BUSINESS | Page 1 QATAR | Page 28 HIA completes fi rst phase of ‘Smart US supports Qatar bid Airport’ to become Middle East manufacturing hub initiative published in QATAR since 1978

WEDNESDAY Vol. XXXIX No. 10988 October 31, 2018 Safar 22, 1440 AH

GULF TIMES www. gulf-times.com 2 Riyals

Amir receives Nepal president Amir meets Italian deputy PM

In brief

QATAR | Offi cial Amir condoles with Kuwaiti leader His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, His Highness the Deputy Amir Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Thani and HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani have sent cables to the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah condoling the death of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani met Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister Sheikh Salman Mohamed Salman al- of Interior Matteo Salvini and his accompanying delegation at the Amiri Diwan Off ice yesterday. During the Hamoud al-Salman al-Sabah, praying meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations and means to strengthen them as well as the latest regional and to Allah Almighty to grant him international developments. The meeting was attended by HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior mercy and rest his soul in Paradise. His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani receiving Nepal’s President, Bidya Devi Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani. The Italian deputy prime minister is in Qatar to attend the Bhandari, at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. 12th International Event for Homeland Security and Civil Defence (Milipol Qatar 2018). Page 2 QATAR | Offi cial Amir in phone talk with Indonesian president His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani held Amir issues law on a telephone conversation with Indonesian President Joko Widodo Qatar-Nepal talks yesterday. During the conversation, the Amir offered his condolences workers’ support to the Indonesian president on the victims of the Lion Air passenger plane crash, asking Allah the Almighty to grant them mercy. The focus on boosting and insurance fund Amir affirmed Qatar’s readiness to offer support and assistance to Indonesia in this painful incident. O Law on non-Qatari sector and domestic workers. For his part, the Indonesian The fund will refer to the employer by president expressed his thanks and ownership and use of legal means to recover the amounts owed appreciation to the Amir for Qatar’s bilateral relations to him and disburse to the employee. properties also issued support. Page 16 O Discussions on investment, education, agriculture, food security The fund also supports, and spon- sors workers by providing a safe and TURKEY | Probe O MoU signed to support agricultural development and co-operation is Highness the Amir Sheikh healthy work environment and hous- Erdogan: Find who Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani ing by contributing to the provision of QNA between the two friendly countries in MoU aims to support agricultural de- Hhas issued Law No 17 of 2018 decent housing for workers, and estab- ordered Khashoggi hit Doha various fi elds for the interest of their velopment and co-operation between establishing the Workers’ Support and lishment of playgrounds, entertain- Turkish President Recep Tayyip peoples. the two countries. Insurance Fund. ment venues and social activities. Erdogan has called on Saudi On her part, the president expressed The talks and the signing ceremony The Amir also issued yesterday Law The establishment of this fund Arabia’s chief prosecutor, who is Highness the Amir Sheikh her thanks to His Highness the Amir were attended by a number of minis- No 16 of 2018 regulating the non-Qa- comes within the framework of Qa- yesterday visited the consulate in Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani for inviting her to visit Qatar, stress- ters. tari ownership and use of properties, tar’s keenness to protect the rights Istanbul where Jamal Khashoggi Hheld a session of offi cial talks ing her confi dence that the visit will On the Nepalese side, the talks were the offi cial Qatar News Agency (QNA) of workers and ensure their access to was murdered, to investigate who with Nepal’s President Bidya Devi contribute to promoting friendship attended by members of the offi cial reported. their fi nancial dues, and to support the ordered the hit on the journalist. Bhandari at the Amiri Diwan yesterday and co-operation ties between Nepal delegation accompanying the presi- According to the provisions of Law wage protection system established to “Now we have to solve this case. afternoon. and Qatar. dent. No 17 of 2018, a fund under the name control the wages of workers subject No need to prevaricate, it makes no The talks discussed ways to en- During the talks, the president Earlier, the president of Nepal ar- “Workers’ Support and Insurance to the Labour Law and supplementing sense to try to save certain people,” hance and promote bilateral rela- praised Qatar’s eff orts to protect the rived at the Amiri Diwan, where she Fund” shall be established with a legal the package of legislation and comple- said Erdogan. Page 20 tions in various fields, especially in rights of expatriate workers in the was accorded an offi cial reception cer- entity. The fund aims to support, ensure mentary laws of this system, QNA said. the areas of investment, education, country, including Nepali workers, emony. and provide care for workers, guarantee Meanwhile, under the provisions of QATAR | Gymnastics agriculture, food security and ex- lauding the legislation and measures Meanwhile, His Highness the Amir their rights and provide a healthy and Law No 16 of 2018, non-Qataris may change of experiences, especially as adopted by Qatar in this regard. yesterday hosted a luncheon banquet safe working environment for them. own and use real estate in certain areas Dominant US strikes gold Qatar hosts a large number of Nepali The talks also dealt with a number at the Amiri Diwan in honour of Presi- The purpose of the new fund is to pay and in accordance with the conditions, in women’s team event workers. of issues of common concern. dent Bhandari and her accompanying the workers ‘benefi ts, which are settled controls and benefi ts specifi ed by a de- The US women’s team lived up to Later, His Highness the Amir and Following the session of talks, His delegation. by the labor dispute settlement com- cision by the Cabinet and based on a their billing as heavy favourites as the president witnessed the signing Highness the Amir and the Nepal The banquet was attended by a mittees, in order to avoid actions that suggestion of the committee for regu- they scooped another World Artistic of an agreement and a memorandum president witnessed the signing of an number of ministers and business- may take time and aff ect workers’ abil- lating non-Qatari ownership and use of Gymnastics Championships gold of understanding (MoU) between the agreement and an MoU between the men. ity to fulfi l their obligations towards real estate. medal yesterday. Simone Biles, governments of Qatar and Nepal. two governments. Also yesterday, the president called their families or third parties. The committee is set up at the Min- Morgan Hurd, Riley McCusker, Grace At the beginning of the talks, the An agreement was signed on the on Qatari investors to take advantage The fund ensures the rapid pay- istry of Justice and includes represent- McCallum and Kara Eaker combined Amir welcomed the president and the cancellation of visa for holders of dip- of the promising investment environ- ment of financial benefits at the end atives from all parties concerned. for 171.629 points, winning by a huge accompanying delegation, pointing lomatic, private and offi cial passports, ment in Nepal. She was speaking at a of the service and the facilitation of The laws are eff ective and shall be margin ahead of silver medallist to the importance of the visit - which while an MoU was inked in the fi eld meeting organised by Qatar Chamber. the worker’s return to his country. published in the offi cial gazette, QNA Russia. Sport Page 1 will develop and advance co-operation of agriculture and food security. The Page 2 and Business Page 1 The fund benefits both the private added.

QFZA approves second package ‘Qatar active partner in global collaboration against terror’ of free zone regulations E the Deputy Prime Minister rity, describing any terror act as a crime, abandon the policy of double standards and Minister of Foreign Aff airs regardless of the motives or identity of the in the fi ght against terrorism. he Qatar Free Zones Author- Free Zones Authority said yesterday. HSheikh Mohamed bin Abdul- perpetrators, including acts motivated by HE Sheikh Mohamed pointed out ity (QFZA) Board of Directors has QFZA has invited local and for- rahman al-Thani has affi rmed that Qa- intolerance, extremism or otherwise. that the UN reports indicate that the Tapproved the second package of eign investors interested in invest- tar is an active partner in international The foreign minister added that common factors to foreign fi ghters, the free zone regulations and reviewed ing in Qatar Free Zones to consult the collaboration against terrorism, the of- terrorism cannot be confronted and whether they are from the Middle East, progress made so far on the zones infra- regulations on the authority’s web- fi cial Qatar News Agency reports. eliminated unless the international Asia or Europe, are that most of them structure projects, investment attract- site (www.fza.gov.qa), or contact the He pointed out that the issue of community united its eff orts through are young people who lack the ideol- ing activities and internal processes. Business Development and Investors terrorism is a high priority for Qatar, a persevering and inclusive approach ogy of right thinking; and they belong The meeting was chaired by HE the Aff airs Department of the Authority at pointing to the continuous develop- based on co-operation and participa- to oppressed communities or economi- Minister of State and chairman of the [email protected]. ment of its national legislations and tion among all states, international and cally isolated, they lack livelihood op- Board Ahmed bin Mohamed al-Sayed. At its previous meeting in July this its related institutional entities against regional organisations, civil society or- portunities and education, and they The regulations approved by the year, the QFZA Board of Directors had terrorism, and the implementation of ganisations and academic and research have weak job opportunities. Board of Directors included regula- approved the fi rst package of licensing UN resolutions in this regard as well as entities eff ectively in the exchange of He stressed that terrorism cannot tions related to land rents, building regulations and registration system its active involvement in the interna- information in security and prevention and should not be linked to any reli- permits and planning regulations, and of companies in the free zones in the tional coalition against terrorism. of terrorist threats as well as in inca- gion, nationality, civilisation or ethnic licensing fees and asset leases. country. In a speech during the opening of the pacitating and isolating them within group, and it is important not to con- The approved regulations will make Also during IPEC 2018, the QFZA Forum on Returning Foreign Fighters, the the framework of the international fuse terrorism with legitimate resist- it easier for local and foreign investors announced that it will publish all de- minister said terrorism in all its forms and HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman strategy to combat terrorism, in addi- ance, stressing the need to renounce to identify their business activities tails and laws relating to free zones manifestations is one of the most serious al-Thani speaking during the opening of tion to the need for the world commu- recourse to state terrorism under the and submit their applications, Qatar before the end of November 2018. threats to international peace and secu- the forum. nity to abide by international law and guise of combating it. To Page 11 Gulf Times 2 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 QATAR

Amir ratifies two Amir receives Nepal president ministerial decisions His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani ratified the Ministerial Decisions No 21 and No 22 of 2018, on expropriating certain real estate properties for the public good. Amir issues decree His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued decree No 18 of 2018 amending certain provisions of the Law No 24 of 2015 regulating tenders and auctions. Documents of ratification His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued the following documents of ratification: 1. A document of ratification approving a draft agreement to form a joint committee for His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani with Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari, His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari, economic, trade and technical during the off icial reception ceremony at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. holding off icial talks at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. co-operation between the governments of Qatar and Ukraine, signed in Doha on March 20, 2018. 2. A document of ratification approving the ratification of an agreement between the governments of Qatar and China on mutual visa exemption, signed in Beijing on July 9, 2018. Qatar condemns explosion in Kabul Qatar expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the bombing that took place near the headquarters of Afghanistan’s election commission off ice in Kabul, which killed one and injured others. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Aff airs reiterated Qatar’s firm stance rejecting violence and terrorism regardless His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Nepal’s President Bidya Devi Bhandari His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani meeting the members of the Nepalese of their motives and reasons. witness the signing of an agreement between Qatar and Nepal at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. delegation at the Amiri Diwan yesterday. QMC chief meets Kazakh off icial Qatar Media Corporation (QMC) Minister meets Nepal FM PM meets Italian interior minister Chairman, Sheikh Hamad bin Thamer al-Thani, yesterday met with head of radio broadcast at Kazakhstan Radio and TV Corporation Ceyrek Abd Ali. During the meeting, they discussed media relations between both countries.

Qatar chairs UNGA session Qatar chaired a session of the UN General Assembly at its 73rd session, which discussed the annual report of the International Criminal Court. The session, chaired by HE Permanent Representative of Qatar to HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani met the UN, Sheikha Alya Ahmed the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Italy, Matteo Salvini, and his accompanying bin Saif al-Thani, adopted by HE the Minister of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Aff airs, Dr Issa Saad al-Jafali delegation, on the sidelines of their visit to the International Event for Homeland Security and Civil consensus the report of the al-Nuaimi yesterday met the Minister for Foreign Aff airs of Nepal, Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, who is Defence (Milipol Qatar 2018), currently being held in Doha. During the meeting, they reviewed International Criminal Court. In currently visiting Qatar. During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways to support bilateral relations and ways of developing and strengthening them, especially in the security field. A June this year Qatar was elected and strengthen them, particularly in the labour field. number of regional and international issues of mutual concern were also discussed. as vice-president of the General Assembly.

Ministry committed to enforcing law on working hours

he Ministry of Ad- ministrative Devel- Topment, Labour and Qatar’s population growth Social Aff airs (MADLSA) is aware of recent media re- ports that suggest the law on working hours may have been broken by a hospitality provider in Doha. Working hours in Qatar stabilising, says minister are strictly regulated and re- cruitment fees are illegal. QNA several procedures to increase Where violations of the law Doha the number of women partici- Ministry taking steps to address occur, workers are encouraged pating in the economy, in turn to report these and have mul- increasing the rate of nationals problems of rapid urban growth tiple mechanisms to do so. This atar’s population growth in the work force. is also backed up by the minis- rates are gradually sta- He praised the ongoing co- HE Minister of Municipality and contribute to overcoming try’s labour inspection teams Qbilising, HE the Minister operation between the PPC Environment Mohamed bin these problems, which were who regularly investigate em- of Development Planning and and United Nations Population Abdullah al-Rumaihi stressed considered very seriously by ployers who are suspected to Statistics Dr Saleh Mohamed Fund. the ministry’s keenness to the ministry, he said, adding be in breach of the law. Salem al-Nabit, Chairman of Qatar Population Day 2018 address the problems of rapid it has implemented some In addition to this, Qatar Permanent Population Commit- was held under the theme “One urban growth in accordance of these procedures and is is working with the Inter- tee (PPC) has said. year after the Launch of Qatar with the goals set in the working to implement others national Labour Organisa- Speaking at Qatar Population Second Population Policy 2017- country’s population policy in accordance with the time tion and countries of origin Day organised by the PPC, the 2022” with the attendance of a aimed at improving the quality period specified for their to eliminate employment minister said that the improve- large number of offi cials in Qatar of life of all the residents. implementation. fees at source and introduce ment of the workforce structure and representatives from enti- In his speech during the He pointed out that the mechanisms that prevent in terms of skills and balance HE the Minister of Development Planning and Statistics Dr Saleh ties that are implementing the celebration of the Qatar population policy’s attention contract substitution. between nationalities and an in- Mohamed Salem al-Nabit and HE Minister of Municipality and policy. Population Day, the minister to the issues of urban In the coming months, 20 crease in economic activity will Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi attending the event Two panel discussions were said that rapid urban growth growth and environment visa processing centres will lead to a more balanced demo- organised on the occasion of Qatar Population Day in Doha yesterday. held on the sidelines of the in Qatar in general and the stems from the fact that be opened in eight countries graphic composition and a more event, the fi rst on the possible city of Doha in particular is the profound economic as part of these eff orts. The sustainable growth rate. With regard to issues related in achieving a number of com- mechanisms to achieve propor- one of the requirements of and social transformations fi rst centre opened in Co- The minister highlighted that to population and the labour prehensive labour villages with tional balance between popula- comprehensive development, witnessed by Qatar played lombo, Sri Lanka, this month. the event comes after a year force, the minister said that facilities that provides a decent tion and development. and at the same time it is also a prominent role in the The ministry added that it since the launch of the Qatar PPC confirmed that all com- living for expatriate labour as The second panel discussed one of the most important concentration of economic, will work to ensure its labour Second Population Policy 2017- panies and institutions commit well as establishing the workers’ the highest priorities for phase aspects of economic and urban social and cultural services in force is protected by the best 2022, which saw many achieve- to the regulations of labour re- support and insurance fund to two of following up the imple- progress in the country. urban centres, especially the possible legal standards when ments in terms of manpower cruitment in terms of number support labour rights. mentation of the population The minister pointed largest ones, which led to the it comes to employment. and paying attention to foreign and quality, through promoting In the fi eld of education HE Dr policy by the work groups. out that this rapid urban congestion of these centres Employers should under- labour. the follow-up procedures and al-Nabit said Qatar has achieved On the sidelines of the event, growth carries problems that accommodate the vast stand that this means that the Achievements were also wit- establishment of specialised the goals of 2030 Agenda for the PPC held its fi rst preparatory handled by the population majority of the population. It ministry will act to enforce nessed in education, health and databases and their integra- Sustainable Development. meeting on exchanging ideas policy. This policy called was necessary to deal with the these laws, and companies that women’s participation in the tion. With regards to economic and opinions for the population for implementing a number side eff ects of that congestion, break the law will be prosecuted. economy, as well as achievements The minister highlighted the participation, the minister high- and development conference of measures that can he added. in other areas, the minister added. success of specialised entities lighted that Qatar has adopted which will be held in 2019. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 3 QATAR

Major General al-Khulaifi meets visiting officials on the sidelines of Milipol Qatar 2018

HE the Director-General of Public Security Staff Major General Saad bin Jassim al-Khulaifi met separately yesterday with Jordan’s Assistant Director of Public Security for Operations Brigadier General Obaid-Allah Abd Rabbuh al-Maaytah, Ethiopia’s Deputy Commissioner-General of the Federal Police Melaku Fenta, and Director-General of Equipment Finance Department at China’s Ministry of Public Security Song Wei. The meetings, which were held on the sidelines of the 12th International Event for Homeland Security and Civil Defence in the Middle East (Milipol Qatar 2018), discussed a number of issues of mutual concern. Deals worth QR333.8mn

Off icials of Security Committee of the Supreme Committee for signed on fi rst two days Delivery & Legacy, Interpol and Mississippi University at the signing of agreement. number of contracts day of expo was with Saleh Al worth QR333.8mn were Hamad Al Mana Co for import- Asigned on the fi rst two ing 76 diff erent kinds of vehicles days of the ongoing Milipol Qa- for Al Fazaa police and Traffi c tar 2018 exhibition at the Doha Department. Qatar signs training Exhibition and Convention Cen- Four contracts were signed by tre (DECC), Qatar News Agency the MoI yesterday, the second has reported. day of Milipol. A contract worth pact with Interpol, Milipol Qatar president Ma- QR45.11mn was inked with jor General Nasser bin Fahad Idemia France for importing and al-Thani said yesterday that an maintaining portable fi ngerprint Mississippi university agreement for intense co-oper- devices and machines for fi nger- ation was signed between GIE printing the passengers through Milipol chairman Yann Jounot borders for three years. QNA events, and prepares cadres to and ComexposiumCenter presi- An agreement was signed Doha secure sports facilities. dent Renaud Hamaide. Major General Nasser bin Fahad al-Thani flanked by GIE Milipol chairman Yann Jounot and with Key Technical Interna- The Director of the Training “The agreement for part- ComexposiumCenter president Renaud Hamaide at a signing ceremony. tional to supply traffi c radar and Rehabilitation Unit of the Se- nership between Milipol Qatar equipment installed on patrols atar, represented by the curity Committee for 2022 Major, and Milipol Paris is until 2026,” Brigadier Saud Rashid al-Shafi services for three years. La Rue International Company at QR11.10mn. It was also agreed Security Committee of Fahad Saeed al-Subaie, pointed Major General Nasser al-Thani announced the details of the Another contract worth for importing Qatari e-pass- with Eshhar for security services Qthe Supreme Commit- out that the programme was de- said. contracts signed on the opening QR8.9mn was signed with Nokia ports while the fourth contract for the supply and maintenance tee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), veloped specifi cally for Qatar, in On the sidelines of the expo, day. Solutions Network for updating worth QR44.71mn was signed of traffi c radars for a value of signed a co-operation agree- co-operation with the Univer- Milipol Qatar organising com- The MoI signed a contract and maintenance of Tetra system with Abdullah Abdul Ghani Co QR55.63mn and with TELCO ment with Interpol and the Uni- sity of Southern Mississippi and mittee member and Ministry of worth QR92.84mn with GBM of the MoI. for importing 324 vehicles. International for the supply and versity of Southern Mississippi, Interpol, but stressed that Qatar Interior’s (MoI) Logistics De- for developing main devices, The third contract worth The last contract worth maintenance of traffi c radars for on the sidelines of the second would welcome participants from partment, assistant director with maintenance and support QR24.88mn was signed with De QR9.52mn signed on the fi rst QR41.07mn. day of the 12th International other countries as well. Event for Homeland Security He said that Qatar is the fi rst and Civil Defence in the Middle country to sign an agreement with East (Milipol Qatar 2018). Interpol to implement this pro- Director-General of Stadia In- gramme. He added that the train- MoI’s security systems Milipol hosts seminars on terpol, Falah Abdullah al-Dosari, ing will be carried out entirely in said that the agreement includes Qatar, and will be conducted by a six-item programme to train instructors from the US. department signs pact offi cials in charge of securing The Director of the National cyber security, cyber threats major events. Those who pass Centre for Security and Safety the programme will be awarded of Sports Spectator at the Uni- with Swedish fi rm an international expert certifi - versity of South Mississippi, Lou he Milipol Qatar 2018 cate in this fi eld. Marciani, thanked Qatar for its hosted an array of semi- Al-Dosari added that the outstanding eff orts at all levels, he Security Systems De- est agreement is a continu- Tnars and workshops on agreement was signed between especially the security aspect of partment of the Ministry ation of co-operation in the the sidelines of the exhibition on Qatar and the international po- major events. Tof Interior (MoI) yes- field of training and devel- the fi rst two days. lice organisation (Interpol) in He said that the training pro- terday signed a co-operation opment for the systems, said The fi rst seminar on cyber se- co-operation with the Univer- gramme agreed between Qatar, agreement with Swedish com- Lt Col al Sayed. curity and cyber threats was ad- sity of Southern Mississippi, Interpol and the University of pany Axis, a leading manufac- “We have received a special dressed by Southern Europe Cy- through its centre specialised in Southern Mississippi will meet turer of high-quality surveil- award and recognition from the ber security strategist and Trend securing major events. the requirements of Qatar and lance cameras. company for the eff ort exerted in Micro director Loic Guezo. Engineer Khalid Sadiq Guezo speaking at a session on It addresses the security chal- respond to the needs related to The Security Systems De- the project “Talau” which plays Speaking on major cyber al-Hashimi at the seminar. cyber threats. lenges associated with these securing the 2022 World Cup. partment director Lt Col Jassem an important role in the mainte- threats to companies, institu- al-Sayed and Axis regional man- nance of security and safety,” he tions and governments Gu- are developing tricks to infi ltrate with the latest scientifi c systems ager for Middle East and Africa added. ezo said cyber-targeted attacks the electronic systems of countries to avoid penetration. Philippe Kubinga were the sig- The Axis offi cial said they have could cause chaos in any com- where they could penetrate the Al-Hashmi said the security natories. signed the agreement with the pany or organisation, especially health systems, banking and steal process is not limited to the de- Axis communications had MoI with the aim of strength- when hackers destroy, delete or data of citizens. They can also pen- sign of protection programmes partnership with the Secu- ening the existing co-operation encrypt data using malicious etrate the defence systems, electric- only but there is an awareness rity Systems Department in with the Security Systems De- ransom software. ity and metro systems. aspect provided to employees many projects, especially partment in training and meet- Guezo highlighted attacks on Cyber security is a weapon through lectures and training camera projects and the lat- ing its requirements. computer operating systems run where cyber warfare has become courses. It is done to ensure that by a large number of companies an integral part of the modern they are not exposed to anony- around the world, which he said tactics of wars and cross-border mous messages and also to de- could cause signifi cant fi nancial attacks, he said. tect, prohibit and secure sites losses. Qatar Ministry of Transport from any breakthroughs. The offi cial said cyber security and Communications’ cyber se- The speaker said cyber security is a total of technical, organisa- curity assistant undersecretary includes the security of informa- tional, administrative and legal engineer Khalid Sadiq al-Hashi- tion on computers and computer means which is used to prevent mi spoke on “Improving national networks, including the processes penetration of electronic devices resiliency”. and mechanisms by which com- and misuse, the prevention of He stressed that the au- puter equipment, information any loss to states, the recovery thorities concerned in Qatar are and services are protected from of electronic information and putting the best programmes to any unintentional or unauthor- Lt Col Jassem al-Sayed receiving a memento from Philippe Kubinga communications systems. protect the information security ised interference, alteration or One of the stands at the Milipol Qatar 2018 exhibition. after the agreement signing. Guezo cautioned that hackers and the systems are designed damage that may occur. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam Indian fi rm pitches brain signature profi ling technology

By Ramesh Mathew Technologies, is participating in thorities for the investigation of traffi cking, screening of sus- The high accuracy, non-in- Staff Reporter the ongoing Milipol Qatar 2018 mainly complicated cases, there pects, sensitive posts, narcotics vasive test requires no response at Doha Exhibition and Conven- is no room for any foul play in and other banned substances, from the suspect and it gets done tion Centre. our fi ndings. The entire system etc. anywhere between 30 and 60 he India-based develop- ‘’More and more police forces, is backed by technical precision “We have, as clients, profes- minutes, according to the devel- ers of a brain signature including those from outside and perfection and it is validat- sional police forces such as those opers. Tprofi ling (BSP) technology India, are seeking our neuro- ed by government studies,” said in (the Indian states of) Mahar- “Along with helping fi nd the believe that the system, which is signature solutions these days,’’ Chetan, explaining how their ashtra and Gujarat, which are in- guilty in many cases, we have being increasingly adopted by said Chetan S Mukundan, whose solutions are eff ectively applied vestigating sensational cases at also been able to prove the in- police to conduct investigations, father C R Mukundan, a former by the authorities. regular intervals. Courts need to nocence of several people,” said could be eff ectively used in Gulf National Institute of Mental Chetan is optimistic that their be doubly cautious while deal- Chetan, while citing the case of countries such as Qatar as well. Health & Neuro Sciences faculty solutions, which are sometimes ing with such cases and 100% a youth in Bengaluru who was The BSP, developed by a com- member, was the developer of also known by diff erent names accuracy is required before their forced to make a “confession” pany from India’s Bengaluru, has the programme. such as brain mapping, could be judgments are delivered. Here is as he feared harsh treatment by turned out to be a success in the C R Mukundan was a profes- eff ectively used in Gulf coun- where our BSP solutions really interrogators during the probe. investigation of more than 700 sor of neuro-psychology at the tries such as Qatar where cyber matter as they help the suspect’s Similarly, a family accused of judicial cases since its introduc- well-known Indian institution. crimes such as hacking of web- brain talk to the investigators in killing their daughter-in-law tion more than two decades ago, “As our customers are always sites have taken place in the past. a truly transparent manner,’’ he was saved and the real culprits it was revealed. from the government side and It can also be eff ectively used explained, noting that the system were sentenced for life, recalled Chetan S Mukundan at the Axxonet stall in Milipol Qatar 2018. The fi rm, Axxonet System our solutions are used by au- in dealing with cases such as validates a suspect’s experiences. Chetan. PICTURE: Ram Chand Gulf Times 4 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 QATAR Fest brings ‘best of American DFI to screen animation fi lms at innovation, culture to Qatar’ MIA from Nov 1 he US embassy is hosting has flowed between the two NY. Also, Qatar Airways has Irish Harp at Sheraton Grand tar’s Ooredoo Stage at 4.30pm, the 2018 Discover Amer- countries in the past 20 years. launched special promotions to Doha Resort & Convention 5.30pm and 7.30pm. he Doha Film Institute (DFI) is celebrating the ‘Discover Ameri- Tica Festival, bringing the The US continues to be Qatar’s 10 US destinations, while LuLu Hotel, and Discover Amer- Also, a live Twitter chat was ca Festival’ from November 1 to 4, at 7pm daily at the Museum of “best of American innovation largest foreign direct inves- Hypermarket Group is fea- ica at the Pool Grill at Four held yesterday for future inves- TIslamic Art Park (MIA). and culture to Qatar”. tor and largest trading partner. turing special promotions on Seasons Doha. tors keen on doing business and Visitors are encouraged to watch a line-up of four animation fi lms The festival features a week And US-Qatar commercial ties American food favourites and All menus are available at investing in the US. in the outdoors with the ‘Cinema Under the Stars’ programme, organ- of events to explore American only continue to grow, increas- brands. https://qa.usembassy.gov/ “Come and experience ised in partnership with the US embassy in Doha and it is open to all innovation, fashion, business, ing by more than 85% during Eight hotels in Doha are daf2018 American films and music, and for free. music, consumer products, the first nine months of 2018 as featuring American cuisine For film lovers, the US em- discover new opportunities to “Discover food and films, the embassy compared to the same period of in specially crafted menus. bassy in Qatar is partnering partner with American busi- America Fes- has said in a statement. time in 2017.” These include Everything is with Doha Film Institute to nesses in Qatar and abroad. tival 2018 will All events are open to the pub- Nearly 40,000 Qataris visit Bigger in Texas at InterCon- present the ‘Cinema Under the Find out what is going on dur- give audiences lic, and the US embassy is hosting the US every year, 15,000 of tinental Doha – The City, Stars’ series. Those interested ing the 2018 Discover America another reason a variety of events until Novem- them travelling on student vi- Santa Monica Breakfast Club can enjoy a line-up of four Festival and let others know to make the ber 4 as part of the festival. A full sas. Also, the United States at Grand Hyatt Doha Hotel American films to entertain the how you are enjoying the fes- evenings even schedule of events is available continues to increase its com- & Villas, Hudson’s Tavern at whole family at the Museum of tival by using #DAinQatar and more enjoyable on https://qa.usembassy.gov/ mercial presence, with more Mondrian Doha, Astor Grill Islamic Art Park and enjoy the #USQatar in your tweets and with a selection daf2018 than 100 US-based companies at The St Regis Doha, Ara- cooler evenings. The screen- Instagram posts,” the state- of four anima- “After more than 45 years located in Qatar, the embassy mede Restaurant at Crowne ings, taking place from tomor- ment adds. tion family- of friendship and partner- said. Plaza Doha – The Business row until November 4, are for The US embassy can be fol- friendly fi lms. ship, relations between the For the fashionable crowd, Park, Misturado Restaurant free and begin at 7pm. lowed on Twitter @USEmbas- The fi lms have United States and Qatar have Heya Arabian Fashion Exhibi- at Crowne Plaza Doha – The On November 3, there will syQatar, on Facebook @USEm- been chosen never been stronger,” the state- tion featured – until yester- Business Park, New York be a performance by an Ameri- bassyQatar and on Instagram @ to keep young ment notes. “More than $62bn day – the debut of US designer Steakhouse at Marriott Mar- can band performing pop and USAinQatar for latest updates and old alike worth of goods and services and celebrity favourite Tosca quis City Center Doha Hotel, rock favourites on Mall of Qa- on the festival. delighted and is part of our year-round ef- forts to connect the community and strength- en the spirit of together- LuLu hosts Discover America Festival ness through the medium he weeklong Discover of fi lms,” DFI America Festival 2018, chief execu- Torganised by LuLu Hy- tive offi cer permarkets in association with Fatma Hassan the US Commercial Service and al-Remaihi American Chamber of Com- said. merce with the support of the US William Toy Story (1995), the delightful superhit directed by embassy in Qatar, has begun. Grant, Charge John Lasseter will be screened on November 3. The festival was inaugurated d’Aff aires at the at LuLu Hypermarket – Al Mes- embassy said: “The US embassy is proud to partner with DFI for the sila branch by William Grant, second year to bring American fi lms to Qatar. These fi lms are not only guest of honour and chargé entertaining for the whole family, but they educate us, help us learn d’aff aires at the US embassy. more about each other, breakdown stereotypes, and transcend our The inaugural ceremony was borders.” also attended by guests from the “The most accessible form of art is cinema and these fi lms, in par- US Commercial Service, Ameri- ticular, showcase American innovation and technology in the arts,” he can Chamber of Commerce, added. USDA Offi ce of Agricultural Af- On November 1, watch Planes (2013) directed by Klay Hall, about fairs, American Women’s As- Dusty Crophopper, a little plane with a fear of heights and a crazy sociation, senior offi cials from dream of being a racer. LuLu Group, including Mohamed Discover short masterpieces of storytelling from the creative minds Althaf, director, and many other that brought you Toy Story, Monsters, and Finding Nemo with Pixar dignitaries from various American Shorts: Volume 1 (2007) on November 2. Directed by John Lasseter, organisations operating in Qatar. these short fi lms have revolutionary animation, unforgettable music Eff orts have been made to and characters you love. showcase and promote the Toy Story (1995), the delightful superhit directed by John Lasseter best agricultural produce and will be screened on November 3. food products of America at all The fi nal screening on November 4 is of Chicken Little (2005) di- LuLu outlets during the ongo- rected by Mark Dindal. Young Chicken Little throws his small town ing Discover America Week in into panic by claiming the sky is falling. Unable to fi nd the piece of the region and worldwide, LuLu ‘sky’ that hit him, he earns the town’s scorn. Group has said in a statement. Admission to the screening on a fi rst come, fi rst seated basis, ac- “All that is truly extraordinary in William Grant and Mohamed Althaf with other dignitaries and off icials at the inauguration of the festival. PICTURE: Noushad Thekkayil cording to DFI. American cuisine is present on the shelves, with more than 500 “Most importantly, LuLu has cial promotions and activities varieties of US cheese (over 200 laid emphasis on showcasing across the city of Doha as part Three-day closure of G-Ring Road arriving this week), 3,000 gro- the biggest range of ‘Free From’ of Discover America Week and cery lines, 750 chilled lines, and worry-food products such as to further strengthen cultural, Ashghal has announced a will reach Al Sailiya Interchange 200 lines in frozen, bakery and organic, gluten-free, lactose- trade and travel ties with Qatar. temporary and partial closure (Exit 17) on Salwa Road. US meat,” the statement notes. free, dairy-free, vegan and other LuLu Group said it has been of the G-Ring Road southbound Road users can exit the The promotion also features healthy options, which have hosting the festival since 2015 lanes on the carriageway interchange onto Salwa Road, popular US brands such as Kel- been specially fl own in from the and seen overwhelming response between Al Bahiya Interchange based on their destinations logg’s, McCain, Jell-O, Bertolli, US,” the statement adds. from customers. “LuLu Group and Orbital Road for three days — eastbound on Salwa Road Folgers, Smucker’s, Quaker, The festival includes in-store treasures its long-standing busi- from 3pm tomorrow. towards Doha or westbound on Gatorade, Pringles, Sunsweet, promotions, sampling, live dem- ness relations with the US for The closure is until 5am on Salwa Road towards Bu Samra Hunt’s, M & M, Hershey’s, Kraft, onstrations by renowned Ameri- more than a decade. By organ- Sunday to enable the installation Dukhan Road and Mesaieed Dole, Heinz, Celeste, Ben & can chef Jay from New York City, ising the festival, LuLu Group of gantries on the Orbital Road. Interchange. Jerry’s, Eggo and more. Other communication campaigns via so- aims to further promote US pro- During the closure, which is Road users heading on the world-class brands of US ori- cial networks, media and through duce and food products through designed in co-ordination G-Ring Road westbound gin available on the shelves can fl iers, and specifi c procurement its stores in the region. Recently, with the General Directorate carriageway will exit G-Ring be found in the Health & Beauty activities to increase the range of the group invested heavily in the of Traff ic, road users will be Road at Al Hefain Interchange category, namely Colgate Pal- US products off ered in LuLu hy- US with a 75,000sqft state-of- required to follow the directions (Exit 29) through which they can molive, Royal Mirage, Banana permarkets. Live performances by the-art export distribution cen- as shown on the map. reach Hamad Port Road passing Boat, Palmers, Jergens, Proctor the famous American Band at the tre in New Jersey, which is work- Road users heading on the through Aba Seleel Interchange. & Gamble, Nature’s Bounty and inaugural ceremony created a typi- ing closely with the local supply G-Ring Road westbound Through Hamad Port Road, road Through Bu Jood Interchange, lanes on G-Ring will be open as Sun Down, etc, and the non- cal American ambiance featuring chains to off er the best ranges carriageway will exit G-Ring users will reach Bu Ghurban road users can exit towards Al usual and Al Bahiya Interchange food category, namely Downy, music, culture and heritage. possible for the ever-demanding Road at Al Bahiya Interchange Interchange, through which they Afja, Mesaieed and Hamad Port. will not be aff ected by the Classic, Clorox, California The US embassy has also or- multi-national customers in the (Exit 32) onto Street 200. can exit towards Al Kharrara and Ashghal has advised that the closure either as will remain Scents, Grill Time and Ariel, etc. ganised a variety of events, spe- region,” the Group adds. Through Street 200 road users Bu Jood Interchange. traff ic movement on the eastern accessible in all the directions.

QU hosts conference on entrepreneurship, innovation and regional development

atar University ity of employing them in to the strengthening of the large and cross-border and hosted yesterday the region, and Strength- economy of the region and continental companies may Qthe 11th Interna- ening the role of aca- the world. pose a real threat to coun- tional Conference on En- demic institutions in the Dr Omar al-Ansari, vice tries with a weak or dilapi- trepreneurship, Innovation fi eld of entrepreneurship president for academic af- dated economy, as well as and Regional Development and innovation. fairs at Qatar University, to local businessmen and to (ICEIRD) 2018, in co-oper- The conference, being stressed that Qatar believes small business owners. ation with Qatar Tourism attended by a large number in the importance of build- He pointed out that the Authority (QTA) and the of experts, entrepreneurs, ing a strong and advanced global economy in its tra- British University of Shef- academic institutions and economy without compro- ditional form has begun to fi eld’s branch in Greece. The international economic or- mising the environment and change since the last dec- 11th ICEIRD is taking place ganisations, will explore the safety of the planet to ade, where many jobs have in the Middle East for the through various sessions achieve sustainable devel- disappeared, and many fi rst time since its launch the society’s understand- opment in order to preserve businesses and professions in 2007. ing of the importance of the gains and the rights of are at risk. In contrast, new The conference, which entrepreneurship, the role future generations, point- professions and jobs have includes more than 100 of creativity and innovation ing to the importance of emerged, mostly related to working papers, several in achieving sustainable economy becoming a key the technology sector and sessions and six workshops, economic development and factor of the development the tremendous develop- has four main themes: “In- the promotion of regional of communities and indi- ment in communications, novation for sustainable economic integration. It viduals in a fair and sound he said, posing a ques- economic development, will also study the concept manner, and refl ected in the tion about the willingness Mechanisms to promote of entrepreneurship and in- high level of welfare of the of States and societies to entrepreneurship and in- novation to achieve regional members of society, with- change, and the social im- novation in the region, Key development, by studying out adversely aff ecting the pact of this change on mil- initiatives and successful the reality in depth, and most vulnerable countries, lions of people, who are entrepreneurship experi- proposing diverse solu- communities and groups. threatened with losing their ences and the possibil- tions, which may contribute Al-Ansari explained that jobs. (QNA) Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 5 QATAR UN offi cial underlines role of media Turkish envoy hails strategic ties with Qatar he Turkish ambassador to Qa- in the upcoming meeting. industry to check fake news spread tar, Fikret Ozer, highlighted He underlined that the two Tthe strategic and unique re- sides are working together to lations between Turkey and Qatar, implement these agreements to By Joey Aguilar operations in other countries. noting that the two countries are pave the way for new coopera- Staff Reporter She added that an organisation linked by strong ties, strategic part- tion projects and for the devel- in Ukraine is also contributing a lot nership and signifi cant co-operation opment of the bilateral relations. in the fi ght against fake news by as- in regional and international forums. The Turkish ambassador noted mproving news quality, urging sessing news stories online if they Speaking on the occasion of that the volume of trade between governments to avoid crackdown are reliable or spreading false infor- the National Day of Turkey, which Doha and Ankara rose by 56% Ion news media, and investing mation as part of a propaganda or commemorates the proclamation over the previous year to $1.3bn. more in technology can create a huge campaign. of the Republic of Turkey on Octo- In the fi rst eight months of 2018, impact in combating the spread of “We can thereby conclude that ber 29, 1923, ambassador Ozer said the volume of trade reached fake news, Unicef offi cial Karuna crowd sourcing draws expertise of that the 4th meeting of the Higher $1.5bn, and it is expected to reach Kumar has said. large number of readers or view- Strategic Committee between Qa- $2bn by the end of this year. “The news industry has to and ers to discern possible problems in tar and Turkey, established in 2015, The ambassador also praised must continue to focus on high news coverage and can be an eff ec- will be held this year in Turkey, the distinct relations between the quality journalism that both trusts tive way to deal with fake news,” noting that 40 agreements have two brotherly peoples, which he and attracts greater audiences,” the Kumar noted. From left: Karuna Kumar, Mohamed Alyahyai and Henrique Cymerman at the ‘Tackling been signed during the meet- said no less than the political and former journalist told participants She suggested that tech platforms Fake News’ session yesterday. PICTURE: Ram Chand. ings of this committee, and are economic relations between the of a session titled “Tackling fake need to invest in technology to fi nd expected to reach 50 agreements two countries. (QNA) Page 26 news” at the ‘Enriching the Middle fake news and identify it through algo- media outlets in major democracies,” East’s Economic Future’ conference rithms and crowd sourcing. Kumar stressed. in Doha yesterday. Public interest algorithms and fake About the rapid spread of fake news, “It is crucial that eff orts are made to news detection can be automated and she tags bots as among the causes of improve news quality and not weaken social media companies should invest amplifi cation and quick dissemination journalistic content of the investiga- in it, Kumar said. of false information. tive landscape facing reporters,” the “Algorithms are extremely powerful “Social bots are essentially mali- communications specialist for youth vehicles that can help shape people’s cious identities designed to mislead, at Unicef stressed, reiterating the im- quest for information and how they exploit and manipulate social me- portance of the news media industry’s fi nd online materials,” she pointed out, dia and discourse. In some cases they role in stopping the spread of fake stressing the importance of making it can also engage in some more com- news. hard to monetise hoaxes and weaken plex types of interactions, entertain- Kumar, along with Mohamed fi nancial incentives for bad contents. ing conversations with other people, Alyahyai from Oman’s Ministry of Meanwhile, Kumar also cited the commenting on their posts, and an- Heritage and Culture, and Henrique critical role of governments around the swering questions,” Kumar said. Cymerman from the Interdisciplinary world in encouraging independent and Based on a recent study, she noted Centre Herzliya, discussed an array of professional journalism. that automated bots were retweeting issues about fake news, its impact in She said suppressing the news me- false news at the same rate of retweet- the society and how to eff ectively ad- dia’s job (by governments) limits free- ing accurate information. dress it. dom of expression and hampers the “The usage has recently es- As an example, Kumar cited the ef- ability of journalists to cover critical calated because strategic actors forts made by French news outlet Le developments. have pulled resources into their Monde to clamp fake news by iden- “Media freedom is at its lowest use. But the role of bots across tifying over 600 websites “deemed point in 13 years and there are un- time needs to be strategically unreliable” and continue to expand precedented threats to journalists and addressed,” Kumar added. Around 8,000 to attend 2019 World Corporate Games in Doha

By Joey Aguilar Staff Reporter

round 8,000 international and local competitors are expected Ato take part in the World Cor- porate Games from November 6 to 9, 2019 in Doha, making this 23rd edition one of the largest sporting events in From left: Mohamed Jaidah, Rashed al-Qurese, Dr Maureen Johnston and Saud terms participation. al-Dulaim at the press conference yesterday. PICTURE: Shaji Kayamkulam The event, under the patronage of Prime Minister and Interior Minister The Games, which started nearly 30 the magnifi cence of the infrastructure HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin years ago, will include e-Sports and together with legendary hospitality of Khalifa al-Thani, will be held for the mindsports in its 23rd edition, accord- the Qataris will create an exception- fi rst time in the Middle East, bringing ing to the organisers. It will feature both al experience for every participant together local, regional and interna- individual and team competitions, open and visitor,” World Corporate Games tional business sporting community. equally to women and men of all ages founder Dr Maureen Johnston said. “The hosting of mass participation and abilities with team events for skilled, Saud al-Dulaimi, representative events such as this supports our goals semi-skilled or novice participants. of Qatar’s Ministry of Culture and for developing a vibrant sports and Some 24 diff erent sports, ranging Sports, said this tournament is a sig- recreation tourism sub-sector in Qa- from dragon boat racing and ten-pin nifi cant addition to the calendar of tar,” Qatar Tourism Authority’s (QTA) bowling to football and basketball to international sports events that the chief marketing and promotion offi cer golf, tennis and running, will be part country hosts. Rashed al-Qurese said in a statement. of the Games, which is an all-inclusive Mohamed Jaidah, Group Executive QTA, along with Sport for Life (or- event with para games integrated for Director of Jaidah Group, said: “On be- ganisers) offi cials and Qatar’s Ministry various categories. half of the Jaidah Group, I would like to of Culture and Sports, announced the Organisers noted that competitions welcome the world’s sport and business hosting of the event yesterday. The will be held in eight locations across community to join us in November 2019 Games take place every two years and Doha: Qatar Foundation will host bad- when the World Corporate Games are the last edition was held in Houston, minton, chess, netball, running, vol- hosted for the fi rst time in the Middle Texas in 2017. leyball, and golf, as well as the triathlon East.” “Sport has a unique power to bring while Aspire Zone Foundation will take Corporations around the world can people together and we look forward basketball, fi eld hockey, rugby 7s, soc- now register for the Games. to having this event amplify our coun- cer, squash, and table tennis. Qatar hosts nearly 80 sporting try’s message of welcoming the world,” Doha Golf Club, Katara – the Cultural events and world-class competitions al-Qurese said. Village, Losail International Circuit, across a multitude of sporting dis- He noted that QTA is working closely Qatar Bowling Center, and Viruocity, ciplines annually. It is the fi rst Mid- with the hospitality sector to ensure will host eSports games. dle Eastern country to earn the rights they can maximise on this global event “Doha and Qatar together make an to host the World Championships by providing customised packages that outstanding venue for the Games. The in Athletics (2019), FIFA World Cup facilitate both accommodation and cor- facilities are amongst the best in the (2022) and the FINA World Swimming porate meetings. world, the ambience of the city and Championships (2023).

World history and culture to take centre stage at QNL in Nov Qatar National Library (QNL) said poetry, QBL invites everyone to take part provide insights into economic and yesterday that the public can engage in in Poetry Night 2018 on November 16. political developments, as well as a diverse range of conversations about On November 18, in partnership with forecasts for various regions, in a talk at world history and culture in November. the International Federation of Library the library on November 25. Strategists, On November 1, a special series – “Earth Associations and Institutions (IFLA), the researchers, investors, students and Talk” – will highlight the latest scientific library will organise The World Through anyone with an interest in the nexus evidence on climate change, and the Picture Books, an exhibition showcasing between geopolitics and economics are importance of collaboration between a collection of children’s books from encouraged to attend. government and communities in around the world, selected by librarians Qatar’s Little Builders: Bridging tackling climate woes. The event is being to represent their countries and regions. Communities, an exhibition featuring the organised in partnership with the Arab Trainer Zainab al-Mahmoud from the world’s largest Lego bridge, will be held Youth Climate Movement Qatar. Protection and Social Rehabilitation from November 27 to December 12. The In collaboration with the French embassy Centre (AMAN) will deliver two lectures activity is part of Qatar-British Festival in Qatar and the French Institute of Doha, to mark Universal Children’s Day 2018, which is a joint annual initiative QNL will host an exhibition entitled 1918: on November 20. The lectures will of the British Council and the British War is Over. Running from November 4 encourage children and young adults embassy in Qatar. to 20, the exhibition which includes rare to know their rights and stay safe in the As part of the Qatar-Russia Year of items from the Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim community. Culture 2018, the library will host an Al Thani Museum is timed to coincide The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra evening of Russian music on November with the 100th anniversary of the end of will hold its monthly concert, entitled 29. The event will include a recital by World War I. Mozart for Winds and Strings, at QNL on renowned Russian pianist Nina Ivanova, Dr Stuart Hamilton, deputy executive November 22. whose repertoire will include pieces by director of international relations and The library will host Syria Under the Tchaikovsky, Scriabin and Rachmaninoff . communications at QNL, said: “This French Mandate - 1918-1946, beginning The choir Kamerton will also perform November we look to the past and try to on November 23. The exhibition, Russian folk songs. anticipate our future. By exploring the organised in co-operation with the Other key events taking place at QNL events that have shaped our world, we Museum of Islamic Art, focuses on the throughout November include the book can draw important lessons for how we period of the French Mandate in Syria launch of Western Higher Education in might shape our own paths, particularly from 1918-1946. The exhibition runs until Global Contexts; How to Become a Social in the face of critical issues such as April 30, 2019. Media Influencer; Robotics Competition; climate change.” Dr Robert Ward, editorial director of and Talking About Illness: Why It Is To celebrate Arabic, Hispanic and French the Economist Intelligence Unit, will Diff icult and Why It Is Valuable. (QNA) Gulf Times 6 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 QATAR

Vodafone off ers Minister opens HMC’s 1TB data to new stroke service unit eSIM customers odafone yesterday an- E the Minister of Public nounced a huge, unprec- Health Dr Hanan Mo- Vedented off er by giving Hhamed al-Kuwari yes- 1TB of data over three months to terday opened Hamad Medical customers who get an eSIM from the uptake of greater numbers of Corporation’s Stroke Service the company. connected devices giving con- Unit, part of the new Neuro- This follows last month’s an- sumers increased scope to access science Institute at Hamad Gen- nouncement that Vodafone be- services and applications. Since eral Hospital. came the fi rst telecom opera- eSIMs don’t require much space The new facility features a Rap- tor in Qatar and in the region to inside a mobile device, they can id Access Stroke Unit (Rasu) and adopt eSIM technology, marking enable compact devices like a Secondary Stroke Prevention the latest in a series of industry fi tness trackers to have stand- Clinic (SSPC) which combined ‘fi rsts’. An eSIM activated at a alone connectivity in a way that provide an innovative and com- Vodafone Store will be available wasn’t previously available. prehensive approach to stroke to use immediately with a com- Vodafone CEO Sheikh Hamad care through early diagnosis and patible device. Abdulla Jassim al-Thani said: faster assessment and treatment. The move is expected to kick- “With eSIMs, we’ve delivered “The opening of these new start widespread adoption of another major fi rst for the coun- services is another step forward in eSIMs – electronic SIM-cards try that will enable our custom- the provision of stroke care,” Dr al- embedded inside compatible de- ers to be amongst the fi rst in the Kuwari said while referring to the vices. eSIMs provide maximum world to benefi t from this inno- enormous progress in recent years fl exibility and convenience, re- vative technology. We’re expect- to improve the range of services moving the need for physical ing the eSIM to be a big hit with provided to stroke patients. SIM cards and any requirement our customers given the con- “We now see patients more to swap SIMs over between de- venience, fl exibility and control quickly, they are treated by spe- vices. they enable – backed up by an cially trained stroke teams, and eSIMs also confer a number of unbeatable off er.” ultimately we are able to help other benefi ts that are likely to The new iPhone XS, iPhone XS them recover faster. The Rapid prove popular with customers – Max and iPhone XR, available now Access Stroke Unit and Second- from making it easier to switch in all Vodafone’s stores, introduce ary Stroke Prevention Clinic network or switching seamlessly Dual SIM through the use of a dig- build on these improvements by between personal and business ital eSIM. Only iPhones with an enabling us to quickly and ef- numbers. update to iOS 12.1 will support the fectively diagnose patients with The technology also supports eSIM service. suspected stroke and also to prevent strokes from happening HE the Minister of Public Health Dr Hanan Mohamed al-Kuwari off icially opens HMC’s new Neuroscience Stroke Service Unit. in the fi rst place,” she explained. Audi A4, A5, A6 models and Kia Picanto recalled HMC receives around 1,600 minor stroke or suspected tran- A victim treated within a few other patients in need of urgent attack, as well as those at high risk stroke patients annually. sient ischemic attack can be hours of a stroke has a signifi - care to be seen more quickly by of having either form of stroke for The Ministry of Economy and The MEC said the recall campaign Due to the high prevalence in quickly transferred from Hamad cantly lower risk of permanent emergency care teams,” said Dr the fi rst time,” Prof Ashfaq Sh- Commerce (MEC), in collaboration comes within the framework of its Qatar’s population of many risk General Hospital’s Emergency brain damage or death than one Naveed Akhtar, assistant direc- uaib, director of HMC’s Neuro- with Q-Auto, has announced the ongoing eff orts to protect consum- factors for stroke - including di- Department to Rasu, where a in which the treatment is delayed. tor of the Stroke Service. sciences Institute, said. recall of Audi A4, A5, A6 models of ers and ensure that automobile abetes, obesity, high cholesterol, team of stroke consultants and “In addition to the Rasu pro- Since opening in April 2018, All stroke patients are given 2012-2017 over possible defect in dealers follow up on vehicles’ hypertension, and inactivity - clinical nurse specialists will viding high-quality rapid as- the SSPC has delivered educa- an appointment date at the the additional coolant pump. defects and repair them. the incidence of stroke is high, carry out a range of investiga- sessments of suspected stroke tion, monitoring, and preven- SSPC within six weeks of dis- The ministry has also announced It said said the ministry will underscoring the importance of tions to confi rm if the patient cases, the new unit will help tion services to more than 1,100 charge from an HMC hospital. the recall in collaboration with co-ordinate with the dealers to the new services. has had a mini-stroke,” said Dr reduce the number of admis- patients. The SSPC runs eight clinics a Al-Attiya Motors and Trading follow up on the maintenance “Thanks to a collaboration Dirk Deleu, head of HMC’s Neu- sions to Hamad General Hospi- “The aim of the new clinic is to week with services delivered by Company of Kia Picanto model of and repair works and will com- between neuroradiology, medi- rology Department. tal, ease pressure on the Emer- reduce the risk of another stroke specially trained stroke consult- 2011-2012 because the fuel filler municate with customers to cine, and emergency depart- Time is very important when gency Department and Acute for patients who have recently ants, clinical nurse specialists, and levelling hose may crack due ensure that the necessary repairs ment teams, patients with a treating strokes. Medical Care Unit, and enable had a stroke or transient ischemic educators, and pharmacists. to their material weakness. are carried out. HMC plans to launch SMART Pharmacy programme

By Joseph Varghese tion leads to quality of services, executive director of Pharmacy HMC and other health centres. on everyday pharmacy practice, ed. It is not just about assess- macy Education in the US, said Staff Reporter both in community and hospital at HMC said. They come from different back- which will lead to improve- ing them, but they have to im- that the focus of the SMART pharmacy settings. The new in- Al-hail was interacting with grounds and we need to build ments in patient care quality. prove their competency, skills Pharmacy programme was on novative international model the media yesterday on the their skills with equally compe- “This will help all pharma- and attitudes. This programme the application of the knowl- he Hamad Medical SMART (Specific, Measur- sidelines of a two-day training tence,” al-Hail said. cists in the country. Every day, will empower the pharmacists edge. Corporation (HMC) is able, Achievable Relevant and programme for pharmacists. The SMART Pharmacy pro- new evidence of medicine man- as well as motivate them,” al- “There is impact, change and Tplanning to implement Timed) Pharmacy programme “The heath system in Qa- gramme has been designed to agement comes out. We need Hail said. improvement in the perform- SMART Pharmacy programme offers structured, comprehen- tar is rapidly developing with be sustainable evidence-based to be updated for this. Every- Dr Michael J Rouse, assist- ance leading to ultimate im- to improve work development sive and competency-based a growing number of hospitals educational initiative with all day new medications are being ant executive director, Profes- provement in the patient care. It and for continuing education of education and new approaches and other healthcare facilities. elements of continuing profes- discovered and new medication sionals Affairs and Director, is about learning for impact and the pharmacists. to pharmacy practice in the We have increased the number sional development cycle, in- is coming to the market. So a International Services at the to bring about a change. We are “Quality is assured if educa- country,” Prof Moza al-Hail, of services and pharmacists in cluding application and impact pharmacist needs to be updat- Accreditation Council for Phar- introducing the concept aiming to make the SMART Pharmacy programme a national plan. We will introduce the concept and tools resources. We work with the country and stakeholders of the country to develop a na- tional vision and action plan,” he noted. Dr Arijana Mestovic, assist- ant professor and independent consultant in Pharma Interna- tional Agency, pointed out that the programme was developed in Turkey five years ago and im- plemented in several countries. “The programme is spread- ing quickly including in Europe, Mena region and other places. We assure quality, global edu- cation tools and best practices, respecting the local context. The programme is not ready to be delivered before we shape it together with the local stake- Off icials at the press conference. PICTURE: Jayaram holders,” the official said. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 7 QATAR Angry Birds World joins pink campaign

ngry Birds World has held spirit of survivors, as they shed statement noted. Introduced a special awareness event light on the importance of early by Trimoo, in partnership Ain co-operation with Qa- detection. Breast cancer is one with Rovio Entertainment, the tar Cancer Society (QCS) with of the most common types of world’s first Angry Birds World the aim of raising awareness cancer, accounting for 39% of is located in Doha Festival City about breast cancer. cancer cases among women in and is Qatar’s “largest indoor The widely loved flock wel- Qatar. About 248 new cases of and outdoor family destina- comed members and breast malignant breast cancer were tion”. cancer survivors from QCS diagnosed in 2015, of which 242 The 17,000sqm park, compris- along with some of the city’s were females and six were males. ing an indoor space of 6,500sqm, leading bloggers for a day of “The park injected just the is “teeming with thrill, trans- “endless fun and enlighten- right amount of fun and excite- forming the classic bird-fl inging ment at the nest”, according to ment to make the fight against game into a cluster of high- a press statement. cancer a truly memorable one. octane attractions designed for The event brought together Guests were immersed in a every member of the family”, the cancer survivors and infl uencers thrilling experience, filled with statement adds. for a friendly competition, un- games and laughter, which ul- Angry Birds World constitutes der the theme of breast cancer. timately focused on the impor- one of the four major entertain- Teams were pitted against one tance of periodic examination ment parks set to open at the The awareness campaign, led by QBRI’s Cancer Research Centre, extended in-house knowledge to the broader communities in Qatar and identified another in a series of challenges, for early diagnosis of breast mall. Upon completion, the en- breast cancer as a leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. with the fl ock’s pink bird ‘Stella’ cancer and spreading the cul- tertainment destination will also crowning the winning team. ture of a healthy lifestyle as be home to Snow Dunes, Vir- The event also celebrated the a preventative measure,” the tuocity and Juniverse. QBRI organises breast cancer awareness drive

atar Biomedical Research that reduces breast cancer related escape immune recognition and munity outreach and engage- Institute (QBRI), part of mortalities. Two QBRI scientists destruction. ment eff orts. A presentation and QHamad Bin Khalifa Uni- delivered talks at the Cancer Im- Dr Omar El-Agnaf, acting ex- a question-and-answer session versity, hosted a series of ac- munotherapy Workshop 2018 or- ecutive director at QBRI, said, held on October 17 at the North tivities and workshops to mark ganised by Hamad Medical Cor- “One of the primary pillars of any Nest, Qatar Foundation’s Female the International Breast Cancer poration. research (and indeed academic) Housing, helped participants un- Awareness month-October and Dr Julie Decock, scientist at institution is to educate the pub- derstand the importance of early educate the community on the QBRI, highlighted her research lic and extend knowledge beyond detection while clearing common disease, its symptoms and the work on the identifi cation of its laboratories. QBRI, in particu- misconceptions associated with best means of prevention. Cancer Testis Antigens as novel lar, was established to cater to the disease. The awareness campaign, led targets for breast cancer treat- the needs and health challenges A similar event held on Octo- by QBRI’s Cancer Research Cen- ment and how we can re-edu- facing the Qatari population, and ber 19 at Aspire’s Sugar and Spice tre, extended in-house knowl- cate our body’s natural immune several years since its initiation, it provided the community with edge to the broader communities system to specifi cally recognise continues to integrate this mis- the opportunity to get advice in Qatar and identifi ed breast these molecules on cancer cells. sion into all of its endeavours.” about breast cancer. On October cancer as a leading cause of can- Dr Eyad Elkord, principal inves- QBRI, in collaboration with 27, QBRI welcomed visitors to its cer-related death among women tigator at QBRI, discussed his the Qatar Cancer Society, also stand at Mall of Qatar where rel- worldwide. The centre’s activi- research on the role of immune led a ‘Think Pink, Be Aware, Act, evant information about breast ties reinforced early screening suppression in cancer as a critical and Save Lives’ public awareness cancer was shared through edu- as a critical diagnostic measure mechanism used by tumours to campaign as part of its com- cational and fun activities. A moment from the event.

The knowledge sharing session covered topics on symptoms, early detection, prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Doha Bank hosts seminar in collaboration with QCS

oha Bank, in collaboration with bank emphasised its support to ‘Pink al-Thani. “Breast cancer is one of the Qatar Cancer Society (QCS), Month’ by distributing pink ribbons to leading health issues for women, and Dhas held a seminar for all its all their employees and urging them to most of the time they are either una- employees on Breast Cancer as part of wear it to support the cause. ware or ignorant of it. We will extend eff orts in recognising ‘Pink Month’ as “We are honoured to be part of the all our eff orts to educate the women in ‘Breast Cancer Awareness Month’. ‘Pink Month’ and to be able to organ- our society about breast cancer and its The knowledge sharing session ise such an event with the Qatar Can- prevention, and also support all other covered topics on symptoms, ear- cer Society to educate and enlighten types of cancer awareness and preven- ly detection, prevention methods, our employees,” said HR Department tion initiatives throughout the year,” and treatment of breast cancer. The deputy head Shaikha Noor Mubarak she added.

QIC Group holds ‘Pink Month’ initiative

atar Insurance Group has re- cently conducted a ‘Breast QCancer Awareness’ forum to increase medical knowledge of breast cancer and highlight the importance of its early detection among its female workforce. Themed as ‘The Pink Month’ cam- paign, the month-long initiative kicked off with the distribution of a pink awareness ribbon, coupled with awareness presentation by the medi- cal team to educate female staff about the risk factors, FAQs, prevention, and early screening methods that can save lives. “Qatar Insurance Group is very Participants of the forum listen to a presentation. proud to support such awareness initiatives for the well-being of the shows our support for those aff ected style to reduce the risks of developing community. It demonstrates our Hu- by it,” a statement said. “As the leading many critical diseases. As part of QIC man Resources department’s ongoing insurer, we are very keen on promot- Group’s corporate social responsibility commitment to raise awareness for ing medical awareness and encour- activities, we always exert eff orts that the well-being of our community, and aging the adoption of a healthy life- benefi t and provide value,” it added. Gulf Times 8 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 QATAR Doha Forum scheduled for December 15-16 nder the patronage of His sity of views and be extraordinarily identify for the Doha Forum be- ward to working with our strategic sessions, include RAND, the In- Highness the Amir, Sheikh compelling and impactful. cause we recognise the importance partners to enhance Doha Forum’s ternational Center for the Study of UTamim bin Hamad al-Tha- The Forum also released a re- of keeping up with the fast-paced impact and network,” she added. Violent Extremism, the Observer ni, the 2018 Doha Forum is set for freshed visual identity and slogan changes our world is witnessing, Brookings Doha Center direc- Research Foundation, the Cent- December 15-16 at Sheraton Doha, ‘Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity’. while ensuring that the principles tor Tarik Yousef said: “Qatar is a er for the National Interest, the bringing together global decision- The new logo and brand have been that the Forum was built on remain place where we can engage freely UCLA Middle East Development makers and infl uencers. crafted to enhance and unify the steadfast. These principles are and openly on the most diffi cult Center, the S Rajartnam School for The organisers announced yes- Forum’s identity while strength- embodied in our belief in activat- subjects we face in the Arab world. International Studies, the Doha terday that this year’s event will ening its global presence and repu- ing diplomacy to resolve disputes; Qatar is well positioned to claim Institute, the Valdai Discussion launch a remarkable new era of tation for policy innovation. The employing genuine and honest di- its title of capital of ideas, free Club, the Global Dryland Alliance Forum partnerships with several of slogan speaks to the forums eff orts alogue in policy-making, and pre- thought and honest debate. and the Brookings Center in Doha. the world’s most prestigious inter- to position itself at the forefront serving diversity of thought and The Brookings Doha Center is The Qatari government partners national policy institutions. of global policy-making, pro- representation.” incredibly privileged to be part of are the Ministry of Finance, the The theme for the solutions-fo- mote critical dialogue, and engage Ministry of Foreign Aff airs this edition of the Doha Forum.” Minister of Economy and Com- cused 2018 Doha Forum is ‘Shap- leaders from diverse policy back- spokesperson HE Lolwah AlKhat- Elizabeth Schaeff er Brown, merce, and the Ministry of Energy ing Policy in an Interconnected grounds and expertise. er stated: “The Doha Forum was co-executive director of Nadia’s and Industry. World’. Among the world leaders, HE the Minister of Energy and established 18 years ago as the Initiative, said: “Nadia has been Established in 2000 and held policymakers, business leaders Industry Dr Mohamed bin Saleh region’s only large-scale interna- working on peace-building and annually against the backdrop of and advocates participating in the al-Sada, stated: “Today, Qatar is a tional forum designed to address mediation for over three years in Qatar’s visionary development and Doha Forum will be 2018 Nobel diff erent place, therefore it’s only global challenges and advance Iraq, and she is looking forward history of global mediation, the Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad, natural that the Doha Forum, like pragmatic solutions. to sharing her experience at the Doha Forum is a platform for glo- the inspiring young Iraqi human our country, is given new life. The Since its inception, the Forum Doha Forum”. The 2018 Forum’s bal dialogue on critical challenges rights activist. rebranding of the Forum in 2018 is a has evolved into an ideal vantage overarching strategic partners: the facing our world. For the fi rst time, the Doha Fo- result of organic progression. It has point to explore the issues that af- Munich Security Conference, the The Doha Forum promotes the rum is teaming up with many of evolved, much like our country.” fect us all.” International Crisis Group, and interchange of ideas, discourse, the world’s most acclaimed inter- HE the Ministry of Foreign Af- “This year, the Doha Forum is re- European Council on Foreign Re- policy making, and action-orient- national institutions as partners, fairs Secretary-General Ahmed bin turning to build on its track record lations. ed solutions. ensuring the 2018 gathering will Hassan al-Hammadi, commented, of advancing agendas for leaders The Forum’s content partners, More information is available on showcase an unprecedented diver- “We are launching a new visual and citizens alike, and we look for- co-producing individual Forum www.dohaforum.org

IFP Qatar announced in a press conference yesterday that ‘Hospitality Qatar’ continues to expand each year as the upcoming edition is expected to witness a 21% increase in the number of exhibitors compared to last year. Hospitality Qatar 2018 participants eye expansion, excellence atar is set to welcome the ators, Horeca suppliers, investors, onstrating a lifestyle of excellence grew by 10% compared to the same Mshaimesh added: “There will world’s leading hospitality and industry professionals to share which is the mark of Qatari hospi- period of the previous year, and be an increasing need for high- Qcompanies, international and draw inspiration from leading tality.” experts predict that the overall quality hospitality and Horeca experts, and industry profession- players in the hospitality and tour- He added that the continuing growth of the sector will soar by products and services in lieu of als to ‘Hospitality Qatar 2018’, ism sector. growth trajectory of the sector 10% over the next three years. increasing demand for excellence the international hospitality and IFP Qatar acting general manag- where 41 hotel projects and 11,722 This year, in partnership with from discerning visitors. Horeca (hotel/restaurant/café) er Haidar Mshaimesh said: “Hos- rooms are under construction in Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), “Hospitality Qatar 2018 is de- trade show slated November 6-8 pitality Qatar 2018 is geared up to Doha, coupled with the continu- the fi rst-ever conference themed signed to meet all these growing at the Doha Exhibition and Con- deliver another major successful ing increase in tourist arrivals in ‘Future of Tourism in Qatar’ will be requirements in the sector and vention Centre. gathering of the world’s leading the country owing to the easing of held on the sidelines of Qatar Hos- fi ll the gaps by off ering a full- IFP Qatar announced in a press hospitality and Horeca companies visa requirements for visitors of pitality 2018. fl edged platform that addresses conference yesterday that ‘Hospi- and industry stalwarts, which will more than 80 countries, sets a new The three-day conference will all the hospitality elements under tality Qatar’ continues to expand showcase the latest insights, strat- growth pace in the sector. feature an extensive discussion one roof. We remain committed each year as the upcoming edition egies, innovation, and ingenu- Hotels in Qatar reported ris- focused on innovation and new in facilitating the local, regional, is expected to witness a 21% in- ity that are essential in this highly ing demand across the fi rst three technologies in tourism develop- and international businesses and crease in the number of exhibitors competitive fi eld. quarters of 2017 with room occu- ment, curating and designing new enable them to tap emerging op- compared to last year. “This fourth edition is set to pancy increasing by 4% compared experiences for family visitors, as portunities as well as take proac- The exhibition will be providing witness an array of exciting shows, to the same period in 2016. well as new initiatives in culinary tive steps to address future chal- an ideal platform for all hotel oper- competitions and live events dem- The average length of stay also excellence. lenges.”

The participants of the first residency. Georgetown students wrap Washington programme ecognising that the world is more in- ternational threats and hazards, both natu- terconnected than ever and that to- ral and man-made. Rday’s emergencies and disasters can “In the (Washington) residency, I also be transnational and even global in scope, learned about strategic and legal frame- Georgetown University off ers a one-year works of regional emergency management International Executive Master’s in Emer- organisations, and interagency and inter- gency & Disaster Management with a focus national co-operation,” said Farukh Azad, on the Middle East. a class member and manager of Digital A cohort of students from around the Transformation at the telecommunications world is participating in the 2018-19 pro- company Ooredoo in Doha. gramme, which combines executive-level The class includes other students from online learning activities with weeklong the Middle East, as well as Mexico and the intensive residencies in fi ve major cities: United States. Washington, DC, in the US, where George- At the conclusion of the programme, town was founded in 1789; Muscat, Oman; students will be able to prepare response Paris, France; Amman, Jordan; and Doha, plans for multiple types of emergencies and Qatar. disasters and adapt those plans to respond, This year’s programme began in Sep- quickly, ethically, and eff ectively to chang- tember with a residency in Washington and ing situations. concludes in August 2019. The fi rst residency was titled Theory & The fi rst residency was held September Regional Collaboration Framework. 24-29 at the University’s School of Con- The others, in order, are Natural & Tech- tinuing Studies in downtown Washington. nological Hazards & Disasters; Terrorism Designed to shape the next generation & Man-Made Disasters; Public Health & of leaders in government, the private sec- Humanitarian Crises; and Capstone, which tor, and nonprofi t organisations, the pro- requires students to integrate the knowl- gramme assists emergency management edge and skills they learned throughout leaders in developing the knowledge and the year to prepare large-scale disaster re- tools they need to address a variety of in- sponses to various scenarios. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 9 QATAR Oman Air begins daily direct service to Moscow

man Air yesterday com- Domodedovo Airport, the Oman opportunities between Russia will provide more choice and menced its new daily Air delegation was received by and Oman, our fl ights will also greater convenience as more Odirect service between top ranking offi cials. open the gates for Russian tour- travellers look to Russia for a Russia and Oman, with its fi rst Al-Raisi said: “Russia is an ists to come and enjoy our beau- holiday getaway. We have done a Indian ambassador P Kumaran and other dignitaries at the opening of the free medical camp. fl ight departing Muscat Inter- increasingly important desti- tiful country,” al-Raisi said great deal of preparation before national Airport to Moscow Do- nation from Oman, and since The new route will be serv- commencing this route through modedovo Airport. we announced this route earlier iced by Boeing 737 MAX 8 several niche events and agent The inaugural fl ight, WY 181 in the year, we have seen strong aircraft, configured with 162 meet-ups and I am confi dent departed Muscat International interest, both from Oman trav- seats in a two-class configura- that this new addition will be Airport at 2.55pm after a cake ellers and from customers tran- tion: 12 in business and 150 in another successful destination Kims Qatar’s free medical cutting ceremony. The fl ight ar- siting through our Muscat hub economy. for Oman Air. rived in Moscow at 7.55pm. from cities around the world. Oman Air’s extensive fl ight “Our Russian guests will also With a fl ight time of fi ve hours “Connecting Muscat with network provides travellers from be able to take advantage of our and 35 minutes, WY182 departs Moscow, we expect this daily Russia a wide variety of options fantastic new passenger ter- camp helps 600 people Moscow Domodedovo Airport service to further stimulate eco- including 11 Indian destinations minal in Muscat Airport which at 12.20am, arriving into the nomic, trade and business rela- (Goa, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, houses Oman Air’s bespoke award-winning new passenger tions between the two friendly Thiruvananthapuram, Hydera- premium lounges, 6,000sqm of bout 600 people ben- The medical camp was inau- president P N Baburaj, Sanskriti terminal at Muscat Internation- countries. Trade between Oman bad, Delhi, Lucknow, Bangalore, Duty Free shopping, 96 check- efi ted from a free medical gurated by Indian ambassador P general secretary Vijaya Kumar al Airport at 6.55am. and Russia continues to rise and Kozhikode, and Jaipur) in addi- in counters and a modern 90- Acamp hosted by Kims Qa- Kumaran. and Wellcare pharmacy manag- Oman Air’s offi cial delegation we are happy to be able to facili- tion to subcontinent destina- room airside hotel.” tar Medical Centre and Sanskriti Kims Qatar Medical Cen- ing director Ashraf K P were also to Moscow included its CEO en- tate this further with the start of tions such as Maldives, Nepal, The new service between Qatar in association with Well- tre chairman Jassim Mubarak present during the ceremony. gineer Abdulaziz al-Raisi and this service. and Sri Lanka, all of which are Moscow and Muscat is the air- care pharmacy. Mohamed al-Khater, execu- Patients were also given 50% chief commercial offi cer Paul “Oman is turning into a very less than a four-hour fl ight from line’s third route launched this Patients were given free spe- tive director Nishad Azeem, discount for investigations. In Starrs, and a number of its sen- important regional logistics hub Muscat. year after Istanbul and Casa- cialist consultation, free check- Norka Roots director C V Rap- addition, a one-month follow up ior management team. with world-class infrastructure Oman Air fl ies with double blanca and is part of Oman Air’s up and free medicines at the pai, Pravasi Welfare Board di- consultation was also provided Russia’s ambassador to and we are sure this is recog- and triple daily frequencies to fl eet and network expansion event at Kims Qatar. rector K K Sankaran, ICBF vice free for all deserving patients. Oman, Dmitry Dogadkin, also nised by the business enterpris- some of these cities providing programme, which will see the accompanied the delegation to es in Russia. guests with more choices and airline operate up to 70 aircraft Moscow. “Apart from strengthening easy connections. to around 60 destinations by Upon arrival at the Moscow and opening up new business Starrs said: “Our new service 2022. Ooredoo continues support for ‘Disaster Management Camp’

oredoo has announced that the company is once Oagain the Main Sponsor of the ‘Disaster Management Camp’ in Qatar. The annual ‘Disaster Manage- ment Camp’ is now in its eighth Qatar government bodies and “We’re delighted to be supporting year and aims to build a well- NGOs, including friendly na- the ‘Disaster Management Camp’ trained base of volunteers who tional societies, the International for the second year and congratu- can respond to disasters timely Federation of Red Cross and Red late everyone involved in organis- and eff ectively. Crescent societies (IFRC), and ing the important event. The camp, which this year is the International Committee of “Ooredoo is proud to help being held at the Marine Scout the Red Cross (ICRC). build life-saving skills in our Camp in Al Khor from October 23 Manar Khalifa al-Muraikhi, di- community and this camp will to November 1, will be attended rector of PR and Corporate Com- help minimise casualties in any Oman Air off icials and dignitaries at the launch of the new service to Moscow yesterday. by 250 trainees and trainers from munications at Ooredoo, said: future disasters.”

Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 11 QATAR/REGION

‘Qatar active partner in global collaboration against terrorism’

From Page 1 HE Sheikh Mohamed said that the dissemination of radicalisa- level, he added, especially the national levels by participating in HE the Deputy Prime Minis- weak cooperation between states there is an agreement among tion and to focus on correcting it, relevant Security Council reso- all international and regional ef- ter and Minister of Foreign Af- for political reasons. The minister pointed out that the international community promoting political and religious lutions, in particular resolution forts in this regard.” fairs said that Qatar supports the At the beginning of his speech, the increasing use by terrorists that foreign fi ghters pose a seri- tolerance and economic develop- No 2178 of 2014 and resolution He also referred to Qatar’s Education Above All initiative, His Excellency welcomed the and their supporters of commu- ous threat to their countries of ment, paying more attention to No 2396 of 2017 on criminalis- continuous development of its which has so far educated 10mn participants in this forum, nications technology to spread origin, the countries they cross the youth, promoting social co- ing acts committed by returning national legislation and institu- children around the world, not- thanked the organisers and extremist ideology that leads to and the countries to which they hesion and inclusiveness, ending combatants and putting the legal tional entities concerned with ing that this initiative is based on stressed its importance giving terrorism and recruiting oth- travel, as well as to the countries the armed confl ict and settling basis for their prosecution and terrorism, the implementation supporting children aff ected by the importance of foreign fi ght- ers to commit and incite acts of neighbouring the armed confl ict them, depriving terrorist groups rehabilitate and integrate them of UN resolutions in this regard confl icts and disasters. ers’ issue to the entire world. terrorism require intensifying zones. of the ability to establish them- into society. and the active partnership of the To encourage economic em- He said that the broad partici- co-operation between states to According to UN statistics, selves and create safe havens, and He added that there is no State of Qatar in the international powerment in the Middle East pation in the forum refl ects the prevent terrorists from exploit- foreign fi ghters in Syria and Iraq, facilitating reintegration and re- doubt that the process of reha- coalition against terrorism, add- and North Africa region, he said, international will, and the ex- ing technology, communications for example, are from more than habilitation. bilitating the returning fighters ing that Qatar will continue to Qatar supports Silatech, which tent of interest in addressing this and resources in inciting support 100 countries, he said. To Page 11 He stressed that the success of and reintegrating them into so- play an active role in the interna- has so far provided 1mn jobs for phenomenon, hoping that the for terrorist acts. The minister underlined that any national strategy to integrate ciety requires a comprehensive tional community in maintaining young people in 16 countries work of the forum will be suc- He added it was imperative to addressing the threat posed by returning terrorist elements approach that corrects miscon- international peace, security and since 2008 and seeks to provide cessful and achieve its objectives. resort to security and military foreign terrorist fi ghters requires from the battlefi elds required the ceptions about the violence, combating terrorism and violent 2mn jobs by 2020. The two-day forum will dis- operations and to take urgent comprehensively tackling the eradication of the incubation en- extremism and terrorism, and extremism at the national level He expressed certainty that eve- cuss many topics and policies in measures to enforce law to coun- real causes of terrorism, par- vironment of extremist ideology addresses the political, social and through bilateral, regional ryone realises the legal, political or dealing with foreign fi ghters as ter the imminent threat posed by ticularly repressive and sectarian and building the state capacity and other causes, adding that and multilateral co-operation. social challenges facing the “for- well a the international commu- terrorist groups that recruit and policies, marginalisation and the to prevent and combat terrorism, the issue of terrorism is a high He underlined that Qatar pro- eign fi ghters”, especially in light nity’s co-operation in tackling transport terrorist fi ghters across absence of social justice suff ered with full respect for the state’s priority for Qatar. vided humanitarian assistance of the diff erence in legal systems this phenomenon, and the im- international borders, but he by large groups in some societies, obligations towards the rule of Qatar is an active partner in in- and supported educational and in defi ning terrorism, and the lack portance of this issue to the en- pointed out that immediate and in addition to working on com- law and human rights. ternational collaboration against economic development initia- of consensus among international tire world at the present time, in urgent alertness should not stand bating incitement to commit ter- National legislation must be terrorism, he said, adding: “We tives and building more fl exible community about its defi nition, addition to exchanging views and in the way of addressing the real rorist acts motivated by extrem- brought into line with the state’s are committed to addressing it at societies to combat terrorism and as well as the politicisation of the ideas among the participants and causes and motives of terrorism. ism and intolerance, preventing obligations at the international the national, regional and inter- extremism. term ‘terrorism’ in many cases and proposing solutions. Kuwait Amir says economic

Dignitaries at the forum yesterday. reforms needed Forum addresses challenges ‘despite higher in fi ght against terrorism

such practices. He stressed that the Security Council resolution oil prices’ QNA Doha education plays an important of counter-terrorism strategy, role in these eff orts, noting that especially after the defeat of the Reuters countries should review their ISIS organisation in Syria and Kuwait articipants of the Forum curricula and teaching methods Iraq and the spread of its ele- on Returning Foreign to help the fi ghters and the mar- ments in diff erent parts of the PFighters have stressed the ginalised return and play their world. uwait needs to push through economic re- signifi cance of the event as it positive role in the society. He spoke about the problems forms despite higher oil prices, the Gulf addresses such a critical issue He highlighted many initia- that hinder the fi ght against Kstate’s ruler said yesterday, urging parlia- and highlights the importance tives and projects launched by terrorism, including the sys- ment to work with the government to implement of international co-operation in Qatar in the fi eld of education to tem of local recruitment in each measures aimed at diversifying revenues and de- dealing with this phenomenon develop and enhance its quality, country. He noted that Qatar veloping the economy. and engaging those fi ghters in including the Education Above has started reviewing its rel- Kuwait, whose state fi nances are among the the society politically, econom- All initiative and the eff orts of evant laws in the fi ght against strongest in the region, has been trying to intro- ically and socially. Silatech in various Arab coun- terrorism and its development, duce new taxes and reform a lavish welfare system On its opening day, the forum tries, as well as other relevant and created a system of ap- to curb state spending. also shed light on the potential conferences and forums hosted pointment and local naming. “I hope that the recent temporary improvement threat such fi ghters may pose Dr Hassan Rashid al-Derham at by the State. He noted that everyone who is in oil prices does not obstruct this important path, upon their return to their re- the forum yesterday. Dr al-Derham also reviewed named locally on the list of ter- which aims to protect future generations,” Amir gions and countries anywhere PICTURE: Nassar T K the role of QU in the fi eld of rorism has a period of 60 days to Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah told in the world, and the role of the research, preparation and pub- fi le a complaint demanding the parliament in a speech at the start of its new ses- United Nations and relevant or- manner by exchanging views, lication of studies, noting that removal of his name. sion. ganisations in this regard. ideas and experiences, and pro- the university is in the process He indicated that Qatar has Critics say parliament has long hindered at- The two-day forum con- posing solutions and other rel- of establishing a centre to com- its own system with regard to tempts at fi scal discipline. cludes in Doha today. evant co-operation tools. bat terrorism. the listing system and what ap- The current parliament, elected in late 2016, has Qatar University (QU) presi- He said the most important In an evening session, chair- plies to it does not apply to an- yet to pass any major elements of government re- dent Dr Hassan Rashid al- challenges facing governments man of the National Counter other State. forms introduced after oil prices plunged in 2014. Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber Derham said the programme are fi nding ways to rehabilitate Terrorism Committee Maj Gen A workshop on counter-ter- Parliament’s budget committee said last May al-Sabah gestures as he attends the opening of the forum covers diff erent the returning fi ghters, especial- Abdulaziz al-Ansari shed light rorism and returning fi ghters that Kuwait would not implement a value-added ceremony of the new legislative year in Kuwait categories pertaining to return- ly as some may be disappointed, on the mechanism of listing was held within the framework tax before 2021, but would push ahead this year City, yesterday. ing fi ghters and will address while others may be prepared to on the national list of terror- of the forum. It dealt exten- with excise taxes on selected products, such as to- all these cases and related is- return to their previous activi- ism in Qatar and co-operation sively with all aspects of these bacco and sugary drinks. region, but a series of assemblies have been dis- sues, including education, in- ties, calling for a better under- between the country and other phenomena and their challeng- The Gulf’s six oil-exporting countries originally solved in recent years amid power struggles be- formation systems, terrorism, standing of this phenomenon States and relevant organisa- es and the policies and practical agreed to introduce a 5% VAT at the start of 2018, tween the opposition and the cabinet. violence, hate speech and chal- in order for international co- tions on this issue at the region- ways to deal with them collec- and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates did “I will not allow us to stray from the blessing of lenges related to security and operation to be eff ective and al and international levels. tively at the international level. so. democracy...to a curse that threatens stability in peace. successful. He stressed the importance he forum will conclude today by The other states have delayed it. The Gulf econo- our country,” the Amir said, criticising what he de- He said these issues represent In order to confront terror- of the forum and its vital theme, completing the discussion of all mies, including Kuwait’s, are likely to accelerate in scribed as a “feverish race” by some MPs to ques- a challenge to the forum in terms ism, Dr al-Derham said govern- especially that the phenomenon items and issues on its agenda, coming years as governments boost spending, but tion ministers. of confronting and dealing with ments should address the root of returning fi ghters and the which include terrorism, the growth will not return to the levels enjoyed before The assembly can pass legislation and question them, which affi rms the com- causes of terrorism and prepare fi ght against terrorism are cru- returning foreign fi ghters, the oil prices fell in 2014, a quarterly Reuters poll of ministers, but the Amir has the fi nal say in state mitment of all to address these the political environment that cial. Therefore, it is important challenges ahead and future in economists found. matters. challenges in a responsible prevents youth from engaging in to discuss them by focusing on this regard. Kuwait has the most powerful parliament in the He picks a prime minister, who selects a cabinet. Iran says curbs to have ‘severe consequences’ for global order

Reuters to cut oil purchases from the Is- Trump complained that the US financial system by using marks, Qasemi was quoted London lamic Republic to zero. deal, approved by his predeces- an EU intermediary to handle as saying by IRNA: “These “Unfortunately a law-break- sor Barack Obama, does not cov- trade with Iran. comments are based on pop- ing country (the United States) er Iran’s ballistic missiles, its role Iranian foreign ministry ulism and fallacy… The Iranian S sanctions against Iran seeks to punish a country (Iran) in regional wars or what happens spokesman Bahram Qasemi economy had shown growth all will have “severe conse- that is abiding by law....This after the nuclear pact begins to also accused Washington of previous years when Iran was Uquences” for the world method will have severe con- expire in 2025. launching a “psychological fighting against the terrorists.” order, the Islamic republic said sequences for the world order,” “The world community has war” against Tehran by impos- Iran’s rial currency has lost yesterday, days before new sanc- Foreign Minister Mohamed Ja- stood up to the US sanctions,” ing “inhumane and confron- 70% of its value this year be- tions on Tehran’s oil exports take vad Zarif was quoted as saying Zarif said, after a trilateral tational sanctions” to hurt the cause of a weak economy, fi- eff ect. by the Iranian state news agency meeting between Iran, Turkey Iranian economy. nancial difficulties at local Washington reintroduced IRNA during a visit to Istanbul. and Azerbaijan’s foreign min- US Secretary of State Mike banks and heavy demand for sanctions against Iran’s curren- However, Zarif added, “Amer- ister. “The neighbouring coun- Pompeo tweeted on Monday dollars among Iranians who cy trade, metals and auto sectors icans have not achieved their tries and European nations that the Iranian economy was fear the effects of sanctions. in August after it pulled out of a goals by imposing illegal sanc- have resisted against Washing- in decline. South Korea, one of Asia’s multinational 2015 deal that lift- tions against Iran”. Tehran says it ton’s unilateral measures.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards biggest buyers of Iranian oil, ed sanctions in return for limits has complied fully with the nu- European signatories of the have sent weapons and thou- said yesterday it had asked the on Iran’s nuclear programme. clear accord and its commitment nuclear deal are still commit- sands of soldiers to Syria to United States for “maximum A new set of sanctions on Ira- has been repeatedly confi rmed ted to the accord and will soon help shore up Bashar al-Assad flexibility” on its request for a nian banking and energy sectors by the UN atomic watchdog, launch a mechanism, a so- during the seven-year-long waiver to prevent South Korean Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif speaks during a news are to take eff ect Nov 5, as US International Atomic Energy called special purpose vehicle civil war there. companies from being affected conference in Istanbul, yesterday. President Donald Trump seeks Agency (IAEA). (SPV), aiming to sidestep the Reacting to Pompeo’s re- by US sanctions. Gulf Times 12 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 ARAB WORLD

Blast kills Mourning in Gaza City Top Palestinian three group calls for pilgrims in Iraq suspension of

Reuters Israel recognition Baquba, Iraq

Agencies signed agreements”. The deci- hree pilgrims were killed Gaza sion must be approved by Pal- by a roadside bomb as they estinian President Mahmoud Twalked to a holy site near Abbas and the PLO Executive the northeastern Iraqi city of top Palestinian body Council. Khanaqin yesterday, police said. authorised the Pal- Speaking on Sunday, Ab- Islamic State claimed respon- Aestine Liberation Or- bas again vowed to block any sibility for the attack, the group’s ganisation (PLO) to suspend peace plan led by US President news agency Amaq reported. recognition of Israel and stop Donald Trump. The claim could not immedi- security co-ordination with Abbas compared the ex- ately be verifi ed. The militants are Tel Aviv. pected Trump peace plan to active in the area and have targeted The Palestinian Central the 1917 Balfour Declaration, pilgrims in the past. Council (PCC) — a body of which saw the British govern- Hundreds of thousands gather the PLO — said the suspen- ment commit to the creation every year in Iraq for the annual sions should be in place until of a state for Jews in historical pilgrimage of Arbaeen, which Israel recognises the Palestin- Palestine. marks the end of a 40-day mourn- ian state based on pre-1967 “If the Balfour Declaration ing period for the grandson of the borders with East Jerusalem as is passed, this deal will not Prophet Muhammad, Imam Hus- its capital, Palestine’s offi cial pass,” he said. sein. Islamic State has waged a Wafa news agency reported. In December, Trump de- campaign of kidnappings and Following a two-day meet- cided to recognise Jerusalem killings since its self-proclaimed Relatives of Palestinian Mohamed Abu Obada, who was killed during a protest along the Gaza Strip’s beachfront border with Israel, ing in Ramallah in the occu- as the capital of Israel and to caliphate in Iraq and neighbouring mourn during his funeral in Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza City, yesterday. pied West Bank, the council move the US embassy from Tel Syria collapsed in 2017. said the PLO and Palestinian Aviv to Jerusalem. Authority will also end securi- Breaking with decades of ty co-ordination and suspend US policy that favoured a economic agreements as set two-state solution, Trump’s out under the 1994 Paris Eco- declaration dealt a blow to the nomic Protocol. Palestinian leadership, which It also decided to revoke the for more than two decades has validity of the Oslo Accords. unsuccessfully attempted to The council said the deci- establish a state on the West sion was made “in light of Is- Bank, Gaza Strip and East Syria summit took ‘huge rael’s continued denial of the Jerusalem.

Turkey rejects accusations over Idlib deal

steps’ toward ending war Turkey rejected yesterday Syrian government accusations that it is not meeting its obligations under an agreement to create a demilita- AFP truce in the last major rebel-held duce a post-war constitution. but that’s a game changer,” Jef- State group. But he also warned rised zone around the insurgent-held Idlib region, saying the deal was Brussels bastion of Idlib. “These are huge steps forward,” frey said. of “real dangers” with so many being implemented as planned. The agreement forged in September James Jeff rey, the US special Jeff rey said. “These would not In the run-up to the summit, armed forces present, some of between Russia, President Bashar al-Assad’s most powerful ally, representative on Syria, argued have happened without the Jeff rey said a Russian-Turkish whom could end up clashing and Turkey, which backs the rebels, staved off a major government he Istanbul summit on that the United States even United States.” deal for a buff er zone around with each other. off ensive into the opposition-held region in northwest Syria. Russian Syria took “huge steps” helped bring about the result de- He added that Washington Idlib was a “major step” that has “We have fi ve military forces President Vladimir Putin said after a four-way summit on Syria with Ttoward ending its civil spite its absence from the gath- had been in contact with par- “frozen” the country’s war. from the outside — Iran, Israel, Turkey, Germany and France on Saturday that Ankara was fulfilling its war, but the situation remains ering. “We are very happy with ticipants Turkey, Germany and The agreement, reached last Russia, US and Turkish that are obligations in Idlib, which with adjacent areas is the last stronghold of dangerous with so many for- the Istanbul result,” Jeff rey told France. month, was seen as forestall- now in close proximity,” he said, the anti-Assad insurgency. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem eign armed forces in the coun- journalists in Brussels during He said US President Donald ing a devastating regime assault which could lead to “armies po- said in comments reported late on Monday that Turkey appeared un- try, a top US envoy said yester- a tour of European and Middle Trump had exerted diplomatic on the area, which hosts around tentially shooting at each other.” willing to implement the deal. “The terrorists still exist with their heavy day. East capitals. pressure by informing his Rus- 3mn people. He recalled for example the arms in this region and this is an indicator of Turkey’s unwillingness The leaders of Turkey, Russia, He cited the summit’s ap- sian counterpart Vladimir Putin “The good news is we now accidental downing last month to fulfil its obligations,” Moualem said in Damascus, according to the France and Germany met in Is- peal for the Idlib truce to be- in Helsinki that the US military have a basically frozen battle- of a Russian plane with 15 per- off icial news agency SANA. tanbul at the weekend and called come permanent and UN envoy would remain in Syria. fi eld,” Jeff rey said, without mini- sonnel on board, which has test- Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu dismissed the allegations for a political solution to Syria’s Staff an de Mistura’s call for a “We are vague on what our mising the continuing fi ght with ed relations between Moscow yesterday, saying the agreement was continuing as planned. seven-year war and a permanent committee by year-end to pro- military would be doing there the last elements of the Islamic and Israel. With green mosques and schools, Amman pushes for zero emissions

Thomson Reuters Foundation tions, a green consultancy in Jordan. incides with wider religious values. The country aims to generate 20% of bles as they fi le down the stairs of the danians. “The mentality has changed,” Amman Amman is one of more than 70 cities “The main reason for the use of solar its energy from renewable sources by academy, one of about 100 schools in he said. worldwide that are aiming to become energy is religious duty,” said Ahmad 2022, al-Fayez said. Amman seeking to lower carbon emis- Jordan is also trying to cut emissions “carbon neutral” by 2050, meaning al-Rawashdeh. It’s a target he thinks will be met ear- sions. “Based on our community and from tourism.The country hopes to oking above the bright pink they will produce no more climate- Islam urges conservation of na- ly, in part as solar panels go up on the public responsibilities we want to re- market itself as a haven for ecotour- bougainvillea that spills into the changing emissions than they can ture’s resources, he said, and “warns city’s homes, businesses and govern- duce our emissions and carbon contri- ists keen to stay in zero-carbon resorts Pstreet, the lone minaret of the off set, such as by planting carbon-ab- against extravagance”. But the use of ment buildings. bution urgently,” said al-Salaymah. along the salty Dead Sea or near the Ta’la Al-Ali mosque towers over the sorbing trees. solar energy, and power-saving LED Earlier this year the Abu Dhabi Fu- “Also, there’s an economic dimen- Unesco World Heritage site of Petra. Khalda neighbourhood of Amman. Each is going about achieving the lightbulbs, also is helping the mosque ture Energy Company (Masdar) put in sion: we’ve reduced our energy con- The Feynan Ecolodge sits on the Aside from its colourful stain- goal in its own way. fi nancially, he admitted. place $188mn in fi nancing to develop sumption costs too,” he said. edge of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, on glassed windows and ornate calligra- But because cities account for about Amman, where temperatures al- Jordan’s largest solar power plant Along with glimmering solar elec- the road to the ancient crimson carved phy, this mosque stands out for an- three-quarters of carbon dioxide emis- ready soar above 40 degrees Celsius for the state National Electric Power trical panels covering the basketball city of Petra. other reason: its roof is covered with sions, according to the United Nations, (104 Fahrenheit) in the summer, has Company. court, the teachers’ car park and much With solar appliances serving its 26 shining solar panels that make the and consume more than two-thirds of clear incentives to try to hold the line The project is scheduled to go online of the roof, the school uses solar water rooms and candle-lit corridors, the building’s carbon emissions close to the world’s energy, whether they suc- on global warming. in the fi rst half of 2020, and will supply heaters and recycles its waste while lodge is entirely off grid, and off ers vis- zero. ceed or fail will have a huge impact on But renewables are far from the power to about 110,000 homes while also prioritising environmental educa- itors the chance to feast on vegetarian The structure is part of a wider ef- if the world’s climate goals are met. norm in most of the country. displacing 360,000 tonnes of carbon tion, he said. food, stargaze or learn to bake bread fort by mosques — and many other In Amman, the push to make Jordan still imports close to 96% of dioxide annually, a statement from “We hold awareness sessions for beneath the hot sand. buildings in the city — to capitalise on mosques greener — which began in its energy, most of it polluting fossil Masdar said. students, parents and teachers here to Manager Nabil Tarazi said the Jordan’s plentiful sunshine and shift 2014, with backing from the Ministry fuels, from its Middle Eastern neigh- On the other side of the city, the Al- ensure they know the benefi ts of going lodge’s daily energy consumption was towards renewable energy, in a bid to of Religious Aff airs — has been so suc- bours, according to the World Bank. Hoff az international academy — one of green and using renewable energy,” al- less than that of a two-bedroom apart- achieve Amman’s goal of becoming a cessful that many are now selling ex- Government offi cials say they are the fi rst schools to go solar in Amman, Salaymah told the Thomson Reuters ment in Amman. carbon neutral city by 2050. cess energy back to the national grid, going to change that. in 2013 — now gets almost 95 % of its Foundation. The lodge is part of a string of build- “Almost all the mosques here in Jor- Ismail said. “We are committed to reducing our energy from renewable sources, said “It’s not just installing solar panels. ings backed by Jordan’s Royal Soci- dan now cover 100% of their energy For the Ta’la Al-Ali mosque’s imam, greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by Khaled al-Salaymah, assistant general We want to be green in every way.” ety for the Conservation of Nature needs” with renewable power, said Ya- who speaks to the faithful in his Friday 2030,” Minister of Environment Nayef manager of the school. He said he had noticed a rise in so- (RSCN), including a similar resort zan Ismail, an energy auditor at ETA- sermons about protecting the climate, Hmeidi al-Fayez told the Thomson At Al Hoff az, children in orange and cial awareness of the risks of climate north of Amman in the protected for- max Energy and Environmental Solu- the decision to adopt clean energy co- Reuters Foundation. black uniforms chant their times-ta- change, particularly among young Jor- est reserve of Ajloun.

Lebanese govt talks hit snag over representation

Reuters major hurdle was cleared on Beirut Monday when a row over Christian representation was settled with the staunchly ebanon’s Hezbollah anti-Hezbollah Christian pressed a demand for Lebanese Forces ceding Lone of its allies to be ground to President Michel given a post in a new gov- Aoun and his Free Patriotic ernment yesterday as poli- Movement, a Hezbollah ally. ticians sought a compro- Hezbollah is insisting one mise to a standoff pitting of its allies be made a min- the group against prime ister to refl ect the result of minister-designate Saad an election in which Hariri al-Hariri. lost more than a third of his Hariri, Lebanon’s main seats, many of them to allies politician, is trying to clinch of Hezbollah. a deal on a national unity “Our view is that their government more than fi ve demand is just and we stand months since a general elec- by them,” senior Hezbollah tion that produced a par- offi cial Hussein Khalil said liament tilted in favour of in comments after meeting Hezbollah and its allies. A with the group’s allies. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 13 AFRICA

WILDFIRES CRACKDOWN POLITICS RACIST RELEASED SA blazes kill 7, including Nigeria protester killed as Guinea opposition leader Social media storm over Cameroon frees opposition baby, pregnant woman police fire on march blocked from protest ‘maid’ and ‘gardener’ mugs militants from detention

Raging wildfires have killed seven people including a Police yesterday opened fire at Shia protesters Police in Guinea yesterdya surrounded the A major South African supermarket has removed Cameroon off icials yesterday released 16 baby and a pregnant woman in a farming settlement demanding the release of their leader in the home of the country’s main opposition leader, mugs with “maid” and “gardener” written on opposition activists who had been detained at along South Africa’s famed Garden Route, disaster Nigerian capital Abuja, killing one, the religious Cellou Dalein Diallo, preventing him from joining them from one of its stores after they prompted the weekend as they protested the re-election management services have said. Firefighters have group said. Troops had fired on a march on a new anti-government protest in the capital social media outrage over racism. The Twitter of longtime ruler Paul Biya in disputed October been battling to quell the blazes that started last Monday by members of the Islamic Movement Conakry. At least five of Diallo’s supporters were storm erupted after a user posted a photo of the 7 polls, their party said. “All 16 were freed. I am week along the southern tourist trail. “So far we have of Nigeria (IMN). Police yesterday attempted injured yesterdya in clashes near his home with mugs, one that said “The Maid” and had a picture with some of them,” Movement for the Rebirth of confirmed that there are seven fatalities of which to stop hundreds of IMN members as they police armed with clubs, shields and grenade of a feather duster, and another that said “The Cameroon deputy treasurer Joseph Okala Ebode one is a woman who was eight months pregnant,” headed towards the centre of Abuja. They were launchers, an AFP correspondent at the scene Gardener” and had a picture of a watering can. told AFP. They were arrested Sunday during an Colin Deiner, head of Western Cape provincial demanding the release of their leader Ibrahim reported. “We are here to prevent Mr Dalein The controversy surrounding the mugs harks unauthorised march called to protest the vote, disaster management services, told AFP. He added Zakzaky, who has been jailed since December Diallo from leaving his home and going to an back to the country’s brutal apartheid past, in which MRC candidate Maurice Kamto placed that a baby was among the dead. “They were 2015. When marchers refused to turn back, unauthorised march. It’s not an order to mess whereby blacks and whites were separated and second with 14.23% of the ballots cast according trapped in Farleigh, it’s a small settlement in the police fired tear gas on the crowd. The protesters around with and if anyone tries to ignore it, he blacks discriminated against. Retailer Pick n to election off icials. Biya was credited with 71.28 mountains between George and Knysna,” he said. responded by hurling rocks, and the police will be subdued,” a police off icial who requested Pay responded, saying that the mugs have been %, but the poll was marred by allegations of “That’s where we found the bodies today.” opened fire, according to a Reuters witness. anonymity told AFP. taken off the shelves. widespread fraud, low voter turnout, and violence.

Zimbabwe farmers feel the heat of fi res — and price hikes

Reuters Harare

n extended dry season, runaway wildfi res and a lack of foreign cur- Arency for maize seed, fertiliser and fuel suggest Zimbabwe’s small-scale farmers may face a tough growing season ahead, offi cials and farmers say. Burning of fi elds — to clear them and fertilise them with ash — is a common practice in Zimbabwe. But the country has seen a surge in ar- eas burned this year, compared to last, German Chancellor Angela Merkelis joined by heads of states of African countries and other dignitaries ahead of the ‘G20 Compact with Africa’ summit at the Chancellery in Berlin yesterday. in part as dry conditions allow fi res to spread, according to the national Envi- ronmental Management Agency (EMA). Some farmers also fear they will not be able to aff ord to buy commercial fertiliser this year so are turning to setting fi res for ash and to prepare their fi elds, said Will- son Chimwedzi, director of FireFight Trust, a non-governmental organisation. Merkel eyes Africa to cement “Because of economic hardship many do not have diesel for tillage and so for them the only option is burning. There is also the belief that burning releases pot- ash which is good for plant growth,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Fire season starts in Zimbabwe at the legacy shaped by migration end of July and normally ends around October 31. Reuters The Berlin summit, attended by 12 economic outlook,” Merkel said in her Merkel needs results fast if she is to East as well as Africa as an unavoid- During the fi rst two months of the Berlin presidents and prime ministers in- opening speech, announcing the fund ensure the leadership of her Christian able necessity driven by the vast scale season, more than 700,000 hectares cluding Egypt’s Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, to help small and medium-sized en- Democrats passes to a centrist ally, of the human tide. burned, compared to 580,000 hectares South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa, Ethi- terprises from both Europe and Africa such as current general secretary An- The crisis upturned European poli- during all of last year’s three-month fi re erman Chancellor Angela Mer- opia’s Abiy Ahmed and Rwanda’s Paul to invest on the continent. negret Kramp-Karrenbauer, although tics, revitalising the Alternative for season, said EMA spokesman Rambwayi kel yesterday pledged a new de- Kagame, is designed to showcase the The 119,000 Africans who arrived she has declined to back anyone open- Germany (AfD) party, whose demand Mapako. Gvelopment fund to tackle unem- continent as a stable destination for in Europe in 2018, according to the ly. that the country shut its borders to By early October, more than a million ployment in Africa, a problem spurring German investment. International Organisation for Migra- Germany has introduced tax incen- migrants helped to fuel its surge into hectares of land had burned, according to the mass migration that has shaped her International Monetary Fund man- tion, are the tip of the iceberg. tives for its companies to set up plants parliament in last year’s election. the Environmental Management Agency. long premiership as it nears its end. aging director Christine Lagarde is International Labour Organisation in Africa, refl ecting her view that state A successful outcome to the sum- Mapako said fi rebreaks — areas cleared Merkel hosted a summit of African also there, along with a host of inter- fi gures show that 16mn migrants were aid must give way to private invest- mit may help to strengthen Merkel’s to stop runaway fi res — were now in place leaders a day after announcing she national development offi cials. on the move within Africa in 2014. ment if jobs are to be created in their case for remaining chancellor even on about 100,000 hectares of farmland. would retire from politics by 2021, The aim is to create good jobs for While European Union countries millions. after stepping down from the party The country’s Meteorological Services sending shockwaves across Europe Africans, easing the poverty which, invested $22bn in Africa in 2017, This would be part of a “Marshall leadership, and could quieten her coa- Department (MSD) has forecast that the and starting a race to succeed her. along with political instability and vi- breakneck economic growth will be Plan for Africa” — named after the lition partners in Bavaria’s conserva- dry season is likely to extend to late No- She needs the Compact with Af- olence, has encouraged large numbers needed to help bring down the mi- US-funded plan that helped to rebuild tive CSU and the Social Democrats vember, putting more land under threat. rica summit to show that progress has to head for Europe. grant numbers. European states including Germany (SPD). Small-scale farmers such as Ndaba been made in addressing the after- But with Africa’s population grow- Berlin hopes Germany’s manufac- after World War II — that she sees as All three parties have suff ered pun- Sithole, who owns a 10-hectare piece math of one of the defi ning moments ing at almost 3% a year, the task is turing-based economy, which drove central to her legacy. ishing setbacks in regional elections land he received from the government of her 13 years in power: her 2015 deci- enormous. Eastern Europe’s rapid economic Merkel presented her decision to this month, building internal party under the country’s land reform pro- sion to open Germany’s doors to more “We Europeans have a great inter- growth after the 1989 collapse of open Germany’s borders to refugees pressure for them to switch leaders or gram, said clearing land using fi re has than a million refugees. est in African states having a bright communism, could turn things round. fl eeing war and poverty in the Middle break up the coalition. had unintended consequences for some farmers. “We all do it here but it becomes hell when there is sudden wind — this has burned down homesteads and livestock,” the farmer in Ruwa, about 22km south- east of the capital city Harare, told the Presidential vote embitters poor Madagascans Thomson Reuters Foundation. A fi re he set on his fi elds also burned a neighbour’s farmland and destroyed sev- By Tsiresena Manjakahery, AFP One exception is minister-turned- eral huts, he said. Antananarivo candidate Paul Rabary. But he said farmers would continue “Vote for change and I promise you burning, despite the risks. a better future,” he told passersby. “Ashes from the burned areas helps f I was to vote, I would defi nitely “We appreciate the candidates who enrich the soil when the rains come,” he vote for the rubbish bins because come to see us like that, but the priority said. “I cannot aff ord fertiliser.” Iat least they feed us,” scoff ed for us is that they increase wages once The country’s Environmental Man- Claudine Rajaonarison. She had been they’re in power,” said Jean Fabrice Ra- agement Agency has stationed offi cers scouring the streets of Antananarivo kotonihaina, a 19-year-old dustman across the country to try to stop farmers since 4am for plastic to sell. employed by the local council. starting fi res, but penalties remain weak. Rajaonarison, a 35-year-old mother “If the politicians did their jobs State media reported earlier this of three, said she will not be voting for properly I wouldn’t be reduced to col- month that a man found guilty of burn- Madagascar’s next president in the lecting rubbish — I’d be able to study ing 20 hectares of land — in a fi re he November 7 poll. for a better future.” set, but which got out of control — was Not one of the 36 candidates has “Currently, because of a lack of re- handed a fi ne of two goats by a commu- impressed her. sources, young girls don’t go to school nity court. “The candidates are vying for and fall pregnant very early, at 12, 13 According to national law, intention- power for themselves — not the well- or 15” years old, said security guard ally setting a fi re carries a fi ne of up to being of the country,” she said, a large Bruneau Rakotomanga, 43. $5,000 per hectare burned. sack of rice on her shoulders as she “The majority of electors are poor The combination of runaway fi res struggled to sift through piles of rub- and it’s the poor who enable politi- and lack of farm inputs could make the bish with her children alongside a rail- cians to get into power, but once there, country less food secure this year, the way line. the fat vultures forget who helped country’s climate change ministry has She then washed her haul of two them succeed,” he added angrily. warned. dozen plastic bottles to be sold for This year three former presidents — Small farmers produce about 80% of the 1,000 ariary ($0.30), enough for Marc Ravalomanana, Andry Rajoelina country’s staple maize crop, according to 400gm of rice for her family who sleep and Hery Rajaonarimampianina — are the state-owned Grain Marketing Board. outside surrounded by rats. seeking voter’s approval. Lack of adequate foreign currency to pro- With a poverty rate of 76.2%, The trio of frontrunners have criss- duce the raw materials for fertiliser means Madagascar, a former French colony, crossed the southwest Indian Ocean the price of a 50kg bag has more than dou- is one of the world’s poorest countries island nation by helicopter. bled in a matter of weeks, farmers said. according to World Bank data. But Paul Rabary has been travelling Locals stand in front of a garbage heap in Manjakaray, one of the poorest, most unhealthy and insecure districts of Early this year, fertiliser manufactur- It is the only country not rocked by by foot and motorcycle to woo electors. Malagasy capital, Antananarivo. ers told government offi cials they needed war to have become poorer since in- After spending three hours shaking $120mn in foreign currency to pay for dependence according to researcher hands in the impoverished Manjaka- A rival, musician Zafi mahaleo Ra- movement from April to June, 100 Her house lies in the path of a new imported raw materials. Francois Roubaud who co-authored ray district where he found crowds solofondrasolo who is better known families gathered on October 17 to de- motorway and is slated for destruc- Violet Makoto, a spokeswoman for the Enigma and paradox: Madagascar’s keen to receive free T-shirts and hats, by his stage name Dama, blamed nounce hardships on the UN’s global tion. “We don’t have qualifi cations to government Forestry Commission, said political economy. Rabary could not hide his despair. Madagascar’s poverty crisis on “a anti-poverty day. get proper jobs. It’s the rubbish that farmers needed to stop burning fi elds, Presidential hopefuls rarely ven- “It pains me that we have reduced governing system concentrated in the “Please save our home, save our live- has sustained us for 16 years,” the not least because the loss of trees and ture into the capital’s giant slums our people to such a level,” chasing af- hands of the elite.” lihood, we don’t know where we’ll go 43-year-old mother said. other vegetation was interfering with even when their campaigns are in full ter T-shirts, scarves and hats, he said. In Antananarivo’s May 13 square, once our home is demolished,” Justine “If the state orders us out, will they rain patterns, making drought more swing. “It’s inhumane.” home to an anti-government protest Hanitrarivo told the crowd that day. relocate us to another dump?” problematic. Gulf Times 14 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 AMERICAS

GORY FIND CRIME AND PUNISHMENT STAYING ALIVE JUSTICE 31-YEAR-SAGA Bodies of two sisters found Convict executed despite Nasa will keep trying to Supreme Court asked to Canadian mum reunited taped together on river bank ‘intellectual disability’ contact stalled Mars rover halt trial over census with abducted son

Police in New York yesterday searched for clues A 56-year-old American man was executed by Nasa has changed its mind about how long it President Donald Trump’s administration asked A Canadian mother has been reunited with to what, or who, killed two sisters whose bodies lethal injection in South Dakota on Monday will continue to seek contact with an ageing the US Supreme Court on Monday to postpone her son abducted three decades earlier by his were found duct-taped together on the banks of for killing a prison guard, despite pleas he was robotic vehicle that was blanketed in a dust a trial set for November 5 that will examine the father, whom police said on Monday fled with the Hudson River in Manhattan. The two young intellectually disabled and legally exempt from storm on Mars back in June and has been stalled legality of its decision to ask people taking part in the boy to the US and raised him under an alias. women, identified as Rotana Farea, 22, and her the punishment. Rodney Berget was executed ever since. “After a review of the progress of the the 2020 US census whether they are citizens. The Now 33, Jermaine Mann met his mother Lyneth sister Tala, 16, were found on the banks of the 18 years after his brother met the same fate in listening campaign, Nasa will continue its current administration is asking for the trial to be placed Mann-Lewis for the first time last week while his Hudson last week with no visible signs of trauma, Oklahoma for killing a man whose car he was strategy for attempting to make contact with the on hold until the Supreme Court resolves a dispute father was taken into US custody. At a Toronto dressed all in black, with fur-trimmed coat attempting to steal. Berget was condemned to Opportunity rover for the foreseeable future,” over evidence, including whether Commerce press conference, Mann-Lewis broke down in collars, and bound together at the ankles and death in 2012 for murdering the guard during a said a statement posted on Nasa’s website late Secretary Wilbur Ross, whose department oversees tears as she described the ordeal. “It’s been a waist by duct tape. New York and Arab media failed escape bid, while serving a life sentence on Monday. “Winds could increase in the next the census, can be forced to answer questions long and hard 31-year journey since my son said the sisters, who had run away from home for two attempted murders and a rape. At his few months at Opportunity’s location on Mars, about the politically charged decision. On Friday, was abducted,” she said. “Today with utmost before, were of Saudi origin but their family was trial, Berget said: “I believe I deserve the death resulting in dust being blown off the rover’s solar Manhattan US District Judge Jesse Furman, who happiness, I am here to share with you the end of living in Fairfax, Virginia. The Saudi embassy in penalty for what I have done.” Despite that, his panels. The agency will reassess the situation in will preside over the trial, and a federal appeals our journey and (to say) the constant worrying is Washington declined comment. execution was delayed by several appeals. the January 2019 time frame.” court both refused to postpone the trial. finally over.” Pittsburgh massacre Trump pushes ‘executive’ end victims mourned to birthright Reuters Pittsburgh citizenship rieving families and friends gathered yesterday for the fi rst Gfunerals for victims of a mass Reuters citizenship for children born in the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, Washington United States if their parents were in as protesters prepared for a visit by US the United States illegally. President Donald Trump amid accusa- But the legislation has never ad- tions his rhetoric had encouraged anti- resident Donald Trump said he vanced, even when the House of Rep- Semitic extremists. will seek to limit the right of resentatives or Senate was under Re- Mourners from across the United Pcitizenship for certain children publican control. States went to the Rodef Shalom syna- born in the United States in a new Neither Graham nor Trump gave gogue to pay their respects to David bid to dramatically reshape immigra- any details about the latest plan, and Rosenthal, 54, and Cecil Rosenthal, 59. tion policies that was likely to spark a the White House did not respond to a The two brothers were among the congressional battle. request for comment. 11 mostly elderly congregants shot to Seeking to shore up support for Re- Vice President Mike Pence said death on Saturday at the Tree of Life publicans ahead of the congressional the plan may not be unconstitu- synagogue in the Pennsylvania city’s elections next week, Trump told the tional, telling Politico in an interview Squirrel Hill section. Axios news website he would try to that while “we all cherish” the 14th Funerals were also being held for Jer- end the right of citizenship for US- amendment, the nation’s top court ry Rabinowitz, 66, and Daniel Stein, 71. born children of non-citizens and il- has not weighed in on the issue en- “Words can’t describe it. It’s so legal immigrants. tirely. tragic. The world we live in leaves indi- The president said in an interview “But the Supreme Court of the viduals who are so deranged to take ac- published yesterday that he would United States has never ruled on tions like this,” Bob Farrow, who knows make the move through an execu- whether or not the language of the members of the Rosenthal family, said tive order, but citizenship is granted 14th amendment, subject to the ju- outside the Rodef Shalom temple. to US-born children under the 14th risdiction thereof, applies specifi - “Everyone wants to show their sup- Amendment of the Constitution, cally to people who are in the country port of the Jewish community,” said People gather for a candlelight vigil held following a shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue, in Queens, New York on Monday. which cannot be changed by the illegally,” Pence said. Farrow, who is not Jewish. president. That would require action The 14th Amendment allows for Robert Bowers is accused of storm- would visit hospitalized police offi c- ers — Republican Senate Majority to travel to Pittsburgh on such short by Congress and US states. “all persons born or naturalised in ing into the synagogue yelling “All Jews ers and other people wounded in the Leader Mitch McConnell, Democratic notice. One member of Congress, Repub- the United States, and subject to the must die” and opening fi re on members shooting. Senate leader Chuck Schumer, Repub- Trump’s visit comes just a week lican US Senator Lindsey Graham jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of of three congregations holding Sabbath “I’m just going to pay my respects,” lican House of Representatives Speak- ahead of elections that will determine said he would move forward to in- the United States and of the State prayer services there. Trump told Fox News on Monday night. er Paul Ryan and House Democratic the balance of power between the Re- troduce legislation “along the same wherein they reside.” A federal judge on Monday ordered “I would have done it even sooner, leader Nancy Pelosi — declined to join publican and Democratic parties in the lines” as Trump’s order. A legal challenge would prompt the Bowers, 46, held without bail. but I didn’t want to disrupt anymore Trump in Pittsburgh, a source familiar US Congress. At least since 2005, Republicans in nation’s courts to weigh in on what The attack, which the Anti-De- than they already had disruption.” with the planning said. The Republicans currently control the US Congress have regularly of- would be one of the most sweeping famaThe Republican president said he The top four US congressional lead- An aide to Ryan said he was not able both the Senate and House. fered legislation ending birthright moves of the Trump administration.

Defence fi rms see only hundreds of Soviet-era moon rocks could new US jobs from Saudi mega deal reach $1mn at NY auction

Every time President Donald which includes the workforce Wealthy space buff s will have the chance Trump mentions the $110bn projections related to the Thousands of US troops to own three small particles of lunar mat- arms deal he negotiated with Saudi deal, and interviews ter when what Sotheby’s describes as the Saudi Arabia last year, he with defence industry sources only known documented “moon rocks” to quickly follows up, saying “It’s familiar with the arms pack- be legally available for private ownership 500,000 jobs.” age suggest that between hit the auction block in November. But if he means new US 20,000 and 40,000 current US head for southern border Sotheby’s said yesterday it expects the defence jobs, an internal defence industry workers could fragments, retrieved from the moon by a document seen by Reuters from be involved in Saudi-bound Soviet space mission in 1970, could fetch Lockheed Martin forecasts few- production if the whole $110bn By Thomas Watkins, AFP build tent cities, we’re gonna between $700,000 to $1mn at the Novem- er than 1,000 positions would package goes through. Washington build tents all over the place,” ber 29 auction in New York. be created by the defence con- Existing workers typically are Trump said in an interview The pieces — a basalt fragment, similar tractor, which could potentially experienced, skilled, who can with Fox News. to most of the Earth’s volcanic rock, and deliver around $28bn of goods be redeployed more easily than he Pentagon is deploy- “We’re not gonna build bits of surface debris known as regolith — in the deal. new hires who would require ing 5,200 active-duty structures and spend all of are being sold by an unidentified private Lockheed instead predicts significant upfront investment Ttroops to beef up se- these hundreds of millions American collector who purchased them the deal could create nearly in their training. curity along the US-Mexico of dollars. We’re gonna have in 1993. 10,000 new jobs in Saudi Ara- One significant caveat to any border, offi cials announced tents, they’re gonna be very Sotheby’s said in a statement they bia, while keeping up to 18,000 predictions on job creation is Monday, in a bid to prevent a nice, and they’re going to were first sold in 1993 by Nina Ivanovna existing US workers busy if the whether all of the missile de- caravan of Central American wait, and if they don’t get Koroleva, the widow of former Soviet whole package comes together fences and radars, ships, tanks, migrants from illegally cross- asylum, they get out,” he said. space program director Sergei Pavlovich — an outcome experts say is software, bombs and other ing the frontier. Even as US offi cials un- Korolev. unlikely. equipment listed in the full The move represents a veiled details of the military The fragments, ranging in size from A person familiar with US Saudi package get delivered. massive military buildup deployment, migrants were about 2mmx2mm to.1mmx1mm, were defence company Raytheon Interviews with people fa- along the border, where some trying to cross the Suchiate presented to her as a gift on behalf of the Co’s planning said if the Saudi miliar with other major defence 2,000 National Guards- River from Guatemala into Soviet Union in recognition of her late order were executed it could contractors’ plans and esti- men are already working to Mexico on rafts made from A mural painted by Brazilian street artist Eduardo Kobra in husband’s contributions to the program. help to sustain about 10,000 mates reflect similar dynamic provide assistance to over- truck tires, or by forming New York City. The Statue of Liberty, an icon of freedom and Sotheby’s said that the particles, en- US jobs, but the number of new as Lockheed’s and Raytheon’s whelmed authorities. human chains to avoid being the United States, has been a welcoming sight to immigrants cased under glass with a Russian plaque, jobs created would be a small plans — relatively minor addi- Trump in recent weeks has swept away. arriving from abroad. are both the only known lunar sample to percentage of that figure. tions to their US workforce and repeatedly said more troops Others swam across after have ever been off icially gifted to a private Lockheed Martin Corp de- more significant build-up in are needed to tighten border Mexican authorities refused Trump last week expressed Trump has been cam- party, and with documented provenance clined to comment on the Saudi Saudi Arabia. security, and he has made to open a border bridge. frustration that the issue, paigning intensively for to be available for private ownership. package. Since Trump’s trip to the king- political capital of the cara- McAleenan described the which had been attracting weeks, frequently hammer- Collectors pay huge sums for space Raytheon Chief Financial dom last year, little economic van ahead of crucial midterm situation along the US-Mexi- growing cable news attention, ing on the migrant caravan exploration artifacts. Off icer Toby O’Brien said last activity has taken place beyond congressional elections that co frontier as a “border secu- had slipped from front pages issue and stoking anti-im- Last year Sotheby’s sold a zippered bag week that hiring overall is grow- Lockheed’s work on four frig- could see the Democrats re- rity and humanitarian crisis,” as top fi gures in the Demo- migrant concerns among stamped with the words ‘Lunar Sample ing, but he did not pin it to any ates the Saudis have ordered. gain some degree of power. and said border agents over cratic Party were targeted by a voters. Return’ laced with moon dust which particular program. The order will yield nearly According to US Customs the past three weeks had ap- series of mail bombs. He is expected to hold 11 was used by Neil Armstrong for the first The White House did not 10,000 jobs in the Saudi ports and Border Protection Com- prehended about 1,900 peo- He took to Twitter on rallies in the days ahead of manned mission to the moon in 1969, for respond to a request for com- for maintenance workers, but missioner Kevin McAleenan, ple per day illegally crossing. Monday to again blast the the November 6 midterms, $1.8mn. ment. only 500 new US jobs will be US authorities are tracking “Over half of these arrivals migrant caravan, which is which Washington pundits That sale took place after Nasa lost a Jobs are important to Trump. created, according to docu- a group of about 3,500 peo- have been made up of fam- comprised mainly of Hon- are characterising as a refer- court battle to retrieve the artefact from a He campaigned on his ability ments seen by Reuters. ple travelling north through ily units and unaccompanied durans — many of whom are endum on his presidency. private collection. to create American jobs, espe- Given that, 20,000 to the Chiapas-Oaxaca area in children who place themselves fl eeing horrifi c gang violence. The American Civil Liber- Most other known samples taken from cially high-paying manufactur- 40,000 sustained or new southern Mexico. in the hands of violent human “Many Gang Members ties Union blasted Trump’s the moon remain with the two entities that ing ones. jobs could generate between Additionally, offi cials were smugglers, paying 7,000 (dol- and some very bad people decision to send troops, call- collected them: the United States during Meanwhile he has limited his about 64,000 to 128,000 jobs monitoring another group of lars) per person to make the are mixed into the Caravan ing the move a political one the Apollo 11-17 missions and the Soviet criticism of Saudi leadership in related industries, Reuters about 3,000 people that had journey,” McAleenan said. heading to our Southern Bor- to fuel “his anti-immigrant Union via the unmanned Luna-16, Luna-20, over the killing of a prominent calculations show, bringing gathered at a border cross- The massive deployment der,” Trump wrote without agenda of fear and division” and Luna-24 missions. critic because he did not want the total of sustained and new ing between Guatemala and marks a sharp increase from providing evidence, dou- ahead of the midterms. A number of other countries were to endanger the massive arms jobs to between 84,000 and Mexico. initial estimates last week, bling down on the hardline “These migrants need gifted with Apollo 11 samples and Apollo deal. 168,000. Trump said Monday night when US offi cials said about anti-immigrant rhetoric that water, diapers, and basic ne- 17 goodwill moon rocks on behalf on the Trump’s 500,000 figure has In short, 500,000 jobs Trump that his administration plans 800 active-duty troops helped fuel his 2016 election cessities — not an army di- Nixon administration, and in most places been greeted with widespread keeps bringing up is at least to build tent cities for mi- would head south. victory. vision,” ACLU lawyer Shaw the law bars transferring such gifts to scepticism given the five big- three to five times higher than grants that do reach the bor- It means that within “Please go back, you will Drake said. individuals. gest US defence contractors, what one could expect from the der and ask for asylum. days, the US military will not be admitted into the The Democrats, for their The particles being sold in November who make nearly every item Saudi deal, given the estimates “If they apply for asylum, have more than three times United States unless you go part, have been caught largely were retrieved in September 1970 by on the Saudi list, now employ from the companies them- we’re going to hold them as many troops along the through the legal process. fl at-footed by Trump’s mes- Luna-16 which drilled a hole in the surface 383,000 people. selves, plus the most generous until such time as their trial southern border as it does This is an invasion of our saging on the caravan and to a depth of 35cm and extracted a core The Lockheed document, use of the indirect multiplier. takes place. We’re going to fi ghting the Islamic State Country and our Military is struggled to present coherent sample. hold them, we’re going to group in Syria. waiting for you!” alternatives. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 15 ASIA

Maldives Thousands of Lankans rally top court stays arrest order in support of ousted PM against Reuters Sirisena. We voted him as the Colombo president to ensure democracy,” said P Ariyadasa, a 62-year-old ex-leader farmer from Mesawachchiya, ore than 10,000 pro- 230km from Colombo. testing supporters Sirisena maintains his sack- IANS Mof Sri Lanka’s ousted ing of Wickremesinghe without Male prime minister, Ranil Wick- the approval of parliament was remesinghe, brought parts constitutional. of the capital, Colombo, to a The government’s new he Maldives Supreme standstill yesterday as political spokesman, Mahinda Samar- Court yesterday stayed turmoil on the island entered its asinghe, told a news confer- Tan arrest order against fi fth day. ence that Sirisena had met former president Mohamed Sri Lanka was plunged into foreign diplomats on Monday Nasheed, paving the way for crisis on Friday when President and told them the constitu- the return of the self-exiled Maithripala Sirisena sacked tion allowed for the removal of politician to the country later Wickremesinghe and swore Wickremesinghe. this week. in ex-president Mahinda Ra- Sirisena named a new cabinet On Monday, the prosecutor japakse to replace him, breaking on Monday with Rajapakse in general’s offi ce had requested up a fragile coalition governing charge of fi nance. the top court to review the ter- the country. Rajapakse’s crushing of a 26- rorism conviction and prison Sirisena also suspended par- year insurgency by ethnic Tamil sentence of 13 years awarded to liament, to the fury of Wick- separatists in 2009 won him Nasheed, Efe news reported. remesinghe’s supporters, who support among the island na- “The Maldives Supreme say the president is trying tion’s Sinhalese majority, and Court orders to delay Nash- to prevent lawmakers from he has a strong following. eed’s sentence and orders on keeping him in power. Some of Wickremesinghe’s relevant state authorities to Yesterday, thousands of pro- ousted ministers have refused not take measures against testers gathered near Wick- to accept his sacking. Nasheed till the court comes remesinghe’s residence to hear On Sunday, former oil minis- to a decision following a re- the ousted prime minister ter Arjuna Ranatunga attempt- view of his case,” the court speak, holding signs demand- ed to enter his offi ce, leading to order read. ing that Sirisena to preserve violence that left two dead. “The Supreme Court has been democracy. The speaker of parliament, requested for a judicial review of “He has broken his promise Karu Jayasuriya, has also re- the decision made by the crimi- and taken the executive powers fused to recognise Rajapakse as nal court and appellate courts into his hands,” Wickremesin- the new prime minister, warn- against Mohamed Nasheed,” ghe told the crowd, referring to ing of “bloodshed” if the stand- Ranil Wickremesinghe (third left ) waves at his supporters with his party members during a protest against his removal, near the Prime the prosecutor general’s offi ce Sirisena. off moves to the streets. Minister’s off icial residence in Colombo yesterday. said in a statement, adding that “He has sidelined The power struggle in Sri the step was taken in “public parliamentary power.” Lanka comes at a critical time interest”. The crowd, which police es- for its economy, with credit rat- Nasheed had announced timated at more than 10,000, ing agencies warning that tur- that he will return to Maldives blocked several roads in the moil could raise fi nancing costs Speaker urges president to convene parliament on November 1 after the op- city centre neighbourhood that and lower foreign capital in- position, led by his Maldivian includes embassies, high-end fl ows as it attempts to refi nance Democratic Party (MDP), had stores and hotels, according to sizeable government debts. ri Lanka’s Parliament Sirisena that he had received a tors from the United National Speaker Jayasuriya in the Par- registered a surprise victory in a witness. Sri Lanka is also a key state in Speaker Karu Jayasuriya letter with the signature of 125 Party, Tamil National Alliance, liamentary Complex earlier in elections held in September. “This is a coup. It has all a battle for infl uence in south Syesterday urged President legislators urging him to con- Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna the day, voicing their concerns. Nasheed, the fi rst democrat- the characteristics of a coup,” Asia between traditional ally Maithripala Sirisena to convene vene parliament in order to and the Sri Lanka Muslim Con- A government offi cial said ically-elected President of the one of the protesters, Deep- India and China. The Chinese parliament immediately to re- hand over the government to gress had made requests to con- the speaker had informed them country, was forced to resign in anjalie Abeywardene, said, government has been one of solve the political crisis in the the party which had the majori- vene parliament. that he would meet Sirisena 2012 and was sentenced three while holding a sign which read the few to congratulate the pro- country. ty support, Xinhua news agency Amid a political crisis in the later in the day and request years later for the illegal deten- “reconvene the parliament”. Beijing Rajapakse on becoming Jayasuriya, in a formal letter reported. island country, political party him to convene parliament on tion of a judge during his term in “This is a third-grade act by prime minister. sent to the president, informed The Speaker said legisla- leaders held a meeting with Friday. (IANS) a controversial trial. In September, the opposition, led by Nasheed’s close aide Mo- hamed Solih, defeated incum- bent President Abdulla Yameen, paving the way for the return of Ban on political activity to be Nasheed, who was barred from Bangladesh contesting the elections. Following Solih’s victory, lifted by December: Thai PM courts in the Maldives had freed former dictator Maumoon Ab- Reuters ahead of a general election the Bangkok-based royalist dul Gayoom and other political court doubles Chiang Rai due by May next year but establishment. prisoners, most of whom were still maintain a ban on pub- Political parties are gear- arrested on terrorism charges lic gathering of more than ing up for next year’s general during a political crisis in Feb- hai Prime Minister fi ve people and political election, being held under a ruary despite the Supreme court Prayut Chan-o-cha campaigning. military-drafted constitu- annulling the conviction of op- jail term for Tsaid yesterday a ban on “On the lifting of the ban tion that critics say will pro- position leaders, including that political activity will be lifted on political activities, we long military infl uence over of Nasheed. by December in anticipation will consider it sometime at civilian politics. Meanwhile, Nasheed’s MDP of a general election next year. the end of November or early Last month, Prayut said and other parties in the coalition The military government December depending on suit- he was interested in having a were planning a grand welcome BNP leader has imposed a strict ban on ability,” Prayut told reporters political role after the general for the leader tomorrow. BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia all political activity since a after a meeting of his cabinet election, fuelling speculation 2014 military coup, citing the was held in the northern town he aims to stay on as prime AFP The Bangladesh Nationalist grenade attack on a Hasina po- need for peace and order af- of Chiang Rai. minister. Dhaka Party (BNP) protested litical rally. He lives in exile in ter months of street protests The ban forbids all po- Four of his cabinet minis- against the decision London. against a civilian government litical activity including the ters have launched a political and vowed nationwide In recent months, Zia’s health of prime minister Yingluck holding of gatherings and party that could back Prayut. Bangladesh court yester- demonstrations has deteriorated inside the aban- Shinawatra. campaigning. On Sunday, Thaksin’s old day doubled a jail term for doned 19th-century jail where Opponents of military rule The junta has said the ban Puea Thai Party chose new Aimprisoned opposition in a general election slated for she is the only inmate. A physi- say the ban, backed up by le- on political activity has been leaders to take it into the leader Khaleda Zia from fi ve to December. cian said she was suff ering from gal action against those who necessary to preserve stabil- election. 10 years for what her supporters Zia boycotted the 2014 gen- diabetes and that arthritis had violate it, has stifl ed dissent. ity after more than a decade An election date has not say are trumped-up corruption eral election which Hasina won, rendered her left hand useless. Last month, the govern- of at times violent rivalry be- been set but senior gov- charges. sparking violence across the Lawyers for Zia, widow of ment relaxed some restric- tween supporters of ousted ernment offi cial have said The decision came a day after Muslim-majority democracy of assassinated military dictator tions, allowing political par- premiers Thaksin Shinawatra, that it would likely be on Zia, arch-rival of Prime Minis- 160mn. Ziaur Rahman, have accused ties to resume organising and his sister, Yingluck, and February 24. Mohamed Nasheed ter Sheikh Hasina, was handed The latest court ruling deals a the government of putting her a separate seven-year term for crushing blow to the BNP and its health at risk by refusing her other graft charges. embattled leader, who is running specialised care in prison. The prosecution said that out of time to appeal the courts The latest verdict throws up Zia, 73, will serve the sentenc- to let her run. more hurdles for the opposition, es concurrently. Her lawyers “She cannot contest the elec- which says 4,000 of its sup- said the former prime minister tions unless the conviction is porters have been arrested since Repatriation of Rohingya would appeal the latest ruling in set aside by a higher court,” September in a pre-election Bangladesh’s highest court. Bangladesh’s attorney general crackdown. The Bangladesh Nationalist Mahbubey Alam said. Hasina’s rule has been marred Party (BNP), which Zia has led Her lawyer, Sanaullah Mia, by allegations of stifl ing dissent. from Dhaka Central Jail since said Zia questioned whether her Critics of her administration, refugees to begin in Nov being incarcerated in Febru- appeal would get a fair hearing in including a prominent photo- ary, protested against the de- the Supreme Court. journalist and lawyers and jour- AFP cide in Rakhine state, but the mid-November,” Bangladesh anmar without guaranteed cision and vowed nationwide “She had already expressed nalists, have been detained since Dhaka country has rejected these calls, foreign secretary Shahidul rights such as citizenship, ac- demonstrations. fear that she would not receive major anti-government protests insisting it was defending itself Haque said after talks in Dhaka cess to healthcare and freedom The February corruption ver- justice, and then this happens. in August brought hundreds of against militants. between offi cials from both of movement - rights that were dict triggered clashes between There is no justice,” he said. thousands to the streets. angladesh and Myanmar Myanmar and Bangladesh countries. denied to them long before last police and thousands of BNP This latest court ruling comes But the ruling party has agreed agreed yesterday to start announced a large-scale repa- “It is the fi rst phase.” year’s crackdown. loyalists. as the independence of Bang- to hold talks on the looming elec- Breturning Rohingya refu- triation plan in November 2017. Myanmar’s permanent sec- The pledge to begin re- The prosecution had demand- ladesh’s judiciary is under tion with an opposition alliance gees in November, less than a But the process hit bureaucratic retary of foreign aff airs Myint turning the Rohingya comes ed Zia serve more time for em- question. that includes the BNP, a minister week after UN investigators hurdles almost immediately Thu, who attended the talks, just days after UN investiga- bezzling orphanage money - an In a recently published mem- announced hours after Monday’s warned that a genocide against and it failed to take off , as both said both sides agreed to a tors warned of an “ongoing appeal a higher court granted oir, a former chief justice alleged verdict was announced. the Muslim minority was still sides blamed the other for the “very concrete” plan to start genocide” against the Muslim yesterday. he was forced into exile last year The ruling Awami League had ongoing. delay and rights group warned the process next month. minority in Myanmar. “The high court has up- after disagreeing with Bang- previously rejected such talks. More than 720,000 of My- returning the Rohingya to My- “We have shown our political Marzuki Darusman, chair- held the lower court verdict ladesh’s powerful intelligence The Jatiya Oikya Front (United anmar’s stateless Rohingya fl ed anmar would condemn them to will, fl exibility and accommoda- man of the UN Fact-Finding and raised the jail sentence services over a case. National Front) has demanded a brutal military crackdown in further reprisals. tion in order to commence the re- Mission on Myanmar, said that from original fi ve years to 10 Another judge, who also lives that the election be held under August last year, taking shelter Authorities in Buddhist-ma- patriation at the earliest possible beyond mass killings, the con- years,” anti-corruption com- in exile in Malaysia, made simi- an interim neutral government. in crowded camps in Bangla- jority Myanmar say more than date,” he told reporters. fl ict included the ostracisation mission prosecutor Khurshid A lar remarks in a television in- But Awami League deputy desh and bringing with them 100 displaced Rohingya have Myanmar’s government of the population, prevention Khan said. terview, alleging he was threat- chief and infl uential minister, harrowing tales of rape, murder returned in recent months, has trumpeted every occasion of births, and widespread dis- Zia has always denied the ened to hand down a guilty Obaidul Quader, said his side and arson in a military crack- but Bangladesh insists that where a Rohingya family has placement in camps. charges, and many others verdict against Zia’s son Tarique had agreed to talks “without giv- down. the offi cial process has not returned, though rights groups The UN says the return of the she faces, saying she is be- Rahman. ing in to anyone’s pressure”. Investigators have said sen- commenced. have questioned whether the Rohingya must be voluntary, ing pursued in court to pre- Rahman was jailed for life in The talks are set to be held on ior Myanmar military offi cials “We are looking forward to refugees did so voluntarily. and conducted in dignity and vent her challenging Hasina absentia this month over a 2004 Thursday. should be prosecuted for geno- starting the repatriation by Many fear returning to My- security. Gulf Times 16 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 ASIA/AUSTRALASIA Wife of missing ex-Interpol chief hires lawyers to track him down

Reuters had refused off ers to talk to him by his wife a WhatsApp message on Marsigny Avocats and UK-based possible for Reuters to reach him contact him by telephone then ceiving threats. Meng, a deputy Beijing telephone. Days after Meng’s wife Sept 25 saying “wait for my call”. Lindeborg Counsellors had been for comment. It is also unclear if that can be arranged “at any time”, minister of public security in China, reported him missing, prompting Grace Meng said she had decided retained. “Above all, I urge every- he has been allowed to retain le- Lu told a daily news briefi ng. “But became president of Interpol in late France to open an inquiry, China to retain the law fi rms in London one to raise their voice in asking gal representation. Speaking in Meng Hongwei’s wife, on the one 2016 amid a broader eff ort by China he wife of former Interpol said he was under investigation and Paris to pursue her husband’s China to respect our family’s fun- Beijing yesterday, Chinese For- hand says she doesn’t know where to secure leadership posts in inter- chief Meng Hongwei has for bribery and other violations. case. damental human rights,” she said. eign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang he is, and on the other hand refus- national organisations. Thired two law fi rms to help Interpol, based in the French city “Since my husband disap- “His disappearance could not be said China protects the legitimate es to contact him by telephone. Presidents of the international track down her husband, who has of Lyon, said Meng had resigned peared, people from all over the for anything other than political rights of all Chinese citizens, not Why? We don’t know.” French police organisation are seconded been missing since travelling back as president. world have asked what they can reasons.” matter what situation they fi nd authorities have said that Meng’s from their national administra- to his native China more than a But no word has been heard do to help,” she said in an e-mailed It is unclear where Meng, 64, themselves in. China has already wife and their children are under tions. They remain in their home month ago, but China said she from Meng himself since he sent statement, saying the fi rm of is being held and it has not been told his wife that if she wants to police protection in Lyon after re- post while representing the body. Indonesian jet fl ew erratically the day before it crashed Reuters Safety experts say the crash investigation is Singapore at a very preliminary stage and it is too early he Lion Air Boeing 737 to speculate about the cause Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo inspects the recovered debris of Lion Air flight JT610 at Tanjung Priok MAX jet that crashed in port in Jakarta, Indonesia. TIndonesia on Monday morning fl ew erratically dur- received from Lion Air but he had ing a fl ight the previous evening not checked the exact details. when it experienced a “technical Safety experts say the crash problem”, according to data from investigation is at a very prelimi- fl ight tracking website FlightRa- nary stage and it is too early to dar24. speculate about the cause. After taking off from Denpasar But pilot and engineering on the holiday island of Bali on sources told Reuters the Flight- Sunday evening, the jet reported Radar24 data for both fl ights, unusual variations in altitude while not conclusive, could be a and airspeed in the fi rst several potential indicator of something minutes of fl ight – including an wrong with the pitot static sys- 875-foot drop over 27 seconds tems. Those are pressure-sen- when it would normally be as- sitive instruments that feed air- cending – before stabilising and speed and altitude information fl ying on to Jakarta. to an avionics computer. However, the pilots kept the “Certainly the big changes in plane at a maximum altitude climb/descent very early on in of 28,000ft compared with the fl ight is what makes me think Relatives of passengers on the crashed Lion Air flight JT610 cry at 36,000ft on the same route ear- unreliable speed,” said a pilot at Bhayangkara R Said Sukanto hospital in Jakarta, Indonesia. lier in the week. another airline, who declined to Lion Air CEO Edward Sirait be named because he was not au- than you would normally ex- had requested a turnback to Ja- told reporters on Monday a tech- thorised to speak to media. The pect,” said a second pilot at an- karta. nical problem had occurred on An Indonesian navy soldier jumps to dive at the location of the Lion Air flight JT610 crash off the north data from FlightRadar24 shows other airline. A safe visual landing should the Denpasar-Jakarta fl ight but coast of Karawang regency, West Java province, Indonesia. the fi rst sign that something was Two fi shermen who saw the have been possible even with it had been resolved “according amiss on Monday’s fated fl ight crash from their boat out at faulty indicators and a lack of au- to procedure”. Two of that fl ight’s “weird” engine noise upon take- The plane plunged into the rate by the airline or investiga- came about two minutes af- sea told Reuters that the plane topilot systems, the pilot sources passengers posted on Instagram, off that continued during fl ight. sea minutes after taking off tors. ter take-off when the plane had swayed slightly but made no said. In July, a Malaysia Airlines reporting that they had been It was not clear if the cabin prob- from Jakarta and all 189 peo- Sirait declined to detail the reached 2,000ft. noise as it fell, almost horizon- fl ight took off from Brisbane, concerned about problems with lems were in any way related to ple on board are believed dead. maintenance procedures taken, At that point, it descended tal with its nose slightly down. Australia without removing cov- the air conditioning system and the technical trouble mentioned FlightRadar24 also reported and yesterday he told Reuters the more than 500ft and veered to There was an explosive sound as ers on the pitot tubes. The pilots cabin lighting before the plane by the airline’s CEO. unusual air speeds and altitudes airline had provided the relevant the left before climbing again to it plunged nose-fi rst into the sea, landed the Airbus SE A330 safely departed nearly three hours late. The Denpasar-Jakarta fl ight in the few minutes that Flight aircraft fl ight and maintenance 5,000ft, where it stayed during and then there was a column of after obtaining groundspeed in- “I was angry because as a pas- landed at 10:55pm local time on JT610 was in the air on Monday. logs to Indonesia’s National most of the rest of the fl ight. It smoke. formation from air traffi c con- senger who had paid her ticket, Sunday, giving engineers six-and- Photos of alleged technical and Transporation Safety Commit- began gaining speed in the fi nal The weather was clear at the trol and using the jet’s radar we have every right to question a-half hours at most for checks be- maintenance logs following the tee. NTSC Chairman Soerjanto moments and reached 345 knots time of the crash at 6:33am on altimeter, according to a prelimi- the aircraft’s safety,” said one of fore it was dispatched for the fatal Sunday flight have been circu- Tjahjono said there was a simi- (397mph) before data was lost Monday, according to the head nary report from the Australian them, TV presenter Conchita Jakarta-Pangkal Pinang fl ight at lating online, but to date they larity between the maintenance when it was at 3,650ft. of Indonesia’s transport safety Transport Safety Bureau. There Caroline. She added there was a 6:20am on Monday. have not been verified as accu- log circulating online and the one “They were going way faster committee, who said the pilots were no reported injuries.

Australia spooks emerge from shadows with tweets British woman

Australia’s highly secretive communications strategy. the shadows” and stridently technology has infuriated Beijing charged with signals intelligence agency “Hi Internet, ASD here. Long defended a government decision and sparked a PR battle over Japan denounces murder in — tasked with eavesdropping time listener, first time caller,” @ to bar Chinese telecoms firms the trustworthiness of those and decrypting adversaries’ ASDGovAu tweeted for the first Huawei and ZTE from operating firms. Both operate with Chinese Malaysia communications — has made a time. Defence off icials confirmed Australia’s new 5G network. The state backing but are among the South Korean court A British woman was yesterday tongue-in-cheek Twitter debut, the tweet and account were long-awaited 3.5 GHz system biggest technology companies in charged with murdering her while issuing a serious warning authentic. The debut tweet will allow lightning-fast speeds the world. husband on the Malaysian holiday of security risks from Chinese was followed by an image and could allow everyday Huawei, founded by a People’s ruling on wartime island of Langkawi, with her technology. The Australian containing a visual text puzzle, or objects to become intelligent, Liberation Army researcher, and lawyer saying that the suspect Signals Directorate, a sister cryptogram, of the organisation’s interconnected devices that feed ZTE have been accused by the felt “overwhelmed”. Samantha agency to Britain’s GCHQ or acronym and excerpts from a pools of data – raising security US Congress of being tools of forced labour Jones, 51, appeared in court America’s NSA, took to the social speech by director general Mike concerns over who can access it. the Chinese intelligence services. on the island accused of killing network as part of what they said Burgess. In his talk, Burgess The decision to ban Huawei “5G is not just fast data,” Burgess John William Jones, who was was a new, more public-facing said ASD was coming “out of and ZTE from running the explained in his speech. AFP in a wheelchair and was visibly found with a stab wound to the Seoul overcome after the ruling. “I’m chest in their house earlier this just very sad that I am the only month. A court off icial read out one remaining,” Lee told re- the charge of murder, which is outh Korea’s top court porters, teary-eyed and chok- punishable with a mandatory Wedding banquet yesterday ordered a ing. sentence of death by hanging SJapanese steel giant to Two South Koreans initially in Malaysia, and Jones indicated pay compensation over forced brought the case to a Japanese that she understood it but did wartime labour, triggering a court in 1997 seeking damages not enter a plea. She is accused new row between the two US and unpaid wages for forced of committing the murder in the allies and a denunciation by labour at steel mills owned by early hours of October 18. Jones’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. a predecessor company of Nip- lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo said South Korea and Japan pon Steel. that the suspect felt “very, very are both democracies faced Japanese courts dismissed overwhelmed”. “It is her husband with an increasingly assertive the case, saying their right at the end of the day. So she’s neighbour China and the long- to sue had been extinguished also grieving for him despite running threat of nuclear- by the 1965 treaty which saw the circumstances of the case,” armed Pyongyang. Seoul and Tokyo restore dip- she told reporters outside the But their own relationship is lomatic relations and included magistrates’ court. The British soured by bitter disputes over a reparations package of about couple had lived for the past 11 history and territory stemming $800mn in grants and cheap years on the jungle-clad island from Japan’s brutal 1910-45 loans. in northwest Malaysia, which colonial rule over the penin- But the victims — along attracts millions of tourists to sula, with forced labour and with two others including Lee its beaches every year. Police wartime sexual slavery key — launched a separate action say Jones is suspected of killing examples. Yesterday’s ruling in South Korea in 2005, and her 62-year-old husband after marks the fi nal South Korean in 2012 the Supreme Court in a row. A bloodstained knife chapter in a 21-year legal battle Seoul ruled that the company was found on the floor of their against Nippon Steel & Sumi- was liable. bedroom following her arrest. tomo Metal (NSSM). Japanese Prime Minis- She will appear in court again The Supreme Court upheld ter Shinzo Abe criticised the on November 29. Her lawyer a lower court ruling that the South Korean ruling, saying said the case was not yet ready fi rm pay each of four plain- it was “impossible” under in- for trial as authorities were still tiff s — only one of whom is still ternational law and that the getting documentation in order. alive — 100mn won ($88,000) issue had been “completely Malaysia’s new government has for being forced to work at its and fi nally settled” by the 1965 pledged to abolish the death steel mills between 1941 and treaty. penalty, which is mandatory for Japan’s former princess Ayako Moriya (centre) and her husband Kei Moriya (second left) arrive at their wedding banquet with Crown 1943. The sole surviving claim- “The Japanese government several crimes, but lawmakers Prince Naruhito (second right) and Crown Princess Masako (right) as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows in Tokyo, Japan. ant, Lee Chun-sik, now in his will deal fi rmly with this issue,” still have to vote on whether to mid-90s, attended the hearing Abe told lawmakers in Tokyo. approve the changes. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 17 BRITAIN/IRELAND

Tory peer refuses to give public evidence to MPs on Russia fi rm

Guardian News and Media of the aluminium giant EN+ Barker are due to be discussed by The letters also detail Barker’s oligarchs, 12 companies they tack in Salisbury in March, which ties have concluded. London which is majority-owned by Rus- the foreign aff airs select commit- attempts to persuade the US au- own or control, as well as 17 sen- has been blamed upon the Krem- “OFAC, the sanctions unit in sian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, did tee, which is looking into the fl ow thorities to lift sanctions against ior Russian government offi cials lin, a charge it denies. the US treasury, has made it crys- not wish to appear in open session of Russian money into the UK, EN+. amid allegations of Russian med- In a letter sent this week to tal clear that if certain changes are Conservative peer who before MPs because he hopes to today. In April, the US treasury im- dling in the 2016 presidential the committee’s Tory chair- made to Deripaska’s controlling chairs a fi rm being sanc- persuade Washington to lift the The disclosure will raise con- posed sanctions on the company election and other issues. Deri- man, Tom Tugendhat, Barker interest in the company, they are Ationed in the US for its sanctions, letters show. cerns that the peer is being al- – whose assets include a stake in paska resigned from EN+’s board wrote that in light of sanctions prepared to consider lifting the Russian links has declined to give Sanctions were imposed on De- lowed to avoid parliamentary Rusal, the world’s second-largest in May but remains its biggest against Deripaska, he is leading sanctions on the EN+ and Rusal public evidence about it to a par- ripaska and EN+ in April because scrutiny. A Whitehall source said aluminium producer – over what shareholder. “a major effort” to take control group,” Barker wrote. liamentary committee, leaked of the oligarch’s close relation- it was “highly unusual” for a par- it called the Kremlin’s “malign MPs are examining the issue of of the company and would only He said he would address MPs documents disclose. ship with the Russian President, liamentarian not to give public activities”. Russian money fl owing into the give private evidence until ne- but only if the meeting was con- Lord Barker of Battle, the chair Vladimir Putin. The letters from evidence to a committee. Overall, it acted against seven UK following the nerve agent at- gotiations with the US authori- ducted in private.

Irish govt Duchess shows off tennis skills told to stop McDonnell ‘anti-UK’ remarks defends stand over Brexit

Guardian News and Media London backing tax cut enior loyalist paramilitaries have warned the Irish gov- Sernment to “tone down” its rhetoric on Brexit because the perceived “Brit-bashing” risks harming peace and recon- for high earners ciliation in Northern Ireland, the Guardian has learned. Guardian News and Media The Tottenham MP David Lam- that the boost to NHS spending Leading fi gures in the Ulster London my said: “These tax cuts leave a had implications for other depart- Volunteer Force (UVF) told Irish bitter taste in my mouth because mental budgets. offi cials that talk of frontier posts they help high earners in the City “We have made our choice to being attacked by republicans in he shadow chancellor, John far more than my constituents in fund health very generously … the event of a hard Brexit, or of McDonnell, has defended Tottenham, some of whom this that means our overall envelope a border down the Irish Sea, was This decision not to oppose winter will be facing the choice be- of spending that is available, once “winding up working-class loy- tax cuts for higher earners an- tween eating and heating. I believe you take out the commitment alists”, according to sources close nounced in the budget yesterday, it is a mistake for the Labour party made to health, gives fl at real to the leaders. despite a mounting backlash from to support this policy as it will lead spending available for all other In a recent meeting with Dub- Labour MPs. to more inequality, not less.” departments,” Hammond told lin offi cials, they said the Irish “We’re not going to take money The home aff airs select com- Today. “That’s a choice we make.” Prime Minister, Leo Varadkar, out of people’s pockets. Simple as mittee chair, Yvette Cooper, said: He also said the government had was alienating even those loyal- that,” McDonnell told journalists. “This is wrong. I cannot support made a very clear commitment at ists who voted to stay in the EU, The Chancellor, Philip Ham- it.” the last election to raise the per- by using images of a border post mond, brought forward a Con- McDonnell, however, was un- sonal allowance and the threshold bombed during the Troubles to servative manifesto pledge to in- repentant. “We’re not going to for higher-rate income tax. reinforce Dublin’s insistence on crease the personal allowance to take funding away from people. “It is right and moral for a Con- a backstop. £12,500, and the higher-rate tax Some of these are middle-earners, servative government to deliver on The UVF leaders told the Irish threshold to £50,000, by a year. headteachers and people like that, the commitments that we make in side there was a danger that Analysis by the Resolution who’ve had a rough time of it, as our election manifesto,” he said. north-south relations, including Foundation published yesterday well as everyone else,” he said. “People have a right to expect that those between former loyalist found the cuts, which will cost the Instead of reversing Ham- when politicians go before them in paramilitaries and politicians in Treasury almost £2.8bn, would mond’s giveaways, McDonnell a general election and make a very the Irish Republic, could be “poi- overwhelmingly benefi t wealthier said Labour would implement clear commitment they deliver soned” over Dublin’s perceived households, with almost half the its own tax rises, including a new on that commitment.” Almost “Brit-bashing”. giveaway going to the top 10% top rate of 45p for those earning three-quarters of welfare cuts The blunt message from what of earners. McDonnell surprised over £80,000 a year, and reversing announced since 2015 are to con- was one of Northern Ireland’s many on his own benches yester- Conservative cuts to corporation tinue, including a £1.5bn benefi t deadliest paramilitary groups day by saying that if Labour took tax. freeze next April that will result in echoes accusations by the power it would not halt the cuts, “We want a fair taxation system, a couple with children in the bot- Democratic Unionist Party that instead preferring its own tax in- where the top 5% pay a bit more,” tom half of the income distribu- Ireland’s prime minister is rais- creases that would target corpora- he said. In response to Burnham’s tion losing £200. ing the spectre of a revived IRA tions and the top 5% criticism, he said: “I completely Defending his decision not to terror campaign to avert a hard Andy Burnham, the Greater understand where Andy’s coming end the freeze, Hammond told border between the republic and Manchester mayor and former La- from, but what we’re into is trying ITV’s Good Morning Britain: Northern Ireland. bour leadership candidate, said the to ensure we have a fair taxation “We’ve had to take some measures One loyalist veteran of policy would be “hard to justify at system based upon the new pro- in the past and those measures, talks with Irish governments any time, because the benefi t is posals on income tax that we’ve some of them, are still working stretching to before the 1994 skewed to the top half, but even put forward, which he supported.” their way through the economy. UVF ceasefire said while he had more problematic given the pres- Under the income tax cuts But what we were able to do on nothing but contempt for the sure on public services”. Hammond announced, the 20% Monday is set out a better future.” DUP, which shores up Theresa Alison McGovern, the chair of tax band, which currently starts Analysis has shown that the chan- May’s minority government in the centre-left Progress group, on earnings above £11,850, will cellor chose to spend 75% of his Westminster, all unionists, in- which is associated with Labour, rise to £12,500 next year, and the total fi scal windfall of £73.8bn cluding Remain voters, opposed said: “We can’t support spending higher rate 40% tax band will be- from the Offi ce for Budget Re- any outcome that would decou- Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, plays tennis as she joins a session during a visit to Coach more on tax cuts for quite wealthy gin at £50,000 from April, up from sponsibility over the forecast pe- ple Northern Ireland from the Core Essex, in Basildon, yesterday. people than on dealing with the £46,350. riod, but Hammond said he had UK. universal credit mess.” Hammond had earlier admitted not “abandoned fi scal rectitude”. Briton accused of spying Meghan beats Harry at gumboot tossing

in Dubai released on bail Reuters — known locally as a ‘gumboot’ — Wellington the farthest. Meghan, wearing black J Crew Guardian News and Media “glad to be breathing fresh air”. It is the longstanding policy of jeans and a Karen Walker blazer, London Tejada, who has previously successive UK governments not rince Harry and his wife led her team to victory after toss- criticised the UK government’s to comment on intelligence mat- Meghan threw rubber ing a blue boot about a metre fur- response to her husband’s arrest ters.” Pgumboots yesterday as ther than Harry’s red one. British academic being held and months-long detention, said Hedges denies the spying al- children cheered in a competi- Gumboot throwing is famously in Dubai on spying charges his release on bail was a “great legations and his family has said tion in New Zealand’s largest city associated with the rural town of Ahas been released on bail step”. He was said to be suff ering he was in the UAE to “carry out of Auckland, though Harry’s team Taihape, around 420km south of after spending nearly six months from “signifi cant health issues” academic research for his PhD”. ended up losing to his wife’s side. Auckland, which hosts an annual in jail, the Foreign Offi ce has con- after spending so long in jail. But The country’s authorities have A 6.1 magnitude earthquake gumboot festival. fi rmed. Tejada said she was “still hoping accused him of “spying for and on felt by thousands of people in Mike Jebsen, chief executive of Reports emerged that 31-year- for justice” for him. behalf of a foreign state, jeopard- New Zealand did not disrupt the the QEII National Trust, said the old Matthew Hedges, who was British offi cials said the report ising the military, economy and schedule of the couple, who are mayor of Taihape gave his bless- detained on May 5 at the end of a that Hedges had been released political security of the UAE”. on the fi nal leg of a Pacifi c tour ing to hold the gumboot competi- study trip in the United Arab Emir- was accurate. Tejada has previously said her that has included Australia, Fiji tion. ates (UAE), had been allowed to A Foreign and Commonwealth husband had “not received ap- and Tonga. “We wanted to give the royal leave prison, where he had report- Offi ce spokesperson said: “As the propriate medical care and at- “There wasn’t too much of a couple a taste of rural New Zea- edly been held in solitary confi ne- foreign secretary has made clear, tention, especially in regard to his rivalry,” Isabella Iti, 10, said after land, and there’s nothing more ment. there are limits to what we can mental health”. the gumboot toss. “I think she quintessentially Kiwi than a The BBC reported that Hedges say publicly on Matthew’s case She said he had been kept in was thinking that there was no gumboot throw!” he said. had been told to stay in the country due to ongoing legal proceedings. solitary confi nement for more chance that she would win. But In the afternoon, Meghan and until a scheduled court appearance We are monitoring developments than fi ve months. “Matt does not she did.” Harry travelled to South Auck- on November 21 and that the au- closely and have made the Emirati speak Arabic and is therefore un- The Duke and Duchess of Sus- land to visit the head offi ce of Pil- thorities there had kept his pass- authorities aware of all our con- able to communicate fully with sex were visiting a conservation lars, a charity that mentors the port. Furthermore, he has been cerns. We continue to do every- the court-appointed lawyer, who area north of Auckland that had children of prisoners. made to wear an ankle bracelet and thing we can for Matthew and his he has only met once, at his court been set aside as part of a Com- For their wedding in May, warned he may have to return to family. hearing last week.” She added: monwealth initiative to honour Meghan and Harry had asked for prison, the broadcaster said. “Our staff are in close contact “Matt is a man of integrity and Queen Elizabeth’s 66 years on the charitable donations in lieu of Daniela Tejada, the wife of the with Matthew’s wife, Daniela, principle. He has a brilliant aca- British throne. gifts. The New Zealand govern- Durham university doctoral stu- off ering her all possible support demic mind and an impeccable There, the couple split off and ment gave NZ$5,000 ($3,271) to dent, was quoted as saying Hedges at what we appreciate is a hugely track record. He is kind and caring Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, take part in a each led a team of cheering chil- Pillars in recognition of couple’s was tired and “shocked by every- diffi cult time. We also remain in and greatly loved and respected. gumboot throwing competition at The North Shore Riding Club dren in a competition to see who interest in programmes that sup- thing”, but was in good spirits and regular contact with his lawyer. Please send him home.” in Auckland yesterday. could through a rubber rainboot port vulnerable children. Gulf Times 18 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 BRITAIN Cornwall council rapped for housing teen in a tent

Guardian News and Media ed to the boy’s situation, which ploitation or ill health. vide the right support to a vul- support the most vulnerable in and became homeless. would not come into care. London had “dreadful consequences”. It ordered the council to pay nerable child who was suff ering our society and councils should The boy refused an off er from Over the coming weeks the The teenager, who cannot be £2,500 to the now young man from drug addiction and mental not apportion blame when help the council of supported ac- boy asked the council for accom- named, spent fi ve weeks in a tent and to pay £1,500 to his mother health problems. is needed.” The teenager had a commodation 30 miles away modation on a number of occa- vulnerable 17-year-old over summer 2016, four weeks in for the severe distress and frus- The ombudsman, Michael history of cannabis use and had from the area he knew. A social sions. It also received two calls who was housed in a tent a static caravan and several nights tration it caused. It also recom- King, said: “There is a long list previously noted concerns about worker then bought the boy a about his welfare, once after he Aby a council became ema- sleeping rough after approaching mended that the council review of failures in this case which had his mental health. tent and helped him pitch it. had been found in an abandoned ciated and was detained in a psy- Cornwall council for help. its policies and draw up an action dreadful consequences … But the After having been arrested for Council records show the teen- building having set fi re to a mat- chiatric hospital, the local gov- At one point the council even plan to ensure there is suffi cient starkest, and most worrying, el- drug dealing, the teenager was ager’s mother, who lived a long tress to keep warm. Case records ernment watchdog has said. helped the boy pitch a tent, accommodation for homeless ement is the attitude shown to- not allowed to return to live with way from Cornwall and could not show the council said if he could An investigation by the local and the ombudsman said that young people. wards his situation.” his father so the council housed accommodate her son because show he wanted to make some government and social care om- it provided accommodation Evidence suggests the coun- He added: “It is true the boy him in supported accommoda- of the risk to other children she changes, his options would in- budsman found there had been that was inappropriate and did cil tried to place responsibility in this case showed diffi cult be- tion in another town. He was fostered, challenged the decision crease. At one point the council “a long list of failures” by Corn- not do enough to protect the for the situation on the boy, the haviours. However, this is exactly evicted from this placement for but the local authority said no bought the boy a new tent after wall council over how it respond- 17-year-old from sexual ex- watchdog said, rather than pro- why the Children Act exists to breaching conditions of his stay options were available as the boy the fi rst one started leaking. MI5 takes over fi ght against right-wing extremism

Guardian News and Media techniques and greater powers will London allow it to discover more about the violent intentions of the extreme right than the police can. I5 is to take the lead in Extreme right-wing activity combating extreme covers terrorism – within MI5’s Mright-wing terrorism remit – and public order, which amid mounting fears that white must be maintained by the police. supremacists are increasing their The changes will see MI5 for- eff orts to foment violent racial mally take responsibility for iden- confl ict on Britain’s streets, The tifying suspects and assessing Guardian has learned. what danger they pose, conduct- The switch from the police ing network analysis and ranking – which has always previously threats. Police have the executive taken responsibility for moni- lead, which means they will take toring far right extremism – to over when the time comes to dis- MI5 means that the ideology will rupt a plot and make arrests. now sit in the same portfolio as One senior police source told Uber drivers and supporters protest during a Court of Appeal hearing deciding the employment status of Uber drivers, in central London, yesterday. religious terrorism and Northern the Guardian that the move made Ireland-related terrorism, which sense. Sources in both organisa- are both covered by the domestic tions say relations are now very security service. good, which has not always been The decision also means that the case. extreme right-wing activity will One source said: “MI5 are driv- now be offi cially designated as ing the car, and SO15 (Counter posing a major threat to national Terrorism Command) are in the security. passenger seat. When there is a Uber challenges court It comes amid growing global need to take a plot out, SO15 gets fears of the threat posed by far- in the driving seat.” One diffi culty right terrorists. In the US in re- about the move is that extreme cent days a man was charged with right-wing activity covers both sending 13 pipe bombs to oppo- terrorism, which is well within nents of Donald Trump, includ- MI5’s legal remit to protect na- ruling on drivers’ rights ing Barack Obama and Hillary tional security, and public order, Clinton. A second man was taken which is not. Guardian News and Media model” – with Uber acting as an failed to overturn the ruling that “Uber’s app is its asset and it The tribunals’ task was there- into custody after an antisemitic The far-right terror threat London agent between drivers and pas- its drivers should be classed as is an enormously valuable piece fore to “determine the true na- terror attack left 11 people dead at came to government and main- sengers – had been used in the workers with the right to earn a of software,” she told the three ture of the (implied) agreement” a synagogue in Pittsburgh. stream attention after the assas- private hire industry “for many minimum wage. judges in a submission which, at between drivers and Uber, he Four extreme right-wing al- sination of the Labour MP Jo Cox ber has launched a court years”. The court of appeal was told one point, compared Uber driv- added. leged plots have been thwarted in June 2016. Since then, a Mus- challenge against a land- It was not “unusual” because by Uber’s counsel how the Inter- ers to barristers and the com- Galbraith-Marten said the in the UK since March 2017. But lim man has been run down with Umark legal ruling that set of the relationship between it net had revolutionised many tra- pany to clerks. tribunals were “entitled to ask with around 100 investigations a van near a London mosque, a a precedent for millions of peo- and its drivers, “but because the ditional businesses in a number Uber had a “powerful com- whether the claimants are genu- into the extreme right-wing cur- plot to kill an MP with a machete ple working in the so-called gig Uber app enables it to operate on of ways, including by allowing mercial interest” when it granted inely in business on their own rently live, the threat is assessed has been thwarted and security economy. a much larger scale than tradi- existing entities to operate with licences to people to use its app account” or whether they were as growing. offi cials are concerned about at- Hundreds rallied outside the tional minicab companies”. “vastly expanded scope”. and in the setting of conditions “providing their services” to The move follows months of tempts to radicalise members of court in what is being billed as Those in a packed courtroom What was special about Uber on its use, she added. Uber. negotiations between MI5, the the military and people with ex- Britain’s biggest ever precarious included drivers James Farrar was the software that allowed There was “nothing strange or If Uber was not acting as the police, and senior government pertise with computers. workers march as the taxi-hail- and Yaseen Aslam, who won an for the tracking of the location of unusual or morally unconscion- drivers’ agent, “the purported offi cials. The outcome is that In the wake of Cox’s assassina- ing app company argued that an employment tribunal in 2016 af- a passenger and a driver who had able” in a company that owned driver-passenger contract is in- MI5 will take the intelligence lead tion, National Action was pro- employment tribunal ruling that ter arguing they should be clas- its app switched on, said Rose, very valuable assets seeking to deed a fi ction”. when extreme right-wing activ- scribed in December 2016, the Uber drivers were “workers” ig- sifi ed as workers, citing Uber’s who described this as a “critical use it in that way. Earlier, a demonstration or- ity is suspected of amounting to fi rst extreme right-wing group nored the fact that the relation- control over their working con- innovation”. Jason Galbraith-Marten QC, ganised in support of Aslam and terrorism, according to multiple since 1940 to be banned. ship between the company and ditions. She argued however that the for Aslam and Farrar, said there Farrar was told by Frank Field, sources with knowledge of the The far right’s danger is not its drivers was “typical of the Uber subsequently mounted nature of Uber’s business was was “no express agreement” by the chair of the House of Com- discussions. The sources say that yet seen as being as severe as private hire industry”. an appeal at the tribunal level, no diff erent to that conducted which the claimants appointed mons work and pensions com- MI5 has already been expanding the threat posed by religious ex- Dinah Rose QC, for Uber, warning that it could deprive by other private hire companies Uber “to act as their agent and mittee, that Uber were “rich its work in the area this year. tremists, which is considered the told the court of appeal in cen- riders of the “personal fl exibility who make money from the com- setting out the nature and extent enough to put themselves above It is hoped that MI5’s approach, dominant threat. tral London that “the agency they value” but last November mission paid by drivers on fares. of that agency”. the law”.

Hawking’s prized Police dig up garden in possessions on sale 32-year-old murder probe Reuters “The whole idea...was to pro- London vide something that was accessi- ble to his admirers so that people Guardian News and Media Bristol woman Shirley Banks. porting Scotland Yard. could connect with him and re- London Police named him as the prime On the day of her disappear- rom a copy of his PhD member his extraordinary story.” suspect in Lamplugh’s presumed ance, witnesses reported seeing thesis to his wheelchair, Also up for sale are a copy of murder in 2002 and have ques- Lamplugh arguing with a man Fitems belonging to Stephen Hawking’s best-selling book olice investigating the tioned him several times. He has outside a property in Shorrold Hawking are headed for auction, A Brief History of Time signed 32-year-old cold case of denied the allegation. Road, Fulham, south-west Lon- off ering fans of the late Brit- with his thumb print, estimated Pthe estate agent Suzy Lam- The owner of the home, Phillip don. Her white Ford Fiesta was ish physicist famed for his work between £2,000 and £3,000, plugh were preparing to dig up Carey, 52, said he bought it from later found just over a mile away. exploring the origins of the uni- as well as awards and medals the garden and dismantle a ga- Sheila Cannan about 26 years Cannan had been released verse a chance to buy some of his given to the scientist, priced at rage at a home previously owned ago. Offi cers arrived at the prop- from a hostel at Wormwood possessions. £10,000-£15,000. by the prime suspect’s mother. erty on Monday and had previ- Scrubs prison three days earlier. Known for his acclaimed re- Other documents, an invita- Lamplugh was 25 when she ously searched it in 2003, he told He had been serving a six-year search on black holes, the wheel- tion for a reception for Time disappeared in 1986 after leaving the Press Association. sentence for rape. chair-bound Hawking, who suf- Travellers as well as a motorised her west London offi ces to meet a Specialist forensics scientists The Suzy Lamplugh Trust, fered from motor neurone disease wheelchair Hawking used, are client known only as Kipper. from the private company Alecto which her family set up to support died in March at the age of 76. also being sold in the October She was offi cially declared attended the scene. victims of stalking, said: “The “On the Shoulders of Giants”, 31-November 8 online auction. dead, presumed murdered, in Three forensic tents were thoughts of everyone at Suzy which also features documents It has already attracted inter- 1994 but no one has been con- erected in the garden and blue Lamplugh Trust are with Suzy’s penned by Isaac Newton, Charles est from Asia, the Middle East, victed. sheeting covered what is believed family. We continue the work of Darwin and Albert Einstein, will the United States and Australia, The Metropolitan police con- to be the site of a garage. The (her parents) Paul and Diana to feature 22 lots from Hawking’s es- according to Venning. “(Hawk- fi rmed yesterday that offi cers sound of an angle grinder could reduce violence and aggression tate, including one of fi ve known ing) travelled across the world were searching a premises in be heard as the search continued in society, supporting workplaces copies of his PhD thesis, “Proper- and he has fans in the US, he has Sutton Coldfi eld, Birmingham. yesterday. to help their lone and frontline ties of expanding universes”, esti- fans in Asia,” he said. They said the occupants of the A Met spokesman said: “The workers be safer and feel safer. mated at £100,000-£150,000. His daughter, Lucy Hawking, property were not connected to search follows information re- “Today’s news reminds us “Stephen Hawking was a huge said: “We are giving admirers of the investigation. ceived in relation to a historical once again of the continuing personality worldwide,” Thomas his work the chance to acquire a The house was purchased from unsolved investigation being led tragedy of Suzy’s story and the Fine-art handler Tom Richardson poses with a motorised Venning, head of the Books and memento of our father’s extraor- the mother of suspect John Can- by the Met’s homicide and major importance of employers taking wheelchair belonging to physicist Stephen Hawking ahead of an Manuscripts department at auc- dinary life in the shape of a small nan. He was jailed for life in 1989 crime command.” Offi cers from responsibility for the personal auction of items from Hawkings’ personal estate at Christie’s in tion house Christie’s London, selection of evocative and fasci- for the rape and murder of the West Midlands police were sup- safety of their staff .” London yesterday. said. nating items.” Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 19 EUROPE Air pollution kills 600,000 children annually: WHO

AFP In 2016 alone, some 600,000 Air pollution is especially dan- into the lungs or cardiovascular The report, launched ahead tions, the WHO said, pointing health in more ways than we sus- Geneva children died from acute lower gerous for children, and accounts system. of the WHO’s fi rst ever Global out that newborns and young pected,” warned Maria Neira, the respiratory infections caused for nearly one in 10 deaths among The report found that children Conference on Air Pollution and children are also more suscepti- head of the WHO’s department by polluted air, the WHO report children aged under fi ve years in poorer countries are far more Health, revealed that when preg- ble to household air pollution in of public health and environ- xposure to toxic air both found. around the globe, the report at risk, with a full 98 percent of nant women are exposed to pol- homes that use polluting fuels ment. indoors and out kills some “Polluted air is poisoning mil- found. all children under fi ve in low- luted air, they are more likely to for cooking, heating and lighting. The UN health body is call- E600,000 children under lions of children and ruining The WHO study, which exam- and middle-income countries give birth prematurely and have Air pollution can impact a ing for an acceleration of the the age of 15 each year, the World their lives,” WHO chief Tedros ined the health toll on children exposed to PM2.5 levels above small, low birthweight children. child’s development and cogni- switch to clean cooking and Health Organisation (WHO) has Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a who are breathing in health-haz- WHO air quality guidelines. It found that children are often tive ability, and can trigger asth- heating fuels, and for the pro- warned. statement. “This is inexcusable. ardous levels of both outdoor and That compares to 52% in high- more vulnerable to the impact of ma and childhood cancer, the motion of cleaner transporta- Data from the United Nations Every child should be able to household air pollution, focused income countries, the WHO said. air pollution since they breath WHO said. tion, lower emissions, and better health body shows that every day, breathe clean air so they can grow on dangerous particulate mat- Together, household air pol- more rapidly than adults, and Children who have been ex- waste management, among other 93% of children under the age of and fulfi l their full potential.” ter with a diameter of less than lution from cooking and outdoor thus absorb more pollutants at a posed to high levels of air pollu- measures. 15 – 1.8bn youngsters, including According to WHO data, more 2.5μm (micrometres, PM2.5). air pollution cause more than time when their brains and bod- tion may also be at greater risk for “The world needs to reduce the some 630mn under the age of than nine out of 10 people on the These include toxins like sul- half of all cases of acute lower ies are still developing. chronic diseases like cardiovas- overdependence we have on fos- fi ve – breathe dangerously pol- planet breathe dangerously toxic phate and black carbon, which respiratory infections in young They also live closer to the cular disease later in life, it said. sil (fuel), and accelerate to clean, luted air. air, causing some 7mn premature pose the greatest health risks children in low- and middle- ground, where a number of pol- “Air pollution is stunting our renewable energy,” Neira told re- This has tragic consequences: deaths each year. since they can penetrate deep income countries, the WHO said. lutants reach peak concentra- children’s brains, aff ecting their porters in a conference call.

Anti-extortion campaigner held ... for extortion A man in Sicily who ran a support group for shopkeepers and entrepreneurs who were victims 11 dead in Italy as wild of Mafia-style extortion and loan-sharking has been arrested for himself engaging in extortion practices. According to Italy’s financial police, Salvatore Campo would help members of his anti-racket organisation win compensation weather sweeps Europe from public institutions. He would then demand a 3-5% Reuters/AFP/DPA cut of that money. Rome According to investigators, he used for personal aims about €37,000 ($42,000) of regional iolent storms battered grants for his association, which Italy for a third consecu- operated in the province of Vtive day yesterday, killing Catania. at least 11 people, and fl ooding much of Venice. ‘Fake passport The lagoon city’s Saint Mark’s Square remained under water scam’ smashed for a second day while the ad- jacent Saint Mark’s Basilica was Prosecutors said on Monday that also inundated, with its baptis- they have broken up a scam run tery totally fl ooded and its his- by Bulgarian off icials which had toric, mosaic fl oors covered by enabled thousands of foreigners 90cm (2.95’) of water. to fraudulently obtain passports “The basilica has aged 20 – and with them visa-free travel years in just one day, and per- across the EU. haps I am being overly optimistic The scheme allegedly involved about that,” said Carlo Tesserin, employees of the State Agency the church’s chief administrator. for Bulgarians Abroad, who Italian media said that it are suspected of selling fake was the second time this cen- certificates of Bulgarian origin to tury that the basilica had been people in neighbouring states. fl ooded, and just the fi fth time it Prosecutors said in a statement had seen such high water within they had launched a probe into the body of the cathedral in its A woman holds a child while the work of the agency on several 1,000-year history. wading through a flooded Saint counts, including setting up an “It is becoming ever more dif- Mark Square in Venice. organised crime group, bribe fi cult for us and indeed could taking, document forgery and become impossible for us to re- Right: Cattle seek shelter under abuse of off ice. pair the damage, especially in an trees during snowfall on a age of climate change,” Tesserin meadow in the commune of said. Pontgibaud, in the Auvergne Caged sheep sent Art experts were racing to region, central France. evaluate the damage to mosa- to media off ice ics in Saint Mark’s Basilica af- blanketed by heavy snowfall at ter the Bapistry and Zen Chapel the weekend. Russia’s best-known campaigning fl ooded. Storms have also swept into newspaper have asked the police Two paintings by Spanish art- Switzerland, buff eting the Tici- to investigate after unknown ist Joan Miro were damaged at no region near the Italian border individuals left nine caged sheep the Palazzo Zaguri, where they overnight, according to public outside its Moscow off ice, some had been waiting to be hung. broadcaster RTS. of them dressed in jackets with Widespread damage was also Roads were blocked by fallen the word ‘PRESS’ and the paper’s reported in towns and cities in trees and fl ooding, while strong name on them. the north, south and centre of winds ripped roof sections off Novaya Gazeta is well-known Italy. buildings, including in Giubi- in Russia for its investigations Many of the 11 deaths were asco where police said part of a into off icial corruption, its caused by falling trees as winds fi rm’s roof had smashed into a reporting on Chechnya, criticism as strong as 150kph (90mph) moving train and a house, with- of the authorities and its whipped the country. out causing injury. coverage of the opposition, in Authorities reported that a A man takes pictures of waves in Volosko, Croatia. In southern Austria, authori- a media landscape where most woman died when her home was ties have deployed hundreds of newspapers are loyal to the engulfed by a mudslide in the Right: A damaged restaurant on the beach and sanctuary of mobile anti-fl ooding dams as Kremlin. northern region of Trentino, a Lavasina, in Brando on the French Mediterrannean island of Corsica. rivers burst their banks, while in Six of its journalists, including man was killed in the northeast- the city of Salzburg a roof sec- investigative reporter Anna ern Veneto region by a falling One of the hardest hit regions yacht owned by the family of homes, authorities said yester- fl ooded streets, cut off power tion from the mediaeval ram- Politkovskaya, have been tree, and a fi refi ghter died during was Liguria, in the northwest. former prime minister Silvio day. and ensnared road and maritime parts fl ew off in high winds. murdered since 2000. relief operations in South Tyrol. “We thought the danger Berlusconi was one of those Another 21,000 homes were traffi c. In Malta, rough seas claimed Elsewhere, a man was killed would come from the moun- badly damaged. also cut off on the Mediterrane- A Slovenian surfer has been the lives of two people: a Ger- while kitesurfi ng on Monday tains, we thought the problem The nearby resort town of an island of Corsica, which was missing since Monday in the sea man woman who was diving Workers find mass near the town of Cattolica on the would be landslides,” said Ligu- Portofi no was cut off by a land- placed on red alert on Monday off of Croatia’s Umag city, on the near the island of Gozo, and an Adriatic coast, while the body ria head Giovanni Toti, adding: slide while video showed sea for powerful winds, shutting its northern Istria peninsula. 85-year-old fi sherman, who last grave in Germany of another man was recovered “Instead, we get a coastal storm water pouring through the pic- airports and ports. In Delnice, in western Croatia, year had received a prize for res- yesterday in Lake Levico in the surge the likes of which we’ve turesque fi shing village of Ver- More than 1,000 drivers were 156 litres of water per square cuing a drowning man. German construction workers north. never seen.” nazza further to the south. trapped in their cars for the night metre were measured within 24 A European Commission have uncovered a mass grave in A man was also missing at sea The breakwater walls in the The weather was expected to in the mountains of the Massif hours. spokeswoman sent condolences the western city of Mainz thought off Calabria in the southwest. chic seaside resort of Rapallo improve later in the day and to- Central region as the roads were In Slovenia, the storm to Italy and said that Brussels to hold the bodies of German Italian media reported that were destroyed by pounding day, “giving the country a truce” engulfed in snowstorms. knocked down trees and caused was “ready to provide any sup- and French troops who died of around 170 people, tourists and waves, allowing in a surge of wa- an offi cial from the civil protec- Another 400 had to spend minor fl ooding in places. port and aid that it can”. typhus after the 1813 Battle of hotel staff , were stranded by ter that toppled dozens of luxury tion agency told Reuters. the night in train carriages at A red alert remains in some Europe wasn’t all miserable, Leipzig, the local archaeological heavy snowfall at the Stelvio yachts and infl icted heavy dam- Meanwhile, heavy snowfall the main station in the eastern places due to the swelling Drava however. authorities said yesterday. Pass on the Swiss border. age on the port area. across south-central France, city of Lyon after heavy snow river, the STA news agency said. Berlin was unseasonably The skeletons probably Meanwhile in Friuli Venezia “It was like a tsunami,” one with up to 40cm (16”) falling in blocked the tracks. In Spain, over 100 soldiers warm at 19° Celsius, while War- numbered more than 1,000, Jens Giulia, local authorities said stunned port worker was quoted some towns and villages, caused Croatia’s Adriatic coast has were helping electrical repair saw saw the temperature hover Dolata, archaeologist for the some 23,000 people were with- as saying by Italian media. chaos on the roads and knocked also been battered by gale-force crews to reach isolated areas of around 21°C. Rhineland-Palatinate Cultural out power. Local media reported that a out electricity to nearly 200,000 winds and heavy rains that have the northern region of Asturias, Bucharest was balmy at 23°C. Heritage Directorate, said. German former nurse admits killing 100 patients

Reuters were valid, he responded in the brought new charges against him this trial is over we want to put He said he gave them lethal Oldenburg, Germany affi rmative, adding: “All that I for killing another 97 people. this whole thing behind us and injections because he felt sorry have admitted to is true.” The court said in a statement fi nd closure.” for them. Hoegel hid his face behind that the number had gone up to Prosecutors in the northern He was sentenced to life in German nurse has admit- a blue plastic folder as he was 100. German city of Oldenburg say prison. ted in court to being post- ushered into the courtroom in His admission will not end an investigation and toxicology In Britain, Dr Harold Ship- Awar Germany’s deadliest the northern city of Oldenburg the trial, at which families of the reports showed that he injected man was believed to have killed serial killer, murdering 100 pa- by police and his attorney. victims hope to uncover more 35 people at one clinic, in Olden- as many as 250 people, most of tients with lethal injections so He had already been sen- information about the crimes. burg, and 62 at another in nearby them elderly and middle-aged that he could play the hero by tenced to 15 years in jail in 2015 “We want him to get the sen- Delmenhorst, with drugs that women who were his patients. trying to revive them. after he was found guilty of kill- tence that he deserves,” said could kill them. Known as Dr Death, Shipman Hoegel is seen yesterday wearing a bulletproof vest as he is led out of When judge Sebastian Buehr- ing two patients with lethal in- Frank Brinkers, whose father Ten years ago, a German nurse was sentenced to 15 life terms in the court compound towards a prisoner’s transport vehicle, in mann asked 41-year-old Niels jections. died in an overdose allegedly was convicted of killing 28 eld- 2000; he died prison in 2004, Oldenburg, northern Germany, after the first day of his trial. Hoegel if the charges against him In January, prosecutors administered by Hoegel. “When erly patients. apparently a suicide. Gulf Times 20 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 EUROPE

UN rights chief wants ‘global experts’ to help The UN rights chief has called for “international experts” to help investigate the murder of Jamal Turkey presses Saudis to Khashoggi at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, and called on Riyadh to reveal the whereabouts of his body. “For an investigation to be carried out free of any appearance of political considerations, the involvement of international reveal who sent hit team experts, with full access to evidence and witnesses, would be highly desirable,” Michelle Erdogan urges Saudi certain people,” said Erdogan, Bachelet said in a statement. prosecutor to find out who who has stopped short of directly Bachelet stressed the importance ordered Khashoggi hit blaming the Saudi government. of ensuring the murder be Saudi Arabia is seeking to draw investigated in an independent AFP a line under the crisis after off er- and impartial manner. Istanbul ing a series of diff ering narratives “I welcome the steps taken by following the journalist’s disap- Turkish and Saudi authorities to pearance. investigate and prosecute the urkish President Recep Attorney General Sheikh Saud alleged perpetrators of Mr. Tayyip Erdogan has called al-Mojeb travelled to Istanbul Khashoggi’s murder,” the UN Ton Saudi Arabia’s chief this week after being the fi rst High Commissioner for Human prosecutor, who visited yester- Saudi offi cial to acknowledge the Rights said. day the consulate in Istanbul killing was “premeditated” based “But given the information that where Jamal Khashoggi was mur- on the results of Turkey’s inves- high-level off icials in Saudi Arabia dered, to investigate who ordered tigation. were apparently involved, and the hit on the journalist. He met Istanbul chief prose- it took place in the Consulate of Khashoggi’s death has brought cutor Irfan Fidan on Monday and Saudi Arabia, the bar must be set near unprecedented interna- asked to be given the full fi nd- very high to ensure meaningful tional scrutiny on Saudi Arabia ings of the Turkish investigation, accountability and justice and its powerful Crown Prince including all images and audio Saudi public prosecutor Saud al-Mojeb acknowledges the media as for such a shockingly brazen Mohamed bin Salman, and the recordings, Turkish broadcaster he leaves Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul. crime against a journalist and journalist’s fi ancée has accused TRT reported. government critic,” she insisted. the regime of a massive cover-up. The Turkish investigators re- ing into self-imposed exile in the served. He should not allow my Bachelet added that it was Erdogan, who says a 15-per- jected the request, TRT said, in- United States last year after fall- fi ancé’s murder to be covered up.” Erdogan: Who sent these 15 people? As Saudi public prosecutor, important to determine son team travelled from Riyadh stead calling on the Saudi prose- ing out with the crown prince. She said she believed the Saudi (al-Mojeb has) to ask that question, so (he) can reveal it. whether “serious human to Istanbul to kill Khashoggi, cutor to reveal information about He entered the consulate to regime knew where Khashoggi’s rights violations such as has pressed Saudi authorities to the location of Khashoggi’s body. obtain paperwork for his mar- body was and called for the “evil died when an argument descend- leged it was cut up into multiple torture, summary execution or reveal the truth – including the They also repeated Erdogan’s riage to his Turkish fi ancée Hati- criminals and their cowardly po- ed into a brawl. pieces. enforced disappearance were location of the Washington Post call for the 18 suspects detained ce Cengiz. litical masters” to be held to ac- The story was undercut by Beyond the detention of the 18 committed and to identify all contributor’s missing body. by Saudi Arabia over the murder On Monday, Cengiz called on count. footage, which Erdogan con- suspects, fi ve Saudi intelligence those implicated in this crime, “Who sent these 15 people? As be sent to Turkey for trial, ac- world leaders – and in particular Trump has called the case “one fi rmed, of a Saudi offi cial acting chiefs have been sacked, includ- irrespective of their off icial Saudi public prosecutor, you have cording to TRT. US President Donald Trump – to of the worst cover-ups in histo- as a body double for Khashoggi, ing two who were part of Prince capacity”. to ask that question, so you can Riyadh has refused the request. do more to expose what really ry”, but warned against halting a wearing the journalist’s clothes Mohamed’s inner circle. She called on authorities in both reveal it,” Erdogan told reporters Al-Mojeb met with Turkish happened. Saudi arms deal to increase pres- when leaving the consulate to The aff air has tarnished the Turkey and Saudi Arabia to co- in Ankara yesterday, shortly after investigators again yesterday “I am extremely disappointed sure on Riyadh, saying it would pretend to be the dead man. image the crown prince, the de operate in ensuring that the full the head of the Saudi investiga- before visiting the consulate for by the stance of the leadership harm US jobs. The Saudi leadership has since facto leader of the oil-rich Gulf truth about Khashoggi’s murder tion entered the kingdom’s con- around an hour and a half and of many countries, particularly Riyadh initially insisted that put the blame on a “rogue opera- nation, who has positioned him- comes to light. sulate. leaving without making a state- in the US,” Cengiz told a memo- Khashoggi left the consulate un- tion”. self as a Saudi reformer. Bachelet’s statement marks the “Now we have to solve this ment. rial event in London. “Presi- harmed, but as pressure grew, The search for Khashoggi’s He has denounced the murder third time she has commented on case. No need to prevaricate, it Khashoggi, 59, was an insider dent Trump should help reveal Saudi state media changed the body continues, after gruesome as “repulsive” and strongly de- Khashoggi’s disappearance and makes no sense to try to save in Saudi royal circles before go- the truth and ensure justice be story and said that Khashoggi reports in the Turkish media al- nied any involvement. murder. Nato military exercises ‘strictly defensive’ Rights advocates DPA Stockholm warn of ato’s biggest military exercise since the Cold spike in NWar – currently under way in Norway – is strictly “de- fensive”, Nato Secretary General activist Jens Stoltenberg said yesterday while visiting the Scandinavian country. murders The exercise, codenamed Tri- dent Juncture, began last week. Around 50,000 soldiers, AFP 10,000 vehicles and more than Paris 300 aircraft and ships are taking part. It involves land, sea, air and ore than 150 rights cyber capabilities. campaigners from “This is a necessary exercise Maround the world gath- to make sure that Nato provides ered in Paris on Monday, warn- a credible deterrence. The rea- ing of a spike in the number of son is why we do that is to pre- activists from Brazil to the Phil- vent confl ict, not to provoke a ippines killed for their work. confl ict,” Stoltenberg told re- Groups behind the Human porters. Rights World Summit, including The North Atlantic Treaty The Netherlands Air Force’s AH Amnesty International and the Organisation (Nato) has been attack helicopter (right) is seen International Federation for Hu- transparent about the exercise near its UH-1 utility helicopter man Rights, said that at least 312 and invited observers from other during a demonstration as part activists were murdered in 2017. countries, he noted. of the Nato Trident Juncture This represents a doubling in Stoltenberg was speaking af- 2018 exercise, in Byneset near the murder rate since 2015, they ter meeting with Norwegian Trondheim, Norway. said in a statement on the fi rst of Defence Minister Frank Bakke- three days of meetings in Paris, Jensen. Left: A Norwegian Motor Topedo bringing together activists from The two were joined by US Boat (MTB) KNM Skudd 105 countries. Admiral James G Foggo, who is (foreground) follows the USS “In nearly all cases those re- in command of the troops par- Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class sponsible have acted with total ticipating in the two-week ex- amphibious assault ship of impunity,” the statement added. ercise, along with other offi cials the US Navy, during the Nato Andrew Anderson, head of in observing some of the Nato exercise. Front Line Defenders, a Dublin- manoeuvres near the Norwegian based group seeking to protect city of Trondheim. activists, said the numbers for About 3,000 troops, a dozen 2018 are set to be “higher still”. tanks, some 40 jet fi ghters and “In the countries where the other aircraft including helicop- largest number of human rights ters as well as roughly 20 marine defenders are being killed – vessels took part in the demon- Mexico, Colombia, Brazil, the stration where forces reclaimed Philippines, Guatemala, Hon- a beach area. duras – we can see that the “Impressed by the skills & numbers are already higher than capabilities demonstrated by they were last year,” he added. #TridentJuncture. Thank you to “The level of threat and risk that all of #NATO’s men and women these courageous human rights in uniform – and to Norway,” defenders face is quite horren- Stoltenberg tweeted. Members of the USS Iwo Jima, a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship dous.” Trident Juncture’s aim is to of the US Navy, monitor the Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk, a US Navy The conference is aimed at practice the alliance’s response helicopter. building ties between activists to an attack on one of its mem- to develop strategies for fi ghting bers. Nato. It’s to show we have the “What we see today is a more repression and discrimination In addition to the 29 Nato resolve, the capabilities, the will unpredictable situation where it over the next two decades. members, partner countries to defend all allies,” Stoltenberg is harder to foresee exactly what Some of the activists met Finland and Sweden have also said. will happen, and there is less French President Emmanuel contributed forces to the exer- “During the Cold War you had agreement on what are the rules Macron at the Elysee Palace. cise, which runs until November two military blocs confront- of the game,” Stoltenberg said. Attendees include Matthew 7. ing each other, the Warsaw Pact The use of “hybrid tactics” Caruana Galizia, a Pulitzer Stoltenberg reiterated that and Nato. You had hundreds including cyber attacks and Prize-winning reporter whose Russia had informed Nato last Explosives planted by Norwegian Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal are triggered to clear the beaches of thousands of combat-ready meddling in domestic politics mother Daphne, a Maltese jour- week about planned tests of of obstacles and enemy mines, during an Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance demonstration. troops on both sides along the as well as the risk of terrorist at- nalist and anti-corruption ac- missiles in international waters East-West border in Europe. tacks were among contemporary tivist, was killed a year ago. off Norway due to begin tomor- cise,” the Nato chief said, add- that the Nato-Russia Council – said the Trident Juncture exer- You don’t have anything similar challenges that Nato has to con- Anielle Franco, whose sis- row (November 1). ing that Nato would monitor a key dialogue forum – is to meet cise is not a Cold War-style ex- to that today,” he added. tend with, he said. ter Marielle – a Brazilian black “I expect Russia to behave in the Russian operation, which is today in Brussels but declined to ercise. Another diff erence is that Stoltenberg, a former Norwe- rights activist murdered in a professional way, we will not scheduled to end on Saturday. comment on the agenda. “We are exercising collective there are now far fewer nuclear gian prime minister, arrived in March – is also taking part in the change the plans of our exer- Stoltenberg also welcomed Stoltenberg and Bakke-Jensen defence – that’s the core task of weapons in Europe, he added. the country on Monday. conference. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 21 INDIA BJP resorts to temple politics ahead of crucial polls

Reuters leaders of the Rashtriya Swayam- ing on whether the disputed site A BJP minister in Rajasthan, the Sabarimala temple, BJP Pres- attacking the top court and con- constitution” to make that hap- New Delhi sevak Sangh (RSS), the ideologi- should be handed to Hindus or one of the states that goes to the ident Amit Shah said on Saturday stitution for political gains. pen. cal mentor of the BJP, are for the Muslims until at least January. polls soon, called on Friday on that the party would stand with “He will divide, polarise, and “I will appeal to the Supreme fi rst time demanding an urgent “If Hindus lose patience, I am all Hindus to vote along religious the protesters “like a rock”. fan anger, hatred, violence -any- Court, if they can give a verdict rime Minister Narendra executive order that would by- afraid no one can say what will lines, for the party in what may “I can cite many court judg- thing to win elections,” Ramach- on Sabarimala, they should also Modi’s ruling Bharatiya pass the Supreme Court, to build happen.” be a breach of election rules. ments that were never imple- andra Guha, a historian, said in a decide on the issue of Ram’s PJanata Party has been turn- a temple at the site of the Babri While Modi has adopted Five states elect their assemblies mented,” Shah said at a rally in tweet. birthplace,” Adityanath said in ing up the heat on some contro- mosque in Ayodhya in Uttar economic development as his this year, starting next month, Kerala on Saturday. “He is the most dangerous and New Delhi on Saturday. versial and potentially highly Pradesh. driving philosophy since being ahead of the general election in “Why are you hell bent on im- divisive politician in the history There are fears that commu- divisive religious issues in recent The destruction of the mosque elected prime minister in 2014, which the BJP is projected to lose plementing this particular court of independent India.” nal tensions between Hindus and days, with crucial state elections by a frenzied Hindu mob in 1992 the BJP has not shied away from seats in parliament but still emerge order? I am here to warn the Ker- Many BJP leaders, including Muslims could fl are again if the only weeks away and a general sparked deadly riots across the openly endorsing causes of its as the single biggest party. ala government, don’t suppress Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister status quo is disturbed. election due by next May. country. mainly Hindu support base. Hitting out at the government the devotees in the name of the Yogi Adityanath, are urging the At the moment the site is un- Top BJP leaders have sided “There should not even be any BJP spokesman Gopal Krishna of the state of Kerala, which has court verdict.” top court to allow the construc- der court control. with some Hindus defying a Su- debate over it. There’s not even Agarwal said a decree on building arrested more than 3,000 peo- The comments drew criticism tion of the temple in Ayodhya. “We want a decision soon. We preme Court order that scrapped any need to involve the courts the temple was indeed one of the ple who demonstrated against from political analysts and oppo- The BJP’s manifesto for the want a law to build the temple,” a ban on women from visiting the here,” BJP’s Giriraj Singh, a fed- options before the government as the Supreme Court’s lifting of a sition parties including Kerala’s 2014 election said it was com- said Mohan Bhagwat, the pow- Sabarimala temple in Kerala. eral minister, said on Monday af- “justice delayed is justice denied” centuries-old bar on women or ruling Communist Party of India mitted to “explore all possibili- erful chief of the RSS in a speech At the same time, they and ter the top court delayed a hear- and “emotions are running high”. girls aged 10 to 50 from entering (Marxist), which accused Shah of ties within the framework of the this month. Mastercard says storing payments data locally

Reuters It did not specify whether a New Delhi copy of that data was still being stored abroad. The company said it has sub- lobal card payments mitted a proposal with the RBI giant Mastercard is for “storage of data only in India Gstoring its new Indian within a specified timeframe”. transaction data locally, the It did not give a timeline. company said yesterday, as it Visa too has started storing a starts to comply with a regula- copy of its new transaction data tory directive which US locally and had sought time companies unsuccessfully from the RBI to comply with People exercise at a park on a smoggy morning in New Delhi yesterday. lobbied hard to dilute. the requirement to store Indian The Reserve Bank of India in data only within the country, April said companies such as two industry sources said. Mastercard, Visa and American Visa and American Express Express will from October need did not immediately respond to to store their payments data a request for comment. “only in India” so that the reg- The RBI directive was part ulator could have “unfettered of a wider push by India to ask Delhi may halt private cars supervisory access”. companies to store more of The directive sparked an ag- their data locally at a time when gressive lobbying effort from governments globally are en- US companies which said the forcing more stringent rules to rules would increase their in- protect user data. frastructure costs, hit their glo- Government sources have if smog thickens: offi cial bal fraud detection platforms previously told Reuters that and affect planned investments stringent data localisation Agencies emergency, we will have to stop sonous particulate matter, hit ing Punjab and Haryana states,” ploying 44 teams from tomor- in India where more and more measures were essential for New Delhi the use of private transport,” 469 in parts of Delhi yesterday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Ke- row to keep a check on pollution people are using digital modes gaining easier access to data said Bhure Lal, chairman of the up from 299.4 a week ago. jriwal said in a tweet. and violators. of payments. during criminal and other in- Environment Pollution Control Crop stubble burning, a ma- Farmers in Punjab and Hary- In a statement, Hussain said The companies had sought di- vestigations. ndia may halt the use of pri- Authority (EPCA). jor source of pollution, vehicu- ana states, India’s bread basket, the “urgent campaign” is being lution of the central bank direc- Two US senators this month vate vehicles in New Delhi “There is a committee which lar exhaust and a drop-off in start burning the residue of the jointly organised by the Delhi tive, requesting they be allowed called on Prime Minister Iif air pollution, which has will advise me on this.” wind speeds have aggravated previous crop to prepare for new government and the central gov- to store data both locally and at Narendra Modi to soften India’s reached severe levels in recent EPCA, appointed by the Su- the smog that is likely to worsen plantings in November. ernment. their off shore offi ces, a practice stance on data localisation, days, gets worse, a senior envi- preme Court, has already pro- around November 7, when fi re- Defending the federal govern- “Under the campaign, we ap- widely known as “data mirror- warning that measures requir- ronmental offi cial said yester- posed halting construction, works will set off to celebrate the ment, Environment Minister peal to the citizens to strictly ing”. ing it represent “key trade bar- day. the use of diesel-run power Diwali festival. Harsh Vardhan said his ministry avoid activities that add to air But their requests were de- riers” between the two nations. Toxic smog has started to en- generators, brick kilns and the As a blanket of haze settled and the state governments of pollution,” he said. clined. Other than the RBI proposal, velope vast swathes of northern burning of garbage between to- over the area, leaders of Delhi’s Punjab and Haryana have tried A senior offi cial in the Delhi Mastercard has started stor- India is working on an over- India, including New Delhi, as it morrow and November10 when ruling Aam Aadmi Parrty and to reduce stubble burning and Environment and Forest min- ing all its new payments trans- arching data protection law does each year when winter ap- pollution levels are expected to a federal minister sparred over the Delhi government must in- istry said the campaign will be action data in India at its tech- that calls for the storing of all proaches and farmers burn off rise. what to do. tensify its own eff orts to help limited to the fi rst week of No- nology centre in the western critical personal data in India. the residue of crops. Data from the Central Pollu- “Every year Delhi suff ers be- curb pollution. vember. city of Pune, the company said E-commerce and cloud com- “Let us hope the air pollution tion Control Board showed the cause of the ineptness of the As the air quality worsened, “If the need arises, we will in a statement to Reuters yes- puting policies are also being situation in Delhi doesn’t dete- air quality index, which meas- federal government and the state Delhi Environment Minister continue with the campaign,” terday. developed. riorate but if it turns out to be an ures the concentration of poi- governments of neighbour- Imran Hussain announced de- the offi cial said.

Chouhan’s son sues Rahul Indian couple falls to over Panama papers claim death in California park IANS According to the National Park New York Service, Taft Point is an area IANS minister is not there in Panama dra Modi, saying his promise of with very steep terrain. It is also Bhopal papers. But Vyapam and e-ten- “achhe din” (good days) had gone a popular spot for tourists try- dering scams have taken place in up in smoke in just four years and n Indian couple, who had ing to take scenic and memorable his rule,” Gandhi said. now people were alleging that gushed in a travel blog photos. he son of Madhya Pradesh The Panama papers refers to “chowkidar chor hai” (watch- Aabout how much they It was not clear how the cou- Chief Minister Shivraj the leak of millions of fi les from man is corrupt). loved “daredevilry” or stand- ple fell or what they were doing TSingh Chouhan yesterday the database of the world’s fourth As he sharpened his barbs, Gan- ing on the edge of cliff s, died af- when the accident occurred, the fi led a defamation case against biggest off shore law firm Mossak dhi uttered the said “chowkidar” ter falling 800ft in an area with report said. Congress president Rahul Gan- Fonseca that helped in setting up and the crowd attending a rally in very steep terrain in California’s A friend of the couple said they dhi for linking his name to the off -shore entities. Dhar roared back: “chor hai”. Yosemite National Park this were on a driving trip from New Panama papers. Chouhan’s son Kartikey yes- It was the Congress leader’s last week, reports said. York and were seeing the sights But the Congress chief clarifi ed terday fi led the defamation case leg of a two-day visit to the state. Vishnu Viswanath, 29, and in California at the time. that he had got “confused” due to in a special court in Bhopal. If on Monday his attacks were Meenakshi Moorthy, 30, were The couple also ran a blog “scams” in the Bharatiya Janata Par- His lawyer Shirish Shrivastava aimed at Chouhan, then yester- identifi ed on Monday as the called Holidays and Happily Ever ty state governments and was actu- told reporters that the case was day Gandhi took aim at the BJP married couple who fell to Afters, chronicling their adven- ally referring to the son of Chhattis- fi led because Gandhi attempted leadership. their deaths from Taft Point tures around the world. garh Chief Minister Raman Singh. to defame Chouhan and his son He named the Rafale deal, the in Yosemite National Park last They shared their photos in Gandhi’s faux pas during a ral- during his remarks at a rally in crisis in the Central Buraeu of In- week, the San Francisco Chroni- beautiful places, along with a ly in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh Jabhua. vestiagtion, and the Nirav Modi- cle reported. warning of travel dangers. on Monday has become a politi- He alleged that it was part of a Punjab National Bank scam in Viswanath and Moorthy, both “A lot of us including yours cal issue with Chouhan and BJP plan and Gandhi wanted to reap the run up to the Madhya Pradesh software engineers, were from truly is a fan of daredevilry at- leaders commenting on it. political benefi t from his re- assembly polls of November 28. India and were living in the US. tempts of standing at the edge The Congress president told marks. “Modi says he is not a ruler but They had recently moved from of cliff s and skyscrapers,” they reporters during an informal in- Shrivastava said that Chou- a (political) servant - a watch- New York after Viswanath took a wrote in an Instagram post in teraction in Indore yesterday that han and his son have nothing to man. It is a lie. He is not guarding job as a systems engineer at Cisco March from the rim of the Grand he had made allegations against do with the Panama papers leak poor people’s assets. Systems Inc, based in San Jose. Canyon, “but did you know that Chouhan’s son in relation to case. He said media clippings A number of BJP leaders yes- Rangers recovered their bod- wind gusts can be fatal??? Is our the Panama papers but it actu- and a video of Gandhi’s remarks terday joined the Congress in ies on steep terrain on Thursday life just worth one photo?” ally related to the alleged charges have been submitted with the Madhya Pradesh in Gandhi’s below Taft Point, an area known Raj Katta, 24, of New York, against the son of the Chhattis- complaint. presence. for its spectacular views of the said he got to know the couple garh chief minister. Addressing the rally, Gandhi said BJP legislator Sanjay Sharma, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite Falls, while attending Bradley Univer- “So many scams have taken that the name of Chouhan’s son was former lawmaker Kamlapat Arya and El Capitan, said park spokes- sity in Illinois. place in BJP state governments there in the Panama papers. and Kirar community leader Gu- man Jamie Richards. “They liked to travel and take that I got confused. The name of Gandhi meanwhile took a lab Singh Kirar joined the party Congress president Rahul Gandhi and party leader Kamal Nath Visitors spotted the couple’s pictures. They were really into the son of Madhya Pradesh chief jibe at Prime Minister Naren- earlier in Indore. attend meeting in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, yesterday. bodies on Wednesday. this stuff ,” Katta said. Gulf Times 22 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 INDIA

JUDICIARY FESTIVAL HEALTHCARE MISSION INVESTIGATION Court admits appeal against Southern states can pick West Bengal praised INS Tarangini returns Jharkhand CM seeks conviction of Asaram time to use firecrackers: SC for using Ayush funds after 7-month voyage report on rape cases

The Rajashan High Court yesterday admitted The Supreme Court yesterday allowed the southern The West Bengal government yesterday INS Tarangini, the first sail training ship of the Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das an appeal against the conviction of self-styled states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra received plaudits from federal minister Shripad Indian Navy, returned to Kochi naval base after yesterday asked all 24 Superintendents of godman Asaram, and issued a notice to the Pradesh to choose the time for using firecrackers Naik for doing a “very good job” in developing a seven-month voyage across the world during Police (SPs) to submit within a week report on state government. The defence will now during Diwali subject to the limit of two hours. The infrastructure and promoting healthcare and which it visited 15 ports in 13 countries. The incidents of rape taking place in their respective move an application seeking bail for Asaram, court made it clear that the total duration of time to education under the National Ayush Mission (NAM) voyage, ‘Lokayan 18’, was flagged off on April 10 districts. “Submit the rape incidents reports in sentenced for life on April 25 for sexual burst firecrackers should not exceed two hours as scheme. Naik, the minister of state for AYUSH, from Kochi. The ship sailed across the Arabian one week. All SPs should ensure that charge- exploitation of a teenager in his ashram. “We ruled on October 23. The court had refused to ban said West Bengal was able to utilise Rs716mn fund Sea, Red Sea, Suez Canal, Mediterranean Sea, sheets in rape incidents are filed on time. had moved a criminal appeal in the court firecrackers on Diwali and permitted their use with provided under the scheme. “Under NAM, the Strait of Gibraltar, North Atlantic Ocean, Bay Under the new law, the charge-sheet should be praying for setting aside the conviction order. reduced emission and decibel levels for two hours state of West Bengal has been provided Rs71.64 of Biscay, English Channel and North Sea and filed within two months’ time,” Das said while Since it has been admitted, we will now file a - from 8pm to 10pm. The court refused to accept crore since 2014-15. The West Bengal government right up to Norway, a Defence Ministry said in reviewing the complaints during a “Jan Samvad” bail application,” said Asaram’s lawyer Mahesh the submission by Tamil Nadu and the Fire Crackers has done a very good job in improving the a statement yesterday. During its journey, the (communication with people) programme in Bora. This came a week after Asaram got Manufacturers Association that people in Tamil Nadu infrastructure and developing other aspects of ship participated in the ‘Three Festival Tall Ships Ranchi. The chief minister’s directive came after a reprieve in a case against him under the be allowed to burst crackers from 4.30am to 6.30am AYUSH education and healthcare by utilising funds Regatta’ in France and ‘Tall Ships Races Europe a case of rape reported from Giridih district was Income Tax Act. besides during the evening hours from 8pm to 10pm. provided under NAM,” the minister said. 2018’ in the UK. brought to his notice.

India, Italy hold talks Cameraman, on trade, tech ties two police DPA New Delhi

talian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte yesterday Iheld talks with his Indian offi cers die in counterpart Narendra Modi and discussed ways to enhance co- operation in key areas such as trade, investment and technology. Conte arrived in New Delhi yesterday morning and later sat down for discussions with Modi Maoist attack at the Hyderabad House in the city. Agencies Rathore announced a com- fi rst phase. The police person- “The leaders reviewed bi- Raipur pensation of Rs1.5mn and job to nel coming from outside to pro- lateral relations and agreed to the wife of the cameraman. vide assistance are being trained work together on expanding our The state head of operations to deal with Maoists,” Special partnership in trade and invest- aoist rebels ambushed against the Maoists, P Sunder, Director General of Police D M ment, defence and security, sci- a convoy yesterday in said additional forces had been Awasthi said. ence and technology, renewable MChhattisgarh, killing rushed to the scene. “All inspectors general and energy, counter-terrorism, re- two police offi cers and a journal- “It is a developing situation deputy inspectors general are de- gional and global issues,” Exter- ist from the national broadcaster and more forces are going to the termined not to let any disruption nal Aff airs Ministry spokesman Doordarshan covering the lead spot. We will get more infor- during the polls,” he added. Raveesh Kumar said. up to local elections next month. mation about it once the team He said the police had been The Italian leader also called The cameraman was escorting comes back,” the senior police successful in locating several for co-operation in the defence police on a patrol in Dantewada offi cer told reporters. land mines and Improvised Ex- manufacturing industry as well district, when their vehicles Last week, Maoists were plosive Devices (IEDs) in search as for partnerships in railway were attacked by armed men. blamed for blowing up a mili- operations. transport safety. Police said the shooters were tary vehicle in Bijapur district Awasthi said all police per- A highlight during Conte’s Maoists, also known as Nax- of Chhattisgarh that killed four sonnel had been told to use the one-day visit was his participa- als, who have been waging an soldiers. least number of vehicles during tion in the India-Italy Technolo- insurgency against Indian rule Chhattisgarh goes to the polls operations to escape IED blasts - gy Summit, which featured fi elds in a forested belt of the country in two phases, fi rst on November an old and eff ective method used including healthcare, aerospace, dubbed the “red corridor” for 12 and then November 20. by the Maoists to attack security education, clean technology and decades. The state has been governed personnel. information and communica- “A sub-inspector, a consta- by the Bharatiya Janata Party “All police personnel have tion technologies. ble and a cameraman have been (BJP) for 15 years. been asked to go on foot during Modi said the discussions killed,” Ratan Lal Dangi, a senior The rebels, who have called their operations,” he said. at the summit would facilitate state police offi cer, said. for a boycott of the polls , have Chhattisgarh Chief Minister greater technology transfers, Two others were injured in the stepped up attacks in recent Raman Singh, who is seeking a joint ventures and market access attack. days. fourth term in the state polls, has between industry and research Doordarshan confi rmed one of They usually target security blamed the Maoists for impeding institutions in India and Italy. its cameramen had been killed. personnel and government of- development projects in the state. To strengthen bilateral eco- “DD News had deputed a team fi cials but attacks on journalists Sahu’s colleagues said, the nomic ties, a forum of CEOs to cover the Chhattisgarh polls, are rare. 34-year-old cameraman was al- would be created to help guide a comprising cameraperson Ach- The Maoists who have urged ways up for challenges. joint panel on economic co-op- yuta Nanda Sahu, Dheeraj Ku- voters to oust the BJP and called “He was jolly by nature... al- eration, Modi said at the summit. mar and M M for a boycott of the polls have ways ready to take up challenges. Lauding Italy’s rich tradi- Sharma. In a Naxal attack, stepped up attacks in recent I don’t remember a time when he tion of scientifi c research and Sahu was martyred. The entire days. said no to an assignment. He al- its reputation in manufacturing, DD News family salutes his serv- They usually target security ways liked going for challenging Modi said the two sides can co- ice and stands by his family in personnel and government of- stuff . We went to many events operate in devising technologi- this hour of grief,” the network fi cials but attacks on journalists together. His death was such a cal solutions for industry. tweeted. are rare. shocking news for me. I don’t “We have also decided to set Condemning the attack, In- Dantewada is among the areas have words to express how bad it up various Indo-Italian Centres formation and Broadcasting going to polls in the fi rst phase feels to have lost a colleague and of Excellence. Business and in- Minister Rajyavardhan Singh covering 18 constituencies. friend like him,” said Sudharkar dustry of both countries are al- Rathore tweeted: “Strongly Police said they would not Das, a reporter at DD News. ready co-operating in bringing condemn the Naxal attack on allow the rebels to disrupt the Hours before Sahu was killed, cutting edge technology in vari- DD News Live crew. Deeply sad- elections. he had uploaded pictures on ous sectors and can co-operate dened by the demise of our cam- “Over 2,000 extra police per- Facebook of waterfalls in the fruitfully in areas like renewable eraman and two jawans. These sonnel have been deputed in fi ve district and two selfi es with the energy, neurosciences and IT,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giuseppe Conte shake hands before a meet- insurgents will not weaken our districts where the fi rst round caption - “At Dantewada Chhat- he said. ing in New Delhi yesterday. resolve. We will prevail.” of polling will take place in the tisgarh Election Yatra”.

Akali Dal accuses Congress of Delhi airport to ‘boost distorting Sikh history in books its capacity soon’ IANS be paramount for any transpor- IANS “We will bring Chief Min- Former chief minister Par- New Delhi tation service and asked the avi- Chandigarh ister Amarinder Singh and the kash Singh Badal and Shiro- ation industry to place passen- Congress government in Pun- mani Gurdwara Parbandhak gers’ convenience at the centre jab down on their knees for the Committee (SGPC) president ice President M Venkaiah of all their activities. he Shiromani Akali Dal brazen assault on the sacred Gobind Singh Longowal also Naidu yesterday called The “Economic Impact (SAD) yesterday accused image of the great Sikh Guru attended the meeting. Vfor greater investment Study” of the airport managed Tthe Congress govern- Sahiban, especially Guru Arjan Badal said: “It is hard to to improve the country’s infra- and operated by Delhi Interna- ment in Punjab of a “deep- Devji, Gur Hargoibindji, Gur believe that these scurrilous structure and said that the Delhi tional Airport Ltd (DIAL) has rooted conspiracy” to distort Tegh Bahadur Sahib and the and sacrilegious distortions airport will soon be investing been done by National Council Sikh history in textbooks for 10th master Guru Gobind Sing- of history had been included nearly Rs90bn. of Applied Economic Research students of senior classes in hji. The details of the struggle after the Punjab government Naidu was speaking at an (NCAER). schools, and said it was bracing will be announced in Amritsar had earlier been forced to re- event to unveil two publications The GMR Group-led DIAL is for an agitation over the issue. after the Ardas,” Badal said. move some other similar sac- - “The Economic Impact of a consortium comprising GMR SAD president Sukhbir Singh He demanded an immediate rilegious portions from the Delhi Airport” and a coff ee table Group, Airports Authority of In- Badal will launch a struggle apology from the chief minister same books. book on the 10-year journey of dia and Fraport. against the distortion of Sikh and the Congress government. “This shows that this is not the Indira Gandhi International The consortium has a man- history after party leaders per- Badal also demanded the an inadvertent act, but that Airport in its new avatar. date to fi nance, design, build, form an ‘Ardas’ (religious cer- registration of criminal cases the Congress government is “The world today faces a va- operate and maintain the Delhi emony) at the Akal Takht Sa- against those associated with working on a deep rooted con- riety of economic challenges Airport for 30 years with an op- hib (inside the Golden Temple the preparation of such outra- spiracy to destroy and disfi gure as well as extreme volatility on tion to extend it by another 30 complex) on November 1, party geous sacrilegious material and the history of the great Guru various fronts. At times like this, years According to the report, leaders said yesterday. their dismissal. Sahibaan. The Khalsa Panth, it is important that appropriate operations of the airport have a The Akali Dal has announced “The new books contain- the entire Punjab and the SAD investments be made to increase signifi cant economic and social that it would launch a “a mas- ing these humiliating portions would never tolerate this,” he and improve the infrastructure impact in Delhi-NCR and sur- sive struggle” to force Punjab’s must be banned and withdrawn added. within the country,” Naidu said. rounding regions. ruling Congress to “apologise immediately and replaced with Badal pointed out that the “I am informed that Delhi “It is estimated that effi cient to the Khalsa Panth for deliber- the old books which had been new history books of the Airport will soon be spending aviation infrastructure has more ate and persistent insults cast in use for decades,” Badal said. Punjab government claimed nearly Rs9,000 crore to boost its than three times multiplier im- against the Gurus” in the his- The SAD Core Committee that the fifth Guru, Arjan capacity to nearly 100mn pas- pact on the economy and Delhi tory books meant for 10+2 stu- held an emergency meeting at Dev, was “not martyred by Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu speaks at the launch of a sengers per annum.” airport has delivered much be- dents in Punjab School Educa- the party headquarters here on the Mughals but was merely coff ee table book and economic impact report of Indira Gandhi The vice president added that yond that,” said G M Rao, chair- tion Board (PSEB). Monday to consider the issue. fined”. International Airport in New Delhi yesterday. the safety of passengers should man of GMR Group. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 23 LATIN AMERICA

LEGAL TRADE LAW AND ORDER DECISION FALLOUT Ecuador throws out Chile gets first Argentina 30 held as international Venezuela stops Crime, crisis turn Caracas Assange lawsuit gas delivery after deal drug ring dismantled Bogota animal imports streets dark and deserted

Ecuador has thrown out the lawsuit WikiLeaks Chile yesterday received its first delivery of Colombian police said an international The Venezuelan government said it would Crime and a grinding economic crisis have founder Julian Assange filed charging that Quito natural gas from Argentina in more than a drug-trafficking ring exporting cocaine to suspend trade in animal products and by- turned the traditionally vibrant, teeming streets violated his “fundamental rights” and limited his decade, President Sebastian Pinera announced Europe, the US and Oceania on commercial products from Colombia for a year in an attempt of Caracas into no man’s land once the sun goes access to the outside world while in asylum at following a deal signed by the neighbours flights has been dismantled, with 30 people to combat an outbreak of foot-and-mouth down. Major thoroughfares like the Francisco its London embassy. Magistrate Karen Martinez in April. “After 12 years, we have managed to arrested. Three people were held in the US, disease (FMD). Venezuela’s Agriculture Minister, Fajardo highway were empty during recent ruled that the suit could not move forward, as filed open the gas valves again,” Pinera said after six in Australia, 10 in Spain and 11 in Colombia. Wilmar Castro Soteldo, said in a television nighttime drives by journalists. Hardly any cars by WikiLeaks’ attorney, the former Spanish judge the first delivery by pipeline from Argentina’s Police said the drug-trafficking ring was run address that the action was taken after the drove past the Esfera de Soto, a giant, suspended Baltasar Garzon. The 47-year-old Australian’s legal Vaca Muerta gas field. The conservative Chilean by Jorge Juan Merlo of Spain, who goes by government had confirmed the new outbreak artwork in the shape of an orange sphere, that is action had come with speculation mounting that leader and his Argentine counterpart Mauricio different aliases, including “Monkey.” Merlo of foot-and-mouth disease in Colombia, and iconic for the troubled city of 6mn people. Nor Ecuador is preparing to end its standoff with the Macri signed an energy deal last April on gas and was already the subject of 32 judicial cases accused Bogota of not complying with animal was there much traff ic on Libertador Avenue, British government by terminating his high-profile electricity. For Chile — a net importer of energy across several countries. He was arrested welfare protocols. The directive will involve which joins east and west Caracas, and in the stay. Carlos Poveda, Assange’s lawyer in Ecuador, — the resumption of Argentine gas deliveries will in Colombia alongside seven other people, “products and by-products of animals capable of working class district of La Candelaria in the appealed the ruling. That means a higher court enable it to replace “more expensive and more charged with an array of offences, including carrying the disease,” including from cattle and city centre hardly any pedestrians were out and should review the case in coming days. polluting” fuels like oil and coal, said Pinera. drug trafficking. sheep, Castro Soteldo said. about. And those that were walked very fast. President-elect vows to target ‘lying’ media

Reuters Court has rejected numerous re- Sao Paulo quests to free the former presi- dent. The Globo newspaper, in a razilian president-elect separate article citing unnamed Jair Bolsonaro has revis- sources close to the judge, re- Bited his most contentious ported yesterday that Moro campaign promises, calling for was weighing Bolsonaro’s of- looser gun laws, urging a high- fer, feeling that he could reas- profi le anti-corruption judge to sure citizens concerned the join his government and promis- president-elect will not govern ing to cut government advertis- democratically. ing for media that “lie.” Late on Monday, Bolsonaro In interviews with TV sta- said in an interview with Globo tions and on social media, Bol- TV that he would cut govern- sonaro, a 63-year-old former ment advertising funds that army captain, who won 55% flow to any “lying” media out- of Sunday’s vote and will be lets. sworn in on January 1, made During his campaign, the clear he would not waste time right-winger imitated US Presi- in pushing through his con- dent Donald Trump’s strategy servative agenda. of aggressively confronting the Bolsonaro, who ran on a law- media. and-order platform, said he In particular, he took aim at wants Sergio Moro, the judge Globo TV and especially Brazil’s who has overseen the sprawling biggest newspaper, the Folha de “Car Wash” corruption trials S.Paulo. and convicted former president “I am totally in favour of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of graft, freedom of the press,” Bol- Brazil’s vice president-elect Hamilton Mourao arrives for a meeting with president-elect Jair Bolsonaro, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, yesterday. to join his government as justice sonaro told Globo TV. “But minister. if it’s up to me, press that Barring that, he said he would shamelessly lies will not nominate him to the Supreme have any government sup- Court. port.” The next vacancy on the court Bolsonaro was referring to is expected in 2020. Moro did the hundreds of millions of not respond to requests for com- reais the Brazilian government ment. spends in advertising each year Bolsonaro rubbishes But Ascanio Seleme, editor in local media outlets, mainly in chief for the O Globo news- for promotions of state-run paper, wrote in a blog post on firms. the publication’s website yes- The UOL news portal, owned terday that Moro should not by the Grupo Folha, which also accept the offer to become jus- controls the Folha de S.Paulo tice minister. newspaper, used Brazil’s free- claims of being fascist He has too much work to do dom of information act as the on pending corruption trials, basis for a 2015 article that Guardian News and Media the former paratrooper, who is paints himself as a political the atmosphere of the moment.” Brazil’s 21-year dictatorship while Seleme wrote. showed Globo received 565mn Brasilia notorious for his infl ammatory outsider, also refused to say he Bolsonaro, who has expressed thousands more were tortured. Seleme added it would also reais in federal government rhetoric, did little to suggest he regretted saying the military admiration for dictators includ- Bolsonaro’s numerous critics bolster accusations from the spending in 2014. would temper his discourse after regime that ruled Brazil from ing Chile’s Augusto Pinochet, are appalled that a man with his Workers Party (PT), whose can- Folha got 14.6mn reais that razil’s far-right president- taking power on January 1. 1964 until 1985 should have claimed many Brazilians now track record of promoting torture didate Fernando Haddad lost to year. elect, Jair Bolsonaro, has Bolsonaro told TV Band, one killed 30,000 people. In a now believed Brazil’s military regime and off ending women, black, gay Bolsonaro in Sunday’s vote, that The federal government’s Breaffi rmed his defence of his of Brazil’s major channels, it was infamous 1999 television inter- “wasn’t a dictatorship as the left and indigenous people will soon Moro has a vendetta against the secretariat for communica- country’s brutal 21-year dictator- his left-wing detractors who view Bolsonaro also said: “You’ll has always preached”. be their leader. Left-wing oppo- PT and worked to keep it from tion, which tracks the fig- ship and rejected claims that he is were fascists, not him. never change anything in this He said the media had unjustly nents have vowed to resist what power. ures, did not immediately a fascist, instead painting himself “They always accuse others of country through voting. Noth- described Cuba’s former leader, they call his threat to democracy. The PT accuses Moro of fi nd- reply for a request on how as a Churchillian patriot deter- being what they are themselves,” ing. Absolutely nothing.” Fidel Castro, as a president while In his television interview Bol- ing Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, its much money the government mined to lead his crisis-stricken he said. “It’s these left-wing Justifying those comments calling Joao Figueiredo, who sonaro – who recently threat- founder, guilty of graft to block has spent on media advertis- country “out of this quagmire”. people, who always put them- yesterday, he said: “If you’re at a ruled Brazil during the fi nal years ened to exile or jail “red outlaws” him from making a presidential ing since 2014. In one of his fi rst television selves above the rest, who are football match and you shout out of its dictatorship, a dictator. – said he expected “fi erce” op- run. Neither Grupo Globo nor interviews since being elected on fascists.” a swear word you might be in the Hundreds of regime opponents position but would not seek “to The guilty verdict was upheld Grupo Folha replied to requests Sunday with nearly 58mn votes, The veteran politician, who wrong but you’re caught up in were killed or disappeared during crush” such dissent. on appeal and Brazil’s Supreme for comment. Mexican president-elect Perilous journey El Chapo loses bid to postpone trial pulls plug on new airport concession to the defence, Reuters New York Cogan ruled that opening statements in the trial would Reuters Markets had welcomed Lopez new airport, and Lopez Obrador, begin no earlier than Novem- Mexico City Obrador’s pledge to stick to or- who had called for the referen- US judge yesterday ber 13, which could allow some thodox fi scal policies after his dum and was against the new turned down a last- extra time to prepare if jury election. airport, pledged to respect the Aditch eff ort by accused selection fi nishes early next exico’s incoming presi- Companies owned by the result. Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El week. dent said his govern- family of Mexican billionaire Roughly a million people, or Chapo” Guzman to delay his Cogan also raised concerns Mment would cancel Carlos Slim, once the world’s about 1% of Mexico’s electorate, trial, scheduled to begin next at the hearing about the pros- construction of a partially built richest man, were co-designing, participated. Monday with jury selection in ecutors’ planned case. $13bn new airport for Mexico co-fi nancing and co-building “The decision is to obey the Brooklyn federal court. He said he was concerned City, a decision which left inves- the project. will of the people,” Lopez Obra- Lawyers for Guzman said in that the prosecutors had indi- tors fretting over how he would Mexico’s pension funds also dor told reporters at a news con- a motion last week that they cated that they were prepared manage the economy and led to put up money through an infra- ference. needed more time to review to present evidence that Guz- sharp falls in the currency and structure investment trust. He said it was a “rational” more than 14,000 pages docu- man was involved in more than stock market. “People had given Lopez Ob- decision and that the govern- ments, largely related to key 30 murder conspiracies, even President-elect Andres rador the benefi t of the doubt ment would save around 100bn witnesses expected to testify though the charges against him Manuel Lopez Obrador said his that he would be a pragmatic pesos ($5bn). He also said it against their client, that pros- are for drug traffi cking. administration, which takes of- governor. That essentially col- was “normal” for the peso to ecutors turned over on Octo- “This is a drug case,” he fi ce on December 1, would heed lapsed. People are reassessing weaken. ber 5. said. “I’m not in any way go- the results of the informal refer- everything about Mexico,” said “It’s normal. Once there is However, US district judge ing to let them try a murder endum that called for abandon- Gustavo Rangel, economist at more information things will Brian Cogan said at a hearing conspiracy case that happens ing the current project. ING in New York, said. calm down. This isn’t signifi - yesterday that the volume of to involve drugs.” Instead, a military air base “I don’t think the administra- cant... there is nothing to fear,” documents was in line with He said that while some north of the capital will be con- tion understood the importance said Lopez Obrador of the peso’s what they should have expect- evidence of murder conspira- verted for commercial use to of this decision.” sharp decline. ed, noting that prosecutors cies connected to alleged drug ease overcrowding at the current Mexico’s peso tumbled “He hasn’t yet taken offi ce, had said in July that it could be traffi cking would be allowed, hub. around 3.6%, blowing past but he’s already managed to 25,000 pages and that sprawl- it would be limited. The move puts Lopez Obra- the key 20 per US dollar level cancel the largest infrastructure ing, complex cases like Guz- Guzman, 61, has been in dor’s government in a confron- after Obrador’s announce- project in Mexico based on the man’s were necessarily chal- solitary confi nement since be- tation with the country’s busi- ment. decision of 1% of the population. lenging for both sides. ing extradited to the US from ness elite, whom he criticised The public was asked over a Markets don’t like uncertainty,” “Nobody is going to be as Mexico in January 2017. He during his election campaign four-day public consultation said Aaron Giff ord, an emerging Migrants, part of a caravan travelling to the US, struggle to cross ready to try this case as they was known internationally as but had sought to soothe follow- that ran from Thursday to Sun- markets bond analyst at T Rowe the river from Guatemala to Mexico in Ciudad Hidalgo, Mexico. would like to be,” he said. the head of Mexico’s Sinaloa ing his landslide election victory. day to weigh in on the fate of the Price in Baltimore. In what he called a small Cartel. Gulf Times 24 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 PAKISTAN

Pakistan in grip of prolonged dry spell Pakistan in general and its northern regions, including Rawalpindi and Islamabad and the surrounding areas, are in the grip of a prolonged dry spell. Smog build-up in Lahore worsens The total rainfall in Islamabad and Rawalpindi throughout the month of October has been less than 1mm, whereas the average normal rainfall is 31.7mm. Internews ation despite directions by the It advised the use of fog lights ties like fossil fuel burning, and ing in the Democratic Republic of The Meteorological Off ice had predicted 10% rains across the country in Lahore Lahore High Court. at night and early morning for impacts public health: it is linked the Congo and Angola. October, with two or three spells of light to moderate rain. Other cities are also in danger better visibility. to an estimated 75,000 prema- Some hotspots, such as Seoul, However, the weather pattern remains unpredictable, and there is no in- of smog. The EPD said that brick kilns ture deaths per year (worldwide). Jakarta, and New Delhi, have a dication of a downpour in the remaining day of the month in the region. he build-up of smog in the The EPD has warned members are not allowed to operate, ex- It is also a major source for mix of contributing sources, in- Normally, the twin cities received up to four days of rainfall in October, capital of Punjab is visibly of the public not to remain out- cept those working on the zigzag PM2.5 and Ozone (O3), which cluding transport, coal power but this year there was only one day of precipitation in Rawalpindi and Tworsening with each pass- doors while the smog is present technology. are air pollutants very harmful to plants, and manufacturing. Islamabad. ing day. unless necessary, and to wear Lahore has been declared one human health. The data covers the period The situation was no diff erent in Murree either, where the total rainfall up On October 30, the day ap- helmets or masks if they need to of the world’s 50 nitrogen dioxide Satellite data generated by the from June to August. to October 26 had been more than 80% below normal: only 13mm rainfall peared overcast and dreary, be outside. (NO2) “hotspots”, with around EPA satellite have been analysed Power generation from coal against the normal pattern of 63.1mm. without sunshine, while a layer They also advised using public 40% of road transportation and by Greenpeace. and oil is the main source of The hill station received only one day of rainfall during the month, com- of smoke and dust blurred vis- transport to reduce the number 23% of power generation as ma- The list of the largest emis- emissions at the largest number pared to the traditional rainfall pattern of four-and-a-half days. ibility of the city skyline. of vehicles on the road. jor sources, according to the Eu- sion hotspots includes several of hotspots, 19 out of 50, followed The rainfall had been below normal in the previous month as well, lead- As a result, the Environmen- Washing up after having been ropean Space Agency (EPA). coal-fi red power plants in In- by manufacturing industries (14), ing to water shortage in many parts of the country. tal Protection Department (EPD) outdoors is important as grime The EPA’s new satellite Sen- dia, South Africa, and Germany, most notably steel plants in Chi- The Meteorological Off ice has already issued a warning of a drought-like has announced the beginning of can collect on skin, leading to ir- tinel 5P has provided unprec- 10 power plant and industrial na, and transport (10). condition. what is now being termed La- ritation. edented detail of global NO2 pol- clusters in China, 14 megacities The largest number of However, some cities, including Bahawalnagar, Mianwali, Sargodha, Dir, hore’s “fi fth season” smog. The department also said that lution. with very high transport-related hotspots, a total of 10, is found in Ghari Dupatta, Chitral, Kohat, Karachi, and Sibi, received higher than An EPD spokesperson said that crop stubble burning and open The satellite just started pro- emissions, including Santiago China, four in the EU, and three normal precipitation this month. the Punjab government had been fi res are banned, and that action ducing data on NO2 in early July. de Chile, Tehran, Dubai, London in India, the US and the Demo- unable to control the smog situ- would be taken against violators. NO2 arises from human activi- and Paris, and agricultural burn- cratic Republic of the Congo.

Penalty for used Govt moves to tighten cellphone sets not screws on tax dodgers registered The Directorate General to carry out criminal prosecu- The offi cial said that mi- motion, had been set aside and cover to the orders of the DGII develop linkages with all major with govt for Intelligence and tion against tax evaders. nor changes were made in the quashed. in retrospect, even before these national, provincial and other Investigation regains The statutory regulatory or- SRO1301 to exclude powers like To provide legal cover to ear- powers were conferred through databases to collect relevant in- authority to investigate and der (SRO) 116, which allowed the blacklisting of a taxpayer, lier decisions, the government the Finance Act 2018. formation. Internews prosecute tax dodgers the DGII to conduct investiga- which were highlighted in the through the Finance Bill 2018 As per the new notifi cation, The department is empow- Islamabad tion into sales tax evasion, was court order. proposed Section 30A in the the DGII will be able to carry out ered to identify cases of sales tax Internews declared illegal in a Lahore High Iqbal said that under the new Sales Tax Act 1990, whereby the intelligence activities on all tax- evasion and carry out inquiry, Islamabad Court (LHC) judgment in July orders, the DGII will have the powers were conferred to the related issues, including under- investigate, and audit, which- he Pakistan government last year. powers to raid a business, con- DGII to conduct investigation reporting, tax evasion, tax fraud, ever it deems fi t to retrieve the has decided in principle According to Federal Board duct investigations, and make into sales tax evasion. and revenue leakages. loss of revenue. Tto introduce a regulatory fter a delay of more than of Revenue (FBR) spokesper- arrests. Regarding past cases includ- The department will also col- The powers will also allow the duty (RD) with a minor penalty 15 months, the Pakistan son Dr Muhammad Iqbal, under Following the Lahore High ing the lodging of FIRs, a valida- lect third party information re- DGII to identify and investigate for unregistered used mobile Agovernment has fi nally the new SRO1301 notifi cation, Court judgment, the previously tion Section 74 was proposed to lating to fi nancial transactions, in accordance with applicable phone sets, depending on the restored the powers of the Di- the DGII will be conferred with registered fi rst information re- the Sales Tax Act 1990. like investment, expenses, and laws in cases of tax fraud having category that they belong to. rectorate General for Intelli- powers that were not restricted ports (FIRs) and criminal pros- As per the amendments, the details of persons. any fi nancial implications and The blocked mobile phone will gence and Investigation (DGII) by the LHC in its 2017 judgment. ecution, which were already in validation section provides legal The DGII will establish and punishable as an off ence. be unblocked only following the payment of the RD along with the penalty at the nearest cus- toms point, offi cials have said. It has been estimated that the import of illegal phones in the Interpol notice sought against UK MPs seek Imran’s help market leads to $1.5bn in annual revenue losses to the govern- ment exchequer. UK-based Pakistani politician In comparison, the value of for arrest of toddler’s killers government revenue from the legal import of mobile phones Internews up to Interpol offi cials to decide would submit the Imran Farooq reached $847.656mn in 2017-18. Rawalpindi whether or not a “red” warrant murder case to a court along Internews pursuit of justice, Iftikhar Ah- Over the years, revenue from against the MQM founder could with the application to be sub- Faisalabad mad and his family were threat- the legal imports has dropped. be issued. mitted to Interpol. ened by a local gang, the same At one point revenue from the he government has de- An Interpol “red” warrant – The case is being investigated gang suspected to have mur- legal imports crossed the $1bn cided to contact the In- or “red” notice – is a request to by a joint investigation team. ritish parliamentarians dered Sheheryar Ahmad. mark following an increase in Tternational Criminal locate and provisionally arrest MQM senior leader Imran have approached Prime The threats include the stalk- the customs duty, leading to the Police Organisation (Interpol), an individual pending extradi- Farooq, who had developed BMinister Imran Khan ing of Iftikhar Ahmad’s wife, smuggling of the phone sets. asking it to issue a “red” war- tion. diff erences with Hussain, was through a letter for the arrest of Emil Jamil, as well as their two Most of the used and refur- rant against Muttahida Qaumi It is issued by the Interpol killed outside his house in Lon- a gang who abducted and killed other children. bished mobile phones that are Movement (MQM) founder Al- General Secretariat at the re- don in September 2010. a British Pakistani boy. Jamil and her two children are being smuggled into the coun- taf Hussain in connection with quest of a member country or In 2015 the FIA registered a Four-year-old Sheheryar now safe in the United King- try using diff erent channels will the murder of senior party lead- an international tribunal based case against Hussain and other Ahmad, son of Iftikhar Ahmad, dom. be blocked through the Device er Imran Farooq. on a valid national arrest war- MQM leaders in connection was kidnapped on August 21, “We ask that as the PM you Identifi cation, Registration and According to offi cial sourc- rant. with the murder and launched 2014. give the Ahmad’s family a per- Imran Khan: sent a letter that Blocking System (DIRBS) mech- es, the Federal Investigation It is not an international ar- an investigation. The police found his body sonal apology on behalf of the carries the names of 67 UK anism. Agency (FIA) had been directed rest warrant. Farooq had lived in London in two days later. Pakistan government for pro- legislators. In May, the Pakistan Telecom- to write an application to the According to the FIA offi cial, self-imposed exile since 1999 The boy was kidnapped out- longing the terrible tragedy that munications Authority (PTA) Interpol headquarters in Lyon in such cases Interpol usually until his death. side the house of his grand- they have been through,” reads protests outside the police of- launched the DIRBS mechanism (France) for issuance of the examines if they are politically Three suspects have been ar- mother in Faisalabad’s D-Type the letter that carries the name fi ces. to counter the spread of sub- warrant against Hussain. and religiously motivated or re- rested by police in connection Colony. of 67 MPs. He claimed that the suspects standard and used phones being An offi cial of the FIA said the lated to the military. with his murder and they have The letter sent by Stephen A police offi cer said that the secured bail from the court, al- smuggled into the country. agency would soon initiate the He said that the FIA made a been charged with the murder, Kerr said that the police found suspects had been arrested, and legedly in connivance with the An offi cial said that from No- process. similar request about Hussain abetment and hatching a con- Sheheryar’s body but did not the case submitted to the court. police, and that they threat- vember 15 all consumers need to However, he added, the proc- to Interpol in June 2017, but the spiracy to kill. inform Iftikhar Ahmad and his Now, he said, it is up to the ened his family with dire con- send a text message containing ess might take some time. bid was rejected. They are being tried in an family until January 8, 2015. court to decide their fate. sequences if he continued to the International Mobile Equip- The offi cial said it would be Sources said that the FIA anti-terrorism court. The letter reads that in the Iftikhar Ahmad has staged pursue the matter. ment Identity (IMEI) number printed on the box of a new handset to 8484. Consequently, consumers will receive reply on whether Got goat the phone set is compliant with Sharifs meet in parliament regulatory standards or not. In case of non-compliance, a message will be sent to the con- sumer to pay the customs duty, to discuss party strategy along with penalty, within two months. After the two months, all un- Internews registered mobile phones will Islamabad become usable. According to the PTA, nearly 160mn compliant and non- ormer prime minister compliant mobile devices are Nawaz Sharif has met his active on all the networks before Fbrother and Leader of the the launch of the DIRBS. Opposition in the National As- Offi cials said that the gov- sembly, Shehbaz Sharif, in the ernment is working on devising latter’s chamber at the Parlia- regulatory duty rates for used ment House. mobile phones, with the offi cial This is the former prime notifi cation to be issued after minister’s fi rst visit to the Par- approval of the federal cabinet. liament House in the past year. Nawaz Sharif: chaired a Currently, the FBR has issued Shehbaz Sharif, the Pakistan meeting of the PML-N a notifi cation on the new rates of Muslim League – Nawaz (PML- leadership. regulatory duties on import of N) president and the former new mobile sets. Punjab chief minister, has been Shehbaz Sharif (left) remains The regulatory duty is Rs250 under National Accountability under NAB custody. per mobile set worth under $60. Bureau (NAB) custody in con- The rate of regulatory duty nection with Ashiyana housing erences fi led against PML-N is 10% of the value of mobile scam since October 5. leaders by the NAB. phone, if its value ranges be- He was allowed to attend the They also discussed whether tween $60 and $130 per set. National Assembly session, the party should take part in an The rate of regulatory duty which commenced on October Aurangzeb, Rana Sanaullah, all-parties conference that has will be 20% of the value, if the 29, following an order issued by Hamza Shahbaz, Rana Tanveer, been proposed by the opposi- value is more than $130 per set. Speaker Asad Qaiser. Khawaja Asif, and Ayaz Sadiq in tion. According to offi cials, the Nawaz Sharif also chaired a attendance. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) rates of regulatory duty for a meeting of the party leadership, The PML-N leaders dis- leader Khursheed Shah also used mobile phone will be calcu- with Raja Zafarul Haq, Kha- cussed the country’s political stopped by Shehbaz Sharif’s A boy poses for a picture with his pet goat in a neighbourhood in Karachi. lated while keeping in the view waja Saad Rafi que, Marriyum situation and corruption ref- chamber to meet Nawaz Sharif. its value. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 25 PHILIPPINES

32,000 cops to be deployed for annual festival

By Roy Narra Manila Times

total of 32,092 police of- ficers will be deployed A nationwide to keep the public safe during the observ- ance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. An estimated 14.6mn peo- ple are expected to visit 4,667 public cemeteries and memo- rial parks and 76 columbaria around the country, Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Al- bayalde said on Monday. “The PNP is all systems go to implement a nationwide law enforcement and public safety plan for the traditional Filipino observance of All Saint’s Day and All Soul’s Day culminating Strong waves pound the waterfront as weather patterns from Typhoon Yutu aff ect Manila Bay, yesterday. Right: A streetside vendor shivers in the rain . into a four-day Halloween hol- iday weekend from November 1 to 4,” Albayalde said. November 1 and 2 have been declared special non-working holidays. All police regional offices and national support units will mobilise 86,977 force multi- Dozens trapped as typhoon pliers from local government units, civic action groups, ci- vilian volunteer organisation, and motoring clubs to operate police assistance centres and provide road assistance and public safety services. triggers deadly landslides Police officers will also watch 83 airports and domes- z Four killed and local authorities said. Another in Isabela, the province where tic air terminals, 333 seaports, at least 31 trapped in local landslide in neighbouring Ifu- Yutu made landfall. 808 inland bus terminals, and government building gao province killed a 48-year- Thousands of people in the 59 train stations to assist trav- z Impassable roads old man and three children typhoon’s path were evacuated ellers. hamper rescue eff ort aged between eight and 11, ac- before the storm hit from hilly, Albayalde ordered all units cording to a police report. coastal and river areas on Mon- and personnel to keep police Reuters The typhoon, named Ros- day after warnings were issued visibility at all times along Manila ita by Philippine authorities, for landslides and waves of up travel routes, transport ter- comes just six weeks after super to three metres (9.8 feet). minals, public cemeteries and typhoon Mangkhut dumped Yutu has weakened substan- other public places. andslides killed four peo- massive rains on Luzon, trig- tially since the night of Oct 24, The Land Transportation ple and trapped at least gering dozens of landslides when as a super typhoon pack- Office on Monday inspected L31 others yesterday in that killed more than 70 people ing winds of 270kph, it made a buses and bus terminals also on a mountainous region of the in the mountainous Cordillera direct hit on Saipan and Tinian, Monday. Philippines, offi cials said, as region. two islands of the Northern Personnel of the Philippine Typhoon Yutu barrelled across At fi rst light helicopters Marianas, an American terri- Drug Enforcement Agency the country with strong winds would fl y rescue teams and tory about 9,000km west of the went to the Araneta Bus Termi- and rains. search dogs to the 31 people US mainland. nal in Quezon City to conduct Yutu, the 18th typhoon to hit trapped, who included public It was the strongest storm to drug tests on drivers. Only one the Philippines this year, swept highways contractors, security hit the archipelago in 50 years driver tested positive for drug across the main island of Luzon guards and people sheltering and killed a woman and injured use. with wind speeds of 140km per from the storm, said Ruben more than 130 people. Albayalde said there were no hour and gusts of up to 230kph Carandang, head of civil de- It tore off the roofs of build- monitored planned attacks so (142mph), before heading west fence in the Cordilleras. ings, fl ipped vehicles and dam- far but the police would con- over the South China Sea, the Footage from Yutu’s path aged generators, water pipes and tinue to monitor large cemeter- state weather agency said. captured by local television downed hundreds of electricity ies for possible security threats. Roads blocked by collapsed showed winds bending trees poles. The police chief reminded earth prevented rescue teams and signs, sheets of rain lashing By late Tuesday, Yutu had the public not to bring loud de- from reaching the 31 people down and loose materials fl ying weakened to a category two vices such as karaoke machines trapped in a landslide late in the through the air. storm, with maximum winds and radios, illegal weapons, afternoon that engulfed a lo- Local television reported of 110kph and gusts of 135kph, sharp objects and illegal drugs, cal government building in the one person was electrocuted the state weather agency and to refrain from gambling country’s Mountain province, and killed and another missing Pagasa said. Workers remove debris washed ashore along the bay walk in Manila. inside cemeteries.

Saudi turns over arrested Watchdog wants fi nance Filipinas Duque, Garin to face more to embassy department chief to quit Authorities in Saudi Arabia have agreed to temporarily release charges over vaccine deaths By Mayvelin U Caraballo president’s order for a military to the custody of the Philippine Manila Times “takeover” of the Customs embassy in Riyadh, 19 Filipinas bureau as an indirect admis- who were arrested during a By Jomar Canlas Antoni; and Zuellig’s Kasigod sion of the failure of the man- raid at a Halloween party on Manila Times Jamias, Michael Becker, Ricardo n anti-corruption agements of the DoF and the October 26, the Department Romulo, Imran Babar Chugtai, group called for the BoC. On Sunday, the presi- of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in Raymund Azurin, Nilo Badio- Aresignation of Finance dent ordered the military to a statement yesterday, Manila he Public Attorney’s la, John Stokes Davison, Marc Secretary Carlos Dominguez take over the Customs bureau Times reported. Offi ce (PAO) has fi led Franck, Ashley Gerard Antonio, over his silence on alleged cor- days after sacking all officials Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Tmore criminal charges Ana Liza Peralta, Rosa Maria ruption in revenue-generating of the agency. Adnan Alonto informed Foreign at the Department of Justice Chua, Danilo Cahoy, Manuel agencies of the government. “Secretary Dominguez, for Affairs Secretary Teodoro (DoJ) against Health Secretary Concio 3rd, Roland Goco and In a statement released yes- almost three years, you have Locsin Jr that Chief Prosecutor Francisco Duque, his pred- Ma. Visitacion Barreiro. terday, the Coalition Against been at the helm of the DoF,” Khalid al-Hozaimi provided the ecessor Janette Garin, and sev- In February this year, the Vol- Corruption (CAC) pointed the CAC said, reiterating names of the 19 women who eral others in connection with unteers Against Crime and Cor- out that the Department of there are no efforts to curb were detained at the Al Nisa jail Dengvaxia-related deaths. ruption and Vanguard of the Finance (DoF) seems “uncon- corruption from the side of — not 17 as initially reported. PAO chief Persida Rueda- Philippine Constitution Inc. fi led cerned” about corruption in the Finance department. This was made possible be- Acosta yesterday assisted fam- charges at the DoJ against Garin, the Bureau of Internal Revenue “Instead, your strategy cause of the strong representa- ily members of 10 alleged casu- former president Benigno Aqui- (BIR) and the Bureau of Cus- was to impose more taxes tion made by the Embassy with alties of the vaccine in fi ling 10 no and former Budget secretary toms (BoC). that caused untold suffer- Saudi authorities, the ambassa- counts of reckless imprudence Public Attorney’s Off ice chief Persida Rueda-Acosta talks to journalists Florencio Abad for their alleged “The BIR and BoC are per- ing to the nation,” the group dor said. Alonto said authorities resulting in multiple homi- as relatives of alleged Dengvaxia victims hold photos of their loved involvement in the purchase of ceived to be the most corrupt added. may file charges against the cide, torture, and violations of ones during a rally at the Department of Justice building in Manila. P3.5bn worth of Dengvaxia and government agencies. Despite It said “new taxes would Filipinas for violating religious the Consumer Protection Act the implementation of a massive President (Rodrigo) Duterte’s have been unnecessary if law, which prohibits interaction, (Republic Act 7394), particu- Damasajuevesano, and Argel Drug Administration (FDA) of- vaccination programme under declared war on corruption, only there were no leakages especially in public among larly “defective product” and Sam and Lara Nina Garces. fi cials and personnel Vicente which more than 800,000 school the DoF has not shown any in revenue collection and unattached men and women. “mislabelled product,” against The other complainants were Belizario Jr, Kenneth Hartigan- children were inoculated with visible initiative to curb cor- funds misspending.” The 19 women were among Duque, Garin, other health of- Antonio and Rosalinda Castro- Go, Gerardo Bayugo, Lyndon the anti-dengue vaccine. ruption in these two agencies,” Four revenue-generating several Saudis and foreign na- fi cials, and offi cials and person- verde of Valenzuela City and Lee Suy, Irma Asuncion, Julius They were charged with tech- it said. tax reform measures pro- tionals who were arrested while nel of vaccine manufacturer Sa- Rey and Jessica Viaros of Sar- Lecciones, Joyce Ducusin, Ro- nical malversation for conspiring In particular, the CAC ques- posed by the Finance de- attending a Halloween party at nofi Pasteur, and its distributor iaya, Quezon Province. salind Vianzon, Maria Lourdes to unlawfully eff ect the release of tioned Dominguez’s “deathly” partment are pending before a private compound in Riyadh. Zuellig Pharma. Duque was charged in par- Santiago, and Melody Zamudio; savings from the fi scal year 2015 silence” on the drugs and cor- Congress. The compound was raided after One of the victims was Sen- ticular with obstruction of jus- Research Institute for Tropical Mutual Benefi t Personnel Fund ruption imbroglio that en- “Secretary Dominguez, neighbours complained of loud ior Police Offi cer 2 Vicente Aru- tice by Arugay and Viaros for Medicine (RITM) offi cials So- and use the same to augment the gulfed the BoC recently. are you still marching in ca- noise from the party. gay who was represented by his alleged violation of Section 1B corro Lupisan and Maria Rosa- anti-dengue immunisation pro- The group was referring dence with the president in The DFA reminded overseas wife Mary Jane. Complainants of Presidential Decree 1829 or rio Capeding; Sanofi corporate gramme. to the alleged entry of P11bn the war on corruption?,” the Filipino workers (OFWs), par- from Cebu province included Obstruction of Apprehension directors and offi cers Carlito The respondents were also worth of shabu in the country CAC said. “In fairness to the ticularly in the Middle East, to Wilson and Theresa Alcontin, and Prosecution of Criminal Realuyo, Sanislas Camart, Jean charged with multiple homicide hidden inside BoC magnetic president and to the Filipino respect the laws and traditions Eleazar Brigoli Sr, Jiny Casona Off enders for his continued re- Louis Grunwald, Jean-Francois and physical injuries through lifters in August. people, if you cannot do the of their host countries following and Marilyn Teleron, Erwin fusal to give the list of those in- Vacherand, Conchita Santos, negligence under the Revised Pe- “His demeanour certainly job , please do the honourable the arrest of the Filipinas. and Judelin Apa, Domingo and oculated with Dengvaxia. Jazel Anne Calvo, Pearl Grace nal Code by the family of the vic- raises a lot of eyebrows,” it thing…Resign!” the group Luzviminda Cortes, Marlon and Also charged were Food and Cabali, and Marie Esther de tims of the deadly vaccine. said. The CAC described the added. Gulf Times 26 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 COMMENT

CHAIRMAN Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Attiyah EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Faisal Abdulhameed al-Mudahka Deputy Managing Editor K T Chacko P.O.Box 2888, Doha, Qatar [email protected] 44350478 (News), 44466404 (Sport), 44466636 (Home delivery) 44350474 facebook.com/gulftimes twitter.com/gulftimes_Qatar GULF TIMES Brexit uncertainty clouds Britain’s economic outlook The clock is ticking down to Britain’s departure from the world’s biggest trading bloc, but talks still remain deadlocked in Brussels. It’s now a clear and present possibility that the UK will crash out of the European Union without a deal in March, hammering out the terms of their relationship going forward. A no-deal Brexit is an alarming prospect for all the stakeholders. Qatari-Turkish relations have In his budget statement, Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond promised early tax cuts and an end to austerity, but added Britain may need another emergency budget and prolonged austerity in the event of a no-deal Brexit. reached ideal level: Cavusoglu Even with upgraded forecasts for 2019 and 2020 in this year’s budget, growth is still not seen reaching its pre-Brexit QNA Qatar by a number of GCC countries, vote pace through to 2023. The prediction for 2018 was cut to Doha Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that Qatar has overcome the eff ects of just 1.3%, the slowest since 2009 and down from its March the siege and continued its economic prediction of 1.5%. urkish Foreign Minister Mevlut growth and development, and as a While, even the meagre growth outlook could still be Cavusoglu said that the sister country, Turkey will continue downgraded by Brexit, a disorderly exit “could have severe Qatari-Turkish relations have to support Qatar as long as the siege short-term implications for the economy, the exchange rate, Treached an ideal level recently continues. and that the strengthening of these “We are seriously concerned about asset prices and the public fi nances,” said chairman of the relations is a common goal of the two the current impasse among the Offi ce for Budget Responsibility. countries. brotherly Gulf countries. The resolution Amid the worsening Brexit imbroglio, businesses are The Turkish foreign minister pointed of this dispute should not be delayed digging in for a worst-case outcome. Four-fi fths of UK out that there are several diversifi ed any further. The crisis has paralysed the sectors in which Qatar and Turkey are GCC, which constitutes the bedrock for companies have cut or withheld investment because of co-operating, and that the total volume the security and stability of the region. the uncertainty caused by of projects carried out by Turkish As a strategic partner of the GCC, we Brexit, according to the contractors in Qatar since 2002 has have serious concerns about the current Four-fi ft hs of Confederation of British reached $17.4bn. situation,” Cavusoglu added. Industry, the country’s In an interview with Al-Watan On its part, Turkey has off ered UK fi rms have newspaper, published yesterday, to provide its good offi ces for the biggest business lobby. Cavusoglu said: “The enduring resolution of this unfortunate dispute, cut or withheld An EU-UK divorce with no friendship between Turkish President he said, adding: “We have conducted agreement in place on how Recep Tayyip Erdogan and His an active phone and shuttle diplomacy investment to continue doing business Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin to contribute to the international would mean various rules, Hamad al-Thani provides a sound basis eff orts to resolve this issue peacefully amid Brexit to enrich our relations.” and without delay. We have also permits and accords falling “Further advancing the excellent wholeheartedly supported the sincere concerns into limbo. Bottlenecks relations between our countries is our eff orts of Kuwait to mediate among could bring shortages common objective. High-level visits Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu the parties. We are pleased that Qatar of everything from imported food to manufacturing provide an important impetus to our has approached favourably to these relations. Meanwhile, the Qatar-Turkey increasingly important component in in Azerbaijan, Cameroon, Kazakhstan, mediation eff orts.” components. EU citizens living in the UK and Britons living Supreme Strategic Committee is an the two countries’ relations. Libya, Moldova, Turkmenistan, Ukraine Kuwait was able to successfully on the continent could be stranded without permission to excellent basis to boost our ties further “We appreciate the support and and lastly in Russia before the World mediate among the parties during a remain. in an institutionalised setting,” he said. solidarity of Qatar in the face of the Cup 2018. With this vast experience, similar situation in 2014. “So we remain The Brexit imbroglio is undermining London’s coveted Co-operation in the fi eld of defence recent foreign exchange speculation we fi rmly believe that Turkish optimistic that the ongoing dispute status as the global fi nancial hub. industry is an important aspect of the that targeted the Turkish economy. construction companies can contribute will also be settled soon,” the foreign bilateral relations between Qatar and The recent pledge of $15bn of direct signifi cantly to the 2022 FIFA World minister pointed out. The “City,” home to over 250 foreign banks and the Lloyd’s Turkey, he said, stressing that this investments is a manifestation of Cup infrastructure and capabilities.” He underlined that the existing of London insurance market, has been facing a crisis ever enhances the military capabilities of the Qatar’s confi dence in the strength of Furthermore, Cavusoglu expressed deadlock serves nobody’s interest in the since the vote on June 23, 2016. Qatar Armed Forces and contributes the Turkish economy,” he underlined, hope to sign a memorandum of Gulf region, and that sooner or later the An Ernst & Young report in June 2017 predicted a loss of to the security and stability of the Gulf inviting Qatari businessmen to take understanding on co-operation for countries in the region will realise this region. advantage of the incentives off ered research and development activities fact, then they will be more supportive 232,000 fi nancial jobs in Britain as result of Brexit. He also underlined that deployment by the Turkish authorities to foreign in the fi eld of transportation and of the eff orts to resolve this problem. A central theme of the Brexit negotiations has been the of Turkish armed forces to Qatar was investors and step up their investments information technologies between “Obviously, the sooner this is realised, “passporting rights,” that entitles companies authorised made pursuant to the bilateral military in Turkey. the ministry of transportation and the better it will be for the stability and in one country of the European Economic Area – currently and defence co-operation agreement “Our bilateral trade volume was infrastructure of Turkey and its Qatari security of our region”, he stressed. comprising the 28 EU states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and signed between Turkey and Qatar $835mn in 2016. In 2017, it reached counterpart during the fourth session Regarding Turkish-US relations, he in 2014. “Nevertheless, there is still $1.3bn with 56% increase. In the of the Supreme Strategic Committee said: “Turkey and the US have wide- Norway - to sell their products and services throughout the a great potential to further advance fi rst half of this year, we had $695mn between Turkey and Qatar. ranging areas of co-operation, shared bloc, accessing a $19tn integrated economy with more than our military co-operation, including bilateral trade volume,” he said. Regarding the scientifi c and interests and common challenges. 500mn citizens. through technology sharing and joint “Within the framework of the eff orts technological co-operation with Turkey will continue to approach the The government has warned that UK fi nancial services production,” he added. to further develop our trade relations, Qatar, he said: “We have two US in a constructive manner. Nato fi rms are set to lose the right to market their products in Regarding the siege countries’ the Turkey-Qatar Trade and Economic documents signed in 2015 and 2017, membership is the cornerstone of our demand to close the Turkish military Partnership Agreement was initialled respectively to collaborate on projects security and defence policies.” the EEA post-Brexit, unless EU authorities take action to base in Qatar as one of their conditions on 4 September 2018 by the trade in areas of mutual interest. These On Turkey’s relationship with prevent it. for lifting the blockade, Cavusoglu ministers of the two countries”, the agreements make the exchange of Russia, Cavusoglu noted: “Russia is an Britain faces a “daunting” task to be ready for Brexit, the said: “This demand is both unrealistic Turkish foreign minister said. research and knowledge possible important country in our region. We International Monetary Fund warned in September, and said and irrelevant. Deployment of Turkish The agreement is expected to be between Turkey and Qatar. They also have close economic and cultural ties armed forces to Qatar was made signed during the Fourth Session of include scholarships for students and since we have been living side by side the fi scal costs would far outweigh the money saved as a pursuant to the bilateral military the Supreme Strategic Committee establishing research centres in Turkey for centuries.” result of no longer paying into the EU budget. and defence industry co-operation between Turkey and Qatar, which will and Qatar that will help joint work for Regarding the S-400 deal, he said: All Brexit options would involve costs, but a no-deal agreement signed between Turkey be held in November in Turkey, he said, developing advanced technologies “We do not have any intention to send goodbye would be costlier, infl icting “substantial costs for and Qatar in 2014, long before the pointing out that the agreement aims for scientists and engineers. Within messages to any country. This deal is the UK economy, and to a lesser extent the EU economies,” Gulf dispute. Therefore, there is no at providing customs duties exemption the framework of these documents, purely related to our immediate security connection between our military for many products, and will contribute Turkey’s leading Research agency needs and how to meet them. Due to according to the IMF. deployment and the current Gulf signifi cantly to increase the bilateral TUBITAK and Qatar National Research pressing security concerns, purchasing dispute.” trade volume to desired levels. Fund (QNRF) are working together and the S-400 missile systems from Russia “The agreement refl ects the With regard to Turkish companies’ conducting reciprocal visits to further has stood out as the only option for us.” To Advertise sovereign decision of our two countries help for Qatar in its preparations for our bilateral relations. We have started On the Syrian crisis, the Turkish and it is not up to any other country to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he said: our co-operation in the fi eld of cyber foreign minister said: “We want to [email protected] challenge it. Furthermore, our military “The total volume of projects carried security. We hope to expand the scope see our neighbour Syria as a stable, Display deployment is intended to contribute out by Turkish contractors in Qatar of joint activities, as well as the areas peaceful, prosperous and democratic to the stability of the entire Gulf since 2002 has exceeded $17.4bn. We of collaboration into a number of new country that is governed in line with the 44466621 44418811 region. Therefore, there is no reason for appreciate the kind support provided fi elds and several more programmes.” legitimate aspirations of its people.” any country to be concerned with it. for the Turkish contractors by our Moreover, Cavusoglu noted that “We are working with the other Classified Besides, there are similar military bases Qatari brothers at all levels. However, Turkey “has become one the most guarantors and the UN Special Envoy 44466609 44418811 of other third countries in the Gulf this number constitutes only 4.1% of favourite destinations for Qatari for Syria to start the Constitutional region. Likewise, certain Gulf countries the projects undertaken by the Turkish tourists. Along with the eff ects of the Committee’s work as soon as possible,” Subscription also have military presence in other contractors all over the world.” blockade on Qatar, the number of Qatari Cavusoglu said, stressing that the countries,” the minister said. He also stressed: “Since 1972, tourists who visited Turkey during the Syrian regime’s threat over Idlib had [email protected] About Qatar’s recent pledge to Turkish contractors have undertaken January-July 2018 period reached 52,851 put the prospect of a political solution make a $15bn direct investment in approximately 9,400 projects in 121 with 123% increase compared to the in danger and that any military victory, Turkey, he said that economic, trade countries. Among those projects, our same period of 2017. pursued by the regime, will not bring a © 2018 Gulf Times. All rights reserved and investment co-operation is an companies completed stadium projects On the current siege imposed on lasting solution to the confl ict. Gulf Times Wednesday, October 31, 2018 27 COMMENT Merkel’s exit will be Europe’s loss

By Rafael Behr encounter in 2016, giving nothing they were the day Philip Hammond Guardian News and Media away, reciting lines from a prepared delivered his 2018 fi scal set-piece. The script. whole show is meaningless without Merkel must have had occasion clarity about the UK’s relationship urning points in world aff airs to wonder what on earth happened with the rest of Europe. The chancellor form fl ashbulb memories, to Britain when a buff oon like Boris pretended to know the trajectory of vivid snapshots of the scene Johnson could become foreign the economy despite not knowing the Twhen we heard the news: secretary, and be replaced by Jeremy future terms of trade with Britain’s declarations of war; assassinations; Hunt, a man who can glibly equate the closest neighbours. The Labour party natural disasters. They form the album EU and the USSR. Merkel’s childhood pretended to have better ideas, because of shared memories that defi nes each was spent in communist East that is what the opposition does on generation. Germany. She knows the diff erence budget day. But Jeremy Corbyn cannot On the November morning in 1990 between a union of free democracies describe his preferred arrangement of when Margaret Thatcher resigned, I and a prison state. Where, she must relations with the EU, or indeed the was at school. I can picture the very ask herself, did all the grown-ups go? rest of the world, in terms any more classroom. The teacher took the Meanwhile, Britain’s liberal convincing than May. unprecedented step of wheeling in a internationalists admired Merkel’s The prime minister’s ambition has TV so we could watch the Iron Lady’s principled embrace of Syrian refugees shrivelled to the hope that parliament momentous departure from Downing and marvelled at history’s capacity for can be intimidated into agreeing to Street. I had no notion of what it was irony: placing the torch of tolerance whatever second-rate Brexit plan like to have a diff erent prime minister. and good global governance in the she can eke out of Brussels, for fear French friends say it was the same hands of a German chancellor for that something worse would emerge for them when François Mitterrand safekeeping, and having her stand as from the chaos of its rejection. stood down in 1995, after 14 years in cultural foil to a racist, demagogic ruler The Labour leader’s strategy is to the Elysée palace. It took a while to get of the United States. provoke that chaos in the hope that, used to hearing the words “monsieur There is some simplistic somehow, power changes hands in the le president” in reference to a diff erent mythologising in the admiration of subsequent melee. face. Merkel as the anti-Trump figurehead While this pantomime plays out, And so there will be a generation for European civilisation. (Open- Britain is not a serious or even a of Germans who struggle to get their border generosity hasn’t done her capable actor on the global stage. It is heads around the idea of politics much good in domestic politics). a case study in political dysfunction, without Angela Merkel. They don’t But the very existence of that a circus to make populists and have to adjust overnight. Merkel hagiography expresses a powerful tyrants glad and an item on the list has signalled that she will not seek craving for stability, maturity and that makes responsible politicians re-election as leader of her Christian dignity in global affairs. The victory in Europe and the US fret about the Democratic Union party – a role she in Brazil’s presidential election of health of liberal democracy. That has occupied since 2000. She has Jair Bolsonaro – an aggressive far- anxiety is stoked by the prospect of been chancellor since 2005 and can right authoritarian – tilts the global Merkel’s departure, even if it has felt carry on in that post, but Monday’s balance another few degrees against inevitable for a while. declaration effects a status shift Angela Merkel has signalled that she will not seek re-election as leader of her Christian Democratic Union party – a role she the rule of law and towards a doctrine In volatile times she has served as from leader to caretaker. Merkel’s has occupied since 2000. of swaggering, might-is-right the ambassador from a more stable domestic position has been shaky machismo. It might be coincidence era, recent enough that it feels still since elections last year forced her of malaise in Germany’s political Germany is moving on from the David Cameron as the “naughty that Bolsonaro enters on one side comforting. When she goes, that era into an unstable coalition with a centre, as voters migrate towards Merkel era. The transition will be nephew” of whom she tried to make a of the stage just as Merkel prepares is formally committed to memory, debilitated Social Democratic party. the fringe. A poll in Hesse over the drawn out, but the confi rmation is still responsible European. She warned him her exit, but that doesn’t make the consigned to the past, and there opens That partnership elevated the far- weekend was won by the CDU, but a fl ashbulb moment across Europe. against trying to placate Eurosceptic contrast less poignant. up a terrible vacancy. It is a shaming right Alternative für Deutschland the party’s share dropped by more Length of service is only part of the backbenchers, correctly predicting In Britain, these developments fact that Britain is in no condition to to the status of principal opposition than 11 points. The SPD also shed story. Merkel has seen world leaders that they would never be satisfi ed. She were submerged in coverage of the supply a candidate to fi ll it. party by default. Subsequent regional support, while the Greens and AfD come and go. Tony Blair was her fi rst was apparently unimpressed when budget, although in years to come no ballots have reinforced the sense made significant gains. British counterpart. She indulged Theresa May wasted their fi rst bilateral one will be swapping stories of where zRafael Behr is a Guardian columnist.

Saudis demanded good publicity over Yemen aid Three-day forecast

TODAY agency, Ocha, was put under pressure overshadowed by the recipient’s recognised daily newspapers such as Maximum Temperature : 300c By Patrick Wintour Minimum Temperature : 220c Guardian News and Media to accept the PR strings attached to agencies’ visibility.” the New York Times or the Guardian, money given both by Saudi Arabia and The UN, the plan sets out, will highlighting our contribution.” THURSDAY the United Arab Emirates. The two convene events at UN headquarters Although the documents Maximum Temperature : 310c audi Arabia has demanded countries provided nearly one-third of focusing on the humanitarian show that Ocha resisted some of Minimum Temperature : 260c that aid agencies operating the total UN humanitarian budget for response in Yemen, and the impact of the Saudi demands, the agency FRIDAY in Yemen should provide Yemen for this year. all donor funding. These events will complied with a Saudi request that Maximum Temperature : 310c Sfavourable publicity for Future grants distributed by Ocha acknowledge the roles of all donors “a specialised person is recruited Minimum Temperature : 270c to agencies should be tied to the including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. by Ocha to be the focal point to Riyadh’s role in providing $930mn Fisherman's forecast of humanitarian aid, an internal UN amount of beneficial publicity given The agreement also requires ensure the implementation plan document reveals. to Saudi Arabia, the documents agencies receiving the aid to document by all recipient agencies and to Saudi military intervention in the advises. It also calls for Ocha to seek Saudi- and UAE-supported activities consolidate reports”. WARNING three-year civil war is widely regarded favourable publicity for the Saudi in photographs and video material in Ocha said in a statement: “Most of Inshore : Nil as a prime cause of the humanitarian humanitarian effort in Yemen in Yemen. the donors in Yemen and elsewhere Offshore : Expected strong wind disaster that has seen 10,000 civilians newspapers such as the New York The document then sets out 48 have visibility requirements that are and high sea killed, and left millions close to Times and the Guardian. specifi c steps UN agencies have agreed agreed bilaterally with the individual WEATHER starvation. The kingdom intervened The document also sets out how to take this year to publicise Saudi donor. Because they are bilateral Inshore : Moderate temperature in Yemen to restore a UN-recognised all agencies receiving Saudi aid activity covering fi ve diff erent UN agreements, we do not discuss the daytime with sctd clouds, mild by night government, and push back Houthi must share a summary of their aid-linked agencies, including the UN details of the individual agreements Offshore : Partly cloudy to cloudy rebels. publicity around the funding. The Development Programme, Ocha, the in public … Throughout the confl ict with chance of sctd rain Although many donors seek agreement adds: “We consider it World Health Organisation and Unicef. in Yemen, the UN has been vocal, WIND publicity in return for grants, the very important to ensure that our The leaked documents also show consistent and public in its call on Inshore : Northwesterly 05-15 KT extent of the Saudi demands are highly dear fellow Yemenis are all aware the pressure the two countries have all parties to the confl ict to uphold Offshrore : Northwesterly-North- unusual. of our donations. More emphasis brought to bear on the UN to raise their obligations under international easterly 08-18/24 KT The document, entitled Visibility should be placed on strengthening their profi le as charitable donors. humanitarian law, including the Visibility : 4-8 KM Plan, covers the terms of the 2018 the local visibility plan by engaging One demand states: “One would obligation to protect civilians and Offshore : 3-5/8 FT humanitarian budget for Yemen, and local media … so that donors get expect from Ocha or [a] recipient civilian infrastructure. We will shows the extent to which the UN aid deserved recognition and not to be agency to publish articles in continue to do so.” Around the region Weather Weather today Max/min tomorrow Max/min Baghdad Sunny 29/13 Sunny 29/13 Live issues Kuwait CitySunny 30/18 Sunny 30/19 Manama M Sunny 29/25 M Sunny 31/26 Muscat S T Storms 29/25 Sunny 29/24 Using sniff er dogs to hunt malaria bug Tehran Sunny 18/07 M Sunny 16/07

By Matthew Stock Reuters

n a lab room, two-year-old springer spaniel Freya bustles along a row of vials positioned on Istands, sniffi ng each for signs of disease. The vials all contain pieces cut from socks, one of which belonged to a child Around the world carrying the malaria parasite. When Weather Weather Freya detects the scent it gives off , she today Max/min tomorrow Max/min sits down next to it to receive a reward. Athens P Cloudy 26/16 P Cloudy 27/16 “Dogs are able to detect a diff erence Beirut Sunny 27/21 Sunny 28/21 in the socks that have been worn by Bangkok Sunny 32/22 Sunny 32/21 children who are infected with the Berlin M Sunny 13/05 P Cloudy 16/07 parasite and children who are malaria- Cairo Sunny 32/17 Sunny 32/17 free,” Claire Guest, co-founder of Cape Town P Cloudy 16/11 Cloudy 17/12 Medical Detection Dogs, told Reuters. Colombo S T Storms 29/24 T Storm 28/24 The charity, founded in 2008, hopes Dhaka M Sunny 29/22 M Sunny 31/23 the early-stage trials it is conducting Hong Kong P Cloudy 26/20 Cloudy 22/19 will enable canines to join eff orts to Istanbul P Cloudy 21/13 Sunny 23/15 stamp out one of the world’s most Jakarta T Storm 32/25 T Storm 32/25 deadly diseases. Karachi Sunny 35/22 Sunny 35/22 “Some odours are ‘yes’ and some London M Cloudy 13/09 Rain 12/03 are ‘no’. And once you’ve taught (the Manila T Storm 31/26 S T Storms 33/26 dogs)... those rules you then start with danger of stalling. likely to be smelling, said Professor parasite from crossing borders. Moscow Cloudy 02/02 M Cloudy 08/03 the disease you want them to fi nd. It says malaria infected 216mn Steve Lindsay, Principle Investigator “If you actually had people carrying New Delhi Sunny 31/18 Sunny 31/18 And the game is: fi nd that odour, sit in people worldwide in 2016 and killed of the study from Durham University. malaria parasites they’d probably have New York M Sunny 19/14 M Cloudy 21/16 front of it and I’ll give you a reward,” 445,000, around 16,000 more than in It’s still early days for the research, a really big odour signal,” said Lindsay. Paris Showers 13/09 S Showers 15/07 Guest said. 2015. and the teams plan much larger trials The extreme sensitivity of dogs in Sao Paulo P Cloudy 31/21 S T Storms 27/19 While malaria mortality rates are Researchers believe the odour to see if dogs can directly sniff out detecting odours is being recognised Seoul Sunny 12/01 Sunny 14/01 down, the World Health Organisation given off by the malaria parasite is malaria in people. They believe such in eff orts to combat other diseases too, Singapore T Storm 29/25 T Storm 30/25 says progress against the disease attracting the mosquitoes that spread dogs, positioned at ports of entry, and health authorities in Britain have Sydney M Sunny 22/17 P Cloudy 25/21 – most of whose victims are sub- the disease. could eventually off er a quick and approved trials to train them to sniff Tokyo Clear 20/11 Clear 19/11 Saharan children under fi ve – is in It’s this same odour the dogs are non-invasive way of preventing the out prostate and bowel cancer in urine. Gulf Times 28 Wednesday, October 31, 2018 QATAR HIA completes fi rst phase of ‘Smart Airport’ initiative amad International Air- port (HIA) has success- National carrier Qatar Airways can now Hfully completed the fi rst process more than 25% of its passengers using major phase of its ‘Smart Air- port’ programme, which will en- self-service check-in and bag-drop facilities able home carrier Qatar Airways to process more than 25% of its passengers using self-service check-in and bag-drop facilities. In partnership with SITA and CCM, HIA has successfully com- missioned 62 next-generation self-service check-in kiosks and 12 self-service bag drops includ- ing future biometric technology capability. The kiosks are spread across the departures check-in hall and enable passengers to check-in, print boarding passes and bag tags; tag their bags; and drop High quality and homogeneity were key criteria, resulting in a unique and luxurious design of the new them at the bag drop before pro- self-service facilities, which have been fully available to the passengers since October 15. ceeding to border control. A mobile ‘Automated Visa Akbar al-Baker said, “As Qatar able travel experience and to be the for check-in and bag drop, i.e. ei- Document Check’, which is the Airways’ home and hub, Hamad airport of choice for our discerning ther traditional check-in counters fi rst of its kind in any major air- International Airport is the air- customers.” or self-service. port worldwide has also been line’s fi ve-star gateway to the HIA’s Smart Airport pro- It also empowers passengers to implemented which enables world. Initiatives like the Smart gramme was inaugurated by HE ‘take control’ of the check-in and ground services agents to check a Airport programme put the pas- the Prime Minister and Minister bag drop activities which reduc- passenger’s visa documentation senger at the heart of the air- of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin es travel stress associated with before continuing their journey. port’s strategy, helping make it Nasser bin Khalifa al-Thani dur- queuing and long wait times. It Although the self-service kiosks one of the most technologically ing a visit to HIA in April 2016. also reduces check-in, bag drop and bag drop facilities are cur- The kiosks are spread across the departures check-in hall and enable passengers to check-in, print advanced and operationally effi - The key benefi ts the self-service and visa document verifi cation rently exclusive to Qatar Airways boarding passes and bag tags; tag their bags; and drop them at the bag drop before proceeding to border cient airports in the world.” programme delivers for airlines, process time, enhancing both the passengers, the plan is to extend control. HIA chief operating offi cer Badr airports and passengers include customer experience and opera- these services to foreign airline Mohammed al-Meer said: “In line increased check-in and bag drop tional effi ciency. Experience has passengers in the future. ing customer experience; and sion of check-in facilities. High self-service facilities, which have with our vision and strategic plan, capacity to deal with the projected shown that self-service is faster It is estimated that the allowing more passengers to be quality and homogeneity were been fully available to the pas- we continue to invest in customer- airport and Qatar Airways growth than traditional methods, as a processing would eventually be processed without major capital key criteria, resulting in a unique sengers since October 15. Qatar centric innovative technology to and enhanced passenger experi- passenger can typically process up to 40% faster, vastly improv- investments for physical expan- and luxurious design of the new Airways Group Chief Executive provide fast, seamless and enjoy- ence by off ering choices/options one bag in less than 50 seconds. NU-Q forum highlights use of social media in gatherings

By Joseph Varghese discussed how traditional majlis has become bigger and the peo- tions,” al-Muraikhi added. Staff Reporter in Qatar and the Gulf region is ple have lost wider contacts and The panellists described the infl uenced by social media. The the majlis have become smaller,” positive and detrimental impact other panellists were Mohamed continued Jaidah. of technological advances and he number of majlis for Jaidah, owner of 60 Degrees Prof Nonneman rebutted the widespread use of social me- women is likely to go up in and group executive director at disruptive, detrimental concept dia on majlis interaction. There Tfuture and the infl uence of Jaidah Group, and Gerd Nonne- of technology confronting tradi- was broad agreement that media social media is very evident in the man, professor and former dean tion in the majlis and said,“ Tra- sources have always infl uenced discussions at such gatherings, a at Georgetown University in Qa- dition is a living animal. Culture the content of discussion in ma- senior offi cial from Ooredoo told tar. The panel was moderated by and identity are evolving ele- jlis, but that social media had the Qatar Media Industries Fo- Banu Akdenzili of NU-Q. ments. broadened discourse and led to a rum. According to the panellists, Technology itself is evolving widening of perspectives. Under the guidance of Her the majlis is changing and in dif- and I don’t think that tradition In addition to digital technolo- Highness Sheikha Moza bint ferent ways. “In the 1980s and and technology are confronting gies, the panellists also consid- Nasser, Chairperson, Qatar 1990s, the TV came into the ma- each other and as per my obser- ered the infl uence of other fac- Foundation, women in the coun- jlis. Not only in terms of sports vations, the discussions in majlis tors on the nature of a majlis, try are taking part in several areas content but also news. Everyone incorporate technology and its including the changing size and of social life in the country, ob- would get the same information tools.” structure of the surroundings, served Manar al-Muraikhi, di- from the same source then. But “We have majlis accord- and the impact of rapid develop- rector of community and public 10 days ago, you would go into ing to various age categories. I ment around the country. relations at Ooredoo at a forum a majlis and all the talk were re- meet people face to face who are “The Forum off ered a cutting- on Monday. lated to Saudi journalist Jamal very confi dent and trustworthy. edge perspective combining a “There is a clear prominence Khashoggi. Everyone was look- Smart phones have become part respect for the tradition of the for women as they have been of- ing at their sources of info and of our daily life and we are mov- majlis with the added infl uence fered higher positions in various had their own point of view,” said ing through digitisation in every of social media,” noted Everette Omar al-Jaber (right) and Nawaf al-Obaidly at the MoU signing. organisations,” she explained. Jaidah. aspect. Social media enables E Dennis NU-Q’s dean and CEO. The Qatar Media Industries “Majlis has evolved and ear- people to get updated instantly “While most majlis are for men, Forum, organised by Northwest- lier, nearly half of the town would and it has become an important there has also been a rise of the QTA, Katara Hospitality ern University in Qatar ( NU-Q) gather in one majlis. Now the city platform in our daily conversa- female majlis as well.” partner for Enna project

s part of its ongoing collaboration with pri- Agreement is part of Avate sector partners collaboration between QTA to develop tourism off erings and experiences, Qatar Tour- and private sector partners to ism Authority (QTA) signed a memorandum of understand- develop tourism products and ing (MoU) with Katara Hos- pitality to manage Al Enna, a experiences winter camping project at Sea- line scheduled to kick off on The partnership between QTA hospitality sector, is committed November 1 and continue until and Katara Hospitality is a long to the success of the project and April 15. standing strategic that includes thereby contribute to the Qatar Under the agreement, Ka- joint work on various events National Vision 2030 by ac- tara Hospitality will manage and other areas of co-opera- tively participating in the eco- the beach facilities, services tion,” QTA representative and nomic diversifi cation process,” and activities, including cabin Al Enna project offi cial spokes- he added. rentals, 32 kiosks for food and person Omar al-Jaber said. Al Enna project, which seeks beverages and a play area for Commenting on the partner- to develop the winter camp- children. The company will ship, Sealine Beach (a Murwab ing experience in Sealine re- also provide and manage the Resort) general manager Nawaf gion, is supported by various required human resources, such al-Obaidly said: “We are hon- government and private bodies as security personnel, clean- oured to enter this partner- including Qatar’s Ministry of ers, lifeguards, technicians, and ship with QTA for the Al Enna Municipality and Environment, others. project that aims enhance the Ministry of Interior, Public “While improving services is overall desert and camping Works Authority, Qatar Ol- one of the main objectives of Al experience through improved ympic Committee, Qatar Mo- Enna project, benefi ting from services and safety, protecting tor and Motorcycle Federation, local talents in the hospitality the environment at Sealine.” Batabit (Qatar Centre for Mo- sector is part of QTA’s strategy “Sealine Beach Resort with torcycles), Mawater, and Katara to develop the tourism sector. its years of experience in the Hospitality. Mohamed Jaidah making a point at the panel discussion.