the Uber app to or from its male counterpart Aspire from e-mail aspire.active@ August, Aspire Active will be Aspire. Dome in the Uber app! Uber mtmqatar.com. Aspire Ac- giving away up to three- Uber will also give a 20% off Promo code is RIDE2ASPIRE,” tive is located at Al Waab St., months free, with selected discount for those journeys. a statement said. Aspire Zone. Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 REGION/ARAB WORLD

Rebels shoot Iran says can quit N-deal if down Syria military jet

Reuters US keeps adding sanctions Amman

Reuters his message of greater civil liberties and estern-backed Syrian Tehran equality. rebels said they had Many felt let down by the lack of Wshot down a Syrian women ministers, saying he had bowed military jet yesterday and cap- resident Hassan Rouhani yester- to pressure from the conservative re- tured its pilot in a desert area in day warned that Iran could aban- ligious establishment, although he did southern Syria near the border Pdon its 2015 nuclear deal with appoint two female vice presidents and with Jordan, where the army had world powers within hours if the United a senior aide — positions which do not recently advanced and seized States keeps on imposing new sanctions require parliamentary approval. border posts. as he outlined plans for his new term. Yesterday, he defended his cabinet Saad al-Haj, spokesman for In a speech to parliament, he also hit selections and pointed to his pick for the Osoud Al Sharqiya rebel out at US counterpart Donald Trump telecoms minister, 35-year-old Mo- group leader, told Reuters the saying that he had shown the world that hamed Javad Azari Jahromi, as “our fi rst rebels had shot down the Rus- Washington was “not a good partner”. experience in choosing from the youth, sian-built MiG using anti-air- Rouhani’s comments come with the someone who has grown up after the craft guns in the eastern coun- nuclear deal under mounting pressure revolution”. tryside of Sweida province. after Tehran carried out missile tests Rouhani promised a more targeted Haj, whose group is one of and strikes, and Washington imposed approach to social welfare and job crea- two major rebel groups operat- new sanctions — with each accusing tion, responding to attacks during the ing in the area, said the pilot was the other of violating the spirit of the campaign that his neoliberal agenda captured and was being interro- agreement. was mostly benefi ting the rich. gated. Rouhani warned that Iran was ready He promised to eradicate absolute He could not say if the pilot to walk out of the deal, which saw the poverty and improve the conditions of had been injured. lifting of most international sanctions the poorest “by fi ve times” by the end of The eastern countryside of in return for curbs on its nuclear pro- his term in 2021. Sweida province borders Jordan gramme, if Washington persisted. “The government is determined to in a front where the Syrian army, “Those who try to return to the lan- carry out structural reforms. It sees the alongside Iran-backed militias, guage of threats and sanctions are pris- all-out fi ght against corruption as an had established control last oners of their past delusions,” he said in absolute prerequisite for progress and Thursday over checkpoints and the televised address. social justice,” he said. border posts. “If they want to go back to that expe- He also detailed a range of economic Sweida province was not in- rience, defi nitely in a short time — not challenges, particularly the need to cluded in a US-Russian brokered weeks or months, but in the scale of clean up the banking system, which is ceasefi re that took eff ect in near- hours and days — we will return to our Iranian President Hassan Rouhani addresses parliament in Tehran yesterday. riven with toxic debt, and reform taxa- by areas of the southwest in July. previous situation very much stronger.” tion to end the country’s reliance on un- Syrian offi cials could not im- He said Iran did prefer to stick with ments and shown its allies that the US President Vladimir Putin on Monday a fortnight ago under fi re from reform- stable oil revenues. mediately be reached for com- the nuclear deal, which he called “a is neither a good partner nor a reliable night, vowing to build on their joint ists over his elderly and all-male cabinet. He courted controversy in his fi rst ment. model of victory for peace and diplo- negotiating party,” he said. military eff orts across the region. “I wanted to nominate three women term by demanding that powerful eco- Reuters could not independ- macy over war and unilateralism” but He highlighted Trump’s decisions to “Tehran welcomes the active pres- ministers but it did not happen,” he nomic groups linked to religious and ently confi rm a plane had been that this was not the “only option”. withdraw from the Paris climate agree- ence of Russia’s investors...in major said, without explaining why. military institutions must be brought downed. Rouhani said Trump had shown he ment and international trade deals. infrastructure projects including in the “All ministers must use women in into the tax system. Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebels was an unreliable partner not just for Iran’s parliament on Sunday ap- fi elds of industry and energy,” his offi ce high-ranking positions...and espe- “Reducing tax exemptions along with who get support from a com- Iran but for US allies. proved more than half a billion dollars said. cially female advisers and deputies,” he expanded tax coverage can boost jus- mand room in Jordan run by “In recent months, the world has in funding for the country’s missile pro- Rouhani was addressing lawmakers as added. tice,” he said. Arab and Western backers of the witnessed that the US, in addition to its gramme and foreign operations of the deliberations start over his new ministe- Rouhani, a 68-year-old moderate He promised a new rating system for insurgency say fi ghting contin- constant and repetitive breaking of its elite Revolutionary Guards in response rial line-up, which must be approved by cleric, won a resounding re-election banks and an increase in their capital ues in the area to try to regain promises in the JCPOA (nuclear deal), to the new US sanctions. lawmakers in the coming days. victory in May in large part due to the requirements “to reach global stand- lost ground. has ignored several other global agree- Rouhani also spoke with Russian The president started his second term backing of reformists who supported ards”. They blamed recent losses on the sudden retreat by a Jordani- an-backed tribal militia known as Jaish Al Ashair that had pa- Egyptian archaeologists rediscover 2,000-year-old tombs trolled the border area.

AFP well as clay fragments,” the statement time,” it quoted Ashmawy as saying. Cairo quoted Ayman Ashmawy, head of the In one of the three tombs, excavators Algeria PM ministry’s Ancient Egyptian Antiqui- found bones believed to be the remains ties Sector, as saying. of “men, women and children of dif- gypt archaeologists have discov- One of the tombs, which was reached ferent ages”, Ali al-Bakry, head of the is sacked ered three ancient tombs con- through a shaft carved in rock, con- mission, was quoted as saying in the Etaining sarcophagi in the south of tained four sarcophagi each sculpted statement. the country in a cemetery dating back to depict a human face. Another tomb This shows that “these tombs were AFP about 2,000 years, the antiquities min- held the remains of two sarcophagi and part of a large cemetery for a large city Algiers istry said yesterday. six burial holes, including one for “the and not a military garrisons as some The tombs excavated in the Al-Ka- burial of a small child”. suggest,” he said. min al-Sahrawi area in Minya province Clay fragments found at the site This work follows previous excava- lgerian President Ab- south of Cairo were in burial grounds “date the tombs between the 27th tion at the site, which began in 2015. delaziz Boutefl ika yester- constructed some time between the Dynasty (founded in 525 BC) and the “Works are underway in order to re- Aday sacked prime min- 27th Dynasty and the Greco-Roman Greco-Roman era (between 332 BC veal more secrets,” the statement said. ister Abdelmadjid Tebboune, period, the ministry said in a state- and the fourth century),” the statement Egypt boasts an array of ancient sites less than three months after ment. said. including Pharaonic temples and the An Egyptian Antiquities Ministry handout picture of a sarcophagus, which was appointing him, the presidency The team found “a collection of sar- The discovery “suggests that the area famed Giza pyramids that draw mil- in one of three tombs that were discovered at cemetery dating back about said, according to state media. cophagi of diff erent shapes and sizes, as was a great cemetery for a long span of lions of tourists every year. 2,000 years, in the Al-Kamin al-Sahrawi area in Minya province, south of Cairo. “President Abdelaziz Boutef- lika has relieved prime minister Abdelmadjid Tebboune of his duties and appointed Ahmed Ouyahia”, the president’s chief of staff , in his place, the presidency Israel arrests cleric for ‘incitement’ said in a statement carried by the offi cial APS news agency. Boutefl ika’s National Libera- AFP it was accused of inciting violence Israel responded by installing tion Front (FLN) and the Rally Jerusalem linked to Jerusalem’s Haram al- metal detectors at the entrance to for National Democracy (RND) Sharif mosque compound. the complex, used as a staging point led by Ouyahia together enjoy Police said in yesterday’s state- for the attack. an absolute majority in parlia- sraeli police yesterday arrested a ment that Salah, an Arab Israeli, is For nearly two weeks, worship- ment after winning re-election fi rebrand Islamic cleric who has accused of having publicly support- pers refused to submit to the checks on May 4. Ibeen repeatedly accused of in- ed violent acts against the country and staged mass prayers in sur- In a surprise move three citing violence over a sensitive Jeru- on several occasions following the rounding streets. weeks after the vote, the presi- salem holy site where tensions again ban on his organisation. Ensuing protests and clashes dent named Tebboune, who had fl ared last month. It was not clear whether the ac- left seven Palestinians dead, while been housing minister, to the Raed Salah, released from prison cusations were linked to last month’s three Israelis were fatally stabbed post of prime minister in place in January after serving a nine- deadly unrest surrounding the holy by a Palestinian assailant. The cri- of Boutefl ika’s ally Abdelmalek month sentence, is accused of incit- site, which includes the revered Al- sis abated when Israel removed the Sellal. ing violence and terrorism as well as Aqsa mosque and the golden-topped detectors. According to a government support for and participation in an Dome of the Rock. Salah served a nine-month prison source who spoke to AFP on con- illegal organisation, police said. Violence erupted in and around term after being convicted of fo- dition of anonymity, 71-year-old His group, the radical northern the compound after three Arab Is- menting violent protests over the Tebboune was dismissed be- branch of the Islamic Movement in raelis shot dead two Israeli police- holy site. He was convicted of having cause his “vision was not in line” Israel, was outlawed in 2015 after men on July 14. incited violence in a 2007 speech. with the president.

ICC issues warrant for Benghazi commander

AFP senior commander in the Al-Saiqa 2016 and 2017 in which he allegedly allegedly seen in video footage read- The Hague brigade, an elite unit which defected personally shot or ordered the ex- ing from a document before per- from the Libyan National Army af- ecution of people who were either sonally commanding a fi ring squad ter the uprising against Muammar civilians or injured fi ghters. which then shoots 15 people wearing nternational judges yesterday is- Gaddafi in 2011. “There is no information in the orange jumpsuits and black hoods, sued a war crimes arrest warrant He joined the brigade after Gadd- evidence to show that they have the ICC’s judges said. Iagainst a senior Libyan military afi ’s fall and has “played a com- been aff orded a trial by a legitimate “After reading the document commander, suspected of involve- manding role since at least 2015,” the court, whether military or other- Mr al-Werfalli says...’Ready! Aim! ment in the deaths of 33 people in ICC’s judges said in the arrest war- wise, that would comport to any Fire!,” the judges said, after which the war-torn city of Benghazi. rant. recognised standard of due process,” the executioners shoot the prison- “The International Criminal Since then, the brigade has been the ICC’s judges said. ers in three groups of fi ve. Court has issued a warrant of ar- battling alongside forces loyal to The evidence included video foot- Al-Werfalli and two other men rest for Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Libyan strongman Khalifa Haftar age purportedly showing al-Werfalli then allegedly personally execute al-Werfalli, allegedly responsible for in Benghazi, Libya’s second-largest shooting a hooded and unarmed three people, before he orders the murder as a war crime in the con- city, which has recently been liber- person and afterwards telling the execution of yet another two others. text of the non-international armed ated after a three-year campaign dead body: “You have been misled “The video depicting the inci- confl ict in Libya,” the Hague-based against jihadist groups. by he who did you harm. You have dent, involving a total 20 executed tribunal said in a statement. Al-Werfalli is accused of involve- been misled by Satan.” persons, was posted on social media Al-Werfalli, born in 1978, is a ment in at least seven incidents in In another incident, al-Werfalli is on 23 July 2017,” the judges said. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 16, 2017 7 AFRICA

Baby dies after being Sierra Leone appeals for beaten by Kenya cops

AFP help after deadly fl oods Nairobi

AFP quickly overwhelmed, leaving stagnant Freetown water pooling in some areas while cre- six-month-old baby has ating dangerous churning waterways died after being beaten down steep streets. Aby Kenyan police during ierra Leone’s president yester- Society 4 Climate Change Commu- a raid on her house as protests day appealed for urgent help for nication (S4CCC), a local environment erupted following a disputed Sthe fl ood-hit capital of Freetown, group, called the tragedy a “wake up election result in western Kis- where more than 300 people are feared call”. umu, her father said yesterday. dead, as rescue workers continued a “Man-made activity meets climate- The baby, Samantha Pendo, grim search for bodies after one of the change head on, a predictable event had been in a coma in hospital worst natural disasters to hit the coun- now made tragically real,” the group since Friday night, when her fa- try. said in a widely-shared blog post. ther said police forced their way The Red Cross said it was struggling Deforestation, a lack of urban plan- into their house during a crack- to excavate families buried deep in the ning and the nation’s existing vulner- down on protesters in the slum mud that engulfed their homes, though ability to climate change had all played where they live. several bodies were pulled up by ma- their part, they said. Offi cers fi red teargas into their chines in the devastated hilltop com- Sierra Leone’s meteorological de- house and battered down the munity of Regent, according to an AFP partment issued no warning ahead of door, before raining blows on the journalist at the scene. the torrential rains, which might have couple with batons. Addressing the media in Regent, one allowed for swifter evacuations from Samantha, who was in her of the areas hit hardest by the fl ooding, the disaster zones. mother’s arms, was left fi ghting President Ernest Bai Koroma fought At the city’s military hospital, com- for her life with head injuries. back tears as he said the devastation munity health offi cer Wilberforce Mo- “I have lost my daughter, a “was overwhelming us”. hamed Rogers said he had treated sev- short while ago. Let her rest in “Entire communities have been eral children with multiple injuries, peace,” said her father Joseph wiped out,” Koroma said at the disaster including a six-month-old baby. Abanja. site, where heavy rains streaming down Many had lost their parents, Rogers “Why did they have to beat the hill caused a landslide and engulfed said. us and injure my innocent an- homes three or four storeys high on An AFP journalist met victims sleep- gel. We have followed the order Monday, many of them built illegally. ing in schools, community centres and by the government to vote and “We need urgent support now,” he out in the open, while others squeezed stay home. Why did they have to added. into the homes of relatives. come after us in our homes?” The government has promised re- Freetown is hit each year by fl ooding Samantha has become the lief to the more than 3,000 people left during several months of rain, raising face of police brutality during a homeless, opening an emergency re- the risk of waterborne diseases such as crackdown on the protests that sponse centre in Regent and four regis- Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma visits the site of a mudslide near Freetown after landslides struck the capital cholera. erupted after opposition leader tration centres, while the Red Cross said of the west African state. Flooding in the capital in 2015 killed Raila Odinga claimed last Tues- 600 people were still missing, though 10 people and left thousands homeless. day’s presidential election had the Interior Minister put the number in these aff ected communities survive and “Many unfi nished buildings were at “We have not received any food or Sierra Leone was one of the west Af- been rigged in favour of the in- the thousands. cope with their loss,” Tarrawallie said. the hilltop, with those sprawling shacks blankets since the disaster occurred rican nations hit by an outbreak of the cumbent Uhuru Kenyatta. Red Cross spokesman Patrick Mas- At the Regent site, residents told all gone,” he told AFP. yesterday,” she told AFP. Ebola virus in 2014 that left more than In a separate incident in the saquoi told AFP on Monday that the AFP that boulders and rocks had killed Survivors required immediate shel- Three days of torrential rain culmi- 4,000 people dead in the country, and Mathare slum in Nairobi, a nine- death toll was 312, but another Red many as they rolled onto homes in the ter, medical and food assistance, and nated on Monday in the Regent mud- it has struggled to revive its economy year-old girl was shot in the back Cross official, Abu Bakarr Tarrawal- early hours of Monday, while a hill par- dozens of injured people were receiving slide and massive fl ooding elsewhere since the crisis. and killed on Saturday while lie, put the death toll at 245 in an tially collapsed as fl oodwaters streamed treatment, the Red Cross’s Tarawallie in the city, one of the world’s wettest The country ranked 179th out of 188 standing on her family’s balcony, email yesterday to AFP, while local down the slopes. said. urban areas. countries on the UN Development Pro- as police fi red shots to disperse media and officials all gave different One resident, Abubakar Mansaray, Abibatu Kamara, a mother of three Makeshift settlements that clung to gramme’s 2016 Human Development protesters in the street below. tolls. said it took just two minutes for the who spent the night on her neighbours’ the hills and shores were swept away or Index, a basket of data combining life The death toll from post-elec- “We are racing against time, more mudslide to suff ocate families in the veranda, said the government response torn apart. expectancy, education and income and tion violence has now risen to 17, fl ooding and the risk of disease to help darkness. so far had been absent. The city’s drainage system was other factors. according to an AFP tally.

5 Kenya policemen Grace Mugabe accused of attacking model in hotel room killed in ambush uspected Somali Islamist militants yesterday killed Reuters “The negotiations for her to hand minister Mbalula said: “All those im- Sfi ve police offi cers in an Johannesburg herself in are still going on. We are at a plications will be taken into considera- ambush in northeastern Kenya, point where we cannot eff ect an arrest tion.” according to police sources, the yet,” the police source said. “We will He then added: “She will be charged.” latest in a string of deadly at- outh African police were ne- cross that bridge when we get there.” A Zimbabwean intelligence source tacks. gotiating yesterday with Grace The source said that 52-year-old said Grace had been travelling on an Around 100 suspected insur- SMugabe’s lawyers to get the wife Grace had earlier agreed to hand herself ordinary non-diplomatic passport and gents stole the offi cers’ weapons of the Zimbabwean president to turn over at 10am local time but failed to do was in South Africa on personal busi- and torched their vehicle during herself in to face charges of assaulting a so. ness. the attack in Alijize in Garissa model, a senior police source said. Asked if Grace was now considered The News24 website quoted Engels’ county, according to a police of- South African police minister Fikile a fugitive, the source said that was not version of events in the hotel room. fi cial who asked not to be named. Mbalula had said earlier in the day the the case at this stage. “When Grace entered, I had no idea Two offi cers survived the am- Zimbabwean fi rst lady had already The source said police were investi- who she was. She walked in with an ex- Grace Mugabe ... in the hot seat bush, although one was shot in handed herself in to police and would gating a charge of assault with intent to tension cord and just started beating me the thigh. appear in court shortly, but that later do grievous bodily harm. with it,” the model said. body. I have bruises all over my body... I ported but that no charges were brought. Somalia’s Shebaab militants appeared to have been premature. Another source in South Africa’s “She fl ipped and just kept beating have two open wounds at the back of my President Mugabe, 93, spoke yester- have claimed a series of cross- Twenty-year-old Gabriella Engels prosecuting authority said Mugabe had me with the plug. Over and over. I had head as well.” day at a public event marking Defence border attacks in recent months, told South African media Grace had at- breached an agreement to surrender no idea what was going on. I was sur- Mugabe’s two sons were kicked out of Forces Day in Harare, but did not men- including a spate of roadside tacked her while the model was visiting herself ahead of an expected court hear- prised... I needed to crawl out of the the Regent luxury apartment complex tion Grace. bombings targeting security the Mugabes’ sons Robert and Chatun- ing yesterday afternoon. room before I could run away.” in Sandton last month after an incident Grace was in the news in late July forces and a mass beheading of ga at a hotel in Johannesburg’s upmar- “They (the police) had an agreement News24 published a picture of what it in the middle of the night, staff at the when she challenged her president hus- non-Muslim civilians in Kenya’s ket Sandton district on Sunday. that she hand herself over, but she never said was Engels with a large gash in her complex told Reuters. band to name his preferred successor. coastal Lamu district. There was no immediate public com- did,” the source said. forehead. Regent manager Imelda Fincham did The issue of who will succeed Mu- Shebaab say the raids are re- ment on the case from Grace Mugabe or South African media said Grace was “I am a model, with this scar over not elaborate but confi rmed the pair gabe has deeply divided Zimbabwe’s taliation for Kenyan security her aides. in the country to have an injured foot my face my whole career is ruined,” she had left. ruling ZANU-PF party. forces operating in Somalia, but Confusion arose yesterday afternoon examined. said. “They’re no longer here,” she said. One faction supports Grace and the Kenyan offi cials say Shebaab when the magistrates’ court where It was unclear whether she was trav- It was unclear what triggered the in- In 2009, a press photographer in other Vice President Emmerson Mnan- launched raids and kidnappings Grace had been expected to be formally elling on a diplomatic passport. cident. Hong Kong said Grace and her body- gagwa, who is recovering in a South on their territory long before charged closed for the day without her On whether she could be arrested Engels told Talk Radio 702: “She just guard had assaulted him. African hospital after he fell ill and was Kenyan soldiers entered Somalia appearing. despite having diplomatic immunity, completely lost it. I was hit all over my Police there said the incident was re- airlifted from Zimbabwe. in 2011.

Nigeria stand-in careful not to upset the boat as Buhari steers from London

Reuters But a unifying of all the ex- hours last month to get Bu- stocks to a nearly three-year- cies that may annoy Buhari and Lagos change rates — there are at least hari’s approval to appoint two high in August. his inner circle, who are mainly six, including the black market — ministers who had been already But its inconclusive nature still Muslim northerners. remains far away. cleared by parliament, the offi - holds back investors, London- “The chief of staff and his team he window for Yemi Osi- It would amount to a devalua- cial said. based Capital Economics said. are working alongside Osinbajo nbajo, Nigeria’s stand-in tion, which Buhari has opposed. During the meeting, Buhari “There is a possibility that Bu- on the understanding that (he) Tpresident, to launch bold More than three months after even asked Osinbajo to give the hari returns, sees things improv- will not run in 2019,” a govern- economic reforms and wrestle leaving Nigeria, it remains un- ministers no portfolio as he ing and thinks there is no need to ment adviser said. the ill-disciplined naira currency clear when Buhari will return, wanted to assign them himself change anything. Osinbajo has never said he into shape is fast closing. despite his remarks about his de- after his return, he said. Further reforms are desperate- wants to run. President Muhammadu Buhari sire to resume work. Moreover, when Osinbajo ly needed to achieve meaningful “The election cycle is the last signalled over the past weekend that They were merely the latest tried appointed a new board for growth,” said John Ashbourne, two years of an administration. he is ready to return from receiv- in a number of presidency an- an anti-corruption commission Africa economist at Capital Eco- As we enter the election the is- ing medical treatment in London as nouncements. he had to withdraw his candi- nomics. sue of mutual trust becomes soon as his doctors allowed it. But even from far-away Lon- dates because Buhari’s aides did Buhari, a former military ruler crucial because nobody wants That would could paid to don Buhari and his aides have re- not like two names, the offi cial from the north, made Osinbajo to be ambushed,” said the ad- investor hopes for economic strained Osinbajo. said. acting president when he fi rst viser, who did not want to be changes to qualify Nigeria for a “He (Osinbajo) is so scared to Among the few projects Osi- went to Britain to avoid a vacuum named. World Bank loan to drag it out of Osinbajo ... loyal off end President Buhari to the nbajo got underway are the le- as occurred in 2010 when then- Traditionally in Nigeria, the recession. extent that he takes no major ac- galising of illicit refi neries in the president Umaru Yar’Adua spent leadership rotates between north It will also leave the plethora of “We don’t expect any devia- Osinbajo, who has been run- tion without consent from him restive Niger Delta oil hub, often three months in a Saudi hospital and south to ensure a balance in naira exchange rates standing, al- tion from the current economic ning Nigeria since Buhari went through phone,” said a presi- the only work for youth who tend while his aides shrouded his ill- a country evenly split between beit perhaps closer to each other. policy stance should President to Britain on May 7 and also ran it dency offi cial, asking not to be to join otherwise militants. ness in secrecy. Muslims and Christians. Buhari has kept a grip on pow- Buhari return,” said Cobus de between January and March, has named. Osinbajo also ordered an over- His deputy Goodluck Jonathan Jonathan, a Christian from the er despite his medical leave, and Hart, senior economist at South made some changes. Osinbajo and his aides often haul of dilapidated facilities at only took over in a constitutional south, upset many northerners the more business-friendly Osi- Africa’s NKC African Economics. He has managed to calm ten- hold meetings which has enli- Lagos airport, the main entry crisis after Yar’Adua died. by refusing to give way. nbajo has been reluctant to chal- “One could hope that the re- sions in the Niger Delta oil hub vened a presidential villa criti- gate into Nigeria, as part of a plan Osinbajo has gone out of his Northerners also felt there lenge him. turn of the president goes hand and pushed small steps such as a cised for inertia — but he still to ease doing business. way to show his loyalty — as a should have been another north- This has gone as far as him fl y- in hand with an acceleration of forex trade window to narrow the seeks approval from Buhari or his The new FX trade window has Christian lawyer from southern ern term after Yar’Adua’s death. ing to London to get permission reform implementation, but we gap between the offi cial and par- chief of staff . prompted some foreign inves- commercial capital Lagos he is Hundreds were killed in riots for personnel changes. doubt this will be the case.” allel naira exchange rates. He fl ew to London for a few tors to return, pushing Nigerian walking a tightrope to avoid poli- after Jonathan’s election in 2011. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 AMERICA Trump hits out at CEOs over riots in Virginia

Reuters his “failed response” over the Washington weekend. But it still looked “a little bit forced and half-heart- ed,” Dent told MSNBC. S President Donald Dent recalled statements Trump hit back yester- Trump made during his presi- Uday at business leaders dential election campaign — who quit a presidential advi- including against Mexicans and sory panel in protest over his Muslims — and said this aff ect- response to a rally by far-right ed how he was perceived. “It groups that turned deadly in makes these situations more Virginia, calling the executives treacherous for the president,” “grandstanders”. Dent said. Three business leaders quit Writing in the Financial a Trump panel in protest on Times, former US treasury Monday and on Tuesday Scott secretary Larry Summers Paul, president of the Alliance hailed Frazier for taking a stand for American Manufacturing, against what Summers said said on Twitter he was also re- had been Trump’s “manifestly signing from the initiative “be- inadequate” response to the cause it is the right thing for me Charlottesville violence. to do”. Leaders in American industry Trump bowed on Monday to should look to the Merck execu- A President Donald Trump supporter argues with anti-Trump protesters as they gather outside of Trump Tower along Fifth Avenue. two days of pressure for a more tive’s example, said Summers, forceful response to the Char- who was treasury secretary un- lottesville violence, singling der Democratic former presi- out groups behind the ‘Unite dent Bill Clinton. the Right’ rally that were widely “Every member of Mr seen as stoking the disturbanc- Trump’s advisory councils es, in which a woman was killed. should wrestle with his or her But he was still clearly frus- conscience and ponder Edmund trated over the reaction to his Burke’s famous warning that Cities step up removal response. “For every CEO that ‘All that is necessary for the tri- drops out of the Manufactur- umph of evil is for good men to ing Council, I have many to do nothing,’” Summers wrote. take their place. Grandstanders After making his statement should not have gone on. on Monday at the White House, JOBS!” Trump said on Twit- Trump also lashed out at the ter yesterday. media, where many commen- of Confederate statues The head of pharmaceuti- tators said his response to the cal company Merck & Co Inc, unrest still rang hollow. Several cities have decided and early member of the Ku Klux been removed or renamed across Great Pyramids prove they were renounced one of its own, after Kenneth Frazier, quit the presi- “Made additional remarks on to step up moves to remove Klan. the United States since 2015, ac- built by free workers, not slaves. he participated in a violent white dent’s American Manufacturing Charlottesville and realise once monuments “This is a time to stand up and cording to the Southern Poverty Across the country, 718 Con- supremacist rally over the week- Council in protest on Monday. again that the #Fake News me- speak out,” Lexington Mayor Law Center, which tracks hate federate monuments and stat- end. The CEOs of sportswear dia will never be satisfi ed...truly Reuters Jim Gray said in an interview on groups. But such eff orts have also ues remain, with nearly 300 Peter Teff t was identifi ed on manufacturer Under Armour bad people!” he said in a tweet. Washington Monday. made Confederate fl ags and me- of them in Georgia, Virginia or Twitter through photographs Inc and semiconductor chip CNN has been one of the Saturday’s clashes between morials a rallying point for white North Carolina, according to the taken at the rally in Charlottes- maker Intel Corp, Kevin Plank media most targeted by Trump white supremacists and counter supremacists and other extreme Southern Poverty Law Cent- ville, Virginia, where a woman and Brian Krzanich, followed for criticism. ndeterred by violence protesters in Charlottesville, in right groups, according to Ryan er. There are also 109 public was killed and 19 others injured. suit later in the day. Yesterday morning, he over the planned removal which two police offi cers were Lenz, a spokesman for the centre. schools named for Robert E Lee, His family reported that it has On Monday, Trump had retweeted a cartoon that Uof a Confederate statue also killed when their helicopter Opponents of Confederate Confederate President Jeff erson since been threatened and har- struck back at Frazier after showed a train labelled in Charlottesville, Virginia, mu- crashed, appeared to have accel- memorials view them as an af- Davis or other leading fi gures assed, according to the North he quit the panel, saying in a “Trump” colliding with a per- nicipal leaders in cities across the erated the push to remove me- front to African-Americans and of the Civil War-era South, the Dakota newspaper The Forum. Twitter post the Merck execu- son depicted as CNN and cap- United States said this week they morials, fl ags and other remind- ideals of racial diversity and group said. In an open letter Monday to tive would now have more time tioned, “Nothing can stop the would step up eff orts to pull such ers of the Confederate cause. equality. Baltimore Mayor Catherine the newspaper, the man’s father, to focus on lowering “ripoff ” #TrumpTrain !!” The tweet monuments from public spaces. Some opponents took matters Supporters argue they repre- Pugh said on Monday she would Pearce Teff t, said his son would drug prices. The president was deleted shortly afterwards. The mayors of Baltimore and into their own hands. sent an important part of history, move forward in removing sev- no longer be welcome until he re- faced continuing criticism Saturday’s trouble erupted Lexington, Kentucky, said on Demonstrators stormed the honouring those who fought and eral statutes, including those of nounces his beliefs. from within his own party. after hundreds of white na- Monday they would push ahead site of a Confederate monument died for the rebellious Southern Lee and Stonewall Jackson. “I, along with all of his sib- Republican US Representa- tionalists converged in Char- with plans to remove statues as a outside a courthouse in Durham, states in the Civil War. She stopped short of endorsing lings and his entire family, wish tive Charlie Dent said Trump’s lottesville to protest plans to national debate fl ared anew over North Carolina, on Monday and Eff orts by New Orleans to dis- calls by some city council mem- to loudly repudiate my son’s vile, comments on Monday, when he remove a statue of General whether monuments to the Con- toppled the bronze statue from mantle four Confederate statues bers for the monuments to be de- hateful and racist rhetoric and denounced neo-Nazis, the Ku Robert E Lee, commander of federacy are symbols of hate or its base. Local television news sparked protests and litigation stroyed. actions,” Teff t wrote. Klux Klan and white suprema- the pro-slavery Confederate heritage. footage showed protesters taking that became so contentious that White nationalist leaders plan “We do not know specifi cally cists by name, were better than army in the US Civil War. A rally by white national- turns stomping and kicking the crews waited until the middle of to hold a rally in Lexington, Ken- where he learned these beliefs. ists protesting plans to remove a fallen statue as others cheered. the night to remove a 14-foot- tucky, to oppose the removal of He did not learn them at home.” statue of General Robert E Lee, Durham County Sheriff Mike tall bronze likeness of Confeder- the statues there and are con- Another member of the family commander of the pro-slavery Andrews said in a statement yes- ate General P G T Beauregard on sidering a lawsuit, Matthew He- went further, telling the newspa- Confederate army in the US Civil terday that his offi ce would seek horseback in May. imbach, chairman of the Tradi- per that they were afraid of the War, sparked clashes with anti- vandalism charges against those The violence in Charlottes- tionalist Worker Party, told the avowed white nationalist. Lawsuit over false racism demonstrators in Char- involved. ville is unlikely to bolster the Herald-Leader newspaper. “We don’t feel safe around lottesville on Saturday. A woman The drive by civil rights groups argument for maintaining the The group said it has not set a him, and we don’t know how he was killed and 19 people were in- and others to do away with Con- monuments as items of histori- date for the protest and did not came to be this way. My grand- online data revived jured when a car ploughed into a federate monuments gained mo- cal value, said Carl Jones, chief of respond to requests for further father feels especially grieved, as crowd of counter-protesters. mentum after an avowed white heritage operations for the Sons comment. though he has failed as a father,” Offi cials in Memphis, Tennes- supremacist murdered nine Af- of Confederate Veterans. But he As the debate spread to more Jacob Scott told The Forum in a Reuters Justice Samuel Alito con- see, and Jacksonville, Florida, rican-Americans at a church in said he would continue to make cities across the country, Ken- statement. New York cluded that not all inaccuracies announced new initiatives on Charleston, South Carolina, in that case. tucky Governor Matt Bevin, a Peter Teff t had previously been — such as a wrong postal code Monday aimed at taking down 2015. “Where does it stop? The Republican, told a WVHU radio the target of a campaign by some — could threaten real harm. Confederate monuments. The shooting rampage ulti- Egyptian pyramids were built by show on Tuesday that he op- in his hometown of Fargo to pub- federal appeals court In yesterday’s decision, And Tennessee Governor Bill mately led to the removal of a slaves. Do we tear those down?” posed the removal of such monu- licly shame him for his beliefs, yesterday revived a Cali- Circuit Judge Diarmuid Haslam, a Republican, urged Confederate fl ag from the state- Jones said in a telephone inter- ments. according to the newspaper. Afornia man’s lawsuit ac- O’Scannlain said “it does not lawmakers to rid the state’s Cap- house in Columbia. view. “I absolutely disagree with this “I’m a white Christian and cusing Spokeo Inc of publishing take much imagination” to itol of a bust of Nathan Bedford In all, as of April, at least 60 Egyptian archaeologists, how- sanitisation of history,” he said. 100% pro-white,” he told The an online profi le about him that surmise how Robins could have Forrest, a Confederate general symbols of the Confederacy had ever, say tombs found near the A family in a rural US state has Forum in February. was fi lled with mistakes. suff ered real harm, given the The 9th US Circuit Court importance of consumer re- of Appeals ruled 3-0 in favour ports to getting jobs, obtaining of Thomas Robins, 15 months loans and buying homes. after the US Supreme Court The alleged errors “do not asked it to more closely assess strike us as the sort of mere whether he suff ered the “con- technical violations which are House tax chairman confi dent on crete and particularised” injury too insignifi cant to present a needed to justify a lawsuit. sincere risk of harm to the real- Spokeo sells data aggregated world interests that Congress from various databases to users chose to protect with FCRA”, including employers and people O’Scannlain wrote. advancing reform, others less so seeking romantic partners. Spokeo and a lawyer for the Robins sued after learning Pasadena, California-based that his profi le, which carried company did not immediately Reuters ramping up a nationwide pub- have recently been discarded. defi cit with tax cuts that slash few months to overcome inter- someone’s else’s photo, said he respond to requests for com- Washington licity campaign in favour of tax No replacement revenue-rais- federal revenues. nal divisions and other obsta- was married with children, af- ment. law changes without fi rst de- ing provisions have been agreed “The Republicans all agree on cles if they want to get tax leg- fl uent, in his 50s and employed, “We’re obviously very ciding on exactly what changes upon. Senate Republicans also lower tax rates, just not on how islation signed into law before and had a graduate degree. pleased,” Jay Edelson, a lawyer he top tax law writer in they want to make. have no complete tax plan. to pay for them,” said Stephen January 1. Tax reform is going to He said all of this was wrong for Robins, said in a phone in- the US House of Repre- House Ways and Means Nor does the White House, Shay, a Harvard Law School collide next month with eff orts and accused Spokeo of wilfully terview. “This lays out exactly Tsentatives insisted yes- Committee Chairman Kevin which has issued two lists of senior lecturer who advised to prevent a government shut- violating the federal Fair Credit what the Supreme Court was terday that tax reform will hap- Brady, a Texan, is scheduled general goals in recent months, on tax policy at the US Treas- down and a default on US debt. Reporting Act, with potential getting at.” pen this year, despite concerns to deliver a speech on the is- leaving many questions unan- ury Department under former Still, some experts said tax leg- damages of $1,000. The Supreme Court decision among some experts that an sue today at former president swered. Democratic President Barack islation might still fl y. The case was seen as sig- has prompted some uncertain- overhaul of the tax code could Ronald Reagan’s ranch in San- Nevertheless, Brady said, Obama. “There’s still an expectation nifi cant because Robins tried to ty, with lower courts dismissing drag into 2018, or even collapse ta Barbara, California. Other “We are on track to deliver Shay put the odds of tax re- that there will be some sort of pursue a class action, which if some proposed class actions altogether. committee members will also transformational, bold tax re- form occurring before the No- tax bill that gets to the presi- successful could expose Face- based only on technical viola- President Donald Trump is attend. form this year”. At the same vember 2018 midterm congres- dent’s desk that he can sign book Inc, Alphabet Inc’s Goog- tions, while letting other cases still seeking his fi rst major leg- Ahead of his remarks, Brady time, he acknowledged to sional elections at 50-50. before the midterm elections,” le and other online data pro- continue even when alleged islative achievement and has told CNBC yesterday that CNBC that details have yet to Major tax reform last oc- said Rohit Kumar, a tax policy viders to mass claims in similar harms were intangible. focused on tax reform. But he the House, Senate and White be fi nalised, saying: “We have a curred during the Reagan era in expert at accounting and con- lawsuits. In a 6-2 decision in Robins’ case drew support has done little to advance it in House are united around a com- lot of work left to do.” 1986 as the result of a broadly sulting group PwC and a former May 2016, the Supreme Court from the US Consumer Finan- recent days amid constant dis- mon tax plan, with details being Corporate lobbyists and in- bipartisan eff ort that stretched senior Senate tax aide. “I think set aside an earlier 9th Circuit cial Protection Bureau (CFPB), tractions over Russia, North hammered out. No tax legisla- dependent experts said Con- over several years. there’s a lot of uncertainty ruling favouring Robins, and which in a court brief said Korea and race relations. tion has been introduced. gress and the administration Tax reform in the Trump about whether we can call that asked the appeals court to re- Spokeo fell short of seeking In Congress, as they did for House Republican leaders are far apart on critical issues, presidency, entering its 207th ‘tax reform’ or whether that’s view the severity of Robins’ “maximum possible accuracy” their failed push to dismantle had an ambitious plan earlier such as how to avoid ballooning day, is a highly partisan ven- something more like ‘tax re- injury. in its reports. Obamacare, Republicans are this year, but key pieces of it the already bloated US budget ture. Republicans have only a lief,’” he added. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 16, 2017 9 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Chinese teen Internet addict dies after rehab

AFP be home to millions of primari- days of “closed, isolated special son to say that the younger Li arms and legs.” According to the centre have all been picked curb gaming marathons on its Beijing ly young men who spend hours education” at the rehab centre. was in the emergency room. CCTV, the school, located near up by their parents. The inves- popular “King of Glory” mobile online. The school had promised to By the time they arrived at the provincial capital of Hefei, tigation is ongoing, CCTV re- online multiplayer battle game, The parents of Li Ao, 18, had use a combination of psycho- the hospital, Li had already been was unlicensed and had already ported. AFP could not reach the internet giant Tencent last Chinese teen has died tried everything they could logical treatment methods and moved to the morgue, where his been directed several times by local public security bureau for month started restricting daily after spending less than think of to cure his Internet ad- military training, Li’s parents parents found his body covered the local government to halt its comment. playing times for children. A 48 hours at a centre that diction: showing him the ropes told state channel CCTV on with scars. “The teachers at the operations. “Now I just want China introduced draft leg- The smartphone smash hit treats Internet addicts, shining of the family business, encour- Sunday. centre told us that their teach- the authorities to investigate islation this February that bans has even infected the Chinese a spotlight on the controversial aging him to join the military While the cause of Li’s death ing style was very nurturing. and expose the truth of my the use of electroshock therapy military, with the official Peo- facilities that seek to unlatch and taking him on trips around remains unknown, his father They said they never beat kids son’s death,” said Li Tao. and beatings at internet addic- ple’s Liberation Army news- people from their screens. the country. But after none Li Tao and mother Liu Dong- or used corporal punishment,” The school’s management tion treatment centres. The law paper warning that soldiers’ The first country to declare of these methods produced mei told CCTV that the school Liu Dongmei recalled to CCTV. and four instructors have been would also prevent minors from attachment to “King of Glory” Internet addiction a clinical results, they decided to pay called them just a day and a half “But when I saw my son’s body taken into police custody, while playing online games between poses a “security risk that can’t disorder, China is estimated to 22,800 yuan ($3,414) for 180 after they had dropped off their there were bruises all over his the 20 students remaining at midnight and 8am. In a bid to be overlooked.” N Korea ‘holds off ’ Guam missile plan

AFP spection on Monday of the Stra- Kim said he would “watch Some analysts said Kim was Seoul tegic Force command in charge of a little more the foolish seeking a similar quid-pro-quo the nuclear-armed state’s missile and stupid conduct of the this time around, using the Guam units. Yankees” before executing missile threat as leverage. “This orth Korean leader Kim But Kim said he would “watch any order is a direct invitation to talk re- Jong-un said yester- a little more the foolish and stu- ciprocal constraints on exercises Nday he would ‘hold off ’ pid conduct of the Yankees” be- ties, in what they say and what and missile launches,” said Adam on a planned missile strike near fore executing any order. If they they do, can contribute to ex- Mount, senior fellow at the Cent- Guam, but warned the highly “persist in their extremely dan- tinguishing the fi re (of the tense er for American Progress. provocative move would go ahead gerous reckless actions on the situation), rather than adding John Delury of Yonsei Univer- in the event of further “reckless Korean peninsula,” then North fuel to the fi re,” foreign ministry sity in Seoul said Kim was “de- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with military off icers at the Command of the Strategic Force of the Korean actions” by Washington. Korea would take action “as al- spokeswoman Hua Chunying escalating, putting Guam plan People’s Army (KPA) in an unknown location in North Korea. Some analysts suggested Kim’s ready declared,” he was quoted said. on ice” — at least for now. The comments opened a possible as saying. “In order to defuse the The remarks from Pyongyang United States and South Korea Guam, where offi cials described yesterday, saying Seoul would Pyongyang. “We do not seek path to de-escalating a growing tensions and prevent the danger- would appear to bring into play insist their annual joint exercises themselves as “almost ecstatic avoid a second Korean War at all an excuse to garrison US troops crisis fuelled by bellicose words ous military confl ict on the Ko- the large-scale military exer- are purely defensive, and can- that Kim Jong-un has backed costs and “no one may decide to north of the Demilitarized Zone,” between US President Donald rean peninsula, it is necessary for cises held every year by South not be linked to the North’s mis- off ”. Tensions have been mount- take military action without the they wrote. Trump and the North Korean the US to make a proper option Korea and the United States that sile programme, which violates a ing since the North tested two consent of the Republic of Korea”. “We have no desire to in- leadership. fi rst,” he added. are expected to kick off later this host of UN resolutions. intercontinental ballistic mis- But he added there could be no fl ict harm on the long-suff ering Their recent exchanges were China said yesterday that the month. North Korea also appeared to siles last month, which appeared dialogue before the North halts North Korean people, who are focused on a North Korean threat North Korean nuclear crisis had The North has always de- link the fate of its US prisoners to to bring much of the US within its “nuclear and missile provoca- distinct from the hostile regime to fi re a volley of four missiles reached a “turning point” and it nounced the drills as provocative ongoing tensions, saying now is range. tions”. in Pyongyang.” over Japan towards the US ter- was time to enter peace talks. Be- rehearsals for invasion and has in not the right time to discuss their Responding to the tests, US Moon’s comments came after Mattis and Tillerson called on ritory of Guam, which hosts ijing, which is Pyongyang’s main the past off ered a moratorium on release. President Donald Trump warned US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis China, which is North Korea’s a number of strategic mili- diplomatic ally, has repeatedly further nuclear and missile test- Three Americans, accused of Pyongyang of “fi re and fury like and Secretary of State Rex Till- main trading partner, to take ad- tary bases. The North’s offi cial called on the United States and ing in exchange for their cancel- various crimes against the state, the world has never seen”, while erson penned an opinion piece vantage of an “unparalleled op- KCNA news agency said Kim was North Korea to tone down their lation — a trade-off promoted by are behind bars in the hermit the North responded with the in the The Wall Street Journal portunity” to assert its infl uence briefed on the “plan for an envel- rhetoric in recent days. “We now Beijing, but repeatedly rejected nation. The North Korean an- Guam threat. South Korean Pres- insisting that America has “no on Pyongyang, and bring its er- oping fi re at Guam” during an in- hope that all the concerned par- by Washington and Seoul. nouncement prompted joy in ident Moon Jae-In weighed in on interest” in regime change in rant neighbour to heel.

Indonesia holds tsunami drills for schoolchildren Abe donates to war shrine on anniversary Students scrambled to safety as sirens blared during a tsunami drill on the Indonesian resort island of Bali yesterday, part of a campaign to prepare for disasters in the quake-prone country. Students at the Tanjung AFP Benoa 2 elementary school took cover under their desks when the Tokyo quake drill began, and then followed a tsunami evacuation route to the roof of a nearby hotel. The exercise was part of a joint project by the Unit- ed Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Japan’s government apanese Prime Minister to raise awareness among children in 18 Asia-Pacific nations. “Indonesia Shinzo Abe yesterday sent a and Japan have the same high risk of natural disasters like earthquakes Jcash donation to a contro- and tsunami ... so it’s very reasonable that Indonesia is given priority in versial war shrine as the country this project,” said Hirohisa Chiba, Japan’s consul general to Indonesia. marked the anniversary of its Indonesia was the country worst-hit in 2004 by an Indian Ocean tsunami defeat in World War II. triggered by a 9.1-magnitude earthquake. The province of Aceh on the Yasukuni Shrine honours northwest tip of Sumatra island bore the brunt of tsunami, with at least about 2.5mn dead, mostly Japa- 168,000 killed. Huge tsunami waves slammed into Japan’s northeast nese, who perished in the coun- coast in 2011, killing about 18,000 people and prompting authorities to try’s wars since the late 19th revise warning systems and evacuation plans to save more lives. century. But it is contentious for also commemorating sen- ior military and political fi gures Britons get jail, caning convicted of war crimes by an international tribunal. Shinzo Abe for Singapore sex assault The indigenous Shinto re- ligious shrine has for decades Tokyo has sought co-operation “President Abe said he’s sor- Three young British men were sentenced yesterday to jail time and been a fl ashpoint for criticism with Beijing and Seoul over ry for not visiting the shrine,” caning for sexually assaulting a Malaysian woman during a stag party by countries that suff ered from North Korea’s nuclear and mis- Shibayama said. in Singapore. Khong Tam Thanh, Le Michael and Vu Thai Son, in their Japan’s colonialism and aggres- sile programmes. Pyongyang Lawmakers, mostly con- 20s, were originally accused of rape but pleaded guilty on Monday to sion in the fi rst half of the 20th last week threatened to test-fi re servative, say pilgrimages to a lesser charge of aggravated outrage of modesty after a four-day trial. century. missiles toward the US Pacifi c Yasukuni are a chance to con- High Court Judge Hoo Sheau Peng slammed their “reprehensible” Abe, a staunch nationalist island territory of Guam, after sole the spirits of the dead and conduct and sentenced the trio, British citizens of Vietnamese origin, who wants to see Japan’s pacifi st US President Donald Trump pray for peace. But North and to jail terms of between five and a half years to six and a half years. constitution amended, visited warned North Korea of “fi re and South Korea and China con- They were also sentenced to between five and eight strokes of the the shrine in December 2013, but fury”. sider them painful reminders of cane each. Caning is a punishment dating back to British colonial rule has stayed away since. Kim Jong-un, the North Ko- Japanese colonialism and inva- in Singapore and involves being flogged with a rattan stick. His only visit as prime min- rean leader, said early yesterday sion. Though some lawmakers The attack happened in Singapore in September last year, when the ister sparked fury in China and he would hold off on the planned visited the shrine yesterday, Jiji trio travelled to the city-state for a bachelor party. The groom, the South Korea, and even earned missile launch. Masahiko Press reported that no members brother of Khong, was also on the trip. a diplomatic rebuke from close Shibayama, a party aide to Abe of Abe’s cabinet went there, the ally the United States. who made the donation on his fi rst time that has happened on Former Japanese defence minister Tomomi Inada arrives at Yasukuni A member of Japan’s ruling behalf, said at the shrine that it the anniversary day since he shrine on the 72nd anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II, in Vietnamese man gets life for murder Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) came from Abe’s personal funds. took power in late 2012. Tokyo yesterday. said Abe had sent the monetary “Upon direction from LDP Pres- Among members of parlia- A Vietnamese court sentenced a man to life imprisonment for murdering off ering this year in his capacity ident Abe, I off ered my condo- ment who prayed at Yasukuni minister late last month over a war criminals from World War an Australian who the defendant claimed sexually assaulted him, state as president of the party, not as lences to the ancestors who sac- were LDP member and former scandal at the ministry. II who have direct responsibility media reported. Quach Phuoc Ho Tay, 23, said yesterday in court that he prime minister. He made a simi- rifi ced their lives in the war and defence minister Tomomi Inada, In Beijing, China repeated with the war of invasion,” Hua strangled the 51-year-old Australian, identified only as Alex, after feeling lar donation last year. reaffi rmed my commitment to noted for her nationalist views. its longstanding opposition to Chunying, a foreign ministry “pain and shame” following the encounter, reported the VN Express news His decision not to attend the eternal peace,” Shibayama told The close Abe ally and onetime Yasukuni. “Yasukuni Shrine en- spokeswoman, told reporters at site. Tay was also convicted of stealing Alex’s bank card and other pos- shrine again this year comes as reporters. protege resigned as defence shrines and worships Class A a regular briefi ng. sessions following the incident.

Thailand student leader jailed for lese majeste

A prominent student leader Vajiralongkorn written by the was jailed yesterday after he BBC’s Thai-language service in Sheepish Aussie deputy PM drops NZ citizenship pleaded guilty to defaming London. Thailand’s royal family by Yesterday, a court in northeast- AFP him to stand down as it is illegal which threatens Prime Minister was revelling in his discomfort, was “shellshocked” to learn last sharing a news story about ern Khon Kaen province jailed Sydney for dual citizens to sit in the Aus- Malcolm Turnbull’s one-seat ma- tweeting yesterday “when Barna- week of automatically qualifying the kingdom’s new monarch him for two and a half years tralian parliament. By Tuesday jority in parliament. by Joyce said ‘no one is above the as a New Zealander even though on Facebook. Jatupat “Pai Dao after he abruptly changed afternoon, Joyce told parliament But Joyce will hope it bolsters law’, I didn’t realise he meant New he had never applied for citizen- Din” Boonpatararaksa, 25, is the his plea to guilty. “He was ustralia’s “accidental that authorities in Wellington had the case to remain in his job, pre- Zealand law’.” ship. latest anti-junta activist to be hit sentenced to five years, and the Kiwi” deputy prime min- agreed he could renounce the New serving the government’s wafer- “To comfort Mr. Joyce in his New Zealand offi cials said que- by the country’s draconian lese court reduced it to two years, Aister renounced his New Zealand citizenship unknowingly thin buff er, until the High Court hour (of) need, I have sent him a ries from Australian journalists majeste law which bans any six months after the guilty Zealand citizenship yesterday acquired from his Dunedin-born determines if he is eligible to sit as box of New Zealand’s fi nest kiwi prompted last week’s discovery criticism of the monarchy. plea,” Jatupat’s father Viboon amid sheep jokes, Hollywood father. “We received verbal com- an elected offi cial. The 50-year- fruit (assuming this passes his bi- about Joyce’s status. However, The law has been wielded told AFP, adding he been left taunts and conspiracy theories munication from New Zealand old is best known internation- osecurity laws),” she added. Turnbull said it was “outrageous with increased ferocity under “disappointed” by his son’s legal about a left-wing plot to topple before question time that that ally for threatening to euthanise Joyce has long cultivated an and improper” that a New Zea- Thailand’s military rulers. He woes. Those charged with lese Canberra’s conservative govern- has now been accepted and we’re Johnny Depp’s dogs Pistol and image as a straight-talking Aus- land Labour MP, Chris Hipkins, had been held in custody since majeste in Thailand are almost ment. looking forward to the written ad- Boo when they were brought into sie bushman, usually sporting a also admitted asking questions his arrest in December for always convicted, often behind Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce re- vice turning up pronto,” he said. the country illegally. wide-brimmed Akubra hat and about the issue last week after sharing a profile of King Maha closed doors. vealed his New Zealand connec- The development does not Depp’s ex-wife Amber Heard, elastic-sided farm boots. talks with someone from the Aus- tion on Monday, sparking calls for mean the end of the bizarre aff air, who kept the dogs after they split, The deputy Australian leader tralian Labor Party. Gulf Times 10 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 BRITAIN

Fungus found in Britain to seek patients at 55 a ‘temporary’ hospitals Reuters London

A photograph taken in London yesterday shows a copy of the British rare fungus that can cause Government’s paper on proposed Future Customs Arrangements drug-resistant infections customs union for trade between the United Kingdom and Europe, following Brexit. Ahas been found in around 200 patients in more than 55 Plan labelled a fantasy, trade talks with other countries, must make “suffi cient progress” could be trusted to collect tariff s dressing head on how the British the future relationship, but we hospitals across Britain, health with Czech minister saying but acknowledges that any new on the three issues he referenced and protect its external border proposals could be made ac- will only address them once we offi cials said yesterday. Prague would not tolerate UK arrangements would have to re- before it will open talks on trade from fraudsters. ceptable to the EU “and how this have made suffi cient progress Around a quarter of the cases being able to sign trade deals spect the EU’s transition terms. and the future relationship, a Despite Britain’s 44 years in would fi t with the way the EU on the terms of the orderly with- of Candida auris have caused in- in a transition period Guy Verhofstafdt, the Euro- timetable the Brexit minister, the EU, this could prove a tough has been dealing with its mem- drawal,” the spokesman said. fections with symptoms, Public pean parliament’s lead co-ordi- David Davis, accepted at the sell, because some EU member bers and with third countries in “An agreement on a future Health England (PHE) said, in- Jennifer Rankin in Brussels nator on Brexit, gave the propos- start of negotiations in June. states see the UK as a weak link the last 40 years”. relationship between the EU cluding in 27 patients who de- and Daniel Boff ey in Ljubljana als a cool response. Barnier will report to EU lead- in the chain on customs enforce- A European commission and the UK can only be fi nalised veloped blood stream infections. Guardian News & Media The Czech secretary of state ers in October on whether the ment. spokesman said the EU was once the UK has become a third The fungus, also known as C. for EU aff airs, Ales Chmela, sug- UK has made suffi cient progress The British government is working on its own paper on country. auris and fi rst identifi ed in Ja- gested his government would to allow for trade talks to open. fi ghting a €2bn (£1.8bn) fi ne for customs issues before the next “As Michel Barnier has said pan eight years ago, is rare and U leaders have poured cold not tolerate the UK being able to The policy paper reveals the negligence after EU anti-fraud round of Brexit talks. on several occasions, ‘friction- low-risk, but has a propensity water on Britain’s hopes make trade deals during a transi- UK government is looking at investigators accused the UK of “We see the UK’s publication less trade’ is not possible outside to spread between hospital pa- Eof being able to sign trade tion period. two models on customs, both of failing to stop Chinese criminal of a series of position papers as the single market and customs tients. deals during a Brexit transition “I do believe it is not possi- which would replicate the status gangs evading customs duties on a positive step towards now re- union.” “Most cases detected have period, with one describing the ble to have the same advantages quo to a signifi cant extent. clothes and shoes. ally starting phase one of the Last July, before he became not shown symptoms or devel- UK’s opening gambit for trade and less obligations in general,” The fi rst is described as “a One EU trade veteran ques- negotiations. The clock is tick- Brexit secretary, Davis called on oped an infection as a result of negotiations as a “fantasy”. he told the Guardian. “This is a highly streamlined customs ar- tioned whether the UK could ing and this will allow us to make the prime minister to “trigger a the fungus,” said Colin Brown, a The British government pub- very clear thing, and it applies rangement”, which would re- secure “an exceptional rela- progress,” he said. large round of global trade deals microbiologist with PHE’s na- lished proposals yesterday for “a also with the custom union and quire technology to ease the fl ow tionship which has never been “We will now study the UK with all our most favoured part- tional infection service. new customs arrangement that any other deal that is somehow of goods over borders and secur- agreed with any other country”. position paper on customs care- ners” in September 2016. He said health service staff facilitates the freest and most bound with it. So with any step ing a waiver on key paperwork. “Because it is unprecedented fully in the light of the Euro- He said these negotiations were working with PHE experts frictionless trade possible in in terms of market integration, The second is referred to as “a and giving them exceptional pean council guidelines and the could be completed in one to two to limit the fungus’s spread. goods between the UK and the market access, there is a set of new customs partnership with treatment compared to others, council’s negotiating directives,” years before the UK leaves the First isolated from the ear of EU”. obligations. This is very clear.” the EU”, whereby the UK would it is going to raise lots of issues,” he added, referring to the nego- EU. a patient in Japan in 2009, C. The policy paper calls for “a Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief adopt EU rules on imports head- said Roderick Abbott, a former tiating red lines drawn up by EU Speaking to BBC Radio 4 auris has since been linked with continued close association Brexit negotiator, used the pub- ing to the bloc. EU trade negotiator, who held leaders that were turned into a yesterday, Davis referred to the bloodstream and wound infec- with the EU customs union for a lication of the UK customs pa- Trade experts on both sides senior posts in Brussels and the technical document by senior complexity of the work. tions, and with ear infections time-limited period after the UK per to increase the pressure on see the customs partnership as a World Trade Organisation dur- offi cials and ministers. “The simple truth is that it has known as otitis, in at least eight has left the EU” in March 2019. London to settle Brexit divorce fi rst for European trade. ing a 40-year career in trade “We take note of the UK’s re- taken us 12 months ... to work up other countries including South It also makes it clear that Brit- issues. British negotiators would policy. quest for an implementing peri- policies, which are very, very Africa, Kuwait, India and Ven- ain intends to forge ahead with The EU insists that the UK have to convince the EU they He added that Davis is not ad- od and its preferences as regards complex,” he said. ezuela. The fi rst case of infection in Britain was in 2013. PHE said in a statement that as of the start of last month, 20 Former chief-of-staff attacks Davis as workshy and clueless hospitals had detected more than 200 patients colonised or infected with C. auris. AFP Chapman has been highly “James when he came to me Chapman accused Davis of Three hospitals had large out- London critical of the government’s was, I mean he was a Remainer, telling “lies” about Britain’s fu- breaks that had “proved diffi cult Brexit plans since leaving his we knew that. But he did a good ture trade ties with the EU. to control”, it said, although they post but had not previously at- job, he was a good chief of staff ,” He also said Davis had once have now been declared clear. former top aide to Brit- tacked his former boss until Davis told LBC radio yesterday. told Slovakian Prime Minister At least 35 other hospitals ain’s Brexit minister Davis mentioned him in inter- Before joining the Brexit Robert Fico: “If you think we are have had patients known to be ADavid Davis branded his views yesterday. team, Chapman was head of going to pay so you can sell us colonised with C. auris trans- former boss workshy and clue- “He’s been working 3 day communications for then-fi - your cars, forget it.” ferred to them. less in an astonishing tirade on week since day one,” Chapman nance minister George Osborne, He said Fico had been “horri- Twitter yesterday as the gov- wrote of Davis, after the min- who strongly backed staying in fi ed” by the statement. ernment presented its post- ister said his former aide had the EU in last year’s referendum Chapman said Davis had once Brexit trade plans. supported Britain staying in the on whether Britain should leave telephoned EU chief Brexit ne- “He and the PM (prime min- European Union since starting the bloc. gotiator Michel Barnier “by ister) don’t have the fi rst idea to work for him in 2016. His scathing tweets, which mistake thinking he was talk- Man falls what they are doing,” wrote Contacted by AFP, the Brexit shocked former colleagues, ing to a far-right friend” and James Chapman, a former po- ministry declined to comment came the same day as Davis un- has asked civil servants to help Davis and European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Barnier (right) litical editor at the right-wing on individual claims made by veiled the government’s plans him put Brexit fi rebrand Nigel to death at a joint news conference after a round of Brexit talks on July 20 in Daily Mail who worked as Dav- Chapman but noted Davis’ pub- for post-Brexit trading arrange- Farage’s number on speed dial Brussels. is’s chief of staff until June. lic comments on the issue. ments. on his phone. at London Stock Inquiry into Grenfell Tower Exchange

By Kevin Rawlinson disaster gets under way Guardian News & Media olice are investigating af- Reuters Manchester Arena attack: families of 22 people killed to get £250,000 each ter a man fell to his death London Pfrom an upper fl oor of the The families of the 22 people killed in the Manchester an initial £10,000 and those who lost a relative in the London Stock Exchange. Arena bombing will each receive £250,000 from fire can get a payment of £20,000. The circumstances surround- public inquiry into the money donated by members of the public. Eleven people are still in hospital following the arena ing the incident yesterday morn- Grenfell Tower fi re in Those families include a 12-year-old girl and her attack, according to Sue Murphy, chair of the fund and ing were not clear but City of ALondon that killed at least 20-year-old sister, who lost both parents in the attack. deputy leader of Manchester city council. London police said they did not 80 people in June began yester- Patrycia and Alex Klis will receive £500,000 between The fund has yet to decide whether those injured believe them to be suspicious. day with a mission to examine them after their mother and father died while waiting should receive more money to cope with life-chang- The force said: “We were the cause of and response to the to collect them from the Ariana Grande concert on ing injuries, she said. called to the London Stock Ex- tragedy, but not broader issues May 22. A further 96 people who spent between one night and change in Paternoster Square on such as social housing policy. The day after the attack, Alex posted an appeal on seven days in hospital have so far been given £3,500 Tuesday, August 15 at 9.58am to The destruction of the Facebook for information about her parents, including each, but some are likely to receive more if they have a report of a man who had fallen 24-storey social housing block, a selfie they had taken in Manchester hours before to take time off work for their injuries. from an upper fl oor in the build- home to a poor, multi-ethnic their death. “There are some grey areas,” said Murphy, “for ing to the ground. community, in an inferno that The 57 people who spent seven or more nights in example, people who were quickly discharged from “London ambulance service spread with terrifying speed in the hospital as a result of their injuries have so far hospital but have since had to return for further attended and the man was pro- the middle of the night shocked received £60,000 each from the We Love Manchester operations.” nounced dead at 10.10am. the nation and raised public an- fund, which is expected to reach somewhere between A total of £250,000 will be given to the next of kin of “The City of London police is ger over social inequalities. £16mn and £17mn. each of the 22 victims, as identified by the coroner currently investigating the cir- Grenfell Tower was part of a The payments to the Manchester victims are in con- when he opened the inquests in June. cumstances around the death deprived housing estate in the trast to those given to the families of the 80 people They have already received the first £70,000 and and the incident is being treated London borough of Kensington who died in the Grenfell Tower fire in London. should get the balance in the coming weeks. as non-suspicious. We are now and Chelsea, one of the richest Only a fraction of the £18.9mn collected for survivors The recipients can spend the money however they working to inform the man’s areas in the country. has been distributed, according to Charity Commis- see fit, but the trustees are encouraging them to seek next of kin.” The fi re has prompted de- sion figures. financial advice. According to the Sun, the man bate about the impact on poor Some £2.8mn has reached victims – less than 15% of “The money is given as a gift so it’s up to them what fell from the seventh fl oor of the communities of years of public the total raised by charities led by the Red Cross, the they do with it,” said Murphy. People take part in a silent march in memory of the victims of the building, in the Square Mile, into spending cuts by Conservative- Kensington & Chelsea Foundation and the Evening Any payments from the We Love Manchester fund are Grenfell Tower fire in front of the burned-out shell of the building in the lobby. led governments. Standard. separate from compensation from the government’s west London on Monday. The march marked two months since the The London Stock Exchange The inquiry, led by retired Families of victims of the Grenfell fire are eligible for Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. June 14 fire, which spread ferociously through the 24-storey west said: “We can confi rm an inci- judge Martin Moore-Bick, was London block and killed at least 80 people. dent this morning where a Lon- announced by Conservative don Stock Exchange Group col- Prime Minister Theresa May to lating to high-rise buildings, parliament, Emma Dent Coad too long to fully examine so- May said Housing and Plan- most important question,” she league fell from an upper-fl oor show she wanted the truth about whether they were complied of the opposition Labour Party, cial housing policy issues when ning Minister Alok Sharma said. balcony and died. the disaster to emerge after her with at Grenfell Tower, and the who said it was precisely what there was a need for the inquiry would personally meet as many The Grenfell Tower inquiry “The emergency services were initial response was seen by sur- actions of the authorities before the community had feared. to quickly identify safety prob- social housing tenants as pos- faces an uphill struggle in gain- called immediately and are deal- vivors as slow and insensitive. and after the tragedy. “We were told ‘no stone would lems that may be putting lives at sible in the Grenfell Tower area ing the co-operation of those af- ing with the incident. We will The inquiry formally opened But Moore-Bick said the be unturned’ but instead are be- risk in other tower blocks. and across Britain to help iden- fected by the fi re, many of whom continue to off er them every with the publication of its terms inquiry would not delve into ing presented with a technical May said the government tify common concerns. are distrustful of the authorities support and co-operation pos- of reference. broader issues such as social assessment which will not get to would tackle the deeper issues in But Dent Coad rejected the and see Moore-Bick as a remote, sible. Moore-Bick will start hear- housing policy and the relation- the heart of the problem: what a diff erent way. assurance. establishment fi gure unlikely to “Our thoughts and condo- ings in September. ship between the community eff ects if any the lack of invest- “I am determined that the “We have no confi dence relate to their lives. lences are with the family and It will examine the cause and and the authorities, even though ment into social housing had on broader questions raised by this whatever in the ability of Alok During consultation meetings friends of our dear colleague. spread of the fi re, the design, many local people wanted it to. the refurbishment project,” she fi re – including around social Sharma and a few politically with the community in recent We would ask that the privacy construction and refurbishment That drew immediate criti- said in a statement. housing – are not left unan- compromised individuals to take weeks, he was heckled several of the family of the deceased be of the tower, fi re regulations re- cism from the local member of Moore-Bick said it would take swered,” she said in a statement. on the task of answering this times. respected at this time.” Gulf Times Wednesday, August 16, 2017 11 EUROPE

French pizzeria suspect Falling tree crushes 12 to ‘confused about his death at Portugal festival motives’ AFP/Reuters crowd, prompting many to run Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was Lisbon for their lives. due to arrive at the scene in the Television showed fi re and coming hours. DPA rescue services working to help Local football team Maritimo Paris welve people were victims and cut away the fallen Funchal expressed its “profound crushed to death and tree. sadness at the tragedy in Monte”. Taround 50 injured yester- “It was terrible, it was so sud- Madeira, a popular tourist he man suspected of driv- day when a 200-year-old oak den,” Xavier Nunes, an eyewit- destination thanks to its dra- ing a car into a French tree fell on them at a religious ness, told SIC television. matic coastlines and gentle cli- Tvillage pizzeria this week festival on the Portuguese island Local media said the tree was mate, is the largest of several and killing a 12-year-old girl, is of Madeira. rotten, and had been partly sup- Portuguese islands in the north “very confused about his mo- Seven of those hurt were se- ported by a metal cable. Atlantic Ocean. tives”, the local deputy prosecu- riously injured, regional health Catholics around the world Located in a volcanic archi- tor said yesterday. chief Pedro Ramos told a press mark Assumption Day on Au- pelago off the coast of Morocco, Eric de Valroger said that the conference. gust 15, which according to it is prone to fl oods as well as questioning of the 32-year-old The injured include a French Christian tradition marks the landslides – which in February suspect, who was arrested at citizen, a German, and a Hun- Virgin Mary’s ascent into Heav- 2010 left more than 50 people the scene on Monday night, was garian. en. dead, with Funchal badly hit. “very complicated” due to his Pedro Ramos, health secretary The festival in Madeira draws Last year the Lady of the “incoherent statements”. of the local government of Ma- large crowds every year from the Mount festival was cancelled The possibility of a terrorist deira, said 10 people had died on island and beyond, and worship- due to a forest fi re. motive for the incident at Sept- the spot and a further two when pers had gathered to light can- Madeira has a population of Sorts, some 55km east of Paris, they arrived in hospital. dles in a botanical garden around more than 250,000, the vast ma- was “totally ruled out”, he added. Tragedy struck at noon when 5km from central Funchal. jority of them Catholic. One of the fi ve people criti- the massive tree toppled into “We heard a cracking sound Portugal has had a tough year cally injured in the attack, a a crowd gathered near the is- and then the tree fell where peo- with a number of disasters, in- 44-year-old woman, was still in land’s capital of Funchal to mark ple were lighting candles. People The area aff ected by the falling tree that killed 12 people in Funchal. cluding its most tragic forest danger, de Valroger said. the Lady of the Mount festival sitting on the benches near the fi res in memory, which killed 64 De Valroger said that there in honour of Madeira’s patron fountain were also hit,” witness start of the procession. There up around the scene, where wor- ment, announced three days of people in June. were some 30 customers in the saint, Mary. Domingos Perestrelo told the were many people there.” ried worshippers were gathered mourning. Fires have continued to rage pizzeria and on its outside ter- An amateur video posted on SIC Noticias TV station. The fountain is surrounded by waiting anxiously for news and Portuguese Prime Minister through the summer. race when the BMW rammed its the website of local newspaper “There was a big panic – it several tall trees aged a hundred off ering help to rescue teams. Antonio Costa off ered his con- Last summer Madeira suf- way deep inside. Jornal de Madeira showed the happened in the middle of mass, years or more. Miguel Albuquerque, presi- dolences to families and friends fered fi erce forest fi res that killed A witness to the incident told huge tree crashing down into the around a half-hour before the A security perimeter was set dent of the regional govern- of the victims, while President at least four people. broadcaster BFMTV on Monday night that “all the people who were on the terrace were mown down”. The suspect told investigators that he had taken a large quan- Visitors fl ock to try tity of medications, including codeine, the day before the in- cident, the deputy prosecutor said. gigantic omelette The suspect, who appeared to suff er from a persecution com- plex, would be examined by a AFP Malmedy for more than 20 years. psychiatrist before his period of Malmedy, Belgium It spent a week preparing for detention for questioning ended, this year’s culinary opus, collect- de Valroger said. ing 6,500 eggs from carefully se- The results of blood tests were bout a thousand people lected places instead of the usual also awaited. fl ocked to the small Bel- 10,000. He would be brought before an Agian town of Malmedy “We have total confi dence in investigating judge today. yesterday to eat a giant omelette our local products, our suppliers made of 6,500 eggs, despite the are local and they fulfi lled every country being at the centre of a health guarantee we asked of Migrant rescue scandal involving contaminated them since the beginning,” Bour- eggs. guignon said. ship threatened Belgium became the fi rst The number of attendees was country last month to offi cially a good sign, the Brotherhood’s The Libyan coastguard notify the EU’s food safety alert “grand master”, Jean-Pierre intercepted a humanitarian system of the presence of eggs Gilles said. rescue ship in the Mediterranean contaminated by the insecticide “Of course, the public may yesterday, ordering it to sail to fi pronil, followed by the Nether- have had its doubts and we did Tripoli or risk being targeted, a lands and Germany. fear that a little, but seeing the Reuters photographer aboard The insecticide, which can numbers of people we saw to- said. harm human health, has since day, I think it all went very well,” The Golfo Azzurro ship operated been discovered in eggs in 14 Gilles said. “Any doubts were by Spanish humanitarian other European countries since swept away by friendship and organisation Proactiva Open Members of the World Giant Omelette Brotherhood prepare the 6,500-egg omelette using a 4m diameter frying pan in Malmedy. the scandal came to light on Au- warmth.” Arms was repeatedly contacted gust 1 and has even been found as Made simply with eggs, bacon, by a Libyan coastguard vessel, far afi eld as Hong Kong. oil and chives, and cooked over a according to radio transmissions It has forced millions of eggs wood fi re, the omelette has been heard by the photographer. to be removed from supermarket a fi xture of the annual festival “You are sailing in our waters Two in court over tainted-eggs scandal shelves and the closure of more since the 1990s when Belgium for months now and you are than 150 farms in the Nether- was hit with a similar scandal – conducting activities that are lands. over chicken and eggs contami- causing problems to Libyan state AFP The men, identifi ed in Dutch “The public prosecution service Thursday as agents raided eight “We were hit full-on by the nated with dioxin, a known car- sovereignty,” said a man who Zwolle, The Netherlands media reports as Martin van de suspects the two managers of a premises – including the two tainted eggs scare,” Rene Bour- cinogen. identified himself as part of the B, 31 and Mathijs IJ, 24, briefl y disinfection company of using men’s company, Chickfriend – guignon said as he waited to pre- Traces of fi pronil found in the Libyan coastguard, speaking in appeared before a judge at the fi pronil at poultry farms in the in the Netherlands as well as in pare the omelette. contaminated eggs are at very English. “Therefore I ask you to wo men appeared in court Overijssel District Court in the Netherlands.” Belgium. While at least 1,000 people low levels. alter your course towards Tripoli yesterday in connection Dutch city of Zwolle, in a hear- “Thereby they endangered Dutch farmers and retailers braved rainy skies to get a bite, “The media said you needed port. If you do not obey the Twith the tainted-eggs ing that was closed to the public. public health, and there are this week began counting the the turnout was far below last to eat eight eggs a day” for the orders right now... you will be scandal that swept Europe this “The judge decided that there suspicions they knew that the costs stemming from fi pronil year’s record 7,000. insecticide to aff ect your health, targeted.” month, which saw millions of is currently enough suspicion biocide was banned,” the court scandal, which has now aff ect- The local branch of the World local volunteer Gabiche Chleck The Golfo Azzurro was then told eggs destroyed and caused tens to keep the men in custody,” said. ed 17 European countries and Giant Omelette Brotherhood has said. “Personally, there’s no way to leave Libyan waters. of millions of euros in damages. the court said in a statement. The two men were arrested on stretched as far as Hong Kong. been organising the festival in I could eat all that.”

Greece seeks EU help as wildfi res rage Swiss hotel orders Jewish guests

Reuters en fi res burned for a fi fth day. to shower before swimming Athens Authorities declared a state of emergency there on Monday. A government minister said AFP only access the facility’s freezer edged that her “choice of words irefi ghters battled wild- there was no doubt the fi res had Geneva between 10am and 11am and be- was a mistake”. fi res raging northeast of been set deliberately. tween 4.30pm and 5.30pm. She explained to the Blick daily FAthens for a third day yes- “It’s arson according to an or- “I hope you understand that that the apartment hotel cur- terday as Greece asked for help ganised plan,” Justice Minister Swiss hotel that posted our team does not like being dis- rently had a lot of Jewish clients, from its European partners to Stavros Kontonis, the member signs telling Jewish clients turbed all the time,” it said. and that other guests had com- prevent them from spreading. of parliament for Zakynthos, Ato shower before using the The story quickly made the plained that some of them did The fi re started in Kalamos, a told state TV. pool and restricting their access rounds on social media and was not shower before using the pool coastal holiday spot some 45km Late July and August often see to the facility’s freezer has un- published by Israeli papers, and had asked her to do some- northeast of the capital, and outbreaks of forest and brush leashed outrage and offi cial com- prompting a harsh reaction from thing. has spread to three more towns, fi res in Greece, where high tem- plaints from Israel. Israeli offi cials. “I wrote something naive on damaging dozens of homes and peratures help create tinder-box The Paradies apartment hotel Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi that poster,” she was quoted as burning thousands of hectares Firefighters try to extinguish a fire in Kalamos yesterday. conditions. in the Alpine village of Arosa in Hotovely described the incident saying, admitting that it would of pine forest. In the Peloponnese region eastern Switzerland is being ac- as “an anti-Semitic act of the have been better to address all A state of emergency has been CL-415 fi refi ghting aircraft was winds rekindling the blaze at of Ilia, blazes that broke out cused of anti-Semitism after an worst and ugliest kind”. guests with the same message. declared in the area. turned down by France as it had many spots. in three areas on Monday and outraged guest posted to Face- Israel’s ambassador to Swit- The hotel is reportedly very “The blaze is advancing with to deal with its own wildfi res, Thick, billowing smoke ren- looked tamed early yester- book a picture of a notice plas- zerland, Jacob Keidar, reportedly popular with ultra-orthodox great speed. Because of the scale she said. dered operations from the air day fl ared up again, fanned by tered outside the hotel pool. contacted the hotel and informed Jewish guests because it has been and intensity of the wildfi res, Three fi refi ghting planes and diffi cult. winds. “To our Jewish Guests, wom- Hotovely that the signs had been accommodating to their needs, the country submitted a request six water-throwing helicopters Across Greece, fi refi ghters In 2007 the same area was the en, men and children, please take removed. including access to a freezer to for aerial means,” fi re brigade operated through the day, as- were battling more than 55 for- site of Greece’s worst fi res, with a shower before you go swim- But she was not satisfi ed and store kosher food. spokeswoman Stavroula Maliri sisting 210 fi refi ghters and about est fi res, an outbreak fed by dry more than 70 people killed. ming,” it said, adding that “If has reportedly demanded “a for- Thomann told Blick that the told a press briefi ng. 100 military personnel battling winds and hot weather that “We asked for the evacuation you break the rules I’m forced mal condemnation” from Bern. since the freezer was in the staff Cyprus off ered a group of 60 the blaze on the ground near the fanned blazes in the Pelopon- of the village of Peristeri. The to (close) the swimming pool for Paradies manager Ruth room, she had felt compelled to fi refi ghters and a Greek airforce town of Kapandriti. nese and on the Ionian islands of fi re has gotten very close, it can- you”. Thomann, who signed the notic- set times when the Jewish guests plane was headed there to pick Rugged terrain dotted with Zakynthos and Kefalonia. not be contained due to strong A second notice, in the kitch- es, meanwhile insisted to Swiss could access it to ensure staff them up. small communities made the On Zakynthos, an island pop- winds,” Ilia vice-prefect George en, meanwhile instructed “Our daily 20Minutes that she was not could enjoy their “lunch and din- But a request for two pairs of fi re-fi ghting diffi cult, with ular with foreign tourists, a doz- Georgiopoulos told SKAI TV. Jewish guests” that they could an anti-Semite, and acknowl- ner in peace”. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 INDIA Kerala police probe boy’s death linked to online game zCentral government orders technology giants to remove links that direct users to the game

Agencies ordered technology giants, in- Punjab Colony in Andheri East in Thiruvananthapuram cluding Google, Facebook, Mi- Mumbai. crosoft and Yahoo, to remove Prior to his death leap, the all links that direct users to the Class 9 student texted a friend olice in Kerala are investi- game, which allegedly claimed of his intentions: “I am going to gating the death of a teen- the life of a Mumbai teenager last the building to jump”, and before Pager allegedly linked to an month. anybody could rush to help him, online game. “Instances of children com- he jumped off . The police action came after mitting suicide while playing His friends claim that he was the parents of the Class XI stu- Blue Whale Challenge have playing the 50-day ‘dare chal- dent registered a complaint ear- been reported in India. It is un- lenge’ and when he spoke of not lier this week that their 16-year- derstood that an administrator attending school anymore and old son committed suicide on of the game uses social media about the suicide, most dis- A man looks for a lost item in his flooded house situated in a low-lying area in Bengaluru yesterday. July 26 by hanging as a result of platform to invite/incite chil- missed it lightly. problems posed by ‘The Blue dren to play this game, which Though the Mumbai police Whale Challenge’ game. may eventually lead the child to had said offi cially there was no The parents said an investiga- extreme steps for self-inflicting evidence to link his death to the tion was needed to establish the injuries, including suicide,” a game, they had seized Man- reason for their son’s death, and letter sent by the Ministry of preet’s laptop, mobiles and other blamed the online game for tak- Electronics and Information gadgets for further investigation. Bengaluru sees heaviest ing his life. Technology, made available The game has reportedly The boy’s mother told police yesterday, read. claimed the lives of over 130 boys he had downloaded the game last “You are hereby required to and girls across the world so far. year and despite their opposition ensure that any such link of this According to experts, teenag- he continued to play the game. deadly game in its own name or ers are more vulnerable because August rains since 1890 She said the teenager started any similar game is immediately the virtual world allows them to behaving indiff erently and was removed from your platform,” act freely – without the restric- IANS rainfall in August since 1890 city, disrupting power supply. waterlogged, slowing traffi c. always engaged in weird activi- the letter dated August 11, added. tions prevalent in the real world Bengaluru when 166mm rain was recorded Civic offi cials used make- Scientist C N Prabhu of the ties. The Blue Whale reportedly – which seems to give them an on a single day. shift boats to rescue stranded Karnataka State Natural Disas- The mother also revealed her created by a former convict in adrenaline boost. “As the downpour in just people in some areas while ter Monitoring Centre admit- son used to visit cemeteries at Russia, allegedly psychologically There is still uncertainty over engaluru yesterday re- three hours (3am to 6am) was power outages led to blackouts ted that the weather monitoring night and go to the beach alone. stimulates the players to indulge how a participant plays the game. ceived a record 180mm so heavy, the storm water drains for hours since early morning in system did not predict such a One of the tasks assigned to in daring, self-destructive tasks While some say the user has to Brains in barely three hours, could not take the load in such a many areas. heavy rainfall. the players involved watching for 50 days before fi nally tak- install some app on their smart the heaviest downpour in Au- short time, resulting in rainwa- “We received distress calls “We had forecast a moder- horror videos sent by promoters ing the ‘winning’ step of killing phone, others say it’s via social gust in over 100 years. ter overfl owing on several roads and complaints from hundreds ate rainfall but it developed into of the game, it is believed. themselves, and each task must media platforms where the ad- The rains wreaked havoc and inundating low-laying are- of those aff ected regarding much heavier than we could The boy had also drawn on his be fi lmed and shared as ‘proof’. ministrators get in touch with the across the city, crippling life, as,” Bruhat Bengaluru Mahana- storm water drains overfl owing, predict. It is certainly 3-4 times wrist with a compass, his mother “The proponent of Blue Whale participant. fl ooding roads and houses in gara Palika (BBMP) Commis- and rainwater entering base- heavier than the prediction,” said, adding he had off ered to do- Challenge should be reported to Schools as well as police in many areas and dampened the sioner Manjunatha Prasad told ments, ground fl oor homes and Prabhu said. nate his organs after his death. law enforcement agencies,” the Europe and America have be- 71st Independence Day celebra- reporters. apartments,” a civic offi cial from “There was a thick patch of The police said they have letter said. gun issuing advisories to parents tions. The torrential rains uprooted the BBMP control room said. clouds over the city that caused seized the teenager’s mobile On July 30, 14-year-old urging them to be vigilant and According to the Meteoro- trees, twisted electric poles and Police had a tough time during the downpour. Being the mon- phone and that an investigation schoolboy Manpreet Singh Sa- to keep an eye out on what their logical Department, Bengaluru snapped cable lines even in up- the day, as several arterial roads, soon season, heavy rains are not was underway. hani allegedly walked off the fi fth children are sharing on their so- has not witnessed such a heavy scale residential areas across the subways and underbridges were unusual,” Prabhu added. The central government has fl oor of his building in Sher-e- cial media accounts. A Gujarat Rajya Sabha seat won and lost in Delhi ricket-mad Indians are used to number 2 position just a couple of weeks borne out by the herding off of legisla- come 176. That left each of the four can- edge-of-seat matches in the of ago, will still hold the advantage of the tors to far-off resorts during pre-elec- didates in fray to win at least 45 votes to Cshorter versions of the game, es- majority because of its allies. But what tion periods for fear of poaching by the get elected. The Congress had 45 mem- pecially when their national team plays made the election crucial for both par- Delhi Diary opposition. bers on its rolls and that would have suf- Australia, which is often, and Pakistan, ties is the name of the chief protagonist, Anyway, these two worthies, Raghavji fi ced for Patel. But the prospect of cross- which is only once in a while on neutral Ahmed Patel. By A K B Krishnan Patel and Bholabhai Gohil, apparently voting stared him in the eye. It was left venues. But last week another game that For more than three decades Patel has in their enthusiasm to please their new to the JDU’s Chhotu Vasava to seal the had nothing to do with sport or sports- been one of most powerful men in the Gulf Times Correspondent ‘masters’ in the BJP, showed their votes deal for Patel. manship kept much of India awake into Congress Party. If the capital grapevine to someone other than their party’s Patel’s back in the Rajya Sabha and the wee hours when an otherwise in- is to be believed, he also holds many agent, and the Election Commission of all’s well with the Congress. Well, that’s nocuous, uninteresting Rajya Sabha secrets about the Congress’ fi rst fam- having, except for that minor hiccup agreed to stay within their party until India (ECI), after much deliberation, what Congressmen would like to be- election from Gujarat state assembly ily. “Backroom potentate”, “merciless in Punjab, a glorious run in elections after the elections. (Or were they dou- beat back attempts by powerful delega- lieve but the reality is anything but. went down to the wire with the eventual hatchet man”, “the go-to man” are some for the past 20 months or so. Shah and ble-crossing, one can’t tell these days tions of the BJP and pronounced their Whereas it was a walk-in every previ- winner – the Congress Party’s Ahmed of the more acceptable epithets used Prime Minister Narendra Modi have because politics has become such a votes as invalid. So, in theory Ahmed ous time Patel had contested, this time Patel – edging his Bharatiya Janata Party to describe Patel who had won three been harping on a “Congress-free In- cloak-and-dagger business.) The rules Patel had lost the election but won it on was a last-gasp breasting of the tape (BJP) rival Balwant Singh Rajput by a straight Lok Sabha elections from 1977 dia” for the past three years and Patel’s of the game prohibit the legislators a technicality. That’s not a stupendously and that shows the party’s dire straits. single vote cast in his favour by a Janata onwards. He is no stranger to the Rajya defeat would have turbo-charged that from displaying their votes to anyone edifying thought for a man of Patel’s Gujarat goes to polls later this year. It is Dal-United (JDU) legislator. Sabha either, having been elected from slogan. The next natural targets would except their party’s authorised polling standing but in the age of grab-and-run a straightforward fi ght between the BJP One more seat in the upper house of Gujarat for four consecutive times since have been Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareilly agent. Why anyone should show her/ politics the smallest of fi g leaves would and the Congress with minor roles for parliament would not have given ei- 1993. Last week he made it fi ve in a row. and Rahul Gandhi in Amethi in the next his voting preference to anyone else, do. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) of ther the BJP or the Congress any extra To defeat such a stalwart would have general elections. especially when it is supposed to be a The Gujarat assembly has 182 mem- Sharad Pawar and the JDU, which itself advantage. The BJP will continue to re- been the icing on the cake, as it were, But Patel won due to the stupidity of “secret ballot”, is a question that has bers but since six Congress legislators is staring at a split thanks to Nitish Ku- main the single largest party while the for BJP chief Amit Shah, who himself two Congress rebels who had switched found no answers yet. Perhaps the par- had already resigned after switching to mar’s decision to walk out of the ‘grand Congress, despite being pushed to the got elected from Gujarat and has been their allegiance to the BJP but had ties don’t trust their own anymore as is the BJP, the eff ective strength had be- alliance’ in Bihar and join hands with the BJP. many Congress leaders had wondered shown the light of pragmatism to the In any other scenario, Patel’s victory if the ECI, currently led by Achal Ku- self-declared ‘anarchist’ of Indian poli- would have had a galvanising eff ect on mar Joti who was handpicked by Modi, tics? the Congress but with as senior a leader would stay neutral or not. That the Whatever the reason, this time as Shankersinh Vaghela deserting the Election Commission stood its ground around there is more decorum in elec- sinking ship, there is a rush to the exit to rule in favour of the Congress gives tioneering in Bawana, one of Delhi’s door that is only likely to get heavier in hope that despite rumours to the con- largest constituencies area-wise al- the coming weeks and months. Amit trary India’s democratic institutions though not in terms of population. The Shah will use every trick in the book and continue to be independent and strong. seat is reserved for candidates of lower something more to allure Congressmen That’s a comforting thought. castes thanks to the infl ux of migrant into his fold. The going rate for a Con- labour from Uttar Pradesh and the gress MLA is said to be Rs150mn and Congress Party’s Surender Kumar had there is only party in India that can af- Low-key Kejriwal won it three times from 1998 till the ford to spend that kind of money. grabs attention BJP’s Gugan Singh beat him in 2013. While Patel is political secretary to But that BJP victory was short-lived Congress president Sonia Gandhi and when Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party wields much infl uence on everything What has happened to Arvind Kejri- (AAP) fi elded Ved Prakash who till then that goes on within the Congress Work- wal? The by-election to the Bawana as- was with the BJP but decided to switch ing Committee (CWC), he and Rahul sembly seat is only a week away and the when he did not get a ticket to contest Gandhi reportedly do not get along well. Delhi chief minister is unusually quiet. in 2015. The shoe is on the other foot This is bound to create issues at the time No name-calling, no accusations, no now as Prakash has resigned and gone of selection of candidates which could threats to destroy the BJP and the Con- back to his old party and is now the again lead to further desertions. gress. BJP’s candidate, proving once again, if Be that as it may, the Congress has Is it that the Rs200mn defamation proof is needed, that the game of musi- something to celebrate after a long time. suits fi led by Arun Jaitley has scared cal chairs is best suited for Indian poli- It owes its newfound happiness in no him? Or is that at long last Kejriwal has tics. small measure to the ECI which had to mellowed down and realised that good Prakash is up against Kumar, once stave off none other than Arun Jaitley, governance is something more than again the Congress’ choice, and the the most eloquent and erudite of minis- simply caricaturing your opponents as AAP’s Ram Chandra but more than the ters in the Modi cabinet, who had come bigots? Or is it that the defeats in the candidates and their SWOT analyses, to argue the BJP’s case against Patel. In Delhi municipal elections, the Rajouri Delhi is talking about how Kejriwal has the few hours between the end of voting Garden by-election and the less-than- changed his style. For the better, one and the declaration of Patel’s victory, spectacular showing in Punjab have may add. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 16, 2017 13 INDIA Reject religious violence: Modi

Agencies cult to balance the competing New Delhi demands of groups from his nationalist Hindu power base and those striving to build a rime Minister Narendra modern, secular country befit- Modi urged India yes- ting its growing economic in- Pterday to reject religious fluence. violence, after a series of attacks Manoj Joshi, a fellow at the against minorities sparked de- Observer Research Foundation bate about whether a surge of think-tank, said Modi was play- Hindu nationalism is undermin- ing “good cop, bad cop” by con- ing the country’s secular ideals. demning communal violence but In a speech from the ramparts doing little to rein in elements of of Delhi’s Red Fort marking the his ruling party. 70th anniversary of India’s in- “There is an obvious gap be- dependence, Modi also listed tween slogan and implementa- his government’s achievements, tion. It’s a deliberate gap and it’s including a fi ght against corrup- just for the record,” he said. tion. Modi also spoke at length The speech was light on for- about delivering a “new India” eign policy, making no mention by 2022, underlining his confi - of Pakistan or of China. dence of winning the next gen- India has for nearly two eral election, due by 2019. months stationed hundreds of Strong growth and economic troops along its northern border reforms have bolstered Modi’s with China because of a territo- popularity and helped his party rial dispute. sweep state elections in recent Modi has spoken out against years, leaving the opposition se- attacks by rightwing Hindus, verely weakened. many of whom back his Bharati- Still, to keep up with the de- ya Janata Party (BJP), against mands of India’s 1.3bn people, minority Muslims and lower- the government needs to create caste Hindus accused of killing millions more jobs a year, which cows, considered holy by the it is struggling to do. majority Hindus. “A certain level of trium- But the setting of his denun- phalism brought Modi to power,” ciation of violence yesterday was analyst Ajai Shukla told NDTV. signifi cant. “Now he realises people “We will not tolerate violence are expecting answers. He felt in the name of faith,” Modi said the need to convey an aura of before a teeming crowd at the progress.” fort and a huge television audi- Modi was conciliatory towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets school children after addressing the nation from the historic Red Fort during Independence Day celebrations in Delhi yesterday. ence. Jammu and Kashmir, where vio- Modi made much of the lent protests against Indian rule spheres, India is capable and we is terrorism or infi ltrators, our Speech ‘most disappointing’, says Congress progress India has made since have erupted over the past year, are strong enough to overcome security personnel have always independence from British rule saying neither “name-calling those who try to act against our been ready for sacrifi ce.” The Congress yesterday curbing black money “remains equated the Gorakhpur tragedy in 1947. nor bullets” would be enough to country.” India carried out what it called described Prime Minister a sham”. “On Gorakhpur, he to the other natural calamities. But he also expressed pain over pacify the region. Modi, who said he spoke with “surgical strikes” in Pakistan in Narendra Modi’s Independence has not shown his sensitivity He should have been careful,” the death of at least 60 children What was needed, he said, US President Donald Trump on September last year after insur- Day speech as “most and has not actually registered Sharma said. “His fight against in a state-run hospital last week were “hugs” for Kashmiris. the eve of the speech, said: “The gents attacked an army base in disappointing” and slammed the gravity of the situation that black money was a sham and in Uttar Pradesh amid shortages He also said India was strong concern for national security is Kashmir, killing 18 soldiers. him for being “insensitive” a large number of children, remains a sham.” Sharma of supplies – a reminder much enough to defend its borders a natural one in an independent “When the surgical strike was towards the deaths of over infants, have died because said the Modi government remains to be done on India’s against any threat. India. carried out, the world came to 60 children in a Gorakhpur of callous neglect,” Congress has “promoted black money journey to development. “Security is our top priority,” “Our security forces have al- know about the power that In- hospital last week. The party leader Anand Sharma said. “He hoarding” and promoted “crony Since coming to power in Modi said. “Be it the sea or the ways shown their capabilities dia possesses,” Modi said in his also said that Modi’s promise of has just in a very trivial manner capitalism”. 2014, Modi has found it diffi- borders, cyber or space – in all whenever on duty. Whether it speech. Weekend child India, China soldiers deaths push UP hospital toll to 85 scuffl e in Ladakh Twenty-five children died over the weekend at a government hospital in Gorakhpur in Uttar IANS The latest incident comes as Pradesh that suff ered oxygen shortages, taking New Delhi a dispute between the neigh- the overall death toll to 85, authorities said. bours over a strategic Hima- Indian media have linked 30 of these deaths layan plateau enters a third last Thursday and Friday to a lack of oxygen as brief scuffl e between In- month today. suppliers’ bills were not paid. dian and Chinese troops Hundreds of soldiers are re- Authorities have since launched an inquiry into Awas reported from Lada- ported to be facing off against the causes of the oxygen disruption but have kh region of Jammu and Kash- each other at Doklam. denied reports that it was responsible for any mir yesterday, sources said. The two countries share a deaths at the Baba Raghav Das Medical College. However, army offi cials in long history of mistrust and “I can confirm 12 child deaths on Saturday and New Delhi refused to comment. went to war in 1962 over the 13 on Sunday,” P K Singh, the hospital’s new The Chinese soldiers are northeastern state of Aru- principal, said late Monday. said to have attempted to cross nachal Pradesh. Singh was appointed after the unceremonious the Line of Actual Control China’s state-controlled removal of his predecessor last week. near Pangong lake, but were media has repeatedly warned An earlier off icial statement confirmed 60 child stopped by Indian soldiers. that a confl ict could break out deaths in five days starting last Monday. According to the sources, over Doklam. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has vowed to there were heated exchange of India has urged a diplomatic punish anyone found to have been negligent. words and a stand-off between solution to the standoff . The state is one of India’s poorest and registers the troops from the sides con- The dispute started on June hundreds of child deaths each year from tinued for more than an hour, 16 when Chinese troops start- Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis during which stone-pelting ed to build a road on territory Syndrome (AES), which is rife in parts of eastern was also reported. that it disputes with Bhutan. and northern India. After a brief stand-off , the India troops moved in to “Most of the 25 who died on the weekend Chinese troops went back, the stop the construction as India were suff ering from AES,” Singh said, vowing sources added. is a close ally of Bhutan. to “improve the patient experience” at the hospital. Govt to revamp health scheme, lower costs after criticism

Reuters In response, the health ministry has posal which includes spending contri- New Delhi resubmitted a plan with lower cost butions from states. estimates and a list of targets to be The annual funding for strengthen- achieved by 2020, including strength- ing the health system, including ram- ndia’s health ministry has trimmed ening health infrastructure and reduc- ping up infrastructure and the work its cost estimates for extending ing tobacco use. force, will more than double to about Iits main public health programme The fi nance ministry, which will re- $3bn in 2019-20, the documents show. by 25% after criticism from a federal view the plan for approval this month, The new funding estimates are think-tank over ineffi ciency and slow did not respond to a request for com- in line with a goal of raising health progress, according to government ment. The federal think-tank, NITI spending to 2.5% of gross domestic documents seen by Reuters. Aayog, declined to comment. product by 2025, from 1.15%, a health The new estimate of $25bn for a India’s National Health Mission is ministry offi cial said. three-year extension of the fl agship one of the world’s largest public health The NITI Aayog was at fi rst against health programme, down from an ini- programmes. the continuation of the National Health tial fi gure of about $33bn, comes as It provides free drugs and treatment Mission, according to a record of gov- Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushes to millions of rural poor and helped to ernment meetings reviewed by Reuters. a multi-pronged agenda to revamp eradicate polio. During a March meeting to discuss health services. But the public health system is in a the proposal, the NITI Aayog’s health Planned reforms include streamlin- shambles and India ranks poorly on adviser said the programme needed a ing spending and bureaucracy, slash- key indicators - more than a million “course correction” and needed to im- ing prices of life-saving drugs and children die every year before reaching prove standards. medical devices, and nudging com- the age of fi ve. The adviser, Alok Kumar, also panies such as PepsiCo to make more After focusing on maternal and child pointed out that despite investment in healthy products. health for years, the programme will the programme, public facilities were To extend the National Health Mis- broaden priorities to tackle a growing not attracting enough patients, docu- sion to 2020, a think-tank led by Modi burden of non-communicable dis- ments showed. and the fi nance ministry in March told eases such as cancer, heart disease and Because rural hospitals in India are health offi cials to rework the original diabetes, according to the documents. often dilapidated and suff er from a proposal with “realistic” budget ex- The ministry has proposed increas- shortage of doctors, it is not uncom- pectations and to incorporate lessons ing spending to treat such ailments mon for people to shun them and trav- from neighbours such as Nepal and from about $150mn this year to $1.5bn el long distances in search of quality Bangladesh, the documents show. in 2019-20, according to the new pro- healthcare. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 LATIN AMERICA Maduro orders military drill AFP Venezuela is a danger” due to its Caracas ties to Iran, Russia and others, he said on CNN. Many Latin American coun- enezuelan leader Nicolas tries have bitter memories of past Maduro has ordered the US adventures in the region. Varmy to conduct a round Those include invasions, gun- of military drills later this month boat diplomacy and the propping in response to US President Don- up of military dictators. ald Trump’s threat of military ac- Even the Venezuelan opposi- tion in the crisis-stricken nation. tion coalition on Sunday rejected Maduro’s embattled govern- “the use of force, or the threat of ment – facing a deepening eco- applying such force, by whatever nomic emergency and swelling country against Venezuela”. street protests – has seized on Maduro, in a later televised Trump’s apparent threat, which event with various ambassadors has been roundly condemned stationed in Caracas, said he even by Latin American states wanted a regional “closed-door opposed to the socialist presi- presidential summit” to talk dent. about Venezuela and Trump’s Defence Minister General Maduro gives a speech in front of a sign that reads ‘Trump go away threat. Vladimir Padrino called Trump’s from Latin America’, at a rally against the US president in Caracas. “The threat of war can only comments “crazy”, saying that it dissipate with dialogue,” he said. showed America had “dropped lem for narcotics traffi c” and mon Muchacho said from exile in Washington has already im- its mask” in terms of wanting to “greater migration” – both of the United States that perhaps an posed unilateral sanctions on attack his country. which he said directly threatened American invasion was “inevita- Maduro and nearly two dozen of Maduro told a crowd of sup- the security and economy of the ble”. his offi cials for what it sees as a porters in Caracas on Monday US. “The United States thinks shift to “dictatorship”. that he had organised a round of Opponents of Maduro accuse military drills for August 26-27 him of seeking to consolidate in response. power by packing a controver- “I have given the order to the Militia members and supporters of Maduro attend a rally against US President Donald Trump in Caracas. sial new assembly with his allies armed forces’ joint chiefs of staff as infl ation spirals out of control to start preparations for a na- and food shortages worsen. tional civil-military exercise for ready any sort of military action The crowd chanted “Yankee prevent Venezuela becoming a The body has joined with the the integrated armed defence of against Venezuela. go home!” as participants waved “failed state”. loyal Supreme Court to quash the Venezuelan nation,” he said. US Vice-President Mike banners emblazoned with the “We will not stand by as Ven- dissent and arrest opposition Trump said on Friday that the Pence, who is touring allies in slogan: “Trump out”. ezuela crumbles, but it’s im- politicians. US was mulling a range of op- Latin America to marshall joint Maduro vowed to defend his portant to note, as the president But Trump’s threat of military tions against Venezuela, “includ- action against Caracas, said country “with tanks, planes and said, that a failed state in Ven- action has united even Maduro’s ing a possible military option if Trump’s warning stood – but missiles”. ezuela threatens the security and enemies in condemnation. necessary”. he hoped a “peaceable solution” Venezuela, an ally to Cuba and prosperity of the hemisphere,” Colombian President Juan His words have bolstered Ca- would be found. Russia, reportedly bought Rus- Pence told reporters in the Co- Manuel Santos, who has led crit- racas’s oft-repeated claim that Supporters of Maduro, who sian anti-aircraft defences and lombian city of Cartagena on icism of Maduro, told Pence on Washington has designs to grab has been in power since the death tanks years ago under Chavez. Monday, where he met with Ven- his arrival “that the possibility of control of its proven oil reserves, of the revolutionary socialist Pence, on his fi rst stop of a ezuelan families who have fl ed a military intervention shouldn’t the largest in the world. Hugo Chavez in 2013, packed the tour taking in Colombia, Argen- their country’s deadly crisis. even be considered”. The Pentagon said it had re- streets of Caracas on Monday in a tina, Chile and Panama, said that He told CNN that Venezuela Former Venezuelan mayor and US Vice-President Pence with Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri ceived no orders from Trump to show of support. the United States intended to risked becoming “a greater prob- prominent opposition fi gure Ra- during a news conference in Buenos Aires.

Eight die as cops, Mexico ruling party says rules aimed at stopping rise of left crime gang clash Eight people died in a confrontation between a Reuters nant party, known as PRI, a bet- he supports the market econo- confi dent in recent months that Ochoa said the new party rique Pena Nieto’s government. suspected a criminal gang Mexico City ter chance of clinging to power my. talks starting this week in Wash- rules allowed any future PRI “...I am focused on my work and security forces in a violent in next July’s presidential elec- “He is the threat for Mexico ington will not end the North president-elect to form coali- and only thinking about 2018 region in southern Venezuela, tion, where veteran leftist Lopez going forward,” Ochoa said in an American Trade Agreement tions to “foment governability”. in terms of the economic pack- prosecutors and media said ew rules adopted by Obrador is an early favourite interview on Foro TV. “We don’t (Nafta), which underpins much He did not rule out alliances age,” Meade said at an event on yesterday. Mexico’s ruling Insti- among voters tired of corrup- want to have the same fate as of Mexico’s economy. with any major party, beyond Monday, referring to the budget, The incident occurred near the Ntutional Revolutionary tion, scandals, violence and a Venezuela, with food shortages, Lopez Obrador has recently saying that coalitions should be which he is due to present to border with Brazil, in the town of Party (PRI) allowing it to form tepid economy. the highest infl ation in the world denied having anything to do with those the centrist PRI could Congress by September 8. El Callao, the prosecutors’ off ice coalitions and non-members to PRI president Enrique Ochoa and GDP falling by 7%.” with the Venezuelan govern- identify with ideologically. Meade is also seen as a pos- said on Twitter. run for president were necessary on Monday called Lopez Ob- Since last year, Mexico has ment. The rules allowing non-party sible candidate to lead Mexico’s It said a mixed military and to stop leftist Andres Manuel rador “the enemy to beat”, re- been more concerned about a On the two previous occa- members to run for president central bank. police unit was involved in the Lopez Obrador from winning peating a long-standing refrain possible rupture of trade ties sions that the former Mexico are seen as favouring Finance He has served in governments confrontation but gave no further offi ce next year, the PRI’s presi- by Mexico’s ruling class that he with the United States under City mayor ran for president, his Minister Jose Antonio Meade, of both the PRI and the conserv- details. dent said. would wreck the economy with Donald Trump than domestic opponents used the same strat- a technocrat untainted by the ative opposition National Action The deaths were unrelated to The rules adopted over the Venezuelan-style policies. politics. egy of comparing him with Ven- scandals that have eroded back- Party, but is not a member of ei- the political violence wracking weekend give the once-domi- Lopez Obrador’s advisers say But the government has grown ezuela’s socialists. ing for Mexican President En- ther party. Venezuela.

Fernandez back as Argentina Former Pena Nieto names key vote contenders aide denies bribery Reuters Lozoya, who resigned as AFP for things done seriously,” he “The result is that we have Mexico City Pemex chief in 2016, posted on Buenos Aires added, speaking to those suff er- won,” Fernandez told dozens of Twitter late on Sunday that he ing from the impact of infl ation supporters. “I never thought I had never participated in cor- and unemployment, with about would have to apologise for the close former aide of rupt practices, calling the alle- resident Mauricio Macri’s a third of the population living in embarrassment we experienced. Mexican President En- gations “absolutely false”. coalition solidifi ed its lead poverty. It was to put on a show, but it is Arique Pena Nieto, “cat- “Supposing there were ac- Pas Argentina’s biggest po- Much of the focus for the vote an off ence to the citizens who egorically denied” allegations cusations against me by con- litical force in primary votes this was on Buenos Aires, a province voted loyally.” he received $10mn in bribes fessed criminals, it is impor- weekend that also saw the return home to about 40% of voters that She dominated Argentine pol- from Odebrecht during the tant to mention at least that of fi ery leftist former leader Cris- stretches from the capital to the itics for years alongside her late 2012 presidential campaign these people can say anything tina Fernandez Kirchner. Pampas plains, and Fernandez’s husband Nestor Kirchner before and later when he headed state in exchange for a reduced sen- The compulsory votes are a results. leaving offi ce in 2015. Fernandez: The result is that we have won. oil company Pemex. tence,” Lozoya wrote in a letter formality to offi cially name the Fernandez, 64, claimed victory Fernandez is returning to poli- Brazil’s O Globo newspa- appearing on his Twitter ac- candidates teed up by their par- for her bid to get a senate seat tics despite facing corruption Fernandez and other critics say position at the national level. per at the weekend reported count. ties to fi ght the October 22 legis- around 4am on Monday, com- charges which she says are politi- they are hurting the poor. In Buenos Aires, Macri-backed on documents alleging that Asked for comment, the lative elections. plaining of the government’s de- cally-motivated. Macri lacks a majority in both candidate Elisa Carrio got 48% Pena Nieto’s confi dant Emilio Mexican president’s offi ce re- Macri’s liberal economic re- lay in counting the votes. A seat in the Senate would chambers of the legislature, of the vote, and government ally Lozoya received bribes from a ferred to a statement by the at- forms in the poverty-stricken At that time, with 95% of the spare Fernandez jail if convicted where he has had to cobble to- Martin Loustau got 13%. former Odebrecht executive torney general’s offi ce, which country appeared to have sur- votes counted, results showed of corruption. gether support for his reforms. Through his Cambiemos can- from 2012 to 2016 in return for on Sunday said it had not yet vived the test, two years into his Kirchner with 34.14% of the Her supporters hope it could The October mid-term elec- didates, “Macri is looking to gain a contract at Mexico’s Tula re- received full information about term, with the Cambiemos coali- vote, just behind ruling party also pave the way for a fresh tions will be a major electoral strength to ensure he can gov- fi nery. the case from Brazilian pros- tion leading in the country’s fi ve candidate Esteban Bullrich with presidential bid in 2019. harbinger for the Macri govern- ern”, sociologist Ricardo Rouvier Citing bank documents, a ecutors. biggest provinces. 34.17%. Her campaign is a headache for ment, which is seeking to boost told AFP. “The opposition wants further report by civil society Odebrecht did not immedi- “This is the change Argentines The government said it was conservative Macri, 58. its foothold in congress. to send a message to the gov- group Mexicans Against Cor- ately respond to a request for want,” Macri told supporters. halting the count, without pro- He says his budget cuts are But Sunday’s primaries already ernment that it is doing things ruption said payments had comment. “Results don’t come overnight viding any further explanation. strengthening the economy, but signalled a lack of structured op- badly.” been made when Lozoya was The Mexican prosecutors a senior offi cial in Pena Nieto’s said they had interviewed nine campaign. former Pemex offi cials along The allegations linked Lo- with 10 other offi cials linked to zoya to the $10.5mn in bribes three Odebrecht contracts. that scandal-plagued Brazilian The statement said Mexico Mexican cop behind El Chapo’s arrest sent to US for safety builder Odebrecht has admit- had not accepted a settlement ted to paying in Mexico. off er by Odebrecht, and would Corruption scandals have not accept any deal based on Reuters during the January 2016 capture his high-security jail in 2015. over custody of Guzman at the Violence in Sinaloa has jumped dogged Pena Nieto’s govern- limiting punishment to those Mexico City of Guzman, the sources said. During the navy-led opera- motel where he was being held. since Guzman’s detention, as ment, playing into the hands found to be involved. Gonzalez is now Mexico’s law tion to detain Guzman, the drug Gonzalez was unwilling to tensions within the cartel and of leftist opposition candidate Since settling in the United enforcement emissary in Wash- lord and his henchman evaded hand his prized charge to the incursions from other gangs have Andres Manuel Lopez Obra- States, Brazil and Switzerland Mexican federal police of- ington, according to the sources the marines by escaping via the navy, the sources said. sparked a sharp rise in killings. dor, who is preparing a third for a record $3.5bn, Odebrecht fi cer who captured drug and the Mexican foreign ministry sewer. As such, the capture of Guz- Gonzalez could not immedi- run for offi ce next year on an has sought to negotiate leni- Alord Joaquin “El Chapo” website. However, after stealing a car, man after escaping the navy was ately be reached for comment, anti-graft ticket. ency agreements that would Guzman in northwest Mexico Currently awaiting trial in they were stopped by federal po- a big victory for the federal police and the foreign ministry referred Among Lopez Obrador’s allow it to keep operating in last year was moved for his own New York after being deported to lice who had been tasked with and brought Gonzalez into the questions to the National Secu- policy proposals is a close revi- other countries across Latin safety to a posting at the Mexican the United States, Guzman was blocking roads out of Los Mochis spotlight. rity Commission, which did not sion of energy contracts signed America. embassy in Washington, DC, ac- re-captured in the Sinaloa town and were unaware of the navy’s Gonzalez’s quiet transfer to immediately reply to requests for under Pena Nieto, who opened Odebrecht admitted in the cording to two Mexican law en- of Los Mochis. hunt, the sources said. Washington last year was por- comment. up Mexico’s oil industry to pri- settlement with US and Bra- forcement sources. The kingpin, who ran the The police offi cers who inad- trayed as a promotion, but was Guzman was transferred un- vate investment, a structural zilian prosecutors to paying Nicolas Gonzalez was a sen- feared Sinaloa drug cartel, had vertently stopped Guzman, for mainly due to fears for the safety der heavy guard from his cell to a overhaul seen as perhaps the bribes across 12 countries to ior federal police offi cer in the been on the run after infamously speeding and driving in a stolen of him and his family, the two court in Brooklyn, New York, on president’s biggest achieve- win contracts, including in northwestern state of Sinaloa escaping through a tunnel from car, phoned Gonzalez, who took sources said. Monday. ment. Mexico. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 16, 2017 15 PAKISTAN

COMMERCE HONOUR CELEBRATION CYBER CRIME CRIME Investors agree to inject Names of 89 martyrs Google marks Pakistan’s Websites of Pakistani French national slain Rs2.25bn into real estate to be written in gold Independence Day federal ministries hacked over marriage dispute

Foreign and local investors in Pakistan have In recognition of the sacrifices of security Tech giant Google changed its logo to a doodle Various government websites of Pakistan Aftab Hussain Tabi, a French national of agreed to inject Rs2.25bn into the real estate off icials of the tribal areas due to terrorism, with animated Pakistani flag to celebrate the were hacked yesterday by Indian hackers and Pakistani origin, was gunned down yesterday market of Pakistan keeping in view the growing the Mohmand tribal agency Administration country’s 71st Independence Day. Last year on were defaced with pro-India messages, Geo over a marriage dispute in Harer village of demand for houses and hotels in the country. has built a monument to martyrs in Ghallanai. August 14, too, Google dedicated its doodle News reported. The websites of the Ministry of Gujar Khan, an area near Islamabad. Police said, Pakistan, which is home to around 200mn The inauguration was held on August 14 to with the Mughal-era Lahore Fort, locally known Defence, Ministry of Climate Change, Ministry of Aftab Hussain married the daughter of a local people, is facing a shortage of about 10mn coincide with the country’s 71st Independence as the Shahi Qila. Since then, Google has also Inter-Provincial Coordination and others were politician Shaukat Wasifi some six months ago. housing units as the pace of construction has Day. Mohmand Political Agent Mehmood Aslam celebrated the birthdays of legendary Pakistani hacked by a group calling themselves “LulzSec The marriage triggered tension between two remained much slower than the growth of Wazir and tribal elders, levies and Khasadar musician and singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, India”. The hackers left messages praising India families and a jirga decided that the girl would population since long. Force off icials inaugurated the monument amid philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi and prolific and its armed forces on the websites. There has go back to her parents’ house. Aftab was sent The huge gap has made housing business very tight security at the agency headquarters. Wazir artist Sadequain. Google doodles have now been no comment from the government on the back to France. The man returned to Pakistan profitable and kept attracting investors towards told tribal elders that the names of 89 Khasadar become part of Internet culture, which the users matter and the websites remain defaced till they yesterday and went to his wife’s house to the sector. Overseas Pakistanis have been a big and levies off icials will be written in gold on find quite amusing as they also learn about were rendered inaccessible. In early January, take her back to his home. However, a quarrel source of investment in the country’s real estate the pillars of the monument, to recognise their interesting events from across the world along a government website run by the Khyber occurred between Aftab and the parents of the market. sacrifices. with daily searches. Pakhtunkhwa was hacked by Indian hackers. girl as a result of which he was gunned down on Sharif seeks President meets Chinese vice-premier review of court ruling

Reuters verdict, were not supposed to sit Islamabad on the panel that gave the fi nal ruling. Sharif has kept a grip on the usted Pakistani Prime ruling PML-N party, which has Minister Nawaz Sharif a solid majority in parliament, Oyesterday sought a re- and elected one of his loyalists, view of a Supreme Court deci- Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, as his sion that disqualifi ed him from replacement within days of the offi ce over undeclared assets, an court decision. offi cial from his ruling party said Critics say Sharif remains in yesterday. control of the country through Sharif, 67, resigned during Abbasi and is trying to under- his third stint as prime minister mine the judiciary. shortly after the Supreme Court Sharif’s aides say he shows ruled on July 28 that he should be no signs of leaving politics and disqualifi ed and ordered a crimi- he recently called the Supreme nal probe into his family’s wealth. Nawaz Sharif Court ruling against him “an Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain holding talks with visiting Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang in Islamabad. The Chinese Jan Achakzai, a PML-N of- insult to the mandate of 200mn vice-premier was the chief guest at the Pakistan Independence Day celebrations on Monday. fi cial, said Sharif had fi led three Sharif did not declare a small voters”. Last week he started a separate appeals in the Supreme source of income that the vet- so-called homecoming “cara- Court. eran leader disputes receiving. van” procession across the “It is our right to seek a re- Achakzai said the appeals Punjab region where he derives view,” he said. “People of Paki- sought a review of the disquali- his voter base, from the capital stan haven’t accepted the deci- fi cation on the basis that two of Islamabad to the eastern city of sion.” the fi ve judges, who had already Lahore, drawing large crowds Achakzai said the same fi ve- given a dissenting note in April’s along the way. Prime minister inducts judge panel that decided on the disqualifi cation would likely hear the review petitions. Former PM plans mass contact campaign Sharif’s disqualifi cation stems from the Panama Papers leaks Former Pakistani prime Mansehra district to mobilise more cabinet members in 2016 which appeared to show minister Nawaz Sharif is the PML-N supporters and meet that Sharif’s daughter and two planning to reach out to the the local party leadership. sons owned off shore holding party workers and off ice- The PML-N holds sway in Internews ministers took oath at the been given the status of federal 21 federal ministers, nine min- companies registered in the Brit- bearers as a part of his mass Mansehra and adjoining Hindko Islamabad President House, bringing the ministers. isters of state, four advisers to ish Virgin Islands and used them contact drive in the provinces speaking Hazara areas. number of members of the fed- Now Prime Minister Ab- the prime minister and nine to buy properties in London. other than Punjab. The aide said the Mansehra eral cabinet to 47. basi is expected to appoint special assistants to the prime In April, the Supreme Court He is likely to choose Khyber visit was most likely to be ithin the fi rst fort- The new inductees include a few special assistants al- minister. ruled that there was insuffi cient Pakhtunkhwa as the first undertaken before Eid al-Adha night of his tenure, two ministers and two minis- most all of those who were Soon after coming into evidence to remove Sharif from province for the purpose where to keep up the momentum WPakistani Prime Min- ters of state. serving Nawaz Sharif till his power former prime minister offi ce — by a split 2-3 verdict — his arch rival Imran Khan’s generated by the GT Road’s ister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has Last weekend, the prime ouster. Nawaz Sharif had massively over the Panama revelations but Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) homecoming rally. After Eid, inducted over 50 cabinet mem- minister further expanded These included Khawaja Za- reduced the size of the federal it ordered further investigations leads a coalition government. he added, the former prime bers including federal minis- his cabinet by appointing six heer, Zafarullah Khan, Dr Asif secretariat including that of into his family’s wealth. A close aide to the disqualified minister was planning to tour ters, ministers of state and ad- advisers including Lieuten- Kirmani, Haroon Akhtar etc. the Prime Minister’s Secretar- The judges in July alleged PM said that Sharif would visit Baluchistan and Sindh. visers. ant General Nasser Janjua During Nawaz Sharif tenure iat as a move to reduce pub- With the latest appointment (Retd) as National Security the maximum strength of spe- lic spending and ensure good of six advisers to the prime Adviser, Sartaj Aziz as dep- cial assistants was nine. governance. minister, the strength of cabi- uty chairman of the Planning These special assistants were However, later he started net members has reached 53. Commission, Sardar Mehtab enjoying the status of minister adding up cabinet members, Flag rally After taking oath of offi ce of Abbasi, Jam Mashooq Ali, of state. which resulted into creation of the prime minister on August Amir Muqam and Irfan Sid- Under former prime min- more and more ministries and 1, Abbasi initially inducted diqui. ister Nawaz Sharif, the cabi- divisions. 43-member cabinet which in- All these advisers, who had net members’ strength which The incumbent prime min- cluded 27 federal ministers and also served former prime min- was 25 (including advisers and ister too had to create new 16 ministers of state. ister Nawaz Sharif in the same special assistants) in 2013 had ministries to adjust his bloated A few days later four new capacity (as advisers), have later increased to 43 including cabinet. Pakistan govt prefers former AGP favourites in Jadhav case

Internews he declined the nomination. request, the case would have ment should have appointed Islamabad Sources also revealed that the been delayed by more than the judge before the provisional Attorney General for Pakistan’s eighteen months, adding that hearing. (AGP) offi ce has recommended the Indian authorities have “Generally, it has been seen he federal government of the names of senior lawyer been directed to fi le their plead- that countries nominate ad- Pakistan has started con- Makhdoom Ali Khan, former ings before September 13. hoc judges early so that they Tsultation regarding the chief justice Tassaduq Hussain The offi cial revealed that the could be made aware of any nomination of an ad-hoc judge Jilani and former Jordan prime name of the ad hoc judge will be fi - move related to those cases. for the Kulbhushan Jadhav case minister Awn Shawkat Al-Kha- nalised next month, soon after the For example, the United being heard by the Internation- sawneh to Prime Minister Of- Indian side fi les its documents. States appointed an ad-hoc al Court of Justice (ICJ) at The fi ce (PMO) for the nomination On the other hand, Pakistan judge immediately after their Hague. of one name as an ad-hoc judge. Bar Council (PBC) representa- dispute with Iran [got to] the Jadhav, an Indian spy ar- Makhdoom Ali Khan, who tive Raheel Kamran Sheikh has ICJ,” a senior lawyer informed. rested from Baluchistan last is seen as the favourite for the called upon the government to Earlier, a meeting was held year, was sentenced to death by job, also has experience in in- seek parliament’s approval on the on June 8 between ICJ President a military court in Pakistan on ternational arbitration cases, appointment of an ad hoc judge. Ronny Abraham and the dele- April 10 for ‘fomenting terror- having represented eight diff er- Only one person has pre- gations of India and Pakistan to ism in Balochistan and Karachi’. ent countries in international viously been appointed as discuss the timeline of the case. His execution was stayed on courts. ICJ judge in Pakistan’s his- The ICJ registrar and other May 18 by the ICJ on India’s re- Sources informed that the tory — former foreign minis- court offi cials were also present quest. nomination of the ad-hoc judge ter Zafarullah Khan, who was in the 45-minute meeting. Sources said that govern- will be fi nalised after getting appointed in 1954 and later be- The Pakistani delegation was ment’s functionaries have input from the Foreign Offi ce came the president of the court led by Attorney General Ash- started consultations for the and military establishment. Yaqub Ali Khan and Sharifud- tar Ausaf Ali and also included nomination of an ad-hoc judge, In June, the ICJ registrar had din Pirzada both served as ad- Foreign Offi ce Director Gen- adding that during the tenure of rejected India’s plea to give six hoc judges, as did Zafarullah. eral for South Asia Dr Mohamed deposed prime minister Mian months to fi le its pleadings in Legal experts expressed con- Faisal, FO International Disputes Pakistani people carry a huge flag during a rally marking the 70th anniversary of the country’s Nawaz Sharif, former Supreme the case. cern over the delay in the nomi- Unit Head Ahmad Irfan Aslam, independence in Quetta,on Monday. Court judge Khalilur Rehman A senior offi cial revealed that nation of the ad-hoc judge. and Pakistan’s counsel Khawar Ramday was approached, but if the ICJ accepted the Indian They believe that the govern- Qureshi. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 PHILIPPINES Manila policeman killed in ambush

Manila Times ment was at Manila Police Makati District Headquarters Support Unit before his death, was the main suspect in the killing of he wife of a slain Manila Police Offi cer 1 Jorsan Marie police offi cer yesterday Alafriz. Tdenied allegations that Alafriz was a known anti- her husband was involved in drug advocate and was ac- the drug trade and that he was tive in anti-drug operations behind the murder of a female in Santa Cruz district where police offi cer last March 19. Piniano was assigned before he Jenalyn Piniano, 34, wife of was transferred to MPD Sup- Police Offi cer 2 Mark Anthony port Unit. Alafriz was assigned Piniano, 34, said her husband to the Barbosa Police Commu- received several death threats nity Precinct in Quiapo for nine before he was shot dead yes- months before her death. terday at about 7am near San “My husband had several Marcelino Street and Ayala death threats and lately he had An aerial photo shows Thitu Island, part of the disputed Spratly group of islands, in the South China Sea located off the coast of western Philippines. Boulevard in Ermita, Manila, not been going to the offi ce. He just few metres away from the was asked to go to the offi ce to- main gate of the Technological day. I was wondering why they University of the Philippines know exactly the movements (TUP). of my husband. They really had Driving his motorcycle, a plan to kill him,” Piniano’s Piniano, a resident of Pacheco wife said. Street, Tondo, was taking his Piniano was in police uni- 15-year-old daughter to near- form when he was waylaid. China to halt expansion by Emilio Aguinaldo College The MPD headquarters is just a (EAC) when fi ve persons—two stone’s throw away from EAC. each riding motorcycles and “He was being implicated in one lookout, also on a motor- the killing of a police offi cer. cycle—shot him in the head He had nothing to do with that. and body, killing him instantly. When the murder happened, Investigators recovered he was with me in a hotel,” she in S China Sea: Manila more than 20 spent shells of.45 said, sobbing. calibre pistol and .9 mm pistol. She called on President Ro- The Philippines is working on ty. The Permanent Court of Arbi- Piniano’s daughter was un- drigo Duterte for help, asking a deal with China to exploit oil tration in The Hague invalidated harmed but a student of TUP for justice. Meanwhile, MPD and gas resources China’s claim over most of the was hit by a stray bullet in the Director Joel Napoleon Coronel South China Sea in July last year. leg. identifi ed Piniano as high-val- Reuters China has refused to recog- Police were scrutinising ue target for being suspected as Manila nise the ruling, which clarifi ed the closed-circuit television active in the drug trade. Philippine sovereign rights to footage of Barangay 660 that Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estra- energy reserves within its 200- caught how Piniano was way- da ordered Coronel to resolve hina has assured the Phil- mile Exclusive Economic Zone laid by the gunmen. The po- the ambush of Piniano. ippines it will not occupy (EEZ). The Philippine energy liceman was brought to Mary “Whatever the motives and Cnew features or territory department last month said it Chilles Hospital where he was circumstances, we owe it to the in the South China Sea, under may resume drilling for oil and declared dead. policeman’s family to investi- a new “status quo” brokered gas on the Reed Bank, which is Piniano, whose last assign- gate the case.” by Manila as both sides try to within the Philippine EEZ, before strengthen their relations, the the end of the year, off ering new Philippine Defence minister said. blocks to investors in a bidding in Philippine Foreign Secretary December. Alan Peter Cayetano also said The Philippines suspended ex- the Philippines was working on ploration in the Reed Bank in late Four Calabarzon a “commercial deal” with China 2014 as it pursued the interna- to explore and exploit oil and gas tional arbitration. resources in disputed areas of the Minority lawmakers Gary Ale- police chiefs sacked South China Sea with an aim to jano and Edcel Lagman opposed begin drilling within a year. the plan for an energy deal saying The defence minister, Delfi n it would be illegal. Manila Times Station and Superintend- Lorenzana, told a congression- “This is contrary to our con- Makati ent Zeric Soriano, of the San al hearing the Philippines and stitution because these areas Pedro Municipal Police Sta- China had reached a “modus viv- should be exclusively for Filipi- tion. endi”, or a way to get along, in the An aerial view of construction at Mabini (Johnson) Reef by China, in the disputed Spratley Islands. nos,” Lagman said. our Calabarzon (Cavite, The sacking of the four po- South China Sea that prohibits Cayetano declined to give de- Laguna, Batangas, Rizal lice chiefs was in line with a new occupation of islands. Philippine President Rodrigo Chinese ships had showed up al- “We can come up with a com- tails of the talks and requested Fand Quezon) chiefs of pronouncement of Philippine “The Chinese will not oc- Duterte, who took offi ce in June most 5km off the Philippine-held mercial deal that is better than an executive session of congress police were removed from their National Police (PNP) chief cupy new features in the South last year, has courted China and Thitu Island in the Spratly archi- Malampaya in the disputed ar- to divulge information about the posts eff ective Friday, August and Director General Ronald China Sea nor they are going to avoided rows over maritime sov- pelago on Saturday. eas,” Cayetano said, referring to venture with a Chinese energy 11, for failure to stop illegal de la Rosa to remove from their build structures in Scarborough ereignty that dogged his pred- The military’s public aff airs an existing natural gas project off company, which he did not iden- numbers games in their re- posts unit commanders across Shoal,” Lorenzana told lawmak- ecessors, while berating tradi- chief, Colonel Edgard Arevalo, Palawan island between the gov- tify. spective jurisdictions. the country if after 15 days they ers late on Monday, referring to a tional ally the United States over declined to comment until the ernment and Chevron, a resource Manuel Pangilinan, chairman In Batangas, Superintend- fail to stop the illegal numbers prime fi shing ground close to the several issues. armed forces had the “whole which is due to be depleted by of Philippine oil and gas fi rm PXP ent Carlos Barde was sacked games in their areas of respon- Philippines that China blockaded China has built seven islands picture on the current situation”. 2024. Energy Corp, said this month as Lipa City chief of police and sibility. from 2012 to 2016. upon reefs in disputed areas, China’s foreign ministry did not “How can any Filipino argue any joint venture would likely be Superintendent Police Regional Offi ce 4A China claims almost the en- three of which, experts say, are immediately respond to a request with that?...It cannot violate the with “a company like CNOOC”, Geovanny Emerick Sibalo as Regional Director and Chief tire South China Sea, a waterway capable of accommodating fi ght- for comment. constitution.” referring to the China National chief of the Santo Tomas Mu- Superintendent Mao Aplasca, through which about $3tn worth er jets. Cayetano assured lawmak- But such an arrangement could Off shore Oil Corp Offi cials from nicipal Police Station. said: “The day I assumed the of sea-borne trade passes every They have runways, radars and ers yesterday any energy deal be complex and sensitive as both the foreign and energy minis- The Laguna Police Provin- position as Calabarzon’s re- year. surface-to-air missiles which with China would not violate the countries claim the oil and gas tries have said privately any deal cial Office removed two of gional director, I have been Brunei, Malaysia, the Philip- China says are for defence. constitution and would conform reserves. would likely be commercial only its chiefs of police: Super- very vocal about my desire to pines, Taiwan and Vietnam also Lorenzana did not comment to a 60-40% revenue sharing, Sharing them could be con- and both sides would keep the intendent Ronan Claravall, eradicate the illegal numbers have confl icting claims in the when lawmakers, citing reports weighted towards the Philip- strued as legitimising the other’s issue of sovereignty out of the of the San Pablo City Police games in the region.” area. from the military, told him fi ve pines. claim, or even ceding sovereign- equation to avoid complications. Two farm workers isolated over bird fl u symptoms

DPA In a news briefi ng, Tayag add- Tayag said cross-infection of erated that there is no cause for had flu symptoms for 2 days or August 10, when the disease was further spread of the disease Manila ed that he was given a prelimi- chicken to human is rare while alarm because this is an animal less. confi rmed. in other parts of Luzon and to nary report on those interviewed human to human infection is health virus, not a public health The health department is yet Pinol added that the ban on Visayas and Mindanao … No by the Research Institute for “with great diffi culty” as studies problem. to receive a report from the DA on the shipment of poultry meat movement of LIVE domestic wo poultry farm workers Tropical Medicine (RITM) and on the disease show that among A person infected with avian what strain aff ected the chickens and poultry products from Lu- and wild birds including poul- from a northern Philip- found two suspect cases with fl u a million exposed in other coun- fl u shows some of these symp- in Pampanga. zon to the rest of the country is try meat, day-old chick, eggs, Tpine province aff ected by symptoms. tries, only 200 were infected by toms: mild conjunctivitis or The Philippines confi rmed an aggressive step to contain the semen and manure shall be al- bird fl u have been isolated after “I was given a preliminary re- avian fl u. He added that those swelling of the eyes and severe last week the fi rst outbreak of spread of the avian infl uenza to lowed from Luzon to Visayas showing symptoms. port where they interviewed 20 who take human infl uenza vac- pneumonia. Left untreated, bird avian infl uenza in the country, other parts of the Philippines. and Mindanao,” Memorandum One of the workers had coughs people from diff erent farms and cine will not be protected from fl u can be fatal. prompting the Department of Appealing for understand- Circular 09 stated. and the other fever, both symp- found two of them with [fl u] bird fl u infection because the The health department urges Agriculture (DA) to order the ing and support of the public, Garzon noted that “since Visa- toms of bird fl u, said Health De- symptoms. One with cough and vaccine only prevents mutation farmers in Pampanga who have culling of about 200,000 birds. including poultry farm owners yas and Mindanao remain free partment spokesman Eric Tayag one with fever. Infl uenza [symp- of the virus. fl u-like symptoms to report to The DA has temporarily sus- and workers, he said the ban will from avian infl uenza, the move- yesterday. toms]are fever, cough and sore “It [infl uenza vaccine]does not their local government unit so pended the shipment of live do- be temporary and will be lifted ment of live poultry, poultry mat, “Because of the fact that they throat,” he said. protect you. Human infl uenza they could be brought to regional mestic and wild birds and their as soon as experts conclude that day-old chicks, and other prod- have symptoms, we can now call He added they will release [vaccine]will protect you from hospitals for isolation and moni- products, including poultry the risk of spreading the virus has ucts from Visayas and Mindanao them suspect cases,” he said. the results today to confirm human infl uenza. This is bird fl u toring. meat, day-old chick, eggs, and been eliminated. to Luzon will be allowed”.” “They have been isolated in hos- whether they are infected with virus,” Tayag said. According to RITM Director manure from Luzon to the Visa- The temporary ban on the Shipment of poultry meat pital so that they can be moni- the avian flu virus. “However, “There is an important eff ect Celia Carlos, the avian fl u strains yas and Mindanao in a bid to shipment of chicken and other and poultry products from Lu- tored closely.” due to them having symptoms, if you are vaccinated. Example, that have been known to jump to contain further spread of avian fowl from Luzon to Visayas and zon to any point in Luzon, the The two were among 20 they are called suspect cases. you work at the [aff ected] farm humans are the H5N1 and H5N7 infl uenza from a town in Pam- Mindanao is contained in Mem- DA secretary said, will be al- workers from poultry farms Tomorrow we will release the and you are vaccinated from in- sub-types. panga province. orandum Circular 09, Series of lowed “provided this is outside hit by an outbreak of avian in- results to know if this is due to fl uenza, so you are preventing Tayag said they have stock- Agriculture Secretary Em- 2017, signed by Dr Enrico Garzon of the 7km radius control area of fluenza in the town of San Luis bird flu,” Tayag said. mutation of the infl uenza virus,” piled around 8,000 capsules of manuel Pinol yesterday said the Jr, Agriculture Assistant Secre- Pampanga”. in Pampanga province, 50km The two suspect cases were he added. Oseltamivir, an anti-viral medi- government is exerting all eff orts tary for Livestock and Director Pinol said the temporary ban north of Manila. taken to a hospital where they Tayag explained that if a per- cation that blocks the actions of to contain the spread of the avian of the Bureau of Animal Industry will be lifted when there are no The two workers have been are being isolated and monitored son who has human infl uenza infl uenza virus types A and B in fl u from the town of San Luis, (BAI). new cases reported after the tested to confi rm the diagnosis by the RITM for 48 hours before gets infected by the bird fl u virus, the body. Pampanga, which was placed “In view of the avian influ- stamping out activity, including and the department was awaiting confi rming if they carry the virus the two strains of infl uenza virus The medicine is used to treat under immediate quarantine is- enza outbreak in the province the disinfection of all aff ected ar- the results, Tayag added. or not. will mutate. The DoH has reit- influenza in people who have sued by the DA last Thursday, of Pampanga and to prevent eas and surveillance. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 16, 2017 17 SRI LANKA/BANGLADESH/NEPAL 221 dead as Paddy by the river fl oods hit Nepal and Bangladesh

AFP At least 81 people have died Saptari, Nepal in the eastern states of Bihar and West Bengal, and north- eastern Assam state, over the t least 221 people have last few days, a government of- died and more than fi cial told AFP yesterday. A1.5mn have been dis- Train services have been cut placed by monsoon fl ooding entirely to the northeast, and across India, Nepal and Bang- at least 200,000 people are liv- ladesh, offi cials said yesterday, ing in emergency camps in As- as rescuers scoured submerged sam, a remote state that suff ers villages for the missing. frequent fl ooding during the In Nepal, severe fl ooding has annual rains. left tens of thousands of homes In Nepal, residents in hard- totally underwater in the pop- hit Saptari district blamed ulous southern lowlands, with the government for failing to nearly 20% of the population solve the seasonal floods and aff ected. quickly send aid to those in “As per the data we have need. received so far, 111 have been “Many have lost their killed, 35 are still missing and a homes. Families don’t have search operation is underway,” food or shelter. We are just Home Minister Janardan Shar- helping each other,” said local ma told parliament yesterday. resident Pankaj Mishra. A third of neighbouring “What we need is for the Bangladesh is fl ooded, with government to solve this at least 29 dead as relent- problem. We have been suf- less monsoon rains pound the fering for decades every year. Farmers plant rice saplings in paddy fields in Sindhuli district, Nepal. densely-populated riverine The river troubles us every country. year.” “Another 1.5mn people have Kathmandu has been criti- been marooned,” Reaz Ahmed, cised for enacting a “one- head of Bangladesh’s disaster door” policy requiring all management department told aid for fl ood victims to fl ow AFP. through a government-run Almost 1,200 shelters have central disaster agency. been erected across Bangla- The diktat threatens to de- desh, while the army has been lay the delivery of relief sup- deployed to reinforce weak- plies say volunteers and aid ened river embankments and agencies, which have warned Probe into Mujib’s to assist with search and rescue Nepal faces a humanitarian operations. crisis if food and water does In the border district of not reach the worst-affected Lalmonirhat, roughly 600 areas. Indian nationals took shelter “Unless there is an eff ective in Bangladeshi villages along model of rescue and relief op- with their stricken livestock, eration, one-door policy will the district’s government ad- only kill or aggravate the situ- killing ‘mishandled’ ministrator Shafiul Atif told ation,” said local volunteer Ar- AFP. pan Shrestha. The chief justice said the killings were in reality it was a cowardly crime and a the 16th constitutional amendment was ‘certain progress’ to that end. India has also suff ered from Chinese Vice Premier Wang a criminal conspiracy pre-planned conspiracy against the state. fl ayed by ministers and top leaders of the The government is still continu- torrential downpours and fl ash Yang yesterday pledged $1mn He said a trial into the cowardly crime ruling Awami League that Justice Sinha ing ‘communication’ with the countries fl ooding, worsening a mon- in fl ood assistance to Ne- By Mizan Rahman and conspiracy against the country was has spoken publicly on Mujib. where the six fugitive killers are believed soon that has already claimed pal during a four-day visit to Dhaka stopped by promulgating the indemnity Experts said Justice Sinha never said to have been hiding, offi cials said. lives. Kathmandu. ordinance. anything in his judgment that could lower The six fugitive killers are former Lt Recalling the heartbreaking August 15 the image of Mujib or parliament in public Col Khandaker Abdur Rashid, SHBM hief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha killings, the CJ said Bangabandhu might eyes. Noor Chowdhury, Shariful Haque Dalim, yesterday said many “big fi shes” have had enemies, but the other members Home Minister Asaduzzaman Kamal Rashed Chowdhury, former captain Abdul Cwere involved in the conspiracy of his family were also killed as the murder yesterday said the government had found Majed and Risaldar Moslehuddin. behind the killings of Father of the Nation plot was to eliminate the entire family of absconding killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Of them, the government knows the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman the Father of the Nation. Mujibur Rahman and his family members. whereabouts of SHBM Noor Chowdhury, and most of his family members on August The CJ said he had come back from Sin- The minister made the remark in re- Rashed Chowdhury and Risaldar Mos- 15 in 1975. gapore midway through his cancer treat- ply to a query by journalists while placing lehuddin while it is not yet sure about “We have clearly stated in our ver- ment to take part in the trial proceedings wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu at three other fugitives — Khandaker Abdur dict that it was a criminal conspiracy and of the Bangabandhu murder case. Dhanmondi Road- 32 in Dhaka yesterday, Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim and Abdul pre-planned plotting in which Banga- Justice Abdul Wahhab Miah, seniormost marking the National Mourning Day. Mazed. A cabal of army offi cers assassi- bandhu and most of his family members judge of the Supreme Court, said there is “We have almost identifi ed the specifi c nated Bangabandhu along with most of his were murdered,” he said while addressing no scope of confusion that Bangabandhu is location of several fugitive killers of Bang- family members on August 15, 1975. the blood donation programme organised the Father of the Nation. abandhu. None of the six killers have been brought by Supreme Court marking the National “It was because of him that this country Diplomatic eff orts are on to bring these back yet despite eff orts from the govern- Mourning Day. was liberated. It was because of him that killers back to the country,” he said. ment. The CJ said the goal of the conspirators I became the senior judge of the Supreme The government will execute the ver- The government has started a process to was to eliminate the entire family of Bang- Court,” Justice Wahhab Miah said. dicts against all these killers, including confi scate the assets of the killers of Bang- abandhu, but problems with the probe led He said if the country had not been lib- Noor Chowdhury, after bringing them abandhu while it has appointed lawyers in to the big plotters of the barbaric killings erated, becoming Chief Justice or Supreme back to the country, Khan added. the US and Canada to extradite the fugitive escaping justice. Court judge would have been beyond our “We hope that we will be able to bring convicts, offi cials said. He said the killings were also part of imagination. back the killers country and implement Law Minister Anisul Huq said the gov- a planned conspiracy against the whole Justice Khasruzzaman of high court di- the judgment of the court,” he said, adding ernment has found two fugitive killers — country, which eventually became evident vision and a number of staff and offi cials that the government is also looking for the Noor Chowdhury and Rashed Chowdhury. in the indemnity ordinance issued within donated blood at the programme organised wealth belonging to these killers. Noor Chowdhury is now in Canada one and a half months of the killings. with assistance from transfusion medicine Meanwhile, diplomatic eff orts to bring while Rashed Chowdhury is in the USA. “Many tend to term that incident as a department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib back fugitive convicted killers are yet to Dalim and Moslemuddin are believed to Nepali police officers clean their office area at Tilathi Village in mutiny by some deranged army offi cials,” Medical University (BSMMU). yield any concrete result though the gov- have been hiding in Spain and Germany Saptari district, some 450km southeast of Kathmandu. Sinha said with a strong observation that This is the fi rst time after his verdict on ernment sees respectively. Bangladesh pays tributes Meet on global security to Father of the Nation

Dhaka Bangabandhu, his spouse Sheikh Fazi- of Bangabandhu on behalf of the Awami By Mizan Rahman latunnesa Mujib, his three sons — Sheikh League. Kamal, Sheikh Jamal and Sheikh Russell, After paying the tributes to Bangaband- and most of the family members of three hu, the mrime minister along with her sis- resident Abdul Hamid and Prime close relatives of Bangabandhu — were ter Sheikh Rehana visited the residence of Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday killed in cold blood on August 15, 1975 by a Bangabandhu at Dhanmondi Road No 32. Ppaid homage to Father of the Nation cabal of army men. Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana stayed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as Two daughters of Bangabandhu — Prime for some time in the house which now has Bangladesh observed the 42nd anniversary Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana been turned into Bangabandhu Memorial of his assassination in a sombre mood. — escaped the carnage as they were abroad Museum. President Hamid and PM Hasina paid at that time. Later, the Prime Minister went to Banani tributes to the architect of the independence Sheikh Rehana, the youngest daughter of Graveyard where her mother Bangamata by placing wreaths at the portrait of Banga- Bangabandhu, Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Fazilatunnesa Mujib, Sheikh Kamal, Sheikh bandhu in front of Bangabandhu Memorial Chaudhury, Chief Justice SK Sinha, cabinet Jamal and Sheikh Russell and other martyrs Museum at Dhanmondi Road No members, prime minister’s advisers, senior of August 15 were laid to rest. Sheikh Hasina 32 in the capital. The day was observed as leaders of Awami League and senior gov- and Sheikh Rehana placed fl oral wreaths and National Mourning Day. ernment offi cials were present. spread petals on their graves. As part of the state programmes, at fi rst Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury Later, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the President and then the Prime Minister and Chief Justice S K Sinha followed the along with her sister Sheikh Rehana, fl ew laid wreaths separately at the portrait of president and the Prime Minister in paying aboard a Bangladesh Air Force chopper to Bangabandhu. tributes to Bangabandhu. ancestral home of Bangabandhu and paid Sri Lanka army chief Mahesh Senanayake addresses reporters in Colombo announcing an After placing the wreaths, the President Later, Sheikh Hasina, also the President homage by placing a fl oral wreath at the international seminar hosted by Sri Lanka to discuss measures to counter violent extremism. The and the Prime Minister stood in solemn si- of Awami League, flanked by party’s Gen- grave of the great leader marking the 42nd two-day seminar from August 28 seeks to bring together 800 military top brass and experts to lence for some time showing respect to the eral Secretary Obaidul Quader and senior martyrdom anniversary, which is also the focus on global trends in dealing with all forms of extremism undermining global security. great leader. leaders, placed wreaths at the portrait National Mourning Day. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 COMMENT

Chairman: Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah Editor-in-Chief: Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Weathering the violence Deputy Managing Editor: K T Chacko

P.O.Box 2888 Doha, Qatar of climate change [email protected] Telephone 44350478 (news), 44466404 (sport), 44466636 (home delivery) If warming trends India, but to all countries. As global conflicts will become more common they happen. Otherwise, the fallout Fax 44350474 temperatures rise and droughts in Africa, the South China Sea, will disproportionately hurt poor and continue, civil wars become more common, political the Arctic, Central America, and vulnerable communities, perpetuating and other confl icts will agitation, social unrest, and even elsewhere. Avoiding such outcomes the cycle of poverty and violence. violence will likely follow. will require renewed support for Finally, we need better policies become more common in In 2008, when severe weather cut multilateral treaties such as the 2015 for managing human migration, Africa, the South China into the world’s grain supply and drove Paris climate agreement, which has much of it related to severe weather up food prices, countries ranging from been weakened by the withdrawal and droughts. In 2015, the number GULF TIMES Sea, the Arctic, Central Morocco to Indonesia experienced of the United States. But it will also of international migrants reached America, and elsewhere social and political upheavals. More require increased engagement by a record high of 244 million. As the recently, food insecurity has been used countries, cities, and industries climate shifts, entire regions could as a weapon in the wars in Yemen and on three key areas: resource become uninhabitable, and many By Gulrez Shah Azhar Syria. management, disaster mitigation, more people will be uprooted. Parts Tragedy cries out Santa Monica According to the Center for Climate and migration. of the Middle East, for example, and Security, failure to address such In largely agricultural societies, could become too hot for humans by “climate-driven risks” could lead farm productivity aff ects the entire the end of this century; and heavily ith India experiencing to increased fi ghting over water, economy. As we’ve seen in the Horn populated cities such as New Delhi for GOP to distance its worst drought food, energy, and land, particularly of Africa and India this year, changes could experience temperatures over in 140 years, Indian in already unstable regions. CCS in temperature and rainfall can 95F (35C) up to 200 days out of the Wfarmers have taken to identifi es 12 “epicentres” where reduce crop yields, and thus rural year. The International Organisation the streets. At a protest in Madhya climate change might ignite or incomes. Under such conditions, for Migration fears that as more people itself from Trump Pradesh this summer, police opened exacerbate confl icts that could engulf and in the absence of other economic fl ee the heat, the concentration of fi re on farmers demanding debt large populations, and spill across opportunities, communities may humanity into smaller spaces will have relief and better crop prices, killing national borders. resort to violence as they compete for an unprecedented impact on local After two days of mounting criticism for his failure fi ve. In Tamil Nadu, angry growers It is no coincidence that confl icts food and scarce resources. “coping capacity.” to condemn white supremacists after Saturday’s have held similar protests, and lit proliferate alongside rising International aid organisations, Scientists agree that climate change candles in remembrance of those temperatures. A 2013 study estimates working with state and federal poses a grave danger to the planet. Charlottesville tragedy, Donald Trump attempted killed. And at one rally in New Delhi, that interpersonal violence rises by governments, should go beyond But for some reason, politicians damage control on Monday. farmers carried human skulls, which 4%, and intergroup confl icts by 14%, addressing the immediate causes of and government offi cials have “Racism is evil and those who cause violence in its they say belonged to farmers who “for each one standard deviation poverty to also develop long-term not connected the dots between a name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo- have committed suicide following change in climate toward warmer strategies for helping agricultural changing climate and human confl icts. devastating crop losses over the past temperatures or more extreme communities survive bad harvests. Among the many threats associated Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that six months. rainfall.” Moreover, psychological Such strategies should focus on with climate change, deteriorating are repugnant to what we hold dear as Americans,” he According to a recent study by studies have shown that when people arable-land management and water global security may be the most said in a surprise statement at the White House after Tamma A. Carleton of the University are subjected to uncomfortably hot conservation, among other areas. frightening of all. It is bad enough to of California, Berkeley, suicides among temperatures, they show increased Additionally, new strategies are see farmers carrying skulls through fi rst touting some economic news. Indian farmers have increased with levels of aggression. And new needed to co-ordinate disaster- the streets of India. But if we do not He did not take questions. No ad-libbing to risk the temperature, such that an increase research is fi nding that what is true relief eff orts. As the climate changes, get serious about climate-driven rolling back the point. of 1C above the average temperature for the individual also holds true for weather-related calamities such as security risks, we could see far worse. on a given day is associated with populations. fl oods, hurricanes, landslides, and – Project Syndicate Trump’s initial reaction on Saturday decried hate approximately 70 additional suicides, In Sub-Saharan Africa, typhoons will increase in frequency, in general but did not call out the white supremacists on average. researchers have found a strong intensity, and duration, undermining zGulrez Shah Azhar is an Aspen New and Ku Klux Klan participating in the march. A young Beyond exposing failed farming correlation between three decades individual livelihoods and the broader Voices fellow, an assistant policy policies, this year’s drought-fuelled of rising temperatures and outbreaks economy. Governments must work researcher at the RAND Corporation, woman was killed and others injured when a man with turmoil also underscores the threat of civil war. If warming trends together to mitigate these risks, and to and a PhD candidate at the Pardee neo-Nazi ties ploughed his car into a crowd of peaceful that climate change poses not just to continue, civil wars and other respond forcefully to disasters when RAND Graduate School. protesters. Others were hurt in skirmishes with belligerent marchers. The march ostensibly was to protest the city’s decision to remove a Robert E Lee statue. The real agenda was, in the words of former KKK leader David Duke, to be a “turning point” in the movement to help people like him “fulfi l the promises of Donald Trump.” Trump has no trouble calling out the Islamic State or Al Qaeda by name when they slaughter innocents. After an immigrant murdered Kate Steinle on a San Francisco pier, Trump used the crime to attack all immigrants in America illegally. The Charlottesville melee presented Trump with the opportunity to fi nally separate More GOP himself from the members are racist elements of his base. He diff erentiating whiff ed. The themselves from Monday statement would have been their president fi ne as his fi rst reaction. But read from a teleprompter just hours after trashing a critic on Twitter, and lacking any acknowledgment that he could have been clearer originally, it does not erase the initial impression. Fortunately, more Republican leaders are stepping up Farmers and their families protesting in India over failed farming policies. to diff erentiate themselves from their president. Critics such as Sens. Jeff Flake and Marco Rubio have amped up the rhetoric. But others who have been Trump stalwarts - Senators Orrin Hatch and Cory Gardner, for example - joined them over the weekend. Vice President Mike Pence, while defending Trump’s China’s ‘double-freeze’ proposal original statement, himself emphatically called out the racist groups by name. By Minxin Pei has. Rather than a potent arsenal with the US is conducting military exercises doing so could lead to the collapse Could this fi nally be what galvanises the Republican Claremont, California credible long-range capabilities, it with South Korea; it is much harder of the Kim regime, and the loss of its Party to take back its good name? After eight years with would have an unreliable arsenal with to ensure that North Korea is not strategic buff er against the US. potentially no miniaturised nuclear engaging in underground research and Against this backdrop, the double- a stated mission of blocking Barack Obama, and with orth Korean dictator warheads. For the US, suspending development activities. freeze proposal was not intended to no signifi cant legislation six months after winning Kim Jong-un says the joint military exercises with South Indeed, most of North Korea’s R&D, actually resolve the crisis; after all, the presidency, could the GOP actually get back to United States will pay a Korea seems like a small price to pay not least its enrichment of fi ssile China probably expected the US to governing? N“thousand-fold for all the for such an outcome, as it would materials, occurs in secret facilities reject it. Rather, China wanted to heinous crimes” it has committed do little to undercut America’s inaccessible to outside inspectors. shift the international community’s It is possible. In the House, a bipartisan group is against his country. US President overwhelming military superiority. Under a double-freeze arrangement, attention away from its own potential discussing immigration reform. Senators of both Donald Trump warns that North Korea But the US has fl atly rejected North Korea might halt only its leverage over the Kim regime, and will experience “fi re and fury like the China’s proposal, ostensibly because observable activities, such as its toward the Trump administration’s parties are discussing how to solve the problems of world has never seen.” Kim threatens it seems to morally confl ate North missile and nuclear tests. Worse still, erratic and worrying policy approach. Obamacare instead of taking insurance away from to fi re four missiles at the US territory Korea’s quest for weapons of mass this could even work in Kim’s favour, By raising the double-freeze solution, 20mn Americans. of Guam. Trump promises that Kim destruction (which it appears fully by buying time for his scientists to China put the ball in America’s court, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker of the “will truly regret it” and “regret it prepared to use) with America’s master technologies – particularly and placed the onus for resolving the fast” if he follows through on that right to defend itself and its allies. nuclear-warhead miniaturisation – crisis squarely on Trump’s shoulders. House Paul Ryan still are Trump acolytes. But the more threat, or issues another. In accepting a double freeze, the US that could then be quickly deployed If China truly does want a peaceful GOP members stand on principle and speak up, the As the unprecedented exchange of would essentially be rewarding North once the deal is publicly broken. resolution to the escalating nuclear sooner the supposed leaders will have to follow them. white-hot rhetoric and overt military Korea for ceasing activities that are Such an approach would be nothing crisis, it should address the two key threats between the leaders of two already in violation of United Nations new from North Korea. In 1994, when weaknesses of the double-freeze nuclear-armed countries continues Security Council resolutions. the US and North Korea last agreed to solution, proposing a detailed, to escalate, reasonable people around In addition to the dangerous a freeze on North Korea’s plutonium intrusive, and stringent verifi cation To Advertise the world are asking whether there is precedent that it would set, the production, Kim’s father, Kim Jong-il, regime and committing itself to a peaceful way out of this unfolding double-freeze solution has two quickly broke the deal, embarking on serve as the principal enforcer of the [email protected] crisis. The answer, according to some, fundamental weaknesses. First, the a secret uranium programme. The agreement. China should make it clear Display is to pursue a “double freeze,” in which costs of non-compliance for such Americans have no reason to buy the that, were North Korea to violate the Telephone 44466621 Fax 44418811 North Korea freezes its nuclear and a deal would not be symmetrical. same horse twice. deal, it would immediately lose all of missile activities in exchange for the The Kim regime would incur only Of course, the weaknesses of the the protection and support it receives. Classified US and South Korea freezing their modest costs by restarting its nuclear double-freeze approach are probably Now that would be a deterrent. – Telephone 44466609 Fax 44418811 joint military exercises. programme, but it may be able to not lost on China, either. Indeed, Project Syndicate At fi rst glance, this option – which impose severe and irreversible costs on off ering this solution was, in all Subscription was originally proposed by China, and the US and South Korea, should that likelihood, largely a tactical decision. zMinxin Pei is professor of government [email protected] has since been endorsed by Russia – decision lead to a full-fl edged nuclear As the Kim regime’s principal at Claremont McKenna College and appears to be a sensible compromise. arsenal. patron, China is viewed as the key to a non-resident senior fellow at the Without the ability to test nuclear This is partly because of a second containing Kim’s nuclear ambitions. German Marshall Fund of the United 2017 Gulf Times. All rights reserved and missile technologies, North Korea key weakness: the diffi culties of But China is reluctant to squeeze States. He is the author of China’s would be stuck with what it already verifi cation. It is easy to tell whether North Korea, because it fears that Crony Capitalism. Gulf Times Wednesday, August 16, 2017 19 COMMENT Britain’s road to perdition

Come 2021, the UK will Federalist zealots hate the idea of a to settle for far less attractive terms two-track Europe. They want to force than what it enjoys today. Not only still be hurtling toward a all EU member states to adopt the euro would it no longer receive budget “cliff edge”: a full break within the next decade, and to embed rebates or special treatment on social themselves permanently into a full- regulations; it might even be forced to from Europe, with no scale political and fi scal union. And join the euro. alternative arrangement in they rightly believe that achieving this Even the 48% of British voters who goal will be easier with Britain out of voted “Remain” might reject such place to cushion the blow the picture. humiliating terms. Britain would But a transition period is no thus be stuck in limbo – like Norway, By Anatole Kaletsky panacea for the UK either. Britons but without the oil wealth or social London have already started to get a glimpse cohesion. As the Labour Party’s trade of the economic costs of Brexit, spokesman has aptly put it, a semi- as international businesses that permanent transition period based ull English Brexit is off the once used Britain as a hub for their on the “Norway model” would turn menu. Before leaving the European operations have started to Britain into a “vassal state.” It would European Union altogether, relocate some of their activities. As still pay large sums into the EU budget Fthe British government now the UK government tries to maintain and adhere to EU laws, but it would wants an “interim period,” in which the fi ction of a strictly time-limited have no say over how that money is the United Kingdom would retain the transition, this process will accelerate spent or how those laws are made. commercial rights of EU membership, further. Moreover, the EU will use In the months ahead, the British while still contributing to the EU the transition period to change its public may start to foresee this budget, observing EU regulations and own regulations, so that businesses humiliating endgame. The Norway legal judgements, and allowing the generating employment and large tax model will satisfy neither Britain’s free movement of people. This period revenues will have to move onto EU elderly, provincial Europhobes, nor would last for at least two years after territory. the young, urban voters who want to March 2019 – the offi cial deadline For example, the European preserve the rights of EU citizenship for the Brexit process – meaning that Banking Authority and the European that they have taken for granted all until 2021, Britain would essentially Medicines Agency are already their lives. be an EU member state without any relocating from London, meaning With this depressing prospect voting rights. the many legal, managerial, and setting in, British voters could change In the meantime, British Prime A two-track Europe would be very diff erent from the “two-speed” model that applies to Europe today. lobbying jobs connected to highly their minds about Brexit before their Minister Theresa May’s government, regulated activities such as fi nance leaders go through with it. But for such having promised to maintain a “deep 2022. And as past experience tells us, membership 11 months later, the that applies to Europe today. In the and pharmaceutical research will a Damascene conversion to happen, and special” relationship with Europe, once an extension is granted, it may EEA has now lasted for 24 years. latter, every country is theoretically have to relocate, too. A transition the country would have to experience would try to negotiate a new “treaty- never end. Nobody can predict what will heading toward “ever-closer union,” period would thus hit international a political or economic crisis large based arrangement” with the EU. But The UK seems to be approaching happen in 24 years. But the good news just at diff erent rates. In a two-track businesses based in Britain with a enough to shake public opinion out of Britain will have a vanishingly small the scenario I outlined three for Britain is that the EU may already scenario, by contrast, Britain could regulatory double-whammy: they its fatalistic complacency. As things chance of concluding a new treaty in months ago. May’s fateful decision be moving slowly toward a two-track comfortably re-join the outer track would be subject to the whims of UK stand, Britons have been emulating so short a time. to hold an early election in June structure. To prosper, the eurozone along with Norway and, perhaps, and EU bureaucracies at the same that beloved national slogan, “Keep Indeed, come 2021, the UK will still has allowed her opponents to will need to establish a political union. Switzerland. time. calm and carry on.” Before things be hurtling toward a “cliff edge”: a full demand that the UK negotiate a This will leave non-euro countries Now for the bad news. A transition Making matters worse, the promise can get better for Britain, they will break from Europe, with no alternative transitional arrangement similar such as Denmark, Poland, and Sweden arrangement for the UK may be of a long transition could delay the probably have to get much worse. – arrangement in place to cushion the to what Norway has as a member forming an outer ring of economic co- unacceptable to both EU governments shift in public opinion needed to Project Syndicate blow. Politically, that timing would of the European Economic Area. operation outside the eurozone. These and British voters. Committed reverse Brexit before it is too late. pose even greater risks for May’s The EEA was originally created in countries would have membership federalists in the EU want Britain out After March 28, 2019, the UK will zAnatole Kaletsky is Chief Economist government than it faces today, since 1994 as a temporary framework for in the single market, but not in the as quickly as possible, because Britain be offi cially out of the EU, where and Co-Chairman of Gavekal the next general election must be held various countries preparing to join monetary or political union. has long given cover for others – such economic growth has already started Dragonomics and the author of by June 2022. So the UK may try to the EU. But because Norwegian A two-track Europe would be very as Denmark, Poland, and Sweden – to to overtake that of Britain. If it ever Capitalism 4.0, The Birth of a New extend the transition period beyond voters rejected a referendum on EU diff erent from the “two-speed” model resist deeper integration. wants to be readmitted, it will have Economy. Weather report Instant info is making us less informed Three-day forecast TODAY High: 41 C By Dwight DeWerth-Pallmeyer started delivering free papers to adults who read any work of literature have also become ignorant and less college students, hoping to lure in the previous year plummeted from able to communicate with one another Low : 34 C The Philadelphia Inquirer Inshore: Strong wind at times during their readership. Students rarely 57% in 1982 to 43 percent in 2015. on a meaningful basis. thundery rain formation. picked them up. They were a chore. This is not a utopian world of We can post something on Facebook s we all get ready to start It didn’t get any better when stories information. Instead, we have become about an idea that pops into our heads, new academic years, I’m went online. Students were much a nation of one-liners. No wonder but are we able to say much more? We THURSDAY reminded of how radically more taken with texting than reading politicians speak in sound bites, lament a do-nothing Congress, but High: 41 C Atechnology has changed us current events. or our commander in chief prefers do we understand the complexities of Low: 33 C and our ideas about education. Today, many are aware of news tweets. We lack an appetite for much passing meaningful legislation? Do Sunny I vividly recall relishing the idea headlines, but their knowledge is else. Sound bites and tweets are not we have the patience to sit through a of a communications revolution as shallow. Reading just a headline and designed for comprehension, analysis, sermon that is more than 12 minutes my collegiate teaching career began the fi rst sentences of a story provides synthesis and evaluation. They appeal long? Do we abandon a meaningful FRIDAY in the 1980s. Technologies would little chance for contextualising to raw emotion. We need critical discussion with our spouse if a High: 41 C merge, leading to easy acquisition of the news or understanding its thinking to really understand an cellphone rings? Can we teach our Low: 33 C knowledge, entertainment, news and signifi cance. Academically, students issue, how movements grow and how children restaurant manners when Sunny interpersonal dialogue. The Internet no longer feel the need to read legislation is passed. they are already trained to use video was still a pipe dream. materials prior to coming to class. Technology has made getting devices to stay quiet? Thirty years later, the changes They assume they can Google bits of information so easy that the We need to detach a bit from the Fishermen’s forecast false promises of a technologically are beyond my wildest imaginings anything they really need to know. big picture is lost. A case in point: OFFSHORE DOHA but they have come at a steep cost. Students aren’t the only ones Most of us now rely on GPS devices savvy world. Try going a couple of Wind: SE-NE 05-15/22 KT Information is instantaneous, but reading less. We all are. Try reading a in our smartphones for simple hours without your phone. Read a Waves: 2-4/7 Feet I believe it is actually making us full-size article on a cellphone, and navigation. We fail to learn even novel. Walk in the woods. Turn off INSHORE DOHA Wind: NE-NW 05-15/20 KT less informed, and certainly less you’ll likely end up with a headache. the most rudimentary knowledge your technology and talk to your Waves: 1-2/3 Feet thoughtful and introspective. Texts are short and to the point. So are of neighbourhoods, much less spouse. We must have the strength Today’s college students know tweets. Few of us have the patience to understand where main thoroughfares to take charge of our lives. The future Around the region trivial facts about many things, but read full articles. are in relation to a street two blocks lies in our hands, cellphone or not. - Weather Weather little substantive information about We are more likely to watch the away. We count on our phones to Tribune News Service today Max/min tomorrow Max/min any one thing, except perhaps sports latest cute-kitten video on YouTube navigate passageways on the road and Abu Dhabi Sunny 42/34 Sunny 42/33 and a favourite binge-watched TV than read an extensive article on in our lives. zDwight DeWerth-Pallmeyer is an Baghdad Sunny 47/33 M Sunny 49/31 Dubai series. Technology is preparing them politics or religion. Consider the last As I’ve discovered in researching my associate professor of communications Sunny 40/34 Sunny 41/33 Kuwait City Sunny 43/33 Sunny 46/34 for jobs, but is it preparing them for time you read a full novel. If you did soon-to-be-released documentary, studies at Widener University. Readers Manama Sunny 42/33 Sunny 42/33 life? so recently, you are in the minority. “Cellular Aftershocks,” we have may send him e-mail at ddpallmeyer@ Muscat Sunny 31/27 Sunny 33/29 Several years ago, both USA A National Endowment for the Arts not only become myopic in our widener.edu. He wrote this for The Riyadh M Sunny 44/31 M Sunny 44/31 Today and The New York Times study released last year found that US understanding of the world, but we Philadelphia Inquirer. Tehran Sunny 36/23 Sunny 36/24 Live issues Almonds in daily diet ‘may lower bad cholesterol’

QNA was known about how almonds aff ect Washington, DC HDL cholesterol, which is considered good cholesterol and helps lower your risk of heart disease.” ating almonds on a regular The researchers wanted to see basis may help boost levels if almonds could not just increase of HDL cholesterol while the levels but also improve the Esimultaneously improving the function of HDL cholesterol, way it removes cholesterol from the which works by gathering Around the world body, according to researchers. cholesterol from tissues, like the Weather Weather In a study, researchers compared arteries, and helping to transport today Max/min tomorrow Max/min the levels and function of it out of the body. Athens Sunny 34/25 Sunny 34/25 high-density lipoprotein (HDL “HDL is very small when it gets Beirut M Sunny 29/26 Sunny 29/25 T Storms 33/26 cholesterol) in people who ate released into circulation”, Kris- Bangkok 33/27 S T Storms Berlin Showers 24/14 P Cloudy 27/18 almonds every day, to the HDL levels Etherton said. “It’s like a garbage Cairo P Cloudy 35/25 P Cloudy 34/26 and function of the same group bag that slowly gets bigger and more Cape Town Showers 14/11 M Sunny 18/12 of people when they ate a muffin spherical as it gathers cholesterol Colombo S Showers 29/26 Showers 29/26 instead. from cells and tissues before Dhaka T Storms 31/26 Rain 31/26 Hong Kong P Cloudy 32/29 S T Storms 32/29 The researchers found that while depositing them in the liver to be Istanbul S Showers 28/22 Sunny 29/23 participants were on the almond diet, broken down.” Jakarta P Cloudy 33/24 P Cloudy 33/26 their HDL levels and functionality In the controlled-feeding study, 48 Karachi P Cloudy 31/27 Cloudy 31/27 improved. men and women with elevated LDL London P Cloudy 22/16 Showers 23/16 Manila S T Storms T Storms 33/27 Penny Kris-Etherton, cholesterol participated in two six- 33/27 Moscow Sunny 24/12 P Cloudy 25/14 distinguished professor of nutrition week diet periods. New Delhi M Sunny 36/29 M Sunny 38/28 at Penn State, said the study, In both, their diets were identical New York M Sunny 31/21 P Cloudy 28/23 published in the Journal of Nutrition, except for the daily snack. Paris P Cloudy 27/17 S Showers 26/18 builds on previous research on the On the almond diet, participants Sao Paulo Rain 19/15 Rain 19/16 Seoul Showers 27/21 T Storms 27/22 effects of almonds on cholesterol- received 43 grams – about a handful – Singapore P Cloudy 30/26 P Cloudy 30/26 lowering diets. of almonds a day. Sydney Cloudy 20/09 Sunny 22/11 “There’s a lot of research out almonds lowers low-density is a major risk factor for heart disease,” During the control period, they Tokyo Rain 25/23 Cloudy 29/22 there that shows a diet that includes lipoprotein, or LDL cholesterol, which Kris-Etherton said. “But not as much received a banana muffin instead. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, August 16, 2017 QATAR New details of dissident Saudi princes’ abductions emerge Documentary tubated in Geneva before being broadcasting this week put on a medevac plane to Saudi asserts three princes were Arabia, which is consistent with victims of government the prince’s claim that he was scheme to kidnap defectors traumatically injected on the side of his neck as he was vio- Guardian News & Media lently abducted by fi ve masked men. One British member of the ew details have emerged prince’s entourage describes about the abductions of how hours after the prince was Nthree dissident Saudi kidnapped the Saudi ambas- princes in what appears to be sador in Geneva arrived at the a systematic state-run Saudi prince’s suite in the Intercon- government programme to kid- tinental hotel in Geneva to tell nap defectors and dissidents. his entourage they should all The three, all members of get out as the prince was now in the Saudi regime before they Riyadh. became involved in peaceful There has been no attempt political activities against the by the Swiss government or any government in Riyadh, were Western authority to try to get kidnapped and taken against access to Prince Sultan or any of their will to Saudi Arabia be- the kidnapped princes in Saudi tween September 2015 and Feb- Arabia. ruary 2016. The criminal case for kidnap Their story, which was origi- that Prince Sultan is pressing in nally reported by the Guardian Geneva against two senior Sau- in March 2016, is the subject of di offi cials – Prince Abdulaziz a BBC Arabic documentary to bin Fahd and the minister of be broadcast this week called Prince Sultan bin Turki (centre) was kidnapped in 2016. Members of his entourage describe him Islamic aff airs, Saleh al-Sheikh Kidnapped! Saudi Arabia’s fighting with flight attendants after their plane was diverted to Riyadh. – remains open. Missing Princes. The documentary also re- The most senior of the princ- They said when the plane Saudi soldiers, among whom one into a room at the hotel by veals new details about the ab- es, Prince Sultan bin Turki, was landed it was immediately sur- were several of the fl ight at- heavily armed Saudi soldiers duction of another dissident, kidnapped by the Saudis on 1 rounded by dozens of cars and tendants from the plane now where a Saudi military offi cer Prince Turki bin Bandar. Prince February 2016 together with military vehicles, as well as wearing Saudi military uni- apologised for the inconven- Turki is a former senior police about 20 members of his en- heavily armed Saudi soldiers forms and armed with machine ience before making them sign offi cer whose responsibilities tourage, many from Western and police. The prince was guns. documents in Arabic which once included policing the royal countries. dragged kicking and scream- Under constant armed guard, they did not understand. family. In the documentary, a In the documentary, two ing from the plane into an un- without their passports and, in Their kidnappers then asked friend of Prince Turki presents Interior of the plane Prince Sultan was travelling on, taken by a Westerners in the prince’s en- marked car, shouting to his the case of the women, without them where they wanted to a note the prince wrote to him member of his entourage. Saudi authorities deleted all other tourage describe the moment entourage that they were all the proper attire to go outside, travel. Later they were brought before he disappeared in 2015, pictures of the plane. they realised the plane they being kidnapped and that they there was no way they could one by one to the airport, saying he feared the Saudi gov- were travelling on was not should alert their embassies. leave. walked through security and on ernment was going to kidnap or In the documentary, a friend partner in exchange for a fee. landing in Cairo as planned, The prince has not been seen in Their phones and electronic to a plane minutes before take- assassinate him. of a third disappeared prince, They persuaded him to board but had instead been diverted public since. devices were later returned off and then had their passports The Moroccan newspaper Saud bin Saif al-Nasr, tells a private plane to Italy where to Riyadh. The rest of his entourage, with all pictures and evidence returned. As Sabah reported that in No- how he too said before he dis- he thought he was going to a The Westerners describe which included a number of of their kidnapping wiped – ex- The documentary also vember 2015 Prince Turki was appeared that he thought the business meeting to fi nalise Prince Sultan screaming and young female Westerners, were cept one picture that had been presents new evidence about arrested and detained at Sala Saudis were going to kidnap or the contract. Like the other fi ghting with the Saudi fl ight then held for three days in Saudi missed – interior of the plane the previous alleged kidnap of prison in Morocco as he was assassinate him for his opposi- princes, he has not been seen or attendants, who produced con- Arabia. Prince Sultan was travelling on, Prince Sultan in 2003, includ- leaving to return to France. A tion activities. heard of since. cealed weapons in order to sub- First, all their electronic taken by a member of his en- ing a medical record from King few days later Prince Turki was In 2015 Prince Saud was ap- The Saudi and Moroccan au- due him and control the other devices and passports were tourage. Faisal hospital in Riyadh. deported to Saudi Arabia at the proached by a Russian-Italian thorities have made no com- passengers as the plane touched confi scated. Then they were On the third day the West- The medical report indicates request of the kingdom’s au- business consortium which ment in response to the new down. escorted to a Riyadh hotel by erners were marched one by the prince was aspirated and in- thorities. asked him to be their business evidence.

Ooredoo tv’s Movies on Mohamed bin Salman Demand offers Colourful ceremony marks blockbusters to appoint his brother Ooredoo announced yesterday the line-up for its ‘Movies On as Saudi FM: report Asean anniversary in Doha Demand’ schedule for August, featuring some of the latest blockbusters. Prince Khaled bin Salman By Joey Aguilar Ooredoo has seen a huge rise in will succeed current FM Adel Staff Reporter On Demand customers enjoying al-Jubeir blockbuster movies and tv series since the launch of Ooredoo tv series of cultural per- and the Ooredoo tv app. rince Khaled bin Salman formances marked the To ensure that Ooredoo tv will succeed Adel al-Jubeir A50th Association of continues to off er leading local Pas the foreign minister of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and international content, the Saudi Arabia in near future, an anniversary celebration yester- company has invested in making informed source at the Saudi day at the new campus of the the latest movies available Arabian embassy in the United Philippine School of Doha (PSD) from all the major Hollywood States has told the Atlantic. campus in Abu Hamour. studios and independent movie After King Salman ousted his Prince Khaled bin Salman Groups of PSD student per- distributors across the world. nephew Mohammed bin Nayef formers enthralled the crowd This month, Ooredoo tv’s Movies from power to name his son as with traditional songs, dances, On Demand will off er the Marvel fi rst in line to throne, now Mo- and shows. The event was at- blockbuster Guardians of The hamed bin Salman intends to tended by ambassadors and Galaxy Vol. 2 from August 23, remove the current Saudi for- embassy offi cials from Thai- Ken Loach’s Bafta winning eign minister Adel al-Jubeir land, Philippines, Singapore, drama I, Daniel Blake, and Ben and name his brother as the next Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia, and Wheatley’s action-packed shoot- Foreign Minister. Malaysia; and hundreds of PSD Asean ambassadors lead the 50th Asean founding anniversary celebration at PSD yesterday. ‘em-up Free Fire is available now. Prince Khaled bin Salman is students, teachers, and school To keep the whole family happy, the younger brother to current offi cials. Students built a number in their studies, work hard and founding anniversary celebra- saying the alliance continues to the service will also have the Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed of traditionally-designed booths show their talents.” tion scheduled next month, ex- forge friendship that builds pro- hilarious animated comedy The bin Salman. Recently, he has to showcase the rich cultural “This will be fully recognised, tending his well wishes for its moting diverse communities, Boss Baby. been appointed as Saudi ambas- heritage and uniqueness of each appreciated and impressed as achievement and success. In his idealisms, and beliefs grounded With Ooredoo tv’s Movies On sador to the US, replacing Prince Adel al-Jubeir of the Asean countries to the the image of an Asean citizen,” speech, Philippine ambassador on the three pillars: political- Demand customers can choose Abdullah bin Faisal bin Turki. visitors. the envoy stressed. He also urged Alan Timbayan paid tributes to security, economic and socio- from a host of Hollywood, Mohamed bin Salman’s Prince Khaled bin Salman The programme also high- them to extend their friendship the people who laid the founda- cultural. Bollywood, and Arabic cinema brother is not the first Saudi graduated from Columbus Air lighted the fl ag-raising ceremo- with Qatari friends and other tions of Asean and worked hard “PSD remains faithful and with just the touch of a button. ambassador to the US who Force Base in Mississippi. He ny apart from the cultural pres- nationalities, and “bring them to achieve “its collective dreams active in celebrating Asean’s Once rented, movies are becomes Saudi foreign min- was formerly F-15 pilot and par- entations of each country staged around to visit Asean countries and aspirations.” founding anniversary,” he said. available for a period of 48 ister. Adel al-Jubeir served as ticipated in the combat against by PSD students, and other and learn more about Asean way “The entire Filipino nation “This is not only to give our hours and customers can rent the Saudi ambassador to the ISIS. In late 2016, he moved to group and individual perform- of life.” joins our brothers, and sisters highest respect and admiration more than one movie at a time. United States from 2007 to the United States and served ances. The ACD has been exert- in Southeast Asia in reaffi rming to our leaders whose eff orts re- Additional benefits of renting via 2015 before being appointed as as an advisor to the Embassy of Speaking at the event, Thai- ing eff orts to promote Asean in our commitment to Asean that sulted in the formation of this Ooredoo tv include the freedom Saudi foreign minister. Adel al- the Saudi Arabia in the United land ambassador and Asean Doha by holding tourism events works for positive change in the alliance but also to assume our to play, pause, fast forward, and Jubeir is the second person not States. A few months ago, he was Committee in Doha (ACD) chair and activities. Chaiyindeepum lives of our people – an Asean moral responsibility to keep our rewind. All Movies On Demand belonging to the House of Saud named by his father as the tenth Soonthorn Chaiyindeepum en- congratulated PSD offi cials, that is proactive, relevant and students well informed of the content is charged directly to the to hold the office, after Ibrahim ambassador of Saudi Arabia to couraged the youth to repre- led by its principal Dr Alexan- transformative,” he added. Asean’s very reason of existence customer’s monthly Ooredoo bill. bin Abdullah al-Suwaiyel. Washington since 1945. sent Asean by “striving to excel der Acosta, on the school’s 25th Acosta echoed this statement as a community,” Acosta added. Visit ooredoo.qa/tv for more. RasGas lauds Qatari students at internship programme

asGas recently uable experience within the RasGas is deeply committed annual internship pro- point in their professional marked the conclu- global energy company’s to our summer internship gramme, which has, in total, journey.” Rsion of its highly multicultural environment. initiative, which enables hosted more than 300 stu- The programme under- popular 2017 Summer In- “Quality internships are students to practically ap- dents since its inception in lines RasGas’ commitment ternship programme with essential to develop the ply their studies under the 2009. Al-Muhannadi con- to education in support of a special event at its head- skills and capabilities of guidance of world-class tinued, “For RasGas, this is the Qatar National Vision quarters. Qatar’s next generation of mentors and within the an opportunity to meaning- 2030, which has manifested This year’s programme professionals,” confi rmed context of teamwork, re- fully engage with students, in the company’s signifi cant hosted over 14 interns RasGas chief executive of- sponsibility and innova- and it has been hugely re- investment in bursaries and across all sectors of the or- fi cer, Hamad Mubarak al- tion.” warding to be part of their training and development ganisation, providing inval- Muhannadi. “To this end, This was RasGas’ ninth careers at such a pivotal programmes. RasGas CEO awarding the RasGas Summer Internship Star 2017 winner, Mohamed al-Shereem.